Contents
American Libraries Online
ALA News
Booklist Online
Dallas Update
Division News
Awards & Grants
Seen Online
Tech Talk
E-Content
Books & Reading
Actions & Answers
New This Week
Calendar

David Lee King and Michael Porter join American Libraries
American Libraries welcomes David Lee King and Michael Porter to its stable of columnists. The two librarians will coauthor a new column called Outside/In, which will debut in print beginning with the January/February 2012 issue but will be available online this month. King is digital branch and services manager for Topeka and Shawnee County (Kans.) Public Library. Porter has worked for more than 20 years as a librarian, presenter, and consultant for libraries and is currently leading the effort of the nonprofit Library Renewal....
American Libraries news, Dec. 13

Will’s World: Taking care of business
Will Manley writes: “Public librarians have come up with all kinds of reasons why their communities should support them. Some of these reasons are even realistic. During my 35-year career, I had high hopes for the role public libraries could play in creating a business-friendly community. As a result, I spent a lot of time developing and publicizing business collections and services. One of the quirks I discovered is that we are vitally important to a certain type of business owner—those who can’t afford an office.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

Rousing Reads: Hard-boiled mysteries and soft-boiled poets
Bill Ott writes: “The world needs more hard-boiled mysteries written by soft-boiled poets. This admittedly peculiar insight occurred to me as I was reading poet and novelist Jim Harrison’s first crime novel, The Great Leader. The book immediately reminded me of another mystery written by poet Richard Hugo. The interesting thing about these two books—both of which are thoroughly gritty and definitely not cozy—is that their protagonists are given to weeping.”...
American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

Librarian’s Library: Occupying technology
Karen Muller writes: “A few years ago an earnest-sounding college student called the ALA Library to gather information about librarianship as a career, adding that she didn’t want to work with computers. We all have days we’d be happy to see our technology replaced with pen and paper that doesn’t crash. But that is not our world, and it behooves us to understand not only the technology we use but the power it gives us. (And yes, I did advise the student that most library jobs involve some use of computers.)”...
American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

’Tis the season for . . . a tree of books
Santa Claus is no doubt pleased with the giant Christmas tree at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland, constructed for the holiday season by the staff entirely from books. The tree stands at approximately five feet wide at the base and about eight feet high, and is made of 1,600 mostly hardcover volumes. Duplicate and extra copies of books were used in the tree’s construction. More photographs of the book tree are available....
AL: Global Reach, Dec. 13; pulowerek.pl

Currents
On January 1, Deanna Marcum (right) will become managing director of Ithaka S+R. On November 21, Charles Brown became executive director of New Orleans Public Library. William Williamson, 91, professor of library science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1966 until his retirement in 1987, died November 19. In December Sharon Zuiderveld retires as director of Jacksonville (Ill.) Public Library....
American Libraries column

Washington Office: Ask reps to vote no on SOPA
On December 15 at 10 a.m. Eastern time, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary will meet to markup and potentially vote in committee on H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). This bill, introduced in October by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), not only threatens the future of the internet as we know it, but it also jeopardizes protections currently enjoyed by individual citizens, as well as libraries. Eric Hellman explains why. Contact your representative....
District Dispatch, Dec. 13; Go to Hellman, Dec. 12

Chapters, affiliates display their strengths
ALA President Molly Raphael writes: “ALA provides a strong, unified voice for our libraries. Much of the Association’s strength comes not just from our divisions, round tables, and other ALA units, but also from our chapters and affiliates. Each year, many chapters and affiliates invite the ALA president to participate in their conferences, providing a wonderful opportunity for both ALA’s leadership and chapters to learn ways we can contribute to each other’s successes.”...
AL: President’s Message, Dec. 14

Transforming libraries, transforming ALA
Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels writes: “The digital revolution has been a major topic of public attention and discussion among librarians in 2011, as we are confronted by daily developments, announcements, and headlines related to ebooks. The transformation brought about by digital media has been a strong emphasis of ALA as well. During its fall meeting October 21–23 in Chicago, ALA’s Executive Board focused on how the Association can best help libraries adapt to this changing, increasingly digital world.”...
AL: Executive Director’s Message, Dec. 14

Take a new survey on librarians and privacy
OIF is inviting librarians and library workers across the country to participate in a survey that will measure librarians’ attitudes about privacy rights and protecting library users’ privacy. The survey is online and takes only 15 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and confidential. The survey builds on an earlier 2008 survey (PDF file) assessing librarians’ attitudes about privacy both within and outside of the library. It will be available until March 1....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Dec. 13

