The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | October 2, 2013

The government shutdown
Because the US Congress failed to pass an appropriations bill on September 30, government offices and services that are deemed nonessential have shut down. Here’s a snapshot of how the library community is affected until the budget situation is resolved. The Library of Congress buildings are closed to the public, and its website is inaccessible, except for THOMAS, Congress.gov, and Cataloger’s Desktop. The Pew Research Center offers a list of data and statistics sites that are shut down. Education Week lists the services and programs that will affect schools. USA Today has an excellent FAQ (and addendum) about all aspects of the shutdown. Don’t forget, you can still use the Wayback Machine to access some content....
American Libraries news, Oct. 1; Pew Research Center, Oct. 2; Education Week, Oct. 1; USA Today, Oct. 1

Newsmaker: An interview with Skip Prichard
David “Skip” Prichard (right) became president and CEO of OCLC on July 1, succeeding Jay Jordan, who retired after 15 years at the helm of the nonprofit library consortium. He had most recently served as president and CEO of Ingram Content Group in Nashville, and before that was president and CEO of ProQuest Information and Learning....
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

Up next on AL Live: European libraries
Dan Freeman writes: “On the next episode of AL Live, we’ll take a trip overseas for ‘European Libraries: A View from Friends across the Pond.’ Our panel of international experts will discuss how some of Europe’s top libraries see the role of the library and the librarian. This 60-minute episode will take place on October 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. You can preregister, but preregistration is not required to attend.”...
AL Live, Sept. 17

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Registration, housing open for Midwinter
Registration and housing are now open for the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits in Philadelphia, January 24–28. Plan on finding gold-standard networking; updates on research, reports, and legislation; innovators and thought leaders; hundreds of discussions on current key topics including ebooks, digital content, and community engagement; more than 400 exhibitors and hundreds of authors; and pre-Midwinter institutes for in-depth professional development....
Conference Services, Oct. 1

Council candidates
ALA has announced that 61 individuals are candidates for positions on the ALA Council. These individuals were selected by the Nominating Committee for the 2014 ALA election. Others who are interested in running for Council may file petitions through January 31. Ballot mailing will begin on March 19; the election will close on April 25....
Office of ALA Governance, Sept. 30

ERT/Booklist Author Forum at Midwinter
Five acclaimed children’s book creators—Tonya Bolden, Brian Floca, Kadir Nelson, Steve Sheinkin, and Melissa Sweet—will join fellow author and Booklist Books for Youth Senior Editor Ilene Cooper as she moderates a discussion about award-winning nonfiction for youth at the ERT/Booklist Author Forum at the 2014 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia on January 24. The authors are appearing thanks to the generous sponsorship of their publishers....
Booklist, Sept. 30

Civil liberties push moves forward with national rally
This summer, ALA took a stand to protect civil liberties by joining Stop Watching Us, a political coalition comprised of more than 100 public advocacy organizations and companies. The coalition—which includes the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, Mozilla, and the National Libertarian Party—will host a rally October 25–26 to protest unconstitutional surveillance....
District Dispatch, Sept. 30

Free webinar for “Muslim Journeys” grantees
Librarians participating in the NEH’s Bridging Cultures Muslim Journeys initiative and others interested in the topic are invited to attend “Muslim Journeys and Your Community: Managing Controversy, Maximizing Impact,” a free webinar to be held on October 24 and sponsored by the Public Programs Office, Programming Librarian, and the Office for Intellectual Freedom. Register online....
Public Programs Office, Oct. 1

ALA collaborates with Sharjah Book Fair
A new collaboration between ALA and the Sharjah International Book Fair will offer the opportunity to establish improved delivery of ALA’s face-to-face, digital, and print products and services to the region in locally and culturally appropriate formats. Activities carried out together will also help raise the visibility and use of libraries in Sharjah and the region. The book fair will be held November 6–16 in Sharjah, the third largest of the United Arab Emirates....
International Relations Office, Sept. 27

