ALA President’s Message: Community building
ALA President Maureen Sullivan writes: “All around us, libraries of all types are discovering that as they look outward, they can make a dramatic difference in their communities. Long recognized as trusted educational and cultural institutions, libraries that more actively engage with their communities discover innovative services, increase their relevance, and build deeper community support.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

SXSW: Librarians and happenstance voyagers
Aspen Walker writes: “Knowing how action-packed the South by Southwest conference is, I’ve settled on a philosophy for the trip: to be a voyager of happenstance, intent on enjoying the ride, whatever it may yield. Sure, I’ve selected all kinds of sessions in the SXSW app, but flexibility and an open mind are essential to geography, crowds, and shiny objects. After strolling through Austin, Texas, getting the lay of the land March 8, I checked out the opening remarks from Bre Pettis of MakerBot.” Be sure to read part two. And here are the reasons why the interactive SXSW is important for libraries, archives, and museums....
AL: Inside Scoop, Mar. 10–13; The Signal: Digital Preservation, Mar. 8

New AL Live episode on March 14
American Libraries Live, a free, streaming video broadcast that you can view from your home, library, or on the go, will return at 2 p.m. Eastern time on March 14 with a new episode. Library security expert Warren Graham, author of the ALA Editions book The Black Belt Librarian: Real-World Safety and Security, will lead a discussion about how to keep your library, your staff, and your patrons safe and secure....
American Libraries, Mar. 7

Safety and security in libraries
Safety in public spaces, including libraries, has always been a concern, but it may be more keenly felt in the light of certain recent events. A productive and effective library is one in which its staff and patrons feel secure. The ALA Library’s Safety and Security page presents several sets of guidelines, including the 2010 Library Security Guidelines (PDF file), devised by the Safety and Security of Library Buildings Committee of the LLAMA Building and Equipment Section....
AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Mar. 13

On My Mind: There are no free libraries
D. J. Hoek writes: “Over the past few months, an image has been making its way around social media to underscore the value of libraries. It’s a checkout receipt (right) from ‘your local library’ that lists various borrowed items—three DVDs, five books, one ebook, six CDs—and the cost to the borrower for each, all of which are $0. Below the grand total of zero at the bottom of the receipt is the image’s take-home message: ‘Having a library card? Priceless.’”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

Will’s World: Too eager to please
Pity the poor library director, whose job description includes ensuring the work gets done, the patrons are happy, the powers that be (trustees, city managers, regents, deans, principals, school board members, city council members, county commissioners) are also happy, and library employees are happy. Oh, I forgot one thing: Do all this with a 10% budget cut. There is one thing I would like to change about librarians. We are, quite frankly, too eager to please.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

Newsmaker: An interview with Roger Rosen
Roger Rosen (right), CEO of the educational house Rosen Publishing, calls himself a publishing brat. “I grew up in the business, packing books as a little boy and attending ALA conferences with my parents.” Lately, Rosen’s been making news as one of the first publishers to figure out a pricing and delivery structure for ebooks and databases, and as an advocate for libraries and librarians....
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.

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Your guide to the 2013 ALA elections
An electronic election guide is once again available to help inform members about ALA candidates and the election process. Your Guide to the 2013 ALA Elections (PDF version and Flipbook version) contains general information about the ALA presidency, recent ALA presidential initiatives, and biographical information about the two presidential candidates. Information about the ALA treasurer and the two treasurer candidates is also provided, as well as information about ALA Council, recent Council actions, and links to information about this year’s 76 Council candidates....
Office of ALA Governance, Mar. 12

Sponsors still needed for Emerging Leaders
The ALA Emerging Leaders program is still accepting sponsors for the 2014 class. Completed Intent to Sponsor forms (PDF file) should be submitted to Program Coordinator Beatrice Calvin by April 5. In order to sponsor a participant, organizations or individuals must commit to providing financial support of at least $1,000 for each Emerging Leader selected....
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Mar. 7

What librarians need to know about the Copyright Alert System
Carrie Russell writes: “Late in February, the Center for Copyright Information launched its Copyright Alert System, creating a new method by rights holders and Internet Service Providers to curb online copyright infringement. People who are believed to be infringing copyright are notified by CCI with an alert that infringement linked to the users’ IP address has occurred. This notice is not a cease-and-desist legal action. Really? One has reason to be skeptical. ALA is monitoring the Copyright Alert System to see if promises are kept.”...
District Dispatch, Mar. 13; YouTube, Feb. 25

National Bookmobile Day resources available
The fourth annual celebration of National Bookmobile Day is just around the corner on April 17. The ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services, and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries collaborate every year to assemble free downloadable and customizable resources to aid libraries as they plan their activities and events....
OLOS Columns, Mar. 8

I Love Libraries on Facebook
Everyone all over the world is welcome at I Love Libraries on Facebook. Here you’ll find links to stories, pictures and quotes about libraries, and very likely you’ll meet friends and colleagues, as well as make new ones. Drop in and learn some of the latest news about libraries, librarians, library workers, and library students, primarily in the United States but also around the world....
ALA Student Membership Blog, Mar. 11

