The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | September 15, 2010
Contents
American Libraries Online
ALA News
Booklist Online
Division News
Awards
Seen Online
Tech Talk
Publishing
Actions & Answers
New This Week
Calendar
ALA Qur’an read-out commemorates 9/11
Barbara Jones, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, opened a 9/11 commemoration at ALA headquarters in Chicago September 11 that started taking shape earlier in the week as a protest and ended up as a statement to the world that librarians value reading, learning, and tolerance over book-burning, fear, and ignorance. Jones made her statement to about 50 people who showed up for the event, which featured readings from the Qur’an by American Libraries Editor Leonard Kniffel, Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Kiran Ansari of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. It was covered by local media. Watch a video (13:34) of the presentation....
AL: Inside Scoop, Sept. 11; Chicago Tribune, Sept. 11; PIO, Sept. 13; AL Focus, Sept. 12
Web-scale discovery products gain user ground
“The proof that our approach is working is clear, based on customer response,” Serials Solutions’ Vice President of Product Management and Marketing Stan Sorensen said, telling American Libraries of his firm’s web-scale discovery product Summon, which has reached the 100-customer mark. Also making a big splash in this area is EBSCO’s Discovery Service product, which has garnered a sizeable handful of users already, including Northeastern University, Indiana University in Bloomington, and the University of Liverpool, since late summer....
American Libraries news, Sept. 15
20 years of assistive technologies
Barbara T. Mates writes: “On July 26, thousands of people applauded the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which mandated that disabled individuals be accorded the same rights as persons without disabilities. The celebration stimulated reflection and debate on the effectiveness of the law. No consensus about success has been reached, but most people agree that despite slow and steady progress, much still remains to be done—especially if we are to achieve true parity in the workplace.”...
American Libraries, feature
Libraries host September Project programming
Libraries around the country and the world are hosting events this month as part of the September Project, a grassroots effort to encourage library programming about freedom during the month of September. The project was founded in 2004 by Sarah Washburn, library program manager at TechSoup, and David Silver, associate professor of media studies at the University of San Francisco. In the early years, programs centered around the September 11 attacks, but now many have taken on a local focus....
AL: Inside Scoop, Sept. 10
International digital supplement
The Fall 2010 American Libraries digital supplement is now online, featuring highlights from the IFLA conference in Sweden, reminiscences of previous IFLA conferences, relief efforts in Haiti and Chile, the Campaign for the World’s Libraries, a celebration of Ethiopia Reads, an online learning clearinghouse, the launch of RDA, and how to become a Sister Library....
American Libraries, Sept. 14
Newsmaker: Ellen Tise
South African librarian Ellen Tise (right) is 2009–2011 president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. American Libraries caught up with her during the 76th IFLA World Library and Information Congress, August 10–15, in Gothenburg, Sweden, where she talked about international relations, energizing the profession, and open access to knowledge....
American Libraries column, Oct.
Why was this book banned?
Q. It’s the question most often heard from students during Banned Books Week: “Why was this book banned?” More accurately, the question is who challenged this book being in the school or library and wanted it removed, and why, and when and where did this happen, and how did things turn out? A. The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom maintains information on which books are challenged and why and regularly publishes this information every three years, most recently in the 2010 Banned Books Week Resource Guide by Robert P. Doyle....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Mar. 2
All things corn
Laura Bruzas writes: “As I scan the library newsletters from surrounding communities near my home, I see lots of libraries hosting films for their patron’s viewing pleasure. I also see the mention of popcorn being served. Thus, I thought I’d pose a question. Would your library consider switching to USDA certified organic-popcorn in light of the fact that nonorganic popcorn is on the FDA’s list of the top 10 foods most contaminated with toxic pesticides and chemicals?”...
AL: Green Your Library, Sept. 10
Card your library users in September
During the month of September, ask your library users to show off the most valuable card in their wallets—their library card. In celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month, the atyourlibrary.org website is looking for photos of library users with the “smartest card.” To upload photos, visit atyourlibrary.org’s Flickr page. Photos will be shown on the atyourlibrary.org home page throughout the month of September....
Public Information Office, Sept. 13
National study of internet use in libraries
ALA encourages public libraries to participate in the 2010–2011 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study online survey. The survey provides an important opportunity for libraries to share information on computer and internet resources and infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training, and such other uses of public libraries as providing public access technology centers in their communities. The survey is open through November 5....
Office for Research and Statistics, Sept. 13
New blog on national public library study
The Office for Research and Statistics has launched a new blog that shares real-time news, findings, and customizable resources from the Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study. Libraries Connect Communities features updates on new tools that provide state and local libraries with data; details on study data points in the news; effective practices gleaned from study focus groups, site visits, and interviews; and frequently asked questions....
Office for Research and Statistics, Sept. 13
Booklist chosen as National Reading Group Month partner
Booklist has been selected again as a partner in the Women’s National Book Association’s National Reading Group Month in October. The popular Booklist blog Book Group Buzz, offering helpful and entertaining information to reading groups both in and outside libraries, is the official partner blog. This year, 13 Great Group Reads have been selected on the basis of their appeal to reading groups....
ALA Publishing, Sept. 13
Haiti Relief Fund reaches $25,000; more needed
Thanks to recent donations from individuals and groups such as the Cub Scout Pack 77 of Ridgewood, New Jersey, the Staff Organization of the Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public Library, and the Library Association of the City University of New York, ALA has raised more than $25,000 to help rebuild libraries in Haiti. More is needed, as the estimated cost for the construction of the Petit Goave Public Library (right) is $350,000. Donate here....
International Relations Office, Sept. 14
Banned Books Week Second Life trivia game show
Do you like books? Do you know everything there is to know about Harry Potter and Holden Caulfield? Then you just may be the perfect candidate to match wits in the very first Banned Books Week Trivia Game Show. ALA Island is looking for contestants for the show, which will be held September 30, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in Second Life. If you’d like to sign up to be a contestant, Instant Message ALA Island manager Kay Tairov in SL by September 21. Check out the other SL BBW events, September 26–October 2....
