The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | March 2, 2011
Contents
American Libraries Online
ALA News
Booklist Online
Division News
Awards
Seen Online
Tech Talk
Publishing
Actions & Answers
New This Week
Calendar
A Capitol weekend in Wisconsin
On February 26, several dozen librarians brought library-themed picket signs to the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison to show solidarity with protesters entering their third week of demonstrations opposing Gov. Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill, which includes the permanent abolishment of most collective-bargaining rights for the state’s public-sector employees. Organized by University of Wisconsin–Madison SLIS student Omar Poler, the group constituted a more visible library contingent than the individual information professionals who have joined the protesters for days....
AL: Inside Scoop, Feb. 28
CES: The librarian’s takeaway
Jason Griffey writes: “While ALA Midwinter 2011 was starting in beautiful San Diego, I was on a plane to a different, but equally sunny destination—Las Vegas, Nevada—to attend the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show. The reason that I go is because the experiences that our patrons have with these gadgets and gizmos set their expectations for their interaction with information. The gadget emergence that I think might have the most effect on libraries is the rise of the tablet.”...
American Libraries news, Feb. 28
This old library
Peter Gisolfi writes: “Sustainable building construction is the major issue facing the architectural profession in the United States and around the world. As a nation and as architects, we are constantly developing ways to reduce energy consumption in the new buildings we design and construct. In fact, we are looking for ways to create new buildings that will be energy neutral—that is, they will produce as much energy as they consume. However, if we focus only on new buildings, we will not reduce our consumption; we will only increase it at a slower rate. Thus, the critical problem is to address the sustainable improvements we can make to existing buildings.”...
American Libraries feature
Youth Matters: Hope springs eternal
Jennifer Burek Pierce writes: “At this writing, the world outside my window resembles a snow globe. Despite lingering wintery conditions, I’m thinking of spring—because I’ve been talking with Keiko Kasza (right), and it will be a spring day in 2012 when her next book is released. Kasza is known internationally for books like A Mother for Choco and The Wolf’s Chicken Stew. As someone who immigrated to the United States from Japan, she is attuned to the way ideas and idioms translate—or may fail to translate—across cultures. Some of her plots derive from such differences.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
Reader’s advisory
Karen Muller writes: “This post isn’t prompted by just one question, but rather several that came in via email over the weekend. Can you suggest good books for my 8-year-old grandson? Where are the older lists of Best Books for Young Adults? Is there a set of biographies of all the presidents? So, even though the ALA Library is a special library, we get our share of reader’s advisory questions. Answering the first is easy: Please meet with your local librarian who can help you identify a range of materials.”...
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Mar. 2
Roberta Stevens: Protect library funding
As the U.S. Senate reconvenes this week, ALA President Roberta Stevens has issued this call to action through ALA’s Washington Office: “I am writing to you to enlist your participation in an Association-wide advocacy campaign to protect funding for the Library Services and Technology Act and the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program. This is the time to reach out to your U.S. senators by phone or email—and, importantly, to urge others in your communities to do so as well.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, Feb. 25
ALA on collective bargaining legislation
As thousands protest proposed collective bargaining legislation in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, ALA President Roberta Stevens released a statement in support of those standing up for workers’ rights: “We affirm the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively with their employers, without fear of reprisal. These are basic workers’ rights that we defend for thousands of academic, public, and school library professionals.”...
Public Information Office, Feb. 24
Bookmobile Day resources
Materials for National Bookmobile Day 2011 are now available for downloading. These free and customizable resources will help libraries plan festivities for the second annual celebration of National Bookmobile Day on April 13. Materials include publicity templates, logos, and sticker templates, as well as flyers and bookmarks featuring National Bookmobile Day 2011 Honorary Chair Audrey Niffenegger....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Feb. 25
Submit a National Library Week idea and win $100
The Campaign for America’s Libraries is looking for stories about how librarians are planning to promote National Library Week (April 10–16) using the theme “Create your own story @ your library.” Stories can be submitted by email or posted to the National Library Week community in ALA Connect. One library story will be selected at random to win a $100 gift certificate to ALA Graphics. Stories must be submitted by March 21....
Public Information Office, Mar. 1
Be a star on National Library Workers Day
The ALA–Allied Professional Association invites you to celebrate National Library Workers Day on April 14. National Library Workers Day acknowledges the contributions of all library workers—including librarians, support staff, and others who make services possible. Nominate a “star” library worker or group for their creativity, enthusiasm, customer service, or that special something they add to the library....
ALA–Allied Professional Association, Feb. 25
COSWL celebrates National Women’s History Month
Throughout the month of March, the ALA Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship will recognize and celebrate women’s historic achievements in National Women’s History Month. The observance also provides an opportunity to honor women within our families and communities. The celebration traces its origins back to March 8, 1857, when women from factories in New York City staged a protest over working conditions....
Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Mar. 1
Participate in the 2011 Diversity and Outreach Fair
The Office for Literacy and Outreach Services invites library professionals from all kinds of institutions to submit proposals to participate in the 2011 Diversity and Outreach Fair, to be held at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans on June 25. Sponsored by DEMCO, the fair is an opportunity for libraries and member groups to share their successful diversity and outreach initiatives with conference attendees. The application deadline is April 15....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, May 1
American Library in Paris representative needed
The International Relations Committee is calling for nominations for an ALA representative to the board of trustees of the American Library in Paris. This two-year appointment would begin in June 2011 with the appointee having to cover costs to attend two board meetings a year in Paris. ALA does not provide financial support for the representative. Apply by April 15....
