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The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | May 2, 2012

Solutions and Services column

APA PsychNET ad

AL Buyers Guide

American Libraries Online

Cover of the 2012 Design Showcase Digital Supplement“New and Now” library buildings
On April 30, American Libraries released its digital supplement on new and renovated library facilities. The supplement includes excerpts from American Libraries’ 2012 Library Design Showcase (available in full online). Included in the digital supplement are 16 selections from the 124 total submissions. “This year’s field of submissions to the Library Design Showcase is the largest in recent memory,” said Greg Landgraf, American Libraries associate editor....
American Libraries, Apr. 30

Anythink Libraries in Adams County, ColoradoThe economics of Anythink
Stacie Ledden writes: “The revolution at the Rangeview Library District in Adams County, Colorado, which included seven new or renovated branches and the creation of the Anythink brand, has directly affected hundreds of lives by putting people to work—and that’s above and beyond customers finding jobs using library computers, attending job seminars, and gaining the knowledge they need to succeed.”...
American Libraries feature

Roland G. ParrishRoland G. Parrish library dedication
On April 27, Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, dedicated its Roland G. Parrish Library. At the dedication, American Libraries Associate Editor Pamela A. Goodes interviewed (3:17) Parrish (right) about what he hopes the library will accomplish and the importance of business education for people of all ethnicities....
AL Focus, May 1

A student prepares to get her picture taken at the John Peace Library at the University of Texas at San Antonio photo booth April 11, part of a weeklong Smartphone Scavenger ChallengeNational Library Week: You belong
@ your library

Communities across the US celebrated the valuable contributions of the nation’s libraries during National Library Week (NLW), April 8–14. This year’s theme was “You belong @ your library.” From flash mob reading and author events to mock cake decorating and bookmobile programs, NLW and each special designated day during the weeklong observance brought a variety of events to libraries nationwide....
AL Focus, Apr. 30

Cover of Electronic Resources Management in the Academic Library, by Karin WikoffLibrarian’s Library: Building the shelfless library
Karen Muller writes: “A few days ago, a Finnish librarian I know posted a picture on Facebook of several people reading while riding public transportation. Only one person was reading a physical book, and my friend mused about the future of libraries. Ever the optimist, I suggested to her that the future will involve librarians providing virtual reference, ebook lending, access to databases, and physical support for necessary technology. This issue’s roundup provides information on books that can offer support.”...
American Libraries column, May/June

ALA President Mitch Friedman with the 2003 Newbery award winning booksHistorical awards
Q. In a few weeks, one of our colleagues will retire. We know she has received several honors from ALA. Is there any place we can research what they are? A. We in the ALA Library—and in the divisions and offices, as well—have received this question, or similar ones, over the years. With ALA offering nearly 200 awards or other forms of recognition each year, some at the Association level, others by divisions or round tables, researching the question can be slow....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, May 2

Do you have resources on author events?Ask the ALA Librarian on Pinterest
We created a Pinterest board showing all the questions appearing in our Ask the ALA Librarian blog since it started in 2010. Click on the URL in each pin to find the answer....
AL Pinterest

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ALA News

ALA election results
ALA election results will be reported out on May 4, after the ALA Election Committee certifies them. Look on the Office of ALA Governance page for the winners. Thanks to all who voted!

ALA Board backs intensified ebook advocacy
ALA President Molly Raphael writes: “Ebooks and the Big Six publishers was the first topic addressed at the ALA Executive Board spring meeting, held in Chicago on April 21–22. Because the board fully appreciates the importance of this issue to ALA members, we had planned one hour and 45 minutes for the discussion—an unusually long amount of time for the board to devote to any topic. But with the vigorous discussion and energy exhibited around the table, we devoted more than two hours to the topic.”...
AL: E-Content, Apr. 27

Library leadership 2.0 webinar
The intersection of diversity and leadership will be the focus of a free webinar, “Library Leadership 2.0,” on May 15. Part of ALA President Molly Raphael’s Empowering Diverse Voices diversity leadership initiative, this free webinar will explore how diversity affects leadership in a new library work environment. Advance registration is required....
Office for Diversity, May 1

Annual Conference logoAdvocacy and outreach strategies at Annual
It’s more critical than ever to communicate the value of libraries effectively. The 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim offers a wide range of opportunities to get new strategies and learn about best practices, innovations, and resources in advocacy and outreach to take home and implement. Check the Conference Scheduler for details on any of the following highlights and to find dozens more related programs and discussions....
Conference Services, Apr. 30

Conference Scheduler logoALA Conference Scheduler open
The ALA Annual Conference Scheduler is now open. Attendees can use it to browse sessions in multiple ways; create calendars that can be shared or kept private; receive recommendations based on division, group, library type, or interest; and add, prioritize, or update sessions, events, and exhibitor meetings. A Conference Scheduler mobile app will be released in June....
Conference Services, May 1

Sapphire will appear on the Live! @ your library Reading Stage June 24LIVE! @ your library Reading Stage lineup
More than 20 critically acclaimed and bestselling authors and poets will read from and autograph their most recent works at the LIVE! @ your library Reading Stage June 23–25 in the exhibit hall at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. Among those appearing are Sapphire (right), Paolo Bacigalupi, Gail Tsukiyama, and Daniel Handler. June 24 will include a special focus on young adult authors. The LIVE! stage is free for all attendees....
Public Programs Office, May 1

Anaheim Convention Center. Photo in Cognotes May Preview issueMay preview issue of Cognotes
The May preview issue of Cognotes is available in four convenient formats, ready for downloading and accessing now: interactive, mobile, accessible, and PDF. The Cognotes interactive edition lets you easily share articles with colleagues, search the exhibitor list, and read about the multitude of ALA Annual Conference programs, preconferences, sessions, discussions, speakers, and social events....
Conference Services, May 1

Register for Disney quality service preconference
The Learning Round Table will host the “Disney’s Approach to Quality Service” preconference June 22 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. Attendees will examine the time-tested model for delivering world-class guest service and discover how attention to detail creates a consistent, successful environment for both employees and customers. Register by June 8....
Learning Round Table, Apr. 30

Choose Privacy logoSurvey: Librarians are committed to privacy
In conjunction with Choose Privacy Week, the Office for Intellectual Freedom released preliminary findings from a new survey measuring librarians’ views on privacy rights and protecting library users’ privacy. Nearly all respondents agreed that individuals should be able to control who sees their personal information, that government agencies and businesses shouldn’t share personal information with third parties without authorization, and that libraries should never share circulation or internet use records unless authorized by the individual or a court of law....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, May 1

Empowering Voices webinar
The free webinar “Engaging Communities through Controversy” will be held May 10 as part of ALA President Molly Raphael’s “Empowering Voices, Transforming Communities” initiative. Diane McNutt and Jane Light will discuss Santa Clara (Calif.) County Library’s “Muslim and American—Two Perspectives” program that stimulated discussion throughout the community, and June Pinnell-Stephens will share success stories on how to get your community to “stop shouting and start talking” about intellectual freedom issues. Advance registration is required....
Office for Library Advocacy, May 1

