The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | August 14, 2013

Libraries weigh accepting paid advertisements
Beverly Goldberg writes: “With the Great Recession still affecting public service budgets nationwide, libraries continue to pursue new funding avenues. The latest foray into fiscal triage, undertaken by at least two libraries—Toronto (Ont.) Reference Public Library and the Port Chester–Rye Brook (N.Y.) Library—is to allow commercial enterprises to advertise their products and services in the library. In both cases, the libraries have accepted a quid pro quo from ad placement companies.”...
American Libraries news, Aug. 12

A guide to audiobooks for youth
Mary Burkey writes: “The act of reading is evolving. Today’s readers can experience the same story as they toggle between audiobooks in the car, ebooks on the iPad, and paperbacks at home, and young people in particular are naturals in this transmedia world. As families, classroom teachers, and library workers consider expanding their collections of literature in the 21st century, evolving formats provide challenges to developing and maintaining them.”...
American Libraries feature

Youth Matters: The whole library approach
Linda W. Braun writes: “It’s probably no surprise to you that sometimes library staffers prefer to work with one age group over another. Children’s services staff members may love working with kids but may not be so crazy about working with teens or adults; young adult staffers may be wild about teenagers, but preschoolers and adults may be another story; and adult services staffers might love adults and teens, but not children. Still, all staff members in a public library should be ready, willing, able, and trained to work with all ages.”...
American Libraries column, June

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Cory Doctorow supports library ebook lending
In a video (4:19) released July 31 by the ALA Campaign for America’s Libraries, bestselling author Cory Doctorow (right) lends his public support for fair and equitable ebook lending practices for libraries. Doctorow, a long-time champion for libraries and reader privacy, is a member of Authors for Library Ebooks, a new ALA initiative that asks authors to stand with libraries in their quest for equitable ebook access. Developed by the ALA’s Digital Content and Libraries Working Group, the campaign encourages authors to sign on to a statement of shared values....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Aug. 12; YouTube, July 31

Iowa teens gain News Know-how
Between newspaper and magazine columns and TV and radio commentary, it is always easy to find pundits from both ends of the political spectrum freely airing their views. The audience must determine whether the opinions have a basis in fact, and whether they are presented with integrity and credibility. That’s what Grinnell, Iowa, high-school students Dana Brown and Joshua Randolph did as part of the News Know-how news-literacy program this summer. Both have blogged about their evolution into “news media watchdogs.”...
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Aug. 13

Volunteer to serve on a committee
ALA President-Elect Courtney L. Young encourages members to volunteer to serve on ALA and Council committees for the 2014–2015 term beginning July 1, 2014. Serving on a committee provides members with leadership training, networking opportunities, and experience in working on specific Association topics. The online committee volunteer form is available through November 1....
Office of ALA Governance, Aug. 13

Diverse contributors revisit CIPA 10 years later
Marijke Visser writes: “The Office for Information Technology Policy and Office for Intellectual Freedom hosted a symposium July 29–30 to look at how libraries have implemented the requirements of the Children’s Internet Protection Act since the US Supreme Court upheld the law’s constitutionality in 2003. The midway point in a larger project on CIPA (funded by Google), the symposium brought together 35 experts representing school, public, and academic librarians, as well as representatives from educational associations, education technology, IT networking, and nonprofit policy organizations and think tanks.” Watch the July 30 Google Hangout presentation (Part I and II)....
District Dispatch, Aug. 9

Join the national conversation about mental health
Nancy Kranich writes: “Libraries across the US are invited to join a national conversation about mental health over the coming months. These dialogues will bring people together at large forums, in small-group discussions, in city-wide deliberations, and online. Launched at the White House in early June, this Creating Community Solutions conversation intends to increase understanding and awareness about mental health, with a particular focus on young people.”...
Programming Librarian, Aug. 13

Using WebDewey and understanding DDC
Expert cataloging teacher Cheryl Tarsala will serve as the instructor for the five-week facilitated eCourse, “Using WebDewey and Understanding Dewey Decimal Classification,” which will begin on November 4. This eCourse will teach how to assign DDC numbers with correct meaning in hierarchy, build numbers using tables, and apply numbers that help patrons browse, as well as offer guidance in building complex numbers, in using Table 3 for literature, and ideas for more effective use of the DDC system....
ALA Editions, Aug. 13

Getting babies into books
In those moments when a baby relaxes and cuddles in your lap as you read them a book, a wonderful thing is happening: That baby is learning that books contain words, pictures, and stories that are captivating. You can start teaching early literacy skills to babies before they can even speak with the help of the popular eCourse, “Getting Babies into Books with Early Literacy Programs,” which begins on November 4, and is taught by Kathy Kirchoefer (right)....
ALA Editions, Aug. 13

No-nonsense guidance on training in libraries
In order to make an impact with users, library staff must be well trained and up-to-date. Barbara Allan’s The No-Nonsense Guide to Training in Libraries, published by Facet Publishing, uses case studies and examples of best practices from public, school, academic, special, and government libraries to help library and information workers deliver excellent training. For experienced trainers as well as those who are still developing their skills, Allan’s book offers guidance on the design and delivery of effective training courses....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Aug. 13

