How libraries count in the 2012 election
As icons of civic engagement in America, libraries are perfectly positioned to host voter registration drives and, as local statutes permit, serve as venues for early voting and Election Day polls. In this particularly spirited election year, libraries may be playing their largest role yet in such efforts. Consequently, they have also been drawn into the national debate over how best to protect voter rights and election integrity....
American Libraries news, Oct. 17

Geek love at New York Comic-Con
Kate Kosturski writes: “Librarians and library lovers are an integral part of comics, TV, film, and books, both as characters in media and creators of media. With that in mind, the New York Comic-Con organizers dedicated the first of their four-day gala of geek love (October 11–14) to all those who use pop culture as an education tool, which, of course, includes librarians. I attended all four days of NYCC and reported on the sights, smells (particularly bacon), First Amendment rights, censorship battles, and digital comics at the convention for American Libraries, from the perspective of a librarian and fan.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, Oct. 12–13, 17

Looking to the future of digital libraries
Jordan Brandes writes: “Librarians from all over the world converged on the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago on October 11–12 for the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Midwest conference. The meeting was the third major public event to bring together everyone interested in creating a national digital public access library. In one event, John Palfrey (right), chair of the DPLA steering committee, joined ALA President Maureen Sullivan in a discussion about planning the structure of the digital library.” Read more details on DPLA collaboration, metadata, content infrastructure, and future plans. George Mason University History Professor Dan Cohen also reports on DPLA Midwest....
AL: Inside Scoop, Oct. 12; Dan Cohen’s Digital Humanities Blog, Oct. 16

Donating ebooks?
Q. I’d like to be able donate ebooks I have purchased to my local library, but I’m told this isn’t possible. Is there legislation in the works that can correct this? A. Ebooks cannot be donated because their use is governed by contract rather than the copyright law. In general, contracts for ebooks you acquire—from iBooks, for example—have a non-negotiable license linked to the work. As for legislation, there is none. Since contract law is a state law, you could reach out to your state legislators....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Oct. 17

Photoessay: Banned Books Week displays
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, the national book community’s annual celebration of the freedom to read. BBW, which was held September 30–October 6, featured the first-ever honorary cochairs, Bill Moyers and Judith Davidson Moyers, the Banned Books Virtual Read-Out, and the 50 State Salute to Banned Books Week. Libraries across the country also hosted readings, exhibits, and other activities....
AL Focus, Oct. 11

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ALA receives IMLS grant to study digital library resources
ALA has received a three-year National Leadership Grant of $486,587 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to conduct a study of “Public Libraries as Providers of Digitally Inclusive Services and Resources: A National Survey Redefined.” The study, building on the success of the long-running Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study (PLFTAS), will use qualitative and quantitative methods to focus on digital literacy and digital inclusion....
Office for Research and Statistics, Oct. 16

Last chance to comment on the digital literacy report
The OITP Digital Literacy Task Force released a preliminary copy of its report “Digital Literacy, Libraries, and Public Policy” (PDF file) in September for comments. The report provides a broad overview of digital literacy policy in public, academic, and school libraries. The comment period ends October 19....
OITP Digital Literacy Task Force

Join the digital literacy conversation
Jazzy Wright writes: “On November 14 and December 11, the Office for Information Technology Policy and its Digital Literacy Task Force will host the next two conversations (of a continuing series) where we explore the role of libraries in supporting and deepening digital literacy skills development for students, the general public, and colleagues in other professions. RSVP for one or both conversations.”...
District Dispatch, Oct. 16

Background on the ALA budget
ALA Treasurer James Neal (right) writes: “The past year has been challenging for ALA, reflecting both the difficult economic conditions affecting libraries across the US and our continuing focus on a strong Association that supports the work of libraries and the needs of their users. ALA is ending FY2012 with a deficit. This reflects lower-than-expected revenue from conference exhibits and registration at Annual. But the outlook for the FY2013 budget is stronger.”...
ALA Treasurer’s Report, Oct. 15

Volunteer to serve on a committee
ALA President-elect Barbara Stripling encourages members to volunteer to serve on ALA and Council committees for the 2013–2014 term. Committee appointments will be finalized at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting, with notifications sent out in early spring. The online committee volunteer form (login required) closes on November 2....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 16

International Games Day
With International Games Day @ your library just around the corner on November 3, ALA is offering free publicity resources to help libraries of all types publicize their local activities. Librarians can find free publicity tools online, including logos and other downloadable artwork, a sample press release, letter to the editor, customizable PSA scripts, and postcards....
Public Information Office, Oct. 15