Librarians Build Communities everywhere
Team G of the 2012 Emerging Leaders class is exploring ways to transform and extend the former ALA annual volunteer service day, Libraries Build Communities, into Librarians Build Communities. The newly named and repurposed LBC will replace the Annual Conference event and provide libraries and other community organizations with librarian-volunteers throughout the year. For ALA chapters, an easy way to get started would be to hold a volunteer day in conjunction with a state conference....
ALA Membership Blog, Apr. 30

Fair use of video in libraries
Carrie Russell writes: “A group from the ALA Video Round Table approached me with a project aiming to make sense of the fair-use exceptions to copyright law and reach a consensus on how media librarians should interpret them. We asked media librarians to explain what uses of media they believed were reasonable and necessary to fulfill the mission of their educational institutions. We discovered areas of commonality among the responses that we identified as community practices, lawful fair-use activities.”...
District Dispatch, Apr. 27

Moorish portolan map of Andalusia, SpainBridging Cultures programs at Annual
The National Endowment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the ALA Public Programs Office, will present two events at the ALA 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim to introduce a new grant initiative for libraries, “Muslim Journeys,” a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf program. Up to 1,000 libraries will receive the “Muslim Journeys” collection which includes more than 20 books and two documentary films, as well as bonus resources to support programs for public audiences. Apply between June 15 and September 25....
Public Programs Office, Apr. 30

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Booklist Online logo

Cover of Code Name VerityFeatured review: Historical fiction for youth
Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. May 2012. 352p. Hyperion, hardcover (978-1-4231-5219-4).
If you pick up this book, it will be some time before you put your dog-eared, tear-stained copy back down. Wein succeeds on three fronts: historical verisimilitude, gut-wrenching mystery, and a first-person voice of such confidence and flair that the protagonist might become a classic character—if only we knew what to call her. Alternately dubbed Queenie, Eva, Katharina, Verity, or Julie depending on which double-agent operation she’s involved in, she pens her tale as a confession while strapped to a chair and recovering from the latest round of Gestapo torture. The Nazis want the codes that Julie memorized as a wireless operator before crash-landing in France, and she supplies them, but along the way also tells of her fierce friendship with Maddie, a British pilot whose quiet gumption was every bit as impressive as Julie’s brash fearlessness. Though delivered at knifepoint, Julie’s narrative is peppered with dark humor and minor acts of defiance....

Top 10 crime fiction for youth graphicTop 10 crime fiction for youth
Daniel Kraus writes: “Serial killings. Brutal scalpings. Stolen lemonade money. ‘Crime’ is a broad term and so are the books on this year’s list of top youth crime fiction. Slap on your Holmes hat and investigate, for example, The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison (Egmont). Unable to control her obsessions, 16-year-old Lo finds herself digging into a local murder. Ellison’s debut is a page-turning blend of violence, romance, and surprising glimpses into one girl’s tumultuous mind.”...

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

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ALA Annual Conference banner

Anaheim Update

Housekeeper Apo Susa, Paradise Pier HotelWhat Disney does with your used amenities
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel housekeeper Apo Susa (right) tells (0:47) how he and other housekeepers give partially used bathroom amenities a second life by collecting them for the nonprofit Clean the World, which distributes them to impoverished people in the US and around the world....
Disney Parks Blog, Apr. 4

Starbucks has had a presence at Disney Village Paris since 2009Disguised Starbucks to open at Disney resorts
The Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks will open a store inside each of the six Disney theme parks in California and Florida. The first will open this summer at Disneyland California Adventure in Anaheim. Each of the cafés will be designed to blend in with the park. At Disneyland California, the store will be called the Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Café (after the Three Little Pigs), and the decor will conjure an idealized version of a Los Angeles neighborhood where the animator Walt Disney lived during the 1920s and 1930s....
Orange County (Calif.) Register: Fast Food Maven, Apr. 23

"Keep those shoes on" sign at TSA Precheck lineFlying through airport lines
Christine Negroni writes: “More than 10 years after the September 11 terrorist attacks completely altered the airport experience, travelers have a variety of options that will shorten wait times at security and immigration. But speedier processing has some downsides. Some programs charge a fee, and all require surrendering such personal information as employment background, travel history, and biological data like fingerprints. Here is a guide to some of the options that will save you some time.” But some TSA PreCheck travelers are already worried about retaining their status....
New York Times, Apr. 18; Chicago Tribune, Apr. 24

Discover Escape credit cardCredit-card strategies used by frequent flier pros
Erin Peterson writes: “Three travel junkies each had goals that inspired them to build up their balance of credit-card frequent flier miles as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. All of them relied heavily on credit-card strategies to snare hundreds of thousands of miles each year. Get wise to their systems and you could be the next one hopping onto a flight for your dream vacation. Here they share some of their best tips and offer advice on avoiding expensive pitfalls.”...
CreditCard.com, Aug. 27, 2011

Belkin MiniSurge Protector with USB ChargeOn the road with the proper gear
Sam Grobart writes: “It can be easy to get caught up in the latest tech trend and think that it will solve all your problems. But that’s just not true. The Next Big Thing is not necessarily the Only Thing. This principle is all the more important when you travel, since you want to take just as much as you need and not one device more. When I’m traveling for business, I make sure I’m equipped with the following tech items, and nothing else.”...
New York Times: Personal Tech, Apr. 25

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Division News

Past or Portal? coverSpecial collections and undergraduate learning
While special collections and archives have largely been used by advanced researchers and scholars, an increasing number of undergraduate courses are taking advantage of these materials as guides in the instructional process. Past or Portal? Enhancing Undergraduate Learning through Special Collections and Archives, edited by Eleanor Mitchell, Peggy Seiden, and Suzy Taraba, explores a variety of successful instructional models featuring a wide range of engagement methods with special collections and archival materials....
ACRL, May 1

Sherman Alexie. Photo by Chase JarvisSherman Alexie keynotes PLA President’s Program
Author Sherman Alexie will keynote the PLA President’s Program and Awards Presentation June 24 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. Alexie, a Spokane / Coeur d’Alene Indian, is known not only for writing compelling, audacious stories, poetry, and movies depicting contemporary life among Native Americans, but also for entertaining audiences with his funny and irreverent style....
PLA, May 1

Blake CharltonGeorge R.R. MartinMartin, Charlton talk sci-fi and fantasy
Authors George R. R. Martin and Blake Charlton will speak at the ALA Annual Conference June 23 in “Traveling the Spectrum: From Interstellar Adventures to Epic Fantasy, the Influence of Science Fiction and Fantasy on the World Today,” sponsored by the LITA Imagineering Interest Group. They will discuss what modern science fiction and fantasy have to say about society, as well as reasons the genres are becoming increasingly mainstream....
LITA, May 1