Tips for managing your map collection
A free webinar sponsored by the Map and Geospatial Information Round Table, “Care and Feeding of Maps: Tips for Managing Your Map Collection,” will offer advice on how to arrange, house, and maintain paper maps and provide an overview of resources for managing map collections of all shapes and sizes. Hallie Pritchett, head of the Map and Government Information Library at the University of Georgia, is the presenter. Log in at 3–4 p.m. Eastern time, March 18....
Map and Geospatial Information Round Table, Mar. 4

Library services to refugee populations
The Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table is launching its quarterly webinar series April 19 with a look at how libraries assist refugees in the United States as they transition into their new communities. Led by Homa Naficy and Sanja Bebic, the webinar will examine the unique challenges faced by refugees. To register, visit the OLOS Online Learning page....
Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, Mar. 12

Reducing homelessness through library engagement
The Office for Literacy and Outreach Services and the Social Responsibilities Round Table will host a webinar March 21 that expands on the tips and tools in Extending our Reach: Reducing Homelessness Through Library Engagement, the latest outreach toolkit from OLOS and SRRT. The free webinar will feature Lisa Gieskes and Julie Winkelstein. More information can be found on the OLOS Online Learning page....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Mar. 12

iPads and gadgets eCourse returns
ALA Editions announces a new iteration of its facilitated eCourse, “iPads, Tablets, and Gadgets in the Library: Planning, Budgeting, and Implementation.” This course, which will begin on May 13 and last for six weeks, will show students how they can implement iPads and other high-tech devices into their libraries for both staff and patron use. Once again, students will be taught by Virginia Tech librarians Carolyn Meier, Rebecca Miller, and Heather Moorefield-Lang....
ALA Editions, Mar. 8

Copyright for K–12 librarians and educators
ALA Editions will hold a new workshop, “Copyright for K–12 Librarians and Educators,” with Carrie Russell on April 11. Russell will offer clear guidance on ways to legally provide materials to students by exploring scenarios often encountered by educators in schools. Registration for this workshop is available on the ALA Store....
ALA Editions, Mar. 8

Use SEO to enhance your digital repository
Fewer than 2% of library users begin their search on a library website, which is why search engine optimization (SEO) is so crucial. Kenning Arlitsch and Patrick OBrien show how to ensure that high-value content is visible to researchers in their new book Improving the Visibility and Use of Digital Repositories through SEO: A LITA Guide, published by ALA TechSource. Drawing on their expertise in digital libraries and corporate marketing, they show how to mount a successful SEO strategy....
LITA, Mar. 7

Reshaping library services for older adults
As Baby Boomers continue to swell their ranks, the behavior, interests, and information needs of older adults have changed dramatically. Diantha Dow Schull’s new book 50+ Library Services: Innovation in Action, published by ALA Editions, offers the keys to reshaping library services for new generations of active older adults. The book is a must-read for library educators, library directors, and any information professional working in a community or academic setting....
ALA Editions, Mar. 7

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Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is located on the south side of Chicago in the Hyde Park neighborhood. One of the largest science museums in the world, MSI is home to more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. During annual conference, it will be featuring a documentary film on Space Junk, the first movie to explore the exponentially expanding ring of debris that threatens the safety of our planet’s space launches, in its Omnimax Theater. Watch the trailer (1:20)....
Museum of Science and Industry

Rick Bayless restaurants
Chicago restaurateur and nationally known Mexican-cuisine chef Rick Bayless has five restaurants in the Chicago area. The casual Frontera Grill (right) and the dressier Topolobampo (both at 445 N. Clark Street) are the best known, but there is also Xoco (next door at 449 N. Clark Street), the quick-service Frontera Fresco at several locations, and Tortas Frontera at O’Hare Airport terminals 1 and 3. Librarians may also want to make a reservation to use Frontera’s “Library Room,” a unique dining option for intimate gatherings of up to 10 guests....
Rick Bayless

Millennium Park
Offering 25 acres of awe-inspiring landscape, breathtaking architecture, and a public art display you have to see to believe, Millennium Park is Chicago’s premier green space. The park hosts live shows, exhibits, and creative, family-friendly activities. With a stunning skyline backdrop and ambitiously crafted design, Millennium Park has become an urban sanctuary for Chicagoans and visitors alike. Self-guided audio tours are available, as well as a journey through the park with a trained expert....
Choose Chicago; Chicago Tribune, July 15, 2004

Chicago’s own Downton Abbey
Dave Seminara writes: “As a longtime Chicago resident, I’ve walked or driven past the Nickerson Mansion at 40 E. Erie Street [one block from ALA headquarters] hundreds of times. But I never thought about going inside the place, which is now the Richard Driehaus Museum, until I read all the rave reviews of it on Trip Advisor. I had no idea that we had one of the country’s finest Gilded Age mansions. It was built in 1879–1883 for Samuel Mayo Nickerson, a self-made millionaire who made his fortune distilling alcohol during the Civil War when it was used for explosives, thanks to a shortage of gunpowder.”...
Gadling, Mar. 12