Citizen Science Guide for Families
Defining citizen science and providing an overview of the social and community aspects behind the idea, Citizen Science Guide for Families: Taking Part in Real Science, by former American Libraries Associate Editor Greg Landgraf, shows people of all ages and backgrounds how to contribute to real scientific research. Organized by topic, it features links to library resources and book descriptions, as well as a section detailing ongoing citizen-science programs so families can identify projects appropriate to their interests, abilities, commitment levels, and locations....
Huron Street Press, Aug. 13

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Early-bird deadline nears for AASL conference
August 22 is the last day to receive an early-bird registration discount for the AASL 16th National Conference, to be held November 14–17 in Hartford, Connecticut. The event is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and their roles as educational leaders. Register online....
AASL, Aug. 13

MOOCs, metadata tools, and more
Register now for exciting webinars offered this fall by ALCTS. From MOOCs to metadata, patron-driven acquisitions to assessment for cataloging, each session is taught by topic experts and is an excellent value. Find complete pricing and registration details on each session’s webpage....
ALCTS, Aug. 12

ALCTS tech services fundamentals
Registration is now open for the 2013–2014 sessions of the popular Fundamentals web courses, offered by ALCTS, including the newly redesigned Fundamentals of Acquisitions. Each session is limited to 20 students, and sessions fill up quickly. Register online or by mail and be sure to indicate which course you’d like to attend....
ALCTS, Aug. 12

LLAMA offers three webinars in September
The arts of online fundraising, gathering data on user needs, and cover letters and résumés are the subjects of three webinars offered by LLAMA in September. Registration is open for “A Conversation about Websites for Library Fundraising: Perspectives from Duke University and the University of Texas,” to be held September 25, and “Getting Started with User Focus Groups” on September 4. Sign up for the free September 18 webinar, “Cover Letter and Résumé Tips to Get an Interview.”...
LLAMA, Aug. 13

New Jersey renews Trustee Academy subscription
The New Jersey State Library has renewed its statewide subscription to United for Libraries’ Trustee Academy, a series of online courses to help trustees become exceptionally proficient in their roles on behalf of their libraries. Trustee Academy subscriptions such as the one for New Jersey are available to states and regions at deeply discounted prices....
United for Libraries, Aug. 7

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Six Spectrum Doctoral Fellows announced
The Spectrum Scholarship Program is supporting a new cohort of doctoral fellows as part of the Building Change diversity recruitment program funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The 2013–2015 fellows are: RaShauna Brannon, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; LaVerne Gray, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Miraida Morales, Rutgers University; Myrna Morales, Simmons College; Mario Ramirez, UCLA; and Elnora Tayag, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Read more about them....
Office for Diversity, Aug. 13

2014 AASL award nominations open
AASL members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or themselves to be lauded for their outstanding talent and dedication to the profession. AASL awards and grants recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include collaboration, leadership, and innovation. Applications are now available online....
AASL, Aug. 13

Daniel Tsang receives Flanigan Award
Daniel Tsang (right), data librarian for the University of California, Irvine Libraries, has received the William H. Flanigan Award for Distinguished Service from the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR). The award acknowledges the contributions of individuals representing ICPSR member institutions. Tsang has served as ICPSR representative from UCI since 1986....
University of California, Irvine Libraries; ICPSR News, July 29

15 libraries win Harry Potter Public Library contest
In honor of the 15th anniversary of the US publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first book in the award-winning Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, 15 public libraries nationwide have been chosen as winners of the Harry Potter Public Librarian Contest from Scholastic, the American publisher of the series. Hundreds of librarians submitted their ideas for Harry Potter celebrations designed to introduce a new generation of readers to the wizarding world....
Scholastic, Aug. 7

Ewell L. Newman Book Award
The Library Company’s Philadelphia on Stone: Commercial Lithography in Philadelphia, 1828–1878 has received the Ewell L. Newman Book Award at the May annual meeting of the American Historical Print Collectors Society. The jury bestowed the honor, presented to the best publication promoting the appreciation of historical prints, on the volume edited by Associate Curator of Prints and Photographs Erika Piola as part of a project to comprehensively document commercial lithography in Philadelphia in its first 50 years....
LCP News, Aug. 5

2013 PEN Literary Award winners
PEN America announced the winners and runners-up of its 2013 PEN Literary Awards, the most comprehensive literary awards program in the US. The winner of the $25,000 Robert W. Bingham Prize for a debut novel was Sergio de la Pava for A Naked Singularity (University of Chicago). Katherine Boo won the $10,000 John Kenneth Galbraith Award for nonfiction for her Behind the Beautiful Forevers (Random House). Winners and runners-up will be honored at the 2013 PEN Literary Awards Ceremony on October 21 at CUNY Graduate Center’s Proshansky Auditorium in New York City....
PEN American Center, Aug. 14

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Harrisburg school library staff eliminated
The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, public school district started classes August 12 without any staffing for its libraries. Officials say they plan to engage volunteers trained to check out and organize books and other materials. Reductions in library staff beginning in 2011 already have limited access to the facilities for students, who cannot freely use the computers and study space. Teachers still have access to the libraries, but the lack of instruction from trained librarians concerns some board members....
Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot-News, Aug. 13; Apr. 17, 2012

