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Division News| Awards & Grants | Libraries in the News
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Great Libraries of the World | Digital Library of the Week | Calendar

The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | August 29, 2012

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American Libraries Online

A longer version of this story first appeared in Pre- & Post-Retirement Tips for Librarians (ALA Editions, 2011), edited by Carol SmallwoodWorking part-time after retirement
Rita Marsales writes: “I enjoyed the 40-plus years I spent working in an academic library, but before I knew it, I was 68 and past due for retirement in 2004. I enjoyed relaxing and traveling for a while, but when an old friend called to ask if I would be interested in helping out with cataloging a gift collection at his library, located in a prestigious art museum, I chose to return to work. The advantages? I set my own hours within the allotted time per week and take vacation or a day off whenever I want.”...
American Libraries feature

Cover of Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries, by Donna L. Gilton (Scarecrow)Librarian’s Library: The library is the real school
Karen Muller writes: “Fall is back-to-school time, and with this gathering of recent books, we explore the educational role of libraries. As our economy has become more information based, information literacy, in turn, has become a key life skill and a necessary building block for ongoing learning. In Lifelong Learning in Public Libraries: Principles, Programs, and People, Donna L. Gilton explores the principles of information literacy instruction and provides a framework for implementing programs in public libraries.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

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ALA Editions

ALA News

Top portion of the Support Your Local Library infographicThis picture is worth 1,000 words
Kathy Dempsey writes: “Look at this new Support Your Local Library infographic from StateStats. It was created in conjunction with statistics provided by ALA and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It tells so many stories about today’s libraries, including both their successes and their needs. I hope you’ll share it widely—on your website, with your Friends and trustees, your local and state associations, your city and county managers, and other stakeholders and voters. I especially like that it has linked sources at the bottom.”...
The ‘M’ Word: Marketing Libraries, Aug. 22

Screenshot from Banned Books timeline30 years of liberating literature
Since 1982, Banned Books Week has rallied librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, teachers, and readers of all types to celebrate and defend the freedom to read. As ALA commemorates 30 years of Banned Books Week and enters its 31st year of protecting readers’ rights, the Office for Intellectual Freedom has launched a timeline of significant banned and challenged books. Also, OIF will highlight one book from the timeline each day leading up to Banned Books Week. On August 29, the featured title is Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five....
OIF Blog, Aug. 29

Barney Rosset, New York City, 1958ALA to partner with the Chicago Humanities Festival
As part of ALA’s ongoing Banned Books Week–related festivities, the Office for Intellectual Freedom will cosponsor “The Case for Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer” at the Chicago Humanities Festival. The program will take place on November 11 at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Loren Glass will recount how the late Barney Rosset (right) and his fledgling Grove Press led the charge against censorship of works by William S. Burroughs, D. H. Lawrence, and Henry Miller in the 1960s by helping to redefine the parameters of obscenity....
OIF Blog, Aug. 28

International Games Day @ your library 2012 logoLibrary players line up for International Games Day
Almost 600 libraries are already signed up for International Games Day @ your library (IGD12), which will take place on November 3, and the increased international interest is easy to spot on the interactive map, which is current as of August 19. Registration is still open....
International Games Day @ your library, Aug. 24

Help patrons plan for retirement @ your library
In recent years, libraries have become increasingly visible when it comes to issues of financial planning and education. As more and more baby boomers reach retirement age, an increasing number of libraries are offering new financial services for this key demographic. Smart Investing @ your library, which is administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Investor Education Foundation and RUSA, provides ideas on how to offer financial literacy programming to patrons....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Aug. 28

Cover of Managing Electronic ResourcesA guide to managing electronic resources
Electronic resource management encompasses much more than turning on and off resources and tracking usage. Managing Electronic Resources, edited by Ryan O. Weir, helps librarians tackle their workload while saving time, effort and money. The book contains a host of innovative ideas to help get the job done with greater ease, including how to track and assign staff tasks electronically, accumulate and assimilate information from departmental and interdepartmental meetings, manage correspondence, track renewals, and evaluate and negotiate license agreements....
ALA TechSource, Aug. 28

Sarah SteinerHow to harness social media in reference
A new session of the eCourse “Reference through Social Media: Developing Standards, Guidelines, and Policies” is being offered on October 29. Taught by Sarah Steiner (right), the three-week course will guide students in writing useful, concise, legally sound standards and guidelines for providing reference through social media. Steiner offers a solid foundation of best practices and practical advice on implementation and ongoing assessment. Registration is open...
ALA Editions, Aug. 28

TechSource Workshop logoDavid Lee King on designing effective websites
The popular workshop “Building the Digital Branch: Designing Effective Library Websiteswill be offered once again on October 10. Instructor David Lee King once again takes students through the process of building an effective, user-friendly website that will expand and enhance your library’s presence in the community. Registration is open....
ALA TechSource, Aug. 28

Diane KovacsDiscover what open source software can do for you
Open source software offers libraries the opportunity to save money and maintain a degree of flexibility and control that they may not get with proprietary programs. In “Open Source Software for Libraries: How It Works; What It Can Do for You,” experienced technology trainers Diane Kovacs (right) and Diane Adler will explore what open source means, the open source movement, and its implications and many applications for libraries and librarians. Registration is open for the four-week e-course, which begins October 15....
ALA Editions, Aug. 28