Glessner House Museum
This museum at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue offers tours of two architecturally significant buildings on Chicago’s Near South Side: the John J. Glessner House, completed in 1887 by Henry Hobson Richardson, a Chicago architect known for his Romanesque Revival style featuring robust arches and columns; and the Henry B. Clarke House (above), an 1836 Greek Revival structure that is one of the oldest surviving houses in the city. The Clarke House is located on the grounds of the Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, in the Prairie Avenue Historic District. The buildings are about a 12-minute walk from McCormick Place....
Glessner House Museum

Airport screening concerns civil liberties groups
Aviation security leaders are moving forward with plans to shift toward a risk-based system of passenger screening—an idea supported by the travel industry and government officials who want screeners to focus on travelers who may present a security threat. But civil liberties groups and some European regulators are questioning the use of vast amounts of personal data to decide which travelers to examine more closely—or to prevent from flying at all. Meanwhile, the TSA has lifted restrictions on some items, including small knives and billiard cues....
New York Times, Mar. 11; The Cranky Flier, Mar. 7

Cory Doctorow to present LITA President’s Program
Digital rights activist, science fiction writer, and Boing Boing coeditor Cory Doctorow (right) will present “More Than a Book-Lined Internet Café,” at the LITA President's Program on June 30 during ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The LITA President’s Program is part of “Sunday Afternoon with LITA,” which also includes the LITA awards presentations and the popular Top Technology Trends panel discussion....
LITA, Mar. 11

Teen Tech Week: A low-tech option
Kip Odell writes: “Not every library has a ton of technology to use during Teen Tech Week, March 10–16, but there are many low-tech programs. One good idea is a ‘Take It Apart’ program, a chance for teens to strip old and broken tech that can range from phones to computers to fax machines. It’s a great way to expose teens to older equipment, let them figure out how it works, and discover what this stuff looks like on the inside. Of course, teens just love digging into hardware and tearing it apart.”...
YALSA Blog, Mar. 12

YALSA virtual town halls
As part of the year-long National Forum on Libraries and Teens project, YALSA will sponsor the first of three town halls on March 19. All virtual town halls will take place in YALSA’s Adobe Connect space, with the two future events on April 16 and May 21. Each session will focus on a specific theme. For more information on the virtual town halls, visit the YALSA Blog....
YALSA, Mar. 12; YALSA Blog, Mar. 5

ACRL and Choice launch new webinar program
ACRL and Choice have teamed up to present a new sponsored webinar program connecting academic and research librarians with a host of content and service providers, publishers, and other experts who serve their market. This new program will kick off on April 23 with a webinar exploring multiple visions of the library of the future, featuring the University of Washington Information School’s Joe Janes. Next up on May 22 will be a discussion of the state of libraries and ebooks. To register to attend, contact Pam Marino....
ACRL, Mar. 12

Apply now for ACRL Immersion Program
ACRL invites applicants for its Immersion ’13 Program. The Immersion Program Intentional Teaching and Assessment Tracks will be offered simultaneously November 20–24 in Nashville, Tennessee. Applications for both tracks are being accepted through May 10. Visit the Immersion Program website for complete details about the program, including curriculum, learning outcomes, and application instructions....
ACRL, Mar. 12

Two new Caldecott 75th anniversary forums
ALSC has announced two more 75th Caldecott Facebook Forums: on March 28 ALSC will host Peter Brown, and on April 11 Kadir Nelson will be the guest. As part of the forum, ALSC will interview Brown and Nelson about their Caldecott experiences. Participants can access the forum via the ALSC Facebook page....
ALSC, Mar. 12

PLA Virtual Spring Symposium registration extended
There’s still time to register for the March 20 PLA 2013 Virtual Spring Symposium. This full day of public library education will offer a total of eight educational hour-long programs across four subject tracks: Administration/Leadership and Youth Services tracks will run simultaneously in the morning, while Marketing/Customer Service and Technology tracks will run in the afternoon. Registration is open through March 18 for both individuals and groups....
PLA, Mar. 12

Prepare for disaster recovery
AASL has added a complimentary disaster recovery workshop to its preconference lineup taking place at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The half-day session, “Beyond Words: How to Recover from a Disaster in Your Library,” will take place on June 28. The workshop will help attendees evaluate their school library program’s current disaster preparedness plan to identify gaps and build solutions to overcome them. Sign up when you register for conference....
AASL, Mar. 12

Internet safety issues and the school librarian
AASL members are invited to attend “A School Librarian’s Role in Preventing Sexting and Cyberbullying,” a webinar presented by Laurie Nathan from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and hosted by AASL. To take place on March 28, the webinar will address ongoing internet safety issues affecting children, including cyberbullying and sexting. To register, visit eCollab....
AASL, Mar. 12