International Relations Committee
Top 10 reasons your Friends should go to Annual Conference
Marsha Bennett writes: “One of the most important things the Friends of the Johnson County (Kans.) Library does is to budget for Friends board members to attend the ALA Annual Conference. Two to three of them usually attend the conference each year and always come back with new energy, great ideas, and a realization that their Friends organization is doing a lot of things right. Here are the top 10 reasons your board members should attend.”...
ALTAFF
Find inspiration in the ALA Graphics digital catalog
The ALA Graphics digital catalog is here, just in time for April’s big celebrations—National Library Week and School Library Month. The new online format is convenient and environmentally friendly. It’s also interactive: Click item numbers to begin filling your ALA Store shopping cart or watch a video tutorial demonstrating how to create customized READ posters. View the new catalog now and take advantage of the special discount available to digital catalog shoppers through April 10....
ALA Graphics
Learn to use e-government resources
ALA Editions is offering a new facilitated, four-week eCourse on “Finding and Using E-Government Tools and Resources.” Diane Kovacs, a former government documents librarian and experienced online instructor, will serve as the instructor for the course, which starts April 4. Registration can be purchased at the ALA Store....
ALA Editions, Mar. 1
Reflective teaching and effective learning
Whether or not “instruction” appears in their job titles, librarians are often in the position of educating their users, colleagues, and peers to successfully locate and evaluate information. MLIS programs tend to offer less-than-comprehensive preparation in pedagogy and instructional design. Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning: Instructional Literacy for Library Educators, written by Char Booth and published by ALA Editions, fills in the gap....
ALA Editions, Feb. 25
|
@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... |
ACRL 2011 to focus on value
More than 3,000 librarians and staff from college and university libraries around the world will meet in Philadelphia, March 30–April 2, for the ACRL 2011 Conference to discuss a host of pressing issues affecting higher education, such as the future of academic libraries, top technology trends, open access publishing, distance learning, and information literacy. Themed “A Declaration of Interdependence,” ACRL 2011 will explore the interdependency that exists in academic and library communities and the changing nature and role of academic and research librarians....
ACRL, Mar. 1
ALCTS webinars free to LIS students and faculty
Current ALA student members can register for any ALCTS webinar free of charge. Students who wish to take advantage of the offer must register in advance for the webinars by filling out the registration form located on the ALCTS website. Faculty must contact Julie Reese at the ALCTS office in advance to make arrangements for the presentation....
ALCTS, Feb. 28
Guy Gavriel Kay to speak at Literary Tastes breakfast
Fantasy book lovers won’t want to miss out on hearing Guy Gavriel Kay, the author of Under Heaven, speak at the RUSA Literary Tastes breakfast—a book lover’s dream event—June 26 at the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The breakfast is a ticketed event sponsored by RUSA CODES. Under Heaven was named the 2011 RUSA Reading List’s top fantasy title....
RUSA, Mar. 1
Find your dream job with this April 21 webinar
Tackling the job search process can be a daunting task, so let YALSA help. Join Courtney Young at 2 p.m. Eastern time on April 21 for a discussion of practical job-hunting tips for new graduates and early career librarians. The webinar is free to YALSA members. Contact Eve Gaus to register....
YALSA, Mar. 1
Teen space design webinar in May
Looking for ways to spruce up your existing teen space? Or are you moving into a new building and need to redesign or plan something new? Join Kim Bolan Cullin as she discusses the latest in teen space planning and implementation in YALSA’s May 19 webinar. Registration is now open online....
YALSA, Mar. 1
Nuts and Bolts for Serving Teens preconference
Teens are an essential part of any library’s service, but gaining their attention and creating programs and services that meet their unique needs can be a challenge. New librarians and generalists alike can learn practical strategies for serving teens that can be implemented immediately during YALSA’s Nuts and Bolts for Serving Teens preconference, scheduled for the afternoon of June 24 at ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans....
YALSA, Mar. 1
New webinars-on-demand from YALSA
YALSA debuts two new webinars-on-demand in March, previously recorded and ed by young adult services content experts. “Gear Up for Summer Reading” and “Tech4U: Technology Programs for Every User” are now available for purchase online for $19 each. Webinars-on-demand are available for purchase two months after the webinar takes place....
YALSA, Mar. 1
2011 Peggy Sullivan Award
Sol M. Hirsch, director of the Alachua County (Fla.) Library District, will receive the 2011 Peggy Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The award is presented annually to a library administrator who has shown exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children. Hirsch received the award for his leadership in cultivating community relationships and encouraging innovative methods of delivering services to children and families....
Office of ALA Governance, Feb. 25
Karen Coyle receives ALCTS Outstanding Publication Award
Karen Coyle is the 2011 ALCTS Outstanding Publication Award recipient for her “Understanding the Semantic Web: Bibliographic Data and Metadata,” published in the January 2010 Library Technology Reports by ALA TechSource. Coyle is a librarian and a consultant in the area of digital libraries. Her report is an insightful articulation about how library catalogs must transition to become part of the current information environment....
ALCTS, Feb. 28
2011 Banks-Harris Award
Roberta Pilette, chief preservation officer at Yale University Library, is the recipient of the 2011 ALCTS Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris Preservation Award. The award, consisting of $1,500 and a citation, recognizes the contribution of a professional preservation specialist who has been active in the field of preservation or conservation for library and/or archival materials. Pilette’s impact on the preservation field as an active leader, educator and mentor has spanned more than 25 years....
ALCTS, Mar. 1
2011 Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award
ALCTS has selected Eleanor Cook, assistant director for collections and technical services at East Carolina University, to receive the 2011 Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award. The award, sponsored by Harrassowitz, is given to a librarian to recognize contributions and outstanding leadership in the field of acquisitions and includes a $1,500 monetary award. For the past 30 years, Cook has made continuing and lasting contributions to acquisitions librarianship....