Cover of Introduction to Information ScienceIntroduction to Information Science
Leading international scholars offer a global perspective on the discipline in Introduction to Information Science, published by Neal-Schuman Publishers and designed to be the standard text for students worldwide. Authors David Bawden and Lyn Robinson guide students of information science, information and knowledge management, librarianship, and archives and records management through each of the essential building blocks from the foundations of the profession to its changing contexts, including publishing, e-science, and digital humanities....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Aug. 28

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Cover of ComancheFeatured review: Adult western
Brand, Max. Comanche. Oct. 2012. 256p. Five Star, hardcover (978-1-4328-2609-3).
With all its pulp weaknesses, Comanche is compelling, unusual, and, even though it first appeared in 1926, fresh. Andrew Apperley and his younger brother, David, are floating down the Hudson River when they witness a prison break. Soon the infamous Single Jack Deems is swimming for his life, police boats behind him, but then Andrew’s savage wolf-dog, Comanche, rescues the criminal. On a whim, struck by Single Jack’s bravery and his dog’s singular behavior, Andrew hides Single Jack from the police. Move to Brand’s somewhat abstract West (he wrote most of his westerns from an Italian villa), where Andrew has established a great cattle empire, threatened only by Alex Shoddress, a slick rustler with the town of Yeoville in thrall. Young David, a lawyer who has yet to do anything useful in life, decides to take on Shoddress despite his hired guns and corrupted judge....

Graphic of Top 10 WesternsTop 10 westerns: 2012
Bill Ott writes: “In the last two years, the western has been reinventing itself in multiple forms, two of which—steampunk and cowboy romance—are represented on this top 10 list, bellying up to the saloon bar with a fine assortment of traditional westerns, some reissues, some originals.”...

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

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Division News

Women's Leadership Institute logoRegister for the 2012 Women’s Leadership Institute
ACRL is collaborating with higher education associations to offer the 2012 Women’s Leadership Institute. This year’s institute will be held November 27–30 in Dana Point, California, and December 2–5 in Amelia Island, Florida. The discounted early-bird registration deadline for the institute is October 17 for the California program and October 24 for the Florida program. Complete program details, cosponsors, and a link to registration materials are available on the institute website....
ACRL, Aug. 27

Kristin FontichiaroTransliteracy takes center stage at AASL Fall Forum
Kristin Fontichiaro (right) and R. David Lankes will join media studies scholar Henry Jenkins at Transliteracy and the School Library Program during the 2012 AASL Fall Forum, October 12–13, in Greenville, South Carolina. The presenters will provide a comprehensive overview of the importance of participatory culture in education. Their presentations will be simultaneously broadcast to participating satellite sites in Doylestown and Homestead, Pennsylvania; Richardson, Texas; and San Jose, California. Register online....
AASL, Aug. 28

Literacy in Learning Exchange logoLiteracy resources for school librarians
AASL has joined 30 other stakeholder groups representing educational, school, and community leaders in support of the new National Center for Literacy Education. As a result of this collaboration, AASL members have the opportunity to join two networks focused on working collaboratively to strengthen literacy practices and professional learning: the free Literacy in Learning Exchange website, and the NCLE SmartBrief, a free twice-weekly news service....
AASL, Aug. 27

Carol TilleyCarol Tilley to present paper on comics
A YALSA jury has chosen Carol Tilley (right), assistant professor at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, to present a paper at YALSA’s “Trends in YA Services” session at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting. Tilley’s paper is titled “Comics: A Once-Missed Opportunity.” The event is hosted by YALSA past presidents and will be held on January 26....
YALSA, Aug. 27

School Library Research logoNew articles available in School Library Research
Three new research articles are now available online as part of AASL’s research journal, School Library Research. Karla Krueger studies “The Status of Statewide Subscription Databases,” Renee Franklin Hill documents “Strengths and Opportunities: School Librarians Serving Students with Special Needs in Central New York State,” and Ross Todd reports on “School Libraries and the Development of Intellectual Agency: Evidence from New Jersey.”...
AASL, Aug. 28

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Awards & Grants

Cover of Zazen2012 PEN Literary Awards
The PEN American Center has announced the winners and runners-up of the 2012 PEN Awards, the most comprehensive literary awards program in the US. This year marks PEN’s 90th anniversary. The winner of the PEN Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, Founded by Barbara Kingsolver ($25,000) was Susan Nussbaum, for Good Kings Bad Kings (unpublished), and the winner of the PEN Robert W. Bingham Prize ($25,000) went to Vanessa Veselka for Zazen (Red Lemonade, 2011)....
Daily PEN American, Aug. 28

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Libraries in the News

Bertha Pleasant WilliamsHistoric marker for first black librarian in Alabama
The Montgomery City-County (Ala.) Public Library will hold an unveiling ceremony for its historic marker commemorating the contributions of Bertha Pleasant Williams, the first black professional librarian in Montgomery and in Alabama, on August 30 at its Rosa L. Parks Avenue branch. A 1948 graduate of Atlanta University, Williams worked for the Montgomery library system for 21 years and helped establish the Union Street Library, the first public library in Montgomery for African Americans....
Montgomery City-County (Ala.) Public Library, Aug. 24

