Illustration by C R Sasikumar

As we celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji, saint-composer and amongst the great spiritual leaders, his ideas, thoughts and teachings assume far greater relevance today than ever before. They can promote peace, equality and prosperity across the globe.

In a world that is increasingly fragmented with a narrow, tunnel vision, bigotry and dogmatism, we have to walk on the path shown to us by Nanak and other illustrious gurus to dispel the darkness that constantly threatens to envelop individuals, communities and nations.

Our worldview has been continually broadened by the timeless messages of enlightened pathfinders like Guru Nanak.

The seers like Guru Nanak see what ordinary people do not. They enrich peoples lives through their insights and ideas. In fact, that is the meaning of the word guru. Guru is one who provides illumination, dispels doubt and shows the path. Each one of us, in whatever walk of life we are in, has so much to learn from the teachings of this great personality.

Guru Nanak was a great champion of equality. For him, the differences and multiple identities based on caste, creed, religion and language were irrelevant. He had said, Preposterous is caste, vain the distinction of birth. The Lord gives shelter to all beings. He aimed at creating a casteless society in which there is no hierarchy.

Respect for women and gender equality is another important lesson to be learnt from Guru Nanaks life. Referring to women, the Guru says: How can they be inferior when they give birth to men? Women as well as men share in the grace of God and are equally responsible for their actions to Him.

For him, the whole world is Gods creation (Jeeye kaa ik daata) and all are born equal. There is only one universal creator. Ik Omkaar Satnaam.

Echoing the Sanskrit saying Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam that describes the whole world as one family, Guru Nanak Dev goes on to say:

When he stops thinking in terms of mine and yours/Then no one is angry with him./When he clings to my own, my own/Then he is in deep trouble./But when he recognises the Creator Lord/Then he is free of torment.

This spirit of living together and harmoniously working together is a consistent thread of thought that runs through Guru Nanak hymns.

What is remarkable about Guru Nanak is the fact that he not only formulated the principal doctrines of Sikhism, but took care to ensure that his teachings would endure.

The ideal of equality was given a concrete institutional form in the community meal, langar, where all devotees, irrespective of caste, creed, region and religion sit in a row called pangat to share a meal. The place of their meeting, called dharmsal, is regarded as sacred and the common religious congregation sangat was open to all.

These institutional structures are an eloquent testimony to the Gurus timeless vision of equality and non-discrimination. This spirit of equality began with Guru Nanaks clear recognition that there is no distinction between a Hindu and Mussalman. For him, no country was foreign and no people were alien.

It is worth noting that Guru Nanak initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of the religious denominations of his times. The world needs such spiritual leaders who can engage in a meaningful dialogue to exchange ideas in order to promote peace, stability and cooperation.

Guru Nanaks vision was pragmatic and holistic. It was not a vision of renunciation but of active involvement. Between the ascetic and the epicurean, Guru Nanak chose the middle path the Grihastha Ashram or the life of a householder. It was an ideal path as it offered opportunities for social, material and spiritual growth of an individual.

Work, worship and share (kirat karo, naam japo and vand chhako) was the motto he placed before his disciples. Earn by honest labour and share the earnings with the needy. He suggested that one should share ones prosperity with others who needed help. He advocated the concept of daswandh or donating one-tenth of earning among needy persons.

Nanak was an extraordinary saint who synthesised the best elements in various religions and spiritual traditions.

I am happy that the corridor that connects the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan, the sacred space where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life, has been opened to enable pilgrims to visit the shrine.

Guru Nanaks vision is timeless and has as much relevance today as it was when it was expounded five centuries ago.

If we can internalise and integrate these messages in our daily lives and reshape our thinking and actions, we can certainly discover a new world of peace and sustainable development.

The writer is Vice President of India

Read the original here:

A vision for equality - The Indian Express

Locals are unsure of taking sides whom do they support, the girl or Chinmayanand?

