The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | June 12, 2013

Last week’s issue of AL Direct
Due to the migration last week of the American Libraries website from one server to another, some of our features and columns were temporarily unavailable. The images in last week’s issue of AL Direct also did not display properly starting on June 6. Most of the links and all of the images have now been restored, and the June 5 issue of AL Direct is now viewable in the online archive.

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40 chosen for ALA Leadership Institute
Forty mid-career librarians have been selected from a highly competitive pool to participate in “Leading to the Future,” ALA’s inaugural four-day immersive leadership development program, to be held August 12–15, for future library leaders. Originally, 35 applicants were slated to be picked, but the selection committee increased the number based on the strength of the applications....
Office of ALA Governance, June 11

Mobile app for ALA Annual Conference
Attendees can keep track of everything while on the go at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago with this mobile app. Just log in with the same username and password you use on the Scheduler to access all of your existing conference information....
Conference Services, June 7

Are you ready for DigitalLearn?
On June 30, DigitalLearn—a new online hub for digital literacy support and training—will launch at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Nearly 200 people have preregistered for DigitalLearn, and when it launches, the community will be a central point of sharing best practices in digital literacy, asking questions of colleagues from across the country, and discovering new ideas....
District Dispatch, June 12

Cutting-edge library services
Does your library offer cutting-edge library services? Learn about how four ALA-recognized libraries are using cutting-edge technologies in their libraries during the June 30 session “Cutting-edge Technology in Library Services.” Featured speakers include Brigitte Doellgast, Chris (“E-Content”) Harris, Mary Anne Hodel, and Leslie Sult....
District Dispatch, June 11

Revisiting the USA PATRIOT Act
Library advocates are encouraged to participate in “We Told You So: Use of the Library Provision,” an interactive session on surveillance issues that will be held June 30 during ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Michael German (right), senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, will teach participants about the latest wholesale use of Section 215 by the Obama administration to get cellphone records from cell carriers and how those carriers turned over all subscriber phone records....
District Dispatch, June 12

Think Fit in Chicago
Diane Colson writes: “ALA has a nice tradition of offering a yoga class at the Midwinter Conference and a 5K Fun Run and Walk at Annual. These events really are fun. It’s a great way to experience scenic parts of the city, and it adds a spirit of adventure to your conference experience. The upcoming Think Fit 5K Fun Run and Walk will be held on June 30. Here are some YA titles that will give you the inspiration to knock out 3.1 miles.”...
YALSA The Hub, June 11

Award-winning products at the ALA Store
Find the ALA Store in the Exhibit Hall again at Booth #1224, an ideal location for easy access and convenient browsing. With plenty of new and best-selling items available, make sure to carve out some time in your schedule to stop by. The ALA Store offers products that meet a wide range of your promotional, continuing education, and professional development needs—as well as fun gift items....
ALA Publishing, June 10

Programming Librarian’s guide to Annual Conference
The ALA Annual Conference in Chicago is just around the corner, and Programming Librarian’s recommended programs and events are now available. Check out the Programming Librarian’s Guide to the ALA Annual Conference as you plan your activities. This guide is the one-stop shop for author programs, special events, and other opportunities to build your skill set and find programming ideas and resources....
Programming Librarian, June 11

11 rules for a great Annual Conference experience
Brian Kenney writes: “To the uninitiated, the ALA Annual Conference can appear vast and bloated, confusing and redundant. And it is. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources for first-timers, packing tips, survival guides, and even programs at the conference to help you get your sea legs. And to that list, I’ll add one more. Here are 11 rules to follow in order to have a successful, lifelong relationship with ALA.”...
Publishers Weekly, June 7; Librarian by Day, May 4; Free Range Librarian; New Members Round Table

Sunday hours
How many public libraries have Sunday hours? You might think that’s an easy question to answer, but it’s really a bit complicated and the results are ultimately inconclusive. Although both the Public Libraries in the United States Survey from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Public Library Data Service statistics included in PLAmetrics report the number of service hours, neither indicates which days of the week those represent....
Ask the ALA Library, June 11

ALA calls for national dialogue on surveillance laws
ALA is gravely concerned with the revelations in early June that the US government obtained the phone records of all Verizon customers for the last seven years and internet records from nine US companies. Leaders of ALA call upon Congress to provide more transparency, as well as a national dialogue, about how the government is obtaining and using vast amounts of information about innocent people. The public needs a way to become engaged to determine what degree of accountability is needed and how to improve the balance between individual rights and the need of the government to investigate terrorism....
Office of Government Relations, June 6–7

White House calls for increased e-rate funding
ALA President Maureen Sullivan released a statement June 5 regarding President Obama’s announcement of the ConnectED initiative to connect America’s students to high-capacity broadband and high-speed wireless. Sullivan said that “libraries and schools will need substantially more powerful network capabilities. Inadequate bandwidth must not be the weak link in student success.” For the Obama administration, this initiative is an imperative of the digital age....
Office for Information Technology Policy, June 6; White House, June 6

Matters of state
Shawn Brommer writes: “Are you a member of your state library association? Active members create strong state associations and opportunities for professional and personal development abound within these critical organizations. Participation in state associations benefit everyone, from those who are just starting their library careers through retirees. Here are some ways that state library associations can help professionals develop leadership skills.”...
Library Lost & Found, June 11

