The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | March 9, 2011
Contents
American Libraries Online
ALA News
Booklist Online
New Orleans Update
Division News
Awards
Seen Online
Tech Talk
Publishing
Actions & Answers
New This Week
Calendar
Singing the e-book blues
Beverly Goldberg writes: “Over the past two weeks, the biblioblogosphere erupted as word spread that terms of service were about to shift for libraries’ e-book lending rights. It began with a February 24 email (PDF file) from OverDrive CEO Steve Potash alerting customers that one firm (which turned out to be HarperCollins) had decided to establish ‘a checkout limit for each e-book licensed.’ The magic number turned out to be 26. The argument was, let’s just say, poorly received by the library community.” As an example, read the Norman, Oklahoma, Pioneer Library System’s open letter to HarperCollins and watch the video (7:32) in which they demonstrate that printed books can withstand many more check-outs than a mere 26....
AL: Inside Scoop, Mar. 4; Pioneer Library System, Mar. 1; YouTube, Mar. 2
Madison’s mayor joins librarians’ labor-rights rally
Sharon McQueen writes: “Madison, Wisconsin, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz (center, in baseball cap) joined librarians March 6 as they again assembled to march to the State Capitol in opposition to Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill (PDF file), whose passage would dramatically curtail collective bargaining rights for public-sector employees. ‘I was proud to join librarians to march to the Capitol and fight Scott Walker’s divisive policies,’ Cieslewicz remarked March 8. ‘In Madison, we know how to work together with our workers and solve our problems together.’”...
American Libraries news, Mar. 8
On My Mind: I’m not your scapegoat
Audrey Barbakoff writes: “Being a public employee in Wisconsin during one of the most contentious labor conflicts since the archetypal steelworker’s heyday has forced me to reexamine my impression of unions. With thousands of union members and supporters rallying in Madison in protests reminiscent of the Vietnam-era antiwar movement, the face of today’s union is plastered all over the media. That face is young, progressive, and diverse. It’s teachers and librarians as well as firefighters, nurses, sanitation workers, college students, retirees, women, and men.”...
American Libraries column
The first Digital Public Library of America workshop
ALA President-Elect Molly Raphael (right) writes: “On March 1, I had the opportunity to join about 50 other invitees and steering committee members to discuss the scope and content of what has been named (at least for now) the Digital Public Library of America. The planning effort is hosted by the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, under the very able direction of John Palfrey, Berkman codirector. Here are some of the issues that generated the most passionate discussions.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, May 9
Next Steps: The little library that could
Brian Mathews writes: “Inspiring libraries are often the ones with big budgets. They have impressive buildings, enormous collections, and large staffs. The Makiki Community Library (right) in Honolulu, Hawaii, has none of these things, but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable. This small, donations-based, volunteer-driven organization effectively executes its deep-seated mission of engaging the community. It excels at outreach.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
2011 Library Design Showcase preview
Greg Landgraf writes: “This short preview (1:16) highlights the new and renovated library buildings in the American Libraries 2011 Library Design Showcase, which will be posted online starting March 18. Excerpts will appear in the March/April issue of American Libraries and the Spring Digital Supplement.”...
AL Focus, Mar. 8
Looking backward . . . and forward
Emily Johnson writes: “As an LIS student at the University of Michigan School of Information, I had the unique opportunity to spend Spring Break working with the ALA Library in a sort of mini-internship. I was helping to catalog and document Publishing Department archives that contain everything that ALA has ever published. It was a fascinating task, with books dating back more than 100 years and the very face of librarianship changing dramatically since then. Two major themes struck me as I sorted through all the books, VHS tapes, drafts of documents, and workbooks.”...
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Mar. 7
National Library Legislative Day: Now more than ever
John Chrastka writes: “The threat to libraries in this Congress continues. Now more than ever, we need your participation May 9–10 at ALA’s National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., where you will have the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and explain to them why cutting library funding would be short-sighted. Studies have shown that the number-one way to influence members of Congress is by meeting them face-to-face.”...
ALA Membership Blog, Mar. 3
ALA tackles new challenges in the e-environment
Recent action from the publishing world in the e-book marketplace has reignited interest and sparked many questions from librarians, publishers, vendors, and readers. Two ALA member task forces—the presidential task force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC) and the E-book Task Force—were recently created to address these complex and evolving issues. EQUACC met March 7–8 in Washington, D.C., to provide ALA with guidance and recommendations for a coordinated ALA response....
District Dispatch, Mar. 8
Short-term bill funds Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
With time running out before the current funding bill for federal programs expired, Congress passed another short-term continuing resolution (H.J.Res. 44) this week—dodging a government shut-down. President Obama signed the bill March 2, which makes $4 billion in cuts but will fund the government for another two weeks until March 18. Some literacy programs were eliminated, but Improving Literacy Through School Libraries was not cut....
District Dispatch, Mar. 3
Why I Need My Library video contest
ALA President Roberta Stevens recently launched the Why I Need My Library video contest, which offers teens ages 13–18 the opportunity to win up to $3,000 for their public or school library. The contest seeks to engage young library advocates and asks them to create short, original videos on why they think libraries are needed now more than ever. Stevens recently answered a few quick questions about the contest and gave her thoughts on why it’s essential that libraries engage teens in this kind of advocacy activity. (The deadline is April 18)....
I Love Libraries, Mar. 9
Library Snapshot Day: A how-to webinar
The Committee on Library Advocacy will present a free webinar about Library Snapshot Day, from 2–3 p.m. Central time on March 17. Library Snapshot Day is an event that provides library staff a simple means to show the value of the library by capturing what happens in a single day in all types of libraries, across a state, community, or even in a single library. Learn how to use photos, statistics, and stories to make the case to decision-makers. Register online....