Jo Anne MondowneyDetroit library director reinstated
The Detroit Public Library board reinstated its ousted executive director August 23 and moved to extend her contract for a year. In May, three members of the library board had placed Jo Anne Mondowney on paid administrative leave, saying she mismanaged the system that closed two branches and cut 81 jobs through layoffs, retirements, and other departures in 2011. But the other four board members have now voted to offer her another year in the $156,000 position, arguing she has done a good job....
Detroit News, Aug. 24

Seattle People's LibrarySeattle People’s Library fills in during a week of closures
Seattle Public Libraries are closed citywide all this week for a budget-saving unpaid furlough period. But a group of activists has stepped up to try to fill the void in the Central District, building the Seattle People’s Library on the steps of the Douglass-Truth branch. Organizers were able to pull together a respectable (and growing) book collection, a couple of computers with internet access, free public Wi-Fi and a packed schedule of music and children’s storytime readings....
Seattle Central District News, Aug. 27

J. Erik Jonsson Central Library of Dallas Public LibraryCuts stop, but damage to Dallas libraries already done
Eric Nicholson writes: “Dallas Public Library’s budget has been sliced in half since peaking at $36 million in 2007. The hemorrhaging seems to be over now, with the city promising to keep libraries open for 40 hours per week and add $1 million to its paltry budget for new materials. It’s a good start, but a lot of damage has been done: What was a quiet place to go on the weekend to find that book you’d been wanting to read is now the place that’s locked tight every time you go and doesn’t have the book anyway.”...
Dallas Observer, Aug. 28

Bilbary ebook sales could help British library reopen
A leading book retailer plans to help save the Kensal Rise Library in London by raising money through ebooks. The library, opened by Mark Twain in 1900, was shut by Brent council despite a campaign to save it that was backed by such authors as Philip Pullman and Zadie Smith. Now former Waterstones boss Tim Coates is offering the Friends of Kensal Rise Library a share of the profits from his Bilbary ebook lending service....
London Evening Standard, Aug. 24

Isabella Policarpo with some of the books she read this summer. Photo by Milena PolicarpoSix-year-old reads 400 books to meet Yankee outfielder
Six-year-old Isabella Policarpo learned to read two years ago, and she hasn’t stopped since. Over the summer, the soon-to-be-first-grader read 413 books—most of them borrowed from New York Public Library’s Todt Hill-Westerleigh branch—making her Staten Island’s top children’s reader in the library’s Summer Reading program. For that achievement, she (and other top readers from Manhattan and the Bronx) will get to step on the field at Yankee Stadium and meet with outfielder Curtis Granderson....
Staten Island (N.Y.) Advance, Aug. 28

Archivists work in the stacks of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum's temporary facility in Lewisville, TexasGeorge W. Bush Library to open in April
In April 2013, the long-awaited George W. Bush Presidential Center will open to the public on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Former President George W. Bush and the Bush Foundation have worked closely with SMU to make this center—comprised of the library, museum, and independent institute—a reality. The library will archive every photograph, document, and email pertaining to the Bush administration—more electronic data (80 terabytes) than all of the other presidential libraries combined....
Pegasus News, Aug. 27

Hyannis man indicted for book theft
A Hyannis, Massachusetts, man was indicted August 24 in Barnstable Superior Court on charges related to the theft of books from several Cape Cod libraries. Arthur Souza was charged with multiple counts of larceny and receiving stolen goods. Investigators allege that Souza stole books from libraries and sold them to an antiques dealer, who then sold them on eBay. Some of the rare books sold for hundreds of dollars....
Hyannis (Mass.) Cape Cod Times, Aug. 27

Former library worker to change plea to guilty
Linda E. Duffy, a former library worker who initially pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing more than $800,000 from the Saugus (Mass.) Public Library, will change her plea to guilty during a September hearing in US District Court. As full-time assistant to the library director, Duffy allegedly diverted fees for overdue books and videos, as well as charitable donations (including more than $450,000 from the General Electric Foundation), into an account she controlled at Eastern Bank....
Boston Globe, Aug. 23

Carla Heideman, interim director of the Andover Public Library, with the hanging cake pansCheck out a cake pan in Kansas
A large collection is turning heads at the Great Bend (Kans.) Public Library, and it isn’t books. Over the past few months, staff members have been moving a collection of nearly 100 cake pans from a back room to the front of the library. The shiny pans—packaged in large plastic bags complete with decorating instructions—hang from a bookshelf two rows high and make a clinking noise as visitors browse through the collection. Andover (Kans.) Public Library has 75 circulating cake pans in its collection (above)....
Hutchinson (Kans.) News, Aug. 21; KWCH-TV, Wichita, Kans., Aug. 27