The largest National Gaming Day ever
More than 27,700 people of all ages came together in their local communities to participate in gaming events at more than 760 US libraries and 21 other libraries in 14 countries for National Gaming Day @ your library, November 12, sponsored by ALA. An estimated 39 libraries competed with one another in a National “Epic Super Smash Bros. Brawl” tournament. The Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library came in first place, beating out the Phoenix (Ariz.) Public Library....
Public Information Office, Dec. 8

Advocacy preconferences at Midwinter
Sign up for two January 20 Midwinter Meeting preconferences—“Nuts & Bolts for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations” and “Mobilizing Community Support for Your Library: An Advocacy Institute Workshop”—and receive $25 off the combined registration. The offer is good for the first 50 registrants. “Nuts & Bolts” will feature keynote speaker Ron Heezen, executive director of the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport, Louisiana. “Mobilizing Community Support” will focus on engaging and mobilizing Friends and trustee groups, opinion-makers, and civic organizations to support all types of libraries....
ALTAFF, Office for Library Advocacy, Dec. 13

Learn how to set up a Library Snapshot Day
Sign up for a free webinar on how to organize your own Library Snapshot Day, an initiative that provides staff with a way to show the value of their library by capturing all the wonderful things that happen there in a single day. The webinar is scheduled for December 19, 2–3 p.m. Central time. Participants will learn how to implement Library Snapshot Day on a statewide level....
ALA Membership Blog, Dec. 13

ALA seeks candidates for Google Policy Fellowship
ALA is again participating in the Google Policy Fellows program. For summer 2012, the selected fellow will spend 10 weeks in residence at the ALA Washington Office to learn about national policy and complete a major project. Google provides the stipend for the summer, but the work agenda is under the full control of ALA and the fellow. The Google Washington office provides an educational program for all of the fellows, such as lunchtime talks. Jessie Mannisto from the School of Information at the University of Michigan served as our 2011 fellow....
District Dispatch, Dec. 14

Go high tech on a tight budget
ALA TechSource has announced a new two-part workshop, “How to Go High Tech on a Tight Budget” with Maurice Coleman and Robin Hastings. Learn best practices for using technology to keep your library connected and up to date. The workshop takes place in two 90-minute parts on February 1 and 8. Coleman is the technical trainer at Harford County (Md.) Public Library, and Hastings is the information technology manager at the Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City, Missouri....
ALA TechSource, Dec. 13

Standards for using social media in reference services
ALA Editions has developed a new facilitated eCourse on “Reference Through Social Media: Developing Standards, Guidelines, and Policies.” Sarah Steiner will serve as instructor for a six-week facilitated eCourse starting February 6. This eCourse will guide you in writing useful, concise, legally sound standards and guidelines for providing reference through social media. Simply establishing basic greeting, closing, and tone standards that reflect user expectations will significantly improve user satisfaction....
ALA Editions, Dec. 13

Effective security plans
The Black Belt Librarian: Real-World Safety and Security, published by ALA Editions, arms librarians with the confidence and know-how they need to maintain a comfortable, productive, and safe environment for everyone in the library. Sharing expertise gleaned from more than two decades as a library security manager, author Warren Graham demonstrates that libraries can maintain their best traditions of openness and public access by creating an unobtrusive yet effective security plan....
ALA Editions, Dec. 9

The flying red horse
The Magnolia Hotel is a 29-story, Beaux-Arts style hotel in the Main Street District of downtown Dallas that for many years was the tallest building in the state of Texas. Even after taller buildings were constructed, it continued to stand out, mainly due to its “flying red horse,” more accurately known as Pegasus, which stands 450 feet above street level and which, for many years, could be seen for miles. Today the horse is only visible at a distance from the south, where there are fewer new skyscrapers to block the view....
A Guide to Dallas History, Jan. 13

Neiman Marcus
The flagship Neiman Marcus has set the standard for fashion and elegance since its grand opening in 1907. The store has featured exclusive designer lines offered nowhere else in the South and helped put Dallas on the international retail map. The Zodiac is the elegant restaurant on the 7th floor. This venerable dining destination, which has been serving fine cuisine for more than 50 years, features an exquisite, classic menu selection....
Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau

Choice editors preview favorite books, websites of 2011
Honoring the best in scholarly publishing, Choice’s annual “Outstanding Academic Titles 2011” list will appear in its January 2012 issue, featuring 629 titles spanning 54 disciplines. The list comprises less than 9% of the titles reviewed by Choice during 2011 and 2.5% of those submitted during the same time span. It may be viewed online at Choice Reviews Online (nonsubscribers can register for a free trial to access this feature)....
ACRL, Dec. 13

New Preservation Week Facebook page
Preservation Week, the annual celebration of the role of libraries in preserving our personal cultural heritage, found a new look with the launch of a Facebook page. Visit the page and follow all the activities for the 2012 Preservation Week, April 22–28....
ALCTS, Dec. 12

Building digital media labs in public libraries
PLA will host a live hourlong webinar January 25 called “Creating a Digital Media Lab at Your Library,” as part of its Public Libraries at Work monthly webinar series. Digital media labs for teens and adults offer a range of hardware and software tools for video, audio, and graphic design. During the webinar, presenters Toby Greenwalt and Mick Jacobsen from Skokie (Ill.) Public Library will share how to sell the concept of a digital media lab to library administration, set up and staff a space that fits any budget, and offer programs and services that bring the public in....
PLA, Dec. 13

Eat, drink, and network with reference colleagues
Kick off the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting with RUSA’s Membership Social—an opportunity to eat, drink, network, win door prizes, and learn more about RUSA. The social, which will be held 6–8 p.m. January 21, is open to all current RUSA members, friends of RUSA, and those meeting attendees interested in learning more about the association and networking with peers....
RUSA, Dec. 13

Upcoming AASL online courses
AASL is launching three winter courses for its AASL e-Academy starting in January 2012. Designed to isolate and strengthen problem areas, the four-week courses will assist school librarians in developing the skills and techniques needed to bring their programs into the 21st century. Led by experts in the field, the courses will arm attendees with the tools and resources necessary to get results in their programs. Detailed descriptions of each course and registration information are available on the AASL e-Academy pages....
AASL, Dec. 13

Timely topics from ALCTS interest groups
A wide array of timely and informative topics awaits Midwinter Meeting attendees from ALCTS interest groups. From library exhibits to the future of MARC to the “big deal,” these presentations will enlighten and stimulate discussion. Here is a sampling. Check the Midwinter event scheduler for more interest group topics by searching ALCTS....
ALCTS, Dec. 12

It’s Teen Tech Week and I work in a school: Now what?
For many school librarians, celebrating Teen Tech Week (March 4–10) can present some steep challenges. Not every librarian teaches classes, or has a designated time with their students to demonstrate and create, leaving tech programming a little up in the air. Many may not even see the point in celebrating. Here are some easy ways to integrate technology into your library for the week without disrupting classes or running yourself ragged....
YALSA Blog, Dec. 12

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I Love My Librarian Award winners
Ten librarians were recognized December 8 for service to their communities, schools, and campuses as winners of the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. More than 1,700 library patrons nationwide nominated a librarian. Each received a $5,000 cash award and was honored at a ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by the New York Times, on December 8. Caroline Kennedy (above), in the keynote speech, saluted librarians for their courage, dedication, and vision. Her remarks appear in full on the At Your Library website....
ALA Public Information Office, Dec. 9, 13; At Your Library

2012 YA Nonfiction finalists
YALSA has selected five books as finalists for the 2012 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, which honors the best nonfiction books for young adults written between November 2010 and October 2011. The division will name the winner at the Youth Media Awards on January 23 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas....
YALSA, Dec. 7

William C. Morris Award finalists
YALSA has selected five books as finalists for the 2012 William C. Morris Award, which honors a book written for young adults by a previously unpublished author. The division will name the winner at the Youth Media Awards on January 23 at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas....
YALSA, Dec. 8

Foundation honored with Major Benefactor Award
ALTAFF, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Library, honored the Public Service Enterprise Group Foundation with a Major Benefactor Award for its outstanding contribution of $812,500 to the Live Homework Help New Jersey program, an online, real-time tutoring service for students of all ages that supported more than 67,000 children and teens in their academic endeavors. The gift is the largest amount of money received by the New Jersey State Library (outside of Gates Foundation grants)....
ALTAFF, Dec. 13

