The visible hand of the market?
Jamie LaRue writes: “In the past few months, the prices of ebooks for libraries—and in particular, some large price increases—have received considerable attention. But these discussions typically occur in the abstract. I decided that a focus on actual prices would greatly illuminate the challenges that libraries face. Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries has compiled a new price comparison report (PDF file) that will be updated monthly. In addition to the American Libraries E-Content blog, this report also will be available at Evoke.”...
AL: E-Content, Sept. 10

Teens geek out at digital learning labs
Greg Landgraf writes: “Teenagers are natural and voracious media consumers. But new research suggests that teens can learn more effectively in hands-on projects where they can be creative and think critically. The Institute of Museum and Library Services and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation made $100,000 grants in November 2011 to eight libraries and four museums to plan and design their own digital learning labs where teens can hang out, mess around, and geek out. In the process, these young patrons are learning to create media rather than just consume it.”...
American Libraries feature

Technology in Practice: Let’s #makeithappen
Meredith Farkas writes: “Have you ever seen something in your work that you wanted to change but did nothing about it? What stopped you? Maybe you didn’t do it because you were too busy, but maybe you also felt that creating change was too daunting and you didn’t feel capable of making it happen. The Twitter hashtag #makeithappen, coined by librarian J. P. Porcaro, is a rallying cry for librarians new to the profession to let go of whatever is keeping them from taking professional risks and creating change.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

Internet Librarian: The march of time
Joe Janes writes: “Can it really be 10 years since I began writing this column? It doesn’t seem possible, yet there I am, horrible picture and all, chirpily nattering away on page 74 of the September 2002 American Libraries. A lot of water has gone under many bridges since then, which puts me in a nostalgic frame of mind. I could revisit those past 10 years, but it seems more interesting to go back 10 more to get a broader perspective. So let’s have a look at what was going on in 1992.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

Animated video promotes reading
Todd Frei and Benjamin McFadden, digital librarians for Wake County (N.C.) Public Libraries, created “Read: The Motion Picture” (1:33), a stop-motion animated video to promote reading among its patrons. McFadden drew more than 700 images as animated GIFs, which were then projected onto a marker board, captured by camera, and edited by Frei. The library is offering to edit the ending credits so it can be used as a promotion by other libraries. If you are interested in having the video custom-edited, contact Wake County’s Digital Library department....
AL Focus, Sept. 10

2012 international digital supplement
American Libraries’ 2012 international digital supplement, with coverage of the IFLA conference in Helsinki by former AL Editor Leonard Kniffel, is now available online. You can also read about ALA’s new International AL Direct e-newsletter, implementation of RDA, international advocacy efforts, ALA web-based e-content and online learning opportunities, winners of the ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects, and the ALA Campaign for the World’s Libraries....

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Library Card Sign-Up Month
September is the 25th anniversary of Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when families will turn to their local library to register students for the most cost-effective back-to-school supply of them all—a library card. Libraries offer free access to important educational resources like online homework resources (82.3%) and access to online databases (98.8%), with content in virtually every school subject, including history, literature, and science....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Sept. 5

35 local businesses partner with Connecticut library
Residents of Orange, Connecticut, will save on more than books, movies, and music during the month of September, thanks to the Case Memorial Library. As part of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, the library has partnered with 35 Orange businesses for a new promotion called “Show Your Card” (PDF file) that offers discounts and complimentary gifts and services to residents who show their up-to-date library card. From the beginning, the month-long event was meant to be a mutually beneficial library-business partnership....
Milford-Orange (Conn.) Bulletin, Sept. 4

Bundle registration open for ALA conferences
The popular Bundled Registration option for 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference opened September 10. This cost-effective and efficient registration package offer will remain open through September 30. The conversation starts in Seattle, January 25–29, and continues as we work on “Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves” in Chicago, June 27–July 2. Bundled registration offers the best value for these two events in two terrific cities....
Conference Services, Sept. 11