Elizabeth Percer. Photo by Misti Layne.First Author, First Book breakfast
ALTAFF’s popular “First Author, First Book” program will take place June 23 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. The event, which includes a free continental breakfast, will feature first-time authors Howard Anderson, Beth Howard, Bronwen Hruska, Elizabeth Percer (right), and Beatriz Williams. Attendees will have the opportunity to have books signed by the speakers, with some books given away and others sold at a generous discount....
ALTAFF, May 1

Turn Right at Machu Picchu, by Mark AdamsRUSA’s Literary Tastes program
RUSA will host three award-winning authors—Erin Morgenstern, Candice Millard, and Mark Adams—at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference program “Literary Tastes: Celebrating the Best Reading of the Year,” a conference tradition that features authors from RUSA’s literary adult book awards. “Literary Tastes” is an opportunity to hear from noteworthy authors whose books are among RUSA’s Collection Development and Evaluation Section’s annual selections and also celebrate the art and craft of writing with fellow book lovers....
RUSA, May 1

Financial literacy programs at Annual Conference
Members creating innovative programming should plan to attend two essential panels at ALA Annual Conference. “Smart investing @ your library” grantees are offering a two-panel intensive on their success in developing and promoting innovative financial education opportunities within their libraries. Attendees of both programs, one sponsored by RUSA, the other by PLA, will get a crash course in the two crucial elements that are part of any innovative programming: marketing and partnerships....
RUSA Blog, May 1

ALCTS preconference examines RDA
“A Change in Authority: Authority Work in the RDA Environment” is the topic of an ALCTS preconference to be held June 22 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. This preconference is intended for catalogers new to authority work (those who have never created name authority records or who have only created authority records at the local level) and/or who work with authority control issues at the local level. Register online....
ALCTS, Apr. 30

Woodson, Condie at YALSA preconference
Authors Jacqueline Woodson and Ally Condie will share their insights at “Books We’ll Still Talk about 45 Years from Now,” a YALSA preconference to be held June 22 at the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. All attendees will receive a reading list in advance to evaluate dozens of YA books, using strategies drawn from YALSA’s award and selection list committees. Early Bird registration ends May 13....
YALSA, May 1

Connect teens with online tools
Join YALSA for “Source Code,” a preconference panel session featuring experts who use technology to provide cutting edge and high impact programming to help young adults build 21st-century skills as content creators and leaders in their library communities. The preconference takes place on June 22 in advance of ALA’s Annual Conference in Anaheim. Early Bird registration ends May 13....
YALSA, May 1

ALSC online education logoALSC summer online courses
ALSC has released its schedule of summer online courses. Offerings include “The Caldecott Medal: Understanding Distinguished Art in Picture Books,” “Connecting with Tween Readers,” “Introduction to Graphic Novels for Children,” “Reading Instruction and Children’s Books,” and “Out of this World Youth Programming.Register online....
ALSC, May 1

PLA Facebook Forum on disruptive patrons
PLA will host a free, hour-long Facebook Forum on how to safely manage disruptive patrons at the library May 3. Moderator Stacy Schrank, employee development coordinator at Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City, has already led a discussion on this topic in a packed room at the PLA 2012 Conference in Philadelphia. No registration is required; simply visit the PLA Facebook Page from 1 to 2 p.m. Central and post your questions....
PLA, May 1

Webinar on effective facilitation
Managers and leaders from all types of libraries will benefit from the May 9 ASCLA webinar “Being an Effective Facilitator.” Taught by Brenda Hough, the 90-minute session will prepare participants to run meetings and lead planning discussions with confidence. Register online....
ASCLA, May 1

School Library Research logoNew School Library Research website
AASL has launched a new website for its online refereed research journal, School Library Research. The new website coincides with a new name for the journal, formerly known as School Library Media Research. The name change reflects the adoption of the professional title “school librarian” and a rebirth for the journal, which presents research on instructional theory, teaching methods, and critical issues relevant to school libraries and school librarians....
AASL, May 1

YALSA journal focuses on multiple literacies
The new issue of YALSA’s Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults features two articles on multiple literacies. With this issue, YALSA is adopting a continuous publishing model, under which manuscripts will be published online as soon as they meet the journal’s review criteria....
YALSA, May 1

B-Logistics logoB-Logistics offers ALTAFF discounts
B-Logistics, which helps libraries sell, donate, or recycle unused books and media, has joined ALTAFF’s family of corporate sponsors. B-Logistics is offering ALTAFF members a $105 freight discount coupon for pickups or shipments made through August 31. To participate, log into the Friends & Foundations Zone or Trustee Zone on ALTAFF’s website....
ALTAFF, May 1

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Awards & Grants

2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award winner and Illustrator honor book Heart and Soul, written and illustrated by Kadir NelsonCoretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast
The Ethnic and Multicultural Exchange Round Table and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee will celebrate the best in children’s and young adult literature representing the African-American experience at the 2012 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast June 24 during the ALA Annual Conference. Register online....
Ethnic and Multicultural Exchange Round Table, May 1

National School Library Program of the Year crystal obeliskNational School Library Programs of the Year
Hinsdale Township (Ill.) High School District 86 and South Texas Independent School District are recipients of the 2012 National School Library Program of the Year Award. The NSLPY recognizes school library programs that meet the needs of the changing school and library environment and are fully integrated into the school’s curriculum. Sponsored by Follett Library Resources, each recipient is recognized with a crystal obelisk and $10,000 for their school library program....
AASL, May 1

Neal Wyatt2012 Margaret E. Monroe Award
Neal Wyatt (right), doctoral candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University, is the 2012 winner of RUSA’s Margaret E. Monroe Award for significant contributions to library services for adults. Wyatt was selected for her contributions to the field through her dedication as writer, teacher, mentor, and original thinker over more than a decade of professional librarianship....
RUSA, May 1

Rush Holt receives the 2012 Public Service Award from ALTAFF Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed (left) and ALTAFF President Donna McDonaldALTAFF Public Service Award
ALTAFF presented its 2012 Public Service Award to Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) at the Dirksen Senate Office Building during National Library Legislative Day activities in Washington, D.C., on April 23. In Congress, Holt has introduced the Workforce Investments through Local Libraries (WILL) Act to integrate libraries into job training efforts, and cosponsored Strengthening Kids’ Interest in Learning and Libraries (SKILLS) Act, which would establish a goal of having not less than one highly qualified school librarian in each public school....
ALA Washington Office, Apr. 25

