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

The revolution isn’t just digital
Alan S. Inouye writes: “Every day we read about some upheaval in the ebook industry, a new development in digitization, or yet another service from Google. It is natural enough to focus on digital content, whiz-bang technology, and how libraries should provide innovative services for our communities. Yet for librarians, there is more going on than meets the digital eye.”...
American Libraries feature

Making new connections
Molly Raphael and Keith Michael Fiels write: “E-content offers rich and extraordinary opportunities for libraries to provide expanded access to information and to revolutionize the relationship between libraries and library users. At the same time, these new forms of digital content pose profound challenges. To help libraries adapt to this new world, activities are under way throughout the ALA to proactively address these digital content opportunities at the highest levels from both policy and practical perspectives.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, Jan. 11

Reflecting our communities
Kate Angell, Beth Evans, and Barnaby Nicolas write: “While efforts to diversify the profession have gradually improved in the past quarter-century, librarianship remains relatively monochrome. Libraries can help address the imbalance by offering internship programs that devise concrete strategies to recruit students of varying gender identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and other backgrounds. The three of us were lucky enough to be part of one such program in summer 2009 at the Brooklyn College Library.”...
American Libraries feature

The conversation starts in Dallas
Join the more than 10,000 library leaders, publishers, authors, and guests in discussions about the transformation of libraries, learn firsthand from frontline Occupy movement librarians, and engage in the excitement of Youth Media Award announcements during the ALA Midwinter Meeting January 20–24 at the Dallas Convention Center and area hotels. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit with more than 400 companies and get signed books from favorite authors....
American Libraries feature

Missouri library sued for barring Wiccan websites
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit against the Salem (Mo.) Public Library for allegedly blocking websites related to the modern Pagan religion Wicca. Salem resident Anaka Hunter said that when she tried to access websites about Wicca, Native American religions, and astrology in July 2010 for her personal research, the library’s filtering software blocked them....
AL: Censorship Watch, Jan. 11

Editor’s Letter: Treasure hunt
AL Editor and Publisher Laurie D. Borman writes: “All of you who’ve weeded a collection know the challenges I face. Former American Libraries Editor Leonard Kniffel left me a legacy: file drawers stuffed with materials from his 15 years at the helm of this magazine. As someone new to ALA and to this publication, it’s been somewhat daunting to determine what should stay and what should go. Is it a trifle or a treasure?”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

President’s Message: No longer business as usual
ALA President Molly Raphael writes: “My first ALA Midwinter Meeting was in 1976. After stimulating learning experiences at two Annual Conferences, I really wanted to get involved. Colleagues advised me that Midwinter provided the best venue to do that with its focus on ALA business meetings. ALA’s open meeting policy allowed me to observe meetings related to my interests then, for example, serving the deaf community. Now, decades later, Midwinter has evolved into a multifaceted event.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

ALA gears up for 2012 ALA election
For the fourth year in a row, ALA is holding its upcoming election exclusively online. To be eligible, individuals must be members in good standing as of January 31. Polls will open March 19 and close April 27. Gina J. Millsap and Barbara K. Stripling are the candidates for the 2013–2014 presidency. Millsap is the chief executive officer of the Topeka and Shawnee County (Kans.) Public Library. Stripling recently assumed the position of assistant professor of practice at Syracuse University, after serving as the director of School Library Services for the New York City Department of Education for seven years....
Public Information Office, Jan. 10

Get ready for an active exhibit floor at Midwinter
For those attending ALA Midwinter Meeting in Dallas January 20–24, carving out time for the exhibits is highly recommended, with its 430 exhibiting organizations, PopTop stage, and “Spotlight on Adult Literature” featuring popular authors, and the ALA Store. If you can’t register for the entire meeting, there are two other options that allow full access to the floor during exhibit hours: the Exhibits-Only pass and the Exhibits Supreme package (which also includes access to the Auditorium Speaker Series and the Wrap Up/Rev Up celebration)....
Conference Services, Jan. 10

Martin Luther King Jr. Sunrise Celebration
Oralia Garza de Cortés, past-president of Reforma and children’s literacy advocate, will deliver the call to action at the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sunrise Celebration, held during ALA’s Midwinter Meeting in Dallas. The celebration will take place 6:30–7:30 a.m. on January 23 in Room A2 of the Dallas Convention Center. The call to action allows a member of the profession to reflect on the work of Dr. King and its importance in our professional efforts....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Jan. 9