Registration open for IFLA’s 2014 conference in Lyon
Registration is now open for the 2014 IFLA World Library and Information Congress to be held August 16–22, 2014, in Lyon, France. If you registered for IFLA WLIC 2013 through the online registration system, you can use the same username and password for IFLA WLIC 2014. Early registration lasts through May 15....
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

Katharine L. Sharp and the first “Lady Librarians”
Denise Rayman writes: “For an educated woman at the turn of the century, there were few options for an intellectually satisfying career, as Katharine L. Sharp (third in the lineup) discovered as a newly minted college graduate in 1885. She taught foreign languages at a high school in Illinois for two years, but then she took a position as assistant librarian at the Scoville Institute in Oak Park, Illinois, and seems to have found her calling. Believing strongly in the new field of professional librarianship, she enrolled in the New York State Library School in 1889, where she studied under Melvil Dewey.”...
American Library Association Archives, Sept. 30

Getting started with evaluation
With the publication of Getting Started with Evaluation, published by ALA Editions, managers at academic and public libraries, as well as library trustees and others interested in assessing service quality, have a workbook to help them master key concepts of assessment. Authors Peter Hernon, Robert E. Dugan, and Joseph R. Matthews offer directed exercises and worksheets for guidance alongside a detailed list of sources for metrics and concrete examples of evaluation in practice....
ALA Editions, Oct. 1

We stand stronger together
Marge Loch-Wouters writes: “I get a lot of out my memberships in the Wisconsin Library Association, PLA, and ALA, including mentorship, leadership, CE opportunities, and a chance to work together to strengthen libraries. All of this standing up costs money. I have paid for my dues with very little help from my library employers for over 35 years. I need our associations strong so they can advocate for me and for all libraries and our services. We stand together far more strongly than when we stand alone. Will you join me?”...
Tiny Tips for Library Fun, Sept. 26

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Philadelphia’s food and restaurant renaissance
Adam Erace writes: “The cradle of America is being reborn as a food destination. Acclaimed New York chefs are relocating to Philadelphia, and the historic Italian diners face some spicy competition. Fork—a light-filled, amber enclave at 306 Market Street with high ceilings and an open kitchen—changed how Philadelphians dined when it opened in 1997. It is doing so again, with a new chef, Eli Kulp, who is currently cooking some of the city’s most fascinating food.” Serpico is another contender....
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 20

The best Philly cheesesteaks
The Philadelphia cheesesteak—thin slices of beef cooked on a griddle and stuffed into a long, soft hoagie roll smeared with cheese—clings to the sophisticated Philadelphia dining scene like an embarrassing ex-lover. Here are a few of the best places to sample an authentic cheesesteak. (The American Sardine Bar at 1800 Federal Street was the Philly cheesesteak winner from Philadelphia magazine’s 2013 Best of Philly list.)...
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 20; Wikipedia; Philadelphia magazine

The Please Touch Museum
Everything at Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum (at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic) exists for the sole entertainment and education of visitors under the age of 7. There is a city bus to climb on, a full supermarket, shoe store, a hospital equipped with a mini MRI machine, to list just a few of the permanent exhibits. One favorite room is the exercise room (right)—part of the get-up-and-grow initiative promoting healthy living to children—complete with Styrofoam barbells, miniature treadmills, and a climbing wall....
The Celebrity Cafe, Sept. 23

Philadelphia International Airport
The Philadelphia International Airport (airport code PHL) serves the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and is located seven miles southwest of downtown. Here is a directory of its services and amenities. The airport has an active art exhibitions program, with artworks on display in all seven terminals....
Philadelphia International Airport

FAA panel backs easing device rules
Airline passengers should be allowed to use their personal electronic devices to read, play games, or enjoy movies and music, even when planes are on the ground or flying below 10,000 feet, according to recommendations an advisory panel sent to the Federal Aviation Administration on September 30. But the panel said that restrictions should remain on sending text messages, browsing the web, or checking email after the plane’s doors have been closed....
New York Times, Sept. 30

