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The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | October 10, 2012

Solutions and Services

APA Handbook of Behavior Analysis

AL Buyers Guide

American Libraries Online

John ChrastkaNewsmaker: An interview with John Chrastka
John Chrastka (right), ALA’s director of membership development from 2003 to 2011, didn’t leave library advocacy behind when he left to devote more time to his start-up consulting agency. First, he joined the board of the Berwyn (Ill.) Public Library. And now, in characteristically maverick fashion, Chrastka has launched a national library political action committee (PAC), EveryLibrary, to help public, school, and academic libraries get ballot initiatives passed in 2013 and beyond. Chrastka discussed his vision with AL Senior Editor Beverly Goldberg on October 5....
American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

From left: Christie Pearson Brandau, former Michigan state librarian; Susan Hildreth, IMLS director; George Needham, former Michigan state librarian; Nancy Robertson, current Michigan state librarian; Melissa Horste, regional representative for US Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.)MeL turns 20
Beth Dempsey writes: “Before Google, before Amazon, before Netscape, IE, or Bing, before the New York Times ever printed the phrase World Wide Web, there was the Michigan eLibrary. Known as MeL for short, this pioneering statewide information network is celebrating its 20th anniversary in October. The milestone was marked by a gala event October 4 that gathered hundreds of supporters from its user community, government, publishing, and libraries.”...
American Libraries news, Oct. 9

Models from Loara High School in Anaheim, California, pose in dresses for the quinceañera Fashion Show on September 27, the first ever at the city's Euclid branchPhotoessay: Hispanic Heritage Month
From mariachi performances to quinceañera fashion shows (right), libraries around the US found inventive ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, which took place from September 15 to October 15 in recognition of the contributions of people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. ¡Viva la diversidad!...
AL Focus, Oct. 10

Cover of Sept./Oct. 2012 issue of American LibrariesEditor’s Letter: Our roller-coaster summer
Laurie D. Borman writes: “If I were to write ‘What American Libraries Did This Summer,’ it would be more roller-coaster ride than Mai Tais on the beach. Such is the nature of juggling several media streams, especially when tied to news and deadlines. At the top of the hill were the twin peaks of the ALA Annual Conference and the Virtual Conference. Both offered great blog and story opportunities, interviews, inspiration, and ideas. We also visited the Special Libraries Association conference in Chicago in July.” Read the September/October American Libraries online....
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

Coretta Scott King Award sealCoretta Scott King Award seal design
Q. In the design for the Coretta Scott King Award, there are five religious symbols that are in line underneath the child reading the book. Can you verify for me what these symbols actually are? A. I sent an email to the seal’s designer, Lev Mills, asking about the symbols. And he wrote me back a letter that identified the five “nonsectarian” symbols....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Oct. 10

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Rutgers SCI

ALA News

Courtney YoungBarbara ImmrothImmroth, Young seek 2014–2015 ALA presidency
Barbara Froling Immroth, professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Information, and Courtney Louise Young, head librarian at Penn State Greater Allegheny, are the candidates for the 2014–2015 presidency of the American Library Association. Immroth and Young will engage in a candidates’ forum on January 26 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Ballot mailing for the 2013 ALA Election will begin on March 19....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 8

Mario GonzalezClara BohrerBohrer, Gonzalez running for ALA treasurer
Clara Nalli Bohrer, director of the West Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public Library, and Mario M. Gonzalez, executive director of the Passaic (N.J.) Public Library, are the candidates for treasurer of the American Library Association for 2013–2016. Bohrer and Gonzalez will engage in a candidates’ forum on January 26 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The election will close on April 26....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 9

ALA Council candidates
ALA has announced the following individuals as candidates for positions on ALA Council. These individuals were nominated by the Nominating Committee for the 2013 ALA Election. Individuals who are interested in running for ALA Council by petition (PDF file) may file them through February 4....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 8

ALA seeks Endowment Trustee
Nominations are now being accepted for the position of ALA Endowment Trustee. This is a position with a three-year term that will officially begin at the conclusion of the 2013 Annual Conference in Chicago and expire at the conclusion of the 2016 Annual Conference in Orlando. The candidate will be elected by the ALA Executive Board at its 2013 spring meeting, to be held April 28–30 in Chicago. The deadline for applications is December 15....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 9

Get all the facts you need for your advocacy efforts
Learn how to navigate the 2012 Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study for effective advocacy at the local level during the free webinar, “Driving Advocacy with Data,” on October 18. Attendees will learn how to interpret the latest data and emerging trends; access new advocacy and marketing tools, including state profiles, issue briefs, and PR templates; and use the data to make the case for your library with elected officials and community stakeholders. Visit the Adobe Connect event page to sign up....
Office for Library Advocacy, Oct. 3

DPLA logoALA welcomes DPLA to Chicago
ALA extends its welcome to attendees of DPLA Midwest and invites members of the library community to attend. Taking place on October 11–12 in Chicago, DPLA Midwest is the third major public event bringing together librarians, technologists, creators, students, government leaders, and others interested in building a Digital Public Library of America. The event will assemble a wide range of stakeholders in a broad, open forum to facilitate innovation, collaboration, and connections across the DPLA effort....
Public Information Office, Oct. 4

2012 New York Comic Con logoCheck out the ALA programs at New York Comic Con
ALA is sponsoring three panels at New York Comic Con October 11–14, the East Coast’s largest comic book and pop culture convention. “The Library as Mythic Oracle,” “The Possibilities of a Cape and Mask: How to Incorporate Superheroes into Public Library Programming,” and “Foolproof Graphic Novel Collection Development.” ALA will also sponsor a booth (#3153) where you can learn more about how to integrate comics and graphic novels into your library’s collection....
ALA Membership Blog, Oct. 9

Money Smart Week webinar
Sign up for this one-hour webinar on October 18 hosted by the ALA Chapter Relations Office and learn how your library can participate with hundreds of others across the country in Money Smart Week @ your library, April 20–27, a national initiative from ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to help members of your community better manage their personal finances. You can also sign up for the Smart Investing @ your library newsletter....
Chapter Relations Office; RUSA Blog, Oct. 1

