The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | May 8, 2013

Dispatches from the Field: Coming to TERMS
Jill Emery and Graham Stone write: “Two decades after the advent of electronic journals and databases, librarians are still grappling with ways to best manage e-resources. These times of economic austerity are also creating budgetary pressures at many institutions of higher education, with the result that librarians must continually justify their spending on collections and resource management. Our Techniques for Electronic Resource Management (TERMS) began in 2008 after we began discussing the lack of consistency in practices and missing features in the available systems.”...
American Libraries column, May

Newsmaker: An interview with Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy has been a lifelong advocate for reading, literacy, and libraries. Her career has included work with the New York City Department of Education and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. This year she is serving as honorary chair of National Library Week. Kennedy has written or edited 10 bestselling books on American history, politics, and poetry. American Libraries spoke with Kennedy about her work, the future of libraries, and her love of poetry....
American Libraries column, May

Leadership in a Digital Age: President’s Message
ALA President Maureen Sullivan (right) writes: “The increasingly digital context brings challenges and opportunities for librarians, library staff, archivists, and museum professionals. New roles and the competencies required to perform them are evolving. One overriding role for all of us is that of the leader. The complexity of the changes we experience leads to many unfamiliar situations in which deep learning is necessary to successfully work through the problems and challenges. Scholar Warren Bennis calls these ‘crucible’ experiences.”...
American Libraries column, May

AL Live this week: Online learning trends
American Libraries Live, a free, streaming video broadcast that you can view from your home, library, or on the go, returns 2–3 p.m. Eastern time on May 9 with a new episode, “Library Learning Goes Online.” From elementary school to graduate school to continuing education, online tools are creating new horizons in distance learning and new tools to supplement in-person learning. But what does this mean for libraries? The hour-long interactive discussion will be led by Sarah Steiner (above) and includes panelists John Shank and Lauren Pressley. Register online or visit the AL Live website at the time of the event....
AL Live, May 3

Go back to the Top

Young, Gonzalez win ALA elections
The election results are in: Courtney Young, head librarian at Penn State Greater Allegheny, has been elected the 2014–2015 ALA president, defeating Barbara Immroth, professor in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin. Mario M. Gonzalez, executive director of the Passaic (N.J.) Public Library, has been elected treasurer for 2013–2016, defeating Clara Nalli Bohrer, director of the West Bloomfield Township (Mich.) Public Library. 33 ALA members have also been elected Councilors-at-Large....
AL: Inside Scoop, May 3; Office of ALA Governance, May 3

Update on the ALA 2013 and 2014 budgets
ALA President Maureen Sullivan writes: “Over the last two weeks, the ALA Executive Board and BARC have met to review the status of the Fiscal Year 2013 ALA budget and to approve a preliminary budget for the 2014 fiscal year that begins on September 1. While the Association as a whole is financially stable, the impact of the recession on libraries and lower than projected revenues this year and next year will necessitate some budget reductions, resulting in a leaner, and in the process a more focused, Association.”...
AL: Inside Scoop, May 2

Advocates tell legislators to protect library funding
More than 350 librarians and library supporters from across the country converged in Washington, D.C., May 7–8 to meet with members of Congress to discuss key library issues during ALA ’s 39th annual National Library Legislative Day. The event focused on supporting federal funding for national libraries and included a virtual advocacy component for library supporters who could not attend the Washington meetings....
ALA Washington Office, May 7

Tweet your legislator
Couldn’t make it to National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C., on May 8? YALSA offers you a way to advocate for teen library services with just two clicks of a mouse: the Tweet Your US Senator and Tweet Your US Representative maps, developed by YALSA’s Legislative Committee. Find your legislator on the maps, then click the Tweet Me! link that pops up under the name. A message will be sent out that encourages them to fund the LSTA and Innovative Approaches to Literacy programs....
YALSA, May 1

New ALA report on broadband opportunities
On May 2, the Office for Information Technology Policy released “US Public Libraries and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program,” a report that details library engagement with the federal program. The report is the first to highlight state and local library BTOP projects nationwide and the improvements they have made to public access technology resources, digital literacy, and workforce development. Library projects in 29 states and the District of Columbia are featured. ALA estimates about 20% of US public libraries have benefited from BTOP funding....
Office for Information Technology Policy, May 4

Ping Fu at Annual Conference
Attendees will be inspired by Auditorium Speaker Ping Fu’s (right) journey from her childhood during China’s Cultural Revolution to become a top American innovator and tech entrepreneur who founded Geomagic, a 3D digital-reality-solution company. Ping Fu will appear at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference on June 29. This program will resonate with attendees who are considering or implementing maker programs in their libraries....
Conference Services, May 6

2013 ALA Virtual Conference registration opens
Continuing last year’s theme of “Mapping Transformation,” the 2013 ALA Virtual Conference, to be held July 24–25, offers interactive web sessions, conversations, and insights that focus on experimentation and innovation. Keynote speakers are Kylie Peppler (“Make to Learn Symposium”) and Steven Bell (“Transforming the Library Starts with Mapping the Journey”). Registration is open....
Conference Services, May 7

ALA statement on the new Pew survey
A new study shows that the majority of parents highly value one resource for their children: libraries, with some 94% saying libraries are important for their children. The new report by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, “Parents’ and Children’s Special Relationship with Reading and Libraries,” reveals the strong connections parents have with public libraries. ALA President Maureen Sullivan released a statement on May 1....
ALA Public Information Office, May 1

ALA Leadership Institute deadline May 10
There’s still time to consider applying or nominating a colleague for “Leading to the Future,” a four-day immersive leadership development program for future library leaders offered by ALA at the Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, Illinois, August 12–15. This inaugural Leadership Institute will include a structured learning track as well as the opportunity for individual development. Applications will be accepted through May 10....
Office of ALA Governance, May 1