Further, taking into account Chinmayanands clout in Shahjahanpur, many townsfolk were hesitant to speak on camera. Many people, especially young boys and girls, who spoke off the record, had a very clear idea of what goes on inside Swami Chinmayanands Mumukshu Ashram. One even mentioned a racket which operates in the ashram and many dismissed the credibility of such babas.

Chinmayanands hold over the town was evident when he wasnt arrested for almost 15 days after the complainant lodged the rape FIR (at Delhis Lodhi Garden police station for lack of trust of UP police) and UP polices leniency in his arrest and questioning.

He was eventually arrested but not under Section 376 (the rape charge) but 376 C, which deals with sexual intercourse with a woman by a person of authority or someone with whom the survivor may have a fiduciary relationship, or a public servant, superintendent of jai/remand home/womens or childrens institution.

The complainants father has also accused DM of intimidation and asking him to file a missing complaint instead. He said the DM asked him if he was sure of filing the FIR.

Read more:

Rape, Extortion, Power Play: What Really Happened in Shahjahanpur? - The Quint

BJP MP Tirath Singh Rawat from Pauri in Uttarakhand was injured in a road accident on Sunday morning. The accident was serious, but thankfully he did not suffer much injury. His PS, gunner and driver also suffered minor injuries.

He was rushed to a private hospital after the accident, where doctors advised him to go to higher center after first aid. All have been admitted to the Trauma Center in AIIMS Rishikesh. Here a joint team of doctors is monitoring his health. According to doctors, everyones condition is out of danger.

Tirath Singh Rawat reached Haridwar from Delhi by train on Saturday night. After resting at Damkothi here, people were going to Pauri along with Public Relations Officer Vijay Sati, Gunner Subhash Maithani, Driver Harish Singh at 8.30 am.

His car overturned after hitting a car near Jairam Ashram turn on the highway. The MP was rushed to the City Hospital and examined. Seeing complaints of pain in the legs and hips, he was advised to go to higher center after first aid.

Doctor Mahendra Kumar Singh said that MP Tirath Singh Rawat has not suffered serious injuries, but in view of the pain, he has been advised for a detailed investigation. After some rest in Damkothi, he left for Rishikesh AIIMS.

Kotwali in-charge Praveen Singh Koshyari told that a search was on for the white car which hit the MPs car. The car was going from Delhi towards Dehradun. Here, local leaders of the BJP gathered after the MP was injured.

Originally posted here:

Pauri MP meets with accident referred to AIIMS Rishikesh - Uttarakhand News Network

What did that teach you?It taught me to live with less. Id fallen in love with another person [Kee began a relationship in 1990 with the late sculptor Danton Hughes after the disintegration of her 21-year marriage to artist Michael Ramsden] who had one pair of jeans and one pair of dirty old boots; he was also a carpenter and builder. I went from a very glamorous life to a very simple one with him.

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How did you recover financially after that?I had the most fabulous person working with me, my manager Louise. She cut up all my credit cards and put me on $100 at a time. [Laughs] It saved me from going bankrupt. From then on, my life radically changed and the simplicity started. We moved to a rundown property up in Blackheath, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, that was just so beautiful. The house was falling apart, but it had exquisite views and was shrouded in pine trees. We got rid of the pines and all the tree ferns came back. Now Im living with ancient tree ferns and looking at a view thats 350 million years old. To me, thats being rich.

Did you grow up with religion?I grew up going to Sunday School Church of England in Bondi. I loved it.

What did you love about it?I loved Jesus! I just thought Jesus was a great, wonderful being. But this was before I became a teenager and discovered ... well

What did you discover, Jenny?Sex!

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Sex and Jesus werent compatible?I wouldnt say they were incompatible but there was another high that was coming. [Laughs] I became a very wild child and other beings became more glamorous than Jesus, like John Lennon. And this was beyond the night we had together [Kee and Lennon had a brief liaison in Sydney during the 1964 Beatles tour]. I didnt worship John Lennon but I loved what he stood for; his beautiful energy.