Talk about games and gaming at Midwinter
The ALA Games and Gaming Round Table is accepting presentation proposals on games and gaming in libraries for the ALA Midwinter Meeting, January 25–29, in Seattle. The event will take place on January 26. Presenters will be required to provide a 20-minute presentation and then be available for a Q&A period. Proposals are due November 2....
Games and Gaming Round Table, Oct. 11

OITP receives funding to continue Edge Initiative
The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy has received an $81,600 grant addendum from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to continue its participation in the Edge Initiative. OITP and PLA serve on the Edge coalition of organizations that provide leadership for the development of public access technology benchmarks and associated training, support materials, and assessment tools....
District Dispatch, Oct. 17

Muslim Journeys, Peacebuilding
The ALA Public Programs Office has announced a new funding opportunity for prospective applicants for the ALA/NEH Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys program. Applications will be accepted online through October 25. Also, the US Institute of Peace will support up to 250 organizations (including public and academic libraries) in its Public Education for Peacebuilding Support, enabling them to hold events that promote the understanding of peacebuilding and international conflict resolution. Eligible institutions may apply by November 1 to receive up to $2,000 in matching support for programming....
Public Programs Office, Oct. 15

OLOS toolkit on reducing homelessness
Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness through Library Engagement, the latest toolkit from the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, is now available as a free print or digital edition (PDF file). Developed by OLOS and the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table, Extending Our Reach offers tips, tools, resources, model programs, and best practices to assist librarians and library staffers in creating meaningful library services for people who are experiencing homelessness....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Oct. 15

FTRF announces nominating committee
The Freedom to Read Foundation has selected its nominating committee for the April 2013 election. The committee members are: Judith Platt (chair), Jonathan Bloom, and Julius C. Jefferson Jr. Six positions on the FTRF board of trustees will be filled in the election. Nominations for these positions should be submitted by December 14....
Freedom to Read Foundation, Oct. 16

Programs by teens for teens
By popular demand, ALA Editions is offering a new iteration of its popular workshop, “Collaborating with Teens to Build Better Library Programs,” with Jennifer Velásquez, coordinator of teen services for the San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library System. The workshop will take place in two 90-minute sessions on December 5 and 12....
ALA Editions, Oct. 16

Digital libraries and information access
Digital Libraries and Information Access: Research Perspectives offers an authoritative and truly global exploration of current research in digital libraries. In this new book published by Neal-Schuman Publishers, editors G. G. Chowdhury and Schubert Foo, together with a blue-ribbon team of internationally renowned academics, discuss what has been achieved with digital libraries and what we can expect in the future....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 16

Social media in the pharmaceutical industry
Technologies such as semantic search, cloud computing, and mobile applications have already had an impact on the future relationships between drug makers and doctors, a development described by the term Pharma 3.0. From Science 2.0 to Pharma 3.0: Semantic Search and Social Media in the Pharmaceutical Industry and STM Publishing, available through Neal-Schuman Publishers, examines these developments, discussing the best and worst of Web 2.0 in science communication and health....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 16

Academic and professional publishing
Bringing together expert publishing professionals to provide insight into industry developments, Academic and Professional Publishing, available through Neal-Schuman Publishers, details the challenges content providers face and the cutting-edge processes and procedures used to meet them. Edited by Robert Campbell, Ed Pentz, and Ian Borthwick, this book provides a comprehensive look at what publishers do, how they work to add value, and what the future may bring....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 15

Lessons in leadership
As our communities grow more diverse, leadership positions in the library must reflect the changing makeup of our culture. Leadership in Libraries: A Focus on Ethnic-Minority Librarians, available through Neal-Schuman Publishers, highlights the need to expand traditional views of leadership positions to embrace minorities. Aimed at anyone interested in cross-cultural leadership, it both gives real-world examples of the particular challenges facing minorities and provides those in the dominant culture with tools to understand their own role in maintaining the status quo....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Oct. 15

ALA books for soldiers in World War I
Michael Lieberman writes: “During World War I, ALA undertook a massive campaign to get reading material into the hands of our soldiers. One of its initiatives to bolster Army libraries was to set up camp outside the New York Public Library (right). These images portray the campaign’s efforts and astounding success. The history of these efforts is covered in depth in the seminal work by Theodore Wesley Koch, Books in the War: The Romance of the Library War Service, published in 1919 by Houghton Mifflin.”...
Book Patrol, Oct. 15

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Teens choose Divergent as their favorite Top Ten
Teen readers across the country chose Divergent by Veronica Roth as their favorite book in the annual Teens’ Top Ten vote, sponsored by YALSA. Teens voted online between August 15 and September 15, with the official list announcement during Teen Read Week, October 14–20. A video announcement (2:05) of the list is available on YouTube. The winning books (PDF file) will also be featured on YALSA’s literature blog, The Hub, spotlighting a different book each day....
YALSA, Oct. 15; YouTube, Oct. 15