ALCTS, Mar. 1
2011 IS Innovation Award
Michelle Costello (left) and Kimberly Davies Hoffman (right), both at the State University of New York at Geneseo, have been selected to receive the 2011 ACRL Instruction Section’s Innovation award. Hoffman and Costello received the award for developing LILAC (Library Instruction Leadership Academy), a collaborative professional development project designed, organized, and delivered by regional K–12, community college, and college/university librarians. A prize of $3,000 and a certificate will be presented to them at ALA Annual Conference....
ACRL, Mar. 1
2011 WGSS Career Achievement Award
Kay Cassell, director of the Master of Library and Information Science program at Rutgers University, has been selected as the 2011 winner of the ACRL Women and Gender Studies Section’s Career Achievement Award. The award, sponsored by ABC-CLIO Greenwood, honors significant long-standing contributions to women’s studies in the field of librarianship over the course of a career....
ACRL, Mar. 1
2011 Oberly Award
William R. Shurtleff, soy information officer for the Soy Information Center, has been selected to receive the 2011 ACRL Science and Technology Section’s Oberly Award for Bibliography in the Agricultural or Natural Sciences for his bibliography, History of Soybeans and Soyfoods in Africa (1857–2009): Extensively Annotated Bibliography and Sourcebook (PDF file). The publication is a freely available electronic bibliography....
ACRL, Mar. 1
2011 Ilene F. Rockman Publication of the Year
Megan Jane Oakleaf, assistant professor at the iSchool at Syracuse University, has been chosen as the winner of the ACRL Instruction Section’s Ilene F. Rockman Publication of the Year Award, for her article “Information Literacy Instruction Assessment Cycle: A Guide for Increasing Student Learning and Improving Librarian Instructional Skills,” in the Journal of Documentation, vol. 65, no. 4. The award recognizes an outstanding publication related to library instruction published within the past two years....
ACRL, Mar. 1
Host the 2012 Arbuthnot Honor Lecture
Applications are currently being accepted for the 2012 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture featuring well-known children’s illustrator Peter Sís (right). Administered by ALSC, the annual lecture consists of an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature presenting a paper that makes a significant contribution to the field. A library school, department of education in a college or university, or a children’s library system may be considered. Applications are due May 1....
ALSC, Mar. 1
ALA President’s Award for Advocacy
Applications for the ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by ALTAFF, are due March 15. The award honors and recognizes statewide advocacy for libraries with $1,000 to be used for the development of a program or programs for Friends and trustees at the state library association conference. Applications are available online (PDF file)....
ALTAFF, Mar. 1
Three Bookapalooza winners
ALSC has announced three winners of its 2011 Bookapalooza program: the Houston Elementary School in Spartanburg, South Carolina; the Meade County (Ky.) Public Library; and the Florence County (S.C.) Library System. The winners receive collections of books, videos, audiobooks, and recordings produced in 2010 and submitted by children’s trade publishers for the division’s 2011 award and media evaluation committees....
ALSC, Feb. 23
Apply for a 2011 ASCLA Century Scholarship
March 8 is the deadline to apply for the 2011 ASCLA Century Scholarship, a one-time award that funds necessary services or accommodations for an LIS student with access needs so that the winner can complete a master’s or doctoral program. Interested students should complete the online scholarship application....
ASCLA, Mar. 1
Municipal Heritage Award presented for Regina library
Designers and construction engineers received a 2011 Municipal Heritage Award February 28 for the interior restoration of the Saskatchewan Legislative Library in Regina. The award was presented to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Services, PSW Architecture and Interior Design, and Independent Construction Management of Regina....
Regina (Sask.) Leader-Post, Mar. 1
2011 Golden Kite Awards
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators has announced the winners and honorees of the 2011 Golden Kite Awards, presented annually to recognize excellence in children’s literature published the previous year. The authors and illustrators, all members of the society, will receive $2,500. The awards are in four categories: fiction, nonfiction, picture book text, and picture book illustration. A separate award, the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, goes to an author in this often overlooked category....
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Feb. 23
Montaigne biography wins Duff Cooper Prize
Sarah Bakewell’s How to Live: or, A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer (Chatto and Windus, 2010) has won the Duff Cooper Prize, awarded annually in the U.K. since 1956 for the best examples of nonfiction writing published in the past year. Bakewell was presented with the award at a February 23 ceremony at the French Ambassador’s residence in London. The winner receives £5,000 ($8,135 U.S.) and a first-edition copy of British diplomat Duff Cooper’s autobiography, Old Men Forget....
The Bookseller, Feb. 23
2010 Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books
The winners of the 2010 Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books were announced during a circus-themed ceremony in Glasgow attended by 500 young people from all over Scotland on February 22. The awards, managed by the Scottish Book Trust, are Scotland’s largest youth literature awards, with each winner receiving £3,000 ($4,880 U.S.). The award in the category of books for older readers (ages 12–16) went to Catherine MacPhail for Grass (Bloomsbury)....
Scottish Book Trust, Feb. 23
Library building types
Architectural Record has long produced in-depth analyses of a particular building type, with photos, drawings, specifications, descriptions, and design solutions. This month, it takes on libraries from New Jersey to Timbuktu. Its website enhances the analysis with full coverage of additional projects, including those that run in the magazine....
Architectural Record, Mar.
Supreme Court: A win for FOIA
On March 1, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of the Federal Communications Commission in the case of the FCC v. AT&T, deciding that corporations do not have the right of personal privacy to prevent the disclosure of documents under the Freedom of Information Act. At issue in the case was information gathered by the FCC during an investigation of AT&T’s participation in the E-rate program, a federal telecommunications discount-based program for public libraries and schools....