At what point did Buddhism come into your life?Surviving the 1977 Granville rail disaster [when a Sydney commuter train derailed, running into the supports of a road bridge that collapsed onto two of the carriages, leading to 83 deaths] led me on a great search. My daughter Grace and I were in the carriage that brought the bridge down. When a train splits in two, and you fall to the side with your 22-month-old child, and youre scrambling to get out of that wreck, and people are lying dead all around you you question life and death. In 1983, I visited a yoga ashram. Later, in Thailand, I met a Buddhist monk, who sat in this extraordinary cave, with a limestone formation of Buddhas body. I thoroughly surrendered to his understanding of Buddhism: that we are all connected.

Do you doubt what you believe in? Or yourself?I doubt myself a lot, which leads to me doubting everything. But the thing is, my practices are so strong. I do a purifying practice every day, a 100-syllable mantra that gives me a great sense of peace.

You lost your partner, Danton, to suicide in 2001. Does losing someone to suicide make grieving and recovery different?When my father, Billy, was dying in 1988, I felt really good about him going. He said, I want to go, Jen. Do you think its okay? I said, Dad, do what you need to do. The darling man looked like a beautiful little golden Chinese prince when he died. With Danton, it was shocking. Youre with a partner you love. He was suffering from depression but never in my heart did I ever think he was going to go. To find him was the greatest shock. His death propelled me into the deepest, deepest, deepest grieving and depression. People feared I would go. But the thing is, I didnt go. I am a survivor. Ive come back.

Ideally, how would you like to leave the planet?Doing my mantra, with my family and my dharma [Buddhist] friends around me. Im completely fine with dying. [Pauses] Well, I think I am. Do another interview with me when Im on my deathbed and well see!

Is there an outfit that youd like to be buried in?Yes, wrapped in beautiful waratah fabric. [Laughs] Buried beneath my waratahs, in my waratah fabric. Thatd do me.

Writer, author of The Family Law and Gaysia.

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Jenny Kee: 'My life radically changed and the simplicity started' - Sydney Morning Herald

It has been heralded as an architectural triumph: A new $41.5 million public library in Long Island City that ascends over multiple landings and terraces, providing stunning Manhattan views to patrons as they browse books and explore.

But several of the terraces at the Hunters Point Library are inaccessible to people who cannot climb to them. A staircase and bleacher seating in the childrens section, judged too risky for small children, has been closed off. And the five-story, vertically designed building only has one elevator, creating bottlenecks at times.

The accessibility issues, some of which have been angrily called out in social media posts and elsewhere online since the librarys Sept. 24 opening, have left officials with the Queens Public Library hurrying to find solutions and the architects exploring ways to retrofit the building.

It has also raised the question of how the pricey public building, nearly two decades in the works, made it through the lengthy planning process without more consideration for accessibility.

Some of the issues are a result of the buildings popularity.

New Yorkers as well as tourists are visiting the library, the most expensive Queens Public Library branch ever built, to admire the views. So are architecture buffs, eager to see a structure that a New York Times review praised as among the finest and most uplifting public buildings New York has produced so far this century.

Some of the accessibility problems, though, are rooted in the design itself.

The placement of the adult fiction section on three terracelike levels between the librarys first and second floors was the first issue patrons noticed. A few complained that they couldnt access the fiction books, because those levels were only accessible by stairs, Gothamist reported.

Queens Library officials responded that librarians could simply retrieve those books for disabled patrons, a solution in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and noted that the first of the four terraces did have elevator access.

But on social media and among advocates for the disabled, that rationale got panned.

To me, that is the response of somebody who never had the experience of going somewhere and not being able to fully participate, said Christine Yearwood, founder of the disability rights group, Up-Stand. Part of what universal design is about is allowing everyone to independently enjoy spaces. Having to ask someone else to help you is, at worst, demeaning, and at best, a limiting experience.