Teen Read Week: Crafting “It Came from the Library”
Courtney L. Lewis writes: “I don’t know about your library, but in my high school library, crafts are king. After a stressful day, there is nothing students like to do better than to relax and use their hands to create in a group of friends. So when I considered tying into Teen Read Week, I would add in a few crafts afternoons on our early dismissal days. What should I focus on? With Halloween around the corner, having a costume brainstorm/work day session is a great start.”...
YALSA Blog, Oct. 15

LITA offers a course in HTML5
LITA will offer a new four-day web course, “Building Web Applications with HTML5, CSS3, and Javascript: An Introduction to HTML5,” presented by Jason Clark of Montana State University Library, on November 9, 12, 13, 15. Participants will examine the trends and enhancements that HTML5, CSS3, and the new Javascript APIs enable, talk through the specifics of implementation, and work through building a prototype HTML5 application. Additional self-paced modules are available in Moodle. Register online....
LITA, Oct. 16

Report on the 2012 LITA National Forum
Patrick Hogan writes: “On October 4–7, some 300 librarians gathered in Columbus, Ohio, for the LITA National Forum, where the focus was on technology, despite the distraction of BeardCon. The annual forum is an idea-generator with project-focused presentations and plenty of time to mingle with colleagues. I attended a couple of programs that showed how practical applications of technology can solve basic library problems. Take incorrectly shelved books, for instance, which can be spotted using the ShelvAR app for Android phones (above).”...
ALA TechSource Blog, Oct. 15

The 2012 ALSC National Institute
Joella Peterson writes: “While simultaneously playing with Legos and listening to author Gary Paulsen (right) speak, I realized the 2012 ALSC Institute is a lot like Legos. At the institute, September 20–22, I could listen to authors, network with other librarians, and discover new ideas while attending the programs. Each of these experiences then built upon each other as if they were Lego bricks to create a structure of ideas to take back to my library. Here are some of the bricks that I picked up in Indianapolis.” Read other ALSC Institute reports here....
ALSC Blog, Oct. 15

Puzzled by PDA? ALCTS can help
Many librarians feel that patron-driven acquisitions (PDA), involving the patrons in selecting books for libraries, has sprung out of nowhere. The Guide to Implementing and Managing Patron-Driven Acquisitions, a new ALCTS publication, presents the history of library services that led to patron-driven acquisitions in its current form. Author Suzanne M. Ward explains how PDA can be an important component of a successful collection development strategies....
ALCTS, Oct. 16

ACRL Immersion ’13 Teaching with Technology track
ACRL is accepting applications for its Information Literacy Immersion ’13 Teaching with Technology track. The track will provide a practical and design-minded framework for evaluating instructional technologies in order to integrate them more effectively into face-to-face or online teaching. Complete program details and application materials are on the ACRL website. The application deadline is December 7....
ACRL, Oct. 16

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A Printz of an award
Michael Cart writes: “It was a dream come true, an historic moment. It was the next big thing of its day, for nothing like it had previously existed. It was the creation of an award to honor the best young adult book of the year—“best” being defined solely in terms of literary merit. It was, of course, the Michael L. Printz Award. First presented in the year 2000, it was a new award for a new millennium.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 11

Sullivan wins Emerson Greenaway Award
ALA President Maureen Sullivan (on the left) is the 2012 winner of the Emerson Greenaway Award, offered annually by the New England Library Association to recognize distinguished service in the field of librarianship. Sullivan was cited for her extensive presentations at state, regional, and national library conferences on transforming libraries and librarianship, leadership, improving work relationships, and creating the collaborative organization. The award was presented at the NELA Conference in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, October 14–16....
New England Library Association, Oct. 16

Lynden library wins 2012 Mora Award
The Lynden branch of the Whatcom County (Wash.) Library System is the winner of the 2012 Estela and Raúl Mora Award for exemplary efforts promoting El día de los niños, El día de los libros / Children’s Day, Book Day. The branch will receive $1,000 and a plaque commemorating its efforts. Lynden’s Día celebration featured a book giveaway for each child, craft activities led by bilingual teen volunteers, and several storytimes, each followed by a game of lotería (Mexican bingo) with books as prizes....
Reforma, Oct. 15

