Derivative tends not be a compliment as it implies lack of
creativity or more recently a bad financial instrument. But let’s be honest, many great ideas in all
areas aren't new (like bookmobiles) and libraries mostly work with
the basics of those ideas and spin them to serve some niche. PPL like other libraries lends a variety of
unexpected materials including telescopes
(brought to us through our partnership with Cornerstones of Science), Kill a Watt energy detectors (given to us by a private
donor),and most recently ukuleles modeled on the idea first demonstrated by the Newport (Maine) Cultural Center and
neighboring Falmouth (Maine) Memorial Library.
Even Isaac Newton acknowledged the contributions
to his work of those before him. It is a pleasure (and an ethical obligation) for
us to acknowledge this tradition of public libraries.
Showing posts with label Collaborations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Collaborations. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2013
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Back to Blog Land
It is time to come back to Blog Land. The last few months have been a little exhausting on this end and in fact there has been too much to say but unfortunately it was matched by my lack of posting discipline. So here we go with a new start.
You may have caught a report or two on the recent grant award received by the Maine State Library for $1.36 million. The funds came from the federal Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) and it specifically funds a project called the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project.
The Maine Public Library Information Commons Project establishes or enhances public computer centers in more than 100 public libraries in Maine. The centers will serve as access points to free high speed Internet service, and will provide assistance to vulnerable populations both in the use of technology and in finding and using needed information in the areas of employment, civil law, health, government services, small business information, and workforce development. This project also establishes 11 additional video conferencing regional hubs to enhance training for patrons and librarians.
PPL is both one of the 100 public libraries and one of the video conferencing centers. We are also hoping to receive a mobile computer lab at some point. It is also worth noting that we have recently received significant upgrades to our bandwidth that should allow us to take full advantage of our participation in the program. The subject areas targeted by the grant are of enormous interest to us as we are already focusing some of our efforts already in these areas through our External Work Groups (Business and Government; Science, Technology and Health) and potential community partnerships that we will talk about over the next few weeks.
Hardware Summary
6 desk top computers
10 lap tops
Video conferencing unit
Partners in the project include the Maine State Library, Maine InfoNet, the Department of Labor's Center for Workforce Research and Information, Access to Justice and Project Compass, and Maine InfoNet.
The full executive summary may be found at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/recovery/
As we have more information we will try to provide regular updates.
This is a very exciting development.
You may have caught a report or two on the recent grant award received by the Maine State Library for $1.36 million. The funds came from the federal Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) and it specifically funds a project called the Maine Public Library Information Commons Project.
The Maine Public Library Information Commons Project establishes or enhances public computer centers in more than 100 public libraries in Maine. The centers will serve as access points to free high speed Internet service, and will provide assistance to vulnerable populations both in the use of technology and in finding and using needed information in the areas of employment, civil law, health, government services, small business information, and workforce development. This project also establishes 11 additional video conferencing regional hubs to enhance training for patrons and librarians.
PPL is both one of the 100 public libraries and one of the video conferencing centers. We are also hoping to receive a mobile computer lab at some point. It is also worth noting that we have recently received significant upgrades to our bandwidth that should allow us to take full advantage of our participation in the program. The subject areas targeted by the grant are of enormous interest to us as we are already focusing some of our efforts already in these areas through our External Work Groups (Business and Government; Science, Technology and Health) and potential community partnerships that we will talk about over the next few weeks.
Hardware Summary
6 desk top computers
10 lap tops
Video conferencing unit
Partners in the project include the Maine State Library, Maine InfoNet, the Department of Labor's Center for Workforce Research and Information, Access to Justice and Project Compass, and Maine InfoNet.
The full executive summary may be found at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/recovery/
As we have more information we will try to provide regular updates.
This is a very exciting development.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Let's Talk About It with Maine Humanities Council
The Maine Humanities Council (MHC) is a great partner of Maine’s public libraries. In our case, the Council has hosted pod cast recordings of many PPL programs at the MHC Humanities on Demand site. The Council has also supported the purchase of equipment to enhance the new program space set to open in the April 2010. One on the most widely known MHC programs is the Let’s Talk About It series. It has been held countless times over many years at public libraries all over the state. PPL has hosted discussions on the Middle East, contemporary American Indian writers and women’s stories from cultures around the world.