District Dispatch, Mar. 2
Update on Christchurch libraries
Sue Sutherland, acting national librarian of New Zealand, writes: “The National Library School Services Centre staff in Christchurch are all safe, although some have severely damaged homes [from the February 22 earthquake] and may not be able to move back into them.
Their offices on Manchester Street are badly damaged.” LIANZA Executive Director Alli Smith reports that the Christchurch Central Library sustained some damage, but staff have not been allowed back to the area yet. The National Preservation Office is planning to collaborate with other heritage organizations across New Zealand, so that conservators and curators will be in a position to offer assistance....
LIANZA, Mar. 1–2; National Library of New Zealand, Feb. 25
Detroit Public Library to cut 83 workers
Facing what leaders call an unprecedented fiscal crisis, the 23-branch Detroit Public Library plans to reduce its staff by 20%, or 83 employees, at the end of March. Library officials also are weighing branch closures and fewer hours of operation. The crisis is caused by plummeting property values that are eroding dozens of government services across metropolitan Detroit....
Detroit Free Press, Feb. 28
San Diego schools late on first public library payment
Financial problems continue to mount at the city of San Diego’s new central library, even though the $185-million project broke ground in July. The San Diego Unified School District has not paid the city the $5 million it owed when construction on the library began. The money now is seven months late. The district, whose $20-million pledge two years ago reinvigorated the moribund proposal, plans to put a charter high school on two floors of the new library....
Voice of San Diego, Feb. 24
Help with legal research, courtesy of the county
Brian Huffman, law librarian for Washington County, Minnesota, said a unique program extending to the county’s public libraries will begin putting more tools into the hands of people seeking legal help. Beginning in March, the Washington County Legal Library will present workshops to train the public in accessing and using legal forms and resources. The workshops will run for one year. Huffman believes the program is the first of its kind in Minnesota....
Woodbury (Minn.) Bulletin, Feb. 28
Cosmos library lost in fire
An early morning fire February 24 completely destroyed the Cosmos (Minn.) Public Library and all its holdings. The library held a collection of approximately 9,000 items, including some scrapbooks with old newspaper clippings and other items unique to the town. With only about 1,500 square feet of interior space, it was one of the smallest in the Pioneerland consolidated regional public library system. The cause of the library fire was under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office....
Willmar (Minn.) West Central Tribune, Feb. 25
Tennessee bill would ban talk of homosexuality in grade schools
A proposed bill in the Tennessee legislature would prevent elementary and middle school teachers from discussing any sexual orientation other than heterosexuality in classes. Sponsored by state Sen. Stacey Campfield and Rep. Bill Dunn, both Republicans from Knoxville, House Bill 229 or Senate Bill 49 would prohibit talk about gay issues even with students who may be gay or have gay families....
WVLT-TV, Knoxville, Tenn., Feb. 22
Zoo Atlanta program spreads statewide
Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Public Library Service have formed a partnership that will allow library card holders statewide free access to the zoo. The launch of the program was announced February 23 on the steps of the state capitol. The program was initially launched in 2009 in branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, but public response was so strong that the initiative was expanded to Georgia’s 400 public libraries....
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 23
U.K. library campaigners mount legal challenges
Pressure is building on British Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt over library closures, with the mounting of two new legal challenges. Campaign for the Book has launched a judicial review case through solicitors, arguing that the culture secretary has failed to comply with his legal duty to supervise local authorities in their provision of proper library services to their residents. And two Lewisham residents have sent Hunt a formal request demanding that he intervene over the five libraries set for closure there on May 28. A court challenge was also launched in mid-February against two councils....
The Guardian (U.K.), Feb. 24, Mar. 1
National Library of Peru looks for missing books
The National Library of Peru in Lima has begun a campaign to recover more than 600 titles that are missing from its rare book collection. The titles include books and manuscripts printed between the 16th and 19th centuries. The library’s new director, Ramon Mujica, announced February 22 (PDF file) that the rare books department would be closed for 90 days to carry out a thorough inventory, adding that he had already received calls from colleagues and collectors who have seen or bought books in various parts of Lima that were stamped with the National Library seal....
Peruvian Times, Feb. 26
Vaclav Havel Presidential Library to open in 2013
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has announced plans to move his presidential library into a 16th-century palace in Prague. Inspired by presidential libraries in the United States, the collection is now housed in two different locations. Architects Ricardo Bofill from Spain and Czech Marek Tichy, who are preparing the palace’s reconstruction, said the renovated building could open in two years. Havel, 74, said the aim of the library was not to build his personal memorial but to create “an epicenter of spiritual, social, and literary life in Prague.”...
Czech News Agency, Mar. 2
The iPad 2
Vlad Savov writes: “Apple just made its second-generation iPad official during a March 2 rollout in San Francisco. It features a dual-core A5 chip and, finally, cameras, both front and rear. The new CPU is said to be up to twice as fast, with graphics performance up to nine times better than on the original iPad, while power requirements have been kept the same. Battery life is, consequently, unaltered, with Apple promising 10 hours. Pricing, too, has been left unaltered, starting at $499. The iPad 2 is 33% thinner than its predecessor, at a mind-melting 8.8mm, and will ship in two variants: white and black.”...