ALTAFF award applications due soon
ALTAFF is accepting applications for the ALA Trustee Citation and the ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Grant. Applications for both awards are due December 30. The ALA Trustee Citation symbolizes and honors the best contributions and efforts of the estimated 60,000 American citizens who serve on library boards. The ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant enables a public library trustee to attend the ALA Annual Conference....
ALTAFF, Dec. 13

Five librarians awarded scholarships to Midwinter
In cosponsorship with ALA, EBSCO awarded five librarians $1,500 scholarships to attend the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas, January 20–24. As part of the application process, librarians were asked to write an essay on the topic: “If you could change anything about your current workplace or job responsibilities, how would you position them to meet future needs?” The winners outlined creative approaches for change unique to their libraries....
Office of ALA Governance, Dec. 13

Librarian wins National Punctuation Day contest
Ann Heinrichs (right), a part-time staffer at the Poetry Foundation library in Chicago, was one of 10 winners of the National Punctuation Day annual paragraph contest, in which competitors were tasked with writing one three-sentence paragraph that included 13 separate punctuation marks. She also happens to be the author of a 2010 book on punctuation published by Child’s World....
Chicago Reader: Bleader, Dec. 7

2011 ALCS Award for Educational Writers
Stewart Ross was named the winner of the 2011 Award for Educational Writers for his fact-filled Moon: Apollo 11 and Beyond (Oxford University, 2009). The £2,000 ($3,117 US) award, sponsored by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and the Society of Authors, showcases an outstanding example of traditionally published nonfiction that enhances teaching and learning....
Society of Authors, Dec. 6

Director shakeup at Oregon State Library
Faced with the abrupt resignation of the incoming state librarian, the Oregon State Library board of trustees reopened the search on December 9. The action came on the heels of the December 6 resignation of Robert Hulshof-Schmidt (right), a state library division manager unanimously selected by the board in October to succeed long-time state librarian Jim Scheppke, who is retiring at the end of the year. Officials are not revealing why Hulshof-Schmidt resigned....
Salem (Oreg.) Statesman Journal, Dec. 10

Osceola County votes to privatize libraries
Commissioners in Osceola County, Florida, decided December 12 to turn over management of libraries to a private company to save money. The 3–2 vote to have Maryland-based Library Systems and Services run the six branches starting the first week of January makes Osceola the first county in central Florida to outsource its libraries. The county will pay the company $4.71 million during the first year of a five-year contract, which commissioners said would not result in reductions in operating hours or services....
Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel, Dec. 12

Private libraries on the rise in California
California is facing a $13 billion budget shortfall over the next year and a half, and it’s safe to say that the pain will be felt across public services. In some parts of the Bay Area, incoming tax dollars won’t be enough to buy even books for libraries. What’s to be done when the economy makes books unaffordable, but public libraries can’t fill their shelves? KALW’s Holly J. McDede found a fairly simple answer: Start your own library....
KALW-FM, San Francisco, Dec. 7

Libraries make room for high-tech “hackerspaces”
As information becomes more digital, public libraries are striving to redefine their roles. A small number are working to create “hackerspaces,” where do-it-yourselfers share sophisticated tools and their expertise. The Allen County Public Library, which serves the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has a modest hackerspace inside a 50-foot trailer in its parking lot. Library director Jeff Krull says hosting it is consistent with the library’s mission....
NPR: Weekend Edition, Dec. 10

YouTube creates separate site for schools
With many schools blocking access to YouTube as a way to protect students from content that is inappropriate—or worse—the online video site opened a new network December 12 that allows access only to content that can be used in the classroom. By signing up, schools automatically disable certain features, including the ability to make comments on posted videos, and other distractions to student learning, YouTube announced. Watch the video (1:26)....
New York Times: SchoolBook, Dec. 12; YouTube Blog, Dec. 11; YouTube, Dec. 6

LC plays back 1880s Alexander Graham Bell recordings
The Library of Congress partnered with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to offer the first listen December 13 of some early sound-recording experiments by inventor Alexander Graham Bell. A speaker from the 1880s recites a portion of Hamlet’s Soliloquy as a green wax disc crackled to life from computer speakers. A $600,000 three-year grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences funded the pilot project....
Associated Press, Dec. 14

Former librarian leaves Lincoln Library $340K
A $340,000 bequest from a former librarian will help the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, expand its collection of electronic and print reference materials. Lucille Fritz, who died in the Chicago area in March, named the library’s foundation as a beneficiary of her estate. Fritz worked at the library from 1937 until 1980, when she retired as head of reference....
Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register, Dec. 6