2012 Federal Depository Libraries of the Year (PDF file)
The US Government Printing Office has recognized the Newark (N.J.) Public Library, the Olin Library at Washington University in St. Louis (right), and the University at Buffalo (N.Y.) Libraries as the 2012 Federal Depository Libraries of the Year. GPO selected them for their individual efforts to keep the public informed and to share their federal government expertise with other libraries locally and across the nation....
Government Printing Office, Oct. 15

Apply for a Big Read grant
The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations and public libraries to develop community-wide reading programs between September 2013 and June 2014. The Big Read is designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. Apply by February 5....
The Big Read, Oct. 16

Hilary Mantel wins the Man Booker Prize again
Hilary Mantel has made Man Booker Prize history by becoming the first woman and the first British writer to win the literary award twice. Bring Up the Bodies, the blistering and bloody second installment of her trilogy charting the life of Thomas Cromwell, was also the first sequel to triumph in the prize’s 43-year history. The first installment, Wolf Hall, won in 2009. The chairman of the Booker judges, Sir Peter Stothard, called Mantel “the greatest modern English prose writer” working today, and said she had “rewritten the book on writing historical fiction.”...
The Guardian (UK), Oct. 16

Mo Yan wins Nobel Prize for literature
Chinese writer Mo Yan won the 2012 Nobel Prize for literature October 11 for works that combine “hallucinatory realism” with folk tales, history, and contemporary life in China. Mo, who was once so destitute he ate tree bark and weeds to survive, is the first Chinese national to win the $1.2 million literature prize, awarded by the Swedish Academy. Some of his books have been banned as “provocative and vulgar” by Chinese authorities, but he has also been criticized as being too close to the Communist Party....
Reuters, Oct. 11

Ferlinghetti declines Hungarian poetry prize
In early October, famed poet, publisher, bookstore owner, artist, and activist Lawrence Ferlinghetti had been awarded the Janus Pannonius International Poetry Prize from the Hungarian PEN Club, a chapter of the larger PEN organization. Established this year, the prize carries a €50,000 ($64,700 US) financial award. But Ferlinghetti discovered that a sizeable portion of the prize money was provided by the Hungarian government, which has been widely accused of stifling free speech. He decided to decline the award....
New Directions Publishing, Oct. 11

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The education of Tony Marx
Jacob Bernstein writes: “Everywhere Tony Marx (right) goes, he does a lot of smiling and nodding. As the president of the New York Public Library (a job he took over in July 2011, after eight years as the president of Amherst), it is his job to smile and nod at big-name writers around whom the library plans events. Smiling and nodding are certainly what he was doing on an early September evening at a cocktail party for the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art at the Museum of Arts and Design, working the room, introducing himself to everyone, offering tours, giving pats on the back, and providing reassurances to people who appeared to be slightly wary of him.”...
New York Times, Oct. 10

California high school considers ban on Stephen King book
A high school in California is considering banning Stephen King’s book Different Seasons because of a sexual scene. Rocklin High School is considering banning the story collection because of a passage in one of the stories, titled “Apt Pupil,” in which one of the main characters, Todd, rapes a woman. The school took the book off library shelves after a parent objected to the scene. But a Rocklin senior complained to the school board, and the book was put back in the library while the issue is debated....
Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 15

Resident upset with King County’s yaoi manga
Maren Williams writes: “According to the B-Town Blog, Travis de Nevers’s niece, an avid reader of manga, recently went into the King County (Wash.) Library System’s White Center branch while her grandmother waited outside and checked out several books, including the boys-love title Hero-Heel 2 by Makoto Tateno. A few days later, de Nevers looked through the book after noticing the publisher’s parental advisory label on the cover. Unfamiliar with yaoi manga, he reported being shocked to find images of two men having sex.”...
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Oct. 16; B-Town Blog, Oct. 13

Los Angeles Public Library restores hours
While Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles City Council continue to deal with lingering budget deficits, there’s one bright spot amid the darkness—public libraries are now open longer. Starting October 15, added hours at the city’s 73 branches is the second phase of returning the public library system to its former glory. The turnaround came after L.A. Weekly exposed severe budget cuts to the libraries. Public library officials and the librarians’ union credit that article for the creation and passage of Measure L, which infused the library system with more cash....
L.A. Weekly, Sept. 16, 2010; Oct. 15

Libraries lead in public internet access
The picture of 13-year-old Rodjohnnay Thomas doing her homework at a computer at the Atlantic City (N.J.) Free Public Library, which accompanied an October 8 story about libraries and internet access, brings two thoughts to mind. The first is that students who are this dedicated—Thomas comes to the library almost every day to do her homework—are a reason to be optimistic about the future. The second is that libraries are doing something right....
Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), Oct. 8, 11