NYC schools seek librarian waiver
Officials estimate more than half of New York City’s high schools are in violation of state regulations that require schools to employ either part-time or full-time librarians, depending on enrollment. The Department of Education is preparing to ask the state to waive those requirements, arguing city schools can provide adequate library services even if there isn’t a librarian in every school. New York would be the first district in the state to receive such a waiver. The Alliance for Quality Education is circulating a petition to oppose this....
Wall Street Journal, Aug. 11

Miami-Dade Main Library is downsizing
As part of its budget belt-tightening, Miami-Dade County in Florida will downsize the space used by the main library’s back offices, shrinking the facility’s footprint to save money on rent. The headquarters library would be reduced in size by half, keeping the two floors currently open to the public and eliminating a third floor and a basement used for administration and storage. Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s office expects the change to have little effect on library users, but the planned move has stirred controversy among library supporters....
Miami Herald, Aug. 12

New director, young guns guide Chattanooga’s library
Over the last 18 months, Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library Executive Director Corinne Hill (right) has fostered a culture of change and innovation that has affected nearly every aspect of the library, from how its book and film collections are managed to its new-found role as a technical and creative brain trust for the city. To help realize her vision for a library that could serve a new, expanded role in the digital age, Hill headhunted a group of young, free thinkers from around the US....
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times Free Press, Aug. 11

Zinn book a hot read at libraries
If your summer reading list includes historian Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States and you’re planning to borrow it from the public library, get in line. Purdue University President Mitch Daniels’s aversion to Zinn and his 1980 volume has prompted a surge of interest in the book, and local libraries are purchasing additional copies to keep up with public demand.”...
South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, Aug. 13

Librarian identifies microscopic book
Rebecca J. Rosen writes: “The University of Iowa library contains more than 4,000 miniature books, all measuring fewer than three inches in either height, width, or both. Three inches is not much for a book, but three inches is outright capacious when compared with a little red bug of a book, one of the smallest objects in the entire collection, measuring 0.138 inches square and 0.04 inches thick. Special Collections Librarian Colleen Theisen carefully cracked open the pages and put it under the library’s microscope. Sure enough, there was the publisher’s imprint.”...
The Atlantic, Aug. 7; University of Iowa Libraries, Aug. 6

Inside the Walmart library
Mark Boyer writes: “Local governments across the United States face a similar problem: What to do with abandoned and vacant commercial properties? In many cases, unused shopping malls and big-box stores at the fringes of town are left to crumble, but the town of McAllen, Texas, came up with a better idea. Left with a vacant Walmart store, the city purchased the massive building from the retail giant and transformed it into a functional and modern new main library.”...
Inhabitat, Aug. 12

Libraries lend fishing poles, pans, and people
Elizabeth Blair writes: “Librarians are quick to remind you that they are not just repositories for printed books and DVDs. Regular patrons know this, but public libraries want to reach beyond the faithful. To that end, many librarians are finding creative ways to get people through the doors despite their limited resources. Take the Honeoye (N.Y.) Public Library. It’s one of a handful of libraries in New York that lends out fishing poles. Others, like the Santa Monica (Calif.) Public Library (above), offer ‘human books.’”...
NPR: All Things Considered, Aug. 13

At libraries across America, it’s game on
Sami Yenigun writes: “According to a recent study, about 15% of libraries in the US currently lend games to cardholders to take home. But other research shows that gaming in the library is far more prevalent—and teenagers game the most. Sandy Farmer is the manager of Central Youth Services for the Houston Public Library, which has four Nintendo Wiis, four Xboxes, several Nintendo DSs, some iPads, seven PlayStations and a few big-screen TVs.” Listen to the entire NPR series on public libraries....
NPR: Weekend Edition, Aug. 11

For disaster preparedness, pack a library card
Joel Rose writes: “The New Dorp branch (right) of the New York Public Library in Staten Island wasn’t damaged during Hurricane Sandy. But just a few blocks away, houses were inundated with as much as 16 feet of water. And days after the storm, many of the library’s patrons still lacked the most basic services. Barbara Byrne-Goldie, who has been at the New Dorp branch for nearly 20 years, says she and the other librarians knew many of those patrons personally and went out of their way to help.”...
NPR: Morning Edition, Aug. 12

WWI posters discovered in library attic
A Northwest Iowa library is displaying what staffers believe are original World War I–era posters hidden for decades in the building’s attic. Kay Geerdes and Kathy Luedke, board members for the Primghar (Iowa) Public Library, ventured into the forgotten space this spring in search of artifacts to display or sell for the town’s 125th birthday this summer. What they found were dozens of posters advertising the US government’s liberty bond loan program to help fund the war....
Associated Press, Aug. 12; KCAU-TV, Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 7

Librarian rescues forgotten sculpture
Patricia Poland, a librarian at Union County (N.C.) Public Library, has helped bring a 1966 library sculpture to light. The modernistic, stainless-steel sculpture (right) was added to a garden alcove when the library was built but was moved to a less visible spot after a 2002 renovation eliminated the alcove. The work caught Poland’s eye a few months ago. “I cleaned it because it was so dirty. That was when I started to realize that it gives the appearance of reaching up.”...
Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, Aug. 9

