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The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | August 22, 2012

Solutions and Services

ALA Mobile Commons text alerts

AL Buyers Guide

American Libraries Online

Logo of the iSchools Caucus, a group of information schools dedicated to advancing the information fieldWhat’s new in LIS schools
Beverly Goldberg writes: “Librarianship thrives on having in its midst colleagues who are also content specialists. So, it’s only natural that MLIS programs would embrace a cross-disciplinary approach to educating new professionals. LIS programs are now in the business of acknowledging the intersection of information gathering, dissemination, and analysis in the missions of librarians, journalists, information technologists, health care researchers, urban planners, and sociologists, among others.”...
American Libraries feature

Seniors in the library. Image courtesy Carlsbad (Calif.) City LibraryOn My Mind: An old friend in the library
Jennifer Burek Pierce writes: “As summer days grew longer and the heat increased, so did my trips to the public library. This summer, I had a companion: a longtime friend’s 84-year-old mother—now another good friend. While I cruised the children’s section, Doris would head to the shelves with large-print books. Her library use heightened my sensibilities about how we serve aging adults. Despite professional statements about serving the elderly, I’ve begun to doubt that these ideals play an active part in our daily practices.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

Siva Vaidhyanathan at IFLAIFLA: Googlization, copyright, and public awareness
Leonard Kniffel writes: “Siva Vaidhyanathan (right), author of The Googlization of Everything, delivered a dynamic and challenging speech August 15 on the fourth full day of programming during the World Library and Information Congress of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in Helsinki, Finland. At the same session Päivikki Karhula of Finland talked about internet censorship, and ALA’s Michael Dowling focused on how to increase the public visibility of libraries on a shoestring budget by using the Campaign for the World’s Libraries materials.” See the IFLA photo essay....
AL: Global Reach, Aug. 16; AL Focus, Aug. 16

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ALA Editions

ALA News

Hurricane Irene flooding damage at the Wells Memorial Library, Upper Jay, New York. Photo by John EldridgePitney Bowes donates $35K to hurricane-damaged libraries
Hurricane Irene caused widespread destruction and major flooding in the Northeast during the last week of August 2011. Libraries were not spared, with many suffering extensive damage and ruined materials and equipment. Thanks to a generous grant of $35,000 from the Pitney Bowes Foundation, ALA has distributed $3,500 to 10 public and school libraries in New York and Connecticut to help them rebuild their collections....
Chapter Relations Office, Aug. 21

Rob Wittman with Central Rappahannock Regional Library Deputy Director Caroline ParrLegislator in the library
Librarians across the country are taking advantage of the slow end of summer to invite policymakers and business leaders to visit their libraries. On August 21, Martha Hutzel, manager of Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s John M. Porter Memorial branch in Stafford, Virginia, brought Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) into her branch to speak to members of the North Stafford Rotary Club, a local chapter of Rotary International. Hutzel has been a long-time member of the service organization....
District Dispatch, Aug. 21

Islamic portolan chart showing Andalusia, SpainMuslim Journeys Bookshelf deadline, programming extended
The National Endowment for the Humanities has extended the deadline to apply for “Muslim Journeys,” a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf program, to October 25. The 1,000 sites that are selected will become eligible in January 2013 to receive a Let’s Talk About It reading and discussion series grant of up to $4,500 from the NEH. A free introductory online learning session will also be available to participating public and academic libraries. “Muslim Journeys” aims to familiarize public audiences in the US with the people, places, history, faith, and cultures of Muslims in the US and around the world....
Public Programs Office, Aug. 21

Cover of 2012 ALA-APA Salary Survey: Librarian—Public and AcademicALA-APA survey: Librarian salaries flatten in 2012
According to results of the 2012 ALA-APA Salary Survey: Librarian—Public and Academic, increases for librarians rose less than 1%, making salaries basically flat. The survey shows aggregated data from 11,315 individual salaries of librarians with an ALA-accredited master’s from 618 libraries, categorized by region and state. Survey responses from public and academic libraries in all 50 states and the District of Columbia indicate that salaries range from a low of $22,000 in public libraries to a high of more than $258,000, with the highest salary earners being library directors in university libraries....
ALA-APA, Aug. 21

Cover of Building and Managing E-Book CollectionsBuilding and managing ebook collections
Beginning with a short history of ebooks and a review of the ebook publishing industry, Building and Managing E-Book Collections: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians, edited by Richard Kaplan, provides a thorough treatment of collection development issues, including the selection process and development policies, the use of approval plans, patron-driven acquisition, and practical solutions for creating ebook collection policies. Kaplan is the dean of library and learning resources at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Aug. 20

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Booklist Online banner

Booklist Online logo

Cover of This Bright RiverFeatured review: Adult fiction
Somerville, Patrick. This Bright River. June 2012. 464p. Little, Brown/Reagan Arthur, hardcover (978-0-316-12931-2).
Somerville takes a quantum leap in his torrential second novel, which is set in his home state of Wisconsin. Prodigal son and ex-con Ben somehow burned through his million-dollar trust. Dazed and aimless at 32 after his release from prison and newly haunted by his philosophical cousin’s inexplicable death along the Bright River some years ago, Ben is now charged with putting his recently deceased uncle’s house on the market. Lauren has also returned to St. Helens, battered by traumatic events but determined to start over. They knew each other slightly in high school, when she was intent on getting into medical school, and he was a rich-kid slacker....

Cover of Panorama CityFeatured review: Adult fiction
Wilson, Antoine. Panorama City. Sept. 2012. 304p. Houghton, hardcover (978-0-547-87512-5).
Oppen Porter is 28, six-and-a-half feet tall, surprisingly philosophical, and a self-described “slow absorber.” While lying in a hospital bed, certain that he won’t survive the night after being hit by a truck, he dictates the circumstances leading up to the collision to a tape recorder that will be passed on to his pregnant wife and unborn son. Although Oppen focuses on the relatively short time that he lived in Panorama City after his father passed away, he tries to pepper his story with meaningful life lessons and universal truths for his son’s betterment. Wilson’s Panorama City is a candid and perceptive exploration of how families connect and how society’s most popular methods of advancement may not always be the most beneficial....