How to ensure your flight doesn’t suck
Adam Dachis writes: “Thanks to heightened security, delays, cramped seats, limited bag storage, and a variety of other problems, few of us actually like to fly. While you can’t overcome every problem, a few tips and strategies can make your flight a heck of a lot better. In this post, we’ll go over how you can prepare yourself for the inconveniences of flying.”...
Lifehacker, Aug. 5

10 tips for nervous fliers
Caroline Costello writes: “To find out how to keep our natural human anxieties in check during a flight, we turned to Margaret Wehrenberg, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of The Anxious Brain and The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques. Wehrenberg, who has worked directly with patients suffering from a fear of flying, imparted a few wise tips for managing anxiety in the air. Here are 10 ways nervous travelers can keep calm and carry on when flying.”...
The Huffington Post: Travel Blogs, Sept. 25

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YALSA opens proposals for 2014 symposium
YALSA seeks program proposals and paper presentations for its 2014 Young Adult Literature Symposium, “Keeping it Real: Finding the True Teen Experience in YA Literature,” to be held October 31–November 2, 2014, in Austin, Texas. Submit proposals online by November 1....
YALSA, Oct. 1

RUSA online courses
RUSA has several upcoming online courses that will be of significant value to public, academic, and special librarians, as well as library school students. Topics to be covered include health literacy and reference, spatial literacy and online mapping, and reference interview basics. Register online....
RUSA, Oct. 1

PLA Collaborative Culture institute
At the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting, PLA will host a half-day institute, “Creating a Collaborative Culture,” on January 24. Instructor Cheryl Gould, learning facilitator for Fully Engaged Libraries in San Francisco, will lead an interactive and engaging session designed to highlight the transformative power of reframing failure, creating a culture of “yes,” and implementing the kinds of listening that change lives and libraries....
PLA, Oct. 1

Sign up for ASCLA Midwinter workshops
Registration opened October 1 for three institutes covering online course design, the secrets to successful leadership, and how to become a library consultant, to be hosted by ASCLA at the 2014 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. Register through the Midwinter registration process....
ASCLA, Oct. 1

Call for LLAMA webinar proposals
Do you have a good idea for a webinar topic? Now you can share your expertise and reach a wide and diverse audience by presenting a LLAMA webinar in January–April 2014. Completed forms are due November 13....
LLAMA, Oct. 1

Join United for Libraries and receive a free book
New personal members of United for Libraries will receive their choice of two books: The Complete Library Trustee Handbook or Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends. Those who are not yet members of ALA can join as a personal member, trustee, Friend, or foundation to take advantage of this special offer, which is available through November 14. Call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161, or email united@ala.org....
United for Libraries, Oct. 2

Learn how to start a Friends group
As part of the celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week 2013, October 20–26, United for Libraries Executive Director Sally Gardner Reed will present a free webinar October 22 on how to start a Friends of the Library group. Registration is open....
United for Libraries, Oct. 1

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2013 ALA award winners
Mariam Pera writes: “Each year, ALA recognizes the achievements of more than 200 individuals and institutions with various awards. Chosen by juries consisting of colleagues and peers, this year’s award winners were chosen for their leadership and vision, as well as their continued investment in the profession through mentorship. The honorees listed here represent only a portion of those cited in 2013. See more award winners online.”...
American Libraries feature

AASL awarded IMLS Leadership Grant
AASL has been awarded a $99,398 National Leadership Grant for Libraries from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The division’s “Causality: School Libraries and Student Success (CLASS)” national research forum was one of 42 grants awarded by IMLS. AASL will use the funds to host a national forum to outline a research agenda for future school library research....
AASL, Oct. 1

Applications open: National School Library Program of the Year
The online application for the AASL 2014 National School Library Program of the Year Award is now open. Schools and school districts interested in applying can use AASL’s online awards database through January 1. Sponsored by Follett Library Resources, the annual award recognizes three school library programs that meet the needs of the changing school and library environment and are fully integrated into the curriculum. Each recipient receives an obelisk (right) and $10,000 toward its school library program....
AASL, Oct. 1