LSSC logoLSSC program seeks collaborations
The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) program is offering to work with college programs (commonly known as LTA programs) for library support staff. The purpose of this project is to develop agreements that would allow college graduates to receive the LSSC without having to further demonstrate their skills and knowledge. The ALA–Allied Professional Association will review the courses to ensure that they cover the majority of LSSC’s competency requirements. If so, the LSSC will propose an agreement with the college....
ALA–Allied Professional Association, Oct. 8

Cover of Universal DesignUniversal design for academic libraries
A wealth of possibilities related to use of space and design exists within the walls of academic libraries. In Universal Design: A Practical Guide to Creating and Re-creating Interiors of Academic Libraries for Teaching, Learning, and Research, available through Neal-Schuman Publishers, Gail M. Staines gives readers to-the-point explanations and information on how to effectively create and recreate interiors of academic libraries for teaching, learning, and research....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 3

Cover of IndexingIndexing, from thesauri to the Semantic Web
Describing both traditional and novel techniques, Indexing: From Thesauri to the Semantic Web, available through Neal-Schuman Publishers, gives information professionals and LIS students a broad and approachable introduction to the art of indexing, an interesting but often highly complex field. Author Pierre de Keyser makes difficult techniques understandable, explaining how traditional techniques, such as thesauri, are often at the core of new techniques, like automatic indexing, ontologies, or topic maps....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 8

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Booklist Online banner

Booklist Online logo

Cover of Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and EatFeatured review: Adult nonfiction
Wilson, Bee. Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat. Oct. 2012. 336p. Basic, hardcover (978-0-465-02176-5).
At every turn, Wilson’s history of the technology of cooking and eating upends another unexamined tradition, revealing that utensils and practices now taken for granted in kitchen and at table have long and remarkable histories. The knife evolved from primitive humans’ need to reduce food to manageable portions. Thermometers helped make home ovens practical. Some of the first pleas for animal rights arose from the use of caged dogs to turn spits in front of kitchen hearths. Most societies weigh recipe ingredients, but Americans continue to measure ingredients by volume. Wilson traces this deviation back to the difficulty of lugging scales westward across the frontier. Wilson’s book teems with other delightful insights, laying to rest such questions as what Chinese parents say to their children to persuade them to finish their food, since they can’t employ the typical American admonition about children starving in China. (Answer: Don’t disrespect the sweat of the hardworking rice farmer.)...

Graphic for Top 10 Food BooksTop 10 food books: 2012
Brad Hooper writes: “Cook while reading, read while cooking. It’s a magical combination, and yours to be had with the books reviewed in Booklist over the past 12 months.”...

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

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Division News

Dare to Read for the fun of it, Teen Read Week, 2012Dare teens to read during TRW
Teens have so many demands on their time, as well as options for entertainment, that reading for pleasure often gets lost in the mix. Yet various studies show that teens who read for pleasure achieve more in school. Teen Read Week, celebrated October 14–20 this year, provides an opportunity for parents, teachers, and caregivers to encourage teens to visit the library to find a great read by offering a variety of special events and programs....
YALSA, Oct. 9

Join the conversation about teen reading
On October 17, help YALSA celebrate Teen Read Week by joining the conversation about teen reading and young adult literature via a tweet-a-thon. YALSA wants to know what’s on your YA lit reading list right now. Teens, librarians, library workers, educators, authors, and editors can tweet their YA lit reading lists, recommendations, thoughts, and ideas with the hashtag #trw12 any time on October 17....
YALSA Blog, Oct. 8

45 must-read YA books in 60 minutes
Join YALSA for “Book Blitz 2,” a one-hour webinar that highlights 45 must-know fiction and nonfiction YA titles released in the second half of 2012. Join Shauna Yusko, teacher-librarian at Evergreen Junior High in Redmond, Washington, and book reviewer guru, for this fast-paced webinar on October 18. Register online....
YALSA, Oct. 3

Picture Book Month logoAASL becomes Picture Book Month partner
AASL will celebrate the picture book during the month of November as a partner of the second annual Picture Book Month. Founded by author and storyteller Dianne de Las Casas, Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book in an increasingly digital age. School librarians are encouraged to join the celebration by becoming an ambassador....
AASL, Oct. 9

ACRL seeks proposals
ACRL is now accepting Cyber Zed Shed presentation, poster session, roundtable discussion, and Virtual Conference webcast proposal submissions for the ACRL 2013 conference to be held April 10–13 in Indianapolis. Submit proposals via the ACRL 2013 website by November 9....
ACRL, Oct. 9

The future of library consortia
LLAMA is presenting a webinar, “Sharing Our Collections: Looking to the Future, on October 17. This webinar will look at the future of consortia: shared ebook collections, floating collections, cloud-based integrated library systems, and the need to be increasingly flexible and collaborative to meet the opportunities and challenges of the future. Register online....
LLAMA, Oct. 9

LLAMA Midwinter Career Institute
Are you looking for a rocket boost to your career? LLAMA will present “Planning Your Next Career Move: Developing the Skills to Make It Happen” on January 25 in conjunction with the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Presenter Elizabeth Atcheson will spotlight career development and management skills taught by executive coaches. Register online (best before December 1)....
LLAMA, Oct. 8

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Awards & Grants

ALA receives IMLS grant to advance community engagement
ALA announced October 9 that it has received a 2012 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant of $250,837 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. ALA will partner with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation on the first phase of a multiphase initiative, “The Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities,” which will develop a sustainable national plan to transform the role of libraries in their communities by advancing community engagement and innovation....
Public Programs Office, Oct. 9

Harvey Pekar sculptureLiterary Landmark in honor of Harvey Pekar
The Cleveland Heights–University Heights (Ohio) Public Library will be designated a Literary Landmark in honor of Harvey Pekar (1939–2010), author of the iconic comic book American Splendor, on October 14 at the library’s Lee Road branch. Along with the plaque, there will be a dedication ceremony for a statue of Pekar (right) created by local sculptor Justin Coulter, with funds raised by his widow, Joyce Brabner. Pekar spent countless days at the Heights libraries, working on stories that celebrated his hometown....
United for Libraries, Oct. 9

ACRL seeks nominations for 2013 awards
With almost $35,000 donated annually by corporate sponsors, ACRL has and will continue to nominate, select, and honor the very best in academic librarianship. ACRL urges members to nominate colleagues whose work has influenced their thinking and growth as an academic librarian and whose contributions merit recognition by the profession. Nominations and supporting materials for most awards must be submitted by December 7....
ACRL, Oct. 9

