President’s Message: What you can do about ebooks and libraries
ALA President Maureen Sullivan (right) writes: “I wanted to share ideas about what you can do to help solve the problem of publishers who will not sell ebooks to libraries. Here are eight steps to start (and continue) the conversation regarding library ebook lending.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

Executive Director’s Message: Reenvisioning ALA
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels writes: “Over the past few months, the ALA Executive Board has been involved in a range of discussions that reflect some of the more urgent issues facing libraries, and the Association’s strategic priorities. Because the Association, like libraries, must change and evolve to best serve our communities, a series of brainstorming meetings this fall asked both the ALA Executive Board and the division leadership to rethink ALA.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

Unlocking the riches of HathiTrust
The constitutionality of digital fair use was upheld in October, when US District Court Judge Harold Baer summarily dismissed the Authors Guild’s year-old lawsuit against the HathiTrust library collaborative to block the use of its growing repository of full-text book scans. An appeal is pending. Meantime, blogerati Karen Coyle, Barbara Fister, and James Grimmelmann shared with AL how they see this decision shaping the future of sharing digitally preserved print materials....
American Libraries feature

Flu preparedness (updated)
Q. One of our regular library visitors asked what the library’s plan for preventing the spread of the flu is. He has asked whether we wipe down the books daily, or otherwise clean them to prevent transmission. Does ALA have information to help libraries on this subject? A. ALA has not prepared detailed guidelines for a response to seasonal influenza (“flu”), other than as part of general disaster-readiness guidelines. That being said....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Jan. 16

AL Live: Landing your ideal library job
On January 10, we had a phenomenal discussion during Episode 2 of American Libraries Live, “Landing Your Ideal Library Job.” If you weren’t able to attend live, check out the recording. The Q and A during the event was so active that participants requested a way to continue the discussion afterwards. We’ve created a blog post that includes a list of questions from the event and our Twitter feed. You can continue the discussion with our panelists either through the blog comments or Twitter....
American Libraries Live, Jan. 10–11

Credo Reference aids Columbia’s writing program
Columbia University’s Undergraduate Writing Program is a first-year seminar-style course that challenges new students to read, write, and think as critically as established academics. Columbia has partnered with Credo Reference on various customizations in the past. In fall 2011, Credo approached Undergraduate Services Librarian Anice Mills and Digital Humanities Librarian Bob Scott to pilot a new project that could enhance the role librarians play in university writing instruction....
AL: Solutions and Services, Jan. 15

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A message to all ALA members
ALA President Maureen Sullivan writes: “As we mark the halfway point of the 2011–2015 ALA Strategic Plan, I am encouraged by where ALA has positioned itself. Though there has not been enough progress with publishers and distributors, ALA has made many contributions to library advocacy. As we head into the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting, I thought it would be useful to share highlights from the past year, say something about some next steps, and invite you to join our efforts.” Watch the video version (3:38)....
AL: E-Content, Jan. 15; YouTube, Jan. 15

Alire appointed to National Council on the Humanities
Camila A. Alire (right), ALA president in 2009–2010 and dean emerita at both the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University, was one of three individuals appointed to the National Council on the Humanities. The council is the 26-member advisory body to the National Endowment for the Humanities. The three new appointees were nominated by President Barack Obama in May and June 2012....
National Endowment for the Humanities, Jan. 14

ALA Midwinter Store features new and popular products
Stop by the ALA Store (Booth #1670 in the Exhibit Hall) during Midwinter for new and popular items including posters and bookmarks featuring The Hobbit, Origami Yoda and Darth Paper, and John Green’s Reading Is Awesome (right); and new titles hot off the press such as the long-awaited third edition of Kay Ann Cassell and Uma Hiremath’s Reference and Information Services: An Introduction....
ALA Publishing, Jan. 15

Order your 2013 Money Smart Week materials
If you want to purchase bookmarks and posters to participate in Money Smart Week, April 20–27, a national initiative between ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago to provide financial literacy programming to help patrons better manage their personal finances, ALA needs your order form by February 6. You may view the bookmarks and posters on the 2013 Money Smart Week order form....
ALA Membership Blog, Jan. 10

January 27 will be Sweater Vest Sunday
Take a stand for the freedom to read (and for fashion) by participating in Sweater Vest Sunday. All day on January 27, help spread the word about the importance of reporting challenges to library materials by wearing a sweater vest to your meetings, lunches, programs, and special events. On site in Seattle, Office for Intellectual Freedom staff and volunteers will pass out stickers and postcards to Midwinter attendees. You can also participate virtually by tweeting photos of yourself in a sweater vest to @oif using the #sweatervestsunday and #alamw13 hashtags....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Jan. 10

Spotlight on Adult Literature
United for Libraries, along with Conference Services, will sponsor a Spotlight on Adult Literature (PDF file) on January 26 in the Exhibit Hall at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Participating publishers will host book and galley giveaways and author signings....
United for Libraries, Jan. 15

Engage with USCIS at Midwinter
Mary Herrmann, chief of the Public Engagement division of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, will facilitate a discussion on digital access to immigration resources and benefits on January 27 at the 2013 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The hour-long session will be an opportunity for attendees to discuss potential citizenship-education partnerships between USCIS and public libraries....
OLOS Columns, Jan. 11

