evil twin moment

[luciab]

I have the germ of an evil idea about the public library paper I have to write. She wants imaginative, right? Well, how about this-- give some real service to the underserved populations: immigrants (language classes) unemployed (help with job skills, including job search, how to fill out an application, GED classes) and homeless (showers.) maybe even an area of the parking lot for day labor pickup. (Damn, I wish I knew where to find the articles on this I found for my Foundations class.) Not that anyone who has any say over the budget would want anything to do with this, nor would the entrepreneurs who want to lease space to the library because they think it would be a status addition to their project, but hey, it's a school paper, right? Students are expected to be all pie-in-the-sky and impractical. There's lots of talk in library school classes about "access for everyone" and plenty of bemoaning illiteracy and such, so I think I may have found my hook. Makes me want to rub ny hands together and utter sinister laughs. Heh.

In all honesty, I must credit my lovely apprentice harleenquinzell with the suggestion of showers, which started me down that path, and a fabulous path I think it will be. I hadn't had a chance to see her for weeks, maybe even since school started. I was starting to jones for a visit with her, so last night was wonderful. I don't know when I've laughed so much. After she left to catch foklens' gig I went down to zihuatenejo's house for Book Club. Turns out I got there too late for the book discussion, which is probably just as well; it's been so long since I read the book that I had absolutely nothing to say about it except "I liked it." That right there put me in a class by myself-- apparently no one else liked it. Oh, well. I had a great time there, too. Talk about books and politics and web sites I'd never visited before. Oh, yeah, THAT kind of site. Heh.

Oh, well, back to the paper. Sigh.

Comments

Homeless in the library

[tall-man.livejournal.com]

I know that deza has gotten in well with some of our local homeless by calling the county sheriff's extension officer for homelessness to give 'em a ride to the shelter on cold nights. Showers aren't the only thing the library has to offer (and, IMO, contacting the officer is closer to the library's mission, as it's providing information -- the officer's number, and the location of the homeless guys -- to interested parties).

Another idea would be offering up library space (say, the meeting room?) for dental/medical exams and basic treatment to poor/homeless patrons -- exams offered in co-operation with, say, UNC's medical school, so that you're connecting two interested members of the served population.

Re: Homeless in the library

[luciab.livejournal.com]

Thank you! great ideas.

[harleenquinzell.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! I'm useful!! Yay!! :)

It was wonderful seeing you too. I need to stop being a hermit.

B.