The disputed shelves are now bare; the library, responding to the criticism, has moved the 2,900 adult fiction books to an accessible area on the second floor, and is now figuring out how to use the vacated space.

Chris McVoy, a senior partner at Steven Holl Architects, the firm that designed the building, said that too much emphasis was being placed on the inaccessibility of the terraces, which he called a small wrinkle in an incredibly successful project. Concepts of accessibility, he added, have changed in the years since the building was designed in 2010.

To be honest, we hadnt thought, O.K. we have to provide an exactly equivalent browsing experience, he said. This will be a new standard for libraries, and thats great. But that doesnt mean its a flaw in the design. Its an evolution.

But the decision to build only a single elevator is also causing grumbles. The congestion is compounded by the placement of the main stroller parking area on a second floor landing, which is insufficient for the dozens of strollers sometimes seeking a spot.

Its crazy right now, said Nikki Rheaume, one of three childrens librarians, as she tried to navigate a crush of strollers around the second floor elevator last Wednesday, when dozens of strollers descended on the building. Its chaos.

It was 10:30 a.m. toddler story time and a rush of caregivers, having just come upstairs to park, were attempting to go back down for the program.

The closure of the childrens wing stairs is adding congestion to the elevator. Patrons who want to travel between the childrens levels must now either use the elevator, or take a circuitous route around the library, up and down flights of stairs.

In his 2010 renderings for the childrens wing, Steven Holl, the projects lead architect, had sketched images of children reading on bleacher-like seats that spanned from the lower level of the wing to the upper one, adjoined by an interior staircase.

But library officials, in a walk-through before the building opened, instead saw a potential liability for small children who could jump and fall on them. They have closed off the stairs and the top five bleachers until fixes can be made, said Elisabeth de Bourbon, a spokeswoman for the Queens Library.

Wood panels now block the staircase entrances and protective glass barriers have been added to the tallest bleachers. The bottom three bleachers remain open, however, and a security guard who usually stands there keeps an eye on them.

Vedesh Persaud, 32, who was visiting the childrens wing with his wife and their toddler daughter, Arya, praised the new library, as did most patrons.

The curves of the space are pretty amazing, he said. It does give you a sense of openness.

But his wife, Ravina, said she was surprised that the architects had overlooked the potential hazard of the childrens stairs.

Im sure that they didnt have kids, she said, because as a parent, you know these things.

Mr. McVoy said that the building would adapt and the stairs would reopen, perhaps after adding gates.

What the lawyers believe is safe or not is a constantly evolving thing in this society, he said. Five years ago, they wouldnt have even thought to block off that area, or even two years ago.

How the planning process for the building did not include more of a consideration for accessibility has left critics puzzled and frustrated.

Planning for a library in Long Island City has been underway since 2001, when the old industrial neighborhood was being reborn. Library, city and community officials fought for years to secure funding and navigate bureaucratic hurdles to complete it.

Over time, the leadership of Queens Library system has changed several times, so everyone involved in the original planning is gone, officials said. Neither Mr. McVoy nor the Queens Library spokeswoman could recall a public hearing about the librarys design, though the community had been involved in aspects of the librarys creation.

When Dennis M. Walcott, a former New York City schools chancellor, took over the helm of the Queens Library system in 2016, the branch was just an empty shell on the Long Island City waterfront. By that point, Mr. Walcott said in an interview, the focus was on finishing the building, not in rethinking its details.

Now more than a month old, the library is navigating what Ms. de Bourbon called significant growing pains as staff learn how to adapt to the realities of running a branch library in a vertical work of art. There have been several other small problems as well. There is already more cracking than is typical in the terrazzo concrete floors because the contractor didnt provide sufficient control joints, but that is only a visual, not a structural issue, Mr. McVoy said. Several small leaks, first reported on by the New York Post, have been repaired.

