LaRue's Views
This digital archives comprises Library Director Jamie LaRue's newspaper columns from January 3, 1996 - August 26, 2010.
In general, they appeared on the dates shown in various Colorado Community Newspapers.
Since September 2, 2010, the column moved off the library site to laruesviews.blogspot.com.
June 17, 2010 - self-publishing on the rise
I went to library school at the end of the 1970s. A big change was taking place in the world of book publishing.
June 10, 2010 - would Google do evil?
Almost everybody uses Google, even librarians.
And it gets easier all the time. It used to be, if you wanted to find the location of the nearest chain restaurant, you would type in the restaurant name, then look for locations.
That still works. But now, on that golden first page of hits, you'll also find a map of the Denver or Douglas County area.
How does that happen?
June 3, 2010 - whom should you trust?
Years ago, a friend of mine adopted a dog from the pound. The dog, a beautiful German shepherd/Doberman mix, had clearly been mistreated. The first time I met him, I greeted him with a happy "hello!" and put out my hand to pet him. He was so frightened he wet the carpet. Other dogs so treated turn vicious.
May 20, 2010 - praise the entrepreneur
I know who created most of the new jobs in this country over the past ten years. I know how many job-makers we're talking about.
I know how old they are, what gender they are likely to be, and a little bit about their background.
I know where they live.
May 13, 2010 - he's back!
What should you do when you have a strong response to something you read in the paper?
Let's say you like a particular column. You can pen an approving letter to the editor, or send a glowing email or voice mail to the writer. It is pleasant to find people with whom one agrees. Too few of us take the time to compliment others, and thereby build communities of interest and mutual support.
May 6, 2010 - library card passport to museum
[This week is yet another wonderful guest column, this one by one of our "behind the scenes" librarians making great things happen for our patrons.]
05/06/10 Looking for Adventure? - Deb Margeson
Who doesn’t want a little adventure in their lives? Especially if it’s free.
April 22, 2010 - library offers new ways to listen to music
As a teenager, I listened to music in one of three ways: on my transistor radio (portable), on the radio in my room (a dedicated device plugged into the wall), or on the stereo.
For the stereo, I bought a few albums, but like most teenagers mostly I bought, and listened to, 45s.
April 15, 2010 - the Taipei Public Library
This week's column is by my daughter, Madeleine LaRue, currently teaching English in Taipei City, Taiwan. She is the child of two librarians, and as you can see, this has left its mark.
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The Taipei public library, by Madeleine LaRue
About a year and a half ago I read an essay by George Orwell called “Books vs. Cigarettes,” in which he defends of his habit of buying books by systematically proving that it is not, in fact, as expensive as other hobbies, such as smoking. I don’t smoke, and thank God, because I, like Orwell, already spend the majority of my paycheck on books. Since moving to Taiwan this has become problematic: all English-language books here are imported, and therefore astronomically expensive.