Walk the Exhibit Hall like a pro
The Exhibit Hall at an ALA Midwinter Meeting can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time at an ALA conference. Here are some tips on how to handle the exhibits like a pro....
YALSA Blog, Feb. 21, 2012

Annual Conference registration and housing now open
Key issues that will be covered at 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 27–July 2, will include digital content and ebooks, technology in libraries, innovation, books and authors, transformation, leadership, library advocacy, community engagement, and library marketing. Visit the 2013 ALA Annual Conference website to register and reserve housing....
Conference Services, Jan. 15

Program proposals for the 2013 Virtual Conference
Have you launched a new project that has transformed service at your library? The 2013 ALA Virtual Conference will focus on important issues for “Mapping Transformation” on July 24–25, and you can be part of it. Submit your proposal for an engaging 45-minute program by the end of the day on February 17....
Conference Services, Jan. 10

Sites will receive “Muslim Journeys” bookshelf
The National Endowment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the ALA Public Programs Office, announced that 840 sites nationwide will receive a copy of the “Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys.” Sites have been selected in all 50 states, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands, including 545 public libraries, 259 academic and community college libraries, and 36 state humanities councils. These sites may now apply online through March 29 for a $4,500 programming grant that will be awarded to 125 of them....
Public Programs Office, Jan. 10, 15

Congressman objects to NEH “Muslim books” grant
“It makes zero sense for the US government to borrow money from China in order to promote the culture of Islamic civilizations,” Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C., right) stated January 10 regarding Craven Community College in New Bern receiving a “Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys” grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. In a letter (PDF file) to the college’s board of trustees, he recommended “equal exposure to resources that deepen the public’s understanding of Christianity and America’s rich Judeo-Christian heritage.”...
Office of Congressman Walter Jones, Jan. 10

News Know-how library winners named
Three public libraries have been selected to receive more than $50,000 in training and support under the News Know-how initiative that helps 10th–12th graders learn skills that will help them distinguish fact from opinion, check news and information sources, and distinguish between propaganda and news. The winners are: San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library System, San José (Calif.) Public Library, and Iowa Library Services/State Library of Iowa....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Jan. 14

Ebooks: What librarians need to know
ALA Editions has launched a new facilitated eCourse, “Ebooks: What Librarians Need to Know Now and for the Future,” with Mirela Roncevic. This four-week eCourse wiill begin on March 4. Roncevic will give you the foundation you need to make ebooks work for your library, exploring issues ranging from file formats to delivery mechanisms and lending policies and what they mean for libraries both now and in the future. Registration can be purchased at the ALA Store....
ALA Editions, Jan. 11

Two popular eCourses return
ALA Editions has announced new sessions of two popular eCourses on building websites in WordPress and Drupal. Amanda Goodman and Polly-Alida Farrington will serve as instructors for a six-week facilitated eCourse, “Using WordPress to Build Library Websites,” starting on March 6. And Ken Varnum will serve as the instructor for the six-week facilitated eCourse, “Using Drupal to Build Library Websites,” also starting on March 6....
ALA Editions, Jan. 11

Learn how to plan and prepare for RDA
A new session of the facilitated e-course “Planning and Preparing for RDA” will begin April 1. It will be taught by Magda El-Sherbini of Ohio State University Libraries, who was an active participant in development of the RDA instructions....
ALA Editions, Jan. 15

How to manage Managing in the Middle
Fully a third of all library supervisors report to top-level managers while managing teams of peers or paraprofessional staff in some capacity. Editors Robert Farrell and Kenneth Schlesinger present a practical guidebook for those supervisors with Managing in the Middle, which assists middle managers as they navigate through the challenges of multitasking and continual gear-shifting....
ALA Editions, Jan. 14

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Getting around town
Buses are $2.25 a trip, $2.50 during peak commute hours: exact change only, pay when you enter. New since ALA was last in Seattle, light rail currently links downtown with SeaTac Airport. The trip takes 40–60 minutes and costs $2.75. As with all public transit, plan for extra travel time. The last stop downtown, Westlake Center, is located only a couple blocks away from the Convention Center. Taxis have a $40 flat rate in effect for trips to and from the Downtown Seattle hotel district and SeaTac Airport. If you are walking, beware steep hills two blocks east of the Convention Center....
YALSA Midwinter wiki

Seattle’s districts
Seattleites usually describe Seattle locations in terms of “neighborhoods.” This is partly because of a potentially confusing system of street addresses. The breakdown into neighborhoods is informal and mutates over time, and while there are often signs on major arterial roads to let you know that you are entering a particular neighborhood, the placement of these signs is arbitrary. See the map (right) of Seattle districts on the new Wikivoyage Seattle page, which offers other destination tips....
Wikivoyage

Archie McPhee
Archie McPhee is a Seattle-based novelty store that opened in 1983. The company’s line has expanded from rubber chickens to glow-in-the-dark aliens, bacon-scented air freshener, and hula-girl swizzle sticks. Its kitsch appeal received national attention with the Librarian Action Figure in 2003, a hard-plastic doll modeled after Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl with “amazing push-button shushing action.” The store remains a popular countercultural tourist destination and is currently located at 1300 N. 45th Street in the Wallingford neighborhood....
Archie McPhee; Wikipedia