Starting this month, librarians said, there will be two, back-to-back story times in the mornings, to help alleviate the stroller bottleneck and waiting lists of children. A small lift may be added to the stepped terraces so the books can be returned to them as Mr. Holl envisioned.

Its a gorgeous building, and people are reveling in both the aesthetic nature of it and the functional use of the building, Mr. Walcott said. Our goal now is to make sure it is responding to the needs of the public.

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New Library Is a $41.5 Million Masterpiece. But About Those Stairs. - The New York Times

In the coming months, library patrons will likely experience extended wait times for new e-books. Readers can thank Macmillan Publishersa Big Five publishing house with imprints including Picador, Henry Holt and Farrar, Straus, and Girouxfor the delay: As of November 1, the company only allows library systems to purchase one electronic copy of a book during the first eight weeks following publication.

The publishers new policy has generated widespread outrage among librarians and book lovers alike. Macmillan, however, argues that the moratorium is necessary to ensure the publishing industrys survival in lieu of digital lendings increasing popularity.

CEO John Sargent announced the change in a July memo sent to Macmillan authors, illustrators and agents. According to the note, loaned library copies make up 45 percent (and counting) of the companys total e-book reads across the United States.

It seems that given a choice between a purchase of an [e-book] for $12.99 or a frictionless lend for free, wrote Sargent, the American [e-book] reader is starting to lean heavily toward free.

Sargent tells NPRs Lynn Neary that the publishing industry operates similarly to the movie business. Films generate the biggest box-office returns during their opening weekend, while most book sales take place in the first few weeks after publication.

In the past, library loans had less of an impact on publishers sales due to friction, or complications, associated with borrowing books: Patrons had to visit the library in person, return loans on time and pay pesky late fees.

E-books have simplified the borrowing process significantly. As Sargent explained in an October 29 letter to concerned librarians, In todays digital world there is no such friction in the market. As the development of apps and extensions continues, and as libraries extend their reach statewide as well as nationally, it is becoming ever easier to borrow rather than buy.

The Macmillan executive added, This causes a problem across the publishing ecosystem (authors, illustrators, agents, publishers, libraries, retailers, and readers). We are trying to find a solution.

On October 30, a group of library advocates associated with the American Library Association (ALA) stopped by Macmillans offices to deliver a petition urging the publisher not to move forward with the embargo. Organizers collected some 160,000 signatures, but as they note on the online petition portal, Sargent did not listen.

According to ALA testimony presented in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary last month, e-book publishers engage in a host of anti-competitive conduct practices. Amazon Publishing, for example, refuses to sell digital titles to libraries, meaning readers have to purchase from Amazon directly. And when publishers do sell copies of e-books to libraries, the prices are often inflated. (Anthony Doerrs All the Light We Cannot See, the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction, costs consumers $12.99, but a library purchasing a two-year license for a single electronic copy pays $51.99.)

In an essay written for the San Francisco Chronicle, City Librarian Michael Lambert says the embargo impacts libraries central mission of ensuring access to information and content for all. He adds that the policy places individuals with visual impairments at a disadvantage, as these readers rely on easily formatted e-books to keep up with the latest titles. Large-print paper copies of new books often take months to come out. People with dyslexia and other learning disorders also rely on e-books to make reading easier.

Macmillans policy is poised to disproportionately impact larger library systems. A small rural library may be able to manage with just one copy of an e-book, but cities or counties with hundreds of thousands of patrons will have to place would-be borrowers on lengthy waiting lists.

Former ALA president Sari Feldman tells NPRs Neary she doesnt think the policy will increase retail or digital sales for Macmillan, as many people who borrow e-books have a limited income and will simply opt to read more accessible options. Given the fact that libraries purchase a significant number of e-books, the publishing house could also lose digital sales during the key weeks immediately post-publication.

Moving forward, Feldman says, the ALA may pursue legislative action against the restrictions.

In his open letter, Sargent said the decision is designed to help authors, booksellers and other players in the publishing world.