San Francisco’s quirkiest library
Greg Miller writes: “Have you ever gone to a place you’ve always wanted to visit and found out it was even more awesome than you thought it would be? That’s how I felt last week when we visited the Prelinger Library, an eclectic collection run by Megan and Rick Prelinger. On the library’s website, the Prelingers describe it as ‘a collection of 19th and 20th century historical ephemera, periodicals, maps, and books, most published in the United States.’ They specialize in collecting stuff not commonly found in other libraries.”...
Wired Science: MapLab, Aug. 9

Grassroots library grows in Grays River
When California transplants Trudy and Delvin Fredrickson moved to Grays River, Washington, 13 years ago, they loved just about everything about the area except its lack of a public library. So, they teamed up with fellow book-lovers and began gathering the resources to make one. Three years later, their community-supported Grays River Valley Library has 10,000 books, a computer center, and a dedicated all-volunteer staff....
Longview (Wash.) Daily News, Aug. 8

Baylor’s Texas Collection gets new life through social media
The Texas Collection at Baylor University in Waco may be getting older, but it’s gaining fresh life and research recognition thanks to its online outreach and branding. Staff members share historical tidbits from the collection on Facebook, while photo-sharing site Flickr is used to post rare images of notable Texans or events. Staffers also have created YouTube videos with overviews of some of the archive holdings or special exhibits, including a display on dime novels (1:06)....
Waco (Tex.) Tribune, Aug. 11; YouTube, Aug. 9

A new variation on food for fines
Raleigh County (W.Va.) Public Library is cooperating with the local humane society by sponsoring a “pet items for fines” swap through August 17. Patrons can donate certain pet supply items for animal shelters and have overdue fines reduced or removed. One bag of dry pet food equals $7 in waived fines, one can of dog food equals $2 in waived fines, two cans of cat food equals $2 in waived fines, and one bag of kitty litter equals $5 in waived fines....
Beckley (W.Va.) Register-Herald, Aug. 12

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Librarians and internet search technology
Although librarians adopted internet technology quickly, they initially dismissed search engines, which duplicated tasks they considered integral to their field. Their eventual embrace of the technology required a reinvention of their occupational identity, according to a study by University of Oregon researchers. Librarians have gone from thinking of themselves as the knowledgeable person with the best answer to a patron’s question to being an interpreter and connector who points patrons to helpful materials for their consideration....
University of Oregon, Aug. 7; Academy of Management Journal, July 15

Can’t buy us love
Rick Anderson writes in Can’t Buy Us Love (PDF file), the first of a series of Ithaka S+R issues briefs: “For centuries, readers and researchers have relied on academic libraries to provide them with access to books that are sold (or access to which is sold) in the commercial marketplace. However, during the past two decades the networked digital environment has done more than just become the default locus of scholarly communication. It has done three other things as well.” More on this topic by Joseph Esposito....
Ithaka S+R, Aug. 1; The Scholarly Kitchen, Aug. 7

E-rate: 900 questions later
Marijka Visser writes: “The FCC’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking involves every aspect of the e-rate program and asks more than 900 questions that range from radical restructuring of the program to the most modest of tweaks. ALA staff and members have spent several hundred hours reading, discussing, analyzing, and prioritizing the work ahead. Many more hundreds of hours stretch in front of us for drafting, additional analysis, and engaging with FCC staff and other stakeholders. At this point, we want to share an early look at some of the priority issues on which we expect to submit comments.”...
District Dispatch, Aug. 13

NSA “touches” more internet data than Google
Sean Gallagher writes: “In a memo (PDF file) issued August 9, the National Security Agency provided details of its ongoing network surveillance operations intended to assuage concerns about its scope, content, and oversight: ‘If a standard basketball court represented the global communications environment, NSA’s total collection would be represented by an area smaller than a dime on that basketball court.’ But the numbers are misleading.”...
Ars Technica, Aug. 13; BBC News, Aug. 12

Tech hacks will not fix our surveillance problem
Jathan Sadowski writes: “There are two separate, yet often entangled, ideologies in our discourse about the surveillance state. The first is the individualistic conception of cyberhygiene: How should you behave to secure your own communications, protect your own data, and avoid your own tracking. The second is the notion of techcentric solutionism: What tech hack, device, or app can I turn to for a quick fix to my privacy troubles? But we shouldn’t resolve ourselves to a life where cyberhygiene and technological solutions fool us into thinking we’ve somehow preserved our privacy.” In fact, US firms’ cloud services are now compromised....
Wired Opinion, Aug. 12; The Observer (UK), July 27

Things law librarian bloggers should write about
Shaunna Mireau writes: “Last week there was a challenge and a follow-up thread at 3 Geeks and a Law Blog. The challenge was a plea from Nina Platt that law librarian bloggers write about issues that would be useful to us (as opposed to writing about the future of law or legal publishing news). The challenge was answered with a list of themes and ideas that I urge you to read. Law firm librarians should be asking themselves what they are doing today to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”...
Slaw, Aug. 13; 3 Geeks and a Law Blog, Aug. 6, 8

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The 10 best wireless speakers
Will Greenwald writes: “Wireless speakers are everywhere these days, with seemingly every audio company putting out Bluetooth or AirPlay speakers. They come in all shapes and prices, from a portable $100 block to a massive $800 slab, and they can vary wildly in sound quality and features. Most wireless speakers are AirPlay-only or Bluetooth-only, but rare exceptions exist.”...
PC Magazine, Aug. 8