Volunteer Park
Located in the Capitol Hill area, Volunteer Park includes a conservatory completed in 1912; a water tower (right) with an observation deck (106 steps to the top), built by the Water Department in 1906; a fenced-off reservoir; the dramatic Art Deco building of the Seattle Asian Art Museum; a statue of Secretary of State William H. Seward; and a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi, Black Sun (colloquially referred to as “The Doughnut”), around which a scenic view of the Seattle skyline, prominently featuring the Space Needle, can be seen....
Wikipedia

Bruce Lee’s gravesite
Martial arts star Bruce Lee is buried in the Capitol Hill Cemetery, just north of Volunteer Park, at 1554 15th Avenue East. His son Brandon is right beside him. The gravesite is near a flagpole towards the top of the hill behind a large heart-shaped tombstone. In addition, the view of the Cascades on a clear day is photo-worthy....
Trip Advisor

Woodland Park Zoo
For more than 110 years, Woodland Park Zoo has been a cherished community resource and a unique urban oasis in Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood. The zoo manages the largest live animal collection in Washington State, with 1,000 animals, representing more than 300 species. Daily activities include penguin feeding, bird feeding, and behind-the-scenes tours. From downtown, take Metro Transit #5 northbound to the zoo’s West Entrance at Phinney Avenue N. and N. 55th Street....
Woodland Park Zoo

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is mostly in Skagway, Alaska, but there is a visitor’s center in Seattle in the Pioneer Square Historic District. It functions as an interpretive center and museum and is located in the Cadillac Hotel at 319 Second Avenue South. The Cadillac Hotel building was a major point of outfitting and departure during the gold rush stampede in 1897–1898....
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

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Jonathan Kozol to keynote AASL program at Annual
Best-selling author and student advocate Jonathan Kozol (right) will speak during the AASL President’s Program at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Kozol has devoted his life to the challenge of providing equal opportunity to every student in the nation’s public schools, and won the 1968 National Book Award in Science, Philosophy, and Religion for Death at an Early Age, which chronicled his first year of teaching. The AASL website has more information on the division’s lineup for Annual....
AASL, Jan. 15

Proposals welcome for 2014 PLA National Conference
PLA is now accepting preconference, program, and ConverStation proposals for the PLA 2014 Conference, to be held March 11–15, in Indianapolis. Broad session topics include: administration/management, collections/tech services, facilities, leadership, marketing/advocacy, serving adults, serving youth, staffing, and technology. Proposals are only being accepted online....
PLA, Jan. 15

Apply to host a scholarly communication workshop
ACRL will take its popular scholarly communications workshop on the road to five locations in 2013. The day-long workshop, “Scholarly Communication: From Understanding to Engagement,” is led by two expert presenters at locations across the country. This year, the ACRL-subsidized workshop will focus on themes of access, emerging opportunities, intellectual property, and engagement. The host application deadline is February 5....
ACRL, Jan. 14

C&RL moves to online-only publishing
College & Research Libraries, ACRL’s official scholarly research journal, will adopt an online-only publication model beginning in January 2014. The November 2013 issue will be the final print issue of the journal. C&RL is freely available as an open-access online publication. The decision was the result of thoughtful study undertaken with input from a survey of the ACRL membership....
ACRL Insider, Jan. 14

Academic library trends and statistics, 2011
ACRL has published 2011 Academic Library Trends and Statistics, the latest in a series of annual publications that describe the collections, staffing, expenditures and service activities of academic libraries in all Carnegie classifications. The three-volume set includes Associate of Arts institutions, Master’s Colleges and Universities or Baccalaureate Colleges, and Research or Doctoral-granting Institutions....
ACRL, Jan. 15

New faculty status guidelines from AAUP/ACRL
The American Association of University Professors has updated guidelines for librarians to reflect their changing roles as teachers and researchers. The Joint Statement on Faculty Status of College and University Librarians now includes language on technology in the library and recommends that institutions adequately compensate librarians for the 12-month cycles in which they typically work. The new statement was approved by the ACRL board of directors in October 2012....
Inside Higher Ed, Jan. 14; ACRL

ALCTS needs authors
ALCTS seeks authors for its publications. These include the peer-reviewed journal Library Resources & Technical Services (right), ALCTS Monographs (formerly Paper Series), ALCTS Newsletter Online, and z687: Creating the Future of Technical Services. The ALCTS Publications Committee has compiled a list of topics for potential publication....
ALCTS, Jan. 15

Nuts and bolts for Friends and trustees
United for Libraries will present “Nuts and Bolts for Friends and Trustees” on January 25 during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The popular program will feature speakers addressing topics of interest to Friends, trustees, and advocates, including effective communication, board development, advocacy, and organizing author events at your library. Those planning to attend should RSVP....
United for Libraries, Jan. 10

Thomas Perry and others at the Gala Author Tea
United for Libraries will host the Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, on January 28 at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Featured authors will be J. A. Jance, Erica Bauermeister, Roger Hobbs, Amanda Hocking, Phillip Margolin, and Thomas Perry (right). Register through the Midwinter Meeting registration page....
United for Libraries

