Songs About Librarians

About eight years ago (wow, time has flown!), as part of a post titled "Libraries are Awesome!", I posted this video by the fictional Norwegian boy band, Boyzvoice.

That's just a clip (I think it's from a mockumentary the group made), but if you want to hear the entire song, here's a link. (I love the lyrics where, to show how much he loves his library girl, he reads a thousand books about a girl called Nancy Drew).

Then, recently, I heard a song called "The Librarian" by Honor Finnegan. It was the second time I'd heard it, and given my weakness for books, libraries and love songs, it caught my attention (and reminded me of the "Library Girl" song above).

So, I set out on a search for more songs about libraries and librarians. There are more than I would have imagined. Some are by librarians, singing about the library's services. (Note: I had another song here, but it disappeared, so my apologies for the dearth of actual songs in this post).

There were some songs that had library in the title, but didn't seem to be about libraries or librarians (or maybe just one incidental line), and there were a number meant for children. Which is cool, just not what I was looking for.

There were songs by apparent amateurs, such as "I'm in Love with a Librarian" by Beatnik.

Amazingly enough (to me, anyway), there were a number of songs by name artists. Tom Chapin sang "Library Song." Jimmy Buffett had a song called Love in the Library. "Marian the Librarian" is from the musical The Music Man. 

And, of course, "Librarian" by My Morning Jacket.

I could go on, but these were some of the most interesting. If you've run across other songs about libraries or librarians, feel free to chime in.

Eight years later, libraries are still amazing, aren't they?

Best,

Libraries: Here for the Long Haul

Over the years, people have worried about "the end of things." VCRs would mean the end of theaters, for example. Having the ability to tape a song off the radio would be the end of people buying music. Neither of those things have happened, but...let's face it, we can all think of many industries/items/jobs that have vanished, become less prominent or have been replaced by alternatives. Think of the horse and carriage, the ice delivery man, chimney sweeps, switchboard operators. Times change, and the world changes with it.

The end of the community library has been predicted at one time or another, but libraries have proven themselves to be adaptable to a changing world. At one time, they were merely repositories of books. Then they added music and movies in the form of VHS tapes (which were then replaced with DVDs).

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And today, in the era of the ebook and streaming video, they have made even more adjustments. I was on my local library's website the other day, and from the website alone, I can check out ebooks, download movies or music, access databases, get book suggestions, ask a librarian a question, make book purchase suggestions for the library, and take part in an online book club.

If I physically visit the library, I can attend lectures or music performances, rent meeting space, borrow passes to local museums, borrow an ereader if I don't own one, or borrow a "book club in a bag" (a bag with 10 copies of a book, info on the author, suggested discussion topics, questions and other info). I can access computers to do research if I don't have my own, or I can simply use my own laptop to log onto the library's wifi.

This library at Keene State University is in charge of the "Green bikes" program, and students can check out a bicycle via the library.

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The library in Skokie, Illinois, has a digital media lab (equipped with computers, cameras, video cameras, scanners, microphones, musical instruments, mp3 recorders, and lots of other equipment and software, including a green screen) which patrons can use for videos, music, photos, presentations, podcasts, websites, graphic design and other types of digital presentation.

Libraries are at the cutting edge, always looking for new ways to engage the community. Some offer 3D printers, media kiosks (one article equated them to library Red Boxes) and apps for cell phones that help patrons locate materials in the library, learn more about books or get book recommendations. 

And yes, since libraries rely on tax dollars to operate, many of them are struggling these days. But they are also powerhouses of innovation. 

Long live libraries!