OIF Blog, Sept. 14
1,200+ libraries on the National Gaming Day map
Jenny Levine writes: “I just finished the first iteration of the 2010 National Gaming Day @ your library map of participating libraries and, wow, are there a lot of libraries already. The southeast region of the U.S. is clearly in the lead, but it’s pretty amazing to see libraries from Hawaii and Alaska all the way to Presque Isle, Maine, not to mention a few international participants. If you haven't registered yet for this November 13 event, what are you waiting for? There are only a few hundred free games left, so sign up today.”...
National Gaming Day @ your library
International Literacy Day at Berwyn Public Library
To mark International Literacy Day on September 8, the Berwyn (Ill.) Public Library held a ceremony to dedicate its new literacy collection. During the ceremony, the library renewed its lasting commitment to literacy by honoring retiring South Berwyn School District 100 ESL teacher Lucy Barahona (above), naming its growing literacy collection after her. The collection is supported in part by grant from the American Dream Starts @ your library literacy initiative. Watch the video (5:57)....
The American Dream Starts @ your library, Sept. 10; YouTube, Sept. 10
Become an effective technology mentor for teens
ALA Editions has released a second edition of I Found It on the Internet: Coming of Age Online by Frances Jacobson Harris. Today’s teens immerse themselves in the world of technology as never before. But texting, tweeting, chatting, blogging, and other social networking largely occur in a free-for-all environment of unbridled access; quality takes a backseat to quantity. To help librarians, educators, and parents step in to guide teens’ decision making, Harris offers a thoroughly updated edition of her classic book....
ALA Editions, Sept. 10
An updated historical survey of YA literature
ALA Editions has released Young Adult Literature: From Romance to Realism by Michael Cart. In this much expanded revision of his 1996 book, veteran author Cart shows how the best of contemporary YA lit has evolved to tackle such daunting subjects as homosexuality, mental illness, AIDS, and drug abuse without resorting to sensationalism. He also covers its explosive growth in the past decade and advocates that librarians and teachers look beyond romance and horror when advising young adults....
ALA Editions, Sept. 8
Booklist Author Forum @ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... |
Books on Islam for children and teens
The ALSC Quicklists Consulting Committee has created a booklist to assist members who may be receiving requests for book titles on Islam, Muslims, and the Qur’an in the wake of the threatened burning of a Qur’an by a Florida minister. The list is a mixture of fiction and nonfiction, and is divided into sections for preschoolers, elementary school students, and teenagers. The committee expects to refine the list in the weeks to come....
ALSC, Sept.
The value of academic libraries
ACRL has released The Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report. Developed for ACRL by Megan Oakleaf of the iSchool at Syracuse University, this valuable resource reviews the quantitative and qualitative literature, methodologies, and best practices currently in place for demonstrating the value of academic libraries. The full report, along with supplemental materials, is available online in PDF format. Listen to a podcast (25:13) with the author....
ACRL, Sept. 9; ACRL Insider, Sept. 14
Teens’ Top Ten polls close September 17
Through September 17, teens can vote for their favorite books from the last year in YALSA’s annual Teens’ Top Ten poll. The final list will be announced online during Teen Read Week, October 17–23....
YALSA, Sept. 10
Teen Read Week registration closes September 20
Registration for Teen Read Week, October 17–23, YALSA’s annual celebration of teen literacy, ends on September 20. Teen Read Week will be celebrated in thousands of libraries, schools, and bookstores throughout the country. Librarians, educators, and booksellers who plan to participate can use resources at the Teen Read Week website....
YALSA, Sept. 10
ALTAFF’s new Trustee Academy
Beginning in October, ALTAFF will be offering a Trustee Academy, a series of online courses to help trustees become exceptionally proficient in their roles on behalf of their libraries. All of the online courses will be taught by a professional in the field and will be priced both a la carte so attendees can pick and choose what courses are important to them, and as a full curriculum that will reflect discounted pricing per course. Entire boards of trustees can sign up for further discounts....
ALTAFF
YALSA passive programming webinar
Shrinking budgets and staff reductions create a number of challenges for librarians, not least of which is offering engaging programs with less staff and money. School and public librarians can learn how to stretch their resources through passive programming in YALSA’s October webinar, “Do More with Less: Passive Programs,” hosted by Gregory Lum and Sarah Ludwig. The webinar will take place at 2 p.m. Eastern time on October 21. Registration is now open....
YALSA, Sept. 10
Team of Three discount for AASL Fall Forum
School librarians are encouraged to register their “team of three” for only $599 for the AASL 2010 Fall Forum. “IN FOCUS: The Essentials for 21st-Century Learning” will be held November 5–6 in Portland, Oregon. School librarians are encouraged to bring their teacher collaborators or peers within their district to take advantage of this discount. Online registration is not available for this pricing option....
AASL, Sept. 10
Registration still a bargain for the YA Literature Symposium
Librarians, educators, authors and fans of young adult literature won’t want to miss the biennial Young Adult Literature Symposium, November 5–7, hosted by YALSA at the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marriott. Take advantage of low Early Bird rates, a savings of 25%,and register by September 17....
YALSA, Sept. 10
RUSA fall courses
Registration is now open for the fall 2010 offerings of RUSA’s popular classes Genealogy 101, Business Reference 101, and Readers’ Advisory 101. All courses will be administered using Moodle, an online course management tool. Visit RUSA’s professional development information page for detailed course information, or go straight to the online registration page for these courses....
RUSA, Sept. 14
ALCTS fall e-forums
ALCTS will offer two e-forums this fall, providing opportunities for librarians to discuss matters of interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The topics are metadata policies and floating collections. The e-forum discussion list works like an email discussion list. Register your email address with the list and then you will receive messages and communicate with other participants through an email discussion. Registration is free....
ALCTS, Sept. 10
ALCTS Fundamentals web courses
Register now for the popular ALCTS “Fundamentals” web courses beginning in October. The courses include Fundamentals of Acquisitions, Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management, Fundamentals of Preservation (new), and Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions (new)....