White House petition on school libraries
Carl Harvey, 2011–2012 AASL president, initiated a White House petition January 5 on school libraries, which specifically petitions the Obama administration to “ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program.” He introduced the petition as an individual, not as a representative of AASL or ALA. 25,000 signatures are required in order for this petition to be viewed by White House staff, no later than February 4....
White House, Jan. 5; Library Ties, Jan. 8

ALA welcomes FCC digital literacy initiatives
ALA welcomes recent remarks by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on the modernization of the Lifeline and Linkup programs. Genachowski underscored the commission’s continued commitment to digital literacy training to bolster broadband adoption. The ALA filed ex parte comments (PDF file) with the FCC in December, encouraging the FCC to consider using the programs to support digital literacy training. To help transition these programs from telephony to broadband, digital literacy is essential; America’s libraries are uniquely positioned to help shape the initiatives....
Office for Information Technology Policy, Jan. 10

ALA becomes authorized provider of IACET CEUs
The International Association for Continuing Education and Training has awarded ALA the prestigious Authorized Provider status. IACET Authorized Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units. The recognition period extends for five years and includes all programs offered or created during that time. “This will be a great benefit to our members, who can now receive national recognition for their participation in ALA online and face-to-face workshops,” said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels....
ALA Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Jan. 10

Save on advocacy preconferences at Midwinter
The first 50 registrants can save $25 off the combined registration cost for “Nuts and Bolts for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations” and “Mobilizing Community Support for Your Library: An Advocacy Institute Workshop” by registering by January 13. Both programs will take place January 20 at the Omni Hotel Dallas....
Office for Library Advocacy, Jan. 10

Outreach forums at Midwinter
The Office for Literacy and Outreach Services will host two forums at the 2012 Midwinter Meeting in Dallas highlighting its latest toolkits, Adult Literacy @ your library and The Small But Powerful Guide for Building Big Support for Your Rural Library, on January 22. Attendance is open to all Midwinter attendees....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Jan. 10

Emmy winner and author Sonia Manzano to open JCLC
Sonia Manzano (right) will open the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color September 19–23 in Kansas City, Missouri. Manzano was named one of the most influential Hispanics by People en Español for her work playing Maria on Sesame Street, a role she’s held since the early 1970s. She has earned 15 Emmys as a writer for that show and reached generations of children. She is also author of two children’s books and has recently published a novel, The R(E)volution of Evelyn Serrano (Scholastic)....
Office for Diversity, Jan. 10

ALA Island closes
ALA Island, the Second Life virtual world presence of the American Library Association, closed January 1. ALA is only scaling down its presence in Second Life, not abandoning it, and plans for an alternate space will be discussed at Midwinter. ALA Second Life coordinator Tina Coleman (Kay Tairov) said: “ALA is still very much planning to be involved in SL and we by all means look forward to supporting the work that our members (and the rest of the SL Library Community) are doing here.”...
Virtual Presence, Dec. 29

Free LSSC webinar
The Library Support Staff Certification Program will offer an hourlong informational webinar discussing portfolio creation January 17 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Central time. Candidates for the program have two options for completing the competency sets needed for certification: taking and passing approved courses or compiling and submitting portfolios. This presentation will focus on helping candidates create successful portfolios for submission....
ALA–Allied Professional Association, Jan. 10

Haiti libraries in need two years after earthquake
This week marks the second anniversary of the terrible earthquake in Haiti (January 12, 2010). Deborah Lazar, librarian at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, has pledged to match any gift to the ALA Haiti Library Relief Fund (up to a maximum of $5,000) through January to help rebuild the Petit Goâve Public Library (right). Some $3,000 has been raised so far. You can make a qualifying donation on the ALA website now, or send your contribution to the ALA International Relations Office....
International Relations Office

The ALA Montreal conference of 1900
Larry Nix writes: “Librarians in Canada were welcome as members of ALA from its inception, and the Association met in Montreal, June 7–12, 1900, for the first of six times in Canada (the last was in Toronto in 2003). I have a couple of artifacts in my collection from the Montreal conference—the program and a pamphlet from the Local Committee. Most of the 452 attendees were housed at the Windsor Hotel, where room and board cost only $3.00–$3.50 per day.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Jan. 9