Detroit branch dedicates reading garden
Children of southwest Detroit welcomed a reading garden to the Detroit Public Library’s Conely branch on October 13, a place where adults hope their love of books will grow as fast as the flowers they will eventually plant. The garden features a 3D mosaic statuary of a girl reading and a boy gazing at the sky. They sit on top of a cement-molded tree trunk, where a five-year time capsule is hidden, filled with the drawings and stories of the children from this highly dense, youth-driven community....
Detroit Free Press, Oct. 14

Students help Indiana school library rebuild after tornado
Students at St. James School in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, are helping an Indiana elementary school rebuild its library after a tornado leveled its building on March 2. Students in grades 4–8 have been busy for the past few weeks writing letters to Henryville (Ind.) Elementary School students after reading an article (above) about the disaster in the September issue of Scholastic’s Storyworks magazine. The company offered to make a donation to the school in the name of Storyworks readers for every letter received....
Sewickley (Pa.) Herald, Oct. 10

Missing from six school libraries: Librarians
Students can’t come inside the brand-new Hill Central School library in New Haven, Connecticut. The door is locked because there is no librarian on staff despite the $46 million spent on the new school—one of six schools that still have no librarians seven weeks into the school year. “We have a wonderful library—it’s just sad and empty. It breaks my heart every day,” said a teacher who declined to give her name for fear of retribution from the central office. Public Schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo recently said he expects to fill the vacancies....
New Haven (Conn.) Independent, Aug. 24, Oct. 15

Former director pleads not guilty to tax fraud
The former director of the East Chicago (Ind.) Public Library pleaded not guilty October 16 to filing false tax returns, federal court records in Hammond show. Manuel Montalvo (right) was indicted earlier in October on two counts of filing false tax returns for 2009 and 2010. He is accused of overstating business expenses and medical and dental expenses totaling more than $80,000. His jury trial is set for December 10....
East Chicago (Ind.) Community News, Oct. 16

Harvard sacrifices its library on the altar of efficiency
Sandra Y. L. Korn writes: “Last week, both the Harvard Crimson and the Harvard Gazette published stories about Harvard’s library transition. Although both articles quoted some library administrators applauding the achievement of the completed reorganization, the Crimson’s article discussed an important side of the library transition story that was notably lacking in Harvard’s official account: the stories of the workers in Harvard’s libraries. What exactly transitioned in Harvard’s libraries in the past eight months?”...
Harvard Crimson, Oct. 5, 11; Harvard Gazette, Oct. 4

American Dental Association to dismantle its library
Mary J. Hayes writes: “It’s a sad day when a profession cannot justify supporting its own special library. But apparently the American Dental Association has done just that. The board of trustees is submitting to the upcoming ADA House of Delegates a budget that does not include or support the dental profession’s premiere library in Chicago. As one of a handful of dually trained and degreed dentists and medical librarians, I have read this news with dismay and deep sadness.”...
DrBicuspid.com, Oct. 16

Kafka papers to go to National Library of Israel
An Israeli court has ruled the literary estate of writer Max Brod (1884–1968, right), including the writings of his friend, Czech author Franz Kafka, will be transferred to the National Library of Israel after more than four decades in private hands. In a Tel Aviv family court ruling published October 14, Justice Talia Kopelman-Pardo said the Brod collection should be handed to the library, which also serves the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, after establishing that it was Brod’s original intent....
Agence France-Presse, Oct. 14

Norwegian libraries prepare for change
Developing a creative library sector that can cope with change requires competencies in change management and innovation. In cooperation with Bergen University College, the Hordaland County Library in Bergen has established a study program, “Change Management, Innovation, and Knowledge Management” for the county’s library staff. “The fact that so many library employees in the county complete the program is bound to make a difference,” said one of the students....
Scandinavian Library Quarterly 45, no. 3 (2012)

José Martí National Library to reopen in Havana
After a three-year restoration project, the José Martí National Library in Havana, Cuba, is reopening its doors to researchers and the general public on October 22. The refurbished library will feature major improvements in climate control, electrical systems, plumbing, elevators, furnishings, and microfilm equipment. The marble walls and floors have been polished and the roof waterproofed. The library staff has also optimized its user services....
CubaNews, Oct. 4

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ALA Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, January 25–29. Stay connected and informed at Midwinter. There are many options to make sure you get updates and have a chance to start networking right away. Join the Midwinter Facebook community. Follow @alamw on Twitter and track tweets at #alamw13. Visit alamidwinter.org. (Any of these places will tell you exactly when the Conference Scheduler opens in mid-November.)