ALCTS, Sept. 10
ALCTS fall webinars
ALCTS webinars bring to your desktop a wide range of topics that include RDA, institutional repositories, Sears Subject Headings, and digital preservation. Priced for affordability, the webinars are suitable for beginners as well as more experienced library staff. Registration is now open....
ALCTS, Sept. 9
Registration open for ACRL Women’s Leadership Institute
ACRL is again collaborating with other higher education associations on the 2010 Women’s Leadership Institute to be held December 5–8, in Amelia Island, Florida. Be part of a special program for women seeking to become leaders in higher education administration and student affairs. Register by October 31 and receive a special Early Bird discount....
ACRL Insider, Sept. 13
AASL pre-Midwinter Institute
School librarians looking to strengthen their leadership skills are encouraged to attend the AASL pre-Midwinter Institute, Collaborative Leadership. The full-day institute will be facilitated by Steven Baule, superintendent of North Boone School District in Poplar Grove, Illinois. Online registration for this institute is now open....
AASL, Sept. 10
LLAMA reveals the mysteries of mentoring
Are mentors all they’re cracked up to be? Can you find professional success and growth without one? Do you have what it takes to be an effective mentor? Julie Todaro will help you answer these questions and many more during “The Mysteries of Mentoring: The Perfect Mentor and Perfect Mentee” on January 7 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, California. Registration opens October 1....
LLAMA, Sept. 13
PLA seeks proposals for 2012 National Conference
PLA is now accepting preconference and program proposals for the PLA 2012 National Conference, March 13–17, 2012, in Philadelphia. Proposals may be submitted and updated through the PLA online form until November 30. Faxed, emailed, or mailed proposals will not be accepted. At PLA 2012, the majority of concurrent session programs will be 75 minutes long; however, there will also be several 60-minute programs....
PLA, Sept. 14
Seven Judith Krug Fund grants awarded
The Freedom to Read Foundation, via its Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund, has awarded grants to seven organizations in support of read-out events during Banned Books Week, September 25–October 2. The Iowa City Public Library received the largest grant, of $2,500, which will support a “Rolling Read-Out” during the University of Iowa’s homecoming parade, in addition to a “Read-Out” on September 30 and other events during the Carol Spaziani Intellectual Freedom Festival....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 9
ALSC adds exceptional websites for kids
ALSC has added 27 recommended websites to Great Web Sites for Kids, its online resource containing hundreds of links to outstanding websites for children. The site features links of interest to children 14 years of age and younger, organized into diverse subject headings, from astronomy and space to zoos and aquariums, from games and entertainment to geography and maps. There is also a section with sites for parents, caregivers, and teachers....
ALSC, Sept. 8
Last chance for love
Library users can nominate their favorite school, public, or academic librarians in the third Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The deadline for submissions is September 20. Up to 10 winners will be selected this year and receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque, and $500 travel stipend to attend an awards reception in New York....
Public Information Office
Apply for nine PLA awards
PLA is now accepting applications for the 2011 PLA Awards. Members can nominate their colleagues and libraries through December 1. This year PLA is offering nine awards and grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity, and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium. Visit the website for details on each award....
PLA, Sept. 14
Apply for IFLA’s International Marketing Award
The IFLA International Marketing Award honors organizations that have implemented creative, results-oriented, marketing projects or campaigns. Libraries and institutions are encouraged to describe the imaginative and inventive aspects of the projects. The winner will be announced officially during the press conference at the World Library and Information Congress in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in August 2011. Applications must be submitted before November 30....
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
EBSCO offers five travel grants to Midwinter
ALA and EBSCO are partnering to offer five scholarships for librarians to attend the 2011 ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, January 7–11, 2011. Each EBSCO scholarship offers $1,500, and one of the five will be awarded to a first-time conference attendee. The deadline to apply is November 15....
Office of ALA Governance, Sept. 13
Sparks! Ignition Grants
The Institute of Museum and Library Services has released application guidelines for its Sparks! Ignition Grants for libraries and museums. This new grant program will provide one-year grants of $10,000 to $25,000 for innovative projects that respond to the challenges and opportunities facing cultural heritage institutions in a rapidly changing information environment. The submission deadline is November 15....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 9
2010 Ned Kelly Awards
The 15th annual Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing were announced September 3 in Melbourne. Considered the most prestigious crime writing prize in Australia, the awards reflect the significance and popularity of the crime genre in Australian literature. Kathy Marks’s Pitcairn: Paradise Lost (HarperCollins) won the Best True Crime award, while the Best Fiction award went to Victoria author Garry Disher for Wyatt (Text)....
Ned Kelly Awards
Queen of Teen 2010
Cathy Cassidy (right), the author of GingerSnaps, Angel Cake, and Indigo Blue, was named Queen of Teen 2010, described as the most glamorous and glitzy award in the world of teen books, at an ultra-glam ceremony in England on September 9. The award was established in 2008 to celebrate the teen and tween authors who write about real-life issues in a way that is honest, entertaining, and fun. The award is voted on by teens themselves....
Queen of Teen
2010 Booktrust Early Years Awards
The winners of the 2010 Booktrust Early Years Awards were announced at a special ceremony in London on September 2. The winning books all exemplify the remarkable creativity in words, design, and illustration that encourage young children to read. The winner in the category of Best Picture Book for children up to 5 years old was One Smart Fish by Chris Wormell (Jonathan Cape), while the winner of Best Emerging Illustrator was Levi Pinfold for The Django (Templar)....
Booktrust, Sept. 2
Stockton book ban upheld
The Stockton, Missouri, school board voted unanimously September 8 to uphold its April decision to ban a book from the school curriculum. The 7–0 vote came after a public forum about the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The board also voted 7–2 against a proposal to return the book to the high school library with restrictions. Board member Rod Tucker said his main concern was the book’s language....
Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, Sept. 9
Letter thanks librarians for fighting censorship
Craig Herud writes: “In advance of Banned Books Week (September 25–October 2) I want to thank the often unheralded defenders of my First Amendment rights—librarians—who have quietly fought and continue to fight censorship. This is true, quiet patriotism—standing up for the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, often at the risk of their jobs. They are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Librarians are high on my list of American heroines and heroes.”...
Baltimore Sun, Sept. 9
Libraries in four states awarded stimulus funding
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on September 13 announced 35 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act investments to “fund projects that pave the way to bring enhanced high-speed internet access to millions of households and businesses and link thousands of schools, hospitals, libraries, and public safety offices to the information superhighway.” Libraries in Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, and Ohio were mentioned specifically....
U.S. Department of Commerce, Sept. 13
Google Instant blocks sexy searches
Google’s Instant search feature hopes to speed up search by displaying results as you type—so long as your queries are PG, that is. Whereas querying for neutral terms like “weather” or “restaurant” offers up a dropdown menu with suggested terms and presents a page of relevant search results, the streaming search tool does not work with NSFW search terms, which cause the page to go blank. But many anatomical terms are also being censored by the search engine, although not consistently....
Huffington Post, Sept. 9
The irreplaceable Friends bookstore
In this place, the Friends of the Library Bookstore, there have been enough books and other publications, almost all donated by patrons, to raise more than $2 million for the Huntsville–Madison County (Ala.) Public Library since 1990. A used James Lee Burke or first edition of Hemingway becomes even more important after Mayor Tommy Battle announced proposed budget cuts of 10% in early September—cuts that likely mean the annual donations from the bookstore will be the main source for the purchase of new materials....
Huntsville (Ala.) Times, Sept. 12
Georgia librarian headed to Australia with Oprah
A librarian is headed to Australia with Oprah Winfrey and John Travolta. Pauline Abbide (right), technical services manager with the Dougherty County Public Library in Albany, Georgia, was in the Chicago audience of the Oprah Winfrey Show that aired September 13. Oprah announced she was taking the entire audience to Sydney, Australia, December 5–15. Actor John Travolta, a licensed pilot, will fly them there. A big fan, Abidde tapes Oprah’s show every day....
WALB-TV, Albany, Ga., Sept. 14
The long reach of the library law
An arrest warrant has been issued for a man now believed to be living in his native Taiwan for failing to return or pay for $2,499 worth of DVDs, videocassettes, and music books he borrowed in 2008 from the Randolph Township (N.J.) Free Public Library. Hsian Kao never returned the items, nor did he respond to a certified letter from the library. The library director contacted police after she spotted Kao in the facility with a young child August 4....
Morristown (N.J.) Daily Record, Sept. 13
Police: Ex-director stole thousands
The former director of Pontiac (Ill.) Public Library was in jail September 14, accused of using his leadership role to steal more than $10,000 from the library. Prosecutors contend that between April 3 and June 2, Eric Colclasure misdirected checks written to the library by Heartland Community College for leased space. Colclasure is accused of taking those payments and redirecting them to a separate Odell (Ill.) Public Library fund. At the time, he also was head librarian at the Odell....
Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph, Sept. 15
Bedbugs close Fort Myers library
The downtown Fort Myers branch of the Lee County (Fla.) Public Library closed September 14 because of bedbugs. A routine morning check had revealed bedbugs on some of the chairs near the public computers, so officials decided not to open the building and called in county crews who removed and destroyed 40 chairs and began to fumigate. Director Sheldon Kaye (above) said he expected the library to reopen September 15. The furniture was replaced temporarily with hard chairs....
WBBH-TV, Fort Myers, Fla., Sept. 14; WINK-TV, Fort Myers, Sept. 14–15
Bridgewater school librarians get the ax
Middle school librarians in Bridgewater and Raynham, Massachusetts, won’t be getting their jobs back, but the schools’ libraries will stay open. That was the word from school officials at the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee meeting on August 25. The committee’s decision to use proctors instead of librarians does not require approval by the school board....
Bridgewater (Mass.) Independent, Aug. 31
School librarians test student use of Kindles, iPads
Marian Parker, librarian at Seneca (Ill.) Grade School, decided to test electronic books with students in a pilot program to see how they would respond to reading on a hand-held device. Each member of the 8th grade was offered one to use in language arts class, with parent and student contracts acknowledging the replacement value if they were lost or damaged. Parker said 106 Kindles are available, with six more on order. Carolyn Foote at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, is piloting the use of six iPads that are housed in and issued from the library....
Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald, Sept. 10; Not So Distant Future, Sept. 5
Medieval bible finds a home in South Carolina
University of South Carolina English Professor Scott Gwara (right) has peeked inside thousands of beautiful medieval books. But when he examined a leather-bound pocket bible at a London auction house in the summer, he knew this was one that would go into the university library’s special collection. Written in Latin around 1240 and decorated in rich blue and red letters to mark chapter prefaces, the 1,000-page volume features handwritten marginalia throughout. The only English pocket bible in the Southeast, it likely was composed by a professional scribe in Oxford. Watch the video (1:34)....
Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun News, Sept. 10; YouTube, Sept. 9
Vatican Library prepares to reopen
The Vatican Apostolic Library will officially reopen September 20 after a three-year, $11.5-million restoration. Each one of the library’s 70,000 books, which are stored in a bombproof bunker, has been fitted with an RFID chip capable of emitting radio signals in order to prevent loss and theft. The undertaking was in part motivated by an attempted theft in 1987 by an American art history professor, who smuggled pages torn from a 14th-century manuscript that once belonged to Petrarch. The restoration also includes the installation of a modern air-conditioning system, electronic readers, and the consolidation of load-bearing walls. Interesting videos here (2:22), here (1:51), and here (1:06)....