Integrate iPads and tablets into your library services
ALA TechSource is offering a new session of the popular workshop “Integrating iPads and Tablet Computers into Library Services.” Tablets offer major potential for library services, including the ability to increase productivity and improve your library’s programs in such areas as reference services, collection management, and library instruction. In this two-part workshop on March 8 and 15, Virginia Tech librarians Rebecca Miller, Heather Moorefield-Lang, and Carolyn Meier will share their experiences in building a tablet program....
ALA TechSource, Jan. 10

New workshop will show how to serve deaf patrons
ALA Editions announces “Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library,” a new two-part workshop with Kathy MacMillan that will take place on February 22 and 29. MacMillan, librarian and certified American Sign Language interpreter, will guide you in making your library a welcoming place for deaf people. You will gain an understanding of deaf culture, learn several useful library-related signs, and be ready to work confidently with interpreters for your programs....
ALA Editions, Jan. 10

A guide to library grant money
Sometimes a grant can make the difference between maintaining or cutting services, especially at a time when no institution is immune from the budget crunch. Completely overhauled since its last edition, The ALA Book of Library Grant Money remains the gold standard for locating sources of funding. It’s edited by Ann Kepler, veteran editor of trade, educational, and reference books, and author of more than a dozen books....
ALA Editions, Jan. 11

New guide to using and managing ebooks
With their explosive sales and widespread availability over the past few years, ebooks have definitively proven that they are here to stay. In No Shelf Required 2: Use and Management of Electronic Books, the sequel to her earlier book published by ALA Editions, ebook expert Sue Polanka dives even deeper into the world of digital distribution. Contributors from across the ebook world offer their perspectives on what’s happening now and what to expect in the coming months and years....
ALA Editions, Jan. 9

Be on the lookout for large groups of hungry librarians
Scott Reitz writes: “American Libraries has just posted a Dallas dining guide for librarians. Ever wanted to know where your most bookish counterparts dine? If they’re near the convention center, Wild Salsa, Iron Cactus, Truluck’s, and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen are recommended. Mi Cocina is on the list, but a smart librarian would head north just a touch and check out Mr. Mesero. I hear they’re up to great things.”...
Dallas Observer, Jan. 5; American Libraries feature

Got coupons?
The Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered with restaurants, attractions, and stores to provide discounts to city visitors. Your ALA convention badge or special event ticket is all you need to redeem these coupons. Use the PDF files on this site to print out the coupons....
Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau

African American Museum
The African American Museum, 3536 Grand Avenue, was founded in 1974 as a part of the special collections at Bishop College, a Historically Black College that closed in 1988. The museum has operated independently since 1979 and is the only one in the Southwest devoted to the preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural, and historical materials....
African American Museum

Museum of Nature and Science
Next door to the African American Museum in Fair Park, the Museum of Nature and Science is the result of the 2006 mergers of the Dallas Museum of Natural History, The Science Place, and the Dallas Children’s Museum. Current exhibits include Planet Shark (right), Dino Dig, and winners of the 2009 and 2010 Trinity River Photo Contest. Its collections include one of the largest scientific collections of birds in Texas. The museum’s Edmund W. Mudge Jr. Library of Ornithology is one of the most important and valuable illustrated bird libraries in the United States....
Museum of Nature and Science

The Dallas Pedestrian Network
The Dallas Pedestrian Network is a system of grade-separated walkways covering 36 city blocks of downtown Dallas. The system connects buildings, garages, and parks through underground tunnels and above-ground skybridges. It features an underground city of shops, restaurants, and offices during weekday business hours. Because the network was built over several years by private developers, there is no governing authority to ensure a consistent experience under or above ground, and wayfinding is subpar. One major entrance is at Thanks-Giving Square....
Wikipedia; Noah Jeppson

Reunion Tower
One of the tallest buildings in Dallas, Reunion Tower was built in 1978 as part of an urban redevelopment project that included the adjacent Union Station. Now attached to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the 561-foot tower is topped with a geodesic dome that is lit up at night with hundreds of newly installed multicolored lights (watch the video, 1:03) that flash in computer-generated patterns. Unfortunately, the observation deck has been closed since 2007, but views are available from the rotating Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Five Sixty, at the very top level....
Wikipedia; Reunion Tower; Dallas Morning News, Jan. 3

Shopping the exhibit hall
Whether it’s ALA, the Medical Library Association, or Computers in Libraries, grocery store advice applies to any conference exhibit—and maybe to the whole conference itself. Different conferences are like different groceries. Make the most of your time by bringing a list and following it, take away only what you will use, keep track of your time so you don’t miss all the educational and social opportunities available to you, and don’t go hungry....
ReferencePoint, Dec. 28