Office for Library Advocacy, Mar. 8
Broadband grant applications for rural communities
The USDA Rural Utilities Service has announced it is accepting applications (PDF file) for grants to provide broadband access in rural communities currently without broadband service. Funding is provided through the Community Connect Grant program. RUS encourages schools and libraries to find a broadband provider to submit the application. The application deadline is May 3....
District Dispatch, Mar. 9
Volunteer for Libraries Build Communities in New Orleans
Register now through May 13 to participate in Libraries Build Communities at the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. This day-long service effort on June 24 will help local libraries and the community in New Orleans. The Libraries Build Communities project began in New Orleans during the 2006 ALA Annual Conference, when ALA volunteers helped with projects related to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina....
ALA Student Membership Blog, Mar. 8
ALA Research Series calls for panel, proposals
The Office for Research and Statistics invites nominations for a peer review panel for its ALA Research Series. The series expands the knowledge base of library research by publishing research and analysis that addresses topics important to libraries, librarians, and education in the profession. Two positions, with three-year terms, will be filled through this nomination process. The deadline for nominations is April 29. ORS is also calling for manuscript, book, and article proposals for the series. All submissions must be received electronically by April 29....
Office for Research and Statistics, Mar. 8
Emerging Leaders school library survey
The 2011 ALA Emerging Leaders A Team has been hard at work with virtual meetings and hours of research to determine how to best expand the impact of standards in today’s school libraries. Now the team needs some help from school librarians. Take a moment to complete a survey and tell the A Team how you incorporate Web 2.0 technologies in your school library and inspire your students to think, create, share, and grow....
AASL Blog, Mar. 9
How to prepare an LSSC portfolio
At 2 p.m. Central Time on March 15, the Library Support Staff Certification Program will offer an hour-long webinar explaining what it requires in a portfolio. The presentation will give you the chance to see examples of successful submissions and learn how your portfolio will be evaluated. You will also have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered by program staff members. Register here....
ALA–Allied Professional Association, Mar. 7
Use online resources to help job seekers
ALA Editions is offering a new facilitated eCourse on using jobs and employment reference tools on the web. Diane Kovacs, a former government documents librarian and experienced online instructor, will serve as the instructor for a facilitated eCourse starting on May 2. The course uses hands-on activities, discussion, and reading material to teach participants expert use of web resources. Registrations for the eCourse can be purchased at the ALA Store....
ALA Editions, Mar. 8
Homework help from the library
Children’s and young adult librarians are crucial links to effective learning for students. Homework Help from the Library: In Person and Online, published by ALA Editions, is a straightforward handbook filled with nuts-and-bolts advice on the best ways to help young people with their homework, no matter what the assignment. Carol F. Intner, a certified English teacher and experienced tutor, concentrates on practical methods....
ALA Editions, Mar. 8
Mentoring in the library
Mentorship is essential to the health of any institution; sharing knowledge and experience transforms managers into stronger leaders and helps less senior employees improve their job skills. In Mentoring in the Library: Building for the Future, published by ALA Editions, noted reference librarian and researcher Marta K. Lee offers librarians at all levels experienced-based ideas for establishing a formal mentoring process at the library. Readers will learn the kinds of skills the mentor should have, with techniques for successful development, education, and training....
ALA Editions, Mar. 7
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@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... |
Make it official
For those attending ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 23–28, pump up your excitement for the Crescent City by requesting an Official Visitors Guide that contains information on the city and its culture, maps, and coupons. You can order the free, 178-page, glossy guide by filling out the visitor guide request form. Can’t wait? The guide is also viewable online in a page-turnable 3D Issue format....
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection at 533 Royal Street is a museum and research center dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. General and Mrs. L. Kemper Williams, collectors of Louisiana materials, established the institution in 1966 to keep their collection intact and available for research and exhibition to the public. During Annual Conference, the museum will have an exhibit on “The Threads of Memory: Spain and the United States.”...
Historic New Orleans Collection
Free (or nearly free) things to do in New Orleans
The real magic of New Orleans isn’t for sale. It’s absolutely free, in many instances. If you’re counting your vacation dollars closely, you’ve come to the right spot. They don’t call New Orleans “the Big Easy” for nothing. A National Historic Landmark, the French Quarter falls under the aegis of the National Park Service. Really nice Park Rangers will lead a daily tour for exactly 25 people at 9:30 a.m. Get to 419 Decatur at 9 a.m. to ensure a place....
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Apply for YALSA’s mentoring program
Starting March 7, YALSA will accept applications for its 2011–2012 mentoring program. The program will pair an experienced librarian (six years experience or more) with a new librarian (fewer than six years experience) or graduate student in a library science program. The program will encourage both the mentor and protégé to provide guidance and support for one another. Applications close April 15....
YALSA, Mar. 7
Myracle headlines AASL Awards Luncheon
New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle (right) will headline the annual AASL Awards Luncheon June 27, during the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The luncheon highlights the best of the best in the school library field and gives members a chance to celebrate the accomplishments of their colleagues. Luncheon tickets are $55 and must be bought in advance as onsite tickets are not available....
AASL, Mar. 7
Nathaniel Philbrick at Literary Tastes Breakfast
Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick, author of the 2011 Notable Book The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of Little Bighorn, Mayflower, and In the Heart of the Sea, will speak at the 2011 Literary Tastes Breakfast in New Orleans. The breakfast, which will be held June 26, features authors from RUSA’s 2011 literary book award selections....