International Games Day
Registration is now open for International Games Day, November 16. There will be lots of fun activities again, including a national video game tournament in which your players can compete against other libraries around the world. Registration is free, and the event is as simple or as massive as each library chooses to make it. And it’s something patrons of all kinds, including some not-very-frequent-patron kinds of patron, can potentially enjoy....
International Games Day, June 10

Straight talk about round tables
So you’ve been elected a round table leader: What’s next? Register for a free, one-hour webinar on June 13 to gain answers and insights on your role as an elected round table leader. You can also find out about round tables, their roles in ALA, and how to work with ALA round table staff liaisons....
Member Programs and Services, June 7

More writers added to BCALA Conference (PDF file)
Authors Kwame Alexander, Elizabeth Jean Brumfield, Milton Davis, Maya Hall, Janis F. Kearney, and Nooma Monika Rhue will appear at the Author Stage and Signing Area during the 8th National Conference of African American Librarians, hosted by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. The conference is slated for August 7–11 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky....
Black Caucus of the American Library Association, June 3

Must-see movie musicals
The movie musical is as vital as ever. Former American Libraries Editor and Publisher Leonard Kniffel explores the best of the genre in Musicals on the Silver Screen: A Guide to the Must-See Movie Musicals, a new guide especially tailored to library users looking for help in selecting the right flick to watch. This authoritative reference is organized by decade, allowing readers to learn about the nuances of each era of musical movie production. A description and explanation of why it is worth viewing accompany each film....
ALA Huron Street Press, June 10

Storytimes for toddlers
For toddlers, every storytime can be a new adventure, while art activities are important for developing impulse control, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor dexterity in the hands. Carol Garnett Hopkins’s new book Artsy Toddler Storytimes: A Year's Worth of Ready-To-Go Programming, published by ALA Neal-Schuman, fuses them together. Designed for children ages 1–3 years old, the book’s 52 storytimes promote pre-reading techniques to acquire print motivation, vocabulary, and narrative skills....
ALA Neal-Schuman, June 6

Use branding to survive
Branding provides a unique way for a library to distinguish itself: its identity, personality, and image. Drawing on five vividly unique case studies from libraries across the country, Breakthrough Branding: Positioning Your Library to Survive and Thrive, by Suzanne Walters and Kent Jackson and published by ALA Neal-Schuman, shows how to mesh your library’s brand deeply and seamlessly within your internal culture....
ALA Neal-Schuman, June 7

The future of scholarly communication
The context, mechanisms, and channels of scholarly communication are in flux. The Future of Scholarly Communication, published by Facet Publishing, presents an analysis of these new trends and drivers, their implications, and a future framework. Editors Deborah Shorley and Michael Jubb draw together the informed commentary of internationally renowned experts from a wide variety of backgrounds to define the future of research communication....
ALA Neal-Schuman, June 6

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Chicago: The most underrated city in America
Cody Kittle writes: “Chicago no doubt has some big issues. But considering the quality of life for the average person who has the option to choose what city to live in (an individual or family gainfully employed with a college degree), Chicago is actually a wonderful place to live. Here are 25 reasons why Chicago is America’s most underrated city.”...
Business Insider, June 6

27 things you have to eat in Chicago
Louisa Chu writes: “At a recent dinner, I discovered that someone at WBEZ has never had Garrett’s popcorn, specifically Chicago Mix, the unique sweet and savory mélange of caramel and cheese corns. I was so shocked that I literally slammed my fist on the table. How had I let this happen? I present the 27 food and drink destinations that best represent Chicago’s intangible cultural heritage. It’s not just the food or drink, but the place and people too.”...
WBEZ-FM, Chicago, June 12

Historic Auditorium Theatre
A National Historic Landmark, the Auditorium Theatre (50 East Congress Parkway) is known internationally for its perfect acoustics, innovative architecture, and stunning design. The architectural firm of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan designed this 4,200-seat theatre in 1889 using modern technology, including electric lighting and air conditioning. Tours are available Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and noon and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m....
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

Live music in Chicago
Colleen Seisser writes: “Chicago is home to some fantastic music. On the right night, walking into any local bar or restaurant can be a treat for your ears. I got in touch with a local Chicago musician, Tim Seisser, and asked him for some recommendations for live music venues. Tim has been playing bass all over the Chicagoland area for about 10 years, so he knows a thing or two about the music scene. Here are his picks and why they rock.”...
YALSA Blog, June 12

Chicago Pride Parade, June 30
Celebrate Chicago’s LGBT community June 30 at the annual Pride Parade, now in its 44th year. The parade will feature 200 registered entries with floats, decorated vehicles, and marching groups representing organizations, groups, businesses, elected government officials, and individuals. Be sure to arrive early to get a good spot: Last year’s crowd was estimated at 850,000 spectators. The route begins at Broadway and Montrose....
Chicago Pride Parade

Chicago Water Tower
The Water Tower and nearby Pumping Station were two of the few buildings in downtown Chicago that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that burnt most of the city to the ground. Located at 806 North Michigan Avenue near ALA Headquarters, the buildings were constructed in 1867–1869 to pump water from Lake Michigan. The Water Tower now features a Chicago Office of Tourism art gallery. Free admission, seven days a week....
City of Chicago

Segway tours
If you are looking for a unique and fun way to see the city, consider taking a Chicago Segway tour. The Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle that is easy to steer. Glide along with experienced guides for a tour that will enhance your knowledge of current and historical Chicago facts and architecture while you enjoy scenic vistas, photo-ops, and iconic buildings....
Segway Experience of Chicago