We are not trying to hurt libraries; we are trying to balance the needs of the system in a new and complex world, he wrote. We believe windowing for eight weeks is the best way to do that. I am the first to admit we may be wrong. But we need to try to address this issue.

See the article here:
Why New Restrictions on Library E-Book Access Are Generating Controversy - Smithsonian.com

The David O. McKay Library has more than books that tell stories. It also holds the stories of the people who work there, including Ina Rodinos.

Rodino, BYU-Idahos online learning librarian, works with the online curriculum designers and makes sure online students have access to the resources they need. This includes being constantly available for students who are looking for online research help.

My hours are more open than most librarian hours, so I can meet with students when they have time, Rodino said. We have chat thats available 24/6 so that students can always get help when they need it.

Rodino admitted that communicating with students online can be challenging, but that its her favorite part of her job.

I wish more students would ask to talk to a librarian because that is the best part of our day, she said. I think any librarian would say that because thats what we enjoy. We want students to come talk to us so we can help them. Thats why were here.

Rodino knows students often use things like YouTube and Google to find answers for their research questions but said the library has many free resources someone searching on Google would have to pay for.

If you break your arm, youre not going to go YouTube how to fix it, Rodino said. Youre going to go to a professional whos been trained on that, and thats what librarians are. Were information professionals.

Rodino started her library career while a student at BYU. Her friend who worked at the campus library saw her resume on the student board and offered her a job.

Her first job as a shelver involved carrying thick, heavy periodicals from the fourth floor of the library down to the basement.

My arms were pretty sore after a few days, she said. But it was a good experience and I loved shelving with the people that I worked with.

After graduating and serving a mission, Rodino returned and found work at the Madison Library District in Rexburg. She decided she needed a full-time job, so later applied to BYU-I.

While working as a Library Assistant at the McKay Library, she earned a masters degree in library science online from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

At the public library, I worked with the public for several hours a day and had a lot of good interactions there, she said. Then, when I came here I wasnt working with the public as much. I was behind the scenes, and that took a little bit of an adjustment.

Rodino laughed at the suggestion that anyone could consider her job dull, and went on to debunk other misconceptions about librarians.

Ive always loved libraries and reading, which is what you think of when you look at a librarian, but I dont get to read books as a librarian, Rodino said. Thats not what we do.

She also said library work is expanding to include different fields.

You have a lot of librarians now who are working with marketing, public outreach, graphic design and different degrees that you wouldnt think would help you get a job in a library, she said. Computer science and web design skills are in high demand in libraries, as well.

Rodino and her husband are both book lovers and have their own extensive library at home.

We even have some in boxes because weve run out of shelf space, she said with a laugh. Our food storage closet is filled with books, not food storage.

Students looking for research help can find Rodino and the other librarians in their offices in the David O. McKay Library or through the online library.

See the article here:
Meet the online librarian - BYU-I Scroll

Public libraries are providing more copies of e-books, or digital books, to users than ever before, but a policy change from one of the largest publishing companies in the United States is disrupting how New Orleanians and others across the country access new titles online.

Macmillan Publishers announced that beginning Nov. 1, library systems are only allowed to purchase one copy of new Macmillan e-books during the first eight weeks of publication.(The embargo only applies to Macmillan online text editions, not audiobooks accessed online.)

A wave of library systems nationwide have pushed back against the policy, arguing that it impedes access to new material for library users and will lead to long wait lists for new popular titles.

The New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) has joined several major public library systems in boycotting purchasing new e-book releases from Macmillan, hoping to put pressure on the company to do away with the policy. The NOPL system spends tens of thousands of dollars on e-books a year at rates around two to three times what an individual would pay for an e-book, Styons said.

We really just felt kind of just stymied, said Jessica Styons, the acting director of NOPL. So, rather than just wait for other publishers to decide, Oh, maybe this is working, we should do this,' we want to send a message: We are consumers. We are a big part of your business.