Excellence in Library Programming Award
ALA is now accepting nominations for its Excellence in Library Programming Award, sponsored by the ALA Cultural Communities Fund. The award recognizes a library that has created and presented an exemplary cultural/thematic program or series in the past year that encouraged community participation, planning or sponsorship, addressed a community needs, and made a measurable impact. The award consists of $5,000 and a citation of achievement. Apply online....
Public Programs Office, Oct. 1

Is your library on the cutting edge?
As part of its ongoing effort to identify and recognize libraries that are delivering quality library services in new ways, ALA is accepting submissions for the best library practices using cutting-edge technology. Nominations must be submitted by November 15; and winners will be announced at the upcoming 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, January 24–28....
District Dispatch, Oct. 1

LIRT announces two new awards
The Library Instruction Round Table is offering two new awards in 2014 to recognize excellence in information literacy and instruction. The LIRT Librarian Recognition Award of $1,000 will be presented to an individual librarian for his or her contributions to the field. The LIRT Innovation in Instruction Award of $1,000 will be given to a library that demonstrates innovation in support of information literacy and instruction. The nomination deadline for both awards is December 1....
Library Instruction Round Table, Oct. 1

Nominations sought for LITA/Library Hi Tech Award
Nominations are invited for the 2014 LITA/Library Hi Tech Award of $1,000, given each year to an individual or institution for outstanding achievement in educating the profession about cutting edge technology through communication in continuing education within the field of library and information technology. Email nominations by December 2 to LITA/Library Hi Tech Award Committee Chair Susan Sharpless Smith....
LITA, Oct. 1

LITA/Ex Libris seeking LIS student authors
Submissions are invited for the 2014 LITA/Ex Libris Student Writing Award, which honors the best unpublished manuscript submitted by a student or students enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate program with $1,000, publication in Information Technology and Libraries, and a certificate. The deadline to apply is February 28....
LITA, Oct. 1

Apply for an ASCLA award
ASCLA is now accepting nominations for its 2014 awards, which recognize projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services, and library cooperatives; and service to the division. The deadline for all awards is February 1....
ASCLA, Oct. 1

Rewards and recognition in librarianship
Micah Vandegrift writes: “This article explores the professional award structure (formal and informal) of librarianship. The goal is to discover what the field values in terms of bestowing honors at the individual level, and in which ways the awards system is perpetuating or progressing those values. What qualifies as prestige within our field, and how is that scale of prestige viewed from outside librarianship?”...
In the Library with the Lead Pipe, Sept. 25

National Book Festival Summer Writing Contest finalists
Forty members of AASL participated as first-round panel judges in “A Book That Shaped Me,” the Library of Congress National Book Festival Summer Writing Contest. The program, now in its second year, asks rising 5th and 6th graders to reflect on a book that has made a personal impact in their lives. Judges each read and scored 20–25 entries to determine the five finalists from each state....
AASL, Oct. 1

Five EBSCO grants to attend Midwinter
ALA and EBSCO are partnering to offer five scholarships for librarians to attend the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. Each EBSCO scholarship will be in the amount of $1,500, and one of the five scholarships will be awarded to a first-time conference attendee. The scholarship money is to be used for conference registration, travel, and expenses. The deadline to apply is November 1....
Office of ALA Governance, Oct. 1

Try out for the Follett Challenge
Schools around the world will vie to be recognized as the most innovative in the third annual Follett Challenge, which launched October 1. This year’s contest will reward 15 schools from all levels of education for the best and most effective approaches to 21st century learning. New this year, the Follett Challenge will honor semifinalist winners in four categories: elementary, middle, high school, and magnet/parochial/K–12 schools. Entries will be accepted from November 1 through February 28....
Follett Corporation, Oct. 1