This fall, we will hold a series of Let’s talk About It book discussions on five Japanese novels entitled “Family and Self: Readings in 20th Century Japanese Fiction. These 20th-century novels show the importance of the place of family in Japan, the importation of certain Western ideas, and the strain modernization placed upon tradition. How do Japanese novelists depict the family, as a nurturing institution or hierarchical unit? How do they chronicle changes over time? Are Japanese families different from families in the West? What happens to people outside the family unit?
Facilitated by Pat Parker, the discussions are held at the Main Library on Monument Square from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays:
The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi -- Sept. 8
The Makioka Sisters by Junichirô Tanizaki -- Sept. 29
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai -- Oct. 13
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburô Ôe -- Oct. 27
Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto -- Nov. 10
The discussion series is free and open to the public and books are available for loan from the Library. However, space is limited so registration is required. To register or for more information, please contact the Library at 871-1700x725 or reference@portland.lib.me.us.
Pat Parker, the series facilitator, has a Ph.D. from New York University and taught American literature at Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts for many years. She has also taught American literature and English as a second language in Korea for one year and in Japan for over ten years. She has traveled extensively in Asia. In Japan she became interested in Japanese literature, especially novels by women, and began studying and writing about them. She retired in 2004 and moved to Maine. She lives in Falmouth with her (American) husband who also taught over 20 years in Japan.
This fall, we will hold a series of Let’s talk About It book discussions on five Japanese novels entitled “Family and Self: Readings in 20th Century Japanese Fiction. These 20th-century novels show the importance of the place of family in Japan, the importation of certain Western ideas, and the strain modernization placed upon tradition. How do Japanese novelists depict the family, as a nurturing institution or hierarchical unit? How do they chronicle changes over time? Are Japanese families different from families in the West? What happens to people outside the family unit?
Facilitated by Pat Parker, the discussions are held at the Main Library on Monument Square from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays:
The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi -- Sept. 8
The Makioka Sisters by Junichirô Tanizaki -- Sept. 29
The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai -- Oct. 13
A Personal Matter by Kenzaburô Ôe -- Oct. 27
Goodbye Tsugumi by Banana Yoshimoto -- Nov. 10
The discussion series is free and open to the public and books are available for loan from the Library. However, space is limited so registration is required. To register or for more information, please contact the Library at 871-1700x725 or reference@portland.lib.me.us.
Pat Parker, the series facilitator, has a Ph.D. from New York University and taught American literature at Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts for many years. She has also taught American literature and English as a second language in Korea for one year and in Japan for over ten years. She has traveled extensively in Asia. In Japan she became interested in Japanese literature, especially novels by women, and began studying and writing about them. She retired in 2004 and moved to Maine. She lives in Falmouth with her (American) husband who also taught over 20 years in Japan.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Podcasting @ PPL
A recent edition of the ‘Maine Sunday Telegram,’ mentioned that the Humanities on Demand podcast from the Maine Humanities Council is online now. You can access it directly at http://mainehumanities.org/podcasts/
Seven recordings to start have been released: three interviews from the MHC 30th Anniversary CD, ‘Maine Writers Speak’ (Cathie Pelletier, Richard Russo, and Monica Wood), three readings from the Portland Public Library’s Brown Bag lecture series (poet Elizabeth Edwards, novelist Eric B. Martin, and writer Meredith Hall), and a poetry reading by Wesley McNair from the Maine Humanities Council archive.
We are proud to be a collaborator in this effort. During the past year we have been cooperating with the Council, many authors have agreed to allow for recording of their lectures for future Humanities on Demand podcasting participation. Look for many more Brown Bag Lectures in the future being available for download.
Seven recordings to start have been released: three interviews from the MHC 30th Anniversary CD, ‘Maine Writers Speak’ (Cathie Pelletier, Richard Russo, and Monica Wood), three readings from the Portland Public Library’s Brown Bag lecture series (poet Elizabeth Edwards, novelist Eric B. Martin, and writer Meredith Hall), and a poetry reading by Wesley McNair from the Maine Humanities Council archive.
We are proud to be a collaborator in this effort. During the past year we have been cooperating with the Council, many authors have agreed to allow for recording of their lectures for future Humanities on Demand podcasting participation. Look for many more Brown Bag Lectures in the future being available for download.
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