PBS LearningMedia literacy lessons
In a new vendor webinar from AASL, presenters Carol Studebaker, Charlotte Hodges, and Carolyn Jacobs will offer an in-depth look at middle school literacy tools now available from PBS LearningMedia. The webinar, “PBS LearningMedia Launches Blended Literacy Lessons,” will take place on March 26. To register, visit eCollab....
AASL, Mar. 12

RDF and ontologies for the Semantic Web
On June 27 at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, ALCTS will present “Introduction to RDF and Ontologies for the Semantic Web.” This all-day preconference introduces attendees to Resource Description Framework and ontology modeling. The speaker will be Steven J. Miller (right) of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Register through the Annual Conference website....
ALCTS, Mar. 11

Upcoming ALCTS web courses
Register now for the five popular Fundamentals web courses offered by ALCTS, including the newly redesigned and updated “Fundamentals of Acquisitions.” Space is still available in the spring, summer, and fall sessions, so register online or by mail (PDF file) now before they sell out....
ALCTS, Mar. 12

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Salt Lake County wins Hayes Award
ALSC has awarded the 2013 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Visit Award to Salt Lake County (Utah) Library Services. The award, sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, provides up to $4,000 to an ALSC member library to fund a visit from an author or illustrator who will speak to children. The library will use the funds to help host the Diá de los Niños Festival on April 27 that features author John Scieszka....
ALSC, Mar. 7

Applications open for 2014 Arbuthnot Lecture
ALSC and the 2014 May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Committee have opened applications for hosting the 2014 event featuring children’s author Andrea Davis Pinkney (right). The Arbuthnot Lecture is an annual event in which an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature presents a paper that makes a significant contribution to the field. Host site application forms can be downloaded, and the applications are due April 22....
ALSC, Mar. 12

Three libraries win 2013 Bookapalooza program
ALSC has awarded the 2013 Bookapalooza program to three libraries: Pinson (Ala.) Public Library, Fletcher (Okla.) Public School, and Ashland (Ohio) Public Library. The award includes books, DVDs, and audiobooks received at the ALSC office from publishers for selection committees to evaluate for awards and notables consideration....
ALSC, Mar. 7

ALA President’s Award for Advocacy
Applications for the ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by United for Libraries, are due April 15. The award honors statewide advocacy for libraries with $1,000 and an honorable mention by the ALA president at the Opening General Session of the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Winners will be notified by June 1....
United for Libraries, Mar. 6

2013 Carnegie-Whitney Grant winners
Carnegie-Whitney Grants provides funds for the preparation, either in print or electronically, of popular or scholarly reading lists, indexes, webliographies, and other guides to library resources that will be useful to users of all types of libraries in the US. Ten projects were funded....
ALA Publishing, Mar. 12

Rachel Magee wins Frances Henne grant
YALSA has awarded the 2013 Frances Henne / YALSA / VOYA Research Grant to Rachel M. Magee (right). This $1,000 grant will provide seed money for her research project, “Teens’ Everyday Life Information Ecologies: People, Technology, Values, and Practices.” The project is designed to develop a better understanding of how teens use (or do not use) technologies, how the values and relationships surrounding teens and technology impact that use, and what that means for the role of information in teens’ lives....
YALSA, Mar. 11

20 Summer Reading Program Grants awarded
YALSA has announced the winners of its Summer Reading Program Grants, which are funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Twenty libraries are receiving $1,000 to help fund summer reading programs for teens....
YALSA, Mar. 12

YALSA conference grants
YALSA has awarded two Baker & Taylor Conference Grants to Abby Harwood and Juanita Kamalipour. The division’s Dorothy Broderick Student Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Woody. Each will receive up to $1,000 to attend the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago....
YALSA, Mar. 12

2013 Penguin Young Readers Group grant
ALSC has awarded its 2013 Penguin Young Readers Group Award to Janet Vogel, Krissy Wick, Heather Smith, and Andrea Vernola. The $600 stipend, made possible by an annual gift from Penguin Young Readers Group, enables up to four children’s librarians to attend their first ALA Annual Conference....
ALSC, Mar. 7

2013 Baker & Taylor Summer Reading grant
ALSC has awarded its 2013 Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Program Grant to the Hartford (Conn.) Public Library. The $3,000 grant encourages outstanding summer reading programs by providing financial assistance and recognizes ALSC members for outstanding program development. The library’s program collaborates with local schools to run for 11 weeks, ensuring a seamless continuum of learning with no summer loss....
ALSC, Mar. 7

Lloyd Library research fellows
In 2012, the Lloyd Library and Museum in Cincinnati instituted a research fellowship designed to showcase the variety of materials within its collections and provide long-term access to its unique research materials. Three scholars from around the country were chosen as the inaugural Curtis Gates Lloyd Fellows for projects that will make excellent use of the Lloyd’s varied collections....
Lloyd Library and Museum, Mar. 11

