MPL Reference Blog

Happy Birthday Charles Dickens

2012-01-31T15:30:00.000-05:00

Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812

It's amazing how many 200 year anniversaries there are in 2012. Here are just a few:
War of 1812
Columbus, Ohio
State of Louisiana
and of course, Kendal, Ohio.
In terms of literature, the major celebration this year is the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth. One of the most recent biographies of this most famous and prolific of authors is Claire Tomalin's Charles Dickens: a life published in October of last year. For those looking for a fictional take on his later years, try Girl in a Blue Dress by Gayle Arnold. If you want to learn more about him online, visit dickens2012.org. And you may want to plan ahead for a visit to Dickens' Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio. What would Dickens write about today? Here's one take on that question. What's yours?

Data Privacy Day - Stay Safe Online

2012-01-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

Who: Sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance

What: Data Privacy Day

Where: Everywhere

When: January 28, 2012

Why: To promote awareness of and best practices in computer security.

staysafeonline.org/dpd

Who owns e-readers?

2012-01-25T09:52:00.002-05:00

A new report from the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project provides an interesting look at who is using tablets and e-readers and at what rate these new technologies are being adopted. The report is part of a larger effort, funded by the Gates Foundation, to "study how the role of public libraries is changing in the digital age and how library patrons’ needs and expectations are shifting." From the news release:

“Few institutions have been more challenged by the rise of the internet and mobile connectivity than the local library,” said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet Project. “Many libraries have responded with innovations and sweeping overhauls in the way they deliver on their missions. With the Gates Foundation’s support, the Pew Internet Project will provide an in-depth, data-driven analysis of how libraries are responding to technology trends, and how communities' expectations are changing at a time when library functions are in flux.”

Here is a sample of the data from the Pew report. You can read the entire report at this link.

The Pew findings mesh perfectly with what Massillon Public Library has experienced in the new year - a huge influx of tablet and e-reader owners and users. If you are one of them, we have lots of resources available to help you become comfortable with their use. Call 330.832.9831 x327 or stop in today to learn more. And we'd love to hear about what you'd like to see libraries offering for tablets and e-readers in the future. Reply to this post - or drop us a line at mpl.ref@gmail.com.