Why wait for the "local media" to do it? The local library can be local media, as surely as the local newspaper. In fact, in some ways you're better situated because if you can break even on the venture, you could probably justify it as a public service. I'd jump at the chance, as a journalist, to go to work for an organization like a library (or maybe a school district?) -- not as a PR person, but as a reporter who covers local resources in a way that newspapers did before national wire services became centerpieces of their coverage.

How do you handle privacy matters when it comes to publishing photos, especially when children are in the photos?

We have just created a photo release form but making sure a form is filled out each time a photo is taken is a lot of work, especially when you are already in the middle of running a program. It also creates a ton of paperwork. Suggestions?

Elaine

If a child is going to be personally identifiable, we contact a parent and ask permission. We do this by exception, rather than asking that a form be filled out, which is a bother, as you note, but also creates expectations that a child's picture WILL be shown, and thus can lead to disappointment.

Truly, our intent is not to focus on individual users, but to present a picture of library use in general.

To David Brazeal:

While we are very interested in getting local information out to the community -- quickly and accurately -- we would much prefer that it be provided by the local newspapers, for a number of reasons.

First, we don't want to find ourselves in competition with media providers, since we are intent on providing free and neutral access, which wouldn't fit the concept you espouse of attempting to at least break even to support the necessary staffing.

Second, we don't see news reporting as a core competency of the Library. We have started a blog, as you note on your blog, but that is a demonstration of what can be done, and we will happily move into our natural role as a portal with access to a range of local comment and information when it becomes widely available.