Prepare for school librarian evaluations
Writer Patricia Owen will discuss AASL’s newest publication, A 21st-Century Approach to School Librarian Evaluation, in a January 31 webinar. Owen will walk participants through the workbook’s suggested readings, action tips, and evidence collection to help school librarians engage in rigorous self-evaluation. Register on eCollab....
AASL, Jan. 15

Podcasts on graphic novels
AASL presents its newest set of podcasts in the 30 Second Thought Leadership: Insights from Leaders in the School Library Community series. The newly released set focuses on the January/February 2013 Knowledge Quest issue, “Getting to Know Graphic Novels,” and explores the question, “How can school librarians convince naysayers of the value of graphic novels and convert them to yaysayers?”...
AASL, Jan. 11

Join John Rocco at Caldecott Medal Facebook Forum
John Rocco (right) will participate in a Caldecott 75th Anniversary Facebook Forum on March 6. Rocco won a Caldecott Honor in 2012 for his picture book Blackout (Disney-Hyperion). To participate in the free event, access ALSC’s Facebook page....
ALSC, Jan. 14

Explore the “secrets” of the Printz Award
Join YALSA for an exploration of the Printz award, its origins, history, criteria, and its past and present winners in a new online course, “Secrets of the Seal: The Michael L. Printz Award.” Taught by Brenna Shanks, teen materials selector at the King County (Wash.) Library System, the course will include ideas for book talking the Printz books and how to build programming around them. Registration is open for the self-paced course, which begins February 4....
YALSA, Jan. 14

CEUs now available for ASCLA e-course
ASCLA is now offering 1.2 Continuing Education Units to participants who complete all coursework for “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities,” an online course that aligns with one of the division’s core values: access to library services and information for all. The course begins February 18....
ASCLA, Jan. 15

LITA offers two web courses in February
“Getting Started with GIS,” presented by Eva Dodsworth, will provide participants with an introduction to the both online and desktop GIS currently being used. The three-week course will run February 11–March 4. “Inclusive Gigabit Libraries” will help libraries identify ways to lead in building next-generation internet applications and services. It consists of two, two-hour live lectures on February 21–22. Visit the LITA website for registration and additional information on both courses....
LITA, Jan. 15

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Notable Books, Outstanding Reference Sources to be unveiled at Midwinter
RUSA will unveil the winners of its annual adult reading and reference awards on January 27 during the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. The awards include the Notable Books List for fiction, nonfiction and poetry, the Reading List for top genre fiction, the Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration, and the Outstanding Reference Sources List. The winners will be announced at the Midwinter Book and Media Awards Reception sponsored by NoveList....
RUSA, Jan. 15

Travel grants for AASL conference
AASL is offering 30 grants for travel to its 16th National Conference and Exhibition, to be held November 14–17, 2013, in Hartford, Connecticut. The $750 grants for first-time attendees of the conference are sponsored by Bound To Stay Bound Books. Those interested in applying can access the application online. The deadline to apply is March 11....
AASL, Jan. 15

2013 “American Dream” grant recipients named
ALA has selected 44 public libraries in 21 states to receive one-time grants of $5,000–$15,000 to add or expand literacy services to adult English-language learners in their communities through the “American Dream Starts @ your library” grant funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Jan. 15

Leadership in Diversity Award
The Indianapolis Public Library has received Mayor Greg Ballard’s Leadership in Diversity Award for excelling in strategies that support diversity. The award was presented on January 8. The library was cited for its long, rich history of recognizing and responding to cultural change, as well as taking a proactive approach to the community’s ever-changing population....
Inside Indiana Business, Jan. 9

USBBY Bridge to Understanding Award
The Bridge to Understanding Award acknowledges the work of adults who create programs that use children´s books to explore cultures around the world in order to promote international understanding among children. The United States Board on Books for Young People is seeking applicants for the 2013 Bridge to Understanding Award. To be considered, a program must have occurred in 2012. The deadline for submissions (PDF file) is January 31....
United States Board on Books for Young People, Jan. 14

Apply for a Big Read grant
The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Managed by Arts Midwest, The Big Read provides competitive grants to support innovative reading programs in selected communities. Approximately 75 organizations in communities of varying sizes across the country will be selected to participate in The Big Read from September 2013 through June 2014. The application deadline is February 5....
National Endowment for the Arts

2013 Charlotte Zolotow Award
Jacqueline Woodson’s Each Kindness (Putnam, 2012), illustrated by E. B. Lewis, was named the 2013 wniner of the Charlotte Zolotow Award, given annually for outstanding writing in a picture book published in the United States in the preceding year. Established in 1998 by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the award is named after a distinguished children’s book editor who worked for 38 years with Harper Junior Books....
Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Sharon Olds wins T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry
Sharon Olds has won the 2012 T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry of £15,000 ($24,077 US) for the best new collection published in the UK and Ireland. Her winning book is Stag’s Leap, a series of poems that describe the sharp grief of divorce and the slow, painful, incremental creep of recovery. Olds is the first American woman to win the T. S. Eliiot Prize, which is administered by the Poetry Book Society....
The Guardian (UK), Jan. 14; Poetry Book Society, Jan. 15

