New Scientist Environment Blog: Amish are surprise champions of solar technology - New Scientist

The Amish are often cited as examples of how to live more simply, more frugally, and now, more than ever, more "green". Books on eco-friendly technology might be a good collection to provide for them.


New Scientist Environment Blog: Amish are surprise champions of solar technology - New Scientist

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Documentary: The Devil's Playground

I caught this interesting and controversial documentary on television recently, but it is also available through services such as Netflix:



It explores the time period during which Amish teenagers are free to explore modern life in the outside world before choosing to commit, as adults, to living according to traditional Amish ways. This period of freedom is known as rumschpringe (literally, "running around") and typically lasts from the completion of school until marriage in their early twenties. Although the documentary does not focus on libraries, it is interesting to note the implications of teenagers' experimenting with a modern lifestyle; i.e. it is this age group which is most likely to make use of a library's alternate media formats such as cd's, videos, and dvd's -- items which are frequently not permitted at home.

More can be read on this topic at Wikipedia. There's also a great article about this topic and the film at NPR.



Uhler, Linda. (2006, June). From Kerosene to Computers: The Library Links Two Worlds in an Amish Community. Voice of Youth Advoctates 29(2), 126-127.

Window To My World: An Amish Christmas - REVIEWED

Here's a review of a seasonally appropriate title which might interest anyone who enjoys learning about the Amish lifestyle. Some things to think about in terms of selection might be - would the Amish themselves enjoy these books? Is this an accurate depiction of their lifestyle? Is the author Amish, or on what credentials does she base her knowledge?

Window To My World: An Amish Christmas - REVIEWED

Maine town quickly embraces new, Amish neighbors - The Boston Globe

Maine town quickly embraces new, Amish neighbors - The Boston Globe

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A heartwarming news article describing a town to which a number of Amish families have recently migrated. Libraries located in towns to which Amish people are newcomers should consider in what ways their services can be extended in order to reach them - both physically, if necessary, and figuratively speaking.