Chicago T-shirts
You shouldn’t visit Chicago in the summer without acquiring at least one Chicago T-shirt as a souvenir. This WGN-TV broadcast offers some suggestions on where to find them, although they are mostly far away from downtown. However, you can locate them at shops along Michigan Avenue as well. And if you plan to visit Hot Doug’s for hot dogs, you won’t want to leave without a Reservoir Dougs tee....
WGN-TV, June 6

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Mark Cummings named Choice editor
Mark Cummings (right) has been named editor and publisher of Choice magazine, ACRL’s premier source for reviews of academic books, electronic media, and internet resources in higher education in Middletown, Connecticut. Cummings will serve as Choice editor and publisher designate beginning June 17, and assume the position full time effective July 7 upon the retirement of Irving E. Rockwood, who served Choice in this position for 17 years....
ACRL Insider, June 11

Showcase encourages school librarians to “rise to the top”
Attendees of the AASL 16th National Conference, to be held November 14-17 in Hartford, Connecticut, are invited to jump-start their conference experience at the IDEAxCHANGE. Formerly the Exploratorium, the IDEAxCHANGE showcases best practices from school library professionals from across the country. This two-hour event, open to all registrants, will take place prior to the opening general session. Register for the conference....
AASL, June 11

Taking the mystery out of leadership
Empowering Leadership: Developing Behaviors for Success, a new publication from AASL, takes the mystery out of leadership by unveiling the hidden qualities that create confident, successful leaders. Written by Ann M. Martin, the book provides essential questions school librarians can use to assess their leadership skills and offers suggestions to put into practice and shows how developing leadership skills can increase stakeholder support in their school library programs....
AASL, June 11

A road map for facilities planning
LLAMA will present “Look at the Road Map for Direction: A Unique Approach to Facilities Planning” on July 17. This webinar will describe the planning process that Clemson University Library undertook to dramatically revise how it uses the space it manages. The story of how the Clemson staff put together a plan to meet different needs can serve as a useful case study for any library needing to rethink its use of space. Register online....
LLAMA, June 10

ALSC summer online courses
ALSC has opened registration for its summer 2013 online courses, which begin July 15. ALSC online courses are designed to fit the needs of working professionals and are taught by experienced librarians and academics. Detailed descriptions of the six courses are available on the ALSC website....
ALSC, June 7

Want to sit with Paula Poundstone at “The Laugh’s on Us”?
From June 12 to June 20, those who “like” the Facebook pages of United for Libraries or SAGE Publications, or who follow either on Twitter, will be eligible to win two VIP tickets to “The Laugh’s On Us,” sponsored by SAGE, on June 30 during the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The winner and a guest will sit at a VIP table with Paula Poundstone during the event. Enter the contest at SAGE Publications’ blog....
United for Libraries, June 11

“First Author, First Book” at Annual Conference
United for Libraries will present “First Author, First Book” on June 30 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. This traditional book event features first-time authors Janice Clark, Matthew Guinn, Amy Gail Hansen, Elliott Holt, Jason Mott, Jessica Soffer, and Kent Wascom. Learn about how they got published and their writing disciplines....
United for Libraries, June 11

Network with ASCLA and COSLA
Come celebrate and network with ASCLA and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies at the ASCLA/COSLA Reception on June 29. Whether you’re a current ASCLA member or you’re interested in the division’s work with library services to people with disabilities, accessibility, state library agencies, library consultants, independent librarians, networks, cooperatives, and consortia, you are welcome to attend....
ASCLA Blog, June 10

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White House honors “Champions of Change”
On June 11, the White House honored 12 people as library and museum “Champions of Change.” This event focused on librarians and curators who make a difference for their neighborhoods and for the nation. The program features groups of Americans who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Eight librarians were honored: Harriet Coalter, Sue Considine, Jamie Hollier, Jennifer Manley, Homa Naficy, Gloria Tibbs, Sandy Tharp-Thee, and Matthew Winner....
Institute for Museum and Library Services, June 10

A 75th anniversary toast to the Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott 75th Anniversary Task Force encourages you to dress to impress for this year’s red carpet and banquet festivities on June 30. Pay homage to banquets of yesteryear with a vintage outfit or retro accessories. Or offer a nod to Caldecott titles with a thematic ensemble: There will be many “borrowed” hats this year. Whether at home or in your hotel room prior to the red-carpet event, consider mixing a special Caldecocktail....
ALSC Blog, June 9

2013 ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award
Betsy Diamant-Cohen (right) has been named the recipient of the 2013 ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award, an honor presented to an ASCLA member exemplifying leadership and achievement in consulting, library cooperation, networking, statewide services and programs, or state library development. Diamant-Cohen was cited for her development of the “Mother Goose on the Loose” program, which has revolutionized the way storytimes are presented to young children at libraries across the country....
ASCLA, June 10

Ruth Nussbaum wins Cathleen Bourdon Award
Ruth Nussbaum (right), retired reference librarian at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress, is the recipient of the 2013 Cathleen Bourdon Service Award for exceptional service to and sustained leadership for ASCLA. She was cited for having been at the front lines of library service and ASCLA activities, initiating positive changes and improvements to library services for people with disabilities....
ASCLA, June 11

2013 ASCLA Francis Joseph Campbell Award
Jill Lewis (right), former director of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, is the 2013 recipient of the ASCLA Francis Joseph Campbell Award. The award is presented to a person or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped. Lewis, who retired from the library in 2012, was selected for her significant impact on library services in Maryland....
ASCLA, June 10