How to clean your LCD monitor screen
Jason Fitzpatrick writes: “Whether you’re trying to get the dust off your monitor or your kid’s fingerprints off your gorgeous new HDTV set, removing dust, dirt, and oil from the plethora of screens around you requires the right tools and the right touch. Read on as we show you how to safely clean your expensive screens.”...
How-To Geek, Aug. 12

Windows XP to retire in April
Gregg Keizer writes: “After April 8, 2014, Microsoft has said it will retire Windows XP and stop serving security updates. The only exceptions are companies and other organizations, such as government agencies, that pay exorbitant fees for custom support. Jason Fossen, a trainer for SANS since 1998 and an expert on Microsoft security, said cybercriminals will bank their Windows XP zero-day vulnerabilities until after Microsoft stops patching the aged operating system.” Should you stop using Windows XP?...
PC World, July 22, Aug. 13

How to clean and secure your browser
Eric Geier writes: “Legitimate sites do a decent job of screening their advertisers, weeding out those that spread viruses, malware, or scams. But even a single instance of malicious adware on your PC can inject bad ads into otherwise innocuous websites. Almost every time I remove malware from a machine, I find that adware was previously installed. An adware infection ends when you take a minute to deep-clean the PC, eliminating unwanted browser toolbars, add-ons, extensions, and homepage- and search-hijacking malware.”...
PC World, Aug. 13

Learn which startup programs are safe to remove
Rick Broida writes: “The longer you run your computer, the more clutter it accumulates. This takes the form of programs you no longer need, bloatware you never wanted in the first place, or adware you didn’t intend to install. The result: slow booting, slow operation, slow everything. Ah, but which programs are safe to uninstall or block? Should I Remove It? is a free utility that helps you answer exactly that question.”...
PC World, Aug. 14

Top 10 IFTTT recipes for librarians
Paige Alfonzo writes: “If you’ve ever performed an advanced search, run a list in your LMS, or forwarded your email to another email carrier, then you’ve used an IFTTT statement. IFTTT is a free service that came out in 2010 and allows you to create and use recipes that execute commands online. For example, you can back up your tagged Facebook photos in your Dropbox folder by creating the recipe ‘IF I am tagged in a photo on Facebook THEN I want to add that file to my Dropbox (THAT).’ And IFTTT takes all the coding out of it, making recipe creation a piece of cake.”...
Librarian Enumerations, Aug. 14

Companies want a specific accessibility waiver for e-readers
Amazon, Kobo, and Sony are petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to permanently exempt e-readers from a federal accessibility regulation for persons with disabilities, arguing that e-readers are bare-bones devices designed for a single purpose: reading text. The petition is interesting because it argues that e-readers are inherently limited devices and that any non-reading functions they include, like experimental web browsers, are “rudimentary.” The FCC is accepting comments on the petition through September 3. More background here from Nate Hoffelder....
GigaOM, Aug. 7; The Digital Reader, Aug. 7

A framework for library ebook licensing
Eric Hellman writes: “It’s time to float a comprehensive proposal for how libraries and publishers might work together on ebook distribution to benefit the entire reading ecosystem. Ebook lending as implemented to date has been founded on a combination of irrational fears and outmoded processes. We deserve better. Behind this framework is a set of assumptions.”...
Go to Hellman, Aug. 12

Google begins selling e-textbooks
With little fanfare, Google began offering electronic textbooks for rent or purchase on its Google Play store on August 9. Included will be books from some of the largest academic-text publishers, including Pearson, Macmillan Higher Education, and Wiley. Google said the e-textbooks could save students up to 80% off printed textbook prices, and could also provide readers with features not available from traditional books. The service will roll out to users across the US during the coming weeks....
Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, Aug. 12

Get the most out of Project Gutenberg
Piotr Kowalczyk writes: “Project Gutenberg is one of the most important sources of free ebooks on the web. This longest-established ebook project releases books that entered public domain and can be freely used in electronic format. The world’s first-ever ebook, created by the founder of Project Gutenberg Michael S. Hart, was officially added to the catalog in December 1971 and is still available for download. I bet you are not aware of some of the tricks listed here.”...
Ebook Friendly, July 5

68 essential resources for ebooks in libraries
Ellyssa Kroski writes: “Ebooks are a constant topic in library news today. If you’re just getting caught up or striving to keep current, here are 68 resources that will put you in the know and help you make an informed decision about implementing ebooks in your library.”...
No Shelf Required, Aug. 12

Current digital preservation policies
Medline Sheldon writes: “My major project as a Library of Congress Junior Fellow was to identify and analyze cultural heritage institution digital preservation policies. This project was an update and extension of work done in 2011 by Kristen Snawder. My full report is available here (PDF file). What follows is a overview of my findings.”...
The Signal: Digital Preservation, Aug. 13; July 6, 2011

2014 Midwinter Meeting, Philadelphia, January 24–28. Registration and housing will be open October 1.
2014 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 26–July 1. Registration and housing will be open January 14.
(Bundle registration for 2014 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference opens September 9.)