Spectrum Scholarship logoPLA reaffirms Spectrum Support
A PLA Spectrum Scholarship will be designated in the June 2012 awards in recognition of PLA’s gift of $5,000 to ALA’s Spectrum Scholarship Program. It will be awarded to a Spectrum applicant who expresses an interest in public libraries. With this gift, PLA has donated more than $190,000 in direct support to the Spectrum Scholarship Program and more than $60,000 in support of Spectrum Scholars’ participation at PLA National Conferences....
Office for Diversity, Apr. 26

Jade Alburo2012 Sheila Suen Lai Research Grant
The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association has selected Jade Alburo (right) to receive its 2012 Sheila Suen Lai Research Grant. Alburo is librarian for Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand, and Religion at the Charles E. Young Research Library at UCLA. She received the grant for her research proposal, “Library Services and Collections for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs).”...
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Apr. 25

Eric HarbesonOakley Memorial Scholarship
ALA and the Library Copyright Alliance have selected Eric Harbeson (right), music special collections librarian at the University of Colorado at Boulder, as the first recipient of the Robert L. Oakley Memorial Scholarship Award. Harbeson will receive $1,000 to offset costs associated with attending the World Library and Information Congress in Helsinki, Finland, this August, where he will present a paper on copyright and other legal issues surrounding institutionally produced sound recordings....
ALA Washington Office, May 1

JCLC logoGrants to attend JCLC
Applications are now open for more than 40 scholarships to attend the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, September 19–23, in Kansas City, Missouri. Special scholarship categories have been created to support members of the five associations of ethnic librarians (the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association is granting four $500 scholarships for APALA members to attend), ALA members who are first-time JCLC attendees, library school students, and undergraduate students working in libraries. Apply by May 27....
Office for Diversity, May 1; Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Apr. 19

Cover of Gone, by Mo Hayder2012 Edgar Awards (PDF file)
Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of its 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction, and television published or produced in 2011. The Edgar Awards were presented to the winners April 26 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City. The winner for the Best Novel was Gone by Mo Hayden (Atlantic Monthly), and the winner for Best Young Adult book was The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall....
Mystery Writers of America, Apr. 26

Cover of How to Survive the Titanic2012 Elizabeth Longford Prize
Frances Wilson’s How to Survive the Titanic, or The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay has won the 2012 Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography. The Society of Authors will award her the £5,000 ($8,110 US) prize July 14. The Bloomsbury title follows the life of J. Bruce Ismay, owner of the Titanic and inheritor of the White Star fortune, who jumped into a lifeboat with the women and children and rowed away to safety....
The Bookseller, May 1

Cover of Into the UnknownBest Picture Books of 2011
The winners of the 2011 English Association Picture Book Awards were announced on April 30 at the Reading Shop in Oadby, Leicestershire, UK. The winners in the Key Stage 2 category (ages 8–11) were Lane Smith’s It’s a Book (Macmillan) for fiction, and Stewart Ross’s Into the Unknown, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Walker)....
English Association, Apr. 30

Gregory HillLibrary assistant pens award-winning novel
Gregory Hill’s novel East of Denver beat out 5,000 entrants to win the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Hill (right), a library assistant at the University of Denver Penrose Library, wrote his novel to capture a less depressing side of Alzheimer’s disease through dark humor after his father was diagnosed several years ago....
University of Denver Clarion, Apr. 23

Cover of Is Just a MovieOCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature
Is Just a Movie, a fiction title by Trinidadian writer Earl Lovelace, was chosen the winner of the second OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. The announcement was made at the NGC Bocas Lit Fest in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on April 28. The award is open to fiction, nonfiction, and poetry entries, and the winning title earns a prize of $10,000, sponsored by One Caribbean Media....
Bocas Lit Fest, Apr. 28

Do book awards matter?
Kaite Stover writes: “Rachel Kent asks this question at Books and Such. It’s a good question, in light of the recent news surrounding book awards. In the US, the Pulitzer board couldn’t name a clear winner from three very deserving nominees. In Australia, the Queensland Premier has announced that no winners for the Queensland Literary Prizes will be named at all and the prize is on hiatus indefinitely due to state budget cuts. Prizes do matter to all concerned, publishers, authors, and readers alike.”...
Booklist Online: Book Group Buzz, Apr. 30

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Libraries in the News

The Skelton branch of the Trenton Free Public Library stands empty in 2011Trenton mayor takes over shut branch
Trenton, New Jersey, Mayor Tony Mack reopened the former Skelton branch (right) of the Trenton Free Public Library April 30, renaming it a Mayor’s Learning Center Library. The center will operate four hours on weekdays as a space for computer access and study. Skelton was one of four branches closed in August 2010 due to city budget cuts. Library board members have criticized the mayor for taking over the library system by reclaiming the former branches and working to oust TFPL Director Kimberly Matthews. City council members and trustees have largely been left out of the planning process for the reopened facility....
Trenton (N.J.) Times, Apr. 30

Sacramento whistleblower settlement comes to $343,000
The Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library Authority agreed to pay a whistleblower $343,000 to settle her retaliation lawsuit against the agency. Senior Accounts Clerk Diane Boerman worked out the settlement with the library in March, but the terms remained secret until agency officials revealed the details April 30. Boerman sued the agency on grounds that she was denied pay raises or promotions because of her role in making public a kickback scheme that cost the library more than $800,000....
Sacramento (Calif.) Bee: Sacto 9-1-1, Apr. 30

Sacramento library board imposes furloughs
The Sacramento Public Library Authority has unilaterally enacted a contract for 241 employees. The board took action after the authority was unable to reach an agreement with Local 39 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. The contract calls for as many as 12 furlough days every 12 months in the next two fiscal years. Board members say they were left with little choice because Local 39 apparently refused to budge during negotiations that have dragged on since summer 2011....
Sacramento (Calif.) Bee, Apr. 28, 30

Woman gets probation for selling library books online
A woman who stole some 2,000 books and DVDs from libraries in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Diego, California, and tried to resell them online was sentenced April 26 to three years’ probation and ordered to stay away from all San Diego County public libraries. Maria Nater pleaded guilty in February to felony burglary and paid $7,600 in restitution at her sentencing. Elsewhere, Arthur Souza has been charged with stealing rare books from public libraries on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for resale on eBay....
KSWB-TV, San Diego, Calif., Apr. 26; Hyannis Cape Cod Times, Apr. 25

Gerbert/Hart library participates in Chicago Pride parade Chicago library maintains LGBTQ history
Rex W. Huppke writes: “The Gerber/Hart Library was founded in 1981 by a group led by historian Greg Sprague, who several years earlier had launched the Chicago Gay History Project. It eventually grew into the Midwest’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual‚ and transgender library, featuring more than 14,000 volumes, 800 periodical titles, and 100 archival collections.” But its move to a new location in late April has prompted accusations that the library’s long-standing president has effectively taken sole control of the collection, alienating many in the Chicago LGBT community and endangering the institution....
Chicago Tribune, Apr. 26