Engadget, Mar. 2
Facebook malware threatens campus web security
Students will click on just about anything posted to their Facebook walls—a social media habit that has brought a flood of malware to college campus networks. These deceitful Facebook links—posted by hackers who have stolen student login information—have become a primary concern among campus technology leaders, and some colleges and universities are using security programs that isolate student computers before they do damage to the entire campus network....
eCampus News, Feb. 22
New MacBook Pro family
Jason Griffey writes: “Apple announced updates to its MacBook Pro laptops February 14, and while some of the rumored upgrades didn’t make it in this time around (where is my SSD boot partition?), the new systems are still an improvement from the previous models. All three sizes of MacBook Pro were carried forward (13-, 15-, and 17-inch) with processor upgrades on the 13- and 15-inch taking the total number of possible prices to five, ranging from $1,199 at the low end to $2,499 at the high.”...
AL: Perpetual Beta, Feb. 24
Add social context to your email in-box
Rafe Needleman writes: “In our email in-boxes, we’re deluged with messages from people we don’t know, companies we’re not familiar with. Even messages from friends and coworkers could be better handled if we had context with the message. To see what I mean, try at least one of the these three good tools: Xobni, Rapportive, and a new kid on the block, WhoSent.It. These all give you dossiers on the people emailing you by using data gleaned from around the web, including Facebook profiles, Twitter postings, and, for business users, data from apps like Salesforce.com.”...
CNET News: Rafe’s Radar, Mar. 1
Ten Windows 7 business tips
Tip number 1: Expand the system tray area. “By default, Windows 7 hides most icons in the system tray. Installed apps are often controllable from this area, though Microsoft would prefer them to use pinned taskbar icons instead of the system tray. One of the first things I do when I set up a new Windows 7 system is to click on the up-arrow icon at the left of the few tray icons that do display by default, and check the ‘Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar’ check box at the bottom. ”...
PC Magazine, Mar. 2
Pelican cases
Jason Griffey writes: “My favorite massively protective, these-cases-could-stop-bullets manufacturer is Pelican Cases. If you need a case for any random electronic thing, from an iPod all the way up to audio gear for a major music tour, Pelican has the case for you. They are manufactured out of the toughest plastic you’ll ever need, and the foam inserts are either premolded to the gear you specify or can be customized by you to fit what you need.”...
AL: Perpetual Beta, Feb. 28
ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 23–28, 2011.
Get Booklist Online for 50% off this week only! Using this special link, enter Promotion Code ALD0311, and you’ll be billed half the regular price. NEW! From Booklist. |
New this week
|
Great Libraries of the World
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center, Charlotte, North Carolina. A collaboration of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and the Children’s Theater of Charlotte, this innovative learning center opened in 2005. It hosts the Spangler Children’s Library, the Teen Loft for teen reading and activities, a computer center, a multimedia recording and animation studio, the Hugh McColl Family Theater, and the Wachovia Playhouse.
Roy J. Bostock Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Completed in 2005 as part of a renovation of the Collegiate Gothic William R. Perkins Library, Bostock was configured to create an environment conducive to study, learning, and research. Special features include the two-story Carpenter Reading Room, the Center for Instructional Technology, an abundance of natural lighting, open space design, and the seamless integration of technological services. Integral to the relationship between Bostock and Perkins is the gateway that joins the two buildings on three different levels. This AL Direct feature showcases 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 later this year by ALA Editions. |
Career
Leads from Anythink Manager– Experience Expert, Rangeview Library District, Brighton, Colorado. We are looking for an Anythink manager for our new Brighton location—a beautiful 20,000-square-foot library that serves a vibrant community of 40,000 people. As an Anythink manager, you love people and are passionate about nurturing curious minds. When it comes to running an organization, you can do it all. If you’ve got everything it takes to manage people, projects, deadlines, events, and ideas with a winning style and assurance, this is the position for you.... |
Digital Library of the Week
The West Texas Digital Archives is a digital repository project of the Abilene Library Consortium, which partners with Abilene Christian University Library, Abilene Public Library, Center for Contemporary Arts, Grace Museum, Hardin-Simmons University Library, Howard Payne University Library in Brownwood, McMurry University Library, Old Jail Art Center in Albany, and the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum. It is funded by the Dodge Jones Foundation and the Dian Graves Owen Foundation. The repository contains photographs, newspapers, yearbooks, letters, oral histories, periodicals, manuscripts, journals, documents, maps, and audio files. It also includes the newsletter of the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum. 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 “Locate two bookstores in a shopping mall and it is applauded as an example of the competitive marketplace at work. One presumes greater merchandise selection, better service, lower prices, etc. Locate two public libraries near each other, and howls about government waste would be on the six o’clock news. The inconsistency is accepted.” —Jonathan Lewis, founder and CEO of Opportunity Collaboration, in “Are Libraries Stacked Against the Free Market?” Huffington Post, Feb. 28. @ More quotes... |
Follow: Electronic Resources and Libraries, Austin, Texas, Feb. 28–Mar. 2, at: North Carolina Technology in Education Society, Raleigh, Mar. 2–4, at: Society of Early Americanists, 7th Biennial Conference, Philadelphia, Mar. 3–5, at: Teen Tech Week, Mar. 6–12, at: DrupalCon Chicago, Mar. 7–10, at: American Libraries news stories, videos, tweets, and blog posts at: |
Mar. 11–13: Mar. 13–19: Mar. 31– Apr. 1–2: Apr. 8–10: Apr. 27–30: Apr. 29– May 9–11: May 31– June 1–3: June 2–4: @ More... |
Contact
Us
AL Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Wednesday to personal members of the American Library Association and subscribers.
