Court to Camdenton: Replace antigay internet filter
In response to a lawsuit claiming that Camdenton (Mo.) R-III School District’s internet filtering system censors content supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, a federal district court has ordered the district to discontinue using its current blocking software, adding that “any new system selected must not discriminate against websites expressing a positive viewpoint toward LGBT individuals.” The district’s filter, URLBlacklist, was developed by one British programmer who winds up determining what information students in Missouri have access to....
AL: Censorship Watch, Mar. 28; ACLU, Feb. 15; New York Times, Mar. 26

Eight tips to highlight history using Facebook
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “At the University of Nevada, Reno, Head of Special Collections Donnelyn Curtis turned to Facebook to connect the university’s archives with students who care about history and the school’s tradition. She began by creating Facebook pages for Joe McDonald and Leola Lewis—two students who attended the university in the 1910s. Curtis started the project as a way to educate people, especially students, about the couple’s lives and the history of their time, as well as to bring more exposure to the special collections department.”...
American Libraries feature

Why ebooks need libraries
Beverly Goldberg writes: “About a week ago, an ALA colleague popped into my office with an epiphany. ‘Libraries will never die out. You know why? If they didn’t exist, people would be inventing them.’ As you might imagine, that got us to talking and finding examples—and it certainly wasn’t hard. Little Free Libraries, anyone? When you think about it, as AL’s Librarian’s Library columnist Karen Muller has, the Occupy libraries movement sprung from the same human need to share ideas, and often there’s no better vehicle for that than the written word.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, Mar. 28

Technology in Practice: Click here to engage
Meredith Farkas writes: “Librarians who teach are always looking for ways to get patrons more actively engaged in instruction sessions. Research has shown that active learning can have positive effects on student learning and certainly helps to get students to reflect on the application of what they’re learning. In large lecture classes, most active learning exercises simply aren’t feasible, making it difficult to avoid the ‘sage on the stage’ model of teaching.”....
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

On My Mind: Just whom do we serve?
Anthony Molaro writes: “Chances are, your library is chock-full of people. The vast majority of them—those who visit libraries—are part of a group that library workers have had significant trouble defining. How do we, as librarians, view our patrons? How we perceive them is reflected in what we call them, and judging by the variety of terminology, we have significant trouble pinpointing that perception.”...
American Libraries column

Rousing Reads: Translit: New genre collapses time, space
Bill Ott writes: “At the recent PLA conference in Philadelphia, my friend and Booklist columnist David Wright used a term I had never heard, ‘translit,’ to describe that boundary-breaking kind of novel that shatters all the too-often pigeonholing categories we use to compartmentalize modern fiction. Translit—in the dual sense of transcending and transformative— seemed like a perfect term to describe Murakami’s 1Q84 and Nick Harkaway’s Angelmaker.”...
American Libraries column, May/June

Librarian’s Library: The librarian’s history of the library
Karen Muller writes: “Libraries have been shaped by history, and providing historical sources is merely one way they serve their communities, either to research specific events or to pursue something more personal, such as genealogy. When I think of history, two quotations come to mind. One, by Marcus Cicero, says history illuminates the present; the other, by Henry Ford, says we must live in the present.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

Use social media for the most effective job search
How many channels are you using to get that next job? Caitlin Williams of San Jose State University has been in the field of career development for over 20 years and led a March 22 webinar on the importance of building your online presence purposefully. With the focus on social media tools and other strategies to expand your networking, Williams mentioned many websites (Word file) for social networking, social news, company information, and job aggregation that can aid in your job search....
AL: Inside Scoop, Mar. 28

From barn to Bibliothek
American Libraries Associate Editor Greg Landgraf writes: “Most libraries aren’t found in barns, but Jackson (N.H.) Public Library happily makes its new home in one. It’s not just any barn, either. Built in 1858 as part of the town’s first inn, the barn was dismantled and stored away in 2008. At about the same time, the library was looking to open a new facility.”...
Boing Boing, Mar. 26

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Picoult and daughter at ALA Annual Conference
Best-selling author Jodi Picoult and her daughter Samantha Van Leer will appear as part of the ALA President’s Program and Awards Presentation at ALA Annual Conference on June 24 at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center. The mother-daughter author team will be on tour for the launch of Between the Lines, a book they wrote together that will be published in June....
Conference Services, Mar. 21

John Irving to introduce his new novel
Bestselling author John Irving (right) will appear at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference on June 23 in the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center. He will introduce attendees to his 13th and latest novel, In One Person, due to be published in May. The novel is described as his most political since The Cider House Rules and A Prayer for Owen Meany, offering an unforgettable portrait of the solitariness of a bisexual man dedicated to making himself “worthwhile.”...
Conference Services, Mar. 23