IMLS grants for Pacific islands and Hawaii
The Institute of Museum and Library Services on September 26 announced seven competitive grants totaling $487,158 for US Pacific Territories, Freely Associated States, and Hawaii. IMLS provides support through a competitive process administered by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. A grant through the IMLS National Leadership Grant program to the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning in Honolulu will support a curriculum that uses the topics of nutrition and cultivation to increase childhood literacy....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 26

Nominations open for Afterschool Innovator Awards
The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation seek innovative and potentially lesser known afterschool programs that excel at engaging middle schoolers. Nominate an afterschool program by November 14 for a chance to win one of five $10,000 MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards. Read more about the Afterschool Alliance....
Afterschool Alliance; UpNext: The IMLS Blog, Sept. 26

Charleston Conference Scholarships
Margaret Medina is the winner of a $1,000 Swets scholarship to attend the 2013 Charleston Conference. Medina is Library Technician III in the Monographs Section at Colorado State University. Acquisitions Librarian Jamie Wilson, from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, is the winner of the 2013 EBSCO Charleston Conference Scholarship. Both winners had to submit a short essay....
Swets, Sept. 26; EBSCO, Oct. 1

Dan Zevin wins 2013 Thurber Prize
Dan Zevin (right), author of Dan Gets a Mini-Van: Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad, has been named the winner of the 2013 Thurber Prize for American Humor. He won $5,000 in prize money and a crystal plaque. The announcement was revealed at a September 30 ceremony in New York City. The prize, awarded annually, was established to honor the legacy of humor writer/cartoonist James Thurber....
GalleyCat, Oct. 1

2012 Lane Anderson Awards
The Fitzhenry Family Foundation announced the winners of the 2012 Lane Anderson Award for excellence in Canadian science writing. Finalists and winners were fêted at an intimate dinner in Toronto on September 26. The winner in the adult category was The Universe Within by Neil Turok (Anansi); and the children’s book winner was The Big Green Book of the Big Blue Sea by Helaine Becker (Kids Can Press)....
Fitzhenry Family Foundation, Sept. 26

2013 Dolman Travel Book Award
This year’s Authors’ Club Dolman Travel Book of the Year prize has been awarded jointly to Kathleen Jamie’s Sightlines (Sort of Books) and Robert Macfarlane’s The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot (Hamish Hamilton), the first time the award has been shared since its launch in 2006. Award-winning poet and nature writer Jamie’s book embraces some of her native Scottish landscapes, while Macfarlane’s book explores the ancient pathways of Britain....
Authors’ Club, Sept. 29

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New San Diego library opens to the public
San Diego’s long-awaited $185-million Central Library (right) opened to the public on September 30. Construction began in August 2010. Officials gathered on September 28 to dedicate the library in front of thousands of area residents, unveiling the facility’s official name, the San Diego Central Library Joan and Irwin Jacobs Common. The name recognizes the millions of dollars donated to the construction project by the Qualcomm cofounder and his wife. Take an interactive tour....
KGTV-TV, San Diego, Calif., Sept. 30; U-T San Diego

George Washington library opens at Mount Vernon
The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, a center for scholarship about George Washington, Colonial America, and the Revolutionary Era, opened its doors at Mount Vernon, Virginia, September 27. Most of Washington’s original library is housed at the Boston Athenaeum, but the new facility now owns just under 50 originals and 450 duplicate editions. Watch the CBS News video (4:29). Mark Mancini lists seven nifty things the library owns....
Washington Post, May 25, 2012; Sept. 26; CBS News, Sept. 29; Mental Floss, Sept. 28

New York City lags behind in library investment
Julie Sandorf writes: “Election campaigns are typically filled with calls for increased spending on new initiatives, and the New York City mayoral election is no exception. Candidates have pledged support for more preschool education, after-school programs, workforce development, and immigrant services, among other items. Largely overlooked, our neighborhood libraries—206 in all—provide every one of those essential programs, and yet city funding has been consistently cut in recent years.”...
New York Daily News, Sept. 25