Upper left portion of the Jennings family tree documentRare family tree found in New Zealand
Seonaid Lewis writes: “Two librarians from Waiheke (N.Z.) Library rang to ask me if I was interested in a family tree that a customer of theirs had found in their attic. They thought we might be able to find the Jennings family that it belonged to, and if not, maybe it would be of interest to keep in our Sir George Grey Special Collections manuscript collection at Auckland Central City Library. As a family historian, this tree excited me. The first date on the tree was 1620.” The library’s call for information about the document turned up a descendant, Margot Keiller, who said the document could stay in special collections....
Kintalk Whānau Kōrero, Aug. 22; Voxy, Aug. 27

The Seville library is being demolished because it was built within a protected parkSeville demolishes new library
Bulldozers have begun to demolish a library originally intended to become a new landmark for Seville, Spain. The building, which has already cost €4 million, is being knocked down because of its position in the protected Prado de San Sebastian park. The library, part of the University of Seville, was designed in 2006 by renowned Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. But it has been contested by local residents for its violation of green zone regulations since construction began in 2008....
The Olive Press, Aug. 23

The National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina burns, August 1992Burned library symbolizes multiethnic Sarajevo
Samir Huseinovic and Zoran Arbutina write: “Some three million books and countless artifacts were destroyed when the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo was burned to the ground in August 1992 during the siege by Bosnian Serbs. It was a clear attack on the cultural identity of a people. The library was completely destroyed in the fire, along with 80% of its contents, including hundreds of original documents from the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.”...
Deutsche Welle, Aug. 25

Sufi mosque library destroyed in Libya
Conservative Islamists blew up the tomb of a 16th-century Sufi scholar and ruined thousands of books in a mosque library in the Libyan city of Zliten, the latest attacks on sites in the region branded idolatrous by some sects. On August 23, the front façade of the shrine of Abd As-Salam Al-Asmar Al-Fayturi (1455?–1575) and the mosque and library of Al-Asmariya University were hit by shells....
Reuters, Aug. 25; Magharebia, Aug. 27

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Issues

Screen shot of Whoopi Goldberg reading a Shel Silverstein poemBook banning in US classrooms and libraries
Michael Winerip writes: “The YouTube videos are short, but they make their point. Whoopi Goldberg (right) spent 51 seconds reading from Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic. YA author A. S. King chose just a few pages from Catch-22. And Laini Taylor completed her excerpt from Fahrenheit 451 in three minutes. These aren’t simply the women’s best-loved works; the uploads are part of Banned Books Week, a nationwide event—now in its 30th year—held in late September that champions free access to all literature, no matter how controversial.”...
Family Circle, Sept.; YouTube, Sept. 15, 16, 23, 2011

Pennsylvania House hearing on school libraries
The Education Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives held a hearing on school libraries August 22. Its purpose was to inform the legislators about the findings and recommendations of the 2011 Pennsylvania School Library Study completed by the state board of education, as well as the status of school libraries in Pennsylvania....
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, Aug. 23

Why teens need libraries: Legislator edition
Megan Garrett writes: “If you have a passion for serving teens, advocate for them during District Days, which run through September 9—an excellent opportunity to speak directly to legislators while they are on recess. Youth ages 14–24 make up 25% of all library users and are drawn to libraries to use computers, receive help with homework, socialize, and participate in programming. Similarly, they turn to their school libraries for recreational reading, learning support, and technology access. However, critical library resources are endangered by widespread economic impacts on public and school libraries.”...
YALSA Blog, Aug. 26

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Tech Talk

Enable two-factor authentication
Whitson Gordon writes: “Two-factor authentication is one of the best things you can do to make sure your accounts don’t get hacked. Passwords, unfortunately, aren’t as secure as they used to be. Two-factor authentication is a simple feature that asks for more than just your password. It requires both ‘something you know’ (like a password) and ‘something you have’ (like your phone). Unfortunately, you can’t use it everywhere on the web just yet.”...
Lifehacker, Aug. 28

Building your own external hard driveHow to build an external hard drive
Ed Rhee writes: “External hard drives are great for storing photos, music, videos, and backup files. Not only can they be used with a PC, but also with media devices to add streaming storage, and with Wi-Fi routers as cheap storage solutions. Building your own external hard drive can sometimes be a more flexible solution than a purchase. And if you already have an old internal hard drive lying around, you can turn it into a cool external drive for as little as $10.” Watch the video (3:18)....
CNET How To, Aug. 28

Troubleshoot Blue Screens of Death
Rick Broida writes: “In recent weeks my laptop has developed the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). If you’ve ever encountered one yourself, you know that it often disappears almost instantly. So much for writing down the specific error message, which could help in troubleshooting the problem. All this brings me to BlueScreenView, a free utility that helps you investigate and diagnose the causes of BSODs.”...
PC World, Aug. 29

CPU-Z sample displayUse CPU-Z to find out computer specs
Erez Zukerman writes: “Even if you’re not overly geeky, you probably have a rough idea of how much memory and what sort of processor your computer has. But what about its other statistics? For example, do you know your RAM bus speed? This may sound esoteric, but if you’re thinking of upgrading your RAM, it’s something you need to know. Then again, if you are a serious geek, you may be in need of a tool you can tote around on a USB stick for diagnosing hardware on friends’ and colleagues’ machines. CPU-Z is a free and powerful hardware detection tool that can do just that.”...
MakeUseOf, Aug. 28