2013 ALA scholarships
ALA has more than $300,000 for students who are studying library science or school librarianship at the master’s degree level. Scholarships typically range from $1,500 to $7,000 per student per year. There are scholarships available for students interested in children’s librarianship, youth librarianship, federal librarianship, new media, and library automation. Funds are also available for minorities and people with disabilities. The application and instructions are available online. The deadline is March 1....
Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Oct. 4

Carnegie-Whitney grants
The ALA Publishing Committee is offering a grant of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Applications must be received by November 2....
ALA Publishing, Oct. 9

Apply for matching grants for peace programming
Public Education for Peacebuilding Support is a new initiative of the US Institute of Peace and administered by the Institute of International Education. The initiative seeks to support American colleges, universities, and public libraries interested in holding events addressing international peace and conflict resolution. Over the next year, this initiative will provide $2,000 each to 250 institutions and public libraries. The application deadline is November 1....
US Institute of Peace, Oct. 8

Play and Learn Island, Rancho Cucamonga LibraryHarvard honors two libraries for “Bright Ideas”
The Ash Center at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government recognizes innovative government initiatives through its “Bright Ideas” program. This year, two libraries were among those honored: the Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Library for its Play and Learn Islands (right), interactive, multi-modal exhibits for children and families; and Nashville (Tenn.) Public Library for its Limitless Libraries program that provides direct access and delivery of public library resources to public schools in the community....
Harvard University Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Sept. 25

Obendorf LibraryVirginia Beach library wins architectural award
Virginia Beach’s Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library, designed by the late Laszlo Aranyi, founder of The Design Collaborative, has been selected to receive the Test of Time award from the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects. The award recognizes a structure that is no less than 25 years old. The overall design must be cherished as a significant contribution to the community and the built environment. Envisioned as an energy-efficient, day-lit facility, the Oberndorf Library is an early example of the emerging practice of sustainable design....
Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects, Oct. 8

Cover of Portraits of the Prairie, by Richard Schilling2012 Nebraska Book Awards
The Nebraska Center for the Book announced the winners of the 2012 Nebraska Book Awards on October 5. The fiction winner is Tom McNeal’s To Be Sung Underwater (Little, Brown), and the winner in the Nonfiction Nebraska As Place category is Richard Schilling’s Portraits of the Prairie: The Land That Inspired Willa Cather (University of Nebraska). Winners in all 10 categories will be honored November 3 at the Museum of Nebraska History in Lincoln....
Nebraska Library Commission, Oct. 5

Cover of A Woman in the Crossfire2012 PEN/Pinter Prize
Syrian writer Samar Yazbek, author of A Woman in the Crossfire (Haus Publishing), has been chosen as the international writer of courage who will share the 2012 PEN/Pinter Prize with British winner Carol Ann Duffy. Yazbek’s account of the revolution from inside Syria, and her vocal opposition to the Assad regime, have forced her to live in exile. Her book won a PEN award for translation this year. The award was announced at the British Library October 8 as Duffy herself formally accepted the 2012 PEN/Pinter Prize....
The Bookseller, Oct. 9

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Libraries in the News

The plaza outside the Allen County (Ind.) Public LibraryAttorney sues library over ban on plaza exhibits
Attorney David J. Kolhoff wants to educate the public about the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And he wants to do it with a bicycle, a small cart with banners, and a laptop computer on the plaza (right) outside the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. But according to a lawsuit filed October 5 in US District Court by the ACLU on behalf of Kolhoff, the library’s policy banning demonstrations and exhibits on its plaza is a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech....
Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette, Oct. 6

Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, D.C. Photo by Jeaninejo. Used CC BY-SA 3.0.School libraries without books
Valerie Strauss writes: “Imagine a newly modernized school with a built-in library/media center—but no books to put on the shelves. Actually, you don’t have to imagine.” In an open letter to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, Peter MacPherson writes: “When your office issued the press release about the ribbon-cutting at Anacostia High School (right), it noted the school received a new library/media center. Unfortunately what the school received was merely a room without any library books. The old collection, both literally and figuratively, was lost during the modernization.”...
Washington Post, Oct. 9; D.C. Executive Office of the Mayor, Sept. 14

Hope dim for Georgia Archives
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp reiterated October 8 that the lockdown of the state archives was the best of the bad options available in his mandate to cut costs. “The archives decision was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make,” Kemp, an Athens Republican, said. “But it was one that was least impactful to Georgians.” He said the archives will not be closed altogether to public and that a plan for how to handle visitation appointments is being hashed out now. Earlier, Kemp blamed the state’s efforts to combat illegal immigration as a factor in his decision to close the archives....
Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald, Oct. 8; Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Political Insider, Oct. 4

A boy uses the Adroit accessible controller at an Accessibility ArcadeDCPL to host first permanent Accessibility Arcade
The first permanent AbleGamers’ Accessibility Arcade opens October 10 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. The mayor’s office will cut the ribbon for the library’s newest display. The exhibit will be a hands-on showcase of accessible technology that can enable game playing on mainstream game systems like Xbox. The Accessibility Arcade was developed by the AbleGamers Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing greater accessibility to digital gaming. Watch the AbleGamers video (4:26)....
AbleGamers Foundation, Oct. 1; Wired: Geek Dad, Aug. 29; YouTube, Mar. 24

Willie Mae Kirk branch of the Austin (Tex.) Public LibraryAustin names branch after longtime advocate for kids
Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk was joined by about 200 people at a branch of the Austin (Tex.) Public Library October 6 to honor his mother, an influential educator and civil rights leader in Austin. Willie Mae Kirk, 91, taught in Austin for more than 32 years and has been at the center of the community’s civil rights struggles for decades. She also served on the library commission for more than a decade and helped found the Austin chapter of the Jack and Jill Foundation. The former Oak Springs branch was renamed the Willie Mae Kirk branch (above) at the ceremony....
Austin (Tex.) Statesman, Oct. 6

Merger could benefit Hammond library
Two legislators said they would consider Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr.’s proposal to merge the Hammond (Ind.) Public Library with the Lake County Public Library, but only if it makes financial sense. McDermott has said he thinks the Hammond library, which faces financial problems, should shut down and merge with the county instead of getting an $800,000 budget increase. Although the law requires both library boards to approve the merger, McDermott said he plans to ask state lawmakers to sidestep the requirement with special legislation....
Merrillville (Ind.) Post-Tribune, Oct. 6

