Jackson County libraries threatened with closure

For the Ashland Daily Tidings, Vickie Aldous reports that a loss of revenues threaten Jackson County libraries with closure. Perhaps now might be a good time to consider a permanent financing district, as approved during the November election in Multnomah County, Ore.

Just say no, Adam Bryant, to scary face-vibe

Adam Bryant on LinkedIn

I have mixed feelings about a post by Adam Bryant on LinkedIn about nonverbal cues. A subordinate asked Bryant, “Are you mad at me,” reaching this conclusion based upon something he or she had read in Bryant’s face.

From the incident, Bryant said he learned “a memorable lesson that day about how people can read so much into subtle, and often unintended, cues. From that moment on, I found myself making much more of an effort to be aware of my body language, particularly with the team of reporters I was leading, and to always show energy, confidence and optimism, even if I was on a tight deadline and wrestling with a difficult problem.”

I think Bryant is correct that people will look to a leader for guidance and watch his or her every move. And being aware of the impression you are making is certainly good advice.

I have severe misgivings, however, about “picking a face” and then consistently displaying that same face all the time.

I have a difficult enough time interpreting nonverbal cues from facial expressions and body language without their being compounded by an unnaturally blank expression or one that appears not to quite fit with what’s going on. A furrowed brow is less ambiguous even if my conclusion is wrong.

Your carefully neutral expression will more likely give off the scary face-vibe and then I’ll really wonder if you’re angry at me.

I was directed to Bryant’s post via a blog entry by Steve Buttry.

Ari Ne’eman analyses DSM-5 autism criteria

For the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, Ari Ne’eman analyses DSM-5 autism criteria and its potential impact on services.

The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), released on May 18, combines Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder -- Not Otherwise Specified under a single diagnostic category of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Concerning the loss of Asperger syndrome as a separate diagnosis, Ne’eman indicates, “Many state agencies and school districts have implicit, and occasionally explicit, policies against allowing those with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome or PDD-NOS to access services associated with an autism diagnosis.”

Like Ne’eman, I don’t share the views of critics who “couched their arguments in terms of culture.” Ne’eman reproduces a statement by Michael John Carley of the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partership speaking to National Public Radio: “I personally am probably going to have a very hard time calling myself autistic.”

As reported by Ne’eman, Carley added “that he would find it difficult to share a diagnosis with ‘somebody who might have to wear adult diapers and maybe a head-restraining device.’”

Ne’eman, in response, states that “Carley and others are missing an opportunity to fight prejudice against all those on the spectrum, regardless of their support needs. ...

“By unifying our identity, we can include in our struggle those whom chance and circumstances have placed in separate diagnostic categories. Beyond that, there is something vaguely repulsive about maintaining the Asperger syndrome diagnosis solely to avoid prejudice and presumptions of inability. Shouldn’t we be trying to eliminate stigma and low expectations for everyone, rather than just shifting it to those who are less equipped to fight it? We can and should use this collective diagnosis as a chance to reinforce the relevance of human rights and self-advocacy for all of us.”

The concern that Ne’eman feels carries the most validity is if everyone who qualified for an autism spectrum diagnosis under DSM-4 will continue to do so under DSM-5. He does point out that for the first time, under DSM-5, people can meet criteria both “currently or by history” and that criteria explicitly acknowledges learned strategies and coping skills.

But Ne’eman echoes sentiments I have heard elsewhere and also believe: that the real test of the DSM-5 will come when it is applied in the field.

Ne’eman is president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and one of President Obama’s appointees to the National Council on Disability. His report is part of a series of articles exploring the DSM-5.

Big Library Read: an initial success

Image source: OverDrive

According to Mercy Pilkington, writing for GoodEReader.com, the Big Library Read saw an initial success of more than 7 million cover impressions, or views, for its featured title, The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone (Sourcebooks, 2010).

Pilkington quotes Steve Potash, CEO of Overdrive who, with Dominique Raccah, CEO of Sourcebooks, talked about early results during BookExpo America:

“There are a lot of so-called industry experts who don’t know the library market and don’t the value that libraries bring to authors. I said ‘Let’s try an experiment.’ I naturally called Dominique, who is an entrepreneur on 360-sides of this book business. I came up with a check list to demonstrate very quickly how libraries are helping readers connect with authors and get authors discovered.”

During their joint experiment, the Big Library Read promotion, The Four Corners of the Sky was made simultaneously available to all patrons at more than 7,500 OverDrive partner libraries. I accessed the title through the Oregon Digital Library Association’s Library 2 Go OverDrive platform.

The Four Corners of the Sky is at once a romance and espionage tale, centering around the relationship between a U.S. Navy pilot, Annie P. Goode, and her father, Jack Peregrine, a con artist. When she was 7 years old, Jack abruptly left her with his sister Sam and her housemate Clark and disappeared.

On her 26th birthday, Annie is unexpectedly drawn into an investigation involving a gold statue of the Virgin Mary. The Cuban government and a Miami diocese both have an interest in the statue while Annie has never been sure the statue existed, as it was one more fantastic tale told to her by her father. Annie has questions of her own for her father, about the identity of her mother.

The story is fast-paced and enjoyable, with characters whose personalities are vividly conveyed. Malone’s story caught my interest in its opening pages and I am enjoying the adventure.

I’ll allow Pilkington the final word declaring the promotion a success: “With over 40,000 public library patrons currently reading the title, it would seem so. Libraries are already ordering a copy of all of Malone’s other works, but Potash predicts that sales to libraries are going to take off.”

‘United for Marriage’ in Oregon

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley speaks at Portland Sunnyside Church during
Oregon United for Marriage’s ‘Summer of Love’ kick-off
Image credit: Oregon United for Marriage

Oregon United for Marriage kicked off its “Summer of Love” canvass for marriage equality at several Oregon locations today, including downtown Ashland. The campaign’s objective is to collect the 116,284 signatures necessary to place a marriage equality measure on the November 2014 ballot.

Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship hosted the Ashland kick-off event. Cass Cole, a field organizer with Basic Rights Oregon “held down the fort” while volunteers canvassed for supporters at the downtown farmers’ market.

As a marriage equality ally newly arrived in Oregon, I want to see my state overturn its 2004 constitutional ban defining marriage “between one man and one woman.” The “Freedom to Marry and Religious Protection Act” would allow same-sex couples to obtain a license for civil marriage.