Canadian federal libraries are shutting down
The Canadian government is eliminating a series of libraries and archives throughout different departments as part of the latest budget cuts. Library and Archives Canada has announced that 20% of its workforce will be let go, and libraries in the transport, immigration, and public works departments will be eliminated. That is a scary prospect, according to researchers, genealogists, and academics who often rely on such libraries and history to develop their work....
CBC News, May 2

Bangor library named after former librarian
The Bangor campus of the University of Maine at Augusta held a ceremony May 1 to formally name its library the Nottage Library. Judith Nottage worked at the Bangor campus library for 27 years, retiring in 2009. During her tenure, she helped turn what had begun as a collection of donated books into a well-organized, professionally-managed small library that continues to serve both the Bangor campus community and the state of Maine....
University of Maine at Augusta, May 1

Rare books at UCLAUCLA to offer rare books specialization
A new specialization in rare books and print and visual culture has been approved by the Department of Information Studies at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. The curriculum is open to students earning an MLIS degree. Nationwide, there are only 13 accredited master’s level programs that offer this specialization. It will be enriched by courses taught by the California Rare Book School, which is based in the department, and UCLA’s digital humanities program....
UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies

Students use reading contest to buy books for babies
The $1,850 that students at Shepherdstown (W.Va.) Elementary School raised in March for the First Books for Babies program in Jefferson County may put a new book into the tiny fist of every baby born this year at West Virginia University Hospitals–East City Hospital in Martinsburg. It costs $7.00–$7.50 for each new book, according to Charlotte Porter, a retired children’s librarian in Shepherdstown who in 2007 founded First Books for Babies, the first program of its type in West Virginia....
Charleston (W.Va.) State Journal, Apr. 25

Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne speaks at the 70th anniversary  celebration of the Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico CityBenjamin Franklin Library celebrates 70 years
US Ambassador to Mexico Earl Anthony Wayne (right) celebrated the 70th anniversary April 26 of the Benjamin Franklin Library in the American Embassy in Mexico City. The library was established in 1942 to promote friendship and understanding between Mexico and the United States by providing access to information on their bilateral relationship. The reference desk answers nearly 21,000 queries each year, utilizing a specialized collection of materials on bilateral relations, English teaching, librarianship, and American culture....
US Embassy, Mexico, Apr. 27

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Issues

CISPAUS House passes CISPA
Frederic Lardinois writes: “On April 26, the US House of Representatives passed the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), H.R. 3523, by a vote of 248–168. Unlike SOPA, which focused on copyright violations, CISPA wants to give internet companies and the US government the tools to protect and defend themselves against cyberattacks by sharing information with each other.” ALA supported the Amash Amendment, which sought to protect library patron records and other personally identifiable information from wholesale sharing, but it was not adopted. Chloe Albanesius lists the five biggest concerns about CISPA, and Declan McCullagh explains how CISPA will affect you....
TechCrunch, Apr. 26; District Dispatch, Apr. 30; PC Magazine, Apr. 27; CNET News, Apr. 27

Public libraries in the digital age
Mary Madden and Kathryn Zickuhr of the Pew Internet and American Life Project made a presentation on “Public Libraries in the Digital Age” at the April 25 meeting of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. They presented findings on the rise of e-reading, including reading-device ownership and the general reading habits and preferences of Americans. The presentation included some fact sheets that are available for downloading....
Pew Internet and American Life Project, Apr. 25

At the Recap storage facility, in Princeton, N.J., staff members fill 750 to 1,000 requests a day from the three institutions that store materials thereCan off-site storage work for researchers?
Jennifer Howard writes: “Many major research libraries have been using remote storage for years, and their experiences show that initial heat can wear off once patrons better understand how the system works. Plenty of researchers now operate comfortably in a hybrid print-digital environment. But they still love their paper books and journals, especially in the humanities. Many historic collections exist only in print form anyway. The idea of carting books and journals off to suburban storage bunkers makes some patrons nervous.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education, Apr. 22

Jimmy Wales to advise UK on open access
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales will be advising the UK government on a plan to make all taxpayer-funded academic research in Britain available online. The initiative, which should launch within two years, was announced by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts in a speech to the Publishers Association on May 2. The plan will invigorate what is called the “academic spring”—a growing campaign among academics and research funders for open access in academic publishing....
The Guardian (UK), May 1

Online learning systems face adoption barriers
Nick DeSantis writes: “More colleges are experimenting with online learning platforms to meet the growing demand for higher education and to increase revenue in the face of budget cuts. But the next generation of online learning systems faces several barriers to adoption.”...
The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 1

Ask the Experts sign. Photo by Chris PirilloAre librarians experts?
Lane Wilkinson writes: “An expert is someone with the requisite skills and knowledge to discover and answer new questions in a given domain. It’s not just about what we know, it’s about whether and how we can use what we know. As a librarian, this brings up an interesting couple of questions: Are librarians experts and, if so, what is our area of expertise? Postmodern librarians argue that librarians are nonexperts. Realists argue that librarians are experts on information and information seeking. There’s actually no consensus.”...
Sense and Reference, May 1

More evidence for a bachelor’s degree in LIS
Steve Matthews writes: “Last December‚ I wrote a blog post on ‘Library Science Ranks #4 in Highest Unemployment.’ Some readers took exception to the data because it represented only bachelor’s-level degree information relating to librarianship employment. As we all know, those entry-level jobs are few and far between. While it seems like the current unemployment / underemployment climate makes my advocacy for a bachelor’s degree in LIS even less appealing, actually it makes it even more appealing. Seriously? Absolutely! Read on.”...
21st Century Library, Apr. 25

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Tech Talk

Asus Eee Pad Transformer PrimeThe 10 best Android tablets
Wendy Sheehan Donnell writes: “Android tablets had a rocky start, but since Google released its tablet-specific operating system, Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb,’ in 2011 we’ve seen a steady flow of high-quality Android tablets. And that’s a good thing, since they provide viable alternatives to the Apple iPad. One of the major benefits of Android is that instead of a single hardware choice, you can access the OS on a number of different tablets. The only hitch there: There isn’t a single version of Android.”...
PC Magazine, May 1

Norton logoThe best antivirus software for 2012
Neil J. Rubenking writes: “To evaluate antivirus utilities I rely on hands-on, real-world testing. The malware removal test involves installing each product on a dozen malware-infested virtual machines and challenging it to clean them up. I also refer to reports from major independent antivirus testing labs. The labs have vastly more resources than I do, so they can perform large-scale tests that would take more time than I have available. This chart summarizes our test results as well as results from the independent labs.”...
PC Magazine, Apr. 20

Nine digital tools to reduce your junk mail
Christine Erickson writes: “If you want to streamline your paper trail to next to nothing, we’ve gathered the best apps, sites‚ and services to help you stay organized and efficient. Some of these services will help manage your addresses to make sure that you stay off unwanted mailing lists, while others keep all of your bills in one secure place.”...
Mashable, Apr. 25