Library closure sign on a desk at James Logan High SchoolAnonymous donation keeps high school library open
A Bay Area resident has donated $60,000 to James Logan High School in Union City, California, allowing the school to reopen its library to students for all periods. The donor insisted on remaining anonymous, a request that the cash-strapped school district was glad to honor. State budget cuts had forced the school board to slash library services, which were reduced to just one period per day at the start of the school year. But two weeks after a Bay Area News Group article on the reduction was published, the donor contacted school principal Amy McNamara and offered to cut a check to aid the library....
Fremont (Calif.) Argus, Oct. 8

Happiness is the Schulz LibrarySchulz Library creates a permanent Banned Comics section
The Center for Cartoon Studies and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund have announced the permanent addition of a “Banned Comics” section in the center’s Schulz Library. The move is both in recognition of the library’s first Banned Books Week in its new location in White River Junction, Vermont, and the first anniversary of the CBLDF acquiring the Comics Code Authority’s “seal of approval.”...
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Oct. 9

Architect's plans for Kacyiru LibraryFirst public library opens in Rwanda
Emmanuel R. Karake writes: “As I walk towards the building, several people trek towards the entrance as they admire the unique architectural design of the first modern public library (right) in Kigali, Rwanda. This is a good facility and it is well stocked. Located in Kacyiru, just 20 minutes drive from the city center, the new building can seat over 300 people and is expected to improve the reading culture in the country. The library has a book collection of over 30,000 volumes. Rwanda Public Library Services also launched October 5.”...
Kigali New Times, Oct. 5

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Issues

AAP and Google settle; questions remain
The Association of American Publishers announced October 4 that it has reached a settlement in the lawsuit filed in 2005 against Google. The five publishers who originally sued Google—Simon & Schuster, McGraw-Hill, John Wiley, Penguin Group (USA), and Pearson Education—have entered into a settlement that outlines the terms and conditions for how Google can use their works in Google Books. Since the settlement only applies to the five publishers, questions do remain. Karen Coyle notes that one unanswered question is the copyright status of the digitized works. But James Grimmelmann writes, “Google and the publishers have made their peace; this is just the treaty-signing ceremony.”...
District Dispatch, Oct. 4; Association of American Publishers, Oct. 4; Coyle’s InFormation, Oct. 6; Laboratorium, Oct. 4

According to publishers: US okay, not-US not okay. Image courtesy of Public KnowledgeSupreme Court case: Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons
Brian Herzog writes: “We’ve already kissed the First Sale Doctrine goodbye with ebooks, and now it looks like applying it to physical items is threatened too. It seems like Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons could mean, at the very least, librarians would need to check all our books for ‘Printed in the USA’ before we could resell them at a book sale, or else we risk breaking the law. It also sounds like individuals would have difficulty reselling almost anything made overseas—cellphones, cars, clothes, DVDs, etc.” Read more at Library Journal, MarketWatch, District Dispatch, and the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology.”...
Swiss Army Librarian, Oct. 10; Library Journal, Oct. 8; Wall Street Journal: MarketWatch, Oct. 7; District Dispatch, July 6; Harvard Journal of Law & Technology: JOLT Digest, Sept. 21

Access DeniedWhat to do if your school bans useful websites
Tina Barseghian writes: “The dialogue around web filtering must include bring-your-own-device policies, appropriate use of social media in schools, and the overall responsible use of technology in school. Each of these issues plays an important part in the equation that influences school policy around filtering websites. In the meantime, what should educators do when they try to access a site in school that’s blocked by the school’s filter? New Canaan (Conn.) High School Librarian Michelle Luhtala offers the following advice.”...
KQED-TV: Mind/Shift, San Francisco, Oct. 3

How private services became public
Alex Marshall writes: “Nothing is easy. Things we utterly take for granted today—things that the left, right, and center agree on—were only achieved through long hard political battles, always lasting decades, sometimes for more than a century. I’m talking about really basic stuff, like public water and sewers, policing, public education, public roads, and public libraries, to mention just a few. You see the common word here: ‘public.’ Before the 19th century, there were many private sellers of water, but few public providers.”...
Governing, Oct.

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Tech Talk

Add Google Maps to home screenHow to get Google Maps on iOS 6
Jill Duffy writes: “If you’ve updated to iOS 6 or bought an iPhone 5 (which comes with iOS 6 preinstalled), then you no longer have Google’s engine powering your Maps app, which is rather unfortunate because hands-down Google Maps provides better services and more accurate information than Apple’s Maps. There is no stand-alone Google Maps app to download from the App Store (at least not yet). But you can still get Google Maps on your iPhone and run iOS 6. Here’s how.”...
PC Magazine, Sept. 20, Oct. 8

Microsoft Office coming to smartphones
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols writes: “We’ve known for months that Microsoft was bringing a version of Microsoft Office 2013 to Android tablets and Apple’s iPad family. Now, according to the Czech tech news site, IHNED, Microsoft product manager Petr Bobek has said that Microsoft is planning to release native iOS and Android versions of Office 2013 in the first quarter of 2013.”...
ZDNet, May 23, Oct. 10; IHNED.cz, Oct. 10

Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch with retina displayHow to buy a business laptop
Joel Santo Domingo and Cisco Cheng write: “What constitutes a business laptop these days? The lines get blurrier every time a laptop so classified launches with multiple color options, a metallic finish, different screen options, and all sort of wireless and port acronyms. Lines are even blurring between tablets and laptops. In this buying guide, we will walk you through essential business features, the parts you’ll need, and how to differentiate a business laptop from a consumer model.” Here are the five best....
PC Magazine, Oct. 4

7-inch media tablets10 future-proof gadgets you’ll still love next year
Avram Piltch writes: “When it comes to tech shopping, sometimes it pays to wait for a new-and-improved model. But this fall, too much procrastination will turn you into a high-tech Hamlet wondering whether to be or not to be a Galaxy S III owner while your digital Denmark rots. Here are 10 products you can pull the trigger on today, without regretting your decision six months or a year from now when the next big thing arrives.”...
Gizmodo, Oct. 10

