San Francisco: In a digital age, libraries are more needed than ever [Luis Herrera]

from the San Francisco Chronicle

“We live in a networked world where communication, technology and information all are essential to live a productive life. San Francisco has emerged as the epicenter of this global revolution, creating iconic companies that are rapidly changing the way we live. But San Francisco is also a tale of two cities — one highly literate and educated, the other disconnected from the resources and benefits of technology. This critical divide between the haves and have-nots makes public library systems more relevant than ever.”

http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/In-a-digital-age-libraries-are-more-needed-than-6347419.php

CENIC and the City and County of San Francisco collaborate to make San Francisco Public Library the first 10 gigabit library in the U.S.

from Business Wire

“San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC), and the City and County of San Francisco announced today that they have collaborated to provide unprecedented direct connection at 10 gigabits per second access speed to CENIC’s California Research and Education Network (CalREN) and from there to the world.”

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150626005710/en/CENIC-City-County-San-Francisco-Collaborate-San#.VZHAqEbG9yE

Public Library to help San Francisco adults earn online high school diplomas

from the San Francisco Appeal

“The San Francisco Public Library announced Thursday plans to launch an online high school diploma program beginning in August that aims to help some of the 30,000 San Francisco adults who did not graduate from high school earn an accredited high school diploma as well as certificates in high-growth, high-demand career fields, according to a library spokesman.”

http://sfappeal.com/2015/06/public-library-to-help-sf-adults-earn-online-hs-diplomas/

San Rafael police warn residents about library fundraising scam

from KRON4

San Rafael police are warning residents about a phone scam that asks residents to contribute money to the San Rafael Library.”

http://kron4.com/2015/06/25/san-rafael-police-warn-residents-about-library-fundraising-scam/

At the heart of the Monterey Public Library, a homeless community

from the Monterey Herald

“Minutes before the Monterey Public Library opened its doors on Wednesday, a group of homeless people filled the rear quad area. The atmosphere was tranquil, though just five days previously their refuge was tainted by a deadly altercation. Just after midnight on June 19, three homeless men were involved in a tragic event that left a man dead, a 22-year-old injured and a suspect behind bars.”

http://www.montereyherald.com/general-news/20150626/at-the-heart-of-the-monterey-public-library-a-homeless-community

Butte County: Library cuts a matter of poor priorities

from the Chico Enterprise Record

” The supervisors voted Tuesday to slice hours at the Chico branch, the most- used of the six branches in the county library system. That means the library will now be closed Mondays and will be open later each morning Tuesdays through Thursdays. The changes start July 5.”

http://chicoenterpriserecord.ca.newsmemory.com/publink.php?shareid=06e629776

Redlands: Hindi story time a weekly tradition at library

from the Press Enterprise

“A dozen children sit in rapt attention as Meenakshi Tyagi counts for them in Hindi. Then they spring to life, repeating the numbers and the names of the fruits and vegetables she points to in a colorful picture book with Hindi lettering. The children are participating in weekly Hindi Story Time at Redlands’ A.K. Smiley Public Library. For half an hour Monday evenings, Tyagi relates stories, sings rhyming songs and teaches vocabulary words in Hindi to a group that numbers anywhere from six to 15 young members.”

http://www.pe.com/articles/hindi-771863-children-time.html