Let the Day of Games begin!
Kristin Boyett writes: “ALA’s International Games Day on November 3 is a wonderful way to entice people into the library for a day of fun and learning. Many library collections not only house electronic resources and ebooks, but have now begun collecting games. This event is a superb way to showcase this collection along with any related collections. Registration is now open for this event. The first 1,000 libraries will receive a copy of the board game Labyrinth along with a $5 coupon for Raveburger’s online shop.”...
Programming Librarian, Sept. 6

ALA commends Weinberg Foundation
ALA applauds the Weinberg Foundation for its dedication of $5 million to build 12 new school libraries for Baltimore City Public Schools. On September 11, the first of the three renovated libraries was opened to the public at Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle School. Each library will include thousands of new books, e-readers, computers, and designated areas for parent visits and school instruction. Watch the newscast (3:16)....
Office of Government Relations, Sept. 12; WMAR-TV, Baltimore, Sept. 11

Mrs. Thompson’s ALA conference badges
Larry Nix writes: “As a collector of library ephemera and memorabilia, I’m always happy to find items that connect me to library workers of the past who engaged in the same kinds of activities that I took part in during my library career. I recently acquired three badges for ALA conferences that took place in Detroit (1922); Hot Springs, Arkansas (1923); and Saratoga Springs, New York (1924). All three belonged to Mrs. Joseph A. Thompson, director of the Chickasha (Okla.) Public Library.”...
Library History Buff Blog, Sept. 10

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United for Libraries is now official
As of September 4, the ALA division formerly known as the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations (ALTAFF) is known as “United for Libraries.” The United for Libraries name and logo will be featured on the division’s website and materials. It will continue to provide its members, which include Friends of the library, library trustees, foundations, and library advocates, with the best possible specialized resources that will empower them to support and advocate for their libraries....
United for Libraries, Sept. 11

Last free chance to Turn the Page 2.0
Librarians and library supporters have one more opportunity to participate in the PLA-sponsored online public library advocacy course, “Turning the Page 2.0.” The final free session from PLA begins the week of September 24 and runs through the week of October 29. Participants choose an advocacy goal for their library and are guided through the creation of an Advocacy Work Plan. Register here....
PLA, Sept. 10

Deadline for ASCLA Italian holiday extended
The itinerary is set for “ASCLA in Italy” April 15–24, and you don’t need to be a member of ASCLA to participate. Voyagers will convene in Rome and then head to the Amalfi Coast, spending time in Sorrento, Puglia, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, and Capri. The deadline to send in your initial deposit of $500 has been extended to September 21....
ASCLA Blog, Sept. 12

Digitizing cultural history webinar
LLAMA is presenting a webinar, “Social Entrepreneurship in Action: Digitizing Our Cultural History,” on September 19. Social entrepreneurs are people who use entrepreneurial principles to identify and remedy a social issue or problem and improve life for their communities or the world. Presenters are David Gwynn, Susan Sharpless Smith, and Jeff Suchanek. Register online....
LLAMA, Sept. 11

Register for RUSA courses by September 13
Registration ends September 13 for several online courses offered by RUSA: Health Information 101, Reference Interview, Introduction to Spatial Literacy and Online Mapping, and Interlibrary Loan 101. Content for RUSA’s online courses is mostly self-paced. Two or more participants from the same library can take advantage of group registration rates....
RUSA, Sept. 11

Wanted: RUSA webinar proposals
Ebooks, library programming and outreach, reference services, collection marketing, and leading a book group are just some of the webinar topics sought by RUSA for spring 2013; proposals can be submitted via online form through December 1. Successful proposals will show plans for presentations that are 60–75 minutes in length....
RUSA, Sept. 11

New book for busy STEM librarians
ACRL has just released The Busy Librarian’s Guide to Information Literacy in Science and Engineering, edited by Katherine O’Clair and Jeanne Davidson. The book offers practical advice to librarians responsible for science, engineering, and technology information literacy instruction to understand and apply the ACRL Information Literacy Standards for Science and Engineering/Technology into curriculum design and ongoing instruction....
ACRL Insider, Sept. 12

Fall e-learning from ACRL
ACRL is offering a wide variety of online learning opportunities in the fall—including courses on mobile apps and team-based learning and a webcast on Pinterest. Full details and registration information are available on the ACRL website. Registration for all online courses and webcasts qualifies for the ACRL Frequent Learner Program....
ACRL, Sept. 11