Graphic for You're Doing It Wrong: Somerville vs. WilsonPatrick Somerville vs. Antoine Wilson
Keir Graff writes: “In the first installment of this feature, bestselling authors Lee Child and Joe Finder engaged in a friendly and fascinating argument about whether novelists should outline their books before they start writing. Somerville and Wilson take it to the next level, debating the future of literature itself.” Somerville’s open letter to Wilson begins: “Here is my argument, you bespectacled rapscallion: Worldwide, video games will be the 21st century’s most popular form of storytelling.” Wilson replies: “You conflate ‘popular’ and ‘dominant.’ I don’t doubt that glorified Pong machines have the potential to outsell books in the 21st century, but the question of dominance is more nuanced.”...

@ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more....

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Division News

Student rate for LITA Forum
LITA is offering a special LIS student registration rate to its National Forum, to be held October 5–7 in Columbus, Ohio. In exchange for 50% off the regular registration rate, students will assist LITA organizers and forum presenters with on-site operations. Students must register by August 24....
ALA Student Membership Blog, Aug. 15

Scott WesterfeldScott Westerfeld to keynote closing of YA Symposium
Author Scott Westerfeld (right) will be the keynote speaker for the general closing session of the 2012 Young Adult Literature Symposium to be held in St. Louis. Westerfeld will give an “illustrated lecture” about working with artist Keith Thompson on the Leviathan trilogy, with digressions on the history of illustration and the future of fan art. He will consider such questions as: Why did illustrated novels mostly disappear? How does illustration change the writing process? And why do young readers interact differently with visual media than with pure text? Registration for the November 2–4 symposium is open....
YALSA, Aug. 21

“Health Information 101” is a CEU first for RUSA
The September 17–October 28 offering of the online course “Health Information 101” will offer one continuing education unit (CEU) upon completion, becoming the first-ever RUSA course to offer CEU credit. This course will demystify and decode medical terminology and also cover the basics of evidence-based biomedical literature searching. Participants will learn how to systematically evaluate a health website and then look at some of the best sites for medical, pharmaceutical, and drug information. Registration is open....
RUSA, Aug. 21

New online course offers ILL foundation
Registration is now open for the first offering of “Interlibrary Loan (ILL) 101,” which will be held September 17–October 14. This online course will provide new ILL managers and practitioners with a broad overview of ILL policies, procedures, and practices and a firm foundation in borrowing and lending protocols, best practices, copyright and licensing issues, and ILL systems. Topics covered are of particular interest to public and academic libraries....
RUSA, Aug. 21

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Awards & Grants

2012 I Love My Librarian Award logoNominations for the 2012 I Love My Librarian Award
Library users can nominate a librarian for the 2012 Carnegie Corporation of New York / New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The nomination form is available on atyourlibrary.org, the ALA public awareness website. The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college, and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Up to 10 librarians will be selected as winners. The deadline is September 12....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Aug. 17

California Library Hall of Fame
The California Library Association has nominated its first 10 inductees to the California Library Hall of Fame, which honors the historical significance and lifetime achievements of the many librarians, library workers, and supporters who have helped promote and improve library services in California. The inductees are featured in CLA’s online California Library Hall of Fame and honored at the Awards Gala during the CLA annual conference. Among the 10 are Michael Gorman, Regina Minudri, Gary Strong, and Lawrence Clark Powell....
California Library Association

Charlotte KingACRL funds 2012 Spectrum Scholar
As part of its commitment to furthering diversity in librarianship, ACRL is supporting Charlotte King (right) as its 2012–2013 Spectrum Scholar. King will attend the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science. Prior to entering library school, King had a career dedicated to underserved communities....
ACRL, Aug. 20

Attendees pause to commemorate the moment after the IFLA closing session in Helsinki. Photo by Carlon Walker2012 IFLA honors and medals
Leonard Kniffel writes: “IFLA closed its World Library and Information Congress in Helsinki, Finland, August 16 by honoring several of its longtime members and activists. Winston Tabb of the US and Ellen R. Tise of South Africa were made Honorary Fellows, the organization’s highest honor. The coveted IFLA Medal went to OCLC President and CEO Jay Jordan for his leadership in the globalization of library services, to Eeva Kristiina Murtomaa of Finland for her work in improving bibliographic standards, and to Helena Asamoah-Hassan of Ghana for her work in building bridges across Africa and between African countries.”...
AL: Global Reach, Aug. 16; District Dispatch, Aug. 20

Georgetown County (S.C.) Council honored at SCAC meetingSmart Investing earns county government honor
When the Georgetown County (S.C.) Council recently won an Honorable Mention in the J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Award competition August 5, it was lauded for its groundbreaking Smart Investing @ your library program, which teaches financial fitness through festivals, workshops, kids’ programs, and job fairs. The competitive award is given by the South Carolina Association of Counties to honor outstanding achievements by county governments in South Carolina....
Smart Investing @ your library

Mary MooreHuntsville librarian wins RWA Librarian of the Year Award
Mary Moore (right), reference and adult services manager at the Huntsville–Madison County (Ala.) Public Library, is the winner of the 2012 Romance Writers of America Librarian of the Year Award. The award came with a free trip to the Romance Writers of America’s 2012 annual conference, held in July in Anaheim, California. It honors a librarian who demonstrates outstanding support of romance authors and the romance genre....
Huntsville (Ala.) Times, Aug. 20

Ann Patchett, photo by David Shankbone, used CC BY 3.0Women’s National Book Award
Ann Patchett (right) has been selected as the 2012 Women’s National Book Award winner by the Women’s National Book Association. Patchett is the bestselling author of several works of fiction, among them Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, Bel Canto, The Magician’s Assistant, and State of Wonder. The award is presented to a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties or responsibilities of her profession or occupation....
Women’s National Book Association, Aug. 6