Rousing Reads: Man’s best friend
Bill Ott writes: “I have no beef against dogs, but I’m not a fan of dog books: too smarmy (especially when the damn dogs talk) and way too heartbreaking when the damn dogs die. That all changes, however, when it’s E. B. White writing about dogs. Or anything else, for that matter. Dogs were one of White’s favorite subjects. So when a book called E. B. White on Dogs landed on my desk the other day, I naturally grabbed it immediately.”...
American Libraries column, June

First LibraryReads list is live
The inaugural LibraryReads list, featuring 10 titles that librarians have read and most look forward to promoting in September, has been collated from nominations by library staff across the country and was released to the library community in mid-August. The number one title is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Macmillan). Published as a YA title, it was chosen for its crossover appeal to adults. You can nominate your favorite titles for upcoming lists. The deadline for the October list is September 1....
EarlyWord: The Publisher | Librarian Connection, Aug. 13

Five forgotten Grimms’ fairy tales
Linda Rodriguez McRobbie writes: “This year, cities across Europe are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the publication of the Brothers Grimms’ collection of household fairytales. The first volume of their masterwork, containing 86 stories, appeared in December 1812 and was such a big deal that everyone is taking another 12 months to celebrate, hence the festivities in 2013. Here are five of the weirder, more bizarre, and odd Grimms’ tales that didn’t quite get the Disney treatment.”...
Mental Floss, July 31

Aliens in YA literature
Sharon Rawlins writes: “I recently devoured Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave in a few hours. It was an exciting, compelling, and fast-paced read. In the wake of a series of disasters, there are few remaining humans left in the US. The survivors are being hunted by aliens who look human. The minute I finished it I immediately wanted another one like it. Other YA books vary in their approach to the aliens. The aliens were a threat to humans, helpful to humans, or maybe even were the humans.”...
YALSA The Hub, Aug. 8

When you wish upon a Perseid
If you missed seeing this week’s Perseid meteor shower, you can still celebrate by reading YA books about wishing. Jennifer Rummel presents a short list of wishful possibilities. For example, Starry, Starry Night by Lurlene McDaniel, in which three girls look up at the sky around Christmas and see a bright star. They each make a wish and discover something significant: Life is painful but also inspiring....
YALSA The Hub, Aug. 13; SpaceWeather, Aug. 13

50 sci-fi/fantasy novels everyone should read
Emily Temple writes: “People say it all the time: They’d love to get into science fiction or fantasy, but they’ve no idea where to start. If this is you (or if you’re one of those stubborn folks who looks snootily down on the genre), listen up. Here are 50 sci-fi and fantasy novels that are well worth your time, whether you’re brand new to the concept of dragons and spaceships or a seasoned veteran.”...
Flavorwire, Aug. 8

Top 10 descriptions of food in kid lit
Katherine Rundell writes: “Writing about food is my favorite part of writing, just as eating is one of my favorite parts of life. As a child, I reread food scenes for comfort, for the joy of the keen hunger that they produced, and, once I had learned to cook, for inspiration.” Rundell’s inspirations include Willy Wonka’s Whipple Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, Mr. Wilderness’s porridge from The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and the “brilliant madcap meals” of Saffy’s Angel....
The Guardian (UK), July 23

Kid lit stamps from around the world
Kelly Jensen writes: “Earlier this summer, Canada Post honored Stella, the title character of a series of picture books by author Marie-Louise Gay, with a series of stamps. It’s the second stamp from Canada Post to feature an image from children’s literature, and it got me thinking about other countries around the world that have featured kid lit in their postage. Here’s a roundup of some of the coolest postal tributes to kid lit from around the world. I’ve stuck to the stamps based on the books themselves.”...
Book Riot, Aug. 13

How I became a comic book consumer
Faith Erin Hicks writes: “I’m not a native comic book reader. I came to them late in life, and only in the past five years have become an enthusiastic consumer of comics. In college I discovered a tattered copy of volume 3 of Bone and read the crap out of it. I had no real idea what was going on in the book, but I loved the artwork and female characters. Yet I never ventured beyond to read other comics. Things changed when I moved to Halifax, and this is where I became a comic consumer. Here’s how it happened.”...
LiveJournal, Jan. 30, 2011

School librarian promotes reading in Africa
Patrick Plonski writes: “Sometimes a short trip turns into an adventure that can change your life and the lives of thousands of others. That’s what happened to Pam Shelton (right), who had been a school librarian in Vermont for 26 years when she first went to Botswana in southern Africa in 1996. She stayed for two weeks, returning a year later for several more weeks showing kids how to use art supplies and teaching them to read. Pam’s 13 years living in Botswana and nursing along her book project are filled with memories and wonderful stories.”...
The Huffington Post Blog, Aug. 9

A beginner’s guide to reading early modern texts
Benjamin Breen writes: “Why does S look like F? This is an accessible overview of how to read books and manuscripts from the early modern era, the period spanning the early Renaissance to the French, American, and Industrial revolutions. To tackle the S first: The long S dates back to the old Roman cursive handwriting, and survived as an artifact in the earliest printed book fonts, which were modeled on various medieval handwriting forms.”...
Res Obscura, July 29