Local backup software allows you to keep incremental, versioned backups of your most important filesThe backup primer: Six ways to keep your data safe
Alex Castle writes: “How on earth can you explain the fact that so many of us don’t back up our data? Your hard drive is safe right now, but what are the odds that it will get damaged, corrupted, power-surged, hacked, stolen, flooded, burned, or earthquaked in the next year? We’ve put together a quick primer on the six forms of data backup available to you. Pick two, spend 30 minutes setting them up, and you’ll never have to worry about your data again.”...
Maximum PC, Aug. 22

Are smartphones the PCs of the future?
Sebastian Anthony thinks so: “In 10 years, tablet computers will be archaic and obsolete. Desktops and laptops too, having already begun their slide into outmoded antiquity, will soon be nothing more than dusty cupboard-dwelling relics and museum exhibits. The one form factor that will remain will be the smartphone. In a world where smartphones rule supreme and extra connectivity is provided by docking stations, there really is no hope for the PC.”...
ExtremeTech, Aug. 23

Combine all your email addresses into one Outlook.com inbox
Chris Hoffman writes: “Microsoft’s new Outlook.com allows you to see email from all your accounts in one inbox and send messages from other email addresses in one familiar interface. If you’re tired of checking multiple inboxes, try combining them.” Here’s what you need to do....
How-To Geek, Aug. 27

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E-Content

Carrie Russell in the NPR studioEbooks and libraries
More than three-quarters of the nation’s public libraries lend books electronically, a fact not widely known among the reading public. Some publishers worry that ebook borrowers don’t buy books. But a recent study suggests that among those who read books electronically, 41% of those who borrow them from the library purchased their most recent ebook. Diane Rehm Show guest host Frank Sesno and guests Carrie Russell (ALA, above), Vailey Oehkle (Multnomah County Library), Jeremy Greenfield (Digital Book World), and Allan Adler (AAP) discussed the role of ebooks in public libraries on the August 28 show. Carrie talks about her NPR experience here....
NPR: Diane Rehm Show, Aug. 28; District Dispatch, Aug. 29

DPLA logoDigital Public Library of America
Margaret Heller writes: “In this post, I want to examine what the Digital Public Library of America claims to do, and what approaches it is taking. It is still new and there are too many unanswered questions to give any sort of final answer on whether this will actually be the national digital library. Nonetheless, it seems to have sufficient traction and, perhaps more importantly, funding. So we should pay close attention to what is delivered in April 2013.”...
ACRL TechConnect Blog, Aug. 27

Ursula K. Le GuinLibraries and ebooks
Author Ursula K. Le Guin (right) writes: “It can be just as fast and easy to order an ebook from the library as to buy it online, and it costs nothing. Why would anyone buy an ebook from the publisher if the library has it for free? Why would a publisher sell ebooks to libraries? This is a legitimate, big problem, which affects authors just as much and as directly as it does libraries and publishers. It has no quick fix. To solve it will take a complete and painful rethinking and reorganization of the whole publishing industry.”...
Book View Café Blog, Aug. 27

How libraries can help publishers with discovery
Joe Wikert writes: “Why can’t the publisher-to-library sales model simply be the same as it is for every other ebook channel? The only difference is the library can only lend the ebook out to one patron at a time, just like the print version. Set a discount schedule off the publisher’s digital list price and call it a day. Some libraries might want to order one copy while others might want 10. Again, same as the print world. My friends who try to borrow ebooks from the local library seem to have one common complaint: The wait list is ridiculously long. Why not turn this problem into a benefit?”...
Tools of Change for Publishing, Aug. 27

Scanner Fuel, from the stacks at Baylor University“So, we can throw these out now, right?”
Eric Ames writes: “Recently, I attended a workshop for a topic mostly unrelated to my work in digital collections. At introduction time, I gave a nutshell view of what I do by saying my group digitizes Baylor’s special collections and makes them available online. During a break, an older gentleman approached me and asked a question I get more often than not: ‘I work at a small museum, and we’re being told to digitize our collections. Once we do, we can just throw those old papers out, right? And is a DVD a good storage solution?’”...
Baylor University Libraries Digital Collections Blog, Aug. 23

A little help from redundancy and diversity
Trevor Owens writes: “As digital preservation practitioners, we often focus on the operational aspects of our work—what I call the ‘whats’ and ‘hows’—and not enough on the ‘whys.’ We know that it’s a good idea to keep multiple copies of the content we’re preserving, and that it’s a good idea to not house all our copies in the same building, but what are the underlying concepts behind these best practices? As you can guess by the title of this post, they are redundancy and diversity.”...
The Signal: Digital Preservation, Aug. 27

The kids are alright: Making new stories
Peter Brantley writes: “There is a profound change taking place in media literacy. Rather than being riven by angst over the future of immersive narratives, younger people are delightedly swimming in a sea of diverse choices. Whenever they have access to tools, they are having a wonderful time using them. The question of whether we will have packaged, downloadable narratives or interlinked web-based structures is so much Sturm und Drang that will be answered for us. Our children are telling themselves stories with the tools we are leaving behind for them.”...
Publishers Weekly: PWxyz, Aug. 23

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Booklist Online

An affordable site license to Booklist Online lets you provide staff, faculty, students, and patrons simultaneous use of the book review source that your colleagues are raving about. Learn more about Booklist Online’s workflow enhancements not available in print or with any other selection tool. NEW! From Booklist.