International Games Day @ your library Pizza on the Brain: New Pizza Museum to Open in Philadelphia How to Get a Great Job: Making the Decision Why Can't I Get the Shark Music from 'Jaws' Out of My Head? Alan Sitomer: 'The beauty is they're free' (video) Book Cover Remix: Vote for Your Favorite Anti-Bully Month: News Anchor, High School Senior Fight Back Against Bullies Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

The 100 greatest American novels, 1891–1991
Jeff O’Neal writes: “I decided to draw up a list of major works that would serve as a starting point and overview of 20th-century American fiction. And then the trouble began. As you might imagine, there are all sorts of problems with any such list: What does important mean? Are only American authors included? Are 1900 and 2000 meaningful start and end dates? So here’s what I came up with. You’ll notice that as you approach 1991, there are more texts per decade.”...
Book Riot, Oct. 3

Tarzan: King of the bookshelves
First appearing in an issue of the pulp publication All-Story Magazine in October 1912, Tarzan remains one of the most recognizable characters in storytelling—a genuine cultural icon that has been parodied again and again. Edgar Rice Burroughs’s creation has appeared in books and comics, and his adventures have been broadcast on radio, television, and cinema (80+ movies). Burroughs was not the world’s greatest writer, but he was an excellent storyteller....
AbeBooks, Oct. 11

Queer YA: Beyond gay
Emily Calkins writes: “There are 55 queer YA novels being published in 2012, meaning that queer YA is just 1.6% of all YA coming out this year. Characters in this year’s queer YA are less likely than ever to fit clearly into categories like gay or lesbian. YA novels will begin to feature more characters who have complicated and fluid sexualities and gender identities. A recent surge in novels about transgendered characters (Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirsten Cronn-Mills, Happy Families by Tanita Davis, I Am J by Cris Beam, and Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, to name a few) is just the beginning of this trend.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 11; Malinda Lo, June 25

Kidlitionary
Tara Lazar writes: “We who work in children’s literature speak a language all our own. No, I’m not talking about ‘simultaneous submissions’ or ‘stet.’ You’ll see what I mean when you read the Kidlitionary. Caldecutt: Being snubbed for a Caldecott honor. Motown: Northampton, Massachusetts, home to Mo Willems. Shel shocked: The despair and horror you feel after taking a terrible author head shot (right).”...
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them), Oct. 4

The 10 best books about miserable media jobs
Michelle Rafferty writes: “So you think you want to work in media. We asked Jessica Grose, former Slate and Jezebel editor and author of this month’s Sad Desk Salad, what books she would recommend for anyone considering a career in blogging. She did us one better with this comprehensive list on the less glamorous side of publishing, advertising, and film—fields notorious for high burnout, abusive bosses, and soul-crushing competition.”...
Flavorwire, Oct. 15

15 Lovecraftian stories to read once you’ve read all of Lovecraft
John Dupuis writes: “Longtime readers will know that I’m a big fan of the works of H. P. Lovecraft. I’ve read all of Lovecraft’s original fiction (though not all the collaboration and ghost-written works) and even a fair bit of Lovecraftian or Cthulhuvian-themed works by other writers. But there’s always more Mythos works being written and older works I’ve not tracked down yet. Here are a bunch, recommended by Dan Roth at Blastr, many of which I’ve not seen or heard of.”...
Confessions of a Science Librarian, Oct. 12

France in the year 2000
France in the Year 2000 (XXI century) was a series of futuristic pictures by Jean-Marc Côté and other artists issued in France in 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1910. Originally in the form of paper cards enclosed in cigarette or cigar boxes and later as postcards, the images depicted the world as it was imagined to be like in the year 2000. There are at least 87 cards known that were authored by various French artists, the first series being produced for the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. Above, direct-to-brain learning in school....
The Public Domain Review, June 30

The first American sex manual
Stephen Gertz writes: “Aristotle's Complete Master-Piece was the first guide to sexual relations, pregnancy, and childbirth published in America—in Boston yet, that hotbed of Colonial steam and agitation—in 1766 by Zechariah Feeling, i.e., Zechariah Fowle, with whom famed early American printer Isaiah Thomas apprenticed and later partnered. Three years after the Seven Years’ War ended, Americans were ready and anxious to read about the facts of life.”...
Booktryst, Oct. 15

Google online exhibitions
Emily Price writes: “Now you can learn about 42 important historical events from the last century on your computer through the Google Cultural Institute. The product of a partnership between Google and several museums and cultural foundations, the online exhibit combines letters, first-hand video testimonials, and manuscripts into a multimedia historical journey. The October 10 release includes a look back at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, D-Day, and the Holocaust....
Mashable, Oct. 10