Library janitor finds silver coin cache
Janitor Tanja Höls had often passed by an unassuming wooden box stowed away in an archive in the historic state library in the southern German city of Passau, but it wasn’t until late November that curiosity got the best of her and she decided take a look inside. What she found were dozens of coins, most of them made of silver and dating back from the years between the Roman Empire and Napoleon’s rule. The library believes the collection of 172 well-preserved coins likely belonged to Passau’s prince-bishops....
Der Spiegel, Dec. 7

Annual library baking blitz in Fargo
For the 19th year, Liz Mason of Fort Collins, Colorado, teamed up with her friend Lori West of Fargo, North Dakota, to bake Christmas cookies. More than a thousand cookies, in fact. The tasty tradition started innocently enough when the Fargo Public Library coworkers decided to spend a day off doing some Christmas baking in West’s tiny downtown apartment. They had so much fun that they took turns hosting, even when Mason moved to Colorado in 2003....
Fargo (N.Dak.) Forum, Dec. 11

Huntington Library assesses wind damage
A ferocious November 30 windstorm battered trees on the grounds of the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The gardens suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage that will take time to repair. In all, it may have to remove as many as 100 damaged trees. Large areas were closed to visitors pending safety assessments for weak and broken limbs....
Associated Press, Dec. 9; Huntington Library, Dec. 9

Jury convicts Sacramento library official in kickback case
A Sacramento (Calif.) Superior Court jury has convicted former Sacramento Public Library Facilities Director Dennis Nilsson of 16 counts of grand theft, conflict of interest, bribery, and embezzlement. According to prosecutors, Nilsson was at the center of the scheme in which an estimated 1,400 billing orders had been fraudulently inflated. Contractors billed a cumulative total of around $560,000 on projects completed in 2004–2007 for which Nilsson charged the library $1.3 million....
Sacramento (Calif.) Bee, Dec. 10

Ex-Saugus library worker indicted
A former Saugus (Mass.) Public Library worker was indicted by a federal grand jury December 7 on charges of siphoning $800,000, money she allegedly used to cover bills, pay for work on her home, and splurge on jewelry, flowers, and hotel stays. Former Administrative Assistant Linda E. Duffy was indicted on four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft....
Boston Globe, Dec. 8

Librarian helps identify Pearl Harbor female firefighter photo
Bill Dedman writes: “In the 70 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, a dramatic photo of female firefighters has been published many times in magazines, books, and online as a depiction of action on December 7, 1941. Now, with the help of our readers (one of them author and former librarian Dorothea Buckingham), we’ve located one of the women, who says the photo was definitely not taken on that day.”...
MSNBC: Open Channel, Dec. 12

Kinsey Institute gets Masters and Johnson archives
The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University said its library has been given the archives of pioneering sex researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson. The collection includes letters, records, correspondence, research papers, media coverage, and other materials chronicling Masters and Johnson’s groundbreaking work beginning in 1957 at Washington University in St. Louis and stretching into the 1990s....
South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, Dec. 12

Artistic bookbinder thrives at Government Printing Office
Kate Tummarello writes: “Deep within the warehouse-like building that is home to the Government Printing Office lies an artist. His medium is paper; his task both poetic and prosaic. Bookbinder Peter James practices the ancient task of marbling paper, which beautifies book edges while helping to preserve the pages. In proper Dickensian or Hardyesque fashion, James began his bookbinding apprenticeship at 15, when he went to work in a loose-leaf and library bindery.”...
Roll Call, Dec. 12

London set to commemorate Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens, considered by many to be the first great novelist of the modern city and the age of mass culture, will be widely celebrated throughout Great Britain in 2012, the 200th anniversary of his birth. If you can’t visit the Museum of London’s six-month-long exhibition, then you can download Dickens: Dark London, an interactive app for iPhones and iPads that the museum launched December 9 that brings Dickensian London to life....
New York Times: InTransit, Dec. 8; Reuters, Dec. 8

New interactive maps reveal London’s social history
Locating London’s Past is a new website that lets users delve deep into London’s past, looking into such records as crime and punishment, the distribution of wealth and poverty, the ownership of consumer goods, mortality, archaeological finds, voting records, and other historically relevant material. The website is the result of a collaborative project between the University of Sheffield, the University of Hertfordshire, and the University of London....
Joint Information Systems Committee, Dec. 12

