Tag Archives: Richard
Iron & Steel: Epilogue
As someone not born or raised here, I’ve always been struck by the split in opinions regarding Andrew Carnegie and his legacy. Was he an innovative industrialist and role-model philanthropist, or a robber-baron of the worst stripe, more than willing to trod … Continue reading
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Iron & Steel – Part II
For three and a half years I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with many dedicated individuals in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh as we’ve assembled and created the Pittsburgh Iron & Steel Heritage Collection. At each step … Continue reading
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Iron & Steel – Part I
- THERE is a glamor about the making of steel. (Fitch, The Steelworkers. 1910.) It’s an inevitable word association. It doesn’t matter that 30 – 40 years have passed since the collapse of the monolithic steel industry here; mention Pittsburgh and … Continue reading
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What are the Most Popular (Nonfiction) Books in the Library?
With all due respect to CBS and you-know-who’s top ten lists. That is one of the more frequently asked questions I am asked, or a variation thereof. It might be “What’s the most popular?” or maybe “What has gone out … Continue reading
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Something is Rotten, and it isn’t in Denmark
It’s much closer to home amongst us at the library and with you the reader. To be more precise, with you the eBook reader. Not to worry though: this isn’t anything either of us did – it’s the way things … Continue reading
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Fifteen cents a word to read . . .
Western Union, The Five Americans, 1967 . Most of us are familiar with Western Union as a way to send or transfer money, if regular banking or Paypal can’t be used. Before ATMs, a Western Union “Moneygram” was about the only way … Continue reading
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Foot N’ Mouth, or 12 years of Social Networking
I’ve had some very interesting experiences over the last few years with what we’ve come to call social networking. I got to thinking about what for me has been over 10 years of it, once known in the library world as … Continue reading
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Does History Move or Repeat?
The last time I wrote something here, it concerned the continuation of the Arab Spring specifically in Libya. It’s one month later and there is no change yet in Libya’s governance or what is left of it. The rebels are … Continue reading
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In The News: Libya
I can’t decide if it’s me or Pittsburgh, and how news is covered or presented, or if the quantity of news information available reduces almost every storyline to Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame. Outside of Queen Elizabeth II and Fidel … Continue reading
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In Your Own Backyard
Remember this one? “If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, does make noise”? There’s a library corollary to that; “If we invest in really great resources, and no one knows about them, … Continue reading
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