A how-to guide for digital preservation
As digital preservation becomes an increasingly widespread and accessible practice, organizations both small and large can take steps toward developing strategies for implementing it. Practical Digital Preservation: A How-to Guide for Organizations of Any Size, published by ALA Neal-Schuman, offers clear methods and tools that require minimal time and resources to start the process. Author Adrian Brown presents a comprehensive overview of best practices....
ALA Neal-Schuman, May 3

Go back to the Top

What makes the Windy City great
Jason Diamond writes: “Thomas Dyja, a Chicago native, doesn’t set out to change the view of contemporary Chicago with his latest book, The Third Coast. Instead, the book charts ‘when Chicago built the American dream’ through a detailed look at postwar Chicago and how the Second City changed the course of America for good. Of all the characters you meet throughout The Third Coast (and there are so many of them it’s hard to keep track), the German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe looms the largest.”...
New York Observer, May 1

Grant Park
At the end of the 19th century, plans were laid to develop Chicago’s lakefront park and build commercial properties there. But Chicagoan Aaron Montgomery Ward wanted the park to remain as open space and brought the case to court. After nearly 20 years, he won his case in 1911. As a result, the park has remained open, offering great views of the Michigan Avenue skyline. In 1901 it was named Grant Park after the 18th president of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant....
A View on Cities

The best vegetarian restaurants in Chicago
Just because Chicago has a hackneyed, overblown reputation as a city where everyone eats steaks and pork chops and pizza every day doesn’t mean it’s true. In fact, there are a ton of great vegetarian restaurants in Chicago, and even meat eaters can enjoy a meatless night once in a while. Check out some of these excellent places to get vegetarian food....
Chicagoist, May 1

Chicago’s deep-dish dynasty
Chicago is the deep-dish pizza capital of the country, but die-hard fans often find themselves at one place: Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. The Malnatis consider themselves the First Family of deep-dish pizza. And it all started in 1971 when Lou Malnati opened his first pizzeria in Lincolnwood, Illinois. The restaurant can now be found in multiple locations, the closest to McCormick Place being the South Loop Lou Malnati’s at 805 South State Street. Watch the video (1:30)....
Travel Channel; Lou Malnati’s

Restaurant Row on Randolph Street
David Tamarkin writes: “There are hundreds of corners begging for a restaurant in Chicago, but to hear chefs talk about it, there’s only one street that matters: Randolph Street. For more than a decade, a one-mile stretch of this street has housed a revolving selection of this city’s most buzzed-about restaurants. Here’s what’s hot there now.”...
Condé Nast Traveler, May 1

Yoga for air travelers
Stephanie Rosenbloom writes: “Fliers nowadays expect to walk off planes with stiff hips and strained backs. Desperation for relief has made seats with extra leg room cash cows for airlines. Even top yoga instructors who can fold their bodies like origami say they abhor airplane seats. So how do you emerge from a plane without feeling like Quasimodo? I turned to one of the best-known yoga teachers for advice.”...
New York Times, May 1

Travel advice from Airfare Watchdog
Barbara Bogaev explains: “George Hobica founded AirfareWatchdog.com 15 years ago to help connect travelers on a budget with the best airline buys. Knowing your rights as an airline consumer could save you major cash. Here’s what Hobica says you should be aware of. Number 1: If you’re bumped from a flight, never accept a travel voucher. You’re entitled to a cash payment on the spot of up to $1,200 depending on the length of the delay.”...
Marketplace, May 3

How your pets help you pack
Smarter Travel asked its readers to submit their most adorable pet-packing photos and received more than 80 charming snapshots of dogs and cats involved with luggage. After vigorous debating among the editors, they selected a winner (right) who received a Wander Bed travel pet bed and Wander Pail from Kurgo. Click through the slideshow to see all the entries....
Smarter Travel

Go back to the Top

Julie Walker to retire in July
AASL Executive Director Julie Walker (right) will retire in July after 16 years with the Association. During her tenure, Walker has been responsible for directing a number of national programs, including the development and implementation of two iterations of the division’s learning standards and program guidelines for school library programs. Walker has also served as chair of the Alliance for Curriculum Reform, strategic council chair for the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), and as a member of the Cable in the Classroom Education Advisory Board....
AASL, May 3

School Library Month video contest
AASL has announced the winners of the “Communities Matter @ your library” student video contest. Contestants were urged to let loose their creativity and use humor, drama, music, and special effects to illustrate how the school library program fosters a sense of community in their schools. Three winners were selected based on scores awarded by a panel of judges. The winners are the Town School for Boys in San Francisco (first and second place) and the Hallowell Elementary School in Horsham, Pennsylvania (third place)....
AASL, May 1

Peter Bregman at AASL National Conference
Author and leadership consultant Peter Bregman (right) will headline the closing general session of AASL’s 16th National Conference and Exhibition, November 14–17, in Hartford, Connecticut. Bregman’s presentation, focusing on practical tips for making the most of the work day, will close out the conference. He is the CEO of Bregman Partners, a global management consulting firm that advises organizations and their leadership teams....
AASL, May 3

Everyday Advocacy website
ALSC has launched an Everyday Advocacy website. This member-driven site is a librarian’s companion for simple, effective ways to learn, share, and make a difference in the community. Everyday Advocacy will educate ALSC members about the importance of advocacy and what roles they can take in making it seem important and feasible. The site is meant as a go-to resource for both day-to-day advocacy and crisis advocacy....
ALSC, May 3