Dublin’s libraries get the last word
Davin O’Dwyer writes: “For me, Dublin’s long and storied relationship with the book—formally recognized in 2010 when the Irish capital was named a UNESCO City of Literature—is most clearly defined by a group of libraries dotted around the city center. It’s in these remarkable buildings, with their miles of shelves and volumes and vast catalogs and air of concentration, that Dublin most shines as a mecca of the written word.”...
Toronto Star, Dec. 13

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“The Conversation Starts Here” is the Midwinter Meeting theme. Centerpiece events will be “Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities,” two afternoons of deep conversation about the evolving roles of libraries, led by visionary professor David Lankes, as well as the President’s Program with Rich Harwood, described as “one of the great thinkers in American public life.”

Caroline Kennedy to Librarians: “Your work is truly life changing.” Counterfeit Goods: Fabulous Fakes or Sinister Stuff? by Wanda Urbanska New Photography 2011 at MOMA Win a Copy of Brian Selznick's 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' Anger Management: Great Sports Tirades Remembered Momentum: A National Juried Exhibit for Emerging Artists with Disabilities Library of Congress Preserving Our Social Media Legacy J.A. Jance: 'Libraries are places to find respite.' Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

2010 NCES academic library statistics
Academic Libraries: 2010 First Look, compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, summarizes services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in two- and four-year degree-granting, postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Steve Kolowich writes: “Some campus libraries might be under pressure to cut costs, but as of 2010 academic libraries were spending more money than they were before the financial downturn that started in 2008.”...
INFOdocket, Dec. 13; National Center for Education Statistics, Dec. 13; Inside Higher Ed, Dec. 14

Building the Harvard Library
Katie Koch writes: “In December 2010, Harvard University announced plans to better align its library’s structure with the university’s evolving academic priorities. The Harvard Library’s leadership team, however, has only recently taken shape. Led by Helen Shenton and Mary Lee Kennedy, the group has an ambitious aim: to take a diverse network of libraries that have grown organically over the course of 375 years and bring them together under a single mission and structure.”...
Harvard Gazette, Dec. 8

Wikipedia ponders blackout to oppose SOPA
Jolie O’Dell writes: “Wikipedia might see a blackout to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which goes before the US House Judiciary Committee on December 15. Wikimedia chief Jimmy Wales (right) started a poll to determine whether Wikipedia’s vast community thought SOPA was worth protesting. A similar protest conducted on the Italian Wikipedia site had a profound impact and asked users to weigh in on a blackout for the English-language version. So far, 87% of Wikipedians support a blackout.”...
VentureBeat, Dec. 13

Making pre-1978 Copyright Office records accessible
Mike Burke writes: “From 1870 to 1977 there were 16.4 million works registered in the Copyright Office. During that same time, the assignment or transfer of rights was recorded for more than 1.7 million works. So how do you determine if a particular work is still under copyright and who the owner is? The answers are in the paper and microfilm records in the Copyright Office. The goal of the copyright digitization and public access project is to convert these records and to make them widely available online.”...
Copyright Matters: Digitization and Public Access, Dec. 8

Why don’t librarians collaborate more?
Steve Matthews writes: “After reading a lot of literature on libraries in this 21st century, it finally struck me that one area in which I have read virtually nothing is collaboration among librarians. Having consulted with numerous libraries, I find more that do not share ideas and information than do. Naturally, that led me to investigate, and guess what I found—virtually nothing.”...
21st Century Library Blog, Dec. 14

Ryan Gosling sure loves librarians
Kathleen Massara writes: “We just came across the Tumblr blog Hey girl. I like the library too, and the earnest text accompanying a series of photos of heartthrob actor Ryan Gosling are making us cry tears of joy. Tears, we say! A December 5 entry reads, ‘Hey girl. You know how sometimes you would rather read books than be around actual people? I feel the same way sometimes. Never about you, though, girl.’ Librarians, is this what you dream of during your downtime? We suspect so.”...
Melville House Books, Dec. 8

Library science without the library
Jane Greenstein writes: “Library schools keep churning out graduates, but it’s the private sector that is laying out the welcome mat to MLIS graduates. Library schools should become more aggressive about preparing students for positions outside the library. Why? Studies point to the fact that library jobs are being cut due to a perfect storm of decreased funding and technological advancement. And it’s safe to say that library students are beginning to branch out—by force or by choice.”...
Library Journal: Backtalk, Dec. 9