2012 National Jewish Book Awards
The Jewish Book Council has named the three-volume City of Promises: A History of the Jews of New York, with a Visual Essay by Diana L. Linden, edited by Deborah Dash Moore, as the 2012 Everett Family Foundation Jewish Book of the Year. Altogether, JBC announced more than a dozen literary awards....
Jewish Book Council, Jan. 15

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EveryLibrary backs tax levy for Spokane libraries
EveryLibrary, the first national Political Action Committee for libraries, announced its support January 14 for the library community in Spokane, Washington, as it campaigns for Proposition 3, a library levy on the February 12 mail-in ballot. The measure would dedicate much-needed funds to the daily operations of the city’s main library and its branches. EveryLibrary pledged $5,000 in financial support to the “Yes for Spokane Libraries” committee for voter education and get-out-the-vote activities....
EveryLibrary, Jan. 14

Polacco book goes back on the Utah school shelves
A children’s book about a family with lesbian mothers is back on Davis (Utah) School District library shelves more than eight months after a committee first decided to restrict access to it. The district reinstated the book, In Our Mothers’ House by Patricia Polacco, in four school libraries January 14 in response to a lawsuit over the issue filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Utah in November on behalf of a Kaysville parent. Now children may check out the book without parental permission, although parents can override that. The Freedom to Read Foundation issued a statement on the outcome....
Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 14; The FTRF Blog, Jan. 15

Challenge fails in Effingham
A book challenged at the January board meeting of the Helen Matthes Library in Effingham, Illinois, will not be moved out of the teen section anytime soon. Rosina Esker of Teutopolis requested that When It Happens by Susane Colastani be moved out of the teen section for content that is too explicit for the age group. But the board agreed to keep the book in place....
Effingham (Ill.) Daily News, Jan. 15

Protest over St. Johnsbury layoffs
A large crowd gathered January 12 to speak out against the decision to lay off 11 employees at the St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Athenaeum Library. Rural Librarians Unite, organized in part in response to the layoffs, rallied Vermonters to speak out against the Athenaeum board of trustees and join hand-in-hand, hugging the building. Trustee Bill Marshall said there were concrete reasons for the decision. While the layoffs are not in effect until February 1, protesters hope the board will reconsider....
WCAX-TV, Burlington, Vt., Jan. 12

Workers sue Anne Arundel library system
After a year of failed talks between the NAACP and Anne Arundel County (Md.) Public Library over claims of workplace discrimination, the first of two lawsuits is set to go to trial on January 29. Three African-American men sued in May 2012, claiming they were denied promotions because of their race. Executive Director Skip Auld said that since the talks were held, the libraries have worked diligently to make diversity a key component in daily operations....
Annapolis Maryland Gazette, Jan. 15

How archivists salvaged digital art from Hurricane Sandy floods
Joshua Kopstein writes: “Hard-drive crashes and corrupted files repeatedly instruct us on the importance of keeping media backups. But when data loss looms as the result of massive physical damage from a major natural disaster, finding better ways to digitally archive our history suddenly becomes a moral imperative. In Manhattan, nonprofit art and technology lab Eyebeam’s space became completely submerged, leaving its archive to drown in three feet of floodwater.”...
The Verge, Jan. 15

Brooklyn branches slowly recover from Sandy
Brooklyn’s library branches are slowly returning to Sandy-ravaged neighborhoods, with the longest waits stretching close to 2014. The Sheepshead Bay branch reopened January 15 after a massive cleanup, but the water damage in the Coney Island branch was so severe it will be nearly a year before it reopens. Residents can check out the Brighton Beach branch on January 22 and the Gravesend branch on January 28....
New York Daily News, Jan. 14

Scholastic donates books to Sandy-damaged school libraries
More than two months after Superstorm Sandy, most children have returned to their damaged schools, many of them no longer with adequate libraries. So publishing giant Scholastic has decided to help replace the collections by donating 1 million books to schools and libraries that suffered damage during the storm. The first school to receive delivery of 7,000 new books was Our Lady of Czestochowa School in Jersey City....
WCBS-TV, New York City, Jan. 8

Grief books overwhelm Newtown library
Four days after a gunman killed 20 schoolchildren and six others inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, boxes of books showed up at the public library. Staff at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library accepted 620 copies of Ellen Sabin’s The Healing Book from a life-insurance manager at Aetna headquarters in Hartford. The library staff didn’t know at the time that his donation would be only the first in a flood of donated grief-counseling books, numbering in the thousands. Children’s librarian Alana Bennison created the “Books Heal Hearts” project, where all donated books are given away free of cost to the community....
Religion News Service, Jan. 10

Former Uniontown staffer sues library, director
A former Uniontown (Pa.) Public Library employee has filed a federal lawsuit against the library and its director, alleging political discrimination and violation of the state whistleblower act. A Pittsburgh attorney filed the suit against Lynne Santoliquido Singer Tharan on January 14 on behalf of Vicki Leonelli of Uniontown. The suit claims Tharan brought her Republican politics, her political views, and prejudices to the library....
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jan. 16