Brooklyn’s Gerritsen Beach branch reopens
It looks great now, but the Gerritsen Beach branch of the Brooklyn Public Library wasn’t looking so good after Hurricane Sandy hit in October 2012. The branch came back to life September 30 after $1.6 million in repairs and renovations. That includes new books to make up for the thousands lost, plus new computers and furniture. BPL President Linda Johnson says the library is even better than before the storm with new meeting rooms, self-checkout machines, and a new roof....
NY1, New York City, Sept. 30

Recovery in Estes Park
The Estes Valley Library in Estes Park, Colorado, was closed for a week following the severe flooding of September 11–13. The northwest section of its first floor sustained some damage to the carpet and walls. The staff met daily throughout the disaster, providing up-to-date information, counseling residents, and filling in with storytimes at local schools. Financial Programs Coordinator Marsha Yelick offered some basic financial tips for planning for the unexpected....
Estes Park (Colo.) Trail-Gazette, Sept. 19, 28

Olympia staff deal with threats after heroin bust
Staff at the Timberland Regional Library in downtown Olympia, Washington, say they are working in fear, and one security guard has resigned after police cracked down on a drug house across the street from the library on September 12. Police arrested two people at the library September 25 for allegedly making threats to kill a security guard because they were upset over the staff’s crackdown on heroin use in library bathroom stalls. Library Manager Donna Feddern (above) said the situation is frightening, but staff will not back down when it comes to keeping patrons safe....
The Olympian, Sept. 27; KIRO-TV, Seattle, Sept. 27

Invisible Man ban rescinded
Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man will be returned to the shelves of high school libraries in Randolph County, North Carolina. On September 25, the county board of education decided 6–1 to reinstate the book, which had been removed by an earlier vote after a parent had complained about the title. Both school-level and district committees have recommended the book stay on library shelves....
Asheboro (N.C.) Courier-Tribune, Sept. 25

Hair-pulling incident in Cuyahoga County
A Cleveland Heights, Ohio, city council candidate is accused of pulling the hair of Cuyahoga County Public Library Executive Director Sari Feldman on September 24, after the library board voted to sell its historic William E. Telling Mansion (right). Fran Mentch was cited for assault in the incident at the library’s headquarters in Parma. Mentch and others had come to the meeting to protest the sale of the Mayfield Road mansion, which for years served as the home of the South Euclid–Lyndhurst branch....
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 25

Washburn responds to sex discrimination lawsuit
Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and its dean of libraries, Alan Bearman, acknowledge he once called a male employee “Sally.” But in a court document filed September 30, Washburn and Bearman denied numerous other allegations made in a federal lawsuit brought against them May 13 by former instructional librarian Michelle Canipe. The lawsuit contends that Washburn and Bearman created or tolerated a sexually hostile environment, and retaliated against Canipe for complaining about unequal treatment on the basis of sex....
Topeka (Kans.) Capital-Journal, Sept. 30

School librarian variance in New York State
For those struggling with school, personal problems, even thoughts of suicide, the school library is one place they can go to find solace. Whether it’s a transgendered student being bullied or a shy writer trying to find his voice, Paul McIntosh, librarian at Wadleigh Secondary School in Harlem, says kids have, for years, turned to him for support. Librarians across the city fear for their profession’s future. On August 9, the New York Department of Education requested a variance (PDF file) from the state, asking official permission to offer fewer librarians in schools....
Brooklyn (N.Y.) Bureau, Sept. 26

University librarian resigns over Folio scandal
The Senate House Library at the University of London scrapped plans to sell a set of four Shakespeare Folios at auction after leading academics attacked the proposal as “an act of stupidity” and warned it could damage the university’s reputation. Senate House Library Director Christopher Pressler (right) announced he is resigning for “personal reasons,” weeks after he admitted breaching financial rules by not disclosing his relationship with an employee at Bonhams, appointed to oversee the sale....
The Telegraph (UK), Oct. 1