Jennifer Henderson, To
advertise in American Libraries Direct, contact:
Send feedback: aldirect@ala.org AL
Direct FAQ: All links outside the ALA website are provided for informational purposes only. Questions about the content of any external site should be addressed to the administrator of that site. American
Libraries ISSN 1559-369X |
HarperCollins puts 26-loan cap on library e-books
Josh Hadro writes: “In the first significant revision to lending terms for e-book circulation, HarperCollins has announced that new titles licensed from library e-book vendors will be able to circulate only 26 times before the license expires. Mention of the new terms was first made in a letter from OverDrive CEO Steve Potash to customers on February 24. HarperCollins President for Sales Josh Marwell said the number was chosen after considering the average lifespan of a print book and wear and tear.” But OverDrive responded March 1 by removing HarperCollins titles from its Library Marketplace catalog, effective March 7. And HarperCollins belatedly explained its new policy in an Open Letter to Librarians. You can follow the controversy on Twitter at #hcod. Jamie LaRue looks at the big picture, and Nicholas Schiller looks at artificial scarcity....
Library Journal, Feb. 25; Digital Library Blog, Mar. 1; Library Love Fest, Mar. 1; LaRue’s Views, Mar. 10; information. games., Feb. 28
The E-book User’s Bill of Rights
The E-book User’s Bill of Rights is a statement of the basic freedoms that should be granted to all e-book users. It was developed by Sarah Houghton-Jan and Andy Woodworth in the wake of the HarperCollins controversy and has a Creative Commons CC0 license that waives all copyright and related or neighboring rights. Houghton-Jan comments: “I encourage ALA to consider the principles outlined in the originals, as well as all of the comments that have been posted all over the net. I’m now tracking hundreds of separate conversations on blogs, Twitter, email lists, podcasts, Facebook, and elsewhere.”...
Librarian in Black, Feb. 28
OverDrive, Bluefire, and the EPUBlic library
Michael E. Cohen writes: “My library, like many others, has struck a deal with OverDrive to handle the loaning and management of its e-book collection. The instructions the library provided said that I had to install the OverDrive Media Console on my iPad to read any of the EPUB offerings. What was really disappointing was the horrid reading experience in OverDrive on the iPad. Then I discovered the Bluefire Reader app, which is already iPad friendly, handles Adobe Digital Editions, and can be used (going through minor extra hoops) with OverDrive-provided EPUBs.”...
TidBITS, Feb. 18
Internet Archive’s e-book lending library launches
A group of libraries led by the Internet Archive announced February 22 a new, cooperative 80,000+ e-book lending collection of mostly 20th-century books on OpenLibrary.org, a site where it’s already possible to read over 1 million e-books without restriction. During a library visit, patrons with an account can borrow any of these lendable e-books using laptops, reading devices, or library computers. This new twist on the traditional lending model could increase e-book use and revenue for publishers....
Internet Archive, Feb. 22
Will you read Seuss in a book? Will you read him on a Nook?
Brian Heater writes (in Seussian verse): “Today is the day. /
It’s March the second. /
It’s Dr. Seuss’s Birthday, /
And so we reckoned /
What better way to celebrate /
Than to tell you how /
You can read all of his books /
And you can read them all now.”...
PC Magazine, Mar. 2
Portico to preserve OUP e-book resources
Portico, Ithaka’s digital preservation service, has entered into an agreement with Oxford University Press to preserve the publisher’s entire collection of e-books from its Oxford Scholarship Online resource and Handbooks Online resources....
Portico, Feb. 23
Your 2011 books-into-film lineup
Rachel Syme writes: “Ever since the days of Gone With the Wind, Hollywood producers have been optioning bestselling books and whipping them into celluloid hits. I’ve decided to focus on (and give you a little preview of) the bumper crop of upcoming films based on books coming out in 2011. Some of them are based on masterpieces (I never met a Brontë sister I didn’t like), and some, well . . . some are based on Something Borrowed.”...
NPR: Monkey See, Feb. 24
Science fiction book cover art: The good, the bad, the bizarre
Nina MacLaughlin writes: “So we found ourselves clicking through images of romance novel covers the other day. They featured simple variations on location (pirate ships, beaches, meadows, cliffs), dress (kilts, negligees, satin sheets, birthday suits), hair color, and size of raised font. From romance covers we moved on to science fiction, wondering if sci-fi cover art might offer more. And holy moly, what we started seeing was bizarre, hilarious, campy, creepy, striking, surreal, sometimes sexy, and extremely cool.”...
Flavorwire, Feb. 18
Middle-earth according to Mordor
Laura Miller writes: “As bad lots go, you can’t get much worse than the hordes of Mordor from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Well, history is written by the winners. That’s the philosophy behind The Last Ringbearer, a novel set during and after the end of the War of the Ring and told from the point of view of the losers. The novel was written by Kirill Yeskov, a Russian paleontologist, and published to acclaim in his homeland in 1999. Now an English translation by Yisroel Markov is available as a free download.”...
Salon, Feb. 15
Writers no one reads
Jason Boog writes: “Who is your favorite obscure author? Submit your beloved but unknown author to Writers No One Reads, a Tumblr blog dedicated to lost writers. It’s the perfect site for uncovering weekend reading material. Here’s one of our favorite entries: “No one reads Polish avant-superman Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz, a.k.a. Witkacy (1885–1939).”...
Galleycat, Feb. 28
Fun with foldouts
L. D. Mitchell writes: “As the centuries have passed, and the average page has shrunk in size, printers and publishers occasionally have faced the problem of what to do when a book needs just a few pages that are larger than normal. Maps, for example, are difficult to read if printed too small. Certain types of illustrations (anatomical illustrations, for example) also sometimes need more space for everything to show up as clearly as possible. The solution usually is to print only a few pages on larger sizes of paper, then bind these larger pages into the rest of the book as foldouts.”...