Boulder library reconsiders children-under-12 rule
Boulder (Colo.) Public Library officials have walked back a policy change that would have barred children under the age of 12 from the city’s libraries unless they were with a parent. Parents of older children who had been using the libraries on their own for years objected to the new policy. On January 8, the library commission voted unanimously to replace the rule with wording that says children in need of supervision must be accompanied by a parent....
Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera, Jan. 8

Obama portrait presented to Chicago Public Library
A painting of President Barack Obama was presented to the Chicago Public Library January 15 as part of the city’s celebration that his political roots began here. Along with featuring Obama, it showcases the connections to his work on the South Side before he entered politics. Library Commissioner Brian Bannon and artist Steve Musgrave presented the portrait at the West Pullman branch, where the portrait will hang....
Crain’s Chicago Business, Jan. 15

LC donates digitized treasures to Afghanistan
In a January 10 ceremony (right) at the US State Department with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, joined by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and Carnegie Corporation of New York President Vartan Gregorian, announced the gift of a collection of digitized treasures from the holdings of the Library of Congress relating to the culture and history of Afghanistan to libraries and universities in Afghanistan. The gift was made possible by a $2 million grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York in support of the World Digital Library, a cooperative international project led by the Library of Congress....
Library of Congress, Jan. 10

Bush Library unpacks after recent move
Boxes of papers and artifacts from former President George W. Bush’s archives are moving from their temporary home in Lewisville, Texas, to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which is slated to open this spring on the campus of Southern Methodist University in University Park, an inner suburb of Dallas. Director Alan Lowe (right) offers some details (0:58)....
Associated Press, Jan. 15; Dallas Morning News, Jan. 14

Bexar County officials excited about all-digital branch
Elected officials, including school board members, are hailing the January 15 approval of an all-new digital library in Bexar County, Texas, that would provide free electronic access to thousands of ebooks starting this fall. Called the BiblioTech, the county expects to pay $250,000 for the first 10,000 titles, although the plan calls for dealing with ILS vendors like Polaris Library Systems and 3M rather than with publishers. The library, which would apparently be unaffiliated with the San Antonio Public Library, will also lend out e-readers (no brand named). The prototype is to be housed in an existing county building in San Antonio....
San Antonio (Tex.) Express-News, Jan. 11, 15; Information Week, Jan. 15

Case worker based in Tulsa library
A case worker from Family and Children’s Services will be on hand at Tulsa (Okla.) City-County Library’s Central branch in an effort to assist the homeless and indigent who visit the downtown location. Yvonne Woodfin, a case manager with the agency’s homeless outreach team, works four hours a day, five days a week out of the library helping anyone who comes in with questions about community resources....
Tulsa (Okla.) World, Jan. 14

Saugus staffer sentenced for stealing
Linda Duffy, a former Saugus (Mass.) Public Library administrative assistant convicted of stealing more than $850,000 intended for the library, was sentenced January 10 to five years in prison for her actions. US District Court Judge Douglas Woodlock also directed Duffy to make restitution totaling $965,742 to the town of Saugus for the thefts. In October, Duffy pleaded guilty to four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and aggravated identity theft....
Saugus (Mass.) Advertiser, Jan. 10

More hotels are featuring libraries
The newly revamped Art Deco–style Capitol Hill Hotel near the Library of Congress recently converted its old management offices into a library (right). It’s not fancy or particularly extensive, but book lovers and history buffs might like to sit on the tufted couch to flip through classics or old law books. Hotels in New York, Dallas, Chicago, London, Philadelphia, and even a Caribbean resort are increasingly making books a vital part of their atmosphere....
USA Today, Jan. 11

UK could lose 300 more libraries in 2013
Library campaigners are forecasting a grim 2013 in the UK, predicting that 300 libraries could close or be lost from local authority control in the next 12 months. 2012 saw 200 libraries shut, but Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals President Phil Bradley thinks this year could be even bleaker. However, he said there were bright spots, with a possible increase in e-lending boosting reading and book buying....
The Bookseller, Jan. 13

Taipei City will expand movable library service
The Taipei City Government plans to expand its “movable library” program, through which 10,712 loans have taken place since the program’s launch December 3. The government plans to place more bookshelves on public buses and to add them to trains and train stations so more passengers can borrow books. The program already provides books on 62 city buses, and allows passengers to borrow them without a library card. People can return the books on the bus or at any of the city’s public library branches....
Taipei (Taiwan) Times, Jan. 11; Taipei City government, Dec. 4

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ALA Midwinter Meeting, Seattle, January 25–29. The Exhibits alone make Midwinter worth the trip! Explore solutions, connect with more than 400 vendors, examine and choose new products and services, meet dozens of authors, and enjoy live events like Meet the Authors and PopTop Stage. The Grand opening reception is on Friday, 5:30–7:00 p.m., and Wrap Up/Rev Up is on Monday (including the 501st Legion storm troopers).