ITAL goes online and open access
LITA has announced that Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) will become an open-access, electronic-only publication, beginning with the March 2012 issue (vol. 31, no. 1). This change will help ensure the long-term viability of the journal by making it more accessible, more current, more relevant, and more environmentally friendly. The complete electronic archive of ITAL and its predecessor, Journal of Library Automation, will also be made available online....
LITA Blog, Jan. 10

Steve Berry named Preservation Week 2012 national spokesman
New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry (right) has been named the first national spokesperson for Preservation Week (April 22–28). Berry will make an appearance at the Midwinter Meeting in Dallas and will keynote the Preservation Week 2012 Kick Off on January 23. A devoted student of history, Berry and his wife, Elizabeth, founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization that aids preservation....
ALCTS, Jan. 10

ACRL visual literacy standards
The new Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education have been published by ACRL. The standards provide, for the first time, a common framework for visual literacy learning in higher education. The learning outcomes included in the standards offer new opportunities for visual literacy teaching and assessment, and support efforts to develop measurable improvements in student visual literacy....
ACRL Visual Literacy Standards, Jan. 4

Facebook Forum to help answer Every Child Ready to Read questions
PLA and ALSC will host a live, hourlong Facebook Forum with guest Saroj Ghoting, early childhood literacy consultant. No registration is necessary. Visit the Every Child Ready to Read Facebook page at 1 p.m. Central time on January 18. The companion ECRR webinar, “Every Child Ready to Read: New Conversations on Research, Relationships and Partnerships,” with consultant Elaine Meyers, will be offered beginning February 16. ECRR’s 2nd edition toolkit includes a series of customizable workshops....
PLA, ALSC, Jan. 10

Early-bird registration for PLA 2012 ends January 13
There are only a few days left for early-bird savings on registration for the 2012 PLA Conference in Philadelphia March 13–17. The early-bird registration deadline is January 13. Keynote speakers will include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Betty White. Eleven preconferences will tackle topics like media relations, leadership, and grant writing....
PLA, Jan. 10

Henry Jenkins anchors AASL Fall Forum
Henry Jenkins (right) will be the keynote speaker and primary facilitator of AASL’s 2012 Fall Forum. Author and editor of more than a dozen books on media and popular culture, Jenkins will present his ideas and research during the two-day forum, October 12–13, in Greenville, South Carolina. In an environment of increasingly pervasive digital content, Jenkins is considered one of the first media scholars to chart the effects of participatory media on society, politics, and culture....
AASL, Jan. 10

Kausch named YALSA 2012 board fellow
YALSA chose Carrie Kausch (right), librarian at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Virginia, as its inaugural board fellow. The YALSA Board Fellow program gives one member an expanded opportunity to be involved in the leadership of the division. Kausch will begin serving as board fellow in June 2012. YALSA will accept applications for the 2013 program through December 1....
YALSA, Jan. 9

Win $250 for your great idea
Through March 16, YALSA will accept innovative ideas from its members for its Great Ideas Contest. YALSA members can submit ideas that help the division meet goals laid out in its most recent strategic plan. To apply, visit the Great Ideas page and download the official application. Winners will be announced the week of April 23 and will have their photo and idea featured in YALSA E-News, YALSA’s email newsletter....
YALSA, Jan. 10

YALSA still collecting for Books for Teens
After a December fundraising drive that was aided by a matching gift from an anonymous donor, YALSA raised more than $1,200 for its Books for Teens initiative. Donations can still be made through the Books for Teens Causes page, on Facebook, or through the ALA fundraising page (select ALA Divisions and Offices and scroll down to YALSA, then select Books for Teens)....
YALSA, Jan. 9

January YA Forum: Serving religious teens
YALSA is featuring services to religious teens in its January YA Forum discussion. Sarah Holtkamp and Jennifer Lowe discuss how to connect religious teens with materials, what is implied by “clean reads,” and how to help teens when there is a scarcity of material. Throughout the week, YALSA members are encouraged to check in to the forum, ask questions, and contribute to the ongoing discussion. The forum will close at 3 p.m. Eastern time on January 13....
YALSA, Jan. 9