The Telegraph (U.K.), Sept. 13; BBC News, Sept. 13; Agence France Presse, Sept. 13; Rome Reports, Sept. 7; Associated Press, Sept. 13; CTV, Sept. 13
Michelangelo, library architect
Cammy Brothers writes: “On any given day it is possible to stroll into Michelangelo’s architectural masterpiece, the Laurentian Library in Florence, Italy, and experience it without dealing with crowds like those lined up to see his sculpture of David. Library was built between 1524 and 1559 in the cloister of the church of San Lorenzo for Pope Clement VII to house the Medici family collection of manuscripts and printed books. Why are audiences today so much less receptive to Michelangelo’s architecture?”...
Wall Street Journal, Sept. 11
East Indian librarian abducted
The chief librarian of the Manipur State Central Library in Imphal, India, was kidnapped along with another staff member September 7 when she was driving through Nambol on business related to a library conference at Manipur University. Soram Tampakleima was allegedly taken by insurgents who later demanded a large ransom. The librarian also made the news in August when she accepted a gift for the library of 76 books from political activist Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike since 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act that allows Indian army officers to shoot anyone suspected of being an insurgent....
E-Pao, Sept. 9; Hueiyen News Service, Aug. 16
Twitter unveils faster, dual-pane site
On September 14, Twitter unveiled a major redesign of its home page, one its executives say will give users a better, easier, and faster experience. The new Twitter.com is tantamount to a fundamental relaunch of the popular microblogging service’s web-based interface, mainly because it introduces a new interface built around a second viewing pane in which users will be able to see all kinds of content—from photos and videos to user profiles and geolocation information.
The site will roll out to users in stages. Watch the introductory video (2:02). Jennifer Van Grove says the new Twitter is an assault on desktop clients; Liz Gannes reveals 10 things you didn’t know about it; Peter Kafka thinks it’s meant to get you to see more ads; and Adam Pash reminds us about the new keyboard shortcuts....
CNET News: Geek Gestalt, Sept. 14; Twitter, Sept. 14; Mashable, Sept. 14; GigaOM, Sept. 14; MediaMemo, Sept. 14
Top 10 things to do with a new Windows 7 system
Kevin Purdy writes: “Whether you’ve just bought a new PC, upgraded to Windows 7, or reinstalled your OS, a just-installed system is a great opportunity to make some helpful changes and fixes. Here are the things we recommend anyone tackle on a minty fresh Windows, in particular what you can do to fix up the system from the get-go, no separate app required.”...
Lifehacker, Sept. 11
Creating a library database search using Drupal
When Florida Gulf Coast University Library was faced with having to replace its database locator, the staff needed to find a low-cost, non-labor intensive replacement for their 350+ database search tool. This article by Danielle Rosenthal and Mario Bernardo details the development of a library database locator, based on the methods described in Leo Klein’s “Creating a Library Database Page Using Drupal” online presentation. The library used Drupal along with several modules, such as CCK, Views, and FCKeditor....
Code4Lib Journal, June 22
Skype adds 10-way video calling
Dan Froelich writes: “Just when I can’t get enough of Skype’s amazingly high-quality video conferencing, they add another new feature. After some testing and feedback from users, the latest beta release now offers 10-way calling. Take a look at the sample screen shot (right) to see what this would look like. You’ll notice one user doesn’t have a webcam, but they can still participate in the audio conversation. To test out this new feature, download the Skype 5.0 beta update.”...
Instructify, Sept. 10
The rise of apps culture
According to a new Pew Internet survey, some 35% of U.S. adults have software applications on their phones, yet only 24% use those apps. Many adults who have apps on their phones (particularly older adults) do not use them, and 11% of cell owners are not sure if their phone is equipped with apps. Among cell phone owners, 29% have downloaded apps to their phone. “This is a pretty remarkable tech-adoption story, if you consider that there was no apps culture until two years ago,” said Roger Entner, coauthor of the report....
Pew Research Center, Sept. 14
Best tips for using iBooks as a PDF reader on iPhone and iPad
Bakari Chavanu writes: “There are plenty of apps for reading PDFs and e-books on portable Apple devices, but if you’re looking to streamline applications on your iPad or iPhone, the latest version of Apple’s free iBooks app serves as both an e-book and PDF reader. It doesn’t outshine many of the popular PDF readers, but what it lacks in features it makes up by its visual appeal and ease of use.”...
MakeUseOf, Sept. 13
How solid is your clouded data?
As more colleges and universities turn to cloud-computing options as alternatives to traditional purchase-and-install software, a growing number of challenges are cropping up. The relationships between vendors of internet-based computing, resources, software, and information and their subscribers has become a hot topic, with data security and ownership rights for that data being two of the biggest concerns. To help, analyst firm Gartner of Stamford, Connecticut, released in July the Rights and Responsibilities for Consumers of Cloud Computing Services, a bill of rights that may ease tensions....
Campus Technology, Sept. 9
Play retro games on your PC
Jamie Lendino writes: “There has never been a better time for vintage gaming. That’s not an insignificant thing, especially when you consider the now well-known issues surrounding historical video game preservation. It’s true that most veteran gamers have long since moved on. But for many of us, only the originals can satisfy. To that end, using just a Windows PC, here’s how to emulate vintage machines of all the major types: 8-bit and 16-bit home computers, 8-bit and 16-bit video game consoles, arcade games, and older DOS and Windows 95–compatible PC titles.”...
Extreme Tech, Sept. 3; Technology Review: Mim’s Bits, July 28
ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, California, January 7–11, 2011.
Pulitzer Prize–winner Richard Rhodes, author of Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb, will present the 12th annual Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture, January 8, 4–5 p.m.
For more than a decade, librarians and educators nationwide have come together in October to encourage teens to “Read for the Fun of It!” during YALSA’s annual Teen Read Week celebration. This year’s theme—Books with Beat @ your library—serves as a creative starting point for developing dynamic events in schools, public libraries, and bookstores, that will inspire young adults to discover new genres, check out poetry, and listen to audiobooks. NEW! From ALA Graphics. |
“Like” American Libraries on Facebook.