AASL Lesson Plan Database
Kathy Lowe writes: “Have you checked out the AASL Lesson Plan Database yet? Now with over 100 published lessons contributed by practitioners in the field, the database showcases learning experiences for K–12 students that integrate the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner with classroom projects and assignments and are automatically cross-walked with ELA and Math Common Core State Standards upon publication. If you are looking for ways to teach your students the skills, dispositions, responsibilities, and self-assessment strategies they need to be successful 21st-century learners, this is the place to go.”...
AASL Blog, Sept. 7

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Special offer for the Caldecott’s 75th anniversary
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, ALSC is offering a free, archived, mock-elections webinar to anyone who purchases the Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections Tool Kit digital download. Individuals must purchase the digital download in September, October, or November to receive access to the archived webinar. This authoritative tool kit provides you with everything you need to plan and execute stellar mock elections in your community....
ALSC, Sept. 7

Nominate someone for a PLA award
PLA is offering nine awards and grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity, and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium. Fill out the PLA award nomination form by December 1. Winners will be announced in February....
PLA, Sept. 10

Nominate a school library for the Jaffarian Award
Nominations are open for the 2013 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. Public and private school libraries that served children in any combination of grades K–8 and conducted humanities programs during the 2011–2012 school year are eligible for the $4,000 award. The deadline for applications is December 15. Register for a free, online learning session October 24 with the 2012 winner, Francis Feeley, school librarian of the Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago....
Public Programs Office, Sept. 11

Apply for a Carnegie-Whitney grant
The ALA Publishing Committee provides 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. Funded projects range from the popular to the scholarly. Applications must be received by November 2; recipients will be notified by the end of February 2013....
ALA Publishing, Sept. 5

Two Spectrum Scholars to attend AASL Fall Forum
AASL will sponsor the travel, lodging, and attendance of two Spectrum Scholars, Judith Guzman-Montes and Connie Thompson, at the AASL 2012 Fall Forum. “Transliteracy and the School Library Program” will be held October 12–13, in Greenville, South Carolina, and simultaneously broadcast to four participating satellite sites....
AASL, Sept. 11

Apply for ACRL scholarships and travel grants
ACRL is offering 70 scholarships in five categories worth more than $40,000 for its upcoming conference to be held April 10–13 in Indianapolis. Applications for scholarships in all categories are due November 9. Complete details on each scholarship category and application instructions are available on the ACRL 2013 website....
ACRL, Sept. 11

UIUC library school wins an IMLS grant
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s GSLIS has been awarded a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant in the amount of $99,168 for “Inclusive Gigabit Libraries: Learn, Discuss, and Brainstorm.” With this support, the school will hold a series of four continuing education forums to enhance understanding of how libraries can adopt and use next-generation internet networks to address social inclusion through the organization US Ignite....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 12

2012 Dolman Travel Book of the Year
John Gimlette has won the 2012 Dolman Travel Book of the Year award for Wild Coast: Travels on South America’s Untamed Edge (Knopf, 2011), an account of his journeys in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. He received the £2,500 ($4,000 US) prize at an Authors’ Club ceremony in London on September 5. Gimlette explored the dense jungles between the Orinoco and the Amazon rivers, stumbling upon remote villages, snakes, and the hideouts of runaway slaves....
The Telegraph (UK), Sept. 6

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L.A. considers multiuse library cards for illegal immigrants
Los Angeles officials are considering a plan to turn the library card into a form of identification that the city’s large illegal immigrant population could use to open bank accounts and access an array of city services. The ID card would include the user’s name, address, and a photograph, and would be issued through the Los Angeles Public Library. The city would partner with a private vendor to set up bank accounts. Anyone able to provide proof of L.A. residency would be eligible for the library card. The L.A. chapter of Reforma has drafted a letter in support of the plan....
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 11

