Newsmaker: 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.

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

Photoessay: 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

Editor’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 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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Immroth, 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

Bohrer, 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

ALA 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

Check 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 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

Universal 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

Indexing, 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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Dare 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

AASL 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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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

Literary 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

Harvard 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

Virginia 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

2012 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

2012 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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Attorney 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

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

DCPL 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

Austin 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

Anonymous 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

Schulz 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

First 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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ALA Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, January 25–29.

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.

Book Cover Remix: Win $25 in Art Supplies and a Banned Books Week Tote Bag Great Group Reads Scout Denied Eagle Rank Because He Is Gay How to Pay for College: Internships Flow--The Meaning of Water Elizabeth Percer: 'It's really the place where we get to find common ground as a family' (video) Cuban Missile Crisis Almost Led to Nuclear War Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

Climb 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.

The 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

10 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

The 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

The 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

The 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

15 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

Menacing 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 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

Google 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

How 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

Want 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

The 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

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

Discover 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

Rutgers 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

Chicago, 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

Tips 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

Brown 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

Live, 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

Nine 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

OCLC 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

The 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

The 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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