Grants for promoting multicultural children’s books
In February, a nonprofit called First Book, which promotes literacy among children in low-income communities, announced the Stories for All project, a program intended to prod publishers to print more multicultural books. On March 13, First Book announced that awards of $500,000 will go to two publishers for their proposals: HarperCollins, a big publishing house, and Lee & Low, a minority-owned independent publisher. Money for the grants comes from donations and the proceeds of sales by First Book to its members....
New York Times: Media Decoder, Mar. 10

2013 Blue Peter Awards
The winners in the two categories of the 2013 Blue Peter Book Awards were announced during a special edition of the popular Blue Peter children’s television program on World Book Day, March 7. Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates: Genius Ideas (Mostly), published by Scholastic, won the Blue Peter Best Story award, while Horrible Science: House of Horrors by Nick Arnold and Tony De Saulles (Scholastic) won the Best Book with Facts prize. More than 300 young viewers from a selection of schools across the UK and Ireland voted for their favorites to determine the winners....
Booktrust, Mar. 7

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Florida superintendent eyes eliminating school librarians
Citing an anticipated $23 million budget shortfall, Pasco County (Fla.) Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning (right) announced March 7 that he plans to eliminate all school librarians and literacy coaches for the next school year. “Media specialists and K–12 literacy coaches almost all are certified teachers. We need highly qualified teachers in our classrooms teaching kids,” Browning said in a video (5:53). A decision is expected in May....
St. Petersburg (Fla.) Tampa Bay Times, Mar. 7; YouTube, Mar. 7

Judge: Arizona can ban Mexican-American studies
On March 8, a federal court upheld a 2010 Arizona state law under which the Tucson Unified School District suspended its Mexican-American studies program. Judge Wallace Tashima said the plaintiffs failed to show that HB 2281 was too vague, broad, or discriminatory, although he ruled unconstitutional any prohibition on courses tailored to serve students of a particular ethnicity. Plaintiff attorney Richard Martinez said that former Mexican-American studies student Nicholas Dominguez and his mother Margarita Dominguez will likely appeal....
Huffington Post, Mar. 11

Missouri library can’t block pagan websites
A federal district court has ordered the public library in Salem, Missouri, to stop blocking patrons’ access to websites relating to minority religions, which web filters had at times apparently classified as “occult” or “criminal.” The censorship was brought to light in early 2011 when a patron complained that she couldn’t access websites about Native American religions and Wiccan faith. Although the library changed the filter settings in August 2011, the court ruling says the library is officially banned from reactivating religious or occult filter categories. Library Director Glenda Wofford was pleased that the library can maintain its current settings and will not have to pay court costs....
St. Louis Riverfront Times, Mar. 6, 8; Jan. 4, 2012

Proposed NYPL budget cuts
New York Public Library President Tony Marx joined Brooklyn Public Library President Linda Johnson and Queens Library President Tom Galante at a March 8 City Council hearing to discuss the city’s preliminary budget that includes a proposed $106.7 million cut to New York City libraries, one of the most drastic ever. Their statement emphasized NYPL’s roles in workforce development, business support, services to students and immigrants, adult literacy, and access to technology. An advocacy group, Citizens Defending Libraries, held a rally outside....
New York Public Library, Mar. 8; Screwy Decimal, Mar. 10; Brooklyn Heights Blog, Mar. 8

Tennessee rejects library photo ID cards
The Tennessee Senate rejected an amendment March 7 that would have allowed local governments like Memphis and Shelby County to create secure photo-identification cards that would be acceptable for use under Tennessee law for voting. The discussion focused on the court-contested photo ID cards issued by the Memphis Public Library in 2012 and on whether to allow state-college student IDs to qualify. But the underlying legislation requiring photo IDs for voting (around which the debate revolved) ended up being postponed for a week....
Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial Appeal, Mar. 7

ARL, CARL urge dropping the second Askey lawsuit
The Association of Research Libraries and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries is urging Herbert W. Richardson, founder and editor of Edwin Mellen Press, to discontinue his personal lawsuit against Dale Askey. By continuing his personal suit against Askey, ARL and CARL believe that Richardson is contributing to the same chill on the freedom of expression of librarians as did Edwin Mellen Press when it lodged its suit against Askey and McMaster University....
Association of Research Libraries, Mar. 11

New University of Virginia librarians denied faculty status
Incoming library staff at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville will be designated as university staff rather than faculty, University Librarian Karin Wittenborg emailed library employees March 1. Librarians issued a written objection February 14, citing an ACRL joint statement revised in 2012 that favors librarian tenure....
Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia), Mar. 7

West Virginia Book Festival canceled
In one of the first of what could be a long string of cost-saving measures, the Kanawha County Public Library has canceled this year’s West Virginia Book Festival. The library system has been scrambling to come up with millions of dollars in the wake of a state Supreme Court decision that stripped about 40% of its operating budget. The board of directors voted March 11 to withdraw its support for the festival, which was scheduled for October 19–20....
Charleston (W.Va.) Daily Mail, Feb. 22, Mar. 11