Go back to the Top

Stonewall Book Awards fundraising campaign launched
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table has announced a new fundraising campaign to support the Stonewall Book Awards program, the first and most enduring award for GLBT books. In their 40-year history, the Stonewall Book Awards have grown to include fiction, nonfiction, and youth categories and have gained national attention. This new fundraising campaign will help ensure the long-term success of the awards program and support the recently inaugurated Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award....
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, Jan. 10

Luis Herrera: LJ Librarian of the Year
San Francisco City Librarian Luis Herrera (right) has been named 2012 Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. He was cited for getting voters to extend their library support for 15 years, creating a strong alliance between management and union, and building effective partnerships with other city departments....
Library Journal, Jan. 9

Ezra Jack Keats minigrants
This year marks the 24th annual call for minigrant proposals by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, with approximately 70 grants in the amount of $500 to be given to qualifying teachers and librarians at public schools and libraries across the United States. The deadline for grant submissions is March 15....
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, Jan. 11

Apply for the Excellence in Summer Learning Award
Applications for the National Summer Learning Association’s 2012 Excellence in Summer Learning Award are due February 10. The award recognizes outstanding summer programs that demonstrate excellence in accelerating academic achievement and promoting healthy development for young people between kindergarten and 12th grade....
National Summer Learning Association, Jan. 11

Library given Jefferson Muzzle Award
Each year, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression “awards” individuals and organizations with Jefferson Muzzles as a means to draw attention to abridgments of free speech and press, and foster an appreciation for the First Amendment. The Burlington County (N.J.) Library System is among those to receive the dubious honor for 2011. Last year its director, Gail Sweet, unilaterally pulled Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie, from shelves, calling it child pornography, after receiving one complaint about its content. The removal was in violation of library policy....
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Jan. 9

North Dakota collection receives national awards
The North Dakota State University Libraries’ Germans from Russia Heritage Collection has received the Award of Merit and the WOW Award by the American Association of State and Local History. The awards were presented September 16 at the National Convention in Richmond, Virginia. Since its inception in 1978, the privately funded, specialized archives has become one of the most comprehensive collections of German-Russian resources in the world....
Bismarck (N.Dak.) Tribune, Jan. 9

2011 HP Image Permanence Award
Nora Kennedy (right), Sherman Fairchild Conservator of Photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is the 2011 recipient of the HP Image Permanence Award. The award is given by the Society for Imaging Science and Technology in partnership with the International Institute for Conservation and is sponsored by the Hewlett-Packard Company. Kennedy is being recognized for her outstanding contributions that advance the longevity of photographic and fine art images created via modern digital methods....
Preservation and Conservation Administration News, Jan. 10

Vote in the 2012 Kiddo Awards
Author James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead website announced the second annual Kiddo Awards that showcase the best books of the year for getting kids addicted to reading. Patterson has tapped the ReadKiddoRead board, children’s book reviewers, librarians from across the country, authors, and booksellers and here presents the list of the 40 top picks of the year. Now it’s up to you to declare the five victors. Voting closes February 15....
ReadKiddoRead, Jan. 9

Research Works Act introduced
In a perplexing turn of events, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced the Research Works Act (H.R. 3699) on December 16. Cosponsored by Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), the bill would effectively turn back the clock on the National Institutes of Health Public Access policy put into place in 2008. The bill was referred to the US House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of which Rep. Issa is chairman. Meanwhile, the Association of Research Libraries has responded to the White House RFI on Public Access to Scholarly Publications with its comments. Wayne Bivens-Tatum offers a historical perspective on open access....
District Dispatch, Jan. 9; Association of Research Libraries, Jan. 8; Academic Librarian, Jan. 11

Publishers and the Research Works Act
Maura Smale writes: “I was flabbergasted to read about the Research Works Act, legislation that is strongly supported by the Association of American Publishers. I recommend reading the AAP statement in full—it’s truly head-spinning. If this legislation goes through, it would be a major blow to open access to scholarly research and publishing. And this comes on the heels of the (unsurprising, yet still disappointing) news that SOPA and the Protect IP act are also strongly supported by many commercial publishers.”...
ACRLog, Jan. 6; Association of American Publishers, Dec. 23; Gizmodo, Dec. 21

Libraries are the best counter to piracy
Peter Brantley writes: “On January 24, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will likely call for an up-or-down vote to consider the Protect IP Act (PIPA, S.968), the Senate’s companion bill to the House’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA, H.R. 3261). Almost everyone who understands the technical operations of the internet or cares about innovation is opposed to these bills. Instead of heeding Tim O’Reilly’s advice that making content available in desirable places under terms that users accept is the most profitable path, publishers are attempting to control something they have no adequate understanding of, and can never really control: computing and the internet.”...
Publishers Weekly: PWxyz, Jan. 6; Know Your Meme