Devon Greyson wins Jesse Shera Award
ALA’s Library Research Round Table has given the 2013 Jesse H. Shera Award for the Support of Dissertation Research to Devon Greyson (right) of the University of British Columbia for the dissertation “Health-related Information Practices and the Experiences of Childbearing and Parenting Youth.” Greyson is cited for contributing to ongoing research in information use in health and social issues by identifying the use and application of e-resources by individuals who are already at risk....
Office for Research and Statistics, June 11

Friends groups win Baker & Taylor Awards
Three Friends groups will be recognized with Baker & Taylor Awards during the United for Libraries Gala Author Tea on July 1 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The winners are the Friends of the L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin; the St. Tammany Library Foundation in Mandeville, Louisiana; and the Friends of the Atascadero (Calif.) Library. Each group will receive a $1,000 check and a clock from Baker & Taylor to honor their achievements....
United for Libraries, June 11

2013 Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant
Dot Lindsey, since 2004 a member of the board of trustees of the Rangeview Library District in Thornton, Colorado, is the winner of the 2013 Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant, administered by United for Libraries. A grant of $850 enables a public library trustee to attend the ALA Annual Conference. Lindsey served as cochair of a successful 2006 mill levy campaign....
United for Libraries, June 11

ALSC scholarship winners
ALSC has announced six scholarship winners for the 2013–2014 academic year. Each year, ALSC provides the Bound to Stay Bound Books and Melcher Scholarships to help advance the profession of children’s librarianship. Recipients must complete their academic work at an ALA-accredited institution. Four winners were awarded the $7,000 Bound to Stay Bound Books Scholarship and two winners were awarded the $6,000 Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship....
ALSC, June 7

Friends of ALSC preconference grant winners
ALSC and the Friends of ALSC have awarded two grants to attend the 2013 ALSC preconference, “A Wild Ride: 75 Years of the Caldecott Medal.” The winners of the scholarship are Pamela Mann, Morgan County (W.Va.) Public Library; and Angela Reynolds, Annapolis Valley (N.S.) Regional Library. Mann and Reynolds were chosen from a pool of more than 25 well-qualified applicants....
ALSC, June 7

National Digital Stewardship Alliance Innovation Awards
Two individuals and two projects have been recognized for their contributions to innovation in digital stewardship by the National Digital Stewardship Alliance Innovation Working Group. They are: Martin Gengenbach of the Gates Archive for his work documenting digital forensics tools and workflows; Kimberley Schroeder of Wayne State University in Detroit, where she formed the first NDSA Student Group; the California Digital Library’s DataUp; and the Archive Team....
The Signal: Digital Preservation, June 11

Mock BEA BookExpo Awards
Char Gwizdala writes: “Librarians, booksellers, publishers, and power readers gathered at the 2013 BookExpo America, which featured celebrity, best-selling, and new authors as well as a very special little feline. Yes, Grumpy Cat, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, blessed BookExpo with her presence to promote her new book The Grumpy Book and won the Best Sign Promoting a Celebrity Appearance Award (right). Here are the other long-awaited (okay, but maybe not so reverent) 2013 BookExpo awards.”...
Char, June 5

A. M. Homes wins 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction
American author A. M. Homes has won the 2013 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her sixth novel May We Be Forgiven. The novel focuses on how a shocking act of violence changes the lives of Harry Silver, a historian and Nixon scholar, and his brother George, a high-flying TV executive with a beautiful wife and two children. Known from 1996 to 2012 as the Orange Prize for Fiction, the Women’s Prize for Fiction celebrates excellence, originality, and accessibility in women’s writing throughout the world. Watch Homes discuss her work (29:05)....
Women’s Prize for Fiction; BBC News, June 5; YouTube, June 7

Kevin Barry wins IMPAC Award
Irish writer Kevin Barry won the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award of €100,000 ($155,690 US) June 6, the largest prize for a single work of fiction published in English, for his debut novel City of Bohane. The novel imagines a future for the west of Ireland stripped of technology, in which gangsters deliver vengeance on foot or by tram in a world without cars, laptops, or cellphones. City of Bohane beat 153 other titles nominated by 160 libraries from 44 countries....
The Guardian (UK), June 7; International IMPAC

2013 Times Sports Book of the Year Award
Independent publisher Icon Books has won the Times Sports Book of the Year Award with Steven Reid’s Bobby’s Open: Mr. Jones and the Golf Shot that Defined a Legend. The winning title was selected by a public vote, with more than 3,000 casting a ballot, and had previously won the Best Golf Book at the British Sports Book Awards. Reid tells the story of how Jones won his first Open Championship in 1926....
The Bookseller, June 11

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Santa Monica College library remains closed
Santa Monica (Calif.) College reopened June 10, three days after a shooting rampage that left six people dead, including the suspected gunman. All buildings and services were open as of 7 a.m., with the exception of the library, where 23-year-old John Zawahri was killed in a shootout with police on June 7. The library, which is being treated as a crime scene, will reopen June 17. Some students who were there recalled their experiences in the library that afternoon. A vigil to remember the victims took place in front of the library on June 10....
KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, June 10; Los Angeles Times, June 7