Raise funds with the Rock Bottom Remainders
By day, they’re famous authors. But once a year they shed their pen-and-pencil-clutching personas and become rock stars, complete with roadies, groupies, and a wicked cool tour bus. The ALA/ProQuest Scholarship Bash welcomes the Rock Bottom Remainders (right) for a special June 23 performance at the ALA Annual Conference in the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Center. Scheduled to appear are Stephen King, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Dave Barry, Matt Groening, Scott Turow, and many others. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds will join the band as special musical guest....
Conference Services, Mar. 27

Virtual Membership Meeting agenda
ALA President Molly Raphael and the Committee on Membership Meetings sent ALA members an invitation to respond to a survey about topics and the format for the 2012 ALA Virtual Membership Meeting, scheduled for June 6. The survey invites your input about agenda items for the meeting and your feedback on virtual participation. It will remain open through April 9, and all responses are anonymous....
ALA Membership Blog, Mar. 27

Choose a balanced information diet
The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy recommends that you improve your information diet. In a new report, Restoring Contemplation: How Disconnecting Bolsters the Knowledge Economy (PDF file), author Jessie L. Mannisto outlines future directions for libraries and other social institutions to improve our capacity for thoughtful endeavor. Options for libraries might include creating a contemplative resource center, supporting and reinforcing student reflection as part of the school day, or using books and exhibits to enable and encourage discussion of our technological habits....
District Dispatch, Mar. 28

Vote on your smartphone
Did you know that you can vote in the 2012 ALA elections on your smartphone and other mobile devices? You are no longer tied to your desktop to cast your vote; you can now vote virtually anywhere. Log in using the URL and credentials that were sent to you between March 19 and March 21. The polls will close on Friday, April 27....
Office of ALA Governance, Mar. 22

Personal ALA member dues
There are several types of personal memberships in ALA, but all have the same rights and privileges of membership. Dues are tiered, based on the roles one has in library work. Special rates are available for retirees, students, Friends, trustees, international members, and non-salaried members. Membership in ALA divisions and round tables is an additional fee, and special dues rates may also be available. To join, go online, call, or fill out the enrollment form....
Membership Development Office

You belong @ your library
From snapshot days to visual poetry events, libraries are gearing up and reminding people across the country and in their communities that during National Library Week (April 8–14) and throughout the year the place you belong is at your library. Here are just a few programs that libraries are holding to promote the “You belong @ your library” theme....
Public Information Office, Mar. 27

Virtual Library Legislative Day
Virtual Library Legislative Day is part of ALA’s National Library Legislative Day on April 23–24, when hundreds of library advocates will descend on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their staffs. Library advocates who cannot make it to Capitol Hill for the event can still be a part of the effort by calling or emailing their elected officials any time during the week of April 23–27....
ALTAFF, Mar. 27

Library superheroes invited to C2E2
ALA will be presenting and exhibiting at the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), April 13–15, in the North Building at McCormick Place in Chicago. ALA will present two programs for the library community and comics industry professionals during the Professional Day, April 13. C2E2 has extended free passes for all library staff members on Professional Day, with the hours of 10 a.m.–1 p.m. open only to librarians and educators....
ALA Membership Blog, Mar. 21

Sponsor an Emerging Leader
The ALA Emerging Leaders program is still accepting sponsors for the 2013 class. A completed Intent to Sponsor form (PDF file) should be submitted to Beatrice Calvin by April 6. Organizations or individuals must commit to providing financial support of at least $1,000 ($500 per conference) for each Emerging Leader selected....
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Mar. 27

New Spectrum Scholarship webinar series
As part of the Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship Program: Building Change, a diversity recruitment program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Spectrum Scholarship Program will present a series of four webinars this spring exploring opportunities for doctoral studies in library and information science. The webinars are free and open to all individuals interested in learning more about LIS doctoral education. They will be recorded and posted to the Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship Program web page....
Spectrum Scholarship Program, Mar. 26

Call for IFLA nominations
The International Relations Committee is accepting nominations to section standing committees of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. IFLA elections are held biennially. In 2013, elections will be held for committees, divisions, sections, and round tables for the period 2013–2017. Forward nominations to Delin Guerra before November 13....
International Relations Committee, Mar. 26