The PC is over
Jeff Atwood writes: “According to MG Siegler, ‘The PC is over. It will linger, but increasingly as a relic.’ He’s not entirely wrong here. It’s becoming more and more difficult to justify any situation where a traditional laptop is your best choice—even a modern, svelte, fancypants laptop. Our phones are now so fast and capable as personal computers that I’m starting to wonder why I don’t just use the thing I always have in my pocket as my laptop, plugging it into a keyboard and display as necessary.”...
Coding Horror, Oct. 1; Massive Greatness, Sept. 20

Why mobile video is set to explode
Mobile video is quickly becoming a mass consumer phenomenon, much as digital photos were earlier in the smartphone adoption cycle. In a new report, BI Intelligence analyzes the impact of 4G LTE and device design improvements on mobile video growth, examines who watches mobile video and how they watch it, and details the monetization opportunity. Here are the reasons why mobile video usage is about to explode....
Business Insider, Oct. 9

Kindle PaperwhiteNewly enlightened e-readers
David Pogue writes: “There are two kinds of ebook gadgets. There are those with E Ink screens (cheap, light, thin, no color, long battery life, great to read in bright sunlight, useless in the dark). And there are those with color screens (heavier, thicker, pricier, great to read in low light, tough to read in sunlight). In April, Barnes & Noble introduced an E Ink e-reader whose background lights up with a soft glow (GlowLight). Amazon’s response was the new Kindle Paperwhite (above); the headline here is that the Paperwhite’s lighting is better than the Nook’s.”...
New York Times, Oct. 3

Responsive web design and libraries
Lisa Kurt writes: “Responsive web design is not really a new concept, yet libraries and many websites in general still have a way to go in adopting this method of web design. ACRL’s TechConnect has covered various web design topics, including mobile applications, hybrid mobile applications, design basics, and website readability. Consider the responsive web design approach and its benefits as another tool in your toolbelt and yet another option for libraries to present themselves online to their users. So what is it?”...
ACRL TechConnect Blog, Oct. 4

Herbert Van de Sompel's keynote at EMTACL12Emerging technologies in academic libraries
Lukas Koster writes: “I attended the EMTACL12 conference in Trondheim, Norway, October 1–3, organized by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology library. EMTACL stands for ‘emerging technologies in academic libraries.’ Looking back, my impression was that the conference was not so much about emerging technologies as about emerging tasks using existing technologies. Technologies mentioned were linked data, APIs, mobile computing, visualization, infrastructure, and communication.”...
CommonPlace.net, Oct. 10

DuraSpace logoUIUC creates digital repository with open source software
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a new way to manage its digital assets. The library recently implemented a digital archive system to store and preserve intellectual property and digital content created by its students, faculty, and administrators. The digital repository is based on a solution that combines DuraSpace Open Source Fedora Commons Repository Software with the Dell DX Object Storage Platform. The system is designed to scale with the university’s content needs....
Campus Technology, Oct. 1

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E-Content

Skip DyeRandom House on ebooks in libraries
Skip Dye (right), Random House vice president and director of library and academic marketing and sales, discussed his views on ebooks in libraries in a recent interview: “In March we raised our ebook prices for public and school library use. We feel that there is a value in setting these new e-prices based upon unrestricted and perpetual availability of our complete frontlist and backlist. We are constantly experimenting, evaluating, and adjusting different price points for our ebooks for the library and school-use market. My hope is that we will get circulation information that over time will better enable us to establish mutually workable pricing levels.”...
Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Oct. 8

Research libraries boost spending on digital materials
Alisha Azevedo writes: “Spending by research libraries appears to be rising, especially for digital materials, according to new data from the Association of Research Libraries. The data is part of ARL’s Library Investment Index, which ranks the association’s member libraries each year based on total library expenditures, salaries and wages of professional staff, spending on library materials, and the number of professional and support staff. The upward trend for the 2011 fiscal year was the first in several years.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 9

Bucharest metro station digital libraryNew ebook library in Bucharest subway
Vodafone Romania, in collaboration with the Humanitas publishing house, has launched an ambient advertising campaign in the metro station in Victory Square, Bucharest. The walls are covered with large-format posters from top to bottom. Commuters who enter the station suddenly discover that they’re in an impressive library. They can then use their smartphones to scan QR codes visible on the spines of the books and go to the Vodafone Digital Library, from where they can download free samples of 49 ebooks (EPUB or PDF format) and 10 audiobooks....
Ebook Friendly, Oct. 5

BookShout logoBookShout lets readers import ebooks from any platform
BookShout, a social reading and book retail application, is introducing new technology that will allow its users to legally import their previous and future ebook purchases into their BookShout accounts, free of charge, no matter where they were purchased. Announced at TOC Frankfurt, BookShout will allow users beginning October 9 to import ebooks purchased at Amazon or Barnes & Noble into their accounts and have all the titles available in one location....
Publishers Weekly, Oct. 9

iDCL Reader appDouglas County Libraries’ new library ebook app
David Rothman writes: “The innovative Douglas County Libraries system in Colorado has done it again—with the release of a new iOS app for iPads, iPhones, and presumably Touches and the forthcoming iPad Mini. Significantly, the app makes it a snap to check out library ebooks without forcing you to download through a web browser. More features are on the way, according to Monique Sendze, DCL’s associate director of information technology.”...
LibraryCity, Oct. 8

FastPencil logoLibrary users can make their own ebooks with FastPencil
Digital publishing company FastPencil has partnered with Auto-Graphics, a technology company with tools for libraries, bringing library patrons access to FastPencil’s book publishing engine. Essentially, the partnership will assist library users in designing, publishing, and selling ebooks that they have written through their local libraries....
AppNewser, Oct. 4

Publishers raise print prices to reflect library value (satire)
Jamie LaRue writes: “Today Random House announced that it will be raising the price on individual purchases of print books by an average of 430%. ‘Let’s face it,’ said company spokesman Sam Snively, ‘if you just buy a book and only one person reads it, our authors just aren’t getting the same kind of exposure that they’d get at, say, a library. Libraries display the book, write reviews for the local paper, host authors, and even do book clubs. Consumers don’t do any of that.’”...
myliblog, Oct. 9

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ALA Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, January 25–29.

Steven Johnson

You won’t want to miss Midwinter Auditorium Speaker Steven Johnson on Saturday. One of the most brilliant and inspiring visionaries of contemporary culture, Johnson will offer his hopeful, affirmative outlook for the future. The bestselling author will address ideas from his latest book Future Perfect: The Case for Progress in a Networked Age.