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Great Libraries of the World
Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego. Designed by architect William Pereira in the late 1960s as an eight-story concrete structure sited at the head of a canyon near the center of the campus, the library was renamed in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) in 1995 for their contributions. Its tower is a prime example of brutalist architecture, rising to a height of 110 feet. The entryway is the site of an art installation by conceptual artist John Baldessari titled Read / Write / Think/ Dream. An addition by Gunnar Birkerts in the early 1990s was designed to be subordinated to the strong, geometrical form of the existing library.
Huntington Library, San Marino, California. In 1919, retired railroad magnate and book collector Henry E. Huntington and his wife Arabella transferred their ranch property, artworks, and rare book collection into a nonprofit educational trust. The art museum, gardens, and library opened to the public in 1928. The library’s collection of books, manuscripts, photographs, and maps specializes in British and American history and literature. Among its treasures are the Ellesmere manuscript of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double elephant folio of John James Audubon’s Birds of America, and a major collection of materials on the American West. Its botanical gardens cover 120 acres, and the theme gardens contain rare plants from around the world. This new AL Direct feature will showcase 250 libraries around the world that are notable for their exquisite architecture, historic collections, and innovative services. If you find yourself on vacation near one of them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be available in The Whole Library Handbook 5, edited by George M. Eberhart, which is scheduled for publication in 2011 by ALA Editions. |
Career
Leads from
Director of Library/Archivist, United States Sports Academy, Daphne, Alabama. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and implementing Library activities. Responsibilities: Provide student assistance regarding computer usage, literature location, database usage, and reference material; maintain functioning equipment in library, and assist students with equipment usage; book check-ins and check-outs, overdue books, collection of overdue books, proper signature and information of students regarding books; collect fines as necessary from students who have overdue books; handle calls from distance learning students inquiring about online library access and reference material.... |
Did you know that you can text ALA with a question? Text AskALA to 66746. We answer member service questions and library reference questions.
Digital Library of the Week
The Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library Digital Collections were created to preserve and make available the local history of Birmingham and the surrounding area. The collections include maps, city newspapers of the late 19th century, coal mining in the region, movie theatres, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963, engravings of North American Indians by Theodore De Bry, women artists, Alabama inventors, old homes, school yearbooks, street railroads, and Birmingham businesses. The library has a blog that updates information about the digital collections. Do you know of a digital library collection that we can mention in this AL Direct feature? Tell us about it. Browse previous Digital Libraries of the Week at the I Love Libraries site. |
Public
Perception
“We need to shift our national view of libraries not as luxuries, but as necessities. When tragedy strikes in other nations, Americans are generous, but our libraries are being hit with a tsunami and there has been no call to action. Staffs are being fired. Hours are being cut. Doors are being closed. Buildings are being razed. Kids are being left behind. Futures are being destroyed. —Atlanta crime writer Karin Slaughter, “Fight for Libraries As You Do Freedom,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sept. 10. @ More quotes... |
Follow: Seventh International Conference on Preservation of Digital Objects, Vienna, Austria, Sept. 19–24, at: 3rd Future Internet Symposium, Berlin, Germany, Sept. 20–22, at: American Libraries news stories, videos, tweets, and blog posts at: |
Sept. 25: Oct. 1–2: Oct. 2–3: Oct. 3: Oct. 12–15: Oct. 14–15: Oct. 22: Oct. 25–27: Oct. 27: Nov. 1–3: Nov. 5: Nov. 10–12: Nov. 30– @ More... |
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Squeaks discovers type
(PDF file)
The U.S. Government Printing Office published its first comic book this year to help celebrate its 150th anniversary. GPO employees created Squeaks Discovers Type! to educate children of all ages on the important role printing has played from the beginnings of civilization to today’s digital world. Jim Cameron wrote the story and Creative Services’ Graphic Designer Nick Crawford provided the illustrations. Watch the video (3:52)....
U.S. Government Printing Office, Sept. 13; YouTube, Sept. 10
Pentagon buys books to keep secrets
Defense Department officials are negotiating to buy and destroy all 10,000 copies of the first printing of a memoir on the War in Afghanistan they say contains intelligence secrets. The publication of Operation Dark Heart by Anthony A. Shaffer, a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, has highlighted the uncertainty about what information poses a genuine threat to security. Sales of the book on eBay have been booming, with one copy selling for $2,025....
New York Times, Sept. 9
President Obama’s new children’s book
As part of a book deal then–Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) inked in 2004, Random House announced (PDF file) September 14 the publication of a children’s book by the president, titled Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters. The book will be released on November 16, roughly two weeks after the midterm elections. The book, which President Obama finished writing in 2008, describes 13 “groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation,” among them Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackie Robinson, and George Washington....
ABC News: Political Punch, Sept. 14; Random House, Sept. 14
Top 10 favorite back-to-high-school books
Lindsy Serrano writes: “Listen, I know you have a lot to read right now. Maybe you are finishing up your summer reading, maybe you got your first assignments for English class. But I just can’t help but ask you to consider some of my favorite books about going to high school. Some are funny, some are really dark, but they are all great reads.” At the top of the list is Kodi Keplinger’s The DUFF: “This is the steamiest book I’ve read in a long long time!”...
New York Public Library Blog, Sept. 10
A new generation of Scandinavian detectives
Vanessa Thorpe
writes: “Among the growing band of the faithful—the millions of readers drawn to the bleak tradition of Swedish crime fiction—the litany can be recited with ease: Inspector Martin Beck, created by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in the 1960s, begat Henning Mankell’s Wallander, and then Wallander begat Stieg Larsson’s Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo. Yet well before Mankell and Larsson’s crime-solving antiheroes reached our cinema screens, true aficionados of this Scandinavian genre understood that the family tree was more complex.”...
The Guardian (U.K.), Sept. 12
Adele Mundy, badass space librarian
Stephen J. Gertz writes: “It was just the other day when I rued the exclusion of librarians from science-fiction literature only to learn that yes, in addition to Space Lawyer, there actually is a librarian plying her skills in the cosmos beyond Earth. I was so taken by the revelation, provided by Vic Zoschak of Tavistock Books, that I pursued it directly to the source, David Drake, author of the highly respected series featuring Adele Mundy, master of information technology and spycraft. She likes weapons and knows how to use them.”...