Library War Service map poster
Larry Nix writes: “I've added a nice item to my collection of ALA Library War Service memorabilia. It is a map of the United States (right) that documents the extent of ALA’s library program in World War I. It proclaims, ‘Every dot on the map means a special war library for our fighting men.’ A larger square dot indicates camps with libraries, and a smaller round dot indicates libraries in other buildings. It includes an impressive list of statistics: 41 camp library buildings in operation; 143 hospitals and Red Cross houses supplied; and 243 librarians maintained in the service.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Mar. 23

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Disneyland: The basics
The Disneyland Resort is divided into two separate theme parks, three hotels, and a shopping and entertainment district. Here is a map. The first park is the original Disney theme park Disneyland (opened on July 18, 1955). Its sister park Disney California Adventure (opened in February 2001) is located across the entry plaza. Both parks are divided into “lands,” or themes. At the western end of the entry plaza is Downtown Disney, the shopping and entertainment district. Disneyland rides are mostly well-themed dark rides (Pirates of the Caribbean) with the occasional thrill ride (Space Mountain), while California Adventure rides are more thrill-oriented (California Screamin’) with some family-style rides (Soarin’ Over California, above)....
Wikitravel

Finding cheaper gas with your smartphone
Jeff Brady writes: “Companies have applications for most smartphones out there to help people find the cheapest gas in town. I tried out six applications on an iPhone and narrowed the selection to two that I found the easiest to use: GasBuddy and Fuel Finder. GasBuddy launches quickly, with a big, green gas-pump button in the center of the screen labeled ‘Find Gas Near Me.’ Fuel Finder has a feature called ‘On Fumes,’ which lists all the stations close to you regardless of price in case you’re running out of gas.”...
NPR: All Tech Considered, Mar. 22

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LLAMA preconference on leadership
LLAMA will present “What is Leadership?” a half-day preconference on June 22 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. Speakers Jay Johnston and Christine Bradley will outline a theoretically driven yet pragmatic approach to leadership by presenting various leadership styles and appropriate applications. Register online....
LLAMA, Mar. 23

ALTAFF Nuts & Bolts program in Anaheim
ALTAFF will host “Nuts & Bolts for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations” on June 22 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California. The program is designed to equip advocates with the latest techniques for fundraising and advocacy. The featured guest will be David Levinson (right), author of Everyone Helps, Everyone Wins. Other speakers will include Cheryl Gould, April Butcher, Sally Gardner Reed, Marci Merola, Lynn Slawsky, and Deborah Stone....
ALTAFF, Mar. 27

Deadline extended to participate in PLDS
Public libraries in the United States and Canada have until April 16 to be a part of the 2012 survey for the annual Public Library Data Service Statistical Report. Log in at the PLDS survey website. Libraries that have not received a PLDS ID and password can request one online....
PLA, Mar. 23

Sights from PLA 2012
More than 6,000 librarians visited Philadelphia March 13–17 for the Public Library Association National Conference. Here are some images from the four days of speakers (Betty White on the right), sessions, exhibits, special dinners, and networking opportunities. All photos are by Paul Coker....
AL Focus, Mar. 22

Last week to participate in School Libraries Count!
To participate in the AASL 2012 School Libraries Count! longitudinal survey, participants must enter their data by the March 30 deadline. The survey gathers basic data about the status of school library programs across the country. AASL will use this information to develop advocacy tools to support school library programs at the local, state, and national levels....
AASL, Mar. 27

ASCLA online learning
ASCLA offers training to help libraries serve all of their users. Upcoming online learning opportunities will prepare your library to offer effective services, a welcoming environment, and knowledgeable staff to the blind and visually impaired, people with disabilities, and Latinos. Take advantage of this expertise by enrolling in one of these webinars or online courses to gain valuable knowledge that will help transform your library’s services....
ASCLA, Mar. 26

Registration open for YA Literature Symposium
YALSA has opened registration for its third Young Adult Literature Symposium, November 2–4, at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch in St. Louis. The 2012 theme is “The Future of Young Adult Literature: Hit Me with the Next Big Thing.” Registration for the symposium includes a welcome reception, educational sessions, coffee breaks, a Saturday reception, and a general closing session on Sunday....
YALSA, Mar. 27

School Library Month webinars
Created with the busy school librarian in mind, AASL will present short, on-demand professional development focused on improving and advocating the school library program in April, School Library Month. The 2012 theme, “You belong @ your library,” will highlight the role strong school libraries play in a student’s educational career....
AASL, Mar. 27

Co-teaching as an essential skill
AASL will present the next of its free Knowledge Quest webinar series on April 10. The March/April issue of Knowledge Quest features articles on co-teaching—building and teaching courses in tandem with subject area teachers. Presented by Susan Ballard and Judi Moreillon, the webinar will touch on ideas presented in their guest coeditor column....
AASL, Mar. 27

