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.
January 21, 2010 - reading is both science and magic
I'm a pretty fast reader. Because of that, I usually only read one book at a time. (That also helps me keep the characters and plots straight.)
But last weekend, I broke the pattern, in part because the formats of the books were so different.
January 14, 2010 - what's 'it' all about?
You may have noticed, over the past several months, teasing posters and ads around the county talking about a mysterious red-lettered "it." Now the mystery can be revealed.
This little campaign, done very much on the cheap, and depending on the generosity of our many community partners (all sworn to good-natured secrecy), is about ... the Douglas County Libraries.
Yes, we are it!
January 7, 2010 - build your business at the library
Byline: The BizInfo Librarians at the Douglas County Libraries
December 31, 2009 - that was the year that was
Here at the end of 2009, I sent an email around to the staff of the Douglas County Libraries. I asked them to reflect on what they were proud of over the past year. I thought I'd share their responses with you.
December 24, 2009 - a gift for all ages
December 24, 2007 - A Gift Suitable for All Ages
For the past several years, I've been reprinting what I've come to think of as "my holiday column" -- a tradition. I hope you enjoy it.
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December 17, 2009 - 7 arguments for building new libraries
Recently, one of our employees moved to the Midwest to become the director of a library whose main building was destroyed by a thousand year flood. On the one hand, many members of the community are working to restore that library.
On the other, this former employee tells me he's hearing more and more often the refrain that building libraries just isn't necessary. Not in the 21st century. Not in the age of the Internet.
December 10, 2009 - potential ballot issues undo public infrastructure
Last week, I wrote about civic literacy. One aspect of that is knowing something about our framework of laws, the United States Constitution.
Libraries are very much about the First Amendment -- freedom of speech. Sometimes, that gets awkward.
As I think Reggie Rivers once said, nobody minds if you stand on a street corner and profess your tender affection for butterflies.
December 3, 2009 - what do you know about your country?
OK, grown-ups, it's time for a test. Go to this link:
http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx
It's sponsored by the ISI, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. The only personal information you're asked to provide is your education level and income.
November 19, 2009 - the learning library
Douglas County Libraries has learned some things. Beginning with our experiments in Roxborough, then Lone Tree, we discovered that a combination of self-check technologies and displays meant that we could move far more books, movies, and music with the same staff and space. In fact, we have almost 7% fewer staff this year than last.
November 12, 2009 - defy dyslexia, discover reading!
Some months ago, I got an email from Erica Vlahinos, a senior at Douglas County High School. She told me that she was a Girl Scout, working on her Gold Award Project -- the equivalent of a Boy Scout Eagle Award.