PIPA, SOPA, and OPEN: A guide
Corey Williams writes: “The latest bill to watch is the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN, S. 2029). Introduced on December 17 by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.), along with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), the OPEN Act is being heralded as a more palatable alternative to the other anti-piracy bills (PIPA and SOPA). To illustrate how all three bills compare, I’ve constructed a handy reference chart (PDF file).”...
District Dispatch, Jan. 10

Study challenges SCOTUS free-speech image
The US Supreme Court led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., the conventional wisdom goes, is exceptionally supportive of free speech. A recent study challenges that conclusion. It says that a comprehensive look at data from 1953 to 2011 tells a different story, one showing that the court is hearing fewer First Amendment cases and is ruling in favor of free speech at a lower rate than any of the courts led by the three previous chief justices....
New York Times, Jan. 7

Taking shelter in the library stacks
The Central branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, like others across the country, has a serious homeless issue. Metro Atlanta patrons also have complained about homeless persons in DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett County libraries. ALA considers homeless people pouring into public libraries to be a nationwide concern, particularly for urban systems. Even if officials wanted to do something, like ban them or limit their access, the chances of it happening are slim. ALA President Molly Raphael said legal and philosophical reasons prevent it....
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 11

Washington State Library addresses budget cuts
The result of Washington State’s recent Special Legislative Session means a cut of nearly $1.4 million to the state library’s 2011–2013 biennial budget, a 12.5% reduction. Since 2008, Washington State Library’s budget has fallen by 30%, and staffing has decreased by 35%. The state library’s lobby is now unstaffed, and signs direct customers to the second floor—the building’s only service point....
Between the Lines, Jan. 9

Chicago branches to close on Mondays
Chicago Public Library neighborhood branches will now be closed on Mondays beginning January 9, instead of being closed in the morning on Mondays and Fridays, as Mayor Rahm Emanuel originally envisioned. The change in plans, quietly announced in early January, is the result of a stalemate between the city and the union representing library workers. The union has not agreed to a schedule that includes working two half-days a week. Two Chicago aldermen countered with the suggestion that workers give up raises in order to avoid service cuts....
Chicago Tribune, Jan. 6, 10

Scheduled book signing at library spurs outrage
A book signing scheduled at the Leath Memorial Library in Rockingham, North Carolina, that featured An Innocent in the House of the Dead, a book of poetry written by Joanna Catherine Scott in collaboration with convicted murderer John Lee Conaway, stirred up an emotional outcry in the community. Conaway killed two local men 20 years ago. The library postponed Scott’s visit and issued a statement....
Richmond County (N.C.) Daily Journal, Jan. 8

Skokie Public Library: 30 years of musical talent
In 1981, the Skokie (Ill.) Public Library went where few libraries had gone before. Introducing a program called the Young Steinway Concert Series, the library wanted to celebrate the arts for young people in a big way. The program’s 2011–2012 season, which began in September to mark its 30th anniversary, continues to provide a performance venue for some of the brightest young musical talent in the region....
Skokie (Ill.) Review, Jan. 9

Library partners with fitness centers
Decatur (Ill.) Public Library has joined with a fitness center and the local YMCA to provide free-trial exercise classes and demonstrations throughout January. The classes focus on a range of different workout types to help people of all ages and skill levels. Some classes include tai chi, karate, Zumba, and Pilates. The library also offers free health screenings and monthly lectures through a partnership with a nearby hospital....
Decatur (Ill.) Herald and Review, Jan. 7

Mini-golfers take to the links . . . inside the library
Dawn Bussey, executive director of the Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Public Library, said she took note when a few libraries across the country started hosting indoor mini-golf tournaments. In 2011, she brought the idea to Glen Ellyn with the inaugural Swinging thru the Stacks event as a fundraiser ($5 a round). It raised $9,700 and attracted about 175 people. This year there will be a Snacks in the Stacks booth selling candy, popcorn, and other goodies....
Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, Jan. 9