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2012 Melvil Dewey Medal
Beverly P. Lynch (right), professor in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, is the winner of the 2012 Melvil Dewey Medal, sponsored by OCLC. The prestigious honor is given in recognition of creative leadership of the highest order. Lynch was cited for her role in training dozens of current library leaders while director of the UCLA Senior Fellows program since 1990, and in creating and directing the California Rare Book School....
Office of ALA Governance, Mar. 22

2012 Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award
Lyn Hopper (right), strategic planning consultant and former assistant state librarian in Georgia for library development (retired), has received the Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award. This award is given biennially to an individual for making positive changes in the profession of librarianship and consists of a 24K gold-framed citation and $1,000. In her current and past work, Hopper has focused on providing educational opportunities and training for librarians, trustees, and board members....
Office of ALA Governance, Mar. 22

Clifford Lynch named Library Hi Tech Award winner
Coalition for Networked Information Executive Director Clifford Lynch has been named the winner of the 2012 LITA Library Hi Tech Award for outstanding communication in library and information technology. The award recognizes persons or institutions for their long-term contributions in the area of LIS technology and its application. It consists of $1,000 and a certificate of merit....
LITA Blog, Mar. 22

2012 Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award
Robert Kieft (right), college librarian at Occidental College, is the recipient of the RUSA 2012 Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award, the highest honor for contributions to the field of reference librarianship. Kieft was cited for his nearly decade-long investment in reformatting the Guide to Reference from a print volume to an ongoing, dynamic, and interactive database with nearly 16,000 entries....
RUSA, Mar. 26

2012 John Sessions Memorial Award
San Francisco State University’s Labor Archives and Research Center is the 2012 winner of RUSA’s John Sessions Memorial Award. The award recognizes a library or library system that has made a significant effort to work with the labor community and has brought recognition to the history of the labor movement to the development of the United States. One of the center’s notable contributions is the San Francisco Labor Landmarks Guide Book....
RUSA, Mar. 27

2012 BRASS Emerald Research Grants
The RUSA Business Reference and Services Section has selected research proposals from Kerry Wu and Heidi E. K. Senior, and from Louise Mort Feldmann, to receive BRASS Emerald Research Grants—two $5,000 grants sponsored by Emerald Publishing Group that support research in the field of business reference....
RUSA, Mar. 27

2012 Summer Reading Program grants
YALSA has announced the winners of its Summer Reading Program Grants, which are funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Twenty libraries are receiving $1,000 to help fund summer reading programs for teens....
YALSA, Mar. 28

Building Awards Committee seeks jury members
The LLAMA Library Building Awards Committee is seeking nominations and applications for jurors for the 2013 Library Buildings Award competition. Jointly sponsored by ALA and the American Institute of Architects, the prestigious biennial awards recognize distinguished accomplishments in library architecture by American architects. Applications must be submitted by May 18....
LLAMA, Mar. 27

Apply for a Banned Books Week grant
Applications are now open for the 2012 Judith Krug Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation. Grants in the amounts of $1,000 and $2,500 will be given to organizations in support of Read-Outs or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week (September 30–October 6). The deadline is May 11....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Mar. 27

10th IFLA International Marketing Award
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ Section on Management and Marketing has announced the winners of its International Marketing Award for 2012. First place was awarded to Tsinghua University Library in Beijing, China, for its “Falling in Love with the Library” video series (right) that features two undergraduates who meet in the library. The videos are offered in two versions, one in Chinese and one with English subtitles. Second place went to the University of Waterloo (Ont.) Library, which launched a campaign featuring 13 creative button designs to capture the visual identity of the six library locations available to students, faculty, and staff....
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Mar. 23

New York libraries can apply for a Shubert Award
The Joseph F. Shubert Library Excellence Award is given annually to recognize the achievements of small, medium, and large libraries and library consortia in New York State. The award includes a gift of $1,000 supplied by the Friends of the New York State Library. Apply by June 15....
New York State Library

Atlantic City archivist chosen for Top 40 Under 40
Each year the Greater Atlantic City (N.J.) Jaycees and Atlantic City Weekly choose 40 of the area’s most dynamic young leaders for the Top 40 Under 40 recognition. In 2012, Atlantic City Public Library Archivist Heather Pérez (right) was selected for her work in overseeing Atlantic City history collections and promoting the city’s unique history. For her work as a historical consultant, Pérez is listed in the credits of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire....
Atlantic City (N.J.) Weekly, Mar. 15