Books Abe Lincoln checked out from the Library of Congress
This is a list of books that Abraham Lincoln checked out from the Library of Congress when he was president in 1861–1865. It comes from a pamphlet titled Abraham Lincoln, Student: His Books by M. L. Houser, [printed by E. J. Jacob in Peoria, Illinois,] 1932. Illinois Gov. Henry Horner provided the author with photostatic copies of the circulation records he acquired from LC, and Peoria Public Library Assistant Reference Librarian Kathryn L. Ellis figured out what the full titles were....
M. L. Houser, Abraham Lincoln, Student: His Books, p. 41–47

New competencies for academic librarians
The Association of Research Libraries and three other groups have launched a Joint Task Force on Librarians’ Competencies in Support of E-Research and Scholarly Communication. Its first task will be to identify various avenues of service for libraries within the context of e-research, repository management, and scholarly communication. These services and roles will then be mapped to the competencies required by librarians and library professionals. A preliminary report will be issued in spring 2014....
Association of Research Libraries, Aug. 13

Getty Museum sets 4,600 images free
The J. Paul Getty Trust announced August 12 that it will be “making roughly 4,600 high-resolution images of the museum’s collection free to use, modify, and publish for any purpose.” It’s a welcome announcement from a major institution that has over 121,000 objects in its collection. The only requirement for downloaders is that they let the Getty know what the image will be used for and the stipulation that they include the citation for the image. The Public Domain Review is showcasing a nice selection from the Getty’s Open Content Program....
Hyperallergic, Aug. 13; The Getty Iris, Aug. 12; Public Domain Review, Aug. 14

Spot and avoid nine common genealogical errors
Mary Harrrell-Sesniak writes: “Family history researchers are often frustrated by the mistakes of others—particularly when there is an obvious error in identity, such as the mistake explained in this 1914 Virginia newspaper article (right). It points out that a member of the Gwathmey family was incorrectly identified as having been a maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I. Genealogical mistakes are not often easy to sort out, so let’s discuss some strategies.”...
GenealogyBank Genealogy Blog, Aug. 7

1921 Census of Canada released
The handwritten 1921 Census of Canada was made available on Ancestry.ca in mid-August and includes survey data along with the full names, addresses, and birthplaces of the people who provided the information. Library and Archives Canada allowed Ancestry.ca to publish the census online. The census has not been indexed, so searching by name is not yet possible. However, if you know where a person lived at the time, you can search through the documents page by page....
Postmedia News, Aug. 12

The cartes de visite craze
Andrea L. Volpe writes: “The staple photographs of the Civil War home front were not the battlefield views we now know so well. Cartes de visite, the 2.5-by-4-inch portraits that dominated commercial photography in the 1860s, both unified and contested wartime visions of the nation. The typical carte de visite was a photograph of one or a few people, posing in a studio, and occasionally holding personal effects. Needless to say, they were particularly popular with soldiers.”...
New York Times: Opinionator, Aug. 6

10 essential benefits of the Affordable Care Act
Frank Lalli writes: “On January 1, the Affordable Care Act will greatly expand the health care benefits offered to the 55 million Americans with no health coverage, as well as millions more who are underinsured. The law sets certain standards that all insurers must meet and mandates that all health plans offered to those who buy health insurance on their own or in small groups include a set of ‘essential health benefits.’ Read on to learn exactly what the essential benefits are, and see what people will be able to purchase once the new health insurance marketplaces open on October 1.” The ALA Library offers more resources on the Affordable Care Act....
AARP The Magazine, Aug./Sept.; ALA Library, July 30

An international network of librarians
Want to build your professional network and learn about librarianship around the world? The International Librarians Network’s peer mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. As ILN’s successful pilot program draws to a close, it is formally launching the program this summer. The next round of partnerships will commence in September; applications close on August 28....
International Librarians Network, Aug. 2

Aerial bombing database
More than eight years in the making, a new database containing information from US military and coalition aerial bombing campaigns over the last century is now publicly available online. An historical data collection project developed and researched by Lt. Col. Jenns Robertson, the Theater History of Operations Reports database, or THOR, has evolved into a full-scale research tool. The database combines digitized paper mission reports starting with World War I to create a central source of bombing history around the globe....
US Air Force Research Institute, Aug. 9

Scanners at a library book sale
Kim Ukura writes: “I recently rediscovered my own bookish pet peeve, the thing that turns me into a pearl-clutching old lady yelling at kids to get off my damn lawn: people who use barcode scanners at a library book sale. My blood pressure goes up measurably when I walk by a guy (they’re almost always guys) crouched down by a few cardboard boxes, sorting out a stack of books into buy and abandon piles. That sort of capitalist behavior is totally against the spirit of what a library book sale is. It’s practically sacrilegious.”...
Book Riot, Aug. 13

Mapping Google usage by state
Jessica Lee writes: “Online advertising company Chitika conducted research on which US states had the highest use of Google’s search engine. East and West Coast states, including California, New York, and Massachusetts, were among the top. Chitika was also able to show a positive correlation with Google search engine usage and the following four variables: median household income, rate of job growth, higher education, and median age.”...
Search Engine Watch, Aug. 13