Bangladesh teacher arrested for placing banned book in school library
The principal of the Pirojpur Technical and Business Management College in southern Bangladesh was arrested for possession of a copy of Lajja (Shame), a famous novel by Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin. Police found a copy in the school’s library. The book has been banned in the country since 1993 because it is considered blasphemous against Islam. The teacher, Yunus Ali, faces up to three years in prison, but he claims he was the victim of a conspiracy....
Asia News, Jan. 5

Funding dispute threatens Bosnian national library
Staff and visitors at the National and University Library of Bosnia (right) in Sarajevo put on extra layers of clothing January 6, as the heating was turned off after the library failed to pay its bills. The library is facing the same fate as Bosnia’s History Museum and its National Gallery, both recently closed because they could not pay for basic operating costs. All three institutions have run low on funds because of disputes over who is responsible for their financing....
Balkan Insight, Jan. 6

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Cognotes is your online source for updates and news on the Midwinter Meeting in Dallas—and free in print every day once you get there. Download the January digital issue of Cognotes for all the highlights. Cognotes is available in four formats: interactive, mobile, accessible, and PDF (large file).

Multi-generational Housing on the Upswing: Is it for you? by Wanda Urbanska How to Get a Great Job: Getting Down to Brass Tacks The Return of the Mummies-'Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt' Poachers-- Killers for Financial Gain--Continue to Endanger World's Animal Population Second Season of 'Downton Abbey,' Excellent Drama from BBC America, Airs this Month History of the Youth Media Awards: Part 3 Sara Zarr: 'The library was an extremely special place to me.' (video) Donna Seaman Interviews Dika Lam Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

Open letter to librarians
Carl Lennertz writes: “Dear Librarians: Who better to pass along the joy of reading on World Book Night, April 23, than you. I envision that at least a thousand of the 50,000 book givers that day will be librarians. And it’s easy; just fill out an online form, pour some of that book passion into your answers, and you’re in. Get the word out to your colleagues through social media! And consider being a location for the book givers in your community to come pick up a box of free World Book Night books.”...
World Book Night

How Facebook can help you market your library
According to Facebook statistics, more than 800 million users have an active account. Facebook has taken social media interaction to a new level of communication. It provides an outlet to market your library for free, interact with your patrons or students, and share valuable information. Here is information on why creating a page will help your library, the benefits, and what steps to take next....
Tampa Bay (Fla.) Library Consortium

10 ways to keep your Facebook fans following you
Louis Rix writes: “Here are 10 ways to keep your Facebook page in your followers’ news feeds—and in their minds. Number 1: Ask questions. Whether you’re posting a status update, asking a question, or constructing a poll, people love to be asked what they think. Giving your followers a forum for their opinions will surely inspire some responses.”...
All Facebook Blog, Jan. 10

Google search gets even more personal
Elinor Mills writes: “If I want to find out more information, for example, about Miranda July’s quirky film The Future, I can go to Google.com and see the usual web results. But with Google’s new ‘Search plus Your World’ feature, I can also opt in to see ‘personal results’ that will show me what people I know have said about it. If anyone in my Google+ circles has posted on the topic, their contributions will appear in the results. Any related images friends have posted in Picasa would show up as well.” Turns out Twitter isn’t too happy about the Google update....
CNET News, Jan. 10; Official Google Blog, Jan. 10; TechCrunch, Jan. 10

Sifting the professional from the personal
Randall Stross writes: “Among online networking sites, LinkedIn stands out as the one for professional connections only. By keeping professional identity pristinely separate from the personal, LinkedIn has grown to more than 135 million members. But challengers have arrived, in the form of apps. Independent software developers are trying to add a professional layer to Facebook and are hoping that users will accept a less-than-complete separation of the professional and the personal.”...
New York Times, Jan. 7

Three library predictions for 2012
Andy Woodworth writes: “In considering current trends and trying to read the library tea leaves, I opted for a few predictions for the year. Looking in my crystal ball, I think some things will stay the same (people complaining about ALA and lack of jobs; a whole lot of time will be wasted in committees, workgroups, and task forces while social politics trump their efforts). It’s this lack of other trends that makes for few predictions when composing a list for this year.”...
Agnostic, Maybe, Jan. 8

Lessons learned in a year of story time
Katie Ahearn writes: “It’s been over a year since I started performing weekly story times in a library setting, and almost a year since I started doing them in the new branch library I work in now. Since I’m on my first story time break ever, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on some of what the past year has taught me. In no particular order, here are the 10 most significant lessons I have learned.”...
Story Time Secrets, Dec. 29