Glen Ellyn reinstates Perks
The Glen Ellyn, Illinois, school board has rescinded its ban on acclaimed novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. In a 6–1 vote on June 10, the board returned the book to classroom collections at Hadley Junior High School, thanks in large part to a grassroots campaign that garnered the support of students, teachers, parents, and even bestselling author Judy Blume. Blume said a few words against the ban at the Printer’s Row Literary Fest in Chicago, and two Glen Ellyn students (above) filmed an effective pro-Perks video (1:58) and emailed it to school board members the previous weekend. The book had been in classrooms until April, when a parent complained about its content....
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, June 11; Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, June 11;YouTube, June 7;Youth Free Expression Project, June 6

LAC deal would privatize Canadian documents
Library and Archives Canada has entered a hush-hush deal with a private high-tech consortium, Canadiana, that would hand over exclusive rights to publicly owned books and artifacts for 10 years in return for their digitization. The plan was scheduled to be announced publicly on June 14, but may have been delayed until the fall. According to documents obtained by the Ottawa Citizen, a gag order has been placed on everyone involved in the project. LAC staff and others told about the plan have had to sign nondisclosure clauses....
Ottawa (Ont.) Citizen, June 12; CBC News, June 11

California libraries join the fight against summer hunger (PDF file)
In many California communities, schools closing for the summer break can mean an end to learning or enrichment opportunities and limited access to healthy food. The California Library Association and California Summer Meal Coalition have announced a partnership to bring together public library summer literacy programs and summer meals in an effort to combat summer learning loss and summer hunger. The partnership will focus its efforts on libraries in Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego counties. West Chicago (Ill.) Public Library has a similar cooperative program....
California Library Association, June 3; Chicago Tribune, June 10

Ogden finds funds to hire school librarians
Ogden (Utah) School District Superintendent Brad Smith said June 10 the district has found additional funding sources that will allow it to hire seven librarians for the coming school year. The seven librarians hired will be charged with creating a program to serve schools in the future. The news follows the April 26 announcement that all 20 of the district’s teacher-librarians would lose their jobs because their positions were being eliminated in an effort to cut costs....
Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner, June 10

Eagle Scout creates giant Scrabble set for library
Poor eyesight can no longer be an excuse for not playing Scrabble at the Highland Township (Mich.) Public Library. Vincent Alcorn, a Lakeland High School senior, made sure of that by creating a giant Scrabble set for the library for his Eagle Scout project. Alcorn, part of the Highland library’s Teen Advisor Board, said he worked with librarian Dawn Dittmar to come up with the idea.”...
Detroit Observer and Eccentric, May 9

Librarian turns catalog cards into art
On a wall in the corner of Greenfield (Mass.) Community College’s Nahman-Watson Library, 128 artifacts from the library’s card catalog hang preserved in a glass case, signed by the authors who penned the very books to which the cards once led. The project was 14 years in the making for librarian Hope Schneider (right), who sent the cards to local authors and artists, asking if they would sign their card and make some contribution to the display. Responses slowly trickled back....
Boston Herald, June 8

Brown is the new green
Pierce County (Wash.) Library System officials are saying “brown is the new green” as they plan to not water the lawn at 12 of its locations this summer. Of its 19 library properties (18 branches and the main administrative center), the library will not water lawns at the 12 locations that have grass. By not watering its lawn, Marketing and Community Relations Director Mary Getchell said the library system will save money and water resources....
Lakewood–Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Wash.) Patch, June 7

Invisible men
Charlie Savage writes: “The prison library at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, is housed in a prefabricated building behind chain-link fencing and razor wire inside Camp Delta, an older, largely disused wing of the complex. Inside, the place has the feel of a branch library, with several rooms of books divided by language and genre—but its patrons may not browse the stacks. Instead, the chief librarian, a civilian who asks to be identified as ‘Milton’ for security reasons, fills plastic bins with about 50 books and takes them to each cellblock once a week.”...
New York Times, June 11

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NSA, privacy, and the PATRIOT Act
Tom Simonite and Rachel Metz write: “Of the two big US surveillance projects that came to light in early June, the one that might seem less startling (the fact that the National Security Agency gathers Verizon’s US call records) troubled privacy activists more than the report that the NSA can get user data such as emails and photographs held by internet companies, including Google and Facebook. That’s because details of the phone surveillance suggest that NSA has broadened its interpretation of the 2001 USA PATRIOT Act in ways that allow for the mass collection of information about American citizens.” The ACLU filed a lawsuit on June 11 against the Obama administration. The Associated Press has a helpful Q&A, Sean Gallagher explains what the NSA can actually do with this data, and Barbara Fister offers some perspective....
MIT Technology Review, June 7; PC Magazine, June 7; Wired: Gadget Lab, June 6; New York Times, June 11; Associated Press, June 6; Ars Technica, June 12; Inside Higher Ed, June 10

Whistleblowers who changed American history
Annalee Newitz writes: “In early June, Ed Snowden confessed to leaking NSA documents proving that the agency had been wiretapping millions of innocent Americans. But he’s hardly the first American to risk everything by leaking evidence of secret abuses. Here are some whistleblowers who changed US history.”...
io9, June 10

A federated system for public access to research
Jennifer Howard writes: “As federal agencies scramble to meet an August 22 deadline to comply with a recent White House directive to expand public access to research (PDF file), a group of university and library organizations says it has a workable, higher-education-driven solution. In early June, the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the Association of Research Libraries are offering a plan they call the Shared Access Research Ecosystem, or Share (PDF file).”...
Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, June 7; US Office of Science and Technology Policy, Feb. 22; Association of Research Libraries, June 7