Prosser school board questions selection policy
A month after an Instructional Materials Committee voted to retain, with grade-level restrictions, two school library books challenged by Prosser (Wash.) High School social studies teacher Rich Korb, a new policy to direct book selection for school libraries could be on the horizon. Korb called for the district to remove Dave Pelzer’s A Child Called “It,” which talks about child abuse, and one of the books in the Popularity Papers series by Amy Ignatow. School board member Win Taylor raised questions about why District Librarian Vivian Jennings is the only authority to approve library acquisitions....
Kennewick (Wash.) Tri-City Herald, Mar. 10

Mohave County supervisors fire director
Former Mohave County (Ariz.) Library Director Danielle Krol (right) said she wanted to expand services for the public and bring better pay and more opportunities for library employees, but was fired by the board of supervisors before she had a chance to get the ball rolling. Krol said she believes some employees felt threatened by her proposed changes, and that's what led to her March 4 dismissal....
Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner, Mar. 3, 6

Broad Channel branch reopens in Queens
The Broad Channel branch, one of four Queens (N.Y.) libraries significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, has reopened for public service. The library took in up to two feet of storm surge and suffered $940,000 in damages from the storm, including the loss of more than 16,000 books and other library items. Thanks to expedient work by the New York City Department of Design and Construction, it is, once again, serving the community. The branch reopened March 6....
Queens Library, Mar. 6; WCBS-TV, New York City, Mar. 6

News of Paterson library’s needs travels far
Thanks to social media, word travels fast and the Big Book Drive stands to reap the benefits, said Paterson (N.J.) Free Public Library Director Cynthia Czesak, coordinator of the drive. The former Maryland middle school librarian has coached students on their own drive to benefit children in Paterson, where the Northside branch and its 10,000 books were wiped out by Hurricane Irene in 2011....
Bergen County (N.J.) Record, Mar. 9

Toronto Public Library catalog pushes book sales
Search for a book using Toronto Public Library’s online catalog and you’ll notice something new beneath all the bibliographic information: a little box that instructs you to “buy your own copy and support the Toronto Public Library.” The library administration has entered into a “retail affiliate” relationship with Indigo.ca. The library gets 5% of the cost of every purchase made through its catalog. The program was approved by TPL’s board last June (PDF file), but it only launched in early March....
Torontoist, Mar. 11

Provincetown library tries out publishing
The Provincetown (Mass.) Public Library will be publishing books. Under its new Provincetown Public Press digital publishing imprint, a dozen or so writers and artists will learn in 2013 how to create a digital book of their work and market it on the internet. This might be the first in the country, Library Director Cheryl Napsha said March 8. The library is starting the press as a public service and it will be funded by a $3,000 donation....
Hyannis (Mass.) Cape Cod Times, Mar. 11

Some kind of record?
Tacoma (Wash.) Public Library’s Food for Fines program collected 18,560 nonperishable items to benefit local food banks, in exchange for forgiving overdue fees. During the three-week program, which ended March 9, fees held by library patrons were reduced by $24,284.50. At the end of the program, 1,097 patrons no longer have fines, and 1,125 joined the library or rejoined after their accounts expired....
Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune, Mar. 12

Gay high school librarian loses suspension appeal
An openly gay librarian who was suspended in 2010 amid accusations that he touched students inappropriately does not have a discrimination case, a New York appeals court ruled March 5. Christopher Asch, a 20-year veteran librarian at Stuyvesant High School in New York City, was accused of touching students in a way that made them uncomfortable between 2005 and 2008. Asch had successfully petitioned the New York County Supreme Court to vacate the suspension in 2011....
Courthouse News Service, Mar. 8

Justice Kennedy Library christened in Sacramento
On March 8, a wing of the federal courthouse in Sacramento, California, was christened the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Library and Learning Center, with the beaming US Supreme Court associate justice in attendance. The learning center will include activities to train primary and secondary school teachers how to impart to their students the role and importance of our constitutional system, and to enhance civic literacy and appreciation of our legal heritage and founding principles. Kennedy (above) was interviewed (8:40) after the dedication....
Sacramento (Calif.) Bee, Mar. 8; KCRA-TV, Sacramento, Mar. 8

Library and Archives Canada reduces its acquisitions and lending
Since 2009, Library and Archives Canada hasn’t acquired many of the historic letters, journals, books, and maps it once collected so dutifully, critics say. It has also stopped collecting a comprehensive array of current Canadian cultural and artistic output and limited the access that academics and genealogists have to its Ottawa-based materials. And, as of February, it’s barely even lending out books anymore....
Toronto Star, Mar. 10

The Nazis made me do it
An Estonian man has returned a library book 69 years late, partly blaming the late return on a World War II aerial bombing that damaged the library. Ivika Türkson of the Tallinn Central Library said that in early March the man, in his mid-80s, returned the overdue book—which was checked out on March 7, 1944, while Estonia was occupied by Nazi Germany—along with an apology and an offer to pay a late fee. The book was volume 1 of the selected works of Estonian writer Eduard Vilde....
Associated Press, Mar. 12