RUSA, Mar. 8
AASL: Create Your Own Story webinars
In preparation for School Library Month and its theme “Create Your Own Story,” AASL will offer a complimentary webinar series on crafting strategic stories. Presented by Nancy Dowd (right), “How to Create Strategic Stories to Gain Support for Your Library” is designed to help school librarians create stories to win support from parents, government officials, administrators, and other stakeholders. Webinars will be held at 6 p.m. Eastern time on March 15, 22, and 29....
AASL, Mar. 7
RUSA Older Adults Services preconference
RUSA’s Reference Services Section has brought together an outstanding speaker lineup for a half-day preconference focused on library services for those in the 55+ demographic who use library resources to find employment and volunteer opportunities in their communities. To be held June 24 before the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, the preconference will describe various library programs to address the needs of older patrons....
RUSA, Mar. 4
Group discounts available for RUSA preconferences
RUSA is offering group registration discounts for its 2011 Annual preconferences in New Orleans. Libraries or systems registering three or more of their employees for any of RUSA’s four preconferences will pay excellent per-participant rates. The group registration form can also be downloaded (PDF file) from the RUSA website....
RUSA, Mar. 8
LITA offers three workshops in New Orleans
LITA is offering three full-day educational workshops on June 24 before ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans: “Getting Started with Drupal,” “User Experience Design for Websites,” and “Virtualize IT.” Visit the Annual Conference page to register....
LITA, Mar. 8
Last chance to be a successful library consultant
Experienced, unemployed, or retired librarians hoping to attend the ASCLA preconference, “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to be a Successful Library Consultant,” should make sure to register promptly for the final offering of this June 24 workshop at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The preconference is the fourth and final time this topic will be presented....
ASCLA, Mar. 7
Teens to vote for next Teen Tech Week theme
YALSA invites all teens to get out the vote for Teen Tech Week, March 6–12. Teens can vote for the 2012 Teen Tech Week theme (and answer a short survey about their use of technology), choosing from three potential themes: ESC @ your library, FYI @ your library, and Geek Out @ your library. The survey closes March 31....
YALSA, Mar. 7
Draft: Standards for Libraries in Higher Education
In 2009, ACRL President Lori Goetsch charged a Task Force to review and revise the 2004 Standards for Libraries in Higher Education. The Standards Task Force has drawn up a new draft (PDF file) that provides a comprehensive framework using an outcomes-based approach, with evidence collected in ways that are appropriate for each library. Comments will be accepted on the Task Force blog through April 11....
ACRL Insider, Mar. 8
Apply for ACRL Immersion Program tracks
ACRL invites applications for its Immersion ’11 Program. The Immersion Program Assessment and Intentional Teaching Tracks will be offered simultaneously November 16–20 in Nashville, Tennessee. Applications for both tracks are being accepted through May 6. Visit the ACRL website for complete details about the program, including curriculum, learning outcomes, and application instructions....
ACRL, Mar. 7
Scholarly Communication 101 Road Show
The ACRL Scholarly Communications Committee has selected five sites from 12 applications to host the “Scholarly Communication 101: Starting with the Basics” workshop this spring and summer. ACRL is underwriting the costs of delivering this proven content by sending expert presenters on the road to Ohio, New York, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Maryland....
ACRL, Mar. 7
PLA accepting proposals for 2012 Annual Conference
PLA is now accepting preconference and program proposals for the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, to be held June 21–26 in Anaheim, California. Proposals may be submitted through an online form.The deadline for submitting proposals is May 15....
PLA, Mar. 8
Why I’m a YALSA Member contest winner
Kate Walker, head of Young Adult Services at the Anderson County (S.C.) Library System, won the 2011 Why I’m a YALSA Member contest. Walker wins a free year of YALSA membership and an e-reader for her essay. Jennifer Hopwood, who tweeted her answer, and Kathryn Bradley, who wrote an essay, each won a box of books as runners up. Members were invited to write a short essay, send out a tweet using the hashtag #whyyalsa, or create a short video, all explaining why they were YALSA members....
YALSA, Mar. 8
BWI Summer Reading Program Grant
ALSC has awarded the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Public Library the 2011 BWI Summer Reading Program Grant. The $3,000 grant, donated by Book Wholesalers Inc. (BWI), provides financial assistance to a public library for developing outstanding summer reading programs for children. WPBPL is creating two interactive rooms with age-appropriate games, science, and craft activities to support their theme “Storyopolis.”...
ALSC, Mar. 8
PR Xchange Best of Show
It’s time again to submit entries for the LLAMA PR Xchange Best of Show competition. Promotional materials produced between January and December of 2010 are eligible for this year’s contest. Download the Best of Show entry form and FAQ (includes category options and submission guidelines) on the LLAMA website. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 25....
LLAMA, Mar. 8
Apply for ALTAFF Baker & Taylor Awards
ALTAFF is accepting applications for the Baker & Taylor Awards, given to Friends of the Library groups. Given annually since 2000, the Baker & Taylor Awards have recognized more than 40 Friends of the Library groups for outstanding efforts to support their library. Applications are judged on planning, implementation, evaluation, innovation, and community involvement, and are due May 2....
ALTAFF, Mar. 8
Apply for a travel grant to the 2011 Spectrum Leadership Institute
The Office for Diversity offers a unique opportunity for LIS students and recent graduates to attend the upcoming Spectrum Leadership Institute, June 23–26 in New Orleans. A minimum of 20 travel scholarships for the institute will be awarded through the REACH 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for Leadership project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Applications will be accepted until all have been awarded, with preference given to those applications received by April 1....
