Wiki Dude is Coming to Spartanburg

The Friends of the Spartanburg County Public Libraries present the Dennis L. Bruce Author Series featuring Jimmy Wales. Wales is a founder of Wikipedia. For information on the event go here: WIKI .

Inviting Wales began with a visit to the doctor. I was flipping through a business magazine when I saw an article on the 20 people who have influenced technology. I saw Wales' name, and wondered if we could schedule him for an appearance in Spartanburg. It worked out.

Ironically, Wikipedia has generated a lot of national conversation on the accuracy of entries and the validity of the information submitted. Here is an article from the msnbc website (The word on Wikipedia: Trust but verify).

My brother, a college textbook publishing rep, has told me that professors are refusing to purchase textbooks that have Wikipedia screenshots incorporated into the text.

The April addition of Fast Company has a cover story featuring Wales. It seems that Wales is interested in improving Internet searching. The point of the article is that Google better watch out.

I am amazed at the amount of attention Wales' visit is generating. I have had media outlets trying to position themselves to out scoop the other. In the last seven days, the Jimmy Wales' calendar announcement and event page on our website has had 187 unique visitors.

I look forward to having the community share in this event, and I am especially appreciative of the Friends and Converse College who have shared their resources to help bring Wales to town.

FOUND: Michael Auberry

Michael Auberry was found today by a search dog. The Boy Scout lost in the woods for the last three days was a little disoriented but safe. This news story is not necessarily blog material, but it is worth noting. Why? Because of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet.

The father expressed in an interview that through the book Hatchet - Michael should have received insight on how to survive in the wilderness. According to the father, the book was assigned reading for school. Congratulations to the searchers who spent hours and days in the wilderness looking for Michael, and congrats to Gary Paulsen as well.

The video interview is embedded in the text of this article: click here.

Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round

You know the song. It is one of those songs that you sing, and then you wake up at 3:00AM singing it and you can't go back to sleep. Anyway, the buses in Spartanburg will showcase the winners of the Mary Black Foundation's Champion Award winners. Announced this past Fall, Shelia Snoddy, Smith Barney Financial and the Library.

Above is the Library's "bus ad" that will showcase the Library. For more information on the award - click on the image.

South Carolina's New State Librarian

A new State Librarian is coming to town, and the library community should be pretty darn excited. His name is David Goble and he is (or was) the Dean of Campus Libraries for Central Piedmont Community College (NC).

Here is a short biography: Goble is a 1994 graduate of SILS at UNC-Chapel Hill and is (or was) the dean of libraries at Central Piedmont Community College. He holds a MA in American Literature from the University of South Carolina and a BA in English from The Citadel. Prior to becoming a librarian he spent 18 years in banking. He is a former Marine officer and veteran of the Vietnam conflict.

Hmmm...a person with South Carolina connections, a financial background, a reader of literature and a practitioner of hand to hand combat. Not bad.

His first tour of duty will be our upcoming Library Legislative Day which is Wednesday, March 21. I will have the pleasure of introducing David to public library directors and members of the General Assembly. David, we are glad you are here. ~Todd

From Idea to Fruition

This past week Ernest Gallo passed away. A wine maker who came across a recipe for wine at the Modesto (CA) Public Library. Founded in 1933, with $5,900, Gallo created a product, marketed it very well, and became a leader in the wine industry.

It all came together in the basement of the Modesto Public Library.

Today, the E & J Gallo Winery currently employs more than 4,600 people and markets its wines throughout the U.S. and over 90 foreign countries, making it one of the largest wine making operations in the world (E&J) . Gallo is involved in charitable pursuits as well (charities) .

What is interesting to think about is this: Who else has come across an idea, and expanded upon it, because of a visit to the public library? We see patrons come and go. There are the regulars and there are those who are nameless. What is their passion, interest, purpose, and how has the public library impacted their life?

Gallo is one example. How fascinating it would be to see what has been created by all of the ideas acquired by patrons because of their visit to the public library.

Thanks to EB for this tip!
Photo Credit: E&J Gallo

Jamboread this Saturday

Click on the logo for all of the details!