Midwest Tape


Innovative Interfaces


Library Worklife


Project MUSE


Simmons GSLIS


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Now unlimited-use subscribers can build and transfer their Booklist lists directly to Ingram’s ipage right in Booklist Online. Find out more details about how your school, library, or business can have unlimited simultaneous and remote access to Booklist Online. NEW! From Booklist Online.


Great Libraries of the World

Hereford Cathedral Chained Library

Hereford Cathedral Chained Library, Hereford, UK. Some 1,500 books are tethered by iron chains to bookcases as a precaution against theft. Two of the most valuable are a unique copy of the 13th-century Hereford antiphonary and an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon Gospel. A specially designed chamber in the new library building allows visitors to see the chained library in its original arrangement as it was in 1611–1841 and keeps the books under controlled environmental conditions.

John Rylands University Library, University of Manchester

John Rylands University Library, Manchester, UK. This research library was founded by Enriqueta Augustina Rylands as a memorial to her late husband, textile millionaire John Rylands. Designed in Victorian Gothic style by architect Basil Champneys, the library opened to the public in 1900. Its collections feature exquisite medieval illuminated manuscripts, examples of the earliest forms of European printing, and the personal papers of distinguished historical figures including novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, physicist John Dalton, and Anglican cleric John Wesley. It also houses a collection of thousands of papyrus fragments and documents from North Africa and Greece, among them the 2nd-century St. John Fragment, generally accepted as the earliest extant record of a canonical New Testament text. Since 1972 the building has served as the special collections division of the University of Manchester.

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

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Director of Advancement, University of Illinois at Chicago Library. The Director of Advancement is the chief advancement officer for the UIC Library. The Director plans and implements development-focused programs designed to increase philanthropic support of the Library’s strategic funding priorities. The Director also provides leadership and counsel to the Dean and other Library faculty and staff on all advancement-related matters. Additional responsibilities include devising goals and strategies plus carrying out tactical activities to secure and steward philanthropic support; and managing a portfolio of Library donors and prospects, with particular emphasis on those who donate significant corporate / foundation grants and in-kind gifts of general or special collection materials....

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Digital Library of the Week

Aboriginal man stands in front of Uluru/Ayers Rock, Harney McCaffery Collection, Northern Territory Library. PH0510/0055

Trove is the National Library of Australia’s discovery experience focused on Australia and Australians. It is a search engine that contains links to more than 311 million books, articles, photos, objects, newspapers, maps, music, diaries, letters, archives, people, organizations, and archived websites. Based on Picture Australia that the National Library launched in 2000, Trove has evolved into a centralized national service built with the collaboration of major libraries of Australia. One remarkable feature of the search engine is that it allows users to search the database of digitized newspapers from 1803 to 1954, which are now free of copyright. Users are encouraged to register for a free account, which enables them to correct any scanning errors they discover.

Do you know of a digital library collection that we can mention in this AL Direct feature? Tell us about it. Browse previous Digital Libraries of the Week at the I Love Libraries site, Check out our Featured Digital Libraries Pinterest board.


Noted and Quoted

“If librarians were honest, / they wouldn’t smile, or act / welcoming.... / They would post danger / signs warning that contact / might result in mood swings, / severe changes in vision, / and mind-altering effects.”

—Joseph Mills, “If Librarians Were Honest” (PDF file), in Sending Christmas Cards to Huck and Hamlet (Press 53, 2012).

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Scout Denied Eagle Rank Because He Is Gay

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Calendar

Oct. 26–30:
American Society for Information Science and Technology,
Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland. “Information, Interaction, Innovation.”

Nov. 2:
ACRL Oklahoma Chapter,
Fall Conference, Tulsa Community College Southeast Campus. “Library without Walls: Mobile Tech and the Future of Libraries.”

Nov. 2–7:
Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries,
Annual Meeting, Marriott Marquis, San Francisco.

Nov. 8–9:
Digital Public Library of America Appfest,
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library. An informal, open call for both ideas and functional examples of creative and engaging ways to use the content and metadata in the DPLA back-end platform.

Nov. 13–14:
The Next Chapter: Rare Books in Modern Times,
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. Sponsored by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts.

Nov. 14–18:
Dublin Book Festival,
Dublin, Ireland.

Nov. 15–16:
ARL–ACRL Human Resources Symposium,
Dupont Circle Hotel, Washington, D.C. Registration required by October 11.

Nov. 15–17:
Middle East Librarians Association,
Annual Meeting, Sheraton Denver Hotel.

Nov. 30:
Texas Social Media Research Institute,
Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas.

Dec. 10–11:
Coalition for Networked Information,
Fall Membership Meeting, Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Jan. 15–17:
Digital Book World Conference and Expo,
Hilton New York Hotel, New York City. “Opportunity. Innovation. Success.”

Jan. 22–25:
Association for Library and Information Science Education,
Annual Conference, Hyatt Hotel, Seattle. “Always the Beautiful Question.”

Jan. 25–29:
American Library Association,
Midwinter Meeting, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle. “The Conversation Starts Here...”

Feb. 5–7:
Document Recognition and Retrieval Conference,
Hyatt Regency near the San Francisco Airport.

Feb. 14–18:
American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Annual Meeting, Boston. “The Beauty and Benefits of Science.”

Mar. 21–24:
Association of Architecture School Librarians,
Annual Conference, Grand Hyatt Union Square, San Francisco.

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Books & Reading

Book Mountain, Spijkenisse, NetherlandsClimb a mountain of books
Ashley Wells writes: “The Dutch firm MVRDV has just completed its latest project: the Book Mountain and Library Quarter, both part of a larger plan to breathe new life into the town of Spijkenisse, located within the Rotterdam metropolitan area. A series of commercial and community spaces are stacked into a pyramid-shaped structure, which is wrapped in a 480-meter-long bookcase. The glass façades fully expose the library shelves, inviting people to step in and grab a book.”...
The Atlantic Cities, Oct. 6

How long will people read history books?
William Cronon writes: “History is one of the few remaining book-based disciplines in the modern academy. The digital revolution represents by far the greatest threat to books and book reading—as well as their most likely salvation. Imperfect though they still are, ebook readers may yet enable books to survive in the digital age. The much bigger problem is that the long arguments and narratives on which the best history writing has always depended require many pages—many screens—to be absorbed, understood, and appreciated.”...
Perspectives on History, Oct.