BookTryst, Sept. 13, 15
Five children’s books that salute librarians
Jill Swanson writes: “Today’s blog is a fond tribute to the Keepers of the Books! You can keep your Kindle; I’m celebrating books that you hold in your hands and turn the pages and those wonderful people who let me have them for free—librarians. For example, That Book Woman, by Heather Henson, was inspired by the Pack Horse Librarians in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, a group founded in the 1930s as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal.”...
Orange Marmalade, Sept. 13
Podcast: Librarian on the Roof! author
Kyla Hunt writes: “Want to find out what would make a librarian go up to the roof of her library for a few days? Or how you would go about putting such a story to the page? Listen to our podcast interview (mp3 file) with RoseAleta Laurell, head librarian at the Ingleside (Tex.) Public Library, and author M. G. King, who spoke with us about the creation of the children’s book Librarian on the Roof! (Albert Whitman, 2010).”...
Texas State Library: Library Developments, Sept. 13
The trouble with Google Books
Laura Miller writes: “Everyone seems to agree that Google Book Search represents a revolutionary boon to scholars. But is it? As UC Berkeley professor Geoffrey Nunberg has pointed out, there are some serious problems with the bibliographic information attached to many of the digital texts in Google Books. Nunberg noticed endemic errors in Google Books, especially when it comes to publication dates, misattributed authors, and subject misclassifications. I gave Nunberg a call to find out how flawed metadata affects historians and other scholars.”...
Salon, Sept. 9
First bookless academic library branch?
The University of Texas at San Antonio opened in May what it claims is the nation’s first completely bookless library on a college or university campus. The Applied Engineering and Technology Library has a seating capacity for 80 people and is a satellite of the larger John Peace Library on the main campus. The library offers students a rapidly growing collection of electronic resources that includes 425,000 e-books and 18,000 e-journal subscriptions....
UTSA Today, Sept. 9; UTSA College of Sciences News, May
Delft’s recycled-book library desk
The new architecture library at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands opened in September featuring a spectacular front desk built out of recycled books (right). After a devastating 2008 fire in the architecture building that took a portion of the library’s holdings, the school established a new collection consisting of the unburned books and a bounty of others newly purchased to replace the destroyed volumes. The colorful and carefully arranged desk is a testament to the school’s love for design and books....
Inhabitat, Sept. 13
Using Netflix at an academic library
Rebecca Fitzgerald writes: “The Scheele Memorial Library at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York, started a Netflix subscription last fall. We started out with one account allowing for the maximum number of DVDs, eight at a time. By the middle of spring semester, we had two accounts. The New Media professor took over the first, and we made the new one for all other courses. Netflix has saved us an enormous amount of money (around $3,000) by allowing the physical rentals as well as instant play.”...
Tame the Web, Sept. 9
You don’t own that software you bought
A federal appeals court said September 10 that software makers can use shrink-wrap and click-wrap licenses to forbid the transfer or resale of their wares, an apparent gutting of the so-called first-sale doctrine, which allows legitimate owners of copies of copyrighted works to resell those copies. That defense, the court said, is “unavailable to those who are only licensed to use their copies of copyrighted works” (PDF file). The 3–0 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, if it stands, means copyright owners can prohibit the resale of their wares by inserting clauses in their sales agreements....
Wired: Threat Level, Sept. 10
Is Google Instant Search better than Bing’s type ahead?
Lance Ulanoff writes: “I wanted to compare Google’s new Instant Search magic to Microsoft Bing’s relatively old type-ahead keyword magic. Google Instant, for now, only works when you’re signed in and may be using some search history to intuit results. It combines type ahead with live results, while Bing only offers you a list of probable word matches. Still, the word matches in Bing are pretty solid, and if Google Instant is showing you a page you weren’t interested in anyway, then what’s the value in it?”...
PC Magazine, Sept. 8
Religious search engines yield tailored results
Some Jews, Muslims, and Christians are abandoning Yahoo and Google and turning to search engines with results that meet their religious standards. Shea Houdmann runs SeekFind, a Colorado Springs–based Christian search engine that only returns results from websites that are consistent with the bible. But SeekFind isn’t the only search engine carving out a niche market. There is also Jewogle for Jews and I’mHalal, a Muslim search engine that started in the Netherlands....
NPR: All Things Considered, Sept. 13
Wayne Wiegand’s library trading card
Larry Nix writes: “After Wayne Wiegand completed his presentation at the recent Library History Seminar XII, September 10–12, in Madison, Wisconsin, he was presented with his own library trading card by his colleagues as a token of their admiration. Wiegand, F. William Summers professor of library and information studies at Florida State University, is considered to be the current dean of library historians in the United States. The trading card (right) is supposedly #64 in a set of 100 famous librarian trading cards.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Sept. 14
Color photos of the Russian Empire, 1909–1915
Ben Breen writes: “Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii was a photographer commissioned by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II to document the vast dominions of the Russian Empire using the novel technique of color photography. Between 1909 and 1915, he traveled across Russia and central Asia with a special permit and a custom-made railroad car that he had rigged into a mobile dark room.” The Library of Congress acquired the photos in 1948 and recently made high-resolution copies available as an online exhibition....
Res Obscura, Sept. 9; Library of Congress, July 26
The Bancroft tries out a new camera policy
The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, opened its doors this semester to the use of personal cameras in the reading room. The trial program, implemented at other academic institutions, allows students to photograph any of the items in the library’s vast collection for personal use for a fee of $10 per day. The policy allows a more cost-effective approach to getting copies of materials, as well as increased access to rare and fragile items that cannot be photocopied due to the risk of damage....
UC Berkeley News, Sept. 2
Raising A Reader competes in GlobalGiving challenge
Raising A Reader, the national early literacy and parent engagement program, joined GlobalGiving’s Open Challenge, a fundraising challenge for nonprofits. Open Challenge participants are raising funds on the GlobalGiving website through September 30. It is eligible to earn a permanent spot on the website if it successfully mobilizes supporters to raise $4,000 from at least 50 unique donors....