The untold story behind Canada’s digitization plan
Michael Geist writes: “In June, Library and Archives Canada and Canadiana, an alliance of public and academic libraries focused on digital preservation, announced plans to digitize and create metadata for 60 million historical Canadian documents. As the details of the Heritage project leaked out, a controversy arose over concerns that the materials would be placed behind a paywall. Now, newly obtained documents under the Access to Information Act raise troubling questions about public access and promises of exclusivity made by the LAC.”...
Toronto Star, Sept. 27

Moscow libraries getting much-needed upgrades
There are more than 400 libraries in the Russian capital, but the majority are uninviting places with iron doors, strict rules, inconvenient opening hours, and a design that is a leftover from Soviet times. Now all Moscow city libraries will eventually get a makeover, offering multimedia content, film screenings, lectures, and extended hours. The man behind it is bookseller Boris Kupriyanov, who was asked by Sergei Kapkov, the city culture director who transformed Moscow’s parks, to take on the libraries....
Moscow News, Sept. 26

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This is why you can’t have nice things
Barbara Fister writes: “This is what happens when people who do not believe in government are elected to government. They refuse to lose when a law they opposed is passed. They don’t value government services because governments pass laws and laws infringe on their freedom. They took an oath to defend the Constitution and discharge the duties of their office, but they don’t believe in the system for which the constitution is a blueprint and so refuse to carry out their duties. On principle.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Library Babel Fish, Oct. 2

Surveillance transparency legislation
The Center for Democracy and Technology, on behalf of a broad coalition of internet companies and privacy advocates, delivered a letter (PDF file) September 30 to the leaders of the US Senate and House Judiciary Committees supporting two bills that substantially increase transparency around government surveillance of the internet. The new letter voices the signers’ strong support for Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) S. 1452, the Surveillance Transparency Act of 2013; and Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s (D-Calif.) H.R. 3035, the Surveillance Order Reporting Act of 2013....
Center for Democracy and Technology, Sept. 30

Perspectives on intellectual freedom
Associate Professor Christine Jenkins and Assistant Professor Emily Knox (right) of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science share their perspectives on intellectual freedom and censorship in the context of the library. In this video (1:53) they discuss the question, “What are the consequences when books are successfully banned?”...
YouTube, Sept. 26

NEA report on public participation in the arts
How do Americans participate in the arts in the course of a year? What kinds of art forms and activities do they engage with, and in what numbers? The NEA investigates these questions and more in the 2012 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts, the nation’s largest population survey of arts participation trends. On September 26, the NEA released an initial report (PDF file) of the survey’s findings. One finding: 47% of adults engaged in literary reading in the previous year....
National Endowment for the Arts, Sept. 26

The evolving role of libraries and librarians in health care (subscription)
Julia F. Sollenberger and Robert G. Holloway Jr. write: “As clinicians try to incorporate research into practice, they increasingly depend on technology to bring evidence to the bedside to improve quality and patient outcomes. Integrating current information into the processes of shared decision making and continuous learning supports the use of evidence. Health sciences libraries and librarians have an increasingly important role in providing that information to clinicians, patients, and families.”...
Journal of the American Medical Association 310, no. 12 (2013): 1231–1232

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Make the most of iOS 7
Jill Duffy writes: “If you were one of the millions of people to upgrade an iPhone from iOS 6 to iOS 7 recently, you’ve probably spent a little more time than normal exploring your phone. You can spruce up your iPhone by making a couple of small changes to preserve the battery, reclaim some space, and make a few other improvements. And if you’re unsure whether your device is compatible with the new operating system, see our complete list of devices that will run iOS 7. Then, for detailed instructions, see How to Download iOS 7.”...
PC Magazine, Sept. 13, 18, 28

Five best USB hubs
Alan Henry writes: “There comes a time in everyone’s life when they look over their desk for a place to plug in their phone, a new wireless mouse, a portable hard drive, or some other peripheral, only to discover they’re out of USB ports. When that happens, it’s time to buy a hub—but some hubs are definitely better than others. This week we’re looking at five of the best.”...
Lifehacker, Sept. 29