Alternatives to YouTube
Richard Byrne writes: “Excellent educational content can be found on YouTube. However, not every teacher can access YouTube in his or her classroom. My favorite five alternatives to YouTube are listed here: Next Vista, PBS Video, Explore.org, the National Film Board of Canada, and Vimeo.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, Aug. 12

13 best weather apps
Denise Lu writes: “Weather is an integral part of the day. It can affect what you wear, what you do, and how you get to work in the morning. With the amount of data available, there’s much potential for beautiful and user-friendly apps. We rounded up our top weather apps that combine accurate statistics with clean user interfaces.”...
Mashable, Aug. 12

Survey on library hiring
Emily Weak writes: “Do you hire librarians or other LIS workers? We are looking for hiring managers, members of hiring or search committees, and HR professionals who are willing to take 5–10 minutes to fill out a survey about what potential hires should learn in library school. Its purpose is to gather and disseminate information about hiring, rather than to perform research.”...
Hiring Librarians, Aug. 9

Yes, Virginia, it matters which library school you go to
The Library Loon writes: “The other day the Loon read a short article about applying for library jobs that scoffed at applicants who try to trade on the supposed prestige of their library school. Those library schools, they’re all the same; it doesn’t matter which one you went to, because no one you’re talking to will care. Well. Yes. And also no.”...
Gavia Libraria, Aug. 14

Reflective outreach
Lizz Zitron writes: “I am 100% guilty of random attacks of outreach that never get assessed and maybe don’t meet any real need. This is a great thing, some of the time. It’s great to reenergize yourself, but it can’t be your entire outreach program. This post is directed at newbie outreach librarians, teams needing new energy, outreach programs lacking direction, and anyone who wants to be more deliberate about how they do outreach. Grab a writing utensil and something to write on.”...
The Outreach Librarian, Aug. 8

DIY Spa Day for tweens
Sarah Bean Thompson writes: “Programming for the school-age set is always a bit tricky at my library branch. We have a very active toddler and preschool program, but once our kids reach school, especially those tween years, they start to become more involved in sports and extracurricular activities. We decided to try doing programs around what this age group was asking for and we knew crafts were pretty popular, so I planned a do-it-yourself Spa Day for tweens.”...
ALSC Blog, Aug. 12

10 innovative library programs
Bertha Gutsche writes: “When you look at innovative programs that really connect the library with its community, reach out to new members, and elicit enthusiasm, you will notice how many of them resonate with the traditional core functions of libraries—it’s still about books and community. Here are five book-focused and five community-focused programs from libraries around the country. (Community intersections are embedded in most library programming, so there is much overlap.)”...
OCLC WebJunction, Aug. 6

Branch library’s roof is a prairie
Hot evening sun spilled over a riot of wildflowers, insects droned, and flocks of goldfinches nibbled on patches of seeding bee balm as Branch Manager Pam Locker and Chris Hochwender of the University of Evansville walked the paths of the native prairie reconstruction at the Oaklyn branch of the Evansville (Ind.) Vanderburgh Library. The meadow was built as an adjunct to the library building’s “green roof,” a portion of the building actually covered with a carefully managed layer of soil and grass....
Evansville (Ind.) Courier and Press, Aug. 10

Green building labels 101
Jill Fehrenbacher writes: “Over the past few years, you’ve probably encountered a veritable cacophony of eco-labels competing for your attention, stamped on everything from carpeting, appliances, and furniture, to building materials, windows, and roofing, to entire buildings. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this onslaught of competing labels, fear not. Inhabitat is here to break them down for you and help you decipher what green building labels really mean.”...
Inhabitat, Aug. 13

Conserving a mold-damaged iron-gall-ink manuscript
Francesca Whymark writes: “When paper is badly degraded, and especially when there has been mold damage, it often needs to be washed. Washing paper helps to remove acidic degradation products and reforms the hydrogen bonds in the paper structure, making it stronger. Iron gall ink was the primary ink used in Europe from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It was often homemade and there is a huge variation in recipe, but its principal ingredients are tannins (usually extracted from oak galls), iron(II) sulfate, and water.”...
British Library: Collection Care Blog, Aug. 8

Make an inexpensive virtual library tour video
Ned Potter writes: “Last year at the University of York we launched our virtual tour of the library, a new video (6:29) to replace the physical tours we used to do. The video went down extremely well with students and staff. I watched every single virtual tour video I could find before planning this one, and this gave rise to a firm set of principles governing how we would do ours.”...
thewikiman, Aug. 13

Collect, connect, co-create
This intriguing new video (4:11) from the National Library of New Zealand explains that its job is to help Kiwis access and use the collective knowledge of the nation: New Zealand’s documentary taonga in words, sounds, and pictures are collected, protected, and accessible; New Zealanders can easily access national and international resources through knowledge networks; and New Zealanders are working together to turn knowledge into value....
YouTube, Aug. 12

Staring at people in the library
Laura Vitto writes: “No one has told this woman that it’s rude to stare. In the newest video (3:55) from YouTube channel /whatever, Andrea plays a simple, yet cringe-worthy prank on unsuspecting patrons in the University of California, Santa Barbara, library. Watch as she stares down innocent readers and draws a variety of responses, ranging from uncomfortable chuckling to prolonged eye contact.”...
Mashable, Aug. 13; YouTube, Aug. 13

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