Open Access Week preview
Abby Clobridge writes: “Organizations around the world are gearing up to celebrate Open Access Week, officially held October 22–28. For most institutions, Open Access Week is a way to increase the visibility of open access among scientists, researchers, librarians, university faculty members, and students. At the same time, it also provides opportunities for open access practitioners to exchange knowledge and share ideas. An increasing number of libraries, publishers, research funding agencies, NGOs, and other organizations are hosting workshops, speeches, and other types of events.”...
Information Today, Oct. 15

Get into the ‘spirit’ of the Halloween season
Angela Hanshaw writes: “It’s that time of year again, when things get a little . . . spooky. Hunting for something a little different? Check out supernatural library programs designed to inform, fright, and delight, such as a visit by the International Paranormal Reporting Group to the Hailey (Idaho) Public Library (right) or the New Bern–Craven County (N.C.) Public Library’s program by the Haunted and Supernatural Enlightenment Research Society of Jacksonville, which will answer the questions, ‘Do ghosts and spirits exist? How do we find them?’”...
Programming Librarian, Oct. 11

Internet memes identify the Next Big Thing
Ariel Cummins writes: “I’ve rounded up some of the internet’s most loved children (memes) to get their opinions on what the Next Big Thing in YA is. If you’re still fuzzy on what a meme is, head on over to the Internet Meme Database, Know Your Meme, but be warned—it’s from the wilds of the internet, so there may be things that aren’t safe for all eyes. I’ll let the memes take it from here.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 16

Library-themed Starbucks to open in Tokyo
The Starbucks coffee experience is assuming an intellectual identity in Tokyo, where design team Nendo will unveil a library-themed Starbucks coffee shop. Temporary Starbucks stores are a trend in Tokyo, but this store aims to elevate the creative concept. It will line the walls with endless shelves, each containing nine differently colored books that represent a distinct espresso drink. The purchasing counter can easily pass as a library’s circulation desk, where coffee rather than books is the thing shared....
The Daily Meal, Oct. 15; Nendo, Sept.

National Mastermind BrainTwister Challenge
Pressman Toy Corporation is holding a Mastermind BrainTwister Challenge through December 31. The challenge is for students ages 7–12 who can come up with puzzles, word problems, or games that have a solution or riddle. Two first-place winners will be awarded $1,000 scholarships, and three additional winners will win $100. Each of the first-place winners will name a teacher or librarian to receive $250. Teacher/librarians can sign up here. The rules are here....
Pressman Toy Corporation, Oct. 1

Avoiding five common research errors
Jim Heddell writes: “A boy went to war in 1914 and left his bike chained to a small tree. He never made it home. His family left the bike by the tree in his memory. This is that tree today (right). The story about the boy is not true. Unfortunately, you would be amazed at the number of people who saw the picture, read that caption, and believed it. This led us to think about what similar mistakes people make while researching. Here is what we came up with.”...
Rootsonomy Blog, Oct. 12; Snopes, Mar. 23

The library as a dangerous place
Phil Bradley writes: “We always portray the library as a nice, safe, warm, and welcoming space. But a library doesn’t deal in books or artifacts, it deals in thoughts and ideas. It provides people with the opportunity to think things through, to challenge the status quo, to better themselves, to learn new skills and to improve old ones. I want to see posters that ask Why? or How? or Why not? Posters that show people the library is a place to think. I want to see posters like the one I created (right).”...
Phil Bradley’s Weblog, Oct. 10

University presses and libraries turn to Pinterest
Kate Rix writes: “University presses are making widespread use of Pinterest to promote new book titles. Likewise, academic libraries are using their Pinterest pages to promote events and help fund major capital improvements. For libraries and archives, a major ongoing mission is to keep the collections visible. It’s not easy to let the world know about your one-of-a-kind holdings, and Pinterest potentially offers a great way to bring these materials to new and younger audiences.”...
Open Culture, Oct. 8

ProQuest study on business faculty research sources
In addition to using scholarly journals for active research projects, business faculty rely on materials that share insights and ideas ahead of publication, according to a new study (PDF file) from ProQuest that explores non-journal resources. Business faculty members are using working papers, printed books, preprints, conference proceedings, and dissertations to explore specific research topics. When asked about passive forms of research, newspapers join books at the top of most-used resources....
ProQuest, Oct. 17

Crossroads and trailmarkers
Topher Lawton writes: “Librarians tell stories. They may do so quite directly, and I imagine that a favorite memory for many people is the local librarian with her book (or his guitar, or her puppets) reading aloud to a captivated group of children and a not-so-secretly-listening audience of parents. Librarians today, though, are also starting to tell other stories: stories from data, community stories in social media, and stories that would otherwise be silenced.”...
Hack Library School, Oct. 13