Charlie Brown and Company and the Career of Charles Schulz Great Films: 'Ace in the Hole' and the Career of Kirk Douglas Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Reducing Teen Dating Violence Alabama-Notre Dame Blowout Highlights Complaints About BCS Selection Process The Entrepreneur's Starter Kit: Were You Thinking This? Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

McDonald’s to give away books with Happy Meals in the UK
Following a pilot in 2012, which saw 9 million books by Michael Morpurgo given away to children, McDonald’s has now committed to a new, long-term campaign backed by the National Literacy Trust. By the end of 2014, the chain says it will have handed out at least 15 million fiction and nonfiction books to families in the United Kingdom, starting with a five-week promotion in which a nonfiction book from DK’s Amazing World series will be given away with every Happy Meal....
The Guardian (UK), Jan. 9

Celebrating Aussie YA authors
Sharon Rawlins writes: “Australia Day is January 26, and what better way to celebrate the achievements of their country than by highlighting its many Australian YA authors. At the YA Literature Symposium in November, Australian speaker Adele Walsh mentioned Cath Crowley, whose book Graffiti Moon, a romance about disguised identity and art, was published in the US last February. Another Australian author who might be familiar to some is Gabrielle Williams (Beatle Meets Destiny, 2010), whom Walsh described as the Australian sister to John Green.”...
YALSA The Hub, Jan. 10

The allure of Scandinavian crime fiction
Jeremy Megraw writes: “Maybe you’ve got the Nordic noir bug from reading Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series (we’ve all seen those ubiquitous neon paperbacks on the subway) or were enthralled earlier by Peter Høeg’s Smilla’s Sense of Snow or the Detective Wallander series. This is a selective guide to some notable authors and detective series from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and even some Nordic noir from Iceland. Even better, there is a guide to pronouncing their names correctly over cocktails.”...
New York Public Library Blogs, Jan. 14

The 25 best books about Abraham Lincoln
Richard Davies writes: “No one knows exactly how many books have been written about Honest Abe but in 2012 Ford’s Theater Centre for Education and Leadership in Washington, D.C., constructed a 34-foot pillar of unique titles about Lincoln and it contained more than 15,000 books. In recent years, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin has received a great deal of attention. Manhunt by James L. Swanson is a very readable book about the assassination and the search for John Wilkes Booth. Here are a few others.”...
AbeBooks’ Reading Copy, Jan. 10

Fighting modern evils with old, rare books
Stephen J. Gertz writes: “In the modern world each footfall is an opportunity to drop into an abyss and snowshoes won’t prevent you from sinking into perdition. There is, however, a rich corpus of vintage self-help, instructional, and inspirational literature to keep you from drowning in a pool of damnation. Here's a small selection, from Old New Age, the latest catalog from David Mason Rare Books.”...
Booktryst, Jan. 11

Getting ready for RDA without panicking
James Hennelly writes: “Day One for RDA implementation is March 31. Scary, I know. The date sounds so definitive and dread-inducing, as if the stroke of midnight that day will bring chaotic change and the end of AACR2. Of course, this is not the case at all. The March 31 date really means that the Library of Congress and a few other major libraries will be cataloging nearly exclusively in RDA, so you will be seeing a lot more RDA records.”...
RDA Toolkit Blog, Jan. 14

Legal issues relating to social networking (PDF file)
Julie Tappendorf and Ancel Glink write: “Benefits of social media include a cost-effective means of communication with library patrons, offering both transparency and opportunities for public participation, greater awareness, and sometimes more meaningful engagement by library patrons. But the governing authorities of these libraries, particularly those of public libraries, also must be aware of the implications of using these media. Keep in mind the following possible legal consequences and develop policies to address them.”...
Illinois Library Association Reporter 31, no. 1 (Feb.): 16–19

IMLS calls for research on arts education
The Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Arts Education Partnership have joined forces to expand the body of knowledge on how libraries and museums support youth development through their arts programs. IMLS and AEP are encouraging organizations to submit existing studies for consideration for inclusion in AEP’s ArtsEdSearch.org, the nation’s first online clearinghouse of research and policy information focused on arts learning....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Jan. 15

Six mistakes the library staff are making
Rick Anderson writes: “A month ago, I posted ‘Six Mistakes Your Sales Reps Are Making,’ outlining what I believe are some of the more common errors that reps make in their dealings with library staff. At the end, I promised to follow up with a similar list of mistakes made by library staff in their dealings with vendor and publisher reps. What follows is a combination of things boiled down into six points. For the record, I will admit right up front that I’ve been guilty of each of them at some point.” Wayne Bivens-Tatum questions whether number 6 is a mistake....
The Scholarly Kitchen, Dec. 4, Jan. 10; Academic Librarian, Jan. 10

Libraries as affective learning environments
Jennifer LaGarde writes: “For years, I’ve been saying that helping kids see themselves as readers, mathematicians, and as learners in general was just as important as helping them find the right answers, because I knew it was right. But recently, for the first time, I had neuroscientist David Rose (right) declaring to the whole world that science was on my side. Then last week, I ran across this article with practical suggestions on how to create learning environments that promote affective learning. These suggestions have libraries written all over them.”...
The Adventures of Library Girl, Jan. 10; Educational Leadership, Summer 2007