Closure of Escondido branch hurt student grades
The closure of the East Valley branch (right) of the Escondido (Calif.) Public Library in 2011 cost many young city residents a crucial place to do homework, read books, and feel safe after school, according to a survey of public school students conducted recently by California State University, San Marcos. 20% of the nearly 500 East Valley students surveyed said loss of the branch, which the city council closed to help balance the city’s budget, had negatively affected their grades....
Escondido (Calif.) North County Times, Sept. 6

Bold library promotion in Arkansas
Benjamen A. Bizzle writes: “I’m a member of the creative team at Craighead County Jonesboro (Ark.) Public Library, and we have the privilege of feeling creative on a fairly regular basis. From a YouTube comedy series (“No, you cannot die from dyslexia”) to the ridiculous Facebook covers to the billboards and posters around town (above), we are constantly looking for new and creative ways to sell the library to the people of Craighead and Poinsett counties in Arkansas. We’re always looking for different ways to catch people unexpectedly and just get them thinking about the library. Indications are that it’s working.”...
Marketing Library Services, Sept./Oct.

Chicago amnesty program brings in more than 101,000 items
The Chicago Public Library recently held its own type of homecoming, welcoming the missing books, CDs, and DVDs that found their way back to library shelves. Exactly 101,301 items were returned from August 20 to September 7 in the library’s “Once in a Blue Moon Amnesty” program, a rare window of time during which outstanding fines and fees were waived. The library estimates the value of the items returned during the program at about $2 million....
Chicago Tribune, Sept. 11

Springfield branches slated to reopen
Three branch libraries that were closed on July 2 in Springfield, Massachusetts, due to budget cuts are now expected to reopen the week of October 15 in the aftermath of restored funds and ongoing efforts to hire staff. The reopening branches are Liberty Street, Pine Point, and East Forest Park. The city council granted final approval July 30 to a $15 increase in the annual trash fee, including $5 that would help with opening the branches....
Springfield (Mass.) Republican, Sept. 10

New York library adopts ad-supported toilet paper
Meredith Schwartz writes: “Toilet paper printed with advertisements will appear in the bathrooms of the Port Chester–Rye Brook (N.Y.) Public Library in October. The toilet paper is 100% recycled, two-ply, and printed with soy-based ink. Venues that use the paper receive it for free, making it a potentially attractive way for cash-strapped libraries to reduce spending. The move comes a few months after budget constraints forced the library to cut hours and eliminate two part-time positions.”...
Library Journal, Aug. 22; White Plains (N.Y.) Journal News, Aug. 18; Port Chester (N.Y.) Daily Voice, June 1

87 Minnesota libraries affected by power outage
Eighty-seven libraries in southeastern Minnesota were unable to serve their patrons September 5–7 because of a power outage at the Southeastern Libraries Cooperating building in Rochester. SELCO was one of about 4,800 Rochester Public Utilities customers that lost power when a severe thunderstorm rolled through the city. SELCO’s integrated library system provides access to the 3 million holdings of its member libraries....
Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin, Sept. 7; SELCO Tumblr

UK plans to increase young library volunteer force
The Reading Agency and the UK government have launched an initiative working with local library services across the country to create a “Youth Innovation Network” of library workers that seeks to generate thousands of volunteering opportunities in public libraries for youth aged 11–25. The initiative will be delivered in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians and the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians. It is funded by a grant from the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund....
The Bookseller, Sept. 10

Queensland government libraries threatened (PDF file)
The Queensland Government is making moves to marginalize, shrink, and in the worst case, eradicate its government libraries. In doing so, the Australian Library and Information Association says the state government will be dumbing down policy and decision-making and fears that, once lost, unique collections of valuable historic and contemporary documents, referred to by scientists and researchers on a daily basis, will be lost forever. ALIA sent a letter (PDF file) to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman on September 4 expressing its deep concerns about the situation....
Australian Library and Information Association, Sept. 10

Japanese police say man stole over 1,100 library books
A 61-year-old man has been accused of stealing more than 1,100 library books from 15 locations in Japan. Mitsuka Suizu was first arrested in July for taking a few books from the public library in Nagato. When police searched his home in the city of Ube, Suizu admitted to taking 1,170 books over seven years. “None of [the libraries] had security gates, so he was able to get by relatively unnoticed,” Nagato police spokesperson Yosuke Miyoshi said....
ABC News, Sept. 7

