Chicago Librarian

See Y'all in '23!

Leo Klein — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 03:32:43 +0000

Your's truly at the RefDesk -- wishing you the best new year's!

Chicago Reader 50ish UnGala -- Wow!

Leo Klein — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 23:34:10 +0000

Rushed over to the Reader 50ish UnGala Celebration right after I finished my early evening shift at the library. Hoo Baby! The place was packed. It occupied all 4 floors of the Museum of Contemporary Art and each floor was absolutely full of the most wonderfully dressed individuals -- not just a handful but hundreds. Incredible.

Tag der Mauerfall (Day the Wall Came Down)

Leo Klein — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 23:25:38 +0000

I've written about this before (link). It's a day I'll never forget...

Election 2022

Leo Klein — Sat, 05 Nov 2022 01:27:40 +0000

Dropped off my mail-in ballot at the County Clerk's Office.

Happy Birthday BBC!

Leo Klein — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 07:58:13 +0000

It's the 100th anniversary of the British Broadcasting Corp. -- more widely known by its initials, BBC (link here). I first started listening to it during my years away from home -- i.e. in Paris, Rome and Berlin. The local broadcasting in any of those places wasn't in English so in the evening I'd switch over to the BBC via shortwave. By the time I made it home, it was broadcast here locally. It's something I listen to every evening! Happy B-day, BBC!

Midterm

Leo Klein — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 00:29:56 +0000

It's mid-term at the library. We've got students working on their assignments, some in groups and some by themselves, sitting at work-stations on most of the floors. They come over to us at the reference desk. Often it's for help with the printers but also on how to track down books and articles for their research. We still wear masks - at least when we get too close - but boy does it seem like we're back to normal!

ALA's Letter to FBI

Leo Klein — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 22:24:11 +0000

The letter to the FBI from ALA is titled 'Letter of Concern' -- the concern being 'over threats [of violence] that are being directed at public libraries and library workers'. ALA makes clear (at least for the moment) that:

"... there is no evidence at this time showing a direct connection between recent threats and opposition to library materials and programs."

'Opposition to library materials and programs'? For that go here...

P.S. Have a look at their 'Intellectual Freedom' section (including the 'Fight Censorship' part).

Hoo Baby: Big Big Weekend!

Leo Klein — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:34:14 +0000

Quite a list of activities for the coming weekend:

Friday, it's Chicago German-American Oktoberfest;
Saturday, it's Lakeview East Festival of the Arts;
Sunday, it's Printers Row Lit Fest;

And Monday (if I'm still kicking), it's opening day for the Hannover Messe USA...

Back at the RefDesk

Leo Klein — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 00:41:47 +0000

First session of school year 22/23 ...

Illinois State Fair

Leo Klein — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:53:59 +0000

On the way back home from the State Fair. Had a great time! Saw old friends, ate and (err) drank. First time in three years!!! Looking forward to next year...