Vilnius to commemorate academic librarian
Officials in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius will name a city street after Ona Šimaitė (1894–1970, right), a librarian at Vilnius University who aided and rescued Jews in the Vilna Ghetto during World War II. Entering the ghetto under the pretext of recovering library books from Jewish university students, she smuggled in food, smuggled out literary and historical documents, and helped hide many Jews outside the ghetto. In 1944, she was captured and tortured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp in southern France. Her life is recounted in Julija Šukys’s Epistolophilia: Writing the Life of Ona Šimaitė (University of Nebraska, 2012)....
The Voice of Russia, Mar. 8

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ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, June 27–July 2. “Best of The Second City,” with some of the best sketches, songs, and improvisations from the company that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray, will be the big draw at the ALA/ProQuest 2013 Scholarship Bash. Enjoy the next generation of comedy legends while raising money for scholarships. Sign up for this event (Saturday, 8–10 p.m in McCormick Place) when you register for the conference, or add it later. Tickets are going fast.

Faking It: Manipulating Photography Before Photoshop Climate Wars and the Selection of a Climate Advocate as Secretary of State Mary Ellen Pellington: A Visionary in Her Library Shaping New Visions in Photography and the Experimental Work of Moholy-Nagy Marissa Meyer: 'I was like a kid in a candy store' Join Us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter

Susan Orlean to write about the LAPL fire
Author and New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean has inked a deal with Simon & Schuster for The Library Book. The book will explore the power of libraries and Orleans’s “quest to solve a crime that has gone unsolved since it was carried out in April 1986: Who set fire to the Los Angeles Public Library, ultimately destroying 400,000 books?” It will also be a “love letter to an endangered institution, exploring their history, their people, their meaning, and their future as they adapt and redefine themselves in a digital world.”...
GalleyCat, Mar. 6; EarlyWord, Mar. 7; Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Society

Top 10 children’s steampunk books
Sharon Gosling writes: “The definition of what actually qualifies as steampunk is a debate that continues to rumble on, as does the question of why it has become so widely popular in the past few years. For me, steampunk is the plucky adventurousness of Victorian sensibilities reimagined with fantastical machinery. Books in the genre for youngsters of all ages are still quite thin on the shelves, but that’s changing. These are some of the ones I have most enjoyed.”...
The Guardian (UK), Feb. 28

Escapist fiction for spring break
Laura Perenic writes: “To me, spring break is about more than a tan and sunscreen; spring break is for getting out of Dodge. Maybe you won’t even stay that long, but you want to get away—far, far away. “Hit the Road with a Road Trip Book” would be a great list if you just want to get in the car and drive. But what if you want to really get away, like out of the country? Here is a list for you.”...
YALSA The Hub, Mar. 11; July 20, 2012

Animated pop-up books
Michael Lieberman writes: “Welcome to the world of animated pop-up books, a healthy new genre which combines the art of paper engineering with animation. On the right is an entertaining trailer for Il étais une fois (Once upon a time) by Benjamin Lacombe, where a white rabbit guides us through a sampling of childhood classics (1:32). Others include The Icebook, a pop-up book of papercuts transformed into a stage for a projected animation (2:38); an ad for J. P. Morgan Chase, titled ‘Change’ (0:45); and an animated pop-up book to help you find new creative opportunities at Google.”...
Book Patrol, Mar. 12

30 delicious literary cakes
Emily Temple writes: “Our mouths (and minds) watered looking at a few delightful book cakes over at Shelf Life. Hungry as we are, we couldn’t resist scouring the internet for more, from highbrow tomes to children’s books to full-scale collections in vanilla frosting. Check out these 30 delicious-looking literary cakes.”...
Flavorwire, Mar. 1; Entertainment Weekly: Shelf Life, Feb. 28

Teens and technology, 2013
Smartphone adoption among American teens has increased substantially, and mobile access to the internet is pervasive. One in four teens are “cell mostly” internet users, who say they usually go online using their phone and not using some other device such as a desktop or laptop computer. This finding is important for librarians who serve teen patrons. A nationally representative Pew Research Center survey (PDF file) in the summer of 2012 explored technology use among 802 youth ages 12–17 and their parents....
Pew Internet & American Life Project, Mar. 13; YALSA Blog, Mar. 13

Best LIS programs, 2013
US News and World Report released March 11 its annual rankings of 51 ALA-accredited library and information science programs. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are at the top of the list. The rankings are based solely on the results of a fall 2012 survey sent to the dean of each program, the program director, and a senior faculty member in each program....
US News and World Report, Mar. 11

Letter from Birmingham Jail: A worldwide celebration
On April 16, the 50th anniversary of the day that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. began writing his Letter from Birmingham Jail, people worldwide will read the letter in celebration. Sponsored by the Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library, the event will feature public readings from the letter at locations around the globe: libraries, museums, schools, universities, churches, synagogues, temples, work places, public parks, bookstores, street corners, and coffee shops. Register your participation and join in the celebration....
Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library