Under the new policy, the first copy would cost libraries half of what it does now (around $30 as compared to $60), and the library system would have access to it forever, but only one person would be able to rent the copy at a time.

New Orleans Public Library (NOPL) scofflaws, some good news in the New Year: Your checked-out book, CD or DVD will be auto-renewed on its due

That means that all 15 of the public libraries in New Orleans would share a sole e-book during the first two months after its released. In states where libraries purchase all their e-books together, that could mean only a single copy would be allowed for the whole state at first.

After eight weeks, libraries will no longer have the option to pay for that perpetual copy but may lease copies at full price, meaning the library wont have access to the copy after it is lent 52 times or after two years, whichever comes first.

Libraries in the NOPL system will still continue to purchase new audiobooks and print materials from Macmillan, as well as titles released before the embargo.

Macmillan CEO John Sargent said in a letter to librarians on Oct. 30 that the company was not trying to negatively impact libraries but was attempting to find a way to address the effect of the tremendous growth in e-book lending on the publishing industry as a whole. He argued that traditionally borrowing books from a library took more effort and that having to drive back and forth from the library and pay late fines made some people prefer to buy from stores rather than rent from libraries. But e-books have removed those hindrances.

It is becoming ever easier to borrow rather than buy, Sargent wrote. We are not trying to hurt libraries; we are trying to balance the needs of the system in a new and complex world. We believe windowing for eight weeks is the best way to do that. I am the first to admit we may be wrong. But we need to try to address this issue. We look forward to talking with many of you in the weeks and months ahead as we all begin to understand the effects of our new policy.

Margaret Wilkerson Sextons second book about multiple generations of a New Orleans family hits stores Nov. 5

In the letter, Sargent also said the company has had a policy where it will offer e-books at free or reduced prices if a library can provide a means test. Its program Open eBooks gives free titles for children from low-income communities without checkouts or holds, according to its website.

But Styons noted that, by many metrics, book sales are on the rise although authors continue to earn less. She also added that the library is able to accommodate more readers through e-books, and that the policy will hinder access for these readers. For example, the ability to change font sizes helps readers who have difficulties with vision or those with learning disabilities, and the ability to rent digitally helps those who may not have access to transportation.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell has also signed a statement by the Urban Libraries Council calling for "equitable access to e-books" and calling out publishing companies for embargoes like Macmillan's and for charging libraries "unreasonably high prices" for digital books.

This is about equity, access and intellectual freedom, Styons said, and we want to make sure that New Orleans citizens are able to get those things.

See the original post here:
This battle between libraries and a top publisher will impact how New Orleanians rent e-books - The Advocate

Libraries are generally kid-friendly zones, but leaving young children unattended is considered inappropriate.

Author and former Brooklyn Public Library artist-in-residence Christine Sloan Stoddard told Insider that the library staff doesn't appreciate when guardians allow their kids to run amok through the shelves.

"Librarians and other staff are not babysitters. If left to play and wander, little ones may disturb other patrons and cause damage to library property," said Stoddard.

In general, kids should always be supervised in a library, even when they're hanging out in sections that are designed for them.

You should avoid visiting the library when you're sick.

Shannon Serpette, former library clerk and board member at the Henry Public Library in Illinois, told Insider that a sniffling and sneezing patron is a librarian's worst nightmare.

"One thing I really hated to see was people walking into the library who were super sick. Yes, I know it's nice to have something to read when you're feeling ill but if you have a fever and you're shivering and coughing, please do everyone a favor and stay at home," said Serpette.

By wandering around the library and handling library materials while sick, you're potentially spreading your illness to other patrons and library staff. There's also the possibility that your coughing and sneezing might be disruptive to other readers.

Save yourself the trouble of a trip to the library and download an e-book or audiobook from your library's online catalog instead.

Don't randomly re-shelve books, even if you're trying to be helpful.

