Hey avenging librarians… A few weeks ago, Bill Harmer wrote a letter asking for our help. You may remember Bill as the founder of the Rock n Roll library tour that was featured on This American Life. I wrote about the show here.
Bill wants to take the Rock n Roll library tour nationwide. Last summer the Michigan tour was a big success, and he wants to get at least one library to sign up in each of the 50 states. This is a killer after-school program that serves the dual purpose of getting reluctant readers in the library, and busting through some myths about how the library is boring. You know? Those myths? Now you can do something about them.
After some initial hoo-ha-ing, the ALA got its act together and is sort of helping out. You can now register your very own ever-loving library for the tour. You’ll be booking library rock n’ roll veterans The High Strung for an all-ages show and a question and answer session afterward.
Just read the press release, then write to Bill and he’ll make it happen.
I hope they come here. Ithaca is desperate for decent music. There’s a large Contra Dance movement here that MUST BE STOPPED. Also, if anybody has suggestions or offers of help, I think Bill would be glad to hear them.
I assume you’re familiar with BlöödHag? (“The faster you go deaf, the more time you have to read.”)
For what it’s worth, I grew up in Binghamton and spent many fitful nights trying to stop both Ithaca-based contra dancing and morris dancing. Won’t work; it’s like a vampire. A curiously seductive vampire that your girlfriend keeps asking you to meet because she’s sure you’ll like it if you give it a chance.
Ok, I love rock and roll, too – but don’t knock the contra until you’ve tried it. And then, still don’t knock it. It’s awesome.