How to turn your library into an ideas factory
Hugh Rundle writes: “Throughout history libraries have been highly effective as idea storehouses. Universities and schools have been highly effective as idea communicators. But, particularly at a time when many are questioning the relevance of libraries, might we develop them further as idea factories? These are the essential ingredients of an idea-generating environment: liquid networks, slow hunches, serendipity, error, exaptation and recycling, and platforms. Let’s explore what these mean in practice.”...
It’s Not About the Books, Dec. 13

Library lockdown at Virginia Tech
Brian Mathews writes: “December 8 was a wild, scary, sad day at Virginia Tech. The campus buildings went on lockdown shortly after a police officer was shot. Our staff responded efficiently and professionally, securing the library building. There were (falsely) reported shots and suspect sightings in various places around campus. This resulted in a lot of action just outside the library. Several of our neighboring buildings had to be searched and/or evacuated. I saw numerous officers in combat gear with assault rifles—that was a wake-up call.”...
The Ubiquitous Librarian, Dec. 9

UNC library rules, 1799
Jennie Rose Halperin writes: “Ever wonder what library rules were like in 1799, soon after the founding of the University of North Carolina library? In this gem of an entry from the General Faculty and Faculty Council Records, the Board of Trustees write the rules for the library. Notice that some things never change—reference books remain in the library for the most part, call slips go out with books, and fees are paid for ‘defaced’ books.”...
For the Record, Dec. 13

Old-school search engines: Where are they now?
James Weinheimer writes: “I read an article in WebProNews where the author discusses the old search engines (all launched in 1995–1996), and it gave me a chance to reflect on some of the historical developments I have seen and studied. The article doesn’t discuss pre-web search engines that were at least semipopular. I am thinking of the old gopher networks. I find it interesting that parts of Gopher still function and that there seems to be a small community trying to keep it going.”...
First Thus, Dec. 11; WebProNews, Nov. 16

Interview red flags
Joe Hardenbrook writes: “Much has been written on the topic of interview red flags, but it’s mostly from the employer perspective: what to watch out for when interviewing candidates. But what about the view from the interviewee? Here are few red flags—along with a couple anecdotes—that should make you run and scream from a library interview.”...
Letters to a Young Librarian, Dec. 12

Assessing kindergarten readiness
On December 12, the National Association for the Education of Young Children released a report to help states and other stakeholders with a growing trend in early childhood education: statewide kindergarten readiness assessments. Developing Kindergarten Readiness and Other Large-Scale Assessment Systems presents a framework for developing and implementing large-scale kindergarten readiness assessments....
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Dec. 12

Engage young artists with a bookmark contest
Susan Baier writes: “Looking for a fun school outreach opportunity that promotes your library while allowing students to express their creativity? Try a bookmark contest. My former employer, the County of Los Angeles Public Library, has held a highly successful bookmark contest for many years. I decided to replicate it at the Santa Clara (Calif.) City Library for the first time this year.”...
ALSC Blog, Dec. 13

Explore the Japanese tsunami through Google Street View
Kei Kawai writes: “In July, we announced an initiative to digitally archive the areas of northeastern Japan affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Now we are making good on that promise. After driving more than 44,000 kilometers through the affected regions, 360-degree panoramic imagery of those areas is now available through the Street View feature in Google Maps. The images can also be viewed via a special website called Memories for the Future, where you can view before-and-after shots of the towns changed by these events.”...
Google Lat Long Blog, Dec. 12

50 Open Access resources for librarians
Ellyssa Kroski writes: “As part of my Intro to Reference course I try to introduce Open Access resources and directories to my students. Since many of them have found these resources useful, I thought I’d share them here.” Don’t miss Part 2....
iLibrarian, Dec. 9, 11

Furious at Facebook again
Elizabeth Weingarten writes: “On December 9, a colleague sent an email around about the messages Facebook hides in an obscure folder labeled ‘Other.’ Haven’t heard of it? Click the Messages tab on the left side of your Facebook screen. ‘Other’ will then appear beneath it. Click on Other and you will unearth months of messages you probably missed.” Slate readers soon discovered they had missed messages from friends, employers, and others....
Slate, Dec. 9, 12; Erika Napoletano Is Redhead Writing, Dec. 7

LC to receive entire Twitter archive
The Library of Congress and Twitter have signed an agreement that will see an archive of every public Tweet ever sent handed over to the library’s repository of historical documents. The Library of Congress has long been the repository of historical documents and the Twitter library, as a whole, is something historic in itself. Researchers will be able to look at the Twitter archive as a complete set of data, which they could then data-mine for interesting information....
Federal News Radio, Dec. 7