Even though it seems polite to place books on shelves instead of leaving them lying around, you could be causing a headache for staff members.

"You might think you're being helpful by returning your book to the shelf, but it's only helpful if you actually put it back where it belongs," said Stoddard.

Stoddard explained that libraries rely on a precise cataloging system to allow patrons and staff to locate a single book out of the thousands on the shelves, so if a book is improperly placed, it can be nearly impossible to find it again.

If you aren't completely certain you're returning a book to its correct home, simply place it on a dedicated re-shelving cart, pass it to a library staff member, or just leave it on a library table.

The staff is there to help you, but that obligation begins and ends with the times posted on the library door.

Just as you wouldn't appreciate being forced to extend your workday for the sake of one customer, don't expect library staff to work around your schedule.

"People sometimes enter the library a minute before closing and act like it's okay to spend 20 minutes looking at books on the shelves, or knock on the door before the library is scheduled to open," said Serpette.

Don't use the library computers to browse inappropriate sites.

When using library computers or a library WiFi connection, you'll want to keep your internet browsing rated G and avoid NSFW websites.

"A huge no-no is using the library computers to look up inappropriate adult websites. That should go without saying, but there are patrons at the library who actually do this. It's horribly uncomfortable for the staff," Serpette said.

You may also avoid browsing sites that prominently feature violence or explicit language since it's easy to forget to close a tab and inadvertently expose a younger or more sensitive patron to explicit material.

It's not appropriate to take care of personal grooming at the library.

Stoddard told Insider that it's not appropriate to groom yourself at the library and even if they don't say anything, fellow patrons and staff members notice.

"Do not clip your fingernails at library desks and tables, and do not apply makeup. Unless it's a quick swipe of lip balm, you may get whatever you're applying on a book, electronic, the table, or the floor," she said.

You should also avoid using toothpicks or brushing your hair in the library, as these activities may leave food or strands on books, floors, keyboards, or other surfaces.

Don't stick around library events just to indulge in the free food.

There's nothing wrong with grabbing a few snacks during catered library events like art receptions and author readings, but it's considered poor form to take so much food that there is none left for anyone else.

That said, if you are a patron who is experiencing food insecurity, Stoddard said you may want to just speak to library staff, who are often willing to share extra food with you.

"If you're just in it for the food because you're truly hungry, stick around until the very end of the reception and there may be leftovers. Staff will often invite patrons to take leftovers with them because they don't want to waste food," she told Insider. "If they don't, just ask politely and discreetly if you can take food with you."

Don't allow your phone to beep or vibrate loudly put it on silent.

Taking a phone call in the middle of the reading room is frowned upon, but you shouldalso be aware that the intermittent chirps of incoming text messages can be just as obnoxious as a loud conversation or ring tone so switching your cell phone to silent is a must.

In addition, ensure that any vibrations coming from your phone are felt and not heard by stashing it inside of a bag or on top of your coat, not on a hard surface.

Read more:
The 9 things you should never do in a library, according to former employees - Business Insider

SundayNov10,2019at4:36PM

RYE Handwriting formations are as distinctly different as fingerprints and reveal certain characteristics and basic personality traits of the writer. Discover what your handwriting reveals by attending the Friends of the Rye Library Speaker Series program on graphology, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the library.

Graphology is the "scientific method of analyzing the formation in one's handwriting." It is used in a variety of ways, from employee recruitment to historical profiling and forensic analysis. Amelia McKenney, a certified graphologist, will explain the science and psychology of graphology and walk participants through steps allowing them to do a basic analysis of their own handwriting.

McKenney is certified through the International Graphology Society, the American Handwriting Analysis Society and owned and operated the company Graphic Insight, which performed handwriting analysis to assist employers and human resource departments.

The event is free and open to the public. For information, call Gwen Putnam-Bailey at (603) 964 8401.

See more here:
Rye library event: What does your handwriting say about you? - Seacoastonline.com