“Is Google making us stupid?” Nicholas Carr asked, in a celebrated Atlantic Monthl
y cover story. Carr delves further into the question in his book The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, the selected title for “Libraries Read: 1 Book.”MCLS invited library staff across Indiana and Michigan to place votes on one of four titles to select one book that we will all read and discuss together for professional development. Nicholas Carr’s book captured the most votes. In The Shallows, he explores the net’s intellectual and cultural consequences.MCLS encourages library staff to read the book throughout June and July, then join us in a Twitter chat and regional discussions about the book.According to Randy Dykhuis, MCLS Executive Director, “During 2014, MCLS conducted a series of community conversations with librarians throughout Indiana and Michigan, utilizing the tools from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. The desire to have discussions in many formats, and to communicate with one another outside of our silos was a recurring theme. By reading one book together, we aim to create deeper connections among libraries that span geographic and other boundaries.”
y cover story. Carr delves further into the question in his book The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, the selected title for “Libraries Read: 1 Book.”MCLS invited library staff across Indiana and Michigan to place votes on one of four titles to select one book that we will all read and discuss together for professional development. Nicholas Carr’s book captured the most votes. In The Shallows, he explores the net’s intellectual and cultural consequences.MCLS encourages library staff to read the book throughout June and July, then join us in a Twitter chat and regional discussions about the book.According to Randy Dykhuis, MCLS Executive Director, “During 2014, MCLS conducted a series of community conversations with librarians throughout Indiana and Michigan, utilizing the tools from the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. The desire to have discussions in many formats, and to communicate with one another outside of our silos was a recurring theme. By reading one book together, we aim to create deeper connections among libraries that span geographic and other boundaries.”
Book Discussions
- July 21, 2 pm Eastern. Twitter Chat. Use the hashtag #mclschat
Indiana Discussions - August 2, 10 am to Noon Eastern. Monroe County Public Library, Bloomington, IN
- August 3, 10 am to Noon Central. Lake County Public Library, Merrillville, IN
- August 4, 2 pm to 4 pm Eastern. Indianapolis Public Library Service Center, Indianapolis, IN
Michigan Discussions - August 5, 11 am to 1 pm Eastern. MCLS, Lansing, MI: This discussion will be led by Michigan librarian extraordinaire Kevin King, Head, Branch and IT Services Kalamazoo Public Library
- September 29. Peter White Library, Marquette, MI: These discussion will be part of the Upper Peninsula Region of Library Cooperation (UPRLC) meeting. Discussion times will be during the afternoon breakout session. There will be two to choose from, one from 2:30-3:15, and the second from 3:30-4:15. Come to one or both.
Credit: 2 general LEUs for Indiana staff for in-person discussions
For more information about “Libraries Read: 1 Book”, contact Michelle Bradley at Bradleym@mcls.org, visit our Facebook page 
or read our blog.