New stamp commemorates Spain’s national library
On November 4, Correos, the national postal service of Spain, issued an 0.80€ stamp that celebrates the 300th anniversary of the National Library of Spain in Madrid. The library was founded by the first king of the Bourbon dynasty, Philip V, in late 1711 and opened in 1712 as the royal library. The library is hosting conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and performances throughout its tricentennial year. The festivities continue through 2012....
Correos, Nov. 4; Biblioteca Nacional de España

Bookwheels keep on turning
Italian engineer Agostino Ramelli (1531–1600) designed an intriguing answer to the problem of a 16th-century researcher’s cluttered desk sapce—the bookwheel. Based on the design of a waterwheel, the bookwheel would hold more than a dozen separate titles, all sitting open at the same angle. Using either hand or foot controls, the reader could easily sort through the books he collected at ease without the fear of losing track of his place. Published in Ramelli’s 1588 book, Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli, the design and idea spread around the world....
There, I Fixed It, Dec. 8

UNESCO endorses IFLA digital library manifesto
UNESCO has endorsed the IFLA Manifesto for Digital Libraries (PDF file) at its General Conference 2011. The manifesto provides principles to assist libraries in undertaking sustainable and interoperable digitization activities to bridge the digital divide—a key factor in achieving the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. The document was approved by the IFLA governing board in 2010....
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Dec. 13

Archives conservation in Haiti
Nora Lockshin writes: “In 2011, I traveled to Haiti, as have other conservation experts, to assist with the Smithsonian’s Haiti Cultural Recovery project, which is working to rescue, recover, safeguard, and restore Haitian artwork, artifacts, documents, media, and architectural features damaged and endangered by the 2010 earthquake. My primary work focused on the preservation of 19th-century historic collections of the Archives Nationales d’Haïti.”...
The Bigger Picture, Dec. 13

Voices from the days of slavery
Karenna Gore Schiff writes: “It seems impossible that voices from the mid-19th century could survive into the age of audio recording, yet a small number have. The perspective on the Civil War that might seem most elusive is in fact the most tangible: that of enslaved children. Thanks to the Work Progress Administration’s Federal Writers’ Project, and the careful stewardship of the Library of Congress, voices of onetime slaves who lived well into the 1930s are now just a few clicks away.”...
New York Times: Opinionator, Dec. 6

Bus-stop books in Israel
Israeli artists have developed a new model for the urban library: a free bus-stop library for commuters and travelers. Daniel Shoshan, an installation artist and lecturer at the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, along with Technion graduate Amit Matalon, started this new library concept, figuring that people sometimes have long wait times for buses. The duo built a series of bookshelves at bus stops throughout Israel. The idea is that anyone may take a book from the shelf, read it at the station or take it on the bus, and return it when done....
Israel 21c Innovation News Service, Dec. 1

Effective video promo for the Reagan Presidential Library
Beth Dempsey writes: “This video (10:04) is an amazing way to promote a special library. Tour host, actor Gary Sinise, makes the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum sound so fascinating that even a Democrat would want to visit. Also notice ‘the ask’ right up front—he makes it clear that the library wants donations and tells viewers how to make them. Smart.”...
The ‘M’ Word—Marketing Libraries, Dec. 13

CRD partners with PubMed Health
The Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) produces and maintains a database of more than 11,000 abstracts for health professionals and policy-makers that looks at the overall validity and reliability of each review. With the new partnership, CRD will provide its database content to PubMed Health, a new online service provided by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the US National Library of Medicine—the world’s largest medical library....
The University of York, Dec. 9

Scented library candles
Candle-makers Paddywax offers a line of literary candles to light up the libraries of bibliophiles. Pairing quotations from seven famous authors with an appropriate scent (Edgar Allen Poe’s “All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream” is matched with cardamom, absinthe, and sandalwood), the candles and fragrances pay homage to literary greats....
Paddywax

2011 Librarian Lump of Coal Gift Guide
Travis Jonker writes: “Time is running out to get gifts for the insufferable librarian in your life. With help from Etsy, the 2011 edition of the Librarian Lump of Coal Gift Guide has your back.” For the librarian who likes felt a bit too much: The felt Edward from Twilight doll (right)....
100 Scope Notes, Dec. 13

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