Evernote logoThree one–click ways to save web content for later
Rick Broida writes: “Throughout my workday, I routinely encounter websites I’d like to revisit at a later date. For example, often I’ll see something that’s good fodder for a blog post. Or something I can use as reference material in an upcoming feature. Whatever the case, regular old bookmarking doesn’t really get the job done. That’s why I rely on other services to clip, organize, and otherwise preserve important pages. Here are my three favorite solutions.”...
PC World: Business Center, Apr. 26

Onion Browser logoA mobile browser for the truly paranoid
Frederic Lardinois writes: “If, for whatever reason, you need to cover your tracks while you are browsing the web on your desktop, you have plenty of options to keep anonymous. Thanks to Orbot, Android users have the option to use the Tor network to anonymize their web browsing sessions and avoid being monitored. Now, thanks to Onion Browser, iPhone and iPad users also finally get an easy option to tunnel their web traffic through the Tor network.”...
TechCrunch, Apr. 26

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E-Content

Art by Stuart Bradford for Technology ReviewThe library of utopia
Nicholas Carr writes: “Another momentous project to build a universal library is taking shape. It springs not from Silicon Valley but from Harvard University. The Digital Public Library of America has big goals, big names, and big contributors. And yet for all the project’s strengths, its success is far from assured. Like Google before it, the DPLA is learning that the major problem with constructing a universal library nowadays has little to do with technology. It’s the thorny tangle of legal, commercial, and political issues that surrounds the publishing business. Internet or not, the world may still not be ready for the library of utopia.”...
Technology Review, May/June

The social side of reading
Linda W. Braun writes: “If you think about it, reading has always had a social component. If it didn’t, there wouldn’t be book groups around the world that take place at libraries and in people’s homes. People love to talk about what they read. What’s different now is that discussion can happen during the reading experience, inside the book, and not just outside of the book. It happens via social reading apps.”...
AL: E-Content, Apr. 26

Tablets increasingly popular as e-readers
Ebook consumers’ preference for tablets is accelerating rapidly as dedicated e-readers drop in popularity, according to a Book Industry Study Group survey. Over the course of six months, consumers’ first-choice preference for dedicated e-readers (Kindle, Nook) declined from 72% to 58%. Tablet devices are now the most preferred reading device for more than 24% of ebook buyers, up from less than 13% in August 2011....
Book Industry Study Group, Apr. 30

Who really wants DRM?
Christopher Harris writes: “Do you want DRM on your ebooks? I certainly don’t, and I would guess that most of you would much rather not have to deal with the security theater of DRM either. So who really wants to lock down your content? In addition to being an annoyance, DRM is pretty much a complete failure at actually securing digital content. All of the major DRM schema (Adobe, Kindle, Apple) have all been cracked for one-click removal. So why keep using DRM?”...
AL: E-Content, Apr. 26

Tor/Forge get rid of DRMPublishers start to reject ebook DRM
Joe Brockmeier writes: “One publisher does not a trend make, but Macmillan imprint and science-fiction house Tor/Forge’s decision to abandon DRM by July 2012 may be a sign of things to come. Tor/Forge is dropping DRM because its customers and authors have been asking for DRM–free titles. The game isn’t won yet, but it’s a safe bet that Tor/Forge won’t be the first to abandon Digital Rights Management for ebooks and other publications.” However, even without DRM on retail ebooks, DRM will remain an integral part of the library lending workflow for the foreseeable future....
ReadWrite Enterprise, Apr. 26; Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Apr. 26

Microsoft deal adds to ebook battle
Michael J. De La Merced and Julie Bosman write: “Microsoft agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Barnes & Noble’s Nook division, giving the bookstore chain stronger footing in the hotly contested electronic book market and creating an alliance that could intensify the fight over the future of digital reading.” Felix Salmon adds: “We finally have a real three-way fight on our hands in the ebook space, between three giants of tech: Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. And that can only be good for consumers.”...
New York Times: DealB%k, Apr. 30; Wired: Epicenter, Apr. 30

Karl presents the ebook petitionTopeka to send a message to ebook publishers
David Lee King writes: “Ebooks in libraries got you down? Feel like you can’t do anything about it, or that you don’t have a voice? The Topeka and Shawnee County (Kans.) Public Library wants to help. We have created a petition website, Ebooks for Libraries. Visit the website, watch the video (1:14), and sign the petition. Why do this? Our ultimate goal is to get books in all formats to our readers. This helps authors, publishers, libraries, and most importantly, our readers.”...
David Lee King, May 1; YouTube, Apr. 4

Are e-readers really green?
Nick Moran writes: “In 2009, the Book Industry Environmental Council pledged to reduce the US book industry’s carbon footprint by 20% in 2020 and by 80% in 2050. Today, it seems like many publishing houses are on their ways toward achieving the BIEC goals. The trend toward digitization is undeniable, and there are many reasons to be optimistic. But is all of this really cutting the industry’s carbon footprint? Is total ebook adoption really an ecologically responsible goal?”...
The Millions, May 1

B&N Nook GlowlightSix things e–readers could still use
Chandra Steele writes: “The Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight has lit up the world of e-ink. Simple, dedicated e–readers, with their subtle, paper–like pages offer an immersive reading experience that’s not diluted by a peek at email or a Google search that goes down a rabbit hole. Although the GlowLight has eliminated the need for ugly, clip–on light sources to read in dark bedrooms or dim airplanes, there are a few items still on the wishlists of e–reading aficionados.”...
PC Magazine, Apr. 26

Minute Help Press logoFor those with only a few minutes to spare
Roland Lomeli and Scott La Counte used to work together at the Anaheim (Calif.) Public Libraries. However, following their decision to combine their talents and start a business, the duo now run Minute Help Press, which uses the tagline, “Books for people with only minutes to spare.” Formed in 2010, Minute Help now has more than 200 books covering a number of subjects from test prep and celebrity bios to tech guides and cookbooks....
Minute Help Press, May 1

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ALA 2012 Annual Conference in Anaheim logo

The ALA Annual Conference Scheduler is now open. Plan and organize your schedule for conference ahead of time by browsing sessions in multiple ways; creating personal calendars that can be shared or kept private; and getting recommendations based on information included in user profiles. Easily add, prioritize, and update sessions, events, meetings with exhibitors, and more. There is also a scheduler Quick-Start Guide.


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Cover of Joint Libraries: Models That Work

The joint-use college/public library can be an ideal solution to serving patrons while managing overextended resources. Joint Libraries: Models That Work by Claire B. Gunnels, Susan E. Green, and Patricia M. Butler scrutinizes the successes and failures of the joint-use model. Three founding faculty librarians of a joint-use college/public library discuss the factors that should go into evaluating when and where a joint library is suitable. NEW! From ALA Editions.