Rare Indian collection may close
One of India’s oldest libraries is facing closure after government funding was withdrawn. Old Delhi’s Hardayal Municipal Library (right) houses one of the country’s finest collections of rare antiquarian books, including a print of Sir Walter Raleigh’s 1676 History of the World, a series of early British Indian travelogues, and handwritten and gold-illuminated translations of Hindu and Muslim religious works. But today the building is dilapidated, its books are caked in dust, and their pages are slowly disintegrating in rooms without air conditioning....
New York Daily News, Sept. 7

The cultural crisis in Mali
Muhammad Amir Rana writes: “Until recently, Mali had persistently shrugged off the possibility that a small number of extremists could take over the country. Now, after the militants have captured most of the northern region and destroyed several sites of cultural heritage, the people are calling out to the international community for help. Most tragic was the reported burning of some manuscripts allegedly by a librarian after the militants’ arrival in the city of Timbuktu. The value of these treasures is beyond estimation.”...
Dawn (Karachi, Pakistan), Sept. 8

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Bundle your 2013 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference registrations before midnight September 30 to get the most cost-effective professional development, continuing education, and networking. The conversation starts in Seattle, January 25–29, and continues as we work on “Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves” in Chicago, June 27–July 2. To help make your case for attending, use these resources.

The American Dream Starts @ your library: Building a Bridge to Citizenship Hotly Contested Presidential Election: Will It Be Influenced by Tighter Voting Rules or Voter Suppression? Great Movies: 'A Face in the Crowd' and the Career of Andy Griffith Learning About Ourselves @ your library Connecting the Dots Between Extreme Weather and Climate Change Marie Lu: 'I used to grow up in libraries' (video) How to Pay for College: Where to Look for Grants Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

Disabilities in YA lit
Michelle Blank writes: “As hard as it is for some to believe, YA novels are not all supernatural romance books about sparkly vampires. YA literature is famous for tackling issues and not shying away from uncomfortable topics, which, for some, include disabilities. So how has the world of YA lit presented the perspective of those with disabilities? The short answer is: in a variety of ways. Many YA novels include characters who not only have disabilities, but thrive in spite of them or as a result of them.”...
YALSA The Hub, Sept. 7

When sequels emerge years later
Kelly Jensen writes: “A new publishing trend over the last couple of years is one that’s been almost under the radar. It’s easy to talk about trends like mermaids or books taking a new spin on Game of Thrones when you’re reading a ton of books every year. But have you noticed recently the number of sequels to books published five or more years ago that are now making an appearance? Let’s take a look.”...
YALSA The Hub, Sept. 11

Audiobook news you can use
Mary Burkey writes: “Here is a roundup of audiobook links of interest. First, join AudioGO on September 28 for Librarian’s Day 2012. Are you close to Providence, Rhode Island? Take a road trip to AudioGo’s North Kingston studio for a tour and treats. There will be a special appearance by library advocate Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.). RSVP online by September 14—or register via the RSVP link to win $500 worth of free audios, even if you can’t attend.”...
Booklist Online: Audiobooker, Sept. 10

What does your bookshelf say about you?
Peter Knox writes: “Only a bookshelf can truly hold a reader’s history and future at the same time. A lifelong reader myself, I’ve always had an obsession with seeing a person’s bookshelf, to get a sense of what they’ve brought inside their home and their head. So I created the ShareYourShelf tumblr as a way to attach individuality and ownership to these previously anonymous assortments of titles.”...
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 7

Elektrobiblioteka
Adi Robertson writes: “The book has been adapted to a variety of new forms, most of which rely on computer interfaces. Waldek Węgrzyn, a design student at Poland’s Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, has done the opposite, building an electronic book that controls text and graphics on the web. Elektrobiblioteka can be viewed online, though you’ll need to translate the text if you don’t speak Polish. But as seen in this video (4:08), it’s designed to be connected to its companion volume. Turning a page in the book switches web pages, and tapping graphics brings up animations on the screen.”...
The Verge, Sept. 7; Vimeo, Aug. 21