Q&A about Common Core standards
A backlash against the Common Core standards has hit the radio talk shows and internet blogs in recent weeks. Some prominent conservatives, including talk show host Glenn Beck and writer-activist Phyllis Schlafly, have been attacking the effort as a dangerous threat from the Obama administration. The new standards have the backing of major business groups, including the US Chamber of Commerce. Here is some information to help educators respond to frequently asked questions about the standards....
eSchool News, June 11

The traditional library
Kim Leeder writes: “Librarians make frequent reference to the ‘traditional library,’ yet there is no accepted definition of the term. Responding to a debate that began at the 2013 ACRL Conference, I offer the results of a literature survey that explores the rhetorical usage and meaning of the phrase. Results indicate that the ‘traditional library’ is commonly defined as a physical space emphasizing physical collections, and is often invoked as a counterpoint to the modern or digital library.”...
In the Library with the Lead Pipe, June 5

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Everything you need to know about iOS 7
The MacWorld staff write: “Apple took the wraps off iOS 7 June 10 at this week’s Worldwide Developer Conference. To be released later this year, iOS 7 is a dramatic reinvention of its mobile software that goes beyond mere additions and enhancements. Apple is changing the very look of iOS itself. Something as different as iOS 7 is going to raise questions. Fortunately, we have some answers.” But Eric Mack says “it seemed to amount to Apple playing catch-up, and mostly to Android.” Rachel Metz takes a closer look....
MacWorld, June 11; CNET News: Crave, June 12; MIT Technology Review, June 10

OCLC completes major WorldCat technical upgrade
On June 6, OCLC completed the development work to convert the underlying structure for its WorldCat database to Apache HBase, a distributed platform in use by many global information providers, including Facebook, Adobe, and Salesforce.com. The Apache Hadoop software collection is a framework that allows for the distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of computers and provides better handling of very large datasets....
OCLC, June 10

Too many passwords?
David Pogue writes: “Most Mac and Windows web browsers now offer to memorize passwords for you. But that feature doesn’t work on all websites, and is generally of little help when you pick up your phone or tablet. At that point, the only person you’ve locked out of all your online accounts is you. The only decent solution is to install a dedicated password memorization program. In late May, one of the best was just improved: Dashlane, now at 2.0.”...
New York Times: Personal Tech, June 5

10 tips for typing on a tablet
Doug Johnson writes: “One of the biggest concerns expressed by teachers about using the iPad is how difficult it is to enter text on the device. While I still use a regular keyboard for any longer writing projects, I am increasingly using the iPad for responding to email, taking notes, updating my calendar, and other shorter writing tasks. Here are a few things I’ve learned that makes the job a little easier for old dogs learning these new tricks.”...
The Blue Skunk Blog, June 10

How to use Safe Mode to fix your Windows PC
Chris Hoffman writes: “The Windows Safe Mode is an essential tool. On computers infected with malware or crashing because of buggy drivers, Safe Mode may be the only way to start the computer. Safe Mode boots a computer without loading any third-party software or drivers, so it’s a great way to remove problem-causing software without that software getting in the way.”...
How-To Geek, June 7

The push for expanded ebook access
Barbara Stripling, Marijke Visser, Sari Feldman, and Robert Wolven write: “Just over a year ago, the ALA Executive Board directed the Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG) to pursue more aggressive strategies to get ebooks into the hands of library patrons at a reasonable cost and under reasonable terms to libraries. This was to take the form of developing stronger messaging with the media, looking at collection-development alternatives to buying ebooks from the Big Six, and building a broader support base among stakeholders.”...
American Libraries feature; AL: E-Content, Apr. 27, 2012

Working directly with publishers: Lessons learned
Rochelle Logan writes: “Not all publishers are created equal. It seems publishers are becoming the bad guys because many of the biggest companies have placed various restrictions on our use of their content. However, lumping all trade, reference, and scholarly publishers together is not fair to those who have been willing to work with librarians. Nor is it accurate to say that most publishers don’t value what we do for the nation’s book culture.”...
American Libraries feature

Connecticut law calling for ebook library study passed
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed the ebook–public library study legislation (An Act Concerning a Study Regarding the Availability of Electronic Books to Users of Public Libraries, HB 5614) into law on June 6. The law requires the Commissioner of Consumer Protection to conduct a study to survey “whether and how book publishers and third-party electronic book distributors sell, license, or otherwise make electronic books available to users of public libraries in this state.”...
State of Connecticut, June 6

Academe not yet ready for e-textbooks
Jeremy Greenfield writes: “The e-textbook revolution is still waiting to start. Students and professors are still not adopting the use of digital textbooks in any great numbers, according to the latest data from Bowker Market Research, presented June 11 in a Digital Book World webcast. Further, the percentage of students who are using them has remained flat over the past few semesters.”...
Digital Book World, May 31, June 11

Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite
Nathan Groezinger writes: “On May 28, I posted about a new waterproof Kindle Paperwhite from a company called Waterfi. They were nice enough to lend me one for review, so I did some tests to see if it really is waterproof. On the surface, the waterproof Kindle Paperwhite looks exactly the same as my regular Kindle Paperwhite. There’s no visible coating over the screen or anywhere else. All the waterproofing is done internally, so on the outside both devices look identical.”...
The eBook Reader Blog, May 28, June 4

The radio-book was the future of education
Matt Novak writes: “New technologies often go through a honeymoon phase where educators hold them up as the futuristic savior of learning. The techno-utopian educational technology of the 1920s was radio. The November 1924 Science and Invention explained: ‘ Little Mary Jane will enjoy her radio lessons as much as she now enjoys her bedtime stories. . . . A complete set in the shape of a leatherette-covered book will take the place of bulky primers and readers. Homework will now be a great joy.’”...
Gizmodo: Paleofuture, May 21

ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, June 27–July 2. The mobile app for the 2013 ALA Annual Conference Scheduler has been released.