Graphic deluxe edition for Sense and Sensibility's 200th anniversary. Cover by Audrey NiffeneggerThe persuasive books of Jane Austen
Julie Oreskovich writes: “Jane Austen is one of the best-loved English authors of all time. Born December 16, 1775, Austen made a mark on the literary world with her romantic fiction set among the landed gentry in England. Her books have been continuously in print since 1833. You’ll find her books in leather, cloth, and embroidery. There are comics, box sets, two centuries of rare editions, and numerous biographies about her.” Here are some sample editions....
AbeBooks, Oct. 9

Cover of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan10 essential books for book nerds
Emily Temple writes: “What makes a book nerd? Reading a lot of books and liking to talk about them is a major requirement, but there’s often something a little more nebulous involved: Book nerds are the kinds of people who get a little thrill when walking into a bookstore and who press volumes into their friends’ hands with serious promises of life-changing moments. Robin Sloan’s recently published Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is a book for such people, for whom we’ve put together a list of other essential items.”...
Flavorwire, Oct. 7

Cover of Quintana of Charyn, by Melina MarchettaThe next big thing in YA fantasy
Annie Schutte writes: “There were a few years there where fantasy seemed like it was on the outs, relegated to the back table with the Dungeons and Dragons players and fairy-tale enthusiasts. This lackluster popularity has started to shift over the past few years with authors such as Kristen Cashore and John Flanagan rising in popularity. But even now the top titles on Amazon in the Teens Fantasy category are all occupied by science fiction and supernatural blockbusters. That’s all about to change. Here’s why.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 4

Subtext logoThe new face of social reading
Linda W. Braun writes: “Raise your hand if you use Goodreads, or if you love to talk about what you are reading, or if you can’t wait to talk about a chapter you just read. All of these activities are signs that in some way all of us are social readers, and we crave and appreciate social reading experiences. Today, with the Web 2.0 world and with mobile apps, the possibilities for social reading experiences have grown in extraordinary ways.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 6

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, by Mo WillemsThe Kindergarten Canon
Michael J. Petrilli writes: “One of the great joys of parenthood is reading to my two young sons. Partly it’s the visceral experience, but it’s also about the books: an endless treasure trove of stories to share, pictures to enjoy, traditions to pass along. I got to wondering: Is there a list of the must-read picture books for preschoolers? A ‘canon,’ if you will? I couldn’t find one, so I decided to create one. With help from some friends, I now present to you the Kindergarten Canon.”...
Thomas B. Fordham Institute: Flypaper, Oct. 9

Book bathtub, from Missoula (Mont.) Public Library book art board15 Pinterest boards for book lovers
What can book lovers find on Pinterest? The better question is, what can’t book lovers find on Pinterest? From maps in children’s books to bookmobiles to book-spine poetry, you can find it on Pinterest. Here are 15 exceptionally entertaining Pinterest boards for you to explore....
Delightful Children’s Books, Oct. 7

The jig is up, your life is through. This borrowed book is overdue! Richard WilsonMenacing bookplates
Steven J. Gertz writes: “Lew Jaffe, the man with the bookplate jones, has recently added some intimidating specimens to his website, Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie. There is a long tradition of oaths, curses, and doomsaying against those who steal books. These bookplates, all dating from the 20th century, suggest that scimitars, stilettos, snickersnees, and the gallows are therapeutic tools for bibliolarceny.”...
Booktryst, Oct. 5; Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie, Sept. 30, Oct. 6

Jo Bell, Canal Laureate. Photo by Andy PrattJo Bell makes a splash as UK Canal Laureate
Jo Bell—poet, boat dweller, archaeologist, and author—was announced as the UK’s first-ever Canal Laureate, on October 4, National Poetry Day, the annual event that she has been managing. The Canal and River Trust worked with the Poetry Society to find the ideal candidate to write watery verse and organize rippling events, and Bell quickly emerged as the frontrunner. The trust hopes that Bell’s work will inspire people to explore their local waterways and maybe write their own poems....
The Guardian (UK), Oct. 4

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Tips & Ideas

Google Street View on a smartphoneGoogle Street View on mobile browsers
Stan Schroeder writes: “Google Street View is now available on mobile browsers. To check it out, go to maps.google.com in your mobile browser, search for a location, and click on the ‘pegman’ icon at the bottom right of the screen to access Street View. While that sounds simple enough, the feature could definitely use some improvements. For example, it’s impossible to access Street View from the regular map view: You actually have to search for a specific location first for the pegman to become available.”...
Mashable, Oct. 4

New Twitter profile on an iPadHow to upgrade your Twitter profile to the new design
Heather Mansfield writes: “Now that nonprofits are officially in the throes of peak fundraising season, upgrading to the new Twitter profile design launched on September 18 is likely low on the priority lists of many nonprofit communications and fundraising staff. The good news is that upgrading to the new design is very easy. It simply requires uploading a new Header image to your profile. The most difficult part will be finding a background image to use that looks good on multiple screens.”...
Nonprofit Tech 2.0, Oct. 1; Twitter Blog, Sept. 18

Family vacation, 1924Want to attract a new audience?
Nancy Dowd writes: “While many libraries are promoting Banned Books Week, most Americans are busy planning trips. According to a survey conducted by Orbitz, 68% of Americans are planning a trip before Thanksgiving. That’s great information for libraries looking to engage families and attract new audiences during the hectic fall months. Yes, defend our rights to read, but you may want to focus on targeting your services to those travelers. So let’s connect the dots.”...
The “M” Word: Marketing Libraries, Oct. 6; Orbitz, Oct. 2

Cornell will train Chinese librarians in preservation
Thanks to a $180,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, Cornell University Library will launch an internship program in November that will allow eight interns from four libraries in China to come to Ithaca, New York, to study with experts in the library’s Department of Preservation and Conservation. The conservators will show them how to mitigate the immediate physical risks that threaten some of China’s most significant historical collections and greatly extend the life of their valuable books....
Cornell University Library, Oct. 4

Pearl.com logoThe million-dollar reference desk
Jean P. O’Grady writes: “Today I came across a story in Wired that describes what may be a new model for the future of research support: Pearl.com. At this point they offer the services of only a handful of specialties, yet they have built a multimillion-dollar business. The service seems to be a cross between a reference desk and Angie’s List. Pearl connects people with questions to ‘professionals’ who can provide answers. According to the Wired story, Pearl.com gets 250,000 questions per month and has earned $100 million in annual revenue. Are librarians selling themselves short?”...
Dewey B Strategic, Oct. 10; Wired, Oct. 9