Cover of The Fifth Witness2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly will receive the 2012 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction for The Fifth Witness. The prize, cosponsored by the University of Alabama School of Law and the ABA Journal, celebrates the role of lawyers in society and the ideals represented by Atticus Finch. Connelly will receive the award during a special ceremony September 20 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C....
University of Alabama School of Law, Aug. 13

Cover of The Dead I Know, by Scot Gardner2012 CBCA Book of the Year Awards
The winners of the 67th annual Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards were announced August 17. Of the 77 books nominated for older readers, The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner came out on top. The compelling story focuses on teenager Aaron Rowe, a sleepwalker with much instability at home, as he starts a new job at a funeral parlor. Kate Constable, another Victorian writer, took out top honors in the younger readers category with her time-travel story Crow Country.
...
Sydney Morning Herald, Aug. 18

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Libraries in the News

Banned Books Week read-outMan to live in “prison of books” during Banned Books Week
Corey Michael Dalton, a fiction writer and associate editor of the Saturday Evening Post, will spend the entirety of Banned Books Week (September 30–October 6) inside a “prison” made completely out of banned books from previous years. Dalton’s weeklong project will take place at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in Indianapolis, and its goal is to protest the treatment of Vonnegut’s masterpiece, Slaughterhouse-Five, by a Midwestern school district....
New York Daily News: PageViews, Aug. 16; Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library, July 25

Nicole JamesIndianapolis library reaches out to Sister Cities
Nicole James (right), manager of the Indianapolis Public Library’s College Avenue branch, is visiting the Cologne (Germany) City Library (Stadtbibliothek Köln) August 18–September 8 as part of a Sister City ambassadorial exchange. James will share her 17-year experience with German colleagues, leading to an exchange and comparison of best practices and policies. A Cologne City Library representative will visit Indianapolis in 2013. IPL staffers Ann Ricciardelli and Sailan Liang will travel to Sister City Hangzhou, China, in October....
Indianapolis Public Library

Teens Austin (left), Benjamin, Noe, and Adam reveal their salsa-making secrets to the “Pica! Salsa Throwdown” judges at the San Antonio Public Library contest. (Pica translates roughly from Spanish to English as spicy.)Salsa throwdown in San Antonio
Picking up the culinary gauntlet thrown down by San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library, 20 area teens formed several salsa-making teams at SAPL’s Central Library August 8 at the “Pica! Teen Salsa Throwdown” and left it to the judges to decide which team of 13–18 year-olds had created the zestiest dish. Designed to teach healthy eating habits and combat child obesity, the event is part of an ongoing effort by SAPL in conjunction with the San Antonio Food Bank....
AL Focus, Aug. 21

Village Post Office set-upLibraries could serve as post offices
Meredith Schwartz writes: “In areas where post offices are closing or reducing hours, the US Postal Service is reaching out to libraries, service stations, and convenience stores to ask if they would like to add limited postal service through the Village Post Office program (PDF file). This lets the town keep its ZIP code and offers the most popular services, including collection, stamps, and flat rate packaging sales. In May, the cash-strapped USPS announced its plans for handling rural mail service more affordably through closures, reduced hours, consolidation with nearby facilities, and VPOs.”...
Library Journal, Aug. 16

Cover of The Poky Little Puppy, by Janette Sebring Lowrey, one of the first Little Golden Books, published in 1942Racine man helps library find Little Golden Books
Eighty-nine and counting: That’s how many Little Golden Books the Racine (Wis.) Public Library still lacked (PDF file) as of August 17. It’s a relatively small fraction of the approximately 1,100 Little Golden Books, published in Racine from 1942 to 2001, that the library covets to complete its collection. Local salesman Chris Terry has been on a one-man crusade to help the library complete its archival collection....
Racine (Wis.) Journal Times, Aug. 20

Vermont State Police say furniture was stacked in the center of the library floor in Barton in a pyramid about 20 feet high. Other furniture was stacked on top of bookshelvesPranksters rearrange furniture in Vermont library
A group of youngsters in northeastern Vermont turned to midnight mischief August 13 at two public libraries and a town hall to help pass the time. Books were rearranged. Furniture was piled almost to the ceiling. A needed date stamp went missing. At the Barton Public Library, they stacked furniture into a 20-foot pyramid in the middle of the building (above). Three miles away at the Glover Public Library, about 1,000 library books were rearranged on the shelves—for the second time in three months....
Burlington (Vt.) Free Press, Aug. 15

Screenshot from WTVR-TV broadcast, showing unconcealed gun wearerGroup packs heat at Richmond library protest
A group of gun owners brought their guns to the Richmond (Va.) Public Library August 15 to raise awareness and protest a policy they claimed could confuse gun owners. The library’s gun policy reads, “Carrying concealed weapons is prohibited, except as permitted by law.” Virginians with the proper permits are allowed to carry guns inside the library. Pro-gun advocate Philip Van Cleave is pushing to have the rule reworded over fears it could confuse legal gun owners into believing that bringing a gun to the library is against the law....
WTVR-TV, Richmond, Aug. 15

Aluminum atrium screen in Bobst LibraryAluminum screens to deter Bobst suicides
The 150-foot-high atrium in New York University’s Elmer Holmes Bobst Library has been the location of three student suicides—two in 2003 and another in 2009. Now, floor-to-ceiling perforated aluminum screens have been installed that completely enclose the balconies around the perimeter of the atrium and the open staircase connecting them, transforming the space. University officials expect the renovation to be finished in September. But student reactions are mixed....
New York Times, Aug. 19; Gothamist, Aug. 22

Ursula Stanek, director of cirulation services at the La Grange Park (Ill.) Public Library, center, holds the original book from Nazi Germany with librarians at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.The mystery of the rare Nazi book in La Grange Park
A rare, historically significant book stamped “secret” and published in Germany in 1941 has found its way to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., after it was mysteriously left in a bookdrop at La Grange Park (Ill.) Public Library. Vier Jahre Hermann-Göring-Werke Salzgitter, 1939–1941, a report on the gigantic steel works set up in Salzgitter by Reichstag President Hermann Göring, had been given to workers at the state-owned mills. Circulation Services Director Ursula Stanek (at center of photo) recognized its significance and contacted the museum library....
The Doings La Grange, Aug. 17