The Private Library, Mar. 1
Status of National Archives library in question
Greg Lambert writes: “Archivist of the United States David Ferriero announced that the National Archives and Records Administration is facing a funding situation where they are doing more with less. An 8.2% decrease in funding for FY2012 means NARA must make some hard decisions,” one of which is to downsize its Archives Library Information Center. GODORT founder Bernadine Abbott Hoduski notes that seven of the nine library staff positions will be eliminated, although NARA’s David McMillen says they will be reassigned and “the library will remain open and staffed and public access will remain.”...
3 Geeks and a Law Blog, Feb. 18;
AOTUS: Collector in Chief, Feb. 17; National Archives, Feb. 18; ALA Connect, Feb. 17
City managers: Maximize your library’s potential
Nancy Dowd writes: “I wanted to make sure all of you know about this new report, Maximize the Potential of Your Public Library, published by the International City/County Management Association. This is an absolute gift for public libraries that are trying to retain funding and convince local officials that libraries are valuable to communities. This isn’t us saying it, it’s their peers not only saying it in case studies but also showing it with charts, quotes, and serious recommendations.”...
The “M” Word: Marketing Libraries, Feb. 25; International City/County Management Association
Research and education networks in the United States
A new study commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation explores potential benefits of state research and education networks for libraries. Titled Connections, Capacity, Community, the report was developed in response to national investments in state and regional fiber networks through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. Currently, there are 38 active state R&E networks, of which 22 serve at least some of the libraries in their respective states....
District Dispatch, Mar. 1
Stop trashing my library
Libby Post, president and CEO of Communication Services in Albany, New York, has launched a website that gives voice to people in New York and elsewhere who want to push back against antitax, antilibrary rhetoric. Stop Trashing My Library posts news about libraries that are facing tough ballot initiatives, as well as “links to articles and some of the actual comments people make,” and “provides an opportunity for supporters to get the messaging they need to confront and correct the misconceptions.” Visit the Facebook Page....
Stop Trashing My Library
Working together: Tips for vendors
Amy Fry writes: “One of the major reasons I never miss an ALA conference is because I feel it’s essential for me to spend time on the exhibit floor touching base with vendors and publishers to learn what’s new. I truly value my relationships with them. However, some vendors make my job easier—others don’t. So I would like to offer some tips for vendors who want to partner with librarians and make our jobs easier, because making my job easier is the best way to ensure my long-term good will and a mutually beneficial relationship.”...
ACRLog, Feb. 28
What was the first countywide public library?
Larry Nix writes: “At a recent postcard show I came across a postcard (right) depicting the Brumback Library in Van Wert, Ohio. The caption on the back of the card indicated that it was ‘the first county library in the United States’ and that it was dedicated in 1901. I couldn’t let a claim like that go without looking into it further.” Other contenders are the Cincinnati (Ohio) Public Library and the Washington County (Md.) Free Library. However, “the Laramie County (Wyo.) Public Library in Cheyenne dates its founding as August 1886.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Feb. 26
Embedded librarians on Twitter answer class reference questions
What if a reference librarian was assigned to a college course, to be on hand to suggest books, online links, or other resources based on class discussion? A media-studies course at Baylor University tried the idea last semester, with an “embedded librarian” following the class discussion via Twitter. During the hourlong class, librarian Ellen Hampton Filgo looked at the questions and comments posed by students, responding with suggestions of links or books, and anticipating what else might be helpful that students might not have known to ask....
Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, Feb. 25
Czech and Slovak Library plans to move
Nearly three years after disaster struck the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, plans have been finalized for relocating the 1,400-ton, flood-damaged building on April 26–27. “Live webcams will allow viewing around the clock for the many people across the world interested in viewing all the activity,” said NCSML President Gail Naughton....
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Feb. 24
The folklore of full-text search
While full-text resources have become ubiquitous with book digitization projects, the ability to search full-text sources is not the magical tool some scholars, laypersons, and even some librarians would have us believe, according to University of Illinois GSLIS Professors Kathryn LaBarre and Carol L. Tilley. “It turns out that full-text search isn’t always king, especially for something iterative like folklore literature,” said LaBarre. Convenient search results are frequently too minimal to provide adequate access, and “typically don’t reflect the complexity of the resources,” Tilley said....
University of Illinois GSLIS, Feb. 24
Top 5 search engines for finding Flickr photos
Steven Campbell writes: “Back in September, Flickr announced that its 5 billionth photo was uploaded, which is no small feat. So what if you want to look at or locate some of that photographic treasure? There are some great Flickr search engines out there, and now I’m here to show you the best of the best. If you’re looking for a high-quality photo for a project, article, or website, these services can help you find what you want.”...
MakeUseOf, Mar. 1
Martha Speaks book club kits available
Martha Speaks is an animated series based on the children’s books by Susan Meddaugh on the PBS Kids block of programming. Aimed at viewers ages 4–7, the Martha Speaks Read Aloud Book Club introduces children to an engaging collection of dog-themed books and activities. A limited number of book club kits that include a DVD, 10 books, a leaders guide, stickers, and a “paws” stamp are available for distribution to public libraries. Email the book club to reserve one....
PBS Kids
Dr. Seuss and the Geisel Library
Larry Nix writes: “Today is the 107th birthday of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. The librariana artifact I have chosen to highlight on this occasion is a first-day cover for the March 2, 2004, Theodor Seuss Geisel postage stamp. It pays homage to Dr. Seuss and the Geisel Library at the University of California at San Diego, named in honor of Theodor and Audrey Geisel. UCSD is hosting a birthday party today for Geisel.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Mar. 2
I link, therefore I am
Susan Ballard writes: “Some years ago, during a presentation I mentioned the Cartesian observation, Cogito, ergo sum, or ‘I think, therefore I am.’ When break time came, one of the attendees shared his version for the internet age: Iungo, ergo sum, or ‘I link, therefore I am.’ This really struck a chord with me. Upon arriving home, I printed up a sign and slapped it on the side of my trusty computer as a reminder of the power of connectivity.”...