A zoomorphic initial found in London, British Library, MS Harley 2798, f. 151r.Describing medieval manuscripts
For those of you unfamiliar with medieval manuscripts, here are some handy tips to help you tell your quires from your graduals. The British Library’s Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts supplies a helpful glossary to the terms used in describing medieval manuscripts. The glossary provides explanations of the common terms you may encounter, from Abbreviations (“often used to save space and effort when writing”) to Zoomorphic Initial (above, “an initial partly or wholly composed of animal forms”)....
British Library: Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts Blog, Oct. 8

Art.sy logoDiscover the world’s great art on Art.sy
Richard Byrne writes: “Art.sy is a new site that has indexed thousands of works of art that you can view online. It allows you to browse for artworks according to medium, style, subject matter, movement, or region in which the art is produced. Once you’ve found an artwork that you like, Art.sy helps you find more by suggesting related works. It will serve as a nice supplement to art history and art appreciation courses.” Art.sy went live on October 8....
Free Technology for Teachers, Oct. 9; New York Times, Oct. 8

Screenshot from Rutgers RIOT tutorialRutgers RIOT animated research tutorial
Stephen Abram writes: “Rutgers RIOT is an animated research tutorial. It plays like a five-part animated movie with each part featuring characters explaining an aspect of the research process: selecting a topic, finding sources, choosing keywords, identifying citations, and evaluating sources. There are text documents available to accompany the videos. Here are their five modules.”...
Stephen’s Lighthouse, Oct. 9

Ida B. Wells-Barnett wearing “Martyred Negro Soldiers” button, ca. 1917-1919. Ida B. Wells Papers, Special Collections Research Center, The University of Chicago LibraryChicago, Northwestern launch UNCAP archives website
The University of Chicago Library and Northwestern University Library have launched an innovative collaboration to support research in primary archival sources. The Uncovering New Chicago Archives Project (UNCAP) is a freely available website that delivers hundreds of finding aids representing strengths of the archival collections of the two institutions. Through the new site, researchers can search across collections and institutions for information on a broad range of topics....
University of Chicago Library News, Oct. 8

Freedom of Information Act. Image from the National Security ArchiveTips on how to use FOIA
Malcolm Byrne writes: “The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), along with the related Mandatory Declassification Review process, is one of the most important, yet arguably least appreciated, tools we have in this country for opening up our history, understanding how our government works, and promoting accountability among public officials. But how does it work, and how can you make it work for you? That’s the subject of this week’s posting.”...
Free Government Information, Oct. 9; Unredacted

Installing a panel of the Digital Scholarship Lab's video wallBrown University’s Patrick Ma Digital Scholarship Lab
In October, Brown University is opening up the Patrick Ma Digital Scholarship Lab in the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library. The lab features a large-scale visualization video wall consisting of 12 high-resolution, 55-inch LED screens that form a 7-by-16-foot display with a combined resolution of over 24 megapixels, creating a high-quality viewing and analytical space. It also features a surround-sound audio system, videoconferencing capabilities, specialized lighting, and several individual touch-screen monitors....
Brown University Library News, Oct. 3

Oak Park (Ill.) Public Library's Idea BoxLive, from the Oak Park PL Idea Box
Christina Endres writes: “The Idea Box at Oak Park (Ill.) Public Library is a new experiment in community participation and library programming. According to its website, the Idea Box is an exciting participatory community space located right at the Main Library’s entrance. The 9-by-13-foot glass-enclosed space opened in March and has played host to several popular exhibitions. We spoke with Customer Service Manager Monica Harris, who manages the Idea Box, about the space and a recent Idea Box exhibition called ‘Real Art Work (RAW).’”...
Library As Incubator Project, June 25

How to handle negative feedback on your blog
Jen Sebastian writes: “Disgruntled fans, readers, visitors, and customers can rock your blogging world in a matter of seconds with one simple, negative public post on your page. How you handle and react to that negative feedback on your blog is very important, because it is now out there for the public to see and can affect your brand negatively or positively. Here is some advice.”...
Socialnomics, Oct. 8

The font of all wisdom. Photo by joshme17, used CC BY 3.0Nine reasons why I have a chronic library habit
Laura Grace Weldon writes: “My name is Laura. I have a chronic library habit. For those of you who don’t bliss out over libraries—or worse, dismiss libraries as dim places with a distinctive old book smell—here are the nine best reasons to get hooked on libraries. The first: Magic water (above). Even though I realize there’s no factual basis for this belief, library water still seems more deeply refreshing than ordinary water. Try it and see for yourself.”...
All Things Mothering, Sept. 25

I geek logoOCLC to expand its Geek the Library campaign
Geek the Library, OCLC’s community awareness campaign designed to highlight the value of US public libraries, has received $1.9 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to extend participation in the program to 1,000 additional libraries through June 2015. The funding allows increased emphasis on library staff planning and implementation of the program, and will help staff build on the knowledge and skills they need to be effective advocates for libraries in their communities....
OCLC, Oct. 4

Screenshot of Onion News Network reportThe back of the library smells like weed (satire)
In Pennington, Illinois, Head Librarian Cooky Stevens (left) and library volunteers Margaret Monsour and Gail Fredericks were discussing the upcoming book sale extravaganza when they smelled something strange that seemed to be coming from behind the computer desk between the magazine rack and that weird couch. “Gail knew what it was,” Stevens said with a smile. “I guessed,” Fredericks emphasized....
Onion News Network, Nov. 25, 2011

Screenshot of Meredith Myers in "The Raven Is Hard to Handle" videoThe Raven is Hard to Handle
On October 7, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe died at age 40. Meredith Myers, the Stand-Up Librarian, celebrated the anniversary by promoting Poe and libraries in her new literary parody music video, “The Raven Is Hard to Handle” (3:51), a mashup of Poe’s poem The Raven with “Hard to Handle” by The Black Crowes. Myers shares some making-of moments in a blog post. (The Librarian is played by her acting coach Corinne Broskette.)...
YouTube, Oct. 4; StandUpLibrarian blog, Oct. 5

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