Facebook’s revamped news feed
Chloe Albanesius writes: “On March 7, Facebook took the wraps off a new news feed, which gives the social network a more contained, organized look while also providing the option to drill down on things like photos and games. With the update, the background is now light gray, while the updates are housed within white boxes that stand out a bit more. The left side of the page, meanwhile, houses the menu on a dark gray background, and incorporates Facebook Chat and what appears to be the remains of the Facebook Ticker.”...
PC Magazine, Mar. 8

I’ve been using Evernote all wrong
Whitson Gordon writes: “For years, I kept hearing how awesome Evernote was—how it could store everything you possibly needed, make it available everywhere, and how scores of people couldn’t live without it. I tried it multiple times, and never saw the appeal until now. If you’re like I was and haven’t yet experienced the greatness of Evernote, here are some things you should try.”...
Lifehacker, Mar. 12

Evernote as a storytime archive
Melissa Depper writes: “I’ve been presenting storytimes for over 15 years and I have tried many systems for keeping track of my plans, rhymes, songs, books, and ideas. What I need is a way to think of fresh combinations of the activities I love and that I know work well for me. I was on the verge of starting a storytime Tumblr when Andrea Flemming of Iowa City Public Library mentioned on Twitter that if she were starting her storytime system over, she would use Evernote. Let me tell you, I am in love. Here are the big reasons.”...
ALSC Blog, Mar. 9

Four ways to bring Wikipedia users to your library resources
Aaron Tay writes: “Besides Google, the main website students or researchers go to is Wikipedia, either directly or via Google because it ranks highly in Google for most topics. Librarians should look for ways to enable users to get from Wikipedia pages to library resources more easily. But how? Here are four ways that allow users to link back to library resources.”...
Musings about Librarianship, Mar. 11

16 resources on makerspaces
Ellyssa Kroski writes: “Makerspaces—also referred to as hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs—are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies, and tools. Here are some excellent resources if you are thinking about setting up a makerspace in your organization.”...
iLibrarian, Mar. 12

Got dust? And other ways to weed reference
Jessica Olin writes: “I've talked about weeding before, and those rules definitely enter into my decisions with a reference collection, but there are other factors to consider. Further, unless you’ve been careful to track use for a while, there’s no real way to know how many times a book has been used. Besides, if you have a good cleaning staff then you can’t even judge by the layer of dust on a book. So what do I look for? Here’s a quick list for you.”...
Letters to a Young Librarian, Mar. 12; Jan. 3, 2012

Librarian interview questions database
Emily Weak writes: “A few months ago there was a LinkedIn discussion about interview questions for librarian positions, and someone, possibly me, suggested that it would be a good idea to put together a database where people could share the questions they were asked. Well, here it is. If you have recently been interviewed, please go to the Library Interview Questions form and let us know what you were asked.”...
Hiring Librarians, Mar. 11

Three tricky customer conversations
Jen Tucker writes: “One of the best perks of working in public libraries is interacting with our customers. We spend much of our time building connections with patrons in our community. But when issues involve library users that we know and like, things become complex. When concerns arise, how do we fix them while maintaining the patron relationship? The key to navigating these tricky encounters with ease and grace is to set limits. Follow these three scenarios that outline some of the more common challenges library workers may face.”...
Public Libraries Online, Mar. 12

Why analyze genealogical data?
Donna Brown writes: “Genealogy is a constant learning process. In the beginning stages, the question may be: Who were my great-grandparents? Learning a name and where they lived fills in an empty spot on a family tree, and for many that is sufficient. But once a name on a tree is not enough and you decide to look for documentation to track where they lived and worked, bore their children, and are buried, the need for careful examination and evaluation of what you find becomes important.”...
DonnaB’s Weblog, Mar. 5

Comics Out Loud! April 24
“Comics Out Loud!” is an exciting opt-in event for educators to celebrate the unique role that comics can play in the classroom. Reading with Pictures is calling on all teachers, librarians, and other educators to incorporate comic books into their daily activities on April 24. Colorful posters and curriculum-friendly materials that give helpful suggestions to incorporate comics into the classroom will be available for downloading. Register online....
Reading with Pictures, Mar. 11

We Give Books
This spring, nonprofit literacy organization We Give Books, entertainment company LeapFrog, and readers across the United States are teaming up to read digital books and donate 150,000 printed LeapFrog books to public elementary schools across the country. Starting March 19 and continuing through April 5, when you read a book on the We Give Books website, you can have a new book sent directly to the school of your choice....
We Give Books

Lumio book lamp
Sometimes the best Kickstarter projects are the simplest ones. Lumio is a lamp masquerading as a beautiful hardcover book with a wooden finish. To turn the lamp on, you open it up. To turn it off, you close. It’s equal parts simplicity and ingenuity. An LED powers the Lumio, which can last up to eight hours when fully charged....
TechCrunch, Mar. 6

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