The difficulty of insider book theft
Travis McDade writes: “For an insider, stealing rare books, maps, and documents is easy. It takes no talent and very little planning. But turning those stolen items into cash while also staying out of jail requires skill, and a great deal of effort. The first step in the successful insider heist is to identify items unlikely to be either missed by the institution or recognized by buyers as stolen. For the same reason that stealing the Mona Lisa is a bad idea, taking the most famous or in-demand items in a library or archive is ill-advised.”...
OUPblog, Aug. 18

Sleeping incidents on the rise in San Francisco
The number of people observed sleeping in San Francisco’s Main Library has increased by more than 80% over the past year. According to new data, a total of 4,412 security incidents were reported last fiscal year. That was down from 4,798 in fiscal 2010–2011. But sleeping incidents increased from 588 to 1,065, disturbances jumped by 214 incidents for a total of 776, and drug use more than doubled on the lower level but declined on the first floor....
San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 14

Special collections in Texas
At age 90, William Blair Jr., a former Negro League pitcher, Dallas-area civil rights leader, and longtime newspaperman, came to the realization that much of the history he had lived through had already been forgotten by younger generations. He recently turned over the photographs, newspapers, and memorabilia he had collected to the University of Texas at Arlington Special Collections Library. It took seven trucks to haul Blair’s collection to the university, which intends to develop a public exhibition around it....
New York Times, Aug. 17

The Schulz Library prepares to reopenThe great Schulz Library moving caper
Books are back on the shelves exactly one year after Hurricane Irene flooding forced the evacuation of the Schulz Library at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. The Schulz Library’s new home is in a recently purchased and renovated historic Post Office building in the village. See photos of the move and the new library digs....
Center for Cartoon Studies, Aug. 17

Sakai Shichima, Western Spirit (late 1940s)The Aomushi Showa Manga Library
Ryan Holmberg writes: “The number one Japanese tourist site for manga fans that I would recommend is the Aomushi Showa Manga Library in Fukushima Prefecture. Housed in a former wood-frame church, Aomushi is a spacious and atmospheric treasure house of manga from the postwar 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. It is a pain to get to, but the returns for the manga lover and for the researcher far exceed all the museums combined. Only at Aomushi can you read old and rare manga freely (though not for free) and voluminously.”...
The Comics Journal, Aug. 20

Closing the door on Canadian history
Valerie Knowles writes: “On June 19, Canadian MP David McGuinty (Liberal–Ottawa South) rose in Question Period to ask which federal departments or agencies have closed or will be closing their libraries and what is the rationale for such closures. In posing these questions, McGuinty spotlighted a development that has been quietly underway for months and that will seriously impede research and undermine our understanding of Canada’s history.”...
iPolitics, Ottawa, Aug. 10

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Issues

Judge Chin: ALA, EFF can weigh in on Authors Guild v. Google case
In an August 15 order, Judge Denny Chin accepted a joint amicus brief from the Library Copyright Alliance (a coalition of ALA, ACRL, and the Association of Research Libraries) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation as well as a brief from group of digital humanities scholars, both in support of Google in the Authors Guild vs. Google case. Chin gave the Authors Guild, which had opposed accepting the briefs, until September 17 to file a response. In an August 17 order (PDF file), Chin affirmed that opposition briefs will be filed by October 24....
paidContent, Aug. 17; The Laboratorium, Aug. 14

Fixed broadband deployment map19 million Americans still without broadband
Access to fast internet is spreading in the US, but about 19 million Americans can’t get it, according to an August 21 government report by the Federal Communications Commission. There is some improvement from the agency’s 2011 report that showed 26 million were without access to broadband. The decline partially reflects internet service providers’ expansion beyond suburbs, but the FCC also attributes it to data collection....
USA Today, Aug. 21

The Alexandria sit-in protesters are arrested, August 21, 1939Remembering the 1939 Alexandria Library sit-in
Allie Shay writes: “On August 21, 1939—73 years ago and more than two decades before the famous sit-in movement—five young African Americans staged a planned sit-in at the public library in Alexandria, Virginia. It is generally believed to be the nation’s first sit-in. Organized by attorney Samuel Tucker, the five young men entered the Barrett branch on Queen Street and politely requested library cards. After their requests were denied simply because they were African American, the men sat down to read.”...
Publishing the Long Civil Rights Movement, Aug. 21

IFLA endorses international code of ethics
On August 12, the Governing Board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions endorsed a new International Code of Ethics for Librarians and Information Workers (PDF file). A working group from IFLA’s Committee on Freedom of Access to Information and Freedom of Expression drafted and consulted extensively on the code, drawing on hundreds of comments from IFLA members and nonmembers....
OIF Blog, Aug. 15

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Tech Talk

StartupCopPro utilityTop 20 utilities
Tim Smith writes: “For more than 20 years, we at PCMag have been designing and developing our own utilities and publishing them in our PCMag Utility Library collection, mostly inspired by suggestions from our editors and users. We aim to fill specific needs that are either unmet by the marketplace or that we think could be better met. The following is a list of our top 20 utilities available to members of the PCMag Utility Library. Single utilities are $7.99, and include Startup Cop Pro, RegistryRobot, and Password Profiler.” The editors also recommend 10 free Mac OS X utilities, seven Android utilities, and the best tuneup utilities....
PC Magazine, May 2, July 11, 17, Aug. 16

Apps for librarian productivity
Francisca Goldsmith writes: “A few days ago, I received another in a growing line of requests for a list of iPad apps that I find most useful in my workaday life. While the list does, of course, go through the necessary evolution that is part of contemporary tech, maybe sharing a current snapshot list here is in order.”...
Infopeople Weblog, Aug. 13