Great Libraries of the World

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Archaeological Museums Library, Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey. Founded in 1891, the library contains the extensive collections of the museum’s founder, archaeologist and artist Osman Hamdi Bey, as well as specialized works in science, archaeology, the history of art, and epigraphy.

Enderûn Library, Topkapı Palace, Istanbul

Enderûn Library, Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Turkey. Built in 1719 by the royal architect Mimar Beşir Ağa on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III for use by the royal household, the library is in the shape of a Greek cross with a domed central hall and three rectangular bays. Beneath the central arch of the portico is an elaborately ornamental drinking fountain. The exterior is faced with marble and the interior walls are covered in blue china tiles. Books on theology, Islamic law, and Ottoman scholarship in Turkish, Arabic, and Persian were stored in cupboards built into the walls. Now empty, all its rare books and manuscripts were moved to the palace’s Mosque of the Ağas in 1928.

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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Digital Repository Librarian, Texas A&M University, College Station. Reporting to the Head of Digital Services & Scholarly Communication, the Digital Repository Librarian oversees the day-to-day services of the Texas A&M Digital Repository currently based on the DSpace system. The Librarian also provides basic user support for the digital publishing platforms supported by the Texas Digital Library, particularly the Open Journal System (OJS) and Open Conference System (OCS). The Librarian will maintain current knowledge of the functions and features of DSpace, OJS, and OCS and will educate both Library personnel and campus constituents about the functions and features of these systems....

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Digital Library of the Week

President Antonio López de Santa Anna

A Continent Divided: The US–Mexico War is a joint project of the Center for Greater Southwestern Studies and the Library at the University of Texas at Arlington. Initiated with a $10,000 start-up grant from UT Arlington’s College of Liberal Arts, A Continent Divided seeks to promote awareness of and scholarly activity in the US–Mexico War, a conflict which had enormous repercussions for both countries. It seeks to do so by drawing from the extensive holdings on the war in UT Arlington Library’s Special Collections. Now in its first phase, the project examines two events: the Battle of Monterrey and the Polkos Revolt. New topic units will go online as funding becomes available.

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

“We need to replace the dusty shelves and crusty books with more desks, conference rooms, and computer terminals. Computers are the new gateways to the vast sea of human knowledge, and the library’s floor plan should reflect that fact. Keep the books, but store them in an off-site depository.”

—22-year-old Harvard graduate George Hageman in an op-ed, “Seattle’s Libraries Need a Makeover for the Digital World,Seattle Times, Aug. 27.

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Bookmobiles Bring Language and Job Resources Out Into the Community

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How TV Networks Blew the 2000 Election--Twice

Great Songs: 'El Paso' and the Career of Country Music Legend Marty Robbins

The Circus Remains the Greatest Show on Earth

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Calendar

Sept. 13–14:
Northwest Interlibrary Loan and Resource Sharing Conference,
Portland (Oreg.) Community College, Sylvania Campus. “Delivering on the Discovery Expectation.”

Sept. 15:
Kansas Book Festival,
Kansas History Museum, Topeka.

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. 22–23:
National Book Festival,
National Mall between 9th and 14th Streets, Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Library of Congress.

Sept. 26–29:
Wyoming Library Association,
Annual Conference, Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Centre, Casper. “Celebrate Our Past—Create Our Future.”

Sept. 28–29:
KidLitCon,
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, New York City. Sponsored by KidLitosphere Central.

Sept. 30–
Oct. 3:

Pennsylvania Library Association,
Annual Conference, Gateway Gettysburg. “PA Libraries: Leading the Charge.”

Oct. 3–5:
Library 2.012,
Worldwide Virtual Conference, Online. Sponsored by School of Library and Information Science, San José (Calif.) State University.

Oct. 4–7:
LITA National Forum,
Hyatt Regency Downtown, Columbus, Ohio. “New World of Data: Discover. Connect. Remix.”

Oct. 7–8:
Innovation in Libraries 2012,
Postconference to LITA Forum, Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Library, Columbus, Ohio. Sponsored by OCLC.

Oct. 12–13:
AASL 2012 Fall Forum,
Greenville, South Carolina. Satellite sites in Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Homestead, Pennsylvania; Richardson, Texas; and San Jose, California.
“Transliteracy and the School Library Program.”

Oct. 12–13:
American Printing History Association,
Annual Conference, Columbia College, Chicago.

Oct. 12–14:
Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival,
Mead Public Library, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, and Bookworm Gardens, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. “Shared Stories. Shared Worlds.”

Oct. 14–16:
Arkansas Library Association,
Annual Conference, Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Springdale. “The Beat Goes On.”

Oct. 18–20:
Colorado Association of Libraries,
Conference, Keystone Resort. “Ready, Set, Go: Innovating Colorado Libraries.”

Oct. 18–21:
Access 2012 Library Technology Conference,
Centre Mont Royal Conference Center, Montreal, Quebec. “Découverte / Discovery.”