Top 10 digital preservation developments of 2011
Bill LeFurgy writes: “It’s time to take stock of the most memorable digital preservation happenings of 2011. Here are 10 developments from 2011 that deserve special consideration because of their broad impact on the practical work of stewarding content, or on raising the awareness of how important this work is for our culture.”...
The Signal: Digital Preservation, Jan. 6

What do copyright records look like?
Mike Burke writes: “There are about 70 million cards and record book pages among the pre-1978 copyright records at the Library of Congress. I thought it might be interesting to show some examples of these paper records. On the right is an example of a card in the Copyright Card Catalog. This is the principal finding aid for titles, authors, claimants, and other names associated with the ownership of copyrights. Our vision is to create a data record from the content of these cards and make that available online for searching.”...
Copyright Matters: Digitization and Public Access, Jan. 6

State agency databases activity report
Daniel Cornwall writes: “Welcome to the first state agency databases activity report of 2012. We have a lot of activity to report from the State Agency Databases Across the Fifty States Project. Here are a few highlights for 2011: There were 73,606 visits to state database pages and 10,325 visits to subject-based state database listings. The top five states by number of visits were Missouri, Florida, Alaska, California, and Ohio.”...
Free Government Information, Jan. 8

Feds aim to revamp dot-gov
Joseph Marks writes: “While the government is publishing more information than ever through some 18,000 websites, it has become increasingly difficult for agency information to reach the public. Older federal sites weren’t designed to work optimally with Google, so web searches today often list official government data well below less authoritative, outdated, or recycled sources. The Office of Management and Budget tried to rein in this web sprawl in June by ordering a freeze on new dot-gov sites and launching a program (watch the video, 4:07) to slash the federal internet presence by one-fourth or more.”...
Nextgov, Jan. 3; YouTube, June 12, 2011

ASERL creates collaborative journal archive
The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries has created a cooperative journal retention program to assist research libraries in managing their collections of printed scholarly journals. More than half of ASERL’s 40 member libraries are contributing materials to this program, which will be stored for use through 2035. To date, more than 200,000 volumes have been committed for retention....
Collaborative Librarianship News, Jan. 9

OCLC adds Books24x7 records to WorldCat
OCLC is working with SkillSoft to add records for the Books24x7 digital book catalog to WorldCat. SkillSoft’s growing selection of more than 30,000 titles in a variety of subject areas will be represented in WorldCat with a link to the Books24x7 platform....
OCLC, Jan. 9

Bibliographic framework: RDF and linked data
Karen Coyle writes: “With the newly developed enthusiasm for RDF as the basis for library bibliographic data we are seeing a number of efforts to transform library data into this modern, web-friendly format. This is a positive development in many ways, but we need to be careful to make this transition cleanly without bringing along baggage from our past.”...
Coyle’s InFormation, Jan. 11

Present a paper at IFLA
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions has issued calls for papers on a variety of topics for its World Library and Information Congress, to be held in Helsinki, Finland, August 11–17. The content of the IFLA program is organized by the different professional groups (sections, core programs, and special interest groups). Calls for papers are submitted through these groups. Papers should reflect the conference theme: “Libraries Now!—Inspiring, Surprising, Empowering.”...
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Why do library books have that smell?
That musty smell is most likely cellulose decay. Since the mid-19th century, when papermakers began using groundwood pulp in place of cotton or linen, most paper has contained an unstable compound called lignin, which breaks down into acids and makes paper very brittle. Since 2001, the Library of Congress has treated at least 250,000 books every year with magnesium oxide. The chemical deacidifies paper and slows decay....
Popular Science, Jan. 6

Cataloging coworkers
Will Manley writes: “What are some of the various categories of troublesome coworkers? Here are most notorious ones I worked with over a 37-year career: Prima Donna, Diva, Mover and Shaker, the Sycophant, the Spy, the Smartest Person in the Room, the Self-Proclaimed Technogeek.”...
Will Unwound, Jan. 11

Brooklyn’s Rube Goldberg
One of the newest gadgets in kinetic artist Joseph Herscher’s apartment in Brooklyn, New York, is what he calls the “Page Turner” (2:08), a Rube Goldberg device that will (after a while) turn the page of the newspaper you are reading. “I’m trying to make it as absurd and useless as possible,” Herscher said of his contraptions, which perform simple, energy-saving tasks in elaborately wasteful ways....
New York Times, Jan. 6; YouTube, Dec. 28

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