Typical log-on screen offers increasingly false sense of security.Passwords have never been weaker and crackers stronger
Dan Goodin writes: “The most important single contribution to cracking knowledge came in late 2009, when an SQL injection attack against online games service RockYou.com exposed 32 million plaintext passwords used by its members to log in to their accounts. The passcodes were posted online; almost overnight, the unprecedented corpus of real-world credentials changed the way whitehat and blackhat hackers alike cracked passwords.”...
ArsTechnica, Aug. 20

Organize your files by typeNine ideas for managing your computer files
Aaron Couch writes: “It’s frustrating when you can’t find a file. You’ve searched every folder imaginable on your computer, and somehow it got lost, or worse, deleted. There are excellent search tools for Windows that allow you to find your files, but they only work if you know the name of the file. Here I’ve put together a list of nine things you can do to manage your computer files. It’s surprising how little effort it really takes just to start this process.”...
MakeUseOf, Aug. 18

UJAM StudioFive alternatives to Aviary for creating audio online
Richard Byrne writes: “In July, Aviary announced that it will be shuttering its online audio and image-editing tools on September 15. Since that announcement, I have had quite a few people ask me for some alternatives for creating audio recordings online. Here are five online tools that you and your students can use to create audio files online.” And here are some places to find free sound effects....
Free Technology for Teachers, Aug. 19, 21

K310 Logitech keyboardA washable keyboard
Andrew Liszewski writes: “Because even germaphobes deserve nice things, Logitech has unveiled its K310 washable keyboard with a snazzy waterproof design that can be scrubbed and submerged in up to 11 inches of water. So it’s perfect for the next time a sneezy coworker uses your computer. A set of drainage holes in the back helps the keyboard dry quickly after a bath, and the keys are laser printed with a UV coating so it’s nigh impossible to accidentally scrub off the letters.”...
Gizmodo, Aug. 22

GSM vs. CDMACDMA vs. GSM: What’s the difference?
Sascha Segan writes: “Two basic technologies in mobile phones, CDMA and GSM, represent a gap you can’t cross. They’re the reason you can’t use AT&T phones on Verizon’s network and vice versa. But what does CDMA vs. GSM really mean for you? In this story, I’ll try to explain who uses which technology and what the real differences are.”...
PC Magazine, Aug. 22

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E-Content

Mythbusting: Libraries and ebooks
Jamie LaRue writes: “Publishers and authors have a lot of misinformation about libraries. This might be a good time to bust the myths. Myth #1: Libraries just want to buy one copy, then give your book away to the world. The truth: No, we don’t. We do want to increase access—getting more books in more people’s hands is part of the library’s mission. But we understand and adhere to copyright. We pay for multiple copies in the ebook world, just as we do with print.”...
myliblog, Aug. 19

Finding ebooks is like wandering through a maze but without the cool patternOrganizing ebooks
Michelle Kraft writes: “Finding an ebook is like wandering through a maze but without the cool pattern. In order to find an ebook, library patrons must navigate the catalog or the web page or know the silo where their specific title is hosted. They run into more dead ends and switchbacks that are frustrating and defeating. Why? Users really don’t search our catalog. They search Google, or they will slog through the library website looking for ebooks to magically be listed.”...
The Krafty Librarian, Aug. 22

Students find e-textbooks clumsy
Several universities have recently tried a new model for delivering textbooks in hopes of saving students money: requiring purchase of e-textbooks and charging students a materials fee to cover the costs. An August 1 report (PDF file) on pilot projects at five universities, however, shows that many students find the e-textbooks “clumsy” and prefer print. The students also said e-textbooks didn’t help them interact more with classmates or the professor, largely because most people didn’t use the collaborative features....
Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 18, Aug. 22

Washington State ebook pilot project completed
Washington State Library launched a pilot program in the autumn of 2011 that placed ebook readers in a limited number of libraries to gather information on their use. The project was completed at the end of May, and the library has placed handouts, policies and procedures, and participant feedback on its website....
Washington State Library

GPO teams with Apple to sell federal ebooks (PDF file)
The US Government Printing Office has signed an agreement with Apple to sell federal ebooks. Titles are available for the iPad, e-readers, PCs, and Macs when running the iTunes Store app. GPO also makes ebooks available in partnership with Google’s eBookstore, Barnes & Noble, OverDrive, Ingram, Zinio, and other online vendors.....
Government Printing Office, Aug. 22

The joys and hazards of web self-publishing
Alan Finder writes: “Not long ago, an aspiring book writer rejected by traditional publishing houses had only one alternative: vanity publishing. Digital technology has changed all that. A writer turned down by traditional publishers now has a range of options. Among them are self-publishing a manuscript as an ebook; self-publishing through myriad companies that print on demand; and buying an array of services, from editing and design to marketing and publicity, from what are known as assisted self-publishing companies. There are two basic kinds of self-publishing companies, both web-based.”...
New York Times: Personal Tech, Aug. 15

Five reasons why web publishing is changing (again)
Richard MacManus writes: “We’re witnessing another sea change in web publishing. From Pinterest at the beginning of this year to the August launch of a new product from two Twitter founders, Medium, 2012 has been a year where the norms of publishing are being challenged. It wasn’t that long ago that Tumblr and Wordpress were the cutting edge of publishing. But there’s a new edge now. In this post we identify five key drivers for this new wave of publishing services.”...
ReadWriteWeb, Aug. 14, 16

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Simmons GSLIS


Midwest Tape


It Came from the Library! Teen Read Week poster

It Came from the Library, YALSA’s 2012 Teen Read Week theme, offers a fun and simple way to show off what’s lurking in your stacks. Use this event, October 14–20, as a convenient opportunity to highlight what your library has to offer teens and their families, from best sellers to quirky special collections. NEW! From ALA Graphics.

National Reading Group Month

October is National Reading Group Month. Start getting ready now by reading Booklist’s Book Group Buzz blog, which provides helpful information to all reading groups.