Attendees can keep track of everything, including their existing schedules, the list of exhibitors, and notes from the full Scheduler site. The Scheduler makes it easy to browse sessions and events; add, prioritize, and update items; create a personal schedule; add booth visits and meetings with specific exhibitors; and get word on any session or program cancellations.

You won’t finish this article
Farhad Manjoo writes: “I’m going to keep this brief, because you’re not going to stick around for long. I’ve already lost a bunch of you. For every 161 people who landed on this page, about 61 of you—38%—are already gone. You ‘bounced’ in web traffic jargon, meaning you spent no time ‘engaging’ with this page at all. So here’s the story: Only a small number of you are reading all the way through articles on the web.”...
Slate, June 6

NSA surveillance, told through kid lit
As news of the National Security Agency’s secret surveillance programs spread in early June, Twitter did what it does best: mockery. User Darth asked followers to contribute titles for #NSAKidsBooks, which were then turned into beautifully hilarious works of art. Darth allowed The Guardian to share them. Shown at right: Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a You, with Horton transformed into NSA Director Keith Alexander....
The Guardian (UK), June 9

Classic books annotated by famous authors
Emily Temple writes: “There’s great pleasure to be found in paging through marked-up copies of other people’s books—particularly when the original owners were famous writers themselves. Whether scribbled or printed, snide or appreciative, an author’s annotations give equal insight into the book and the reader, and double as yet another reason to buy physical books. Check out the marginalia in these books by famous authors.”...
Flavorwire, May 28

Beginning to end and back again
Teen blogger Annie writes: “I always remember exactly what was happening around me when I finished any series. I remember where I was and the time I finished; I remember the weather that day; I remember exactly how many times my siblings interrupted my reading. This is odd, because I usually block out anything and everything when I read. The incredible emotional impact that last book has just seems to heighten the senses. I remember finishing the Chaos Walking series on a Friday after school.”...
YALSA The Hub, June 6

25 signs that you are addicted to books
Summer Anne Burton writes: “The first step is admitting it. The second step is to keep right on reading.” Some signs are: You’ve been traumatized by some things that “only” happened in books you read. The picture window in your wallet displays your library card instead of your driver’s license. Walking by a closed bookstore is torture....
Buzzfeed, May 24

10 great books starring cats
Emily Temple writes: “Looking for something that’s kind of like a cat video, but a little more literary? Writers have long been inspired by their pets, and particularly, it seems, by their cats. It’s not surprising then that our feline friends figure prominently in some great books, from Russian classics to YA masterpieces to that one book everyone has definitely read. Here are 10 of the greatest books starring kitties of every persuasion.”...
Flavorwire, June 10

GeoGuessr and YA lit
Allison Tran writes: “Like many people, I’ve developed a fondness for a little game called GeoGuessr over the past few weeks. The game presents you with a Google Street View of somewhere in the world, and your goal is to identify the mystery location based on what you see. What I love about this game is the feeling of being dropped in the middle of nowhere and having to figure out where you are. Playing GeoGuessr makes me think of YA novels where characters are thrown into a situation that requires them to navigate almost blindly.”...
YALSA The Hub, June 5

Highbrow books to read on the beach
Emily Temple writes: “For even the most seasoned of book nerds, a trip to the beach can raise some difficult questions. After all, you don’t want to waste your precious vacation minutes reading something you’ll forget by the time your suntan fades, but a beach towel is also (probably) not the ideal location to tackle Ulysses. Here is a list of 20 decidedly highbrow but still totally beach-appropriate books, all of which have come out in the months since last summer.”...
Flavorwire, May 23

Bookish flooring and wallpaper
Derek Attig writes: “Unsurprisingly, the Seattle Public Library, that icon of bookish design, has set the gold standard for bookish floor patterns. On the first floor, almost as soon as you enter the building, you find 7,200 square feet of wood flooring designed by artist Ann Hamilton (right). A bit more within reach for the rest of us might be amazing floor coverings made from books or a literary area rug.” Wallpaper is also a possibility, including the Penguin Library pattern....
Book Riot, June 4, 11; Bookshelf, June 4

A brief guide to Bookstagram
Kate Scott writes: “The popularity of Bookstagram, the book community on Instagram, is raging right now. Here’s the scoop on all the hottest bookish hashtags for your viewing pleasure.”...
Book Riot, June 7

Every library in the US, mapped
Justin Grimes, a statistician with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, created this map (right) during the National Day of Civic Hacking, June 1–2, as part of a Public Library/Museum Data Challenge using the US National Center for Education Statistics dataset. Each of those dots on the map represents an individual branch or main library (and a few bookmobiles) out of a total of 9,000 public library systems. Emily Badger writes: “In fact, libraries serve 96.4% of the US population (PDF file), a reach any fast-food franchise can only dream of.” Here are some other ways libraries and museums participated....
The Atlantic Cities, June 7; Public Libraries in the United States Survey: Fiscal Year 2010; UpNext: The IMLS Blog, June 7

