Des Moines Register staff Writer Mike Kilen's thoughtful article on on the downtown Des Moines Public Library staff is really worth a read. While he showers praise on the staff for the recent rescue of a kidnapped child, he also seems to begrudgingly admit that public reference librarians are still a vital resource in the information age:

These are tough folks. Forget the shushing, bifocals-and-support-hose librarian. They don't like that image. Librarians are people who endure fickle budget decisions, the Patriot Act, the ever-changing information age and still have time for random arrests. They may be the most unusual public servant left in our time. More...

Posted on the APLS listserve. Thanks, Pooky!