Great Libraries of the World

Central University Library, Bern

Central University Library, Bern, Switzerland. The library collections date back to the early 16th century. The most important historical holdings include the library of French scholar Jacques Bongars and the historical map collection of the Bernese statesman Johann Friedrich von Ryhiner. Prior to 2009, the library also served as the city and cantonal public library.

Einsiedeln Abbey library

Einsiedeln Abbey, Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The Baroque library of this Benedictine monastery owns a 10th-century manuscript of the poem Versus de scachis, which contains the earliest mention of chess in Western literature. The 1738 library was restored in 1994–1998 and now holds 1,230 manuscripts, 1,100 incunabula and early prints, and 230,000 printed volumes.

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. Some will be featured in The Whole Library Handbook 5, edited by George M. Eberhart, which is scheduled for publication in 2013 by ALA Editions. There is also a Great Libraries of the World Pinterest board.

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Career Leads from
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Curator of American Literature Drama and Prose Writings, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, is one of two curators who share responsibility for the Yale Collection of American Literature at the Beinecke Library. Alongside and in collegial cooperation with a curator whose chief responsibilities reside with American poetry, the successful candidate for this position will focus on prose, drama, and performance in American literature. The two curators share responsibility for the James Weldon Johnson Collection in their respective areas. It is essential that these two curators work in a cooperative and mutually supportive fashion....

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Digital Library of the Week

Ceremonial dancers, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Nov. 1969. Photographer: Harrison Forman

The American Geographical Society Library Digital Photo Archive offers a selection of images from its extensive photographic holdings, housed at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The images were selected from several collections, including the American Geographical Society Library Print Collection, the Harrison Forman Collection, the Robert W. McColl Collection, the Bert Krawczyk Collection, the Edna Schaus Sorensen and Clarence W. Sorensen Collection, and the Helmut de Terra Collection. A recently completed NEH-funded grant allowed the AGS Library to preserve, scan, and create metadata for nearly 71,000 deteoriating nitrate negatives. The photos are categorized by region: Asia and the Middle East, Africa, North and Central America, South America, and Europe.

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, Check out our Featured Digital Libraries Pinterest board.


Noted and Quoted

“Here’s the thing about librarians: They are the only people I know who are incredibly excited TO DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU.”

—Justin Reich, “Librarians Are Completely Awesome,Education Week: EdTech Researcher, Aug. 16.

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Seven Years After Hurricane Katrina, Survivors Struggle with Mental Health Issues

Katrina damage

Great Songs: 'This Land is Your Land' and the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Woody Guthrie

Good Reads: The Fault in Our Stars

African Arts and Cultural Astronomy Exhibit Opens

How to Pay for College: Grants

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Calendar

Sept. 19–21:
Cornell University Institute for Computer Policy and Law Conference,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. “Internet Culture and the Academy.”

Sept. 19–23:
Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, Crown Center, Kansas City, Missouri. “Gathering at the Waters: Celebrating Stories, Embracing Communities.”

Sept. 20–22:
ALSC Biennial National Institute,
Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel, Indianapolis, Indiana. “Libraries Leading the Race.”

Sept. 21:
Southeast Florida Library and Information Network,
Virtual Conference. “Ebooks: Benefits, Challenges, and the Future.”

Sept. 24:
National Information Standards Organization,
Forum, Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver. “Tracking It Back to the Source: Managing and Citing Research Data.”

Sept. 30–
Oct. 6:

Banned Books Week.

Oct. 3:
Banned Websites Awareness Day.

Oct. 5–6:
9th Trejo Foster Foundation Institute,
Meeting, Chihuahua, Mexico. Cosponsored by the Trejo Foster Foundation for Hispanic Library Education and the Autonomous University of Chihuahua. “Education and Library Services: Connecting Frontiers.”

Oct. 15–16:
Back in Circulation Again,
Conference, Room 325/326, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street, Madison, Wisconsin. Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin/Madison SLIS.

Oct. 15–18:
Depository Library Council Meeting and Federal Depository Library Conference,
Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC–Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia. “Celebrating the Past, Building the Future Together.”

Oct. 26:
Brick and Click: An Academic Library Symposium,
Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville.

Nov. 8–9:
Symposium on Diversity in LIS Education,
Information Policy and Access Center, University of Maryland, College Park.

Nov. 13–15:
Pacific Island Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums,
Annual Conference, Holiday Resort and Spa, Guam.

Feb. 12–15:
2nd International Conference of Academic Libraries,
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India. “Academic Library Services through Cloud Computing: Moving Libraries to the Web.”

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Books & Reading

Alan Moore's Fashion Beast is the comic book adaptation of an unpublished, unfilmed screenplay he wrote with Sex Pistols svengali Malcolm McLarenReasons to get jazzed about comic books this fall
Cyriaque Lamar writes: “Can you feel a nip in the air? We sure as heck can’t, because it’s still August and hotter than the Twilight Sword of Surtur the fire demon. But when the weather turns, these titles will be landing in your neighborhood comic shop. What weirdness is coming out this fall? Alan Moore’s collaboration (Fashion Beast) with Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, Mike Allred drawing Ant-Man, Grant Morrison penning a blue pony, and much more.”...
io9, Aug. 17

Illustration from Dirt Candy: Blend, strain, chillThe first graphic novel cookbook
Emily Weinstein writes: “Just as Amanda Cohen’s four-year-old East Village restaurant, Dirt Candy, shrugs off the conventions of the typical vegetarian restaurant, so does her cookbook, which was released August 21 and takes the form of a graphic novel. Dirt Candy (Clarkson Potter) is not a straight cookbook, nor is it a memoir. Instead, it’s a transparent, sometimes triumphant, more often self-deprecating look at how the restaurant runs, complete with recipes.”...
New York Times: Diner’s Journal, Aug. 16