2013 Horizon Report: K–12
A new fifth edition in the annual K–12 series of the New Media Consortium Horizon Project examines emerging technologies for their potential impact on and use in teaching, learning, and creative inquiry within the environment of pre-college education. Six emerging technologies are identified: cloud computing, mobile learning, learning analytics, open content, 3D printing, and virtual and remote laboratories....
New Media Consortium, June

ProQuest reinvents Dialog
A completely rebuilt Dialog information service made its debut at the annual conference of the Special Libraries Association in San Diego, California, June 9–11. Specializing in engineering, pharmaceuticals, and patent research, ProQuest Dialog has been modernized to make it intuitive and accessible to users of all skill levels. Dialog was the first commercial online information service, launched in 1966 under the direction of Roger K. Summit. ProQuest acquired it from Thomson Reuters in 2008....
ProQuest, June 10

Rebecca Miller named Library Journal editor
Rebecca T. Miller (right), editor-in-chief of School Library Journal, has accepted the position of editorial director of library journals, effective immediately. She will serve as editor-in-chief for both Library Journal and School Library Journal. Michael Kelley, previously editor-in-chief of Library Journal, has left the company....
Library Journal: InfoDocket, June 10

Library infographics, 1930s style
Michael Lieberman writes: “Nowadays, the visualization of data is all the rage. It seems each new study or piece of research is turned into an image. I'm not so sure this was as common in the 1930s and 1940s when these visual aids were printed. This series of posters was produced under the supervision of noted library educator Ruby Ethel Cundiff (1890–1972) for the library school course in Teaching the Use of the Library at the George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, Tennessee, and was rescued from the trash in 2003.”...
Book Patrol, June 10

Getting serious about genealogy
Harold Henderson writes: “Where to go when you need to find people who take genealogy as seriously as you do? As befits a volunteer-driven community with little formal, economic, or academic infrastructure, genealogy offers a variety of places, but they are obvious neither to the newcomer nor to the long-time hobbyist becoming aware of additional dimensions to this fascinating pursuit. Here are some suggestions, in rough order beginning with the least demanding, costly, and formal.”...
Midwestern Microhistory: A Genealogy Blog, June 3

Princeton digitizes The Great Gatsby manuscript
The Princeton University Library has digitized the handwritten manuscript and corrected galleys of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel and made them available online. Viewers can see the text at various stages of development, from Fitzgerald’s earliest ideas about the novel to the galleys that would become the final book. All of them feature numerous corrections and notes in his own hand....
Times of Trenton (N.J.), June 10

Focus on Mexican books at BookExpo (in Spanish)
Jesus Alonso-Regalado writes: “Este año, BookExpo (May 29–June 1 in New York City) nos ofrecía algo de interés. Su ‘Global Market Forum’ se centraba en la industria editorial mexicana. Esta ocasión ofrecía una excelente oportunidad para dialogar sobre la situación actual del libro mexicano en la feria del libro más importante de Estados Unidos de América. El programa se presentaba bajo el lema ‘Reading México’ (PDF file).”...
Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials, June 10

Building your own website for free
Azadeh Ensha writes: “Personal websites have been around a long time. Just ask anyone with an old Angelfire or GeoCities page. But now, internet users have a dizzying array of free, feature-rich services to choose from—no coding skills required. Here is a roundup featuring some free platforms, broken down by category” such as general-purpose, shopping and small business, and portfolio websites—the last for showcasing résumés to best advantage....
New York Times: Personal Tech, June 5

So you have blue hair
Elinor Crosby (right) writes: “Or maybe you have fully tattooed arms, or a labret or septum piercing, or stretched ears. Can you still get a job looking the way that you prefer to look? I feel that the answer is a resounding yes. Is your alternative style going to be more acceptable at an urban public library than a rural one? Also likely yes. This is for all my fellow ‘alternative looking’ librarians out there who are on the job hunt.”...
INALJ, June 10

STEM programming in libraries
Angela Critics writes: “There is a growing movement to include more STEM content in library programming. But ideas that work in a classroom don’t always work in a library. A librarian could spend hours searching websites and Pinterest for activities and still have to pull it all together in a program plan. The Simply STEM wiki is a place where librarians can share and find complete plans as well as more general ideas.” The idea sprang from a spring ALSC course, STEM Programming Made Easy, which will be offered again in July....
Simply STEM

World’s first green library for children opens in Singapore
The world’s first green library for children opened its doors May 31 in Singapore at its Central Public Library. Conceptualized and built with environmental sustainability in mind, the library (called “My Tree House”) is said to be the first in the world to be built on environmental principles from design and infrastructure to the use of sustainable material. There are some 45,000 books in the library, a third of which are green-themed, covering animals, plants, nature, water, weather, environment, recycling, and climate change....
Eco-Business, June 3

Eight overlooked but useful YouTube tools
Richard Byrne writes: “When most people think about YouTube they think about sharing videos or about all of the videos they can discover. Most people don’t think about the useful editing tools that are built into YouTube. The YouTube video editor has some useful features for teachers and students.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, June 10

Alleluia flash mob choir in Valladolid library
Patrons in the reading room of the Public Library of Valladolid, Spain, were pleasantly surprised on June 20, 2012, when the song Wana Baraka (a Christian Kenyan folk song) began to ring out unexpectedly, performed by The Good News Gospel Choir. The rough translation is “They have a baraka (gift), ushini (victory), and upendo (love), for those who in fellowship come to Jesus.”...
GodTube, June 4

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