Printer’s waste or endleaf?
Heather Wolfe writes: “This book mystery concerns the nature of a fragment of paper used to repair a letter from Thomas Cromwell to Nicholas Wotton written in 1539. The presence of a faint impression of printing on the fragment led us initially to two main threads of inquiry: What is the printed text from which this artifact derives, and what part of the printing process or post-printing process does this fragment represent? At first glance, it seems likely that the text is a preliminary leaf from the second volume of Knightley D’Anvers’s A General Abridgment of the Common Law (London, 1713).”...
The Collation, Sept. 6

20 famous authors’ school photos
Emily Temple writes: “It’s back-to-school season, which means new books, new classes and yes, new photos, yearbook and otherwise. But don’t worry: Your favorite authors had to go through it too. To celebrate the new season of scholarship, we’ve collected a few pictures of some of our favorite authors’ school photos, ranging from proud snapshots of the first day of kindergarten to writers-to-be goofing off behind a desk to posed high school graduation photos.”...
Flavorwire, Sept. 6

Europeana releases content into public domain
On September 12, Europeana opened up nearly 20 million of the items in its digital library under a CC0 rights waiver. This means that anyone can reuse the data for any purpose—whether using it to build applications to bring cultural content to new audiences in new ways, or analyzing it to improve an understanding of Europe’s cultural and intellectual history. This is a coup for advocates of open cultural resourcs. The data was released after a grueling and unenviable internal negotiation process that has lasted more than a year....
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 12; Europeana, Sept. 12

The Risk and Reward Conference
Heather Acerro writes: “This week, 350 librarians gathered in gorgeous Telluride, Colorado, for the R-Squared Conference, with the vision of transforming the library ‘from a quiet storehouse of books to a dynamic center of free engagement with knowledge.’ The conference was divided into four experiences: culture, abundant community, customer curiosity, and creative spaces.”...
ALSC Blog, Sept. 12

DPLA announces board of directors
The steering committee of the Digital Public Library of America has appointed five members to its inaugural board of directors. The board will support the DPLA’s goal of creating and maintaining a free, open, and sustainable national digital library resource. The five are Cathy Casserly, Paul Courant, Laura DeBonis, Luis Herrera, and John Palfery....
Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Sept. 11

Open source ILS information portal
The new Opensource ILS website provides a single portal for information about Evergreen, Koha, and other open source ILS systems and how they can work in any academic, public, school, or special library setting. The site enables you to see if open source can work for your library, learn about the steps involved in migrating, and locate technical assistance from the open source community as well as support vendors....
OpenSource ILS

WebJunction funded another five years
OCLC has received a $4.1 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support five years of ongoing operations of WebJunction, the learning place for libraries. Launched in 2003, WebJunction has helped more than 70,000 library staff build the job skills they need to meet the challenges of today’s environment. Its website provides a wealth of training resources that share the knowledge, skills, and support to sustain relevant, vibrant libraries....
OCLC, Sept. 6

New tricks for academics
Joyce Valenza writes: “Subscription databases rock, no question about that. And they will likely be the best starting point for the full-text needs of scholars young and old. But new academic search options are appearing as real players, reaching beyond search as location and networking tools for scholars, scientists, and practitioners. Here are three relatively new options you may have missed.”...
School Library Journal: NeverEndingSearch, Sept. 10

30 Google search shortcuts
Thorin Klosowski writes: “Hidden behind Google’s search box are a slew of shortcuts leading to so-called ‘OneBox’ results that provide awesome tools and display helpful information quickly and directly. You might think you know them all, but a few are more hidden than others. Google’s OneBox is the result you get when Google magically knows the answer to a search you perform. Here are 20 examples.” And 10 more....
Lifehacker, Sept. 6, 10

How Google builds its maps
Alexis C. Madrigal writes: “Behind every Google Map, there is a much more complex map that’s the key to your queries but hidden from your view. The deep map contains the logic of places: their no-left-turns and freeway on-ramps, speed limits, and traffic conditions. This is the data that you’re drawing from when you ask Google to navigate you from point A to point B—and last week, Google showed me the internal map and demonstrated how it was built. It’s the first time the company has let anyone watch how the project it calls GT, or ‘Ground Truth,’ actually works.”...
The Atlantic, Sept. 6