The librarian’s plea
Rita Meade writes: “If you happen to see the librarian at the reference desk during a quiet moment, please do not approach her and bellow ‘Well! Your job certainly seems easy!’ Every time you accuse her of having an easy job, she feels like what she does all day holds little value. And what you don't know is that not five minutes before, the librarian had been helping a patron look up homeless shelters for the winter, calming a screaming child by holding an impromptu picture-book reading session, or assisting someone with filling out an application for disability benefits.”...
Screwy Decimal, Oct. 12

Questions to ask yourself before accepting a job offer
Angela Smith writes: “Congratulations—you got a job offer! Thank the company for the offer, then take some time to evaluate it before you accept. Remember, this is a place you’re going to be for a while, so you want to take the time you need to determine whether it’s going to be the right fit. Here is a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you sign on the dotted line.”...
The Daily Muse, Oct. 15

Bizarre-looking libraries from all over
Emily Temple writes: “We’ve shown you many beautiful libraries and some very cool libraries converted from unused spaces, but now we thought we’d take a look at the more bizarre-looking buildings of the bunch. Of course, some are beautiful in their bizarreness, and some are just strange. Many look like spaceships—but hey, we would totally welcome landing spaceships full of books, wouldn’t you? Click through to see a few bizarre-looking libraries from around the world.”...
Flavorwire, July 4, 15, Oct. 10

Meet the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Kristi Finefield writes: “Fishbowls, Whittling, Email, and Ice cream parlors. What could those four terms possibly have in common? It turns out they are all recent additions to the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials (TGM). Which naturally leads to the question: What is the Thesaurus for Graphic Materials? Briefly, TGM is a tool for indexing visual materials, both by subject and by genre or format. It provides a standard vocabulary for activities, types of people, events, objects, and even broad concepts, such as education.”...
Picture This: Library of Congress Prints & Photos, Oct. 12

The Tabard Inn Library revolving bookcases
Larry Nix writes: “I was recently contacted by Chuck from Florida who shared an image of his restored Tabard Inn Library revolving bookcase (right). These bookcases are wonderful pieces of furniture as well as an integral part of the story of Seymour Eaton’s two libraries—the Booklovers Library and the Tabard Inn Library. Eaton indicated that 10,000 of these bookcases would be manufactured at a rate of 25 and then 50 a day. The bookcases were placed in drug stores, hotels, and even public libraries.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Oct. 10

NaNoWriMo @ your library
Many aspiring novelists are brainstorming and charging their laptops in preparation for visiting your library during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). National Novel Writing Month is a creative writing project whose goal is to get people of all ages to try to write a novel of 50,000 words by the end of November. Many libraries across the country are acting as Come Write In points for participants, offering a welcoming environment for people as they work on their novels. Here are a few examples of how libraries are participating....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Oct. 16

Going Mad at the library
Carey Vance writes: “Enticing children to come to the library for a writing workshop is about as hard as it gets for most librarians but writing practice is vital to growing better readers. So what can you do to get kids excited about writing their own stories and learning about grammar? Mad Libs!”...
ALSC Blog, Oct. 17

Heather Warren’s kid-lit tattoo
Cory Doctorow writes: “Today I stopped in at the Whitman branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. The children’s librarian at the branch was the brilliant Heather Warren, who has overseen a total overhaul of the way kids’ services are provided. She also has a completely awesome kids’-literature-inspired sleeve tattoo (done by Bird of the Black Vulture Gallery). See the full set of photos here.”...
Boing Boing, Oct. 16

Musicircus at Wake Forest University
Staffers at Wake Forest University’s Z. Smith Reynolds Library in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, love it when someone approaches them with a new idea on how to use their space. A music professor shared his plans to hold a month-long Cagefest to celebrate the 100th anniversary of John Cage’s birth and suggested that he kick it off with a Musicircus in the library atrium. Musicircus, created by Cage in 1967, is a musical event for any number of musicians to perform individual works in the same place at the same time. The event was held September 28, and this is a video excerpt (3:31)....
YouTube, Sept. 29

Great library card PSA by Jefferson County (Colo.) PL
Some of the smartest people in Colorado have their library cards, among them Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia (right), as well as others spotlighted in this promotional video (1:01) by the Jefferson County (Colo.) Public Library. “Be smart. Get a library card.”...
Jefferson County (Colo.) Public Library, Oct. 12

McKeldin Library goes Gangnam style
A flash mob of 2,500+ University of Maryland, College Park, students joined Testudo, featured dancers, and members of the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band to dance to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” (3:37) in and outside the McKeldin Library. Created by student Drew Blais....
YouTube, Sept. 28

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