#lightrailbookreview from @PhxLibrary

Phoenix Public Library has a lovely series on Instagram of book reviews from people using the light rail system.  They are all people reading library books, and it is an excellent way to show how people are using the library.  It has local studies potential too. Have a look a the #lightrailbookreview tag on Instagram.

#lightrailbookreview 🌟 Quinn is reading "The Fireman" by Joe Hill. 🔥 "Joe Hill is the son of Stephen King. He's written 3 other books and they are all amazing. I've discovered this new author and I hope he has longevity like his father." 📚 #phoenix #phoenixpubliclibrary #phoenixlightrail #readingandriding #bookstagram #bookreview #igreads #nowreading #joehill #thefireman #stephenking #downtownphoenix #dtphx

A photo posted by Phoenix Public Library (@phoenixpubliclibrary) on Dec 7, 2016 at 2:49pm PST

A few thoughts on Anarchist's Guide to Historic House Museums

Anarchist's Guide to Historic House Museums by Franklin D. Vagnone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an impressive book which challenges people who manage house museums to really connect with the communities which surround the houses. It asks people to think about relevance and provides creative ways for exploring history. A big element is listening to the community, and reaching out to non-traditional audiences. While this book is about house museums it is relevant for thinking about local studies collections, and even about libraries as a whole. It is not about providing the answers, but about exploring lots of questions.

View all my reviews

Changing lives and enriching communities in #yxe - great work by @stoonlibrary

I came across the following headline in Infodocket (go and have a look at the link)

Saskatchewan: Saskatoon Public Library Dedicates Space for Truth and Reconciliation

You can read more about what the Saskatoon Library is doing in reconciliation.

The #Reconciliation Reading Room is now open at Frances Morrison Library! Come have a seat and browse our Indigenous collection. #reconciliationsk #yxe

A photo posted by Saskatoon Public Library (@saskatoonpubliclibrary) on Nov 21, 2016 at 8:52am PST

The description of the library, on their twitter account is "Changing lives and enriching communities in #yxe - Treaty 6 Territory and the homeland of the Métis."   This looks great.  Does your organisation acknowledge the local Indigenous community on your site? 

Collecting local industry for local studies

This article shows how a library is collecting information about their local craft brewing industry.  Oregan State University Library has key archives.  While is this currently a small collection, they are collecting it. Cornell University has a research wine library, and he Louis B Nunn Centre has an oral history collection about bourbon.

With the expansion of craft brewing in Australia there is a lot of potential for collecting oral history, ephemera and other material.

This is not the only area to explore.  There has been some very interesting work done by industries as this recent digital story about wool in Shetland shows.

How are you collecting local industry as part of local studies?