Rasing A Reader, Sept. 7
Librarians for Emerging Adults
Emily Brown writes: “I can imagine saying ‘Yes, I’m an EA Librarian’ to people in about 20 years. EA stands for Emerging Adult, because according to a recent article in the New York Times Magazine, what used to be ‘your 20s’ is now a discrete neurological stage in the development of human life. If Emerging Adulthood is a stage with its own psychological profile, it follows that it must have its own literature. Think Scott Pilgrim. I’m sure there are many more books for post-YA readers.”...
That Blog Belongs to Emily Brown!, Sept. 10; New York Times Magazine, Aug. 18
7 sites to help students choose and apply to college
Richard Byrne writes: “This year my advisory group at school is comprised of 11th-grade students who will be exploring their postsecondary options and applying to colleges. Over the last few years, I’ve gathered some internet resources that could be helpful for students and their parents as they work through the college application process. Here are seven resources to help students and their parents select, apply, and prepare for college.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, Sept. 14
Creating and maintaining your CV
Natalie Houston writes: “In the United States and Canada, curriculum vitae (Latin for ‘the course of a life’) or CV in common parlance, refers to a document that describes an academic’s educational background and professional experience. It’s often thought of as something like an academic’s résumé, with the important difference that the CV is typically comprehensive (and therefore long) and a résumé is selective (and short). If you don’t have an institutional format to use, the following suggestions and links should help.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education: ProfHacker, Sept. 14
Programming so good it’s criminal
Angela Hanshaw writes: “I’ll best remember this summer for two things: the heat, and my steady diet of crime novels. As usual, my new interest in the genre led me to wonder how libraries were incorporating crime into their programming. Also as usual, I wasn’t disappointed. Crime scene investigation is alive and well in our libraries.”...
Programming Librarian, Sept. 9
One week without social media
Provost Eric Darr of Harrisburg (Pa.) University of Science and Technology is enforcing a campus-wide social media blackout for one week—no Facebook, no Twitter, no instant messaging. Access to these popular social media tools is entirely blocked from campus computers. This is not a disciplinary exercise, Darr says, but an academic one. At the end of the week, students will write reflective essays about their time in social media exile. But what is the dirty truth about digital fasts?...
NPR: All Things Considered, Sept. 12; Harvard Business Review, Sept. 2
Facebook and Twitter have killed Bloglines
Michelle Kraft writes: “I logged on to my Bloglines account over the weekend and was greeted with the message that Bloglines will shut down October 1. According to a news update from Ask.com, information is ‘gained through conversations, and consuming this information has become a social experience. As Steve Gillmor pointed out in TechCrunch last year, being locked in an RSS reader makes less and less sense to people, as Twitter and Facebook dominate real-time information flow.’”...
The Krafty Librarian, Sept. 13; Ask.com, Sept. 10; TechCrunch, May 5, 2009
I procrastinate because I care
Ryan Waggoner writes: “In my discussions with non-procrastinators, I’ve often heard the advice that procrastination reflects a lack of care about the task in question, and the antidote for procrastination is to only do things that you’re passionate about. I disagree. In fact, just about the opposite seems true for some people. One of the things I’ve discovered about myself is that my procrastination is closely linked with my perfectionism. The things I really care about are things that I want to be perfect, so I put off doing them. Here’s a few of the tips I’ve collected to help me overcome the curse of procrastinating.”...
Lifehacker, Sept. 13
Things I wish I’d known as a new librarian
Doug Johnson writes: “Leigh Ann Jones at Shelf Consumed offers 10 things she wished she’d known as a new librarian. It’s a great list. Go read it right now. I love these sorts of lists, so I’ll add my own wish-I’d-known items to Leigh Ann’s.”...
Blue Skunk Blog, Sept. 10; Shelf Consumed, Sept. 7
Seattle’s CakeSpy offers treats in the library
A boutique shop in Seattle that sells kitchen kitsch and sweet-tooth swag has at least two items that could appeal to bakery bibliophiles. The CakeSpy Shop, run by freelance writer and illustrator Jessie Oleson, has mugs and notecards for sale that depict cupcakes, ice cream, and cake in a library setting that is said to be one of Oleson’s most popular drawings....
CakeSpy
Library of Congress discovers lost British TV gems
A treasure trove of more than 68 rare TV recordings from 1957 to 1969 are being repatriated to the British Film Institute by the Library of Congress. Considered lost for more than 40 years, the programs were discovered in LC’s collection of more than 20,000 recordings from National Educational Television, the forerunner of PBS. LC is making preservation copies of the programs, which feature artists such as Sean Connery, Maggie Smith, John Gielgud, Robert Shaw, David Hemmings, and Susannah York....
Library of Congress, Sept. 15
The YouTube Time Machine
Select a year from 1860 to 2010, and this site pulls up YouTube videos dating from that year. A search on 1950 came up with this George Burns clip (right). You can filter out or select for video games, television, commercials, current events, sports, movies, or music. Site designers Justin Johnson and Delbert Shoopman III let you suggest additional videos for inclusion....
YouTube Time Machine
Reference librarianship in Star Wars
JennyWildcat writes: “I created this video (4:09) for a project in my class on Reference Librarianship. Part of my group’s project was to envision what reference work would be like in the future and I thought of these two scenes from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Commentary in the video is used to be illustrative of the good (and not-so-good) examples of reference work in the scenes (plus one or two inside jokes that only my class would get).”...
YouTube, June 17
Libraries will survive
Inspired by the 1978 disco hit ”I Will Survive,” the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia, rewrote the lyrics to proclaim support for libraries, particularly under the stress of tight budgets. Written, directed, and edited by Sean Bonney, the video (4:44) features staff from the central library and seven branches. A longer version (10:54) begins with a send-up of a typically hectic day in the life of a professional librarian....
YouTube, Sept. 11