Cover of Tera Lynn Childs's Just for FinsHot trend in YA fiction: Mermaids
Michael Ann Dobbs writes: “YA books, like everything else for teens, are subject to the whims of trends and fashion. Remember when they were all about vampires? Or all about magical boarding schools? Those trends are all in the past—and they’ve been replaced by some sexy amphibian angst. The mermaid genre may have reached a critical mass this summer. There have been 17 mermaid books so far in 2012. So what do the books in this year’s mermaid boom have in common?”...
io9, Aug. 21

Donkey Ears, an illustration from Thackeray's Vanity FairHow to read a Victorian novel
Rohan Maitzen writes: “First of all, don’t listen to anyone who tells you not to. Middlemarch ‘kills book clubs’? Please! Unlike some highly regarded classics, these novels were written to be read—by all of us. But you do need to be properly equipped. Bring both your head and your heart: These are books that want you thinking and feeling. While you’re at it, stock up on tissues. You may, like Oscar Wilde, consider yourself too sophisticated to cry at the sentimental bits, but you never know.”...
Novel Readings: Notes on Literature and Criticism, May 17, Aug. 3

Moss growing on books in the Jardin de la ConnaissanceThe garden of decaying books
The Jardin de la Connaissance (Garden of Knowledge) was established in the historic Reford Gardens at Grand-Métis, Québec, in June 2010 by Berlin landscape architect Thilo Folkerts of 100 Landschaftsarchitektur and Canadian artist Rodney LaTourelle. Books were piled up to create walls, rooms, and seats that are slowly rotting to become part of the forest. The book structures are now sprouting enormous orange mushrooms, and this year the designers introduced moss....
Dezeen Magazine, Aug. 15

1925 ad for The Great GatsbyVintage ads for classic books
Emily Temple writes: “Recently, we stumbled across an original advertisement for ‘Scott Fitzgerald’s new novel The Great Gatsbydiscovered in a 1925 issue of the Princetonian. Though printed ads for books aren’t very common anymore—at least outside of paper book reviews—they used to be all the rage. Charmed by the pencil sketch of Fitzgerald, and by the whole idea of book ads in general interest publications, we dug around for a few more vintage advertisements for classic books.”...
Flavorwire, Aug. 19; The Literary Man, Aug. 7

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Tips & Ideas

Screenshot of Westport Library's Maker SpaceLibraries as maker spaces
This summer, the Westport (Conn.) Library launched a maker space (1:15) featuring a 3D printer that prints objects from digital files. Run by maker-in-residence Joseph Schott (2:15), the space has big plans for desktop fabrication, open source hardware projects, and whatever other ideas local makers may want to pursue. One of Schott’s first projects was overseeing construction of two wooden model Gee Bee No. 11 planes that will hang from the ceiling of the library’s Great Hall. Other maker-space libraries are the Fayetteville (N.Y.) Free Library, the Cleveland Public Library, and even the Morrrill Public Library in Hiawatha, Kansas, which features a hand-operated die-cutting machine....
Shareable, July 25; YouTube, June 5, Aug. 16; Westport (Conn.) News, July 3; Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 14

SparkTruck and its maker-enablers, Didi, Eugene, Jason, RachelSparkTruck: Taking making on the road
Derek Attig writes: “Dreamed up by a group of Stanford design school students and funded through Kickstarter, SparkTruck is a mobile maker space currently traveling across the United States. At schools and summer camps and libraries around the country, the SparkTruck team offers workshops to help kids ‘find their inner maker’ as they design and build projects like stamps, stop-motion animation clips, and vibrobots.” Watch the video presentation (5:50)....
Boing Boing, Aug. 20; YouTube, May 30

150 residents of Georgetown County, South Carolina, attended the first-ever county library's job fair July 14, where they met potential employers, practiced writing resumes and getting interviewed, and studied mannequins in a business fashion show courtesy of local clothing stores.Eureka moments at a library-hosted job fair
Dwight McInvaill, director of Georgetown County (S.C.) Library, writes: “Eureka moments are good ones, aren’t they? In a flash, an idea leaps a gap, becomes a reality, and helps to solve problems. Hosting our first job fair at the Georgetown County Library of South Carolina July 14 was a wonderful instance of such success. We had an auditorium filled with employers, résumé-writing classes, and practice interview sessions. Some folks left with jobs; others with knowledge; more with renewed self-confidence.” Funding came from the IMLS Grants to States program, and a “Smart investing @ your library” grant made possible by the FINRA Foundation and ALA....
UpNext: The IMLS Blog, Aug. 15

Public library closures: 2010 update
Walt Crawford writes: “When I researched apparent public library closures, first as reported in the 2008 and 2009 IMLS tables (PDF file), then with Will Kurt’s assistance for 1998 through 2009 (PDF file), I was pleased to find that very few public libraries actually closed and stayed closed. But I was nervous about FY2010, which for most of the country should have been the year that the recession hit the hardest. I’m happy to say that the answer is no. In all, eight libraries (not branches) and agencies reported closure, while there were 18 new libraries and agencies—and 11 libraries and agencies not previously reported.”...
Cites & Insights 12, no. 8 (Sept.)

August 22 image from San Diego Public Library webcamWatch the new San Diego Central Library go up
Groundbreaking for the new San Diego (Calif.) Central Library took place on July 28, 2010, and much progress has been made since then. You can monitor the activity using this elaborate webcam. Megapixel images are updated every 15 minutes and archived for remote viewing. Click on the navigation tools at the left to select a view, then zoom in or out and direct the camera. If you want to travel back in time, click on a date on the calendar and watch the day change....
City of San Diego

Vatican City as seen by a satellite view in Google Maps11 fascinating facts about Google Maps
Matt Petronzio writes: “How much data has Google Maps accumulated? Combining satellite, aerial, and street-level imagery, Google Maps has over 20 petabytes of data, which is equal to approximately 21 million gigabytes, or around 20,500 terabytes. How often are the images updated? Depending on data availability, aerial and satellite images are updated every two weeks.”...
Mashable, Aug. 22