Great Libraries of the World

Koninklijke Bibliotheek

Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague, Netherlands. Founded in 1798, the library originated with the collection of Prince William V of Orange and other stadtholders of the Dutch Republic. King Louis Bonaparte designated it as the Royal Library in 1806. The collection contains almost the entire literature of the Netherlands, from medieval manuscripts to modern scientific publications. In 1982, the library moved into a new, shiny white building designed by the Delft firm OD 205 that features a Reading Room of the Netherlands with 65,000 books on the history and culture of Holland.

Old Library (Handelingenkamer)

Old Library (Handelingenkamer), House of Representatives, The Hague, Netherlands. Built in 1883 by architect Cornelis Peters, the library contains all the Acts of the Dutch Parliament. To allow as much light into a building where gas fixtures were not permitted, the roof was constructed as a leaded-glass dome. Railings on the bookcases are ornamented with green velvet.

This AL Direct feature showcases 250 libraries around the world that are notable for their exquisite architecture, historic collections, and innovative services. If you find yourself on vacation near one of them, be sure to stop by for a visit. The entire list will be available in The Whole Library Handbook 5, edited by George M. Eberhart, which is scheduled for publication in 2013 by ALA Editions. There is also a Great Libraries of the World Pinterest board.

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Career Leads from
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Head of Acquisitions, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The position of Head of Acquisitions is a faculty appointment with rank leading to tenure. The successful candidate will provide leadership and expertise in all issues relating to the ordering and receipt of library materials, including: overseeing ordering and receiving of all library materials; processing payments and preparing appropriate reports and statistics; and closely monitoring budget allocation for materials. The position supervises 3 FTE staff....

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Digital Library of the Week

Ronald Reagan speaking at Pepperdine's Birth of a College dinner, 1970

Pepperdine University Libraries’ latest digital collection is the Historic Sound Recordings collection featuring streaming recordings of memorable speeches and significant events that chart the history of Pepperdine University and Southern California. The collection includes archival recordings of political speeches and debates on morality, musical performances, and lectures on history. Prominent speakers include such national figures as Ronald Reagan, Milton Friedman, and singer Pat Boone.

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.


Public Perception
How the World
Sees Us

Whatever form books take in the future, I’m betting that publishers and booksellers find a way to survive and thrive. And I’m betting that the library will be there to share that new wealth of literature, entertainment, and political and social commentary.”

—Bill Young, spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, quoted in “Library E-book Lending Hurt by Publisher Restrictions,Tulsa (Okla.) World, Apr. 30.

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Libraries Promote Importance of Protecting Wildlife and Open Space on Endangered Species Day

Siberian Tiger

What Parents Should Know About Privacy Online

Ten City Tour for Smithsonian's "The Art of Video Games" Exhibit

Living Healthfully with Diabetes

Great Songs: 'What the World Needs Now' is Jackie DeShannon

Drones Potent in War on Terror, but What are Unintended Consequences?

Civil War as Told Through the Lens of Mathew Brady

How to Pay for College: Budgeting 101

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Calendar

May 1:
Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers,
Seminar, Royal College of Pathologists, London. “Mobilizing Digital Content.”

May 1–3:
Science, Technical, and Medical Publishers,
Spring Conference, Washington Marriott, D.C. “The New Normal: Users and Publishers Evolving Publishing.”

May 3–5:
Saskatchewan Library Association,
Annual Conference, Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, Regina. “Celebrating Our Past, Embracing our Future.”

May 7–9:
ECLAP 2012,
Annual Conference, Convitto della Calza, Firenze, Italy. “Information Technologies for Performing Arts, Media Access, and Entertainment.”

May 14–16:
INFO 2012 Conference,
Tel Aviv Hilton, Tel Aviv, Israel.

May 18–21:
Council of Science Editors,
Annual Meeting, Seattle Sheraton Hotel. “Our Authors, Ourselves: Science Editing and Publishing in a Global Market.”

May 18–23:
Medical Library Association,
Annual Meeting and Exhibition, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle. “Growing Opportunities: Changing our Game.”

May 30–
June 1:

Society for Scholarly Publishing,
Annual Meeting, Marriott Crystal Gateway, Arlington, Virginia. “Social, Mobile, Agile, Global: Are You Ready?”

June 7–10:
North American Serials Interest Group,
Annual Conference, Sheraton Music City Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee.

June 11–14:
Association of Christian Librarians,
Annual Conference, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Warren Library, West Palm Beach, Florida. “Oceans of Opportunity.”

June 11–15:
Canadian Health Libraries Association,
Annual Conference, Sheraton Hotel, Hamilton, Ontario. “Cascade of Knowledge.”

June 21–26:
American Library Association,
Annual Conference, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California. “Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves.”

July 9–13:
Open Repositories 2012,
7th International Conference, George Square Campus, Edinburgh University, Scotland. “Open Services for Open Content: Local In / Global Out.”

July 10–15:
Wikimania 2012: The International Wikimedia Conference,
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

July 15–18:
Special Libraries Association,
Annual Conference and INFO-EXPO, Hilton Chicago.

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Books & Reading

Author Michael Chabon signs a book after being introducedHow to introduce an author
Janet Potter writes: “Author introduction crimes are rampant. I was recently at a literary festival where at least 10 of the roughly 15 author introductions I saw were painful to sit through. A good author introduction shows the author that you’re excited to be a partner in promoting his work and that you value the role his career plays on the literary stage, all while being informative and brief. Step One: Find out who the author is.”...
The Millions, Apr. 30

Vicki Myron and the Dewey picture bookVicki Myron: Dewey movie project stalled
Author and former librarian Vicki Myron (right) recently won the Goldfinch Award from the Iowa Association of School Librarians for her picture book, Dewey: There’s a Cat in the Library. She expressed disappointment with the script for a movie about the Spencer (Iowa) Public Library cat, Dewey Readmore Books, saying the project was essentially stalled. Myron said the script was hokey and “made fun of Iowa, made fun of Spencer, changed Dewey’s personality, and I got fired in the movie.”...
Spencer (Iowa) Daily Reporter, May 1

Cover of Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsHarry Potter changes the rules again
J. L. Bell writes: “Every new Harry Potter book changed the rules of American publishing. The first book signaled the resurgence of fantasy after years of doldrums. Then readers started using Amazon to get the second volume. That necessitated worldwide publication dates, which led to midnight book parties. The recent release of J. K. Rowling’s digital editions is making the same sort of waves. Not only is she managing those rights herself through her Pottermore site, but her team decided to release the ebooks without DRM protection.”...
Oz and Ends, Apr. 25

In defense of reading
Rebecca Halpern writes: “One of the long-standing jokes of librarianship is that we all got into the profession because ‘we love to read,’ the punchline of course being that we’re all too overworked to read for fun. While I don’t think anyone should enter professional librarianship with the expectation that reading is a requirement of the job (it isn’t), I do wish information professionals had more incentive to incorporate a love for recreational reading into our everyday practice.”...
Hack Library School, Apr. 30