Office for Diversity, Mar. 4
UW-Milwaukee SOIS supports Spectrum
The School of Information Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has raised close to $1,100 for the Spectrum Presidential Initiative through a recent fundraiser to support the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Students, faculty, alumni, and members of the community gathered on December 2 for a festive evening of musical performances....
Spectrum Initiative, Mar. 4
School librarian wins $10,000 in national recipe contest
A Rossville (Ga.) Elementary School librarian was surprised with a $10,000 check after winning a national recipe contest. Debbie Shannon (right) won second place in the Taste of Home Teacher Recipe Challenge. The contest was sponsored by Books Are Fun, which presented Shannon and Rossville Elementary each with $10,000 checks. Shannon had no idea her Chicken Marsala lasagna recipe received second place. Contest organizers surprised her during a March 1 pep rally at the school....
WDEF-TV, Chattanooga, Tenn., Mar. 1
Submit a paper for the Miriam Braverman Prize
Are you an LIS student interested in activism and the struggle for social justice? The Miriam Braverman Memorial Prize, a presentation of the Progressive Librarians Guild, is awarded each year for the best paper about some aspect of the social responsibilities of librarians, libraries, or librarianship. The winning paper will be published in the Summer 2011 issue of Progressive Librarian. Submissions are due by May 1....
Library Juice, Mar. 5
2011 RWA Librarian of the Year
Wendy Crutcher, materials evaluator for the Orange County (Calif.) Public Library, has been named 2011 RWA Librarian of the Year by the Romance Writers of America. Crutcher’s book blog, The Misadventures of Super Librarian, includes in-depth reviews of romance novels....
Romance Writers of America, Mar. 8
2011 Judaica Reference and Bibliography Awards
The Research Libraries, Archives, and Special Collections Division of the Association of Jewish Libraries has announced the winners of its 2011 Judaica Reference and Bibliography Awards. In the reference category, the winner is The Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World (Brill), edited by Norman Stillman. In the bibliography category, the winner is The Bibliography of Jews in the Islamic World (Brill), edited by María Angeles Gallego, Heather Bleaney, and Pablo García Suárez....
Association of Jewish Libraries Blog, Mar. 7
Help Bank Street pick the Best Picture Book for 2010
Rocco Staino writes: “Want a great way to teach young kids about the book award process? Then get involved in choosing this year’s Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature. The Bank Street College of Education, in partnership with School Library Journal, is asking any librarian or teacher of 1st and 2nd graders to read aloud and discuss the four finalists and to submit their children’s votes for the best picture book of the year. The deadline is April 11.”...
School Library Journal, Mar. 2
Ron Chernow wins American History Book Prize
Ron Chernow has been chosen to receive the New-York Historical Society’s sixth annual American History Book Prize for his most recent work, Washington: A Life (Penguin, 2010). The society will present Chernow with an engraved medal, the title of American Historian Laureate, and a cash award of $50,000 at the beginning of its annual Weekend with History event on April 8. The book was selected from a pool of 99 submissions made by a committee of historians and society leaders....
New-York Historical Society, Mar. 3
2010 Story Prize
Anthony Doerr has won the Story Prize for his extraordinary collection of stories, Memory Wall, in which memory serves as a theme to connect six stories set in disparate times and places. Founder Julie Lindsey presented him with the $20,000 award and an engraved silver bowl at an event that took place at the New School in New York City on March 2. The Story Prize was founded in 2004 to recognize excellence in short story collections written in English and published in the U.S. during a calendar year....
The Story Prize Blog, Mar. 3
2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prizes
The regional winners of the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize were announced on March 4 by the Commonwealth Foundation. Now in its 25th year, the prize aims to recognize the best fiction by both new and established authors from British Commonwealth countries and to ensure that they reach a wider international audience outside their country of origin. The Best Book winner for the region of the Caribbean and Canada was Emma Donoghue’s Room (HarperCollins)....
Commonwealth Foundation, Mar. 4
Mystery tale wins Blue Peter Book award
Dead Man’s Cove (Orion Books), a tale by Lauren St. John about an orphaned 11-year-old who turns amateur sleuth, was named the Blue Peter Book of the Year on March 1. The first novel in a new series, it was inspired by the author’s reading of Enid Blyton stories in her childhood in Zimbabwe. Named after a long-running children’s TV show in the U.K., the Blue Peter Awards aim to inspire children to a life-long love of reading....
BBC News, Mar. 2
Daley’s legacy of libraries, culture, and literacy
James Warren writes: “The lasts are piling up for departing Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Last week, he announced the 20th selection from the One Book, One Chicago program, a multifaceted way to bring citizens together to discuss a book. The final pick of his final term is Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, a much-acclaimed fictional tale of workers finding wonders and horrors in a fantasy world underneath London. In doing so, Daley reminded us, unintentionally, of his impressive legacy when it comes to culture and literacy.”...
New York Times, Mar. 5
Los Angeles voters approve Measure L for libraries
Los Angeles voters approved Measure L by 63% in the March 8 election. The city ballot initiative increases dedicated spending for the Los Angeles Public Library system by $50 million over the next few years without raising taxes. Eventually, the library system will have the appropriate funding to open the Richard J. Riordan Central Library downtown and 8 regional libraries seven days a week, with 64 branch libraries operating six days a week....
Los Angeles Weekly, Mar. 8
Budget committee saves California library programs
Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro write: “The powerful 10-member Budget Conference Committee put its final mark on a massive reduction and revenues package March 3, addressing Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to close a whopping $26-billion budget deficit. One of its final actions was approving a Conference Compromise to spare the three library programs—the Public Library Foundation, the California Library Services Act, and the state literacy program—from elimination.”...