How to choose a surge protector
Alan Henry writes: “Most of us have more devices than we have plugs in the wall, which is why you’ll likely find a surge protector behind most people’s televisions and under our desks. However, not all surge protectors are alike, and some even put your gadgets at risk. We talked to an electrician to sort out how to tell the good ones from the bad ones, and how to use them safely.”...
Lifehacker, Sept. 27

Untangle your cords
Gregory Schmidt writes: “Recoil, a company in Park City, Utah, has developed a way to keep the cords attached to technology devices from becoming a knotted mess. The company calls its product Recoil Winders, retractable cord winders that eliminate the problem of twisting cords. The winders consist of a spring-loaded spool in a sturdy housing. Simply hook the cord around the spool’s trigger, and it winds the cord inside the housing.”...
New York Times: Gadgetwise, Oct. 1

The future of 3D printing: What’s real, what’s hype
Signe Brewster writes: “The easiest critique of current consumer 3D printers is that they are difficult to use. And it’s true. Current models are aimed at experienced tinkerers, whether their manufacturers admit it or not. Cost is not the issue; it’s the combination of cost and ease of use that matters. The second easiest critique of 3D printers is that they only print plastic. That’s great for creating objects people use every day, from bolts to spoons, but it’s far from the replicator that Star Trek conditioned a generation to expect.”...
GigaOM, Oct. 2

3D-printed objects outgrow their printers
Niall Firth writes: “3D printing may be set to change the world by letting us make all sorts of objects, but there’s one little problem: The printers can only print items smaller than themselves. Until now, that is. Skylar Tibbits at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Self-Assembly Lab and colleague Marcelo Coelho have come up with a way for standard 3D printers to print out large-scale objects. The approach, called Hyperform, converts the object to be printed into a single long chain made from interlocking links.”...
New Scientist, Sept. 26

LittleBits’ Exploration Kits
Chris Velazco writes: “Whole worlds have been built out of Lego, K’Nex, and Meccano and a seemingly endless supply of childhood wonder, but the world is changing and so are our toys. That’s where an ambitious New York hardware startup comes into play. LittleBits is trying to create a Lego for a new generation of tinkerers. The company just launched a new batch of Exploration Kits to bring its vision of clever, fun, hardware education to the masses.”...
TechCrunch, Oct. 1

The only system and security tools you need on Windows
Chris Hoffman writes: “Windows is complicated and needs many different system utilities and security tools to run well—or does it? We recently covered the many types of system tools you don’t need. Here are the few utilities you actually do need. These are the tools that will actually do something for your PC.”...
How-To Geek, Sept. 27–28

The Big Six and library lending: An update
Rob Maier writes: “In May 2013, when I started to track the Big Six and their library lending terms, there were many changes taking place in the publishing world. I assumed that I’d be issuing updates at least monthly. Instead, we entered a time of limited change until September 25, when Penguin resumed licensing its ebooks through OverDrive. Since OverDrive is the leading provider of ebooks to public libraries, the lack of access to Penguin titles has been frustrating to say the least.”...
AL: E-Content, Sept. 27; OverDrive Digital Library Blog, Sept. 25

Penguin drops side-loading requirement
Matt Enis writes: “In a quick reversal of its position on Kindle lending, Penguin on September 26 loosened the terms of its renewed agreement with OverDrive. The publisher has agreed to allow library patrons to download ebook titles wirelessly via OverDrive’s ‘Get for Kindle’ function instead of, as initially announced, first downloading titles to a computer, and then side-loading those titles to their Kindle classic or Paperwhite using a USB cord.”...
Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Sept. 27

Scribd offers ebook subscription service
Scribd announced October 2 it is offering its own subscription service for ebooks. The service will cost $8.99 a month for an unlimited amount of books and will have many HarperCