Story Archives of 'Libraries'

The video game Grand Theft Auto IV hits the streets today.  Controversy has surrounded the Grand Theft series since its beginning, due to its adult nature and violence.  But its in-depth storylines and high production values have helped the franchise sell over 70 million copies, and the new release is expected to be the top selling game of all time. Politicians and pundits have linked every school shooting in recent memory to violent video games, and they are often accused of corrupting our nation's youth. But there is a growing body of research that shows no connection.  Cheryl Olson and her husband, Lawrence Kutner, direct the Center for Mental Health and Media at Massachusetts General Hospital, and they're psychiatrists at Harvard Medical School. They've co-authored a new book, Grand Theft Childhood. Tuesday on Word of Mouth, New Hampshire Public Radio's Abby Goldstein talks with Cheryl Olson about her research.

Video games are also popping-up in places you might not expect, like your local public library. We'll talk with Beth Gallaway, a consultant who helps libraries set-up video game programs to attract more members of the community, no matter what their age. Her company, Information Goddess Consulting, is based in Hampton, New Hampshire.

(Photo by Adam Melancon)

Ash trees are dying by the millions across the midwest because of an infestation of a foreign bug.

In one town, they're using the dead wood to help build a library.

Lester Graham reports the wood beams and flooring will be a permanent exhibit to remind visitors of the trees that were once there and the cost of imported pests.

Plymouth State University, Monday, shared the stage with the University of Washington, Rensselaer Polytechnic, and Yale as some of the ten winners of the first annual Mellon Award for Technology Collaboration.

PSU won the 50 thousand dollar prize thanks to the work of Casey Bisson who has a joint appointment with PSU's library and it's Information Techonology department.

Bisson describes his programming invention to NHPR's Mark Bevis.

If you're an avid buyer of books on web sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell's or any other online bookseller, you might be interested in a small gadget created by New Hampshire web guru, Jon Udell. It doesn't cost a penny and what it lets you do is check quickly to see if your local library has a copy of a book you might have thought of buying. Udell hopes his little invention not only might save you money, it might bring you just a little bit closer to your neighbors.

The role of today's libraries is more varied than ever. We'll talk with New Hampshire State Librarian Michael York about how their unique role has evolved in New Hampshire, with a focus on how they remain determined to uphold the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We'll also talk with Lisa Morin, the director of the Lee Public Library about how libraries are working to bring more patrons through the doors.

We'll also hear the story of one library on the West Coast that handled a vandal's attacks on its collection by turning his destruction into art. This piece comes to us via the Public Radio Exchange. Click here for a direct link to the story.