Category Archives: Chicago

March 18, 2011 · 2:26 am

Chicago Deskset 2nd Annual Book Drive

One year ago, the Chicago Deskset had our very first event at The Grafton. Come join us again for our one year anniversary! We will be taking book donations for the incarcerated teens at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center. This is a great cause and last year we were able to raise hundreds of books! Let’s do it again! Here is a breakdown:

Where: The Grafton Pub and Grill (Western stop, Brown Line and there is also ample stree…t parking and a paid lot across the street)

When: Saturday, April 9th, 2011 2:00pm-5:00pm

What to bring: as many YA books as your tote bag can handle!

Who is invited: Library workers, students, book lovers, friends, family! If you are interested in our mission, then you are invited!

We’ll also be raffling off a gift certificate to Unabridged Bookstore!

Please make sure you RSVP if you plan on attending.

And if you are interested in helping out or you just have questions, shoot us an email at:

chicagodeskset@gmail.com

Also check out our website: http://chicagodeskset.com/

We look forward to seeing everyone!

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Filed under Chicago, Deskset

October 30, 2010 · 1:09 pm

A Divided City: librarians have become a discretionary purchase

I have blogged about both YOUMedia and Whittier Elementary School, both in Chicago.  YOUMedia is Chicago’s highly successful digital space for teens.  Whittier Elementary School (Chicago Public Schools) was a school where parent’s staged a month long sit-in to restore the schools library.

Well, a recent article explains that the sit-in at Whittier Elementary School was a minor success in regards to the 164 Chicago Public Schools lacking a library.  1 in 4 elementary schools and 51 high schools in Chicago do not have a stand alone professionally staffed library.  The deathblow comes from an expert on urban education who states that librarians have become a discretionary purchase.

So in Chicago, kids likely have no access to a library in their schools, but a lucky few have access to games at YOUMedia?  Don’t get me wrong, I think YOUMedia is great, and will be the future of libraries.  I think Chicago Public Library is a great organization, but I’m just trying to point out the obvious divide here.  How is Chicago so supportive of libraries on one-hand and yet also view libraries as discretionary purchases on the other?

The biggest question for me is how are teens suppose to use the YOUMedia center if they have not had access to libraries in their schools?  More importantly, how are the kids who most need access to libraries going feel about all of this?

 

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Filed under Chicago, digital divide, information activist

October 13, 2010 · 4:36 pm

Chicago Deskset — Game Night

Hi all,

When is the last time you hung out at the arcade? Come to Chicago Deskset’s game night at Dave & Buster’s. This is very low key — just games, beer and some time to hang out with your fellow Desksetters. Think of it as networking…with some DDR thrown in the mix.

We will meet up Friday, November 5th, after we have all finished work for the week. We can meet up out front at 7:30PM. If you show up late, no problem! Just wander around until you find Adam battling Tony at Star Wars Pod Racing 🙂

You can RSVP to the Facebook event and tell your friends! All are invited.

Hope to see you there!

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Filed under Chicago, Deskset