Cover of I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, by Kevin SherryThinking beyond themes
Abby Johnson writes: “I decided to try something a little different with our spring storytime session. For our six weeks of storytimes, we planned five themed storytimes and I told everyone that the last week would be Librarian’s Favorites. It was really interesting watching my staff wrap their heads around planning a Librarian’s Favorites storytime. So what are some of my staff’s favorite books for preschoolers?”...
ALSC Blog, May 2

Joan Crawford, pictured reading to her daughter Christina in June 1944, serves as a cautionary tale about what happens when parents read to their childrenHow not to read aloud to your kids (satire)
Marjorie Ingall writes: “Parents, let me share a little secret. You needn’t read to your children at all. They have Angry Birds to play on your iPhone and New Super Mario Brothers to play on their DS. Your child is probably sexting right now. There is really no point in my explaining to you how not to read to your child, but I am going to do it anyway, in the Talmudic tradition of being pointlessly argumentative.”...
Tablet Magazine, May 1

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Tips & Ideas

Social media iconsFour free tools to measure social media success
Mallory Woodrow writes: “For many businesses, it can be easy to label a social campaign a huge hit or a blatant blunder, but which elements made the campaign successful? There is an array of powerful and free tools that can be used to help you understand the successes and failures of your social media promotion or campaign.”...
Social Media Examiner, Apr. 25

What your Klout score really means
Seth Stevenson writes: “Klout—a three-year-old startup based in San Francisco—is on a mission to rank the influence of every person online. Its algorithms comb through social media data: If you have a public account with Twitter, which makes updates available for anyone to read, you have a Klout score, whether you know it or not (unless you actively opt out on Klout’s website). A number of major companies (airlines, big-box retailers, hospitality brands) are discussing how best to use Klout scores.”...
Wired: Epicenter, Apr. 24

How to cite a tweet
Julie Greller writes: “A student recently asked me if they could cite a tweet in their research paper. Sure, I said, and led them to the BibMe site. Much to my surprise, none of the websites for MLA citation explained how to cite a tweet. Even EasyBib, which boasts over 59 options for citations, did not list a tweet. Here is the correct way to cite a tweet.”...
A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet, Apr. 25

"Waiting to Fly" on army.mil. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Seth Laughter, 2SFAB PAO NCOICArchiving cellphone text messages
Mike Ashenfelder writes: “As choppy and terse as cellphone texting is, it is still correspondence. And since we value and save other text correspondence (letters and email), it seems natural that we might want to save some text messages too. The problem is that saving text messages off a cellphone is not quite easy or convenient. Phones store text, phone book, and other information either on a drive or a detachable SIM card.”...
The Signal: Digital Preservation, Apr. 27

Zen and the art of constructive criticism
Erin Dorney writes: “If there were a single piece of advice I have for new professionals entering the field of librarianship, it would be to develop the skill of giving and receiving criticism. This isn’t something I’ve been able to find in an LIS course catalog, slate of webinar programming, or conference program. While we’re not formally educated in the art of critique, library professionals are required to provide and accept feedback in a variety of different situations.”...
In the Library with the Lead Pipe, May 2

Librarian of the small lending library at the Casa Grande Valley Farms. Pinal County, Arizona, Photo by Russell Lee, 194015 vintage photos of librarians
Jill Harness writes: “Here are some old photos of librarians showing both the diversity of their duties and the diversity of the workers themselves. All images are courtesy of the Library of Congress, unless otherwise mentioned. In the image on the right, a librarian is at work in 1940 in the small lending library built for the Casa Grande Valley Farms in Pinal County, Arizona, by the US Farm Security Administration.”...
Mental Floss, Apr. 27

Cover of Paper MachinesHow the card catalog transformed the business world
Larry Nix writes: “In his book Paper Machines: About Cards and Catalogs, 1548–1929 (MIT Press, 2011) Markus Krajewski tells the fascinating story of how the idea of putting information on individual pieces of paper and filing them in a prescribed manner became a significant tool in the world of business in the US and Europe. It is Krajewski’s description of the role played by the Library Bureau company, founded by Melvil Dewey, in transferring library catalog card methodology to the business world that I found most interesting.”...
Library History Buff Blog, May 1

Children of Chinatown, San Francisco. From an early 20th-century postcardIt’s Asian–Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month—a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands from New Zealand to Hawaii. The Library of Congress and the New York Public Library offer online resources for this celebration....
Library of Congress; NYPL Blogs, May 2

John Maitland MarshallRed Scare ensnared Victoria’s first bookmobile librarian
Dave Obee writes: “All John Maitland Marshall (right) wanted to do was help people get books from the new bookmobile in Victoria, British Columbia. But in 1954, he found himself at the centre of a major controversy and a victim of the Red Scare that reached into Canada and its libraries. Marshall was fired two months after he was hired, before the mobile service even hit the road. He lost his job because of his past.”...
Victoria (B.C.) Times-Colonist, Apr. 28

Denver Athletic Club Library bookplate, 1904The bookplate collection
PK writes: “The Ex Libris (bookplate) illustrations here were selected from the first half of the enormous John Starr Stewart Collection at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Will Schofield from 50Watts sampled the back half of the same database.” On the right is a Denver Athletic Club Library bookplate by Leota Woy, 1904: “Within triangular space, bald man in waistcoat and checkered pants reads a book; below, a man runs with football, DAC on his jersey.”...
BibliOdyssey, Apr. 30; 50Watts, Apr.

A variety of record formats that are commonly found in archivesSome archival career advice
Jennifer Wright writes: “The Smithsonian Institution Archives receives dozens of inquiries every year from students and recent graduates about the archives profession and how to become an archivist. Since this is such a popular topic, we decided to make our responses to the most common questions available to a wider audience. While the responses here are intended to address the archival profession in general, they ultimately reflect my own experiences and those of my immediate colleagues.”...
The Bigger Picture, Apr. 26

How to cope with the Gmail redesign
Jason Crawford writes: “Reports are coming in from around the internet that the Gmail redesign, which we were previously able to stave off with ‘revert to the old look temporarily‚’ is now forcing itself upon us. I too have succumbed to the new design, and have been forced to find ways to cope. Here’s what I did to make it semi-bearable.”...
Jason Crawford, Apr. 21

Count of Monte Cristo Kindle case from Mauz Books10 Kindle cases that look like books
Amy-Mae Elliott writes: “The Kindle offers you an entire digital library in the palm of your hand. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that you can get book-themed cases for the device. Whether you want to disguise your e-reader as something a little more analog, pay homage to a literary classic you love, or enjoy the leather look and feel of a vintage tome, we’ve got a case to suit.”...
Mashable, Apr. 27

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