Ego, thy name is librarianship
Julie Jurgens writes: “Perhaps it is just my sensitive ego at work, but I feel like the librarian bloggers who work with children and teens and who write primarily about programs don’t get the recognition they deserve. If we blogged about hot-button topics like ebooks for babies or stripping our children’s departments down to look like futuristic lunchrooms filled with iPads, perhaps we’d get a ton of traffic. But we don’t. We write about our quiet successes and failures, about the simple craft of creating a flannel story, or about what rhymes will fit with certain themes.”...
Hi Miss Julie!, Jan. 13

How to get me to want you as a keynoter
Andromeda Yelton writes: “I’m on a conference planning committee (LITA National Forum 2013), and I spent a big chunk of time last fall thinking about who our keynoters should be. So let me tell you what I think about how to get people to make that offer. First, I’ll tell you how I got from my own personal longlist to my own personal shortlist; then I’ll tell you what people could have done to increase the odds of being shortlisted.”...
Andromeda Yelton, Jan. 13

10 ways focus groups enhance discovery
Brian Mathews writes: “Focus groups often get knocked because of three main things: Loud people dominate the discussion, people tend to tell you what they think you want to hear, and people can’t imagine breakthrough change. Those are all legit criticisms. However, if you plan accordingly you can neutralize those issues. Focus groups are for learning. Use them to uncover the unknown.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education: The Ubiquitous Librarian, Jan. 14

Youth Free Expression Project, People’s Choice Award
The National Coalition Against Censorship invites you to participate in its annual Youth Free Expression Project film contest in a new way, by casting your vote for this year’s People’s Choice Award. Pick out the video that you feel best exposes the dangers of book censorship and show your love by liking it on YouTube. Vote for one of the 12 amazing semifinalist videos by February 15. The video with the most likes will be declared the People’s Choice winner....
National Coalition Against Censorship, Jan. 16

Time to Doodle for Google again
Google announced the sixth annual Doodle 4 Google contest (1:45) January 14. The theme for this year’s contest is “My Best Day Ever. . .” The contest is open to K–12 students in the United States. The winner will receive a $30,000 scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for his or her school. Entries must be received by March 22. The complete contest rules can be found on the Doodle 4 Google contest page....
Free Technology for Teachers, Jan. 14; YouTube, Jan. 14

StoryTubes 2013 contest
StoryTubes is an online contest sponsored by schools and public libraries. Two-minute or shorter “my favorite book” videos from English-speaking young people in grades K–12 throughout the US, Canada, UK, China, and Malta will be accepted through February 24. Public library partners structure the contests, provide the staff time to review entries and manage the event, and secure prizes....
StoryTubes

The Wayback Machine
Phil Bradley writes: “I think that by now most of us are aware of the Wayback Machine at archive.org, but just in case you’re not, it’s a service that has been around for well over a decade, and it archives websites and web pages. It allows you to browse through URLs that were produced from 1996 up to December 9, 2012. It contains about 5 petabytes of data. There are as many different ways to use this archive as there are users, but some basic ideas are as follows.”...
Phil Bradley’s Weblog, Jan. 14

Indiana offers free Information Visualization MOOC
Katy Börner, professor at Indiana University’s School of Library and Information Science and an international leader in information visualization, will offer a free massive open online course on the topic beginning January 22. The course will run seven weeks from the start date, with a target audience of graduate students able to work three to six hours per week. Participants who successfully complete the course will receive both a certificate and badge from the Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center at IU....
Indiana University News Room, Jan. 10

Denver patrons get sew excited
Becker Parkhurst-Strout writes: “With our limited budget dollars, Denver Public Library’s ‘Fresh City Life: My Branch’ adult programming tries to get the most out of what we have, whether partnering with local organizations or utilizing the talents of our own staff. We also try to look ahead and invest in equipment that can be used for years to come. While button makers have been popular, we were all very excited about the idea of getting our own sewing machines.”...
Programming Librarian, Jan. 15

Speed racer science at the library
Amy Koester writes: “In my experience, children love things that go. The train set in my branch’s picture book area is always surrounded by choo-chooing kids; our race car books are perennially popular; and I’ve had to stop more than one pair of young friends from racing through the stacks to prove their speed. Thus it was a no-brainer for me to develop a ‘Speed Racer Science’ program for school-age children at my library. Here’s what we did—I highly encourage you to take it and make it your own.”...
ALSC Blog, Jan. 14

WLMA: The library should be at the heart of the school
Joyce Valenza writes: “The wonderful teacher librarians of the Washington Library Media Association released this video, “Teacher Librarians at the Heart of Student Learning” (5:21). The video, partially funded by Mackin Educational Resources, is designed to present school libraries and teacher librarians as a vital resource for student learning and to highlight the essential role teacher librarians play in information and technology literacy instruction, reading advocacy, and information management.”...
School Library Journal: NeverEndingSearch, Jan. 12; YouTube, Jan. 9

Bookshelves feature in Icelandic music video
Michael Lieberman writes: “Welcome to the first music video (3:26) by noted Icelandic visual artist Harald Haraldsson, a visual feast for the song ‘Love With You’ by Baarregaard & Briem. Empty bookshelves become the backdrop for some amazing visual projections. The video was shot over the course of one night, using Random bookshelves from MDF Italia as a projection surface, emphasizing the sharp geometry of the well-known bookshelf design.”...
Book Patrol, Jan. 15; Vimeo, Dec.

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