Many of my library friends write, paint, sing, and play keyboards.
They are a treat to work with. In looking forward to the LoTF, I would like to put in an advanced commission order for some BIG ARTWORKS.
My favourite example, in bringing this to their attention, is Fiona Banner’s current installation at the Tate in London.
Here’s hoping, finger crossed.
Fiona Banner AV8B Harrier Jump Jet, The Tate, London
The Leroy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund—established in 1970 to provide financial aid to librarians who are in jeopardy for their stand on intellectual freedom, who face discrimination, or who have been denied employment rights—celebrated its 40th anniversary Monday with a gala dinner in the exhibition hall of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Besides the Shakespeariana and Elizabethan maritime rarities on display, the highlight of the evening was the story former ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano told—for the first time in its entirety, she said—about an experience she described as the worst in her professional career. It involved a Texas Ranger, a lawyer named Paco, the Patriot Act, and the Merritt Fund.
Shortly after the September 11 attacks in 2001, two men came into the El Paso (Tex.) Public Library where Brey-Casiano was (and still is) director. One man, wearing a white cowboy hat and a huge belt buckle, identified himself as a Texas Ranger. He told her a threat had been sent recently from one of the library computers and demanded to see the sign-up sheets. Brey-Casiano replied that she could not release patron records without a court order and that, in any case, the sign-up sheets were shredded every night. The ranger’s sidekick began citing the USA Patriot Act as authority, but she reminded him that it was a federal law, which cannot be invoked by a state law enforcement official.
The two men left, but the next morning a court order arrived asking for specific sign-up sheets—ones that could not be handed over because they had already been shredded. The following Monday, Brey-Casiano got a call from the mayor of El Paso, who accused her of withholding information (a felony in Texas) and told her he was putting her on administrative leave. Knowing her rights, she insisted she had done nothing wrong and followed proper legal procedures. The mayor admitted it was out of his hands, since the Texas Ranger had filed the complaint. He agreed to let her stay on the job as long as she told no one about the situation—effectively a gag order—during the course of an official investigation of her actions.
She immediately called the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, which advised her to find a lawyer quickly. OIF Director Judith Krug told her she should apply for assistance from the Merritt Fund. She applied and received a grant of $1,000, which helped her pay for her lawyer, an El Paso attorney named Francisco “Paco” Domínguez.
“The investigation was more far-reaching than I could ever have imagined,” Brey-Casiano told the audience. “Police interrogated all 140+ of my staff members, asking about my character but without saying why they wanted to know. Some of them came to me in tears, and others refused to answer any questions at all.”
Finally, after months of this intimidation the El Paso police chief (whom she considered a friend) gave her some reassuring signals, and Paco called to say that the District Attorney had decided not to prosecute her for withholding information. She found out later the decision was due largely to the response of her staff, all of whom had said, “Carol would not do that.”
All of this, she said, resulted in her “increased dedication to intellectual freedom and the privacy of users.” In addition, every year her staff reviews the library procedures for handling requests for documents and information from the police. “If it had not been for OIF and the Merritt Fund, it could have been 10 times worse,” she concluded. And she did repay the Merritt Fund the money it had provided her.
Espionage and library science seem an odd mix, but it’s certain, according to Rosalee McReynolds and Louise S. Robbins, that Philip and Mary Jane Keeney, who were called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in 1950, were spies. As related in The Librarian Spies: Philip and Mary Jane Keeney and Cold War Espionage, Mary Jane was involved with the American Communist Party years before she and Philip met; Philip’s leftist leanings were reinforced partly as a result of their marriage, and partly as a result of his bumpy career. It was in 1942, when Philip was at the Library of Congress, that they were recruited to work on behalf of the Soviet Union. Ironically, any information they might have provided to the Soviet Union had little value.
Indexed. 183p. $44.95 from Praeger Security International (9780275994488)
Librarian Spies - Sacramento Public Library
Given the shock and excitement of last week in Canberra, I forgot to post the lyrics for the Song of the week.
POWDERWORKS
(Hirst/Moginie/Garrett/Rotsey/James)
There’s a shit storm a’coming I feel its coming soon
There’s a time and a place There’s a moment in space
When the fat boys call the tune
There’s a bubble a’bouncing
And it’s bouncing my way
There’s two sticks in the powderworks
I think it’s gonna blow today
There’s a shit storm a’coming
Somebody claiming some I.O.U’s
Because the animal’s back with the man intact
They had a gun at my head and a knife at my back
Don’t wind me up too tight
I’ve been had by the balls all my life
I’m in no mood now to stop dead and talk it over
I don’t need no fire and brimstone warning
I’ve been a long time punching bag
I won’t run no race where there ain’t no prize
Take a look at my face Don’t you see this ain’t no lies?
There’s a shit storm a’coming
They’re getting in for one free bite
I was taken by surpirse
By the glint in the eyes of a sweet campaign
Smelling strongly of lies
You’re the original Mr. Clean
But the closeups make you look awful mean
You’re just a con man raving Saying nothing new
Hirst/Moginie/Garrett/Rotsey/James
From happy days on the beach in spring 2007, to the first heady days of a new government, to the Apology to the Stolen Generation to wednesday evenings bloodless coup, to thursday mornings last PM conference for the deposed leader.
No prizes for guessing the name of one of may favourite all time bands ??????
Can you guess the name of the band?
Three ex members of this unnamed band are now gainfully employed in a new endeavour called, The Break. The debut album titled, ‘Church Of The Open Sky’ was released in April 2010 and the band are currently on tour. Joining Robert Hirst (drums) Martin Rotsey (Guitar) and Jim Moginie (guitar and keyboard) is ex Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie.
Here is a quartet of men with much talent. They should be elected at the next Federal election to run the country. Surf music is back.
The cd-cover features the great photography of Stu Gibson (front cover) and Dean Damphet (inside left cover)
Great Australian Music
Friday 25th June 2010 is Red Nose Day.
In 1988, the Red Nose Day concept was adopted by SIDS and Kids organisations around Australia. This annual event captured the imagination of the Australia public and has since contributed a large portion of the funds raised by SIDS and Kids. With a 94 per cent recognition rate in Australia (Quantum research, 2008) the concept of donning a red nose for a day to be silly for a serious cause has expanded to involved celebrities, businesses,
vehicles and buildings..
Red Nose Day Ambassador Ms. Therese Rein