2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
The PEN/Faulkner Foundation has selected The Buddha in the Attic (Fig Tree, 2011) by Julie Otsuka as the winner of its 2012 Award for Fiction. The book is a precise, poetic novel that tells the story of Japanese picture brides brought to California from Japan in the early 20th century. Three judges selected the winner and four finalists from the more than 350 works by American authors published in the US during the 2011 calendar year....
PEN/Faulkner Foundation, Mar. 27

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Phoenix libraries could rise again
Phoenix may open its libraries longer in 2012 as officials consider the most significant budget expansion since the recession decimated city finances in 2010 and forced cuts to services. The city projects a surplus of $10–$15 million in the general-fund budget for FY 2012–2013. City Manager David Cavazos released a plan March 22 that called for extending hours at six branches and adding 13 positions....
Phoenix Arizona Republic, Mar. 22

From glovebox to archive: Stanford receives trove of road maps
Stanford University Libraries has acquired a variety of maps in its newest acquisition—more than 13,000 of them. The Robert C. Berlo Road and Street Map Collection includes road maps, Forest Service maps, topographic maps, regional maps, and city maps. Some were published by oil companies, others by real estate firms, and others by automobile associations, from the mid-1920s on. The maps, which arrived at Stanford March 12, will take more than a year to process and will be made available as they are cataloged....
Stanford University News, Mar. 21

Occupy Wall Street Library confiscated in Union Square
Jason Boog writes: “These are the remaining books left in the Occupy Wall Street Library following a police action. On March 21, the Occupy Wall Street librarians posted a picture of the newly rebuilt Occupy Wall Street Library in New York City’s Union Square Park. By the end of the day, police had cleared out most of the library—leaving behind the books in the picture.”...
GalleyCat, Mar. 22

A vote of no confidence for Rockford library director
Union members of the Rockford (Ill.) Public Library delivered a 31–1 vote March 23 of no confidence in Director Frank Novak. Union President Karla Janssen spoke critically of proposed plans to close library locations, eliminate Sunday hours, and devote a significant portion of the library’s budget toward digital collections, which, she said, currently make up 3% of the total circulation. But at a March 26 library board meeting, the board’s president and past president defended Novak....
Rockford (Ill.) Register Star, Mar. 23, 27

Hawaii’s unfriendly Friends battle
Emotions ran high at a March 21 Hawaii State Capitol Senate Education hearing about libraries and fundraising legalities of their Friends affiliates. More than a year ago, State Librarian Richard Burns told nonprofit groups that raise money for their community library that they must become part of the single statewide “Big” Friends of the Library organization or they would no longer be allowed to fundraise on state property. Among those banned were the well-organized Friends of the Aina Haina Public Library in Honolulu who have been operating successfully for 50 years....
Hawaii Reporter, Mar. 22

Two Nazi art albums discovered
Two original albums of photographs of paintings and furniture looted by the Nazis were recently discovered. The albums have been in private hands since the end of World War II and will be donated to the US National Archives in Washington, D.C. These albums were created by a special Nazi task force engaged in the theft of cultural treasures in occupied countries. In the closing days of World War II, US soldiers entered Adolf Hitler’s home in the Bavarian Alps. Many picked up souvenirs to prove they had been inside the Berghof....
Prologue: Pieces of History, Mar. 27

Toronto librarians, authors join forces at read-in
“Cheerful rage” is probably the best way of describing the mood at the “read-in” and rally—organized by the striking librarians’ union, CUPE Local 4948—that took place in front of the Toronto Reference Library on March 26. The crowd of more than 100 included library workers, supportive members of the public, and a sizable contingent from the Writers’ Union of Canada who showed up to voice their support for their fellow word lovers during the labor disruption....
Torontoist, Mar. 26

Repairing the damage at India’s National Archives
Decades of neglect, underfunding, and bad preservation techniques have wrought considerable damage to India’s National Archives. The letters of the Bengali intellectual Romesh Chunder Dutt, for example, are warped due to humidity. A similar fate afflicts the papers of Dadabhai Naoroji, another early nationalist leader. The terrible irony was that the National Archives had the proper equipment for preserving those documents, but the equipment—like the collections—was gathering dust....
New York Times: India Ink, Mar. 21–22

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A world-renowned expert on innovation with a focus on the intersection of technology and people, Duane Bray will delve into some challenges of disruptive change in “Future of the Book: Innovation in Traditional Industries,” which will be part of the joint ALCTS/ ACRL President’s Program, June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference.

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