The Whole Child Blog, Feb. 24
The library: Making you healthy, wealthy, and wise
Fatima Perkins writes: “Can the library really make someone healthy, wealthy, and wise? We can give it a try. Call them what you may, baby boomers, silent generation, greatest generation, older adults (65+) now account for 13% of the United States population. Now more than ever, the public library as a community focal point offers an opportunity to engage communities and transform lives. Three areas include health, finances, and brain power.”...
OLOS Columns, Feb. 25
10 tips and tricks for Microsoft Word
Seamus Bellamy, Paul Lily, and David Murphy write: “Microsoft Word. The name is practically synonymous with ‘productivity app.’ If you’re reading this article at work, there’s a pretty decent chance you’ve got a Word document open right now, and you probably think you’ve got a good handle on Microsoft’s word processor. We’ll bet you don’t know as much as you think you do.”...
Maximum PC, Feb. 18
Google clamps down on content factories
Ryan Singel writes: “Google updated its core ranking algorithm February 24 to decrease the prevalence of so-called content farms in top search results. The change comes after months of criticism in the tech community over what is perceived as an increased amount of cheap, low-quality content being rewarded by Google with top results. Though Google’s head of web-spam prevention Matt Cutts declined to name names, the presumed targets of the change are sites like eHow, Associated Content, and Demand Media.”...
Wired: Epicenter, Feb. 25; Official Google Blog, Feb. 24
Google Recipe View serves up tasty search
Jeff Bertolucci writes: “If you’ve ever used Google to search for recipes online, you know there’s an awful lot of sifting and straining involved. Too often the top links aren’t relevant to your culinary needs. Enter ‘chili’ in the Google search window and the first two matches are for Chili’s Restaurant. But Google’s new Recipe View makes it much easier to filter out the irrelevant links and gets exactly what you came for.” Watch the video (2:01)....
PC World, Feb. 24; YouTube, Feb. 23
Go traveling with Bing
Marshall Kirkpatrick writes: “Google does almost nothing interesting in travel search. Bing offers a much more compelling travel search experience and on February 25 added a new feature that makes me want to use it even more. Search on Bing for the phrase ‘fly to’ and the name of a destination city, and you will now see an automatic display of the best dates to fly from where you are to that place, with the lowest price for a round-trip ticket and advice about whether the price is likely to go up or down.”...
ReadWriteWeb, Feb. 25; Bing Search Blog, Feb. 25
Some objections to our use of library statistics
Rory Litwin writes: “The use of certain library statistics, mainly related to circulation and its electronic semi-equivalents, has taken on a high degree of importance in library management since 1979, when Charlie Robinson introduced the ‘give ‘em what they want’ philosophy of collection development at Baltimore County Public Library. But there are a number of problems in the way that we often use these statistics. I would like to talk briefly about some that I have observed in an academic library setting.”...
Library Juice, Feb. 26
Library will be a giant garden cube lined with potted plants
Yuka Yoneda writes: “How cool would it be if you visited your local library to find that it had been revamped with tons of greenery-filled spots for you to sit down and enjoy a good read? That’s the idea behind Mecanoo Architects’ new design for the Kaohsiung Public Library in Taiwan. The state-of-the-art multimedia research, study, and entertainment space was conceived as a 60-by-60-meter cube lined with potted container plants creating a microclimate inside.”...
Inhabitat, Feb. 25
The art of organizing a bookcase
One weekend, Lisa Blonder Ohlenkamp and Sean Ohlenkamp decided to reorder their bookcase, and it “got out of hand.” Accompanied by Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela’s 2006 song “Tamacun,” this brilliant stop-action video (2:19) is much more fun than watching your disk defragmenter in action. They even provide the titles for at least some of the books on the shelves....
YouTube, Feb. 21
Librarians on television
Ashley McAllister writes: “What do Community, Episodes, and Parks and Recreation all have in common? Besides being popular TV sitcoms, these shows all have something to say about librarians. Let’s take a look at the way that each of these shows has portrayed librarians and librarian stereotypes in recent episodes. First up is NBC’s Community. Take a look at the opening scene (above) of the show’s recent Valentine’s Day episode. How many librarian tropes can you find within the first 30 seconds?”...
Bitch Media, Feb. 25; Hulu, Feb. 10
The Fayetteville Free Library lipdub
Watch as Fayetteville (N.Y.) Free Library staff lip-sync along to “Librarian” by Jonathan Rundman. Teen Services Librarian Pete Cioppa directed the video (3:54). Cioppa said, “We want viewers to see that libraries are changing. They are fun, exciting community centers; they are technology centers. How better to get that point across than to shoot a music video inside a library? You can’t help but smile.”...
Fayetteville (N.Y.) Free Library
Get ready for Library Ireland Week 2011
Areaman Productions in Dublin created this books-falling-down-like-dominos video (1:37) in honor of Library Ireland Week, March 7–13, an initiative of the Library Association of Ireland. Not only are books emphasized as important, but computers and other new media as well. The theme, which the falling books help to spell out, is “Smart People Use Smart Libraries.”...
YouTube, Mar. 2
What students like best about the RMIT Library
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology library in Melbourne, Australia, recently assembled student comments about the services and facilities of the library in a promotional video (2:01). It was filmed on orientation day during the last stop on the library scavanger hunt. The university has some 73,000 students, 40% of whom were born overseas—a diversity that Communications and Marketing Manager Rowan Mangan has incorporated nicely....
YouTube, Feb. 20