Oct. 22:
Open Access Week 2012 Kickoff Webcast,
World Bank, Washington, D.C., and online. Sponsored by Scholarly Publishing and Academic Research Coalition. “Set the Default to Open Access.

Oct. 31–
Nov. 2:

Conference of the Library and Information Community of Quebec,
Palais des congrès de Montréal. “Creating, Sharing, and Transferring Know-How.”

Nov. 7–10:
National Association for the Education of Young Children,
Annual Conference and Expo, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta. “Developmentally Appropriate Practice in the 21st Century.”

Nov. 16–18:
Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair,
Hynes Convention Center, Boston.

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Books & Reading

The Big Crunch, by Pete Hautman, can teach you that the first 48 hours are criticalAll I need to know I learned from YA fiction
Annie Schutte writes: “Do you feel it? That unique, electric blend of optimism, nervousness, and possibility that comes with knowing your immediate future is about to be skyrocketed or demolished by the perceptions of a few hundred teenagers and a handful of burned-out teachers. That’s right. The real New Year is just about to start: the new school year. But if you’re serious about turning things around, you’re going to need some advice from the oracle: young adult fiction.”...
YALSA The Hub, Aug. 28

Cover of The Popularity Papers, by Amy IgnatowDear Book Guru
Becky O’Neil writes: “The Book Guru fancies herself a sort of literary Dear Abby, offering advice on what to read and how to survive one’s teen years. The back-to-school season is one of her busiest: Is there any time of the year more fraught with worry and the unknown? Here is just a sampling from this month’s burgeoning mail bag.” ... “Dear Book Guru: I’m starting at a new middle school this year. I’ll just change myself into a new person and all will be well. Right?”...
YALSA The Hub, Aug. 21

The BookScore websiteDo you know The BookScore?
Neil Hollands writes: “In two July posts, I made the case for a better review aggregation site for the book world, a site like Rotten Tomatoes for books that collects links to reviews from several major sources, provides a blurb from those reviews, and then compiles some kind of composite score to give readers and book culture a quick window on the overall impression of reviewers about new titles. Enter a new site to the fray: The BookScore.”...
Booklist Online: Book Group Buzz, July 17, 20, Aug. 29

Cover of the first edition of Hemingway's The Sun Also RisesThe first edition covers of 25 classic books
Emily Temple writes: “Most book covers change over the years, whether minimally, correcting for modern fonts and colors, or maximally, going through radical change. We’ve collected a few first edition covers of classic books, some of which may be familiar to you—a certain blue masterpiece will be readily identifiable—though some have been replaced by much more iconic imagery or fallen out of favor.”...
Flavorwire, Aug. 27

Cover of Grand Hotel, by Vicki Baum (1930)Bestsellers of the Great Depression
The Great Depression was a tumultuous era that began with the Roaring Twenties going out with a whimper and ended with the turmoil of World War II. This period of intense hardship for many also yielded some of the most interesting and lasting literature from the previous century. The powerful themes of crashing stock markets and widespread poverty are well represented, but the Depression wasn’t just about depressing books. Each of these novels was among the top 10 bestsellers in the years spanning 1929 and 1939....
Abebooks

Contemporary authors as adjectives
Emily Temple writes: “George Orwell is one of those writers who is so infused in our collective imagination and culture that his name has become its own adjective: ‘Orwellian’ is used to describe a totalitarian government or situation similar to the one in 1984. But what about more modern writers? Here we speculate on a few (tongue-in-cheek, mind you) definitions for the adjective-ized versions of contemporary authors.” Shteyngartian, anyone? Or Gaimanesque?...
Flavorwire, Aug. 20

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Tips & Ideas

Stopping for a visit to Segulda Public Library in LatviaCycling for Libraries in the Baltics
Karen Holt and April Kessler of the University of Texas at Austin Libraries participated in the pre-IFLA Cycling for Libraries event, July 28–August 7, an 11-day bike tour and unconference through 373 miles of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia that combined library visits and lectures with healthy exercise. The 107 librarians participating were from 26 countries and work for national, public, academic, and special libraries. Karen and April describe their adventures in an ongoing series of posts....
Librarian Lifestyle, Aug. 23, 28

Library services in Latin America
UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and Reforma have collaborated on a new study on library services in Latin America. The bilingual ebook, Servicios bibliotecarios en América Latina: Tres casos prominentes / Library Services in Latin America: Three Outstanding Cases (PDF file) was published by UNAM’s Center for Bibliographic Research in December 2011. Edited by Loida García-Febo (Queens Library) and Filiberto Felipe Martínez-Arellano (UNAM), the ebook features examples of initiatives to promote libraries, community engagement, and partnerships to Latinos and Spanish-speakers....
Reforma, Aug. 27

Mitchell Wing Reading Room, State Library of New South WalesEight lovely libraries in Australia and New Zealand
Jill Harness writes: “We’ve covered the most beautiful libraries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, and South America; now it’s time to take a look at Australia and, while it isn’t technically a part of the continent, New Zealand as well.” For example, the State Library of New South Wales (right), the oldest library in Australia, houses over 5 million items, including 2 million books and 1.1 million photographs....
Mental Floss, Aug. 27