California Library Association, Mar. 3
Supreme Court takes on landmark fair-use case
Can foreign works that have passed into the public domain in the U.S. be withdrawn by Congress and put back under copyright protection? That question will be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court, which this week granted a writ of certiorari in an appellate case, Golan v. Holder (PDF file), that questions the constitutionality of a federal statute that restored copyright protection to thousands of foreign works, including symphonies by Shostakovich and Stravinsky, books by Virginia Woolf, artwork by Picasso, and films by Fellini and Hitchcock. The SCOTUSblog calls it a “major test of copyright power,” and the Internet Archive argues in an amicus brief (PDF file) that it poses “a significant threat to the ability of libraries and archives to promote access to knowledge.”...
Publishers Weekly, Mar. 8; SCOTUSblog, Mar. 7
Jewish texts lost in WWII surface in New York
In 1932, as the Nazis rose to power in Germany, a Jewish librarian in Frankfurt published a catalog of 15,000 books he had painstakingly collected for decades. The University Library Frankfurt still houses the bulk of the collection, but experts there have determined over several decades that they were missing some 2,000 books listed in the catalog. Now, librarians have determined that most of the missing titles have been sitting for years on the crowded shelves of the Leo Baeck Institute, a Manhattan center dedicated to preserving German Jewish culture....
New York Times, Mar. 7
One way to encourage checking-out at the library
Outside of college campuses and romantic comedies, the library is not usually a place to pick up a date. But that didn’t stop several dozen singles, mostly in their 20s and 30s, from showing up on a recent Tuesday night at the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library for its first speed-dating session. In a basement meeting room a boombox played love songs while daters were assigned numbers and had four minutes to chat, flirt, or wrinkle their noses at one another’s literary tastes....
New York Times, Mar. 2
I Love My Librarian winner tells it like it is
At a March 2 public hearing on Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s proposed budget in Augusta, Kelley McDaniel (right), part-time librarian at the Helen King Middle School in Portland and a 2010 I Love My Librarian Award winner, rose to speak at the microphone. If politics these days is all about “driving the message,” McDaniel spent all her precious three minutes in the fast lane. Even though she donated her $5,000 award to the school, she said she still expects to pay taxes on it. And that was only the beginning of a pointed critique on proposed tax cuts that brought a round of applause....
Portland (Maine) Press Herald, Mar. 4
Another white supremacist rally planned in York
A man who helped bring a white supremacist leader to York, Pennsylvania, in 2002 and sparked a riot outside the city’s Martin Library is working to organize another rally at the library. Michael Cook, a state leader for the National Socialist American Labor Party, was also behind the recent distribution of fliers on cars and doorsteps about his group that sparked at least one complaint. If another rally takes place, York city police will consider providing security at the event....
York (Pa.) Daily Record, Mar. 3
Negative book review vindicated in France
A French court dismissed on March 3 a criminal-libel charge brought against a journal editor over a negative book review and ordered the plaintiff to pay punitive damages. The editor, Joseph H. H. Weiler, a professor at New York University’s School of Law, said he had been awarded €8,000 (about $11,000 U.S.) as a result of the action brought against him by Karin N. Calvo-Goller, a senior lecturer at the Academic Center of Law and Business, in Israel....
Chronicle of Higher Education, Mar. 2; EJIL: Talk!, Mar. 4
Apple’s iPad 2: 10 big questions
Lance Ulanoff writes: “You have to hand it to Apple CEO Steve Jobs. No matter how ill he may be, his showmanship and stage presence remain undimmed. So much so that it took, as it often does, days for the euphoria of the Apple iPad 2 unveiling on March 2 to wear off. As that happened, though, I, like others, started to have these little ‘Hey, wait a minute’ moments, and the inevitable questions about the latest magical device from Apple started piling up. Here are the ones I’ve been considering or hearing from others. Fortunately, I think we have answers for virtually all of them.”...
PC Magazine, Mar. 5
Storing your files inside the cloud
When the hard drive on Melissa Grove’s computer failed, she faced the possibility of losing 7,000 Word documents, 600 spreadsheets, hundreds of PowerPoint presentations, and 12 years of federal grant applications. You’ve probably had that feeling. But Grove’s story had a happy ending because she had backed up her data on a remote computer “in the cloud.” Backup has become entirely automated with the software that comes with a Windows PC (Backup and Restore) or on a Mac (Time Machine). A growing number of companies now offer cloud-based backup services....
New York Times: Personal Tech, Mar. 2
9 web apps for gathering feedback
Josh Catone writes: “Though the old adage that the customer is always right isn’t exactly true, listening to feedback is important. It isn’t always easy to swallow, but it can be extremely valuable. Your patrons are the ones who regularly use your products or services; their input and suggestions can help you make sound decisions. The following tools are designed to help you solicit feedback via the web and connect with people in more meaningful ways.”...
Mashable, Mar. 6
Speaking Image
Joyce Valenza writes: “I discovered Speaking Image via my Diigo network this morning and the wheels are spinning. The application, an online tool for the interactive annotation of images, allows users to create and share their interactive images with individuals and groups and to manage permissions for collaborative work. Moving way beyond adding text annotation similar to Flickr’s notes feature, Speaking Image offers paint tools, layers, a full-fledged wiki-based collaborative environment, and the ability to tag and embed.”...
School Library Journal: NeverEndingSearch, Mar. 9
Making technology more manageable
In 2006, the Adrian (Mich.) Public School District passed a capital bond that included $2.5 million for new technology, enough to add about 260 computers to the school’s infrastructure. Director of Technology Randy Brandeberry was concerned about the added work to maintain those computers without additional staff. He opted for remote PC management to deploy more computers without adding staff. He installed thin computers from Wyse with their operating system and applications delivered by Wyse Streaming Manager....
AL: Solutions and Services, Mar. 9
The DROID you were waiting for
The U.K. National Archives has launched the fastest, most accurate version yet of its award-winning file-identification software. A new file-profiling tool DROID (Digital Record Object IDentification) takes the hard work out of managing digital data and is downloadable for free from the National Archives website. It can scan millions of files at a time and correctly identify hundreds of different file formats, including most document, audio, video, and image files in common use....
U.K. National Archives, Mar. 7
Goodbye, DVD: Hello, future
Dave Kehr writes: “The DVD isn’t dead yet, but it’s definitely looking a little peaked, at least in the eyes of the home-video industry. Sales continue to decline, the formerly ubiquitous neighborhood rental shops have all but vanished, and the major studios have drastically cut back on full-scale releases of titles. There are several new formats competing to replace it, each with benefits and drawbacks. As in comedy, watching movies nowadays is all about the delivery.”...
New York Times, Mar. 4
Upgrading through every version of Windows
Andrew Tait, a Scottish computer buff, writes: “Here is a video presentation (9:49) covering an experiment I recently performed, in which I upgraded through every major version of Windows. My parents have had a PC since I was about 5, so I have many nostalgic memories about early versions of MS-DOS and Windows. This is probably why I chose this project, as it gave me a chance to relive some of those memories, and finally gave me something to do with my cupboard full of old computer software.”...
Andy’s Tech Experiments Blog, Mar. 4; YouTube, Mar. 2
ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 23–28, 2011. The preliminary program is now online. Follow @alaannual on Twitter and use the hashtag #ala11.
Because MLIS education tends to offer less-than-comprehensive preparation in pedagogy and instructional design, Reflective Teaching, Effective Learning: Instructional Literacy for Library Educators tackles the challenge of effective teaching and training head-on. Char Booth, an avid library education and technology advocate, introduces a series of concepts that will empower readers at any level of experience to become better presenters and build their confidence and satisfaction as library educators. NEW! From ALA Editions. |
New this week
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Great Libraries of the World
Vanderbilt Library, Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. The two-story, walnut-paneled library at Biltmore House contains some 10,000 volumes and a fireplace surrounded by a carved, black-marble mantel. A private, unused library owned by the Vanderbilt family, most of the books are not particularly rare except for their provenance. Built between 1889 and 1895 by George Washington Vanderbilt II, the house ceased to be a residence in 1954.
Duns Scotus Library, Lourdes College, Sylvania, Ohio. Completed in 1950, the library was named for the 13th-century Franciscan scholar, John Duns Scotus. The large stained glass window in its reading room features the seals of four European universities, and its walls are adorned with tapestries, paintings, mosaics, and maiolica medallions. The Franciscan Room houses a collection of rare books on the life and writings of St. Francis of Assisi. 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 Head of the Tombros McWhirter Knowledge Commons, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Reporting to the senior associate dean, the head will be responsible for the implementation of the Knowledge Commons at University Park Libraries, a federation of services and repurposed physical spaces designed to facilitate information discovery, collaborative learning, and knowledge building, focused mainly on undergraduate students. This exciting new venture will blend digital and multimedia technologies with the best of online and traditional library services to foster student learning and research.... |
Digital Library of the Week
The Carnival Collection of Tulane University’s Louisiana Research Collection preserves possibly the largest assemblage of New Orleans Carnival paper and ephemera, such as invitations, dance cards, call-out cards, printed float plates, and bulletins. Among the most notable items are the more than 5,000 original designs for Carnival floats and costumes. Many of these are from the “Golden Age” of Carnival and feature the work of noted designers such as Jennie Wilde, B. A. Wikstrom, and Charles Briton. LaRC also preserves the works of more contemporary designers, including Patricia Hardin, Olga Peters, and designer and noted Carnival historian Henri Schindler. Tulane is in the process of putting its entire Carnival design collection online and hopes to complete the project by the end of 2012. As of March 4, the online collection consisted of float designs from Comus and Proteus. Comus float designs range from 1901 to 1916, and Proteus designs include the years 1882 to 1891.
Another excellent Mardi Gras digital library is the Judge John Minor Wisdom Collection at the Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans, which houses more than 300 invitations, programs, and dance cards. 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 “Our state and city budgets are in desperate shape, we all know, but to save money by reducing library services and resources is like trying to save a bleeding man by cutting out his heart.” —Essayist and novelist Pico Iyer in an op-ed article, “Sanctuary Amid the Stacks,” Los Angeles Times, Mar. 6. @ More quotes... |
Follow: Teen Tech Week, Mar. 6–12, at: DrupalCon Chicago, Mar. 7–10, at: WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital World, Baltimore, Mar. 9–11, at: Sunshine Week, Mar. 13–19, at: American Libraries news stories, videos, tweets, and blog posts at: |
Mar. 23–25: Mar. 24–28: Mar. 29–30: Mar. 30– Mar. 30– Mar. 31– Apr. 2: Apr. 4–5: Apr. 6–8: Apr. 6–8: Apr. 6–8: Apr. 6–9: Apr. 15: Apr. 17–19: May 16–19: June 19–22: Aug. 13–18: Sept. 8–11: @ More... |
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Durability is a feature, not a bug
Cory Doctorow writes: “Try to imagine what a newspaper looks like after it’s been read by a busy library’s patrons over the course of 30 days. No one tried to argue that the fact that newspapers disintegrated if you looked at them cross-eyed was a feature that had to be preserved as their content moved into microfilm format (right). And yet, that is just the case made in the e-book deal HarperCollins is offering to libraries. Whether a HarperCollins book has the circulatory vigor to cope with 26 checkouts or 200, it’s bizarre to argue that this finite durability is a feature that we should carefully import into new media.”...