Why are academic libraries getting the short end of the stick?
Jessica Olin writes: “I read an article by John J. Regazzi a short while ago, and I can’t stop thinking about it. The gist of his piece, ‘Comparing Academic Library Spending with Public Libraries, Public K–12 Schools, Higher Education Public Institutions, and Public Hospitals between 1998–2008,’ is that academic libraries are getting the shortest possible end of the budget stick. Not only are we worse off than we were 10 years ago, we’re worse off than any other category he considered. Here are my thoughts.”...
Letters to a Young Librarian, Aug. 21; Journal of Academic Librarianship 38, no. 4 (July): 205–216

Do your employees properly care for their professional monkeys?Tame the monkeys in your library
Steve Matthews writes: “One of the best lessons I ever learned regarding management was to keep the monkey on whomever’s back it belongs. Sounds like good advice, but let me explain exactly what that means, and why it is an important lesson to learn. John steps into your office and says; ‘Boss, we have a problem.’ and your initial reaction is, ‘I’ll fix it.’ Instead, require John’s monkey to stay on his back, but let him know you’re there to help him figure out how to care for it.”...
21st Century Library Blog, Aug. 16

Every kid in the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Reading Program received one of these coveted bagsLearning from Summer Reading
Eva Mitnick writes: “The Los Angeles Public Library’s Summer Reading Program ended August 11 after nine wild weeks. Almost all the children’s librarians at our 72 branches and Central Library reported record numbers of kids registering for the club and attending events. Was it the heat? The lack of summer school? The awesomeness of our SRP? Here is how we are evaluating our Summer Reading Program.”...
ALSC Blog, Aug. 17

How to write a Wikipedia article (it’s easy)
Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Sue Gardner writes: “Lots of Wikipedians are savants, geniuses, boffins. I am not, but I’m a pretty good Wikipedia contributor anyway—and you could be too. The purpose of this post is to show you how. I usually start writing an article because I stumble across something interesting somewhere and want to find out more about it. If Wikipedia doesn’t already have an article, I’ll start one.”...
Sue Gardner’s Blog, Aug. 15

Simple English Wikipedia logoA simple trick to understand complex Wikipedia entries
Paul Sawers writes: “Like it or not, Wikipedia has evolved into a major go-to destination for those in search of knowledge. But what about topics that go way over your head? Or what if they simply go into too much depth, or assume a little too much prior knowledge? That’s where Simple English Wikipedia comes in. Using fewer words and adopting easier grammar, Simple Wikipedia articles are a very good way of coming to grips with complex subjects. Just swap the ‘en’ prefix to ‘simple’ in the URL.”...
The Next Web: LifeHacks, Aug. 17

The library vanishes, again
Barbara Fister writes: “Thanks to my membership in the Library Society of the World, an anarchic group of librarians who pay no dues and have no rules (my people!), I get useful information (and many moments of laughter and delight) on a regular basis. Two bits of recent news made me think about how quickly things can change in the mostly digital library: EBSCO’s dispute with The Economist, and the disappearance of ERIC documents online.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Babel Fish, Aug. 20

Facebook list managementA complete guide to Facebook lists
Amy-Mae Elliott writes: “Facebook’s Lists functionality started as a way to help manage privacy, but since the launch of Subscribe, Lists have become a way to better organize groups of friends and see content in your stream based on your interests. If you’re a little confused about how to make the most of these useful features, consider these walk-throughs. Whether you want to find interesting public lists to subscribe to, set up a private list of friends, or better manage Facebook’s default Smart Lists, these tutorials should help you out.”...
Mashable, Aug. 17

Three generations of welcome brochures for the Alachua County Library DistrictThe evolution of a library welcome brochure
Scot Sterling writes: “In mid-2011, the Alachua County Library District in Gainesville, Florida, began running low on our long-used welcome brochure. Since we had used it for so long, we wanted to take the opportunity to update some of the language regarding services and basic information. But before that happened, content writers wanted to get a sense of what kind of space there would be for the text. Before I could begin designing it, I needed to know what their presentation and content expectations were.”...
Library Graphic Design, Aug. 15

GeneaWebinars.comRoundup of genealogy webinar providers
Marian Pierre-Louis writes: “There are so many great webinar offerings these days that I thought I would provide a roundup of all the individuals and groups providing genealogy webinars. Some charge a small fee for webinars, but many are free. Either way, it’s a great way to get some tips and to jump start your genealogy.”...
Marian’s Roots & Rambles, Aug. 14

Comedian Phyllis Diller's obituary ran prominently in the New York Times on August 20. Photo by Allan Warren, used CC BY-SA 3.0Sociologist used 100 years of obits as cultural barometer
University of South Carolina sociologist Patrick Nolan decided to test the notion that public fascination with celebrities had grown during the 20th century, while interest in scientists, inventors, industrialists, and religious figures had waned. Using the New York Times obituaries as a cultural barometer, he analyzed the obits from 1900 to 2000. Obits of entertainers and athletes steadily rose in rank across the 20th century, moving from 7th in 1900, to 5th in 1925, up to 3rd in 1950, and 1st in 1975 and 2000, at which point they accounted for 28% of all the death notices....
University of South Carolina, Aug. 14; Sociation Today 10, no. 1 (Spring/Summer)

Screenshot from RMIT University videoWhat’s a library database?
This animated video (1:56) from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, offers a lucid explanation of what academic journals and databases are, from a student’s perspective. “If you use academic journals, you’ll get better marks than if you use Wikipedia or a random website you found on Google.”...
YouTube, Aug. 13

Twilight SparkleTwilight Sparkle as librarian: An assessment
John Farrier writes: “In the ‘Return of Harmony’ episodes (aired September 2011) of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, an animated series on The Hub network, the demon Discord threatens to destroy Equestria. The hero of the tale is Twilight Sparkle (right), a unicorn pony and the librarian of Ponyville. Twilight is left to find the means to defeat the demon, so she runs to her library and searches her collection for the answer. She is undoubtedly intelligent, considerate, and brave. But is Twilight, from a professional’s point of view, an effective librarian?”...
Neatorama, Aug. 14

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