LinkedIn logoFive ways to get the most out of LinkedIn
Scott Kleinberg writes: “While LinkedIn is the place to be when looking for a job or to otherwise connect professionally, many people use it only to store their résumés. Yes, it’s good for that. But it’s also good for finding experts and ideas, meeting people in groups, staying in touch with friends and colleagues, and increasing your Klout score. Problem is, many people don’t realize that power is at their fingertips. Here are five ways to stand out and get the most out of LinkedIn.”...
Chicago Tribune, Aug. 23

Typical Tumblr userTumblrarian 101: Tumblr for libraries and librarians
Kate Tkacik writes: “Tumblr got me a job. Being intimidated by the prospect of a full-size blog, I joined Tumblr in February 2011. Since then I’ve shamelessly promoted my ‘name’ and stalked down as many libraries and librarians on the site as I could find. I’ve connected with libraries, librarians, library students, publishers, writers, readers, Doctor Who fanatics, and cat lovers. It’s an example of social media at its best and most useful.”...
Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Aug. 27

My book is almost finished, but I'm just not ready to say goodbye to these characters. Maybe if I just read the last chapter really slow...Getting more Facebook clicks
David Lee King writes: “See the ecards image on the right? Ben Bizzle had posted this to a couple of library Facebook Pages, and it was pretty successful so he asked if I could post it to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s Facebook Page. So I did, at what I thought would be a rotten time to post: 9:08 on a Thursday morning. This post became the most popular post ever.”...
David Lee King, Aug. 28

The Tiny Hidden Info Symbol TrickFive design tricks Facebook uses to make you give up your privacy
Avi Charkham writes: “Do you know how many apps access your personal information on Facebook? Check your Facebook apps permissions and get ready for a surprise. In fact, Facebook keeps improving its design so that more of us will add apps on Facebook without realizing we’re granting those apps (and their creators) access to our personal information. After all, this is the currency Facebook is trading in and what is driving its stock up or down.”...
TechCrunch, Aug. 25

Screen widget from Uncharted.fmHow well do you know Google Maps?
Keir Clarke writes: “Uncharted.fm is a great way to learn about and explore the countries of the world with Google Maps. The Uncharted.fm country quiz is very well done. The quiz takes you through progressive stages exploring different continents and parts of the world. In each stage of the quiz, users are shown a number of countries on Google Maps and told the name of each country. The user is then tested on the countries shown. Uncharted.fm isn’t just a quiz. It also contains great content about each country.”...
Google Maps Mania, Aug. 28

Logo for the aptly named to-do-list app Remember the MilkSix fantastic to-do apps for getting organized
Lauren Hockenson writes: “From executing projects at work to remembering to pick up a new toothbrush on your way home, there are so many little things that need to get done each day. But the age-old answer to this problem—the to-do list—can be a challenge in itself. Thankfully, there are many great options to bring your to-do list into the digital age. Apps offering features such as mobile updating, push notifications, and calendar integration can kick your productivity into high gear.”...
Mashable, Aug. 29

50 ways schools can use Google+ Hangouts
Jeff Dunn writes: “At its core, Google+ Hangouts is simply a souped-up version of video chat. But when it comes to education, it’s so much more than that. It becomes a vehicle for learning, sharing, collaboration, and ideas. Whether you’re an educator discussing learning practices, or a first-grade classroom speaking with an astronaut, Hangouts have seemingly endless possibilities. These are our 50 favorite ways for schools to use them.”...
Edudemic, Aug. 29

SXSW Panelpicker logoAdd librarian panels to SXSW
The deadline for choosing programming for SXSW 2013 is August 31. To vote for a session, you need to visit the PanelPicker site and create an account. Your vote helps the SXSW staff and Advisory Board know what direction to take when selecting and curating content for each new season. Ensure that information professionals have a presence at SXSW by voting for panels with librarians, curators, and archivists....
SXSW 2013; sxswLAM Facebook group

How law firm libraries recover database costs
Susannah Tredwell writes: “For most law libraries, the percentage of the library budget representing subscriptions to online databases has been increasing. Many of these subscriptions represent multiyear contracts and there is little flexibility in the contracts to accommodate budget cuts. For law firm libraries, one way of alleviating the effect of the increasing cost of these databases is to pass some of it on to clients.”...
Slaw, Aug. 28

Advice for the incoming LIS class
Andy Woodworth writes: “Right now across the country, there are new graduate students arriving in the classroom (both real and virtual) to start their academic journey towards a master’s degree in library science. I’d like to offer advice to the incoming class in the form that most commonly unsolicited counsel takes these days: a blog post from a peer in the profession. So, without further ado, here’s what I advise the newest and latest class of librarians.”...
Agnostic, Maybe, Aug. 27

Older LIS student, with appleA starter kit for older LIS students
Laura Sanders writes: “During my first year I discovered that attending library school as an older student comes with its own unique benefits and challenges. Your knowledge and skills will shape your view of the profession, but you may relate to the world quite differently than do your younger classmates. When I compare myself as a library school student to the sort of student I was during my first graduate degree, I see how my perspective and priorities have changed. I thought I would share some of my reflections with you. First off, the benefits.”...
Hack Library School, Aug. 27

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