The Guardian (U.K.), Mar. 8
What have libraries done for us lately? (satire)
Andy Woodworth writes: “Stage notes: The interior of HarperCollins Boardroom. A darkened room with a very long, shined, oaken table. Executives are seated on each side looking towards one end of the table with executives Bob, Steve, Josh, and Dave sitting closest. Josh stands at the one end, track lighting acting as a spotlight showing that he is standing in front of a white board with graphs marked E-books with the lines going up.”...
Agnostic, Maybe, Mar. 7
Documenting and sharing your e-reader program practices
Buffy Hamilton writes: “When we began our Kindle program at Creekview High School Library in Canton, Georgia, in November 2010, I thought it was important to share our learning experiences, program implementation materials, and data in a public, transparent way. Hence, I created our Kindles at The Unquiet Library LibGuide information portal, a resource guide that is designed to share our Kindle program practices with others. Here is how I’ve organized the Kindle information portal.”...
ALA Learning Round Table, Mar. 8
Looking at print books from a writer’s perspective
Jessamyn West writes: “I wrote a book in 2009 and 2010. It’s getting published this year sometime. Let me tell you about what it’s like writing a print book for a large trade publisher during the long leisurely sunset of print. It was different from what I thought it would be. The larger issue turned out to be, no surprise, a copyright one. Even though my contract was crystal clear about my being responsible for any illegal thing my book did or suggested, I was still asked to get permissions for all of my screen shots.”...
In the Library with the Lead Pipe, Mar. 9
New business models for scholarly publishing (PDF file)
The Association of American University Presses
issued on March 7 a report on “Sustaining Scholarly Publishing: New Business Models for University Presses” (PDF file). The report’s recommendations include active and open sharing of lessons learned, open access as a principle to be embraced, and the support of libraries and foundations as crucial in providing funds to work towards the digital future. Joseph Esposito offers some insight....
Association of American University Presses, Mar. 7; The Scholarly Kitchen, Mar. 7
10 literary novels for SF genre readers
T. N. Tobias writes: “Every so often a debate breaks out across the blogosphere about the comparative merits of literary versus genre literature, usually sparked by some comment advocating one of the two with some supercilious tone. There need not be a chasm between movements, however, as genre and literary fiction can be quite complementary to one another. So, in the spirit of reconciliation, I’ve compiled this short list of books that fill the gap between speculative and so-called realistic fiction. It should serve as a decent introduction for genre readers to see how the other half lives.”...
SF Signal, Feb. 18
Harry Potter stamps launched by Royal Mail
The U.K. Royal Mail has launched eight stamps celebrating British magical figures, including Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter books. Joining J. K. Rowling’s creations on first-class stamps in the Magical Realms series are failed student Rincewind and witch Nanny Ogg, from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books. Aslan the Lion and the White Witch, from C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, are featured on other stamps in the series. The Royal Mail commissioned research from experts in British folklore and cultural history to determine the most appropriate characters from myth, legend, and literature....
BBC News, Mar. 8; Royal Mail
Picture book timeline
This timeline was created by Picturing Books, a company that runs the Picture Book Database, to showcase the history of children’s picture books from 1658 to 2008. The illustration on the right is the cover of Der Struwwelpeter (Slovenly Peter), written by Heinrich Hoffmann in 1844. It comprises 10 illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children, each with a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehavior in an exaggerated way....
Picturing Books
For whom the bells toll
L. D. Mitchell writes: “People often get started as book collectors because of a vocation or avocation. The topic of today’s post is campanology, which is usually an avocation in most of today’s industrialized nations. Although more popularly known as bell ringing, campanology is concerned not only with the ringing of groups of bells, but also with the physical properties of individual types of bells—with how they are cast, how they are tuned, and ultimately how they sound. It is, if you will pardon the pun, the original heavy metal music.”...
The Private Library, Mar. 7
Give away some e-books
David Lee King writes: “A couple weeks ago, I saw a pretty cool idea at the Denver International Airport, and thought it could be adapted to libraries. 1st Bank had some large advertisements up in the airport, giving away free e-books (right). All you needed was a smartphone with a QR code reader. Why not copy this idea? Give them a book (even if it’s freely available online), and brand it as your business.”...
David Lee King, Mar. 8
10 free public library resources
Hope Nardini writes: “Public libraries have more than just shelves of free books for loan. With my credit cards and debit cards taking up so much space in my wallet, it’s nice to know that my library card actually saves me money. My public library has served as a money-saving substitute for Starbucks, Blockbuster, and Showcase Cinema, just to name a few. Here are 10 library freebies you should take advantage of.”...
Money Crashers, Mar. 7
Help rebuild Cairo’s libraries
Two public libraries in Cairo, Egypt, were senselessly destroyed this January by vandals who stole and burned the contents and left the buildings in ruins. Queens (N.Y.) Library has a formal partnership with the Integrated Care Society that operates the network of public libraries in Cairo. Queens Library CEO Thomas W. Galante has issued this rallying cry to libraries and library lovers globally to help their Egyptian friends rebuild and reopen as soon as possible....
Queens (N.Y.) Library, Mar. 4
Scholarly communication: Can we have our name back?
Phil Davis writes: “There are some phrases that irritate us all. For Alan Singleton, editor of Learned Publishing, that phrase is ‘scholarly communication.’ In his January editorial, ‘Scholarly Communication: Can We Have Our Name Back?’ Singleton takes issue with how such a broad phrase has been co-opted to stand for the promotion of open access. He thinks it’s time to take the term back to its broad, encompassing meaning.”...