The Fotopedia National Parks app
Richard Byrne writes: “Last week I installed the Fotopedia National Parks app on my iPad. The imagery in the app is simply stunning. Beyond the imagery the app offers photo-stories based on the imagery of the national parks in the app. And just like on the Fotopedia website, each image is linked to a related Wikipedia entry. Fotopedia offers 10 other iPad apps, including an app featuring UNESCO World Heritage sites.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, Sept. 9

Find a sound
Phil Bradley writes: “OK, it’s almost 7 on a Friday night, and you’re desperate to get the sound that a zebra makes. (Don’t ask why, you just are, work with me on this!) Where do you go? I’ll tell you, you go to FindSounds: Sound Types which is quite a funky little website. Along with the sounds of animals (including that zebra) you get hundreds of other sounds. For example: There’s not just one zebra sound, there are 10 different ones. This is going to be zebra heaven for someone, you mark my words.”...
Phil Bradley’s Weblog, Sept. 7

Six impressive posts on librarianship
Aaron Tay writes: “So we librarians are failing (or are we)? Amazon is eating our lunches. Google is where people go. Surely we must be doing something wrong? Here are some critiques about how we librarians do things that perhaps deserve our consideration. The fact that some of them come from people who are not librarians (or traditional librarians) but working in the library field is interesting.”...
Musings about Librarianship, Sept. 8

Do I really want to be a librarian?
Andy Burkhardt writes: “There was a great thread in the ALA Think Tank Facebook group several weeks ago in which someone asked others about having mixed feelings and angst about librarianship. I loved the post and all the answers because they were so authentic and sincere. These are very real, genuine questions that I know I have dealt with and that we all have to deal with as librarians and as professionals. Does my work satisfy me? Is my work fulfilling? Do I really want to be a librarian?”...
Information Tyrannosaur, Sept. 11

Networking tips for job-hunting librarians
Brian Herzog writes: “A little while ago, a reader emailed me with this question: ‘I’m a recent MLIS graduate, and just moved to a new state. I was wondering if you could give me some job-hunting tips?’ I am certainly no expert, but I did come up with some ideas.”...
Swiss Army Librarian, Sept. 12

Call for library-incubated quilters
Erinn Batykefer writes: “My interest in quilts and quilting was incubated by the American Craft collection at Bucknell University’s Bertrand Library in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. I’m sure there are other quilters who were inspired by library collections, who use libraries to research their latest projects, and who show their creations in libraries. Quilters and librarians, consider this a formal call to share your work, your community’s quilting tradition, good quilting books or collections, and quilting programs or shows.” See submission guidelines or contact the Library as Incubator Project on Twitter or Facebook....
Library as Incubator Project, Sept. 6

How library spaces are changing
Jazzy Wright writes: “This summer, I had the opportunity to witness the latest in cutting-edge library services when I took a tour of Arlington (Va.) Central Library (right). I spoke with Director Diane Kresh, one of whose main achievements has been the creation of the library’s Digital Projects Lab, a pop-up, tech-filled space that provides the technology resources for community members to create digital projects.”...
District Dispatch, Sept. 11

11 amazing librarian tattoos
Jill Harness writes: “There are plenty of literary tattoos out there, and plenty of tattooed librarians. A bit less common are librarians with tattoos celebrating their career choice. Elizabeth Skene has what might be the most awesomely complete librarian sleeve around, featuring a skull sitting on top of a book, with a graduation cap next to a card catalog and a banner reading ‘Peace and Knowledge.’ There is also an open book with pages coming out and turning into birds. Let there be no doubt here: Elizabeth loves libraries.”...
Mental Floss, Sept. 11

Date your library
The city library of Hjørring, Denmark, created this visually minimalist yet rocking video (1:23) to promote a youth event. The music is “Love Radar” by Danish rock band The Blue Van and singer-songwriter Nabiha Bensouda....
YouTube, Sept. 1

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