Take the preservation activities survey
“A Survey of Preservation Activities in Cultural Heritage Institutions, FY 2012” is a pilot survey coordinated by the ALCTS Preservation and Reformatting Section. The goal of this survey is to document the state of preservation activities in this digital era via quantitative data that facilitates information sharing and tracking changes in the preservation and conservation fields over time. It will remain open through June 25....
ALCTS, May 6

Coming to TERMS at Annual Conference
You’ve read about it in the May issue of American Libraries, now learn more about TERMS directly from authors Jill Emery and Graham Stone. On June 28 at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, ALCTS brings you “Techniques for Electronic Resource Management (TERMS): Crowdsourcing for Best Practices.” This all-day preconference introduces attendees to best practices in TERMS. Register through the 2013 ALA Annual Conference website....
ALCTS, May 6

LLAMA presents a night of laughs
Since 1959, Second City has established itself as a Chicago landmark and a national treasure. Join LLAMA for a night of improv comedy at the theatre that launched the careers of such comic greats as Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Stephen Colbert, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and countless others. A portion of the ticket price will help support future LLAMA programming....
LLAMA, May 6

LLAMA webinar explores Myers-Briggs types
Is there one personality type that makes the best library leaders? The reality is that almost any personality type can develop into an effective library leader by understanding themselves and the people they work with. LLAMA will present “Library Leadership and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator,” presented by Jennifer A. Keach (right), on June 5. Register online....
LLAMA, May 3

ALCTS offers virtual preconferences
ALCTS is offering two virtual preconferences that will bring the conference experience to you: “Shared Collection Development: Collaborative Models for Digital Collections,” to be held June 10–11, and “Loan Agreements for Exhibits Materials: The Basics,” to be held June 18–20. Registration is open for both....
ALCTS, May 7

LITA workshops at ALA Annual
LITA is offering three full-day educational workshops on June 27–28 during the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago: “Library Makerspaces: The Field Trip,” “Introductory Python Workshop,” and “Library Makerspaces: Participatory Play in the Library.” Registration is open....
LITA, May 7

Jarrett Krosoczka at the AASL Awards Luncheon
Author, illustrator, and school library advocate Jarrett Krosoczka (right) will speak during AASL’s annual Awards Luncheon. The luncheon, a celebration of the best of the best in the school library profession, will be held July 1 during the 2013 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Krosockza is the award-winning author and illustrator of 18 published books—10 picture books and eight graphic novels....
AASL, May 3

New Literary Landmark: Stroud Public Library
United for Libraries, in partnership with Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma, designated Stroud (Okla.) Public Library a Literary Landmark in honor of poet Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel (1918–2007) on April 28. Born near Stroud, McDaniel lived in Lincoln and Creek counties until the effects of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl led her family to migrate to California in 1936. Her writing validates the migrant experience....
United for Libraries, May 6

United for Libraries Gala Authors’ Tea
United for Libraries will present its Gala Author Tea, sponsored by ReferenceUSA, on July 1 during ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Melanie Benjamin, Mark Billingham, Jeffrey Deaver, Wally Lamb (right), and Jojo Moyes will discuss their writings and forthcoming books. Enjoy tea, finger sandwiches, and a variety of sweet treats. A book signing will follow, with some books given away free....
United for Libraries, May 3

Chris Shoemaker elected YALSA president
Chris Shoemaker, who will become director of the Westchester (N.Y.) Library System’s Rye Free Reading Room as of June 1, has been elected YALSA president for 2014–2015. Shoemaker is a member of the YALSA board and has served on numerous committees....
YALSA, May 7

Larry Neal elected PLA president
Larry Neal, director of the Clinton-Macomb (Mich.) Public Library, has been elected the 2014–2015 PLA president. Neal is passionate about cultivating and championing the next generation of library professionals and has been actively involved with ALA’s Emerging Leaders program, the PLA Spectrum Scholarships, and the Michigan Library Association’s “Tomorrow’s Professionals” programs, and has served on the PLA board and numerous PLA committees....
PLA, May 7

Ellen Riordan elected ALSC president
Ellen Riordan, chief of planning, programs, and partnerships at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, has been elected ALSC president for 2014–2015. Riordan has served on the ALSC Board of Directors (2009–2012), on ALA Council as a Councilor at Large (2006–2009), and on numerous ALSC committees. She is also active in Baltimore’s education community....
ALSC, May 6

Christine Lind Hage elected United for Libraries president
Christine Lind Hage (right), director of the Rochester Hills (Mich.) Public Library, has been elected United for Libraries president for 2014–2015. Hage has served as an ALA councilor and was a board member of the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates, the precursor to United for Libraries. She is also the author of The Public Library Start-Up Guide (ALA Editions, 2004)....
United for Libraries, May 6

RUSA seeks volunteer support specialists
RUSA is seeking two volunteers to fill the role of Adobe Connect support specialist to support the adoption of Adobe Connect as our platform for online learning and online committee meetings. Because the time commitment for this position exceeds that of most committee appointments and is critical to the functioning of many committees and online learning opportunities, RUSA will provide a $1,000 stipend to cover conference travel and expenses. Apply by May 15....
RUSA Blog, Apr. 20

Spatial literacy and online mapping
Registration ends May 9 for the next offering of “Introduction to Spatial Literacy and Online Mapping,” an online course, May 13–June 2, that teaches public and academic librarians how to use GIS and mapping tools to benefit their libraries....
RUSA

“Ports in a Storm” preconference
On June 28, ASCLA will host a workshop that takes a completely new approach to disaster planning. It will focus on how your library can serve as an ad hoc disaster response center, providing information, services, and respite to those in need after any type of disaster. “Ports in a Storm: Your Library as a Disaster Recovery Center” will discuss the roles libraries and information professionals can play in supporting future disaster preparedness and response and recovery efforts....
ASCLA Blog, Apr. 23