The Scholarly Kitchen, Mar. 8
Recent Twitter changes might affect academic research
Twitter’s recent announcement that it was no longer granting whitelisting requests and that it would no longer allow redistribution of content will have huge consequences on scholars’ ability to conduct research, as they will no longer have the ability to collect or export datasets for analysis. That’s the news that 140kit just had to break to its users. 140kit is an extension of the Web Ecology Project and one of the very first research efforts into the cultural and political influence as expressed via Twitter....
ReadWriteWeb, Mar. 3
Book challenges are underreported
Sarah Houghton-Jan writes: “On February 17, I posted a link to a survey that a library school student was doing about book challenges and removals in libraries. Here are the results, which I still find disturbing: Challenges and removals of library materials are grossly underreported to ALA (only 20%). Is this because libraries don’t want the professional stigma associated with challenges (especially removals or book relocations)? Or is it simply bad record-keeping? Or apathy?”...
Librarian in Black, Mar. 8
10 cheap and easy ways to amplify your event
Marieke Guy writes: “In 2007, Lorcan Dempsey coined the phrase ‘the amplified conference’ to refer to how events (such as talks and presentations) were being amplified ‘through a variety of network tools and collateral communications.’ Amplifying events can be an effective way to be open and make good use of taxpayers’ money. Many of us have fewer resources than we have had in the past, hence cheap-and-easy amplification is the way to go.”...
Ariadne, no. 66 (Jan.)
The bookmobile is back
Jeff Greenwald writes: “Tom Corwin clearly recalls the day when, on a whim, he decided to buy and restore a classic bookmobile. Corwin, who lives just north of San Francisco, picked up the vehicle from the Warren-Newport Public Library District in Gurnee, Illinois. Made by Moroney—a family-owned company in Massachusetts, and America’s last hand-builder of bookmobiles—the mobile library had just been retired after 15 years of travel. Its sturdy oak shelves had showcased more than 3,200 books. In late 2011, Corwin hopes, his bookmobile will hit the road with a library of 3,000 old-fashioned books—along with a few donated e-book readers.”...
Smithsonian, Feb. 23
How the public perceives community information systems
Surveys in Philadelphia, San Jose, and Macon show that those who believe city hall is forthcoming are more likely than others to feel good about the overall quality of their community, the ability of the entire information environment of their community to give them the information that matters, the overall performance of their local government, and the performance of all manner of civic and journalistic institutions ranging from the fire department to the libraries to the local newspaper and TV stations. Read the full report online....
Pew Internet and American Life Project, Mar. 1
Disaster information outreach symposium
A free symposium offering practical advice for information professionals who disseminate information about disasters will be held March 29–30 at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. Although the symposium has reached its limit for on-site attendance, each day’s proceedings will be videocast: Day 1 and Day 2....
Disaster Information Management Research Center
10 time-saving web tools
Jocelyn K. Glei writes: “We now have tons of web apps at our fingertips that can minimize the amount of time we spend on the less glamorous details of making ideas happen. Here, we highlight 10 of our favorite web apps for streamlining crucial (but not particularly fun) day-to-day tasks, so you can get on with the important stuff.” For example, NudgeMail, which allows you to hit the snooze button on distracting emails....
The 99 Percent
Whatever happened to the audiophile?
Linton Weeks writes: “You may remember the type: Laid-back in a 1980s easy chair, soaking in Rachmaninoff, Reinhardt, or the Rolling Stones, enveloped by the very best, primo, top-of-the-line stereo equipment an aficionado could afford. Now it’s 2011. And amid all the earbudded iPods, smartphones, and MP3 players, one can’t help but wonder: Whatever happened to the audiophile?”...
NPR, Mar. 5
Looking behind the picture
David Lowe writes: “Today we most often encounter a photograph as a digital image—its only physical presence is the screen from which it shines. Not so the photographic print, which has two surfaces. The back side, or verso, can reveal just as much of a photograph’s life story. One may find handwritten descriptions of the photo’s subject, printed advertisements of the photographer’s studio, ownership stamps, crop marks or printer’s notations, an artist's signature or title, the faint trace of another image, another photograph.”...
Huffington Post, Mar. 3
LC acquires historic sports recordings
John Miley’s decades-long passion for sports led him to collect an extensive archive of historical moments in athletic competition. Miley and the Library of Congress announced March 9 that his vast collection of 6,000 radio and television broadcasts of pre-1972 professional and amateur sporting events will reside in the world’s largest library. Every major sport is represented: baseball, hockey, football, basketball, racing, Olympic events, boxing, golf, and tennis....
Library of Congress, Mar. 9
Mr. Small goes to Washington
Nancy Mattoon writes: “A single man’s lifelong dedication to collecting materials about his hometown is about to benefit scholars everywhere. Albert H. Small, a prominent Washington, D.C., real estate developer, has just donated his extensive archives of Washington history to George Washington University. He’s also kicked in a little money to renovate a historic home to house his collection, $5 million to be exact. The collection is comprised of nearly 700 items, including a letter (right) written by George Washington to Congress in 1791 outlining the 10 square miles designated as the new capital city of the United States.”...
Booktryst, Mar. 4
Storybook gown made of Little Golden Books
Designer Ryan Novelline of Boston created this gown composed entirely of illustrations from Little Golden Books sewn together with metallic gold thread. The bodice is made from the books’ foil spines. His website documents the process he used to put it all together....
Ryan Novelline: Golden Book Gown