'The wheel is come full circle'.King Lear King Lear goes mad as all desert him. [Brit. Lit.: Shakespeare King Lear] See : Madness The multidimensional mul·ti·di·men·sion·al adj. Of, relating to, or having several dimensions. mul  ti·di·men public library has come a long way since the
mechanics' institute or school of arts subscription libraries still
in evidence in Australia as
Umbrella institution of the learning society Cathedral of human knowledge Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. vanguard Ideas centre Knowledge warehouses Digital nerve ends Open learning centre Cultural card Info gas station Empowerment supermarket The community's information switchboard A safe place to go The modern agora Places of connection Urban regenerators Hangouts at the heart of the community The community's knowledge centre The original information superhighway (1) A generic name for the Internet. (2) A proposed high-speed communications system that was touted by the Clinton/Gore administration to enhance education in America in the 21st century. Its purpose was to help all citizens regardless of their income level. Social weapon against information proverty The community's marketplace Community anchor Learning channels People's network Knowledge integrator Knowledge network Local gateway to knowledge Content foundry Imagination's stronghold The communit's connector Infomocracy's place Streetcorner universities Unique testbed of civic values The people's place The new village green The place to light up lives Best community investment The act of building a new library as analagous to building the community is the theme of the article by Michelle Ledger in this issue about the development of the outstanding new library of the Town of Cambridge The Town of Cambridge is a Local Government Area in the inner western suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, about 5 kilometres (0 mi) in WA. Many of the above terms are also reflected in the review of international library trends by Nerida Clifford and about which she concludes 'There is a sense of excitement about the future of public libraries'. Yet anyone who has even a fleeting knowledge of the history of mechanics' institutes Historically, Mechanics' Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men. As such, they were often funded by local industrialists on the grounds that they would ultimately benefit from having more and schools of arts will be aware that during the 19th and 20th centuries, the 2000 of them that were established reflected strongly the sense of community of which the modern public library too, is a primary manifestation. Joan Beddoe, in her account of that history in this issue, shows how their multidimensional role--as meeting place, community connector, educational venue, library provider, developer of social capital, architectural icon and source of civic pride is not so very different from that of today's public library. For about 150 years Australian communities invested in those institutes and schools of arts, but ultimately not well enough. Many of their handsome buildings remain, sometimes still housing a public library, as testimony to that sense of progress and community connection. Compare their photographs in this issue with those of the Cambridge Library. There is difference, but there is also connection. It is now time for more local communities to invest in replacing the old, cramped cramped adj. 1. Uncomfortably small or restricted: cramped living quarters. 2. Difficult to read, especially for being crowded into a small space: cramped handwriting. and unattractive public library building stock which is inhibiting the achievement of its full potential by the modern public library. And in advocacy for that replacement program, as the indomitable in·dom·i·ta·ble adj. Incapable of being overcome, subdued, or vanquished; unconquerable. [Late Latin indomit Daniel Ferguson suggests in his article in this issue, Friends of Libraries can have influence beyond their actual numbers. Things are happening. The Cambridge Library is but one of many recent fine new libraries in Australia and New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. . From 2000-2005, 170 new libraries or rebuilds will be constructed--about 15 per cent of the total public library buildings in Australia. Many more are needed, however. The challenge remains just how to convince decision makers of the unique multidimensional role and potential impact on the whole community--cradle to grave--of the modern public library and that it is the very best investment any community can make. That requires informed advocacy by public libraries ... and their Friends. |
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