Get consortial at Annual Conference
If you are interested in sharing an update on your library consortium at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference—whether it is a new direction, a new service, or a new approach to providing services—contact Sheryl Knab, chair of the ASCLA Consortium Management Interest Group. The group meets on June 30 in the Hilton Chicago hotel....
ASCLA Blog, Apr. 30

Collaborative digitization presentations
The ASCLA Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking Collaborative Digitization Interest Group is soliciting proposals for presentations at its meeting at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago on June 29. Presentation topics should be of interest to librarians, archivists, curators, and developers working across a diverse array of institutions. Contact Rhonda Marker by May 17....
ASCLA Blog, Apr. 30

Go back to the Top

ALA congratulates 2013 IMLS National Medal winners
“We applaud the winners of the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service,” said Maureen Sullivan, president of the American Library Association. “These institutions have made exceptional contributions to their communities. We applaud them for their accomplishments and we thank them for their service.” Five libraries are among the recipients receiving the medal at a ceremony at the White House on May 8....
ALA Washington Office, May 7; Institute of Museum and Library Services, May 8

2013 Public Service Award
Rod Wagner, director of the Nebraska Library Commission, presented United for Libraries’ 2013 Public Service Award to Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Nebr., right) during National Library Legislative Day activities in Washington, D.C., on May 7. Fortenberry was the first Congressman willing to speak up about the importance of the issue of compelling libraries to test for lead in all children’s books. He recognized that a legislative fix that dealt reasonably with the issue was needed....
United for Libraries, May 1

Illinois leader receives ALA national award
Library advocate Mary Ann Bretzlauf (right), of Gurnee, Illinois, was recognized May 7 with the 2013 White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce Award for her commitment to supporting libraries. Bretzlauf received the award during the 39th Annual National Library Legislative Day in Washington, D.C. A strong and tireless advocate for libraries, Bretzlauf has served as the vice president of the Warren-Newport (Ill.) Public Library’s Board of Trustees for the past two years....
Office of Government Relations, May 7

2013 AASL Intellectual Freedom Award
Rosalind Dennis (right), director of educational media and instructional materials for the DeKalb County (Ga.) School District, is the 2013 recipient of the AASL Intellectual Freedom Award. Sponsored by ProQuest, the award is given for upholding the principles of intellectual freedom as set forth by AASL and ALA. The recipient is awarded $2,000, and $1,000 is awarded to the school library program of the recipient’s choice. Dennis creates, develops, and implements policy and procedures for challenged materials throughout her district....
AASL, May 3

Tillett wins 2013 Kilgour Award
Barbara Tillett (right), chair of the Joint Steering Committee for the Development of RDA, is the 2013 winner of the Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Technology. Cosponsored by LITA and OCLC, the award honors research relevant to the development of information technologies, especially work that shows promise of having a positive and substantive impact on any aspect of the publication, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information, or the processes by which it is manipulated and managed....
LITA, May 7

2013 ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant
The North Carolina School Library Media Association is the recipient of the 2013 ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant administered by AASL. The grant of $1,750 is given to school library associations that are AASL affiliates for planning and implementing leadership programs at the state, regional, or local levels. Through the grant, NCSLMA will implement an Emerging Leaders program....
AASL, May 3

2013 RUSA/BRASS Emerald Research Grant
Jennifer Boettcher, business librarian at Georgetown University, is the 2013 recipient of the RUSA Business and Reference Services Section’s Emerald Research Grant. The grant provides $5,000 to support research in the field of business librarianship. Boettcher will create a web-based finding aid that will help both business librarians and patrons who do not regularly track business information sources use core business titles that have been discounted, sold, or recreated into new formats....
RUSA, May 6

CCC travel stipend to ALA Annual Conference
The Copyright Clearance Center will offer four academic librarians a travel stipend of $1,500 to attend ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. To apply for the program, librarians must submit an essay of up to 300 words in answer to a short question. The application deadline is May 20....
Copyright Clearance Center, May 7

Profile in Courage Award
Caroline Kennedy bestowed on former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (on the left) the 2013 Profile in Courage Award in a small ceremony on May 5 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. The award is given annually to someone who demonstrates the kind of courage that President Kennedy highlighted in his book Profiles in Courage. Giffords was cited for the political, personal, and physical courage she has demonstrated in her fearless advocacy for policy reforms aimed at reducing gun violence....
New York Times, May 5; John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

2013 IFLA International Marketing Awards (PDF file)
The IFLA Section on Management and Marketing has announced the three winners of its International Marketing Awards. First place went to the University of Tartu Library in Estonia for its “Talking Textbooks” project to serve visually impaired students. Second place was taken by the Saskatoon (Sask.) Public Library for its rebranding campaign (right). And third place was awarded to the Khakas Republican Children’s Library in Russia for its student video project....
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, May 6

2013 Arthur C. Clarke Award
Dark Eden (Corvus), the story of an alien planet where the incestuous offspring of two stranded astronauts struggle to survive, has won the UK’s top science fiction prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award. Chris Beckett’s novel is set on the planet Eden, a faraway world with no natural light source where 532 descendants are waiting for the return of the fabled “Landing Veekle” to take them back to Earth. The award was presented at the Royal Society in London on May 1....
The Guardian (UK), May 1

2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards
The Mystery Writers of America announced the winners of the 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction, and television published or produced in 2012. The Edgar Awards were presented to the winners at its 67th Gala Banquet on May 2 in New York City. The Best Novel award went to Live by Night by Dennis Lehane (HarperCollins), who in his acceptance speech thanked all the librarians who offered “a light in the darkness for the kids from the wrong side of the tracks.”...
Do Some Damage, May 3; Shelf Awareness, May 3

Go back to the Top

NYPL unveils designs for new 53rd Street branch
The New York Public Library’s newest branch is going to sparkle like fine crystal. On the former site of the Donnell Library branch, sold in 2008 to Orient Express Hotels, the 20 West 53rd Street center will be an airy, vibrant structure with multiple public spaces, modern computer labs, a multimedia collection, and walls of books. Library officials on May 6 unveiled new renderings of the three-story facility designed by Enrique Norten’s TEN Arquitectos. The space, which will occupy the bottom three floors of a ritzy new condo-hotel, is slated to open in 2015....
New York Daily News, May 7; New York Public Library, May 7

LC takes a hit on budget sequestration
Jennifer Steinhauer writes: “Just as military contractors and other federal workers are coping with the grim results of a partisan impasse over the federal deficit, the Library of Congress—whose services range from copyrighting written works to the collection, preservation, and digitization of millions of books and other materials—faces deep cuts that threaten its historic mission. As with all across-the-board cuts made under sequestration, the fear is that it will take the library years to dig itself out.”...
New York Times, May 3

Digitized items from Hemingway’s Cuba home go to JFK Library
Thousands more of writer Ernest Hemingway’s personal papers from his collection in Cuba will be added to a special archive at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston for preservation and viewing. US Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) and the Finca Vigia Foundation announced May 6 that 2,000 of the Nobel Prize–winning author’s materials from his house in Cuba have been digitized. Some of these items include passports showing Hemingway’s travels and letters that track the creative process behind the author’s revered novella, The Old Man and the Sea....
CBC News, May 6

Youth services librarian wins $1 million in potato chip contest
Karen Weber-Mendham (right), youth services librarian at Land O’ Lakes (Wis.) Public Library, has won the Frito-Lay “Do Us a Flavor” contest with her entry of cheesy garlic bread–flavored potato chips. And that means she wins $1 million, or 1% of her flavor’s net sales this year, whichever is higher. She plans to spend the cash on “braces and college” for her three children. Weber-Mendham entered the contest to pick a new potato chip flavor in 2012 at the urging of her 13-year-old son....
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 7

Ogden student activist wants to avoid librarian terminations
Like many who learned about the Ogden (Utah) School District’s decision to get rid of its 20 licensed teacher-librarians, Emery Young was upset. But unlike most, the Mount Ogden Junior High 8th-grader decided to do something about it. Young considered an after-school protest, but then agreed to a meeting with Ogden School District Superintendent Brad Smith. Young said she left the meeting feeling upbeat....
Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner, May 2

Detroit fights to preserve its reputation
Bankole Thompson writes: “Libraries are places where knowledge is built in grooming a community of learners. That is why news of the Detroit Public Library (right) embroiled in allegations of financial mismanagement shocked most in the community because, given its nature, it is the last place to expect scandals that are routine in government bureaucratic structures where pay to play is often the order of the day. The challenge now is about revenue and how the library continues to provide services that are beyond the wrongdoing that has been reported.”...
Detroit Michigan Chronicle, May 1

Georgia State University Library gets NEH grant
Georgia State University Library has received a $210,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for “Planning Atlanta: A New City in the Making, 1930s–1990s,” submitted by librarian Joe Hurley and history professor Kate Wilson. Funding will allow the library to digitize and georeference a collection of 1,550 rare and historically significant City of Atlanta and Atlanta Regional Commission city planning maps. GSU’s map digitization facility in the Petit Science Center has a Visualization Wall that will also display the maps. Watch the video (3:04)....
Georgia State University Library Blog, May 2

Go back to the Top

Workforce Investments through Local Libraries Act introduced
US Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) introduced the Workforce Investments through Local Libraries (WILL) Act on May 7, which would amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 by integrating public libraries into state and local workforce investment boards. Cosponsored by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), the WILL Act would authorize new pilot projects to establish employment resources in public libraries. ALA President Maureen Sullivan thanked the bill’s sponsors for recognizing libraries’ roles in helping people achieve “success in the workplace.”...
Office of Government Relations, May 7

Closed data: Excuses, excuses
Carly Strasser writes: “If you are a fan of data sharing, open data, open science, and generally openness in research, you’ve heard them all: excuses for keeping data out of the public domain. If you are not a fan of openness, you should be. For both groups (the fans and the haters), I’ve decided to construct a Frankenstein monster blog post composed of other people’s suggestions for how to deal with the excuses.”...
California Digital Library: Data Pub, Apr. 24

Five places to look for your digital footprint
Elizabeth Palermo writes: “Recently, many iPhone and iPad users were incensed to learn that Siri—the personal digital assistant for iOS devices—has an eerily long memory. Siri sends all your queries directly to the Apple company’s servers, where it is kept for two years before being deleted. Shrinking your digital footprint requires diligence, but if you'd like to get started then it helps to know which companies are hoarding your data and how long they intend to hold onto it.”...
Mashable, May 2

Some librarians take aim at Pew study
Hiten Samtani writes: “A recent national report from the Pew Research Center that stated that most parents consider libraries important for their children has attracted some criticism from the library community. Critics such as Jeri Hurd, high school library media specialist at the Western Academy of Beijing, and Buffy Hamilton, learning strategist at the Cleveland Public Library, say that the sample is skewed toward parents who are white, relatively young, and well-educated, and so do not represent the general population. But Pew’s Lee Rainie says the report’s methodology is sound.”...
School Library Journal: The Digital Shift, May 7

What Photoshop’s move to the cloud means for you
Adam Dachis writes: “Adobe Photoshop, along with all other Creative Suite applications, just made a move to the cloud. Adobe decided to discontinue software you can actually buy so they can force you to rent the applications for a monthly fee. This change comes with a number of problems but also some advantages. Here’s what the change means for you.”...
Lifehacker, May 6–7

Microsoft says its boxed software will go
Ian Paul writes: “Microsoft is betting that, over the next 10 years, most people will voluntarily pay for subscriptions instead of purchasing boxed software. For now, however, Microsoft says it will continue to offer packaged Office suites in addition to Office 365 Home Premium subscriptions. Microsoft’s comments were inspired by Adobe’s announcement that it was moving to subscriptions.”...
PC World, May 8

PC cleaning apps are a scam
Chris Hoffman writes: “PC cleaning apps are digital snake oil. The web is full of ads for applications that want to ‘clean your PC’ and ‘make it feel like new.’ Don’t pull out your credit card; these apps are terrible and you don’t need them. Windows includes built-in PC cleaning tools that can do almost all of what the average PC cleaning app will do for you. So what do these apps do? To investigate, we ran MyCleanPC. Don’t try this at home; we installed this bad software so you don’t have to.”...
How-To Geek, May 8

How to run Windows on a Mac
Michael Muchmore, Edward Mendelson, and Samara Lynn write: “There are times when you just can’t get around the need to run Windows, even after you’ve made the Mac switch. Maybe the company you work for has some essential Windows-only business applications. Whatever your reason for needing to run Windows, you don’t need to spring for another PC. You can run Microsoft’ s operating system right on your Macbook, Macbook Air, or iMac.”...
PC Magazine, May 7

Where do old cellphones go to die?
Leyla Acaroglu writes: “Americans replace their cellphones every 22 months, junking some 150 million old phones in 2010 alone. Ever wondered what happens to all these old phones? The growing toxic nightmare that is e-waste poses health problems in the US where, for several years, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has kept inmates busy processing e-waste. In the absence of government regulation or industry initiative, consumers could play a role in determining what happens to products that have outlived their usefulness.”...
New York Times Sunday Review, May 4; Environment News Service, Oct. 22, 2010

San Antonio schools use Dell tablets
The San Antonio (Tex.) Independent School District has deployed Dell Latitude 10 tablets running Microsoft Windows 8 across 33 of its 90 campus libraries in the first phase of a literacy initiative. Students will explore learning outside the classroom and connect to Big Universe, an integrated literacy platform. The district is now able to offer the 22,000 students on those campuses a multitouch, dynamic learning experience that motivates them to increase their reading time and experience....
Dell, May 7

QR codes explained
Chris Hoffman writes: “QR codes are plastered on advertisements, billboards, business windows, and products. They appear to be very popular among marketers, although it’s rare to see anyone actually scanning one. A typical QR code may contain a URL. Scan the QR code with a mobile phone and you’ll be taken to the website the QR code specifies. However, let’s be honest: They haven’t taken the world by storm like advertisers and marketers would have liked them to.”...
How-To Geek, May 6

DCL ebook report for May
Christopher Harris writes: “The May ebook price report (PDF file) from Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries draws upon the USA Today 25 bestsellers list, which includes a nice mix of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s titles. With the debut of a new film version of The Great Gatsby, the novel makes a strong showing on the USA Today list. This one title does a great job of illustrating some of the issues in the library market right now.”...
AL: E-Content, May 7; USA Today, May 2

OverDrive-Sourcebooks pilot program
Michael Kelley writes: “OverDrive and Sourcebooks are launching an ambitious pilot program to demonstrate the impact library ebook lending has on book sales and author recognition. OverDrive sent a letter May 3 to some 35,000 librarians worldwide and invited them to join a program that runs May 15–June 1 and allows them to feature on their OverDrive home page, at no cost, a single title from Sourcebooks. The book, The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone, will be accessible simultaneously to all participating libraries’ patrons during the ‘Big Library Read’ program.”...
Library Journal, May 3

Ebook platforms for libraries
Months in the making, ALA’s Library Technology Report (volume 49, issue 3) on “Ebook Platforms for Libraries” is finally out. Author Mirela Roncevic writes: “Librarians, I hope you find the comparative tables useful and the vast landscape of ebooks a bit less daunting after having read this report. Library vendors, I hope you benefit from the insight into how your products compare to others and how you can continue to improve their functionalities and business models.”...
No Shelf Required, May 3

Hachette Book Group: A good deal?
Christopher Harris writes: “After a two-year pilot phase, Hachette Book Group is expanding its ebook offerings to include its full catalog and a variety of ebook services including OverDrive, 3M, and Baker & Taylor. As ALA noted, having access to more front-list books is good for libraries and patrons in general. But are the specific terms of this deal good for libraries?”...
AL: E-Content, May 1, 6

Provincetown Public Press
Erinn Batykefer writes: “This week, we chatted with Matt Clark, director of marketing and program development at Provincetown (Mass.) Public Library about their groundbreaking new digital press. Clark says: ‘A digital press serves three purposes: It allows us to give voice to our artistic community, it reflects the future of the publishing industry, and it allows for an infinite number of copies to be generated and sold.’”...
Library As Incubator Project, May 3

ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, June 27–July 2.

“Libraries and librarians saved my life, truly,” says two-time Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Janis Ian, who will be helping 2013 Annual Conference attendees wrap up in Chicago and rev up for 2014 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. Ian appears on July 1, 2–3 p.m., in McCormick Place S100 as part of Wrap Up/Rev Up.

Forthcoming titles in science and technology
As with others in Choice’s popular “forthcoming” series, this selected list of science and technology titles is designed to provide information about new or soon-to-be-released publications that support academic curricula and library collections, particularly at the undergraduate level. The feature highlights forthcoming titles scheduled for publication from May 2013 through mid-2014....
Choice, May

How graphic novels became the hottest section in the library
Heidi MacDonald writes: “According to old stereotypes, it shouldn’t work—serious librarians should want nothing to do with the raucous, pulp world of comics—and for a long time it didn’t work. But over the past decade, the graphic novel genre has become one of the fastest-growing in libraries of all kinds, as a new generation of librarians adopts the category as a means to energize collections and boost circulation and patronage.”...
Publishers Weekly, May 3

Romance in YA: Take it or leave it
Allison Tran writes: “I find myself agreeing with Elizabeth Vail, who says she views ‘the YA romantic subplot as the pit in the center of the narrative peach—an awkwardly placed and inevitable annoyance to be endured and avoided.’ She has a point. Not every romance is a great one, and not every book needs it. So here are some YA titles with some solidly good romance, and some other excellent YA books with little or no romance.”...
YALSA The Hub, May 3; The Huffington Post, Apr. 24

Spooky, scary crossover books
Andrea Lipinski writes: “One of the most common questions we get from our young readers is ‘Where are your scary books?’ Often, scary books for children and teens are mixed in with the general fiction section. Here is a list of 25 great crossover books (for older children and younger teens) about lots of scary subjects. Sure, there will be plenty of vampires, ghosts, and even zombies. But there will also be nightmares, mysterious phone calls, dark whispers, and other things that will give you goosebumps.”...
New York Public Library Blogs, May 2

It’s not what you think: Mexican Americans in YA
Hannah Gómez writes: “Considering the misconception that Cinco de Mayo is a major Mexican holiday, I wanted to create a booklist that might help to address other misconceptions about Mexican Americans, as well as help you bulk up the diversity in your collection or personal reading. This list aims to highlight books that are not about the usual story—emigrating from one country to another, working as migrant laborers, or dealing with racism—but instead aim to show how Mexican-American teens are, you know, teens.”...
YALSA The Hub, May 5

OCLC reaches 2 billion holdings with an ebook
OCLC’s WorldCat has reached another major milestone with the addition of its 2 billionth holding. On May 4 at 2:58 a.m. Mountain time, the holding symbol for the University of Alberta Libraries, in Edmonton, was set through an automated process to the WorldCat record for the ebook, Evaluation of the City of Lakes Family Health Team Patient Portal Pilot Project: Final Report, published in 2012 by the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research. It was the 2 billionth holding set in WorldCat....
OCLC, May 7

First Navajo Nation poet laureate named
On April 24, President Elmer Guy of Navajo Technical College in New Mexico announced the appointment of Luci Tapahonso (right) as the Navajo Nation’s first poet laureate. Saánii Dahataal (1993) and Blue Horses Rush In (1997) are two of her better-known collections. She will assume her role for the two-year position at the college’s commencement ceremonies on May 17....
Indian Country Today Media Network, Apr. 30

How to locate international publications
Tina Baich writes: “Though WorldCat contains library holdings from around the world, it isn’t always the answer when trying to locate publications outside the United States. The resources described in this article can help librarians verify citations and locate physical holdings and open access copies of international publications. Access to each is free of charge.”...
College and Research Libraries News 74, no. 5 (May): 243–248

The world’s legal heritage
Nathan Dorn writes: “A walk through the stacks of the Law Library of Congress will give you a vivid sense, if you had ever wondered, of what more than 2 million books looks like. What are we up to? The library now collects legal literature from every jurisdiction on earth, current and historical (over 240 at last count). You might find yourself asking: Why does a national law library for the United States of America strive to become a universal collection of legal literature from all times, nations, and jurisdictions?”...
In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress, May 7

Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice
The College and Research Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association has launched a scholarly, open access journal to share information about the research and practices taking place in Pennsylvania’s academic libraries. Pennsylvania Libraries: Research and Practice is freely available online. The first issue includes contributions from Barbara Fister, Russell A. Hall, and George J. Aulisio....
Pennsylvania Library Association

MOOC controversy
Professors in the philosophy department at San José State University wrote an open letter April 29 to make a direct appeal to Michael Sandel, a Harvard government professor whose MOOC on Justice they were encouraged to use as part of their curriculum. It suggested that professors who develop MOOCs are complicit in how public universities might be forced to use them. Sandel responded with a statement that said he had not intended to “undermine faculty colleagues at other institutions” and that his Justice course was merely an “experiment in open global access to the classroom.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education, May 2

Library Wars: New Japanese film
Richard Eisenbeis writes: “Library Wars, a new live-action movie based on the anime and novel series of the same name, was released in theaters across Japan on April 27. It is everything from a war story to a light-hearted romantic comedy. But at its core, it remains an excellent social commentary on the dangers of censorship, while still giving the viewer an engaging story.”...
Kotaku, May 7

Becoming a writer-librarian
Emily Ford writes: “I always wanted to be a writer, to be a manipulator of words and to caress them into meaning. When I had the opportunity to write in my professional life and work with In the Library with the Lead Pipe, there was no decision to be made. In this article, I’ll investigate writing in LIS, reflect on my experiences with writing in the field, and attempt to define what it is to be a writerly librarian and how to become one.”...
In the Library with the Lead Pipe, May 8

Mother’s Day @ your library
The question of what to do or what gift to give on Mother’s Day can often be a bit perplexing for children and teens who might not have a lot of money to spend. Enter the library with fun and creative ideas for not only what to give, but how to spend quality time with mom. For example, Watsonville (Calif.) Public Library is hosting Mother’s Day Crafts @ your library for tweens and teens. Using old and discarded books, tweens and teens will have the opportunity to create a bouquet of paper flowers....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, May 7

Digits for the masses
Matt Church writes: “Numbers and statistics are powerful things. They can be used to tell any number of stories. Some people see numbers and they gobble them up. Other people don’t have such strong affection toward statistics. That’s why library statistics for public consumption need to be accessible and understandable. The Traverse Area (Mich.) District Library’s remarkably comprehensive statistics page has set the bar high for telling the library’s story through numbers.”...
Library Lost & Found, May 3

Report: Teacher salary growth slows (PDF file)
A new report (PDF file) from the National Council on Teacher Quality finds that although teachers continued to get raises following the recession, there was a noticeable slow-down in teacher salary growth on par with that of comparable professions. Post-recession raises have been one-third to one-half of what they were at the beginning of the recession. In 80% of the districts sampled (33 out of 41), teachers had a total pay freeze or pay cut in at least one of the last four school years....
National Council on Teacher Quality, May 7

11 ways to cultivate a strong Twitter following
Ellyssa Kroski writes: “Are you new to Twitter or do you want to build a substantial following on this popular social network? Here are 11 tips that I’ve found helpful. Number 1: Follow the most followed people in your genre, niche, or area of specialization. This will keep you in the loop of all the breaking news and opinions that are in your field.”...
iLibrarian, May 2

Postcards and therapy dogs: De-stressing finals
Joe Hardenbrook writes: “It’s that time of year: final exams. To help de-stress students at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, we usually plan some activities to help them relax and have a little fun too. This spring, we are giving students postcards (above) to send back home to assure mom and dad that they are studying for final exams. And for the fall final exams in December, we bring in therapy dogs, one of our most talked-about events.”...
Mr. Library Dude, May 2

55 years old with a 33-year library career
Kathy Parsons writes: “After reading the July 2012 Will’s World column ‘Your Mileage May Vary’ in American Libraries, I found myself pondering library fatigue, retirement, and the value of my career. Was the librarian he described me? Did I need to retire? I moderated a roundtable discussion at ACRL 2013 in Indianapolis about issues facing long-term career librarians, and two themes became evident.”...
ACRLog, May 6; AL: Will’s World, July 31, 2012

LC fills in the gaps for recorded sounds
Patrick Loughney, executive director of the Library of Congress National Audio Video Conservation Center, said there was a need to establish more recorded sound archives. “The Library of Congress holds the national collections of movies, films, television, and radio,” he explains in this video (1:40). “This facility ensures that they are properly stored and preserved and made available for research.”...
PBS News Hour, May 3

Five theses on the future of special collections (PDF file)
John Overholt writes: “I was pleased be asked by Shannon Supple and Nina Schneider, cochairs of the 2012 RBMS preconference, to reflect on the themes of the conference in these pages. The presentations were engrossing and provocative, and I hope here to offer some equally provocative thoughts in response as my contribution to the ongoing discussion about the peril and promise—mostly, I firmly believe, the latter—that the future holds for our profession.” Thesis number 1: “The future of special collections is distribution.”...
RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 14, no. 1 (2013): 15–20

The fantastical creatures of the Rutland Psalter
Sarah J. Biggs writes: “The Rutland Psalter (Add MS 62925) is a relatively recent addition to our collections; the manuscript was purchased by the British Library in 1983 from the estate of the ninth Duke of Rutland, whose family had owned the manuscript since at least 1825. The Psalter was produced around 1260 in England, possibly in London, although it is unclear who the original patron was. But its true claim to fame is its marginalia. A staggering variety of creatures populate the margins and borders of virtually every folio.”...
British Library: Medieval Manuscripts Blog, May 3

A hidden medieval archive surfaces
Erik Kwakkel writes: “A remarkable discovery was made in the Book History class I am coteaching with Paul Hoftijzer for the Book and Digital Media Studies program at Leiden University in the Netherlands. It concerns 132 notes, letters, and receipts from an unidentified court in the Rhine region, jotted on little slips of paper. They were hidden inside the binding of a book printed in 1577, which is part of the Bibliotheca Thysiana, a 17th-century library in Leiden. Such small written objects rarely survive from medieval society.”...
medievalfragments, May 3

Libraries during the Spanish Civil War (in Spanish)
This documentary (36:47) tells the story of Spanish libraries and librarians during the Civil War (1936–1939), including Juan Vicéns, who traveled around the country to create libraries that supported the pro-Republican, labor, and anarchist causes; and Tomás Navarro Tomás, acting director of the National Library of Spain, who saved thousands of books from destruction during aerial bombing by Nationalist and German forces. (English-translated captions are available for non-Spanish speakers)....
YouTube, June 18, 2009

ASERL’s Guide to Southern Barbecue (PDF file)
The Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, representing libraries at 40 research institutions across 11 states, has officially launched its own online Guide to Southern Barbecue, a listing of recommended barbecue joints near ASERL campuses across the Southeast. The guide is published as a freely available, open-access guide to good eating in the region. ASERL convened a crack team of research library professionals—each a BBQ aficionado—to define criteria and design the user interface....
Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, May 1

Westport’s Mini Maker Faire
Connecticut’s second Mini Maker Faire was held at the Westport Public Library on April 27. More than 3,500 people came from all over the region to see dozens of inventors, hobbyists, and students showcase their creations. Congressman Jim Himes (CT-District 4) spoke about the economic importance of making things in America. The video (3:41) shows some of the highlights....
Westport (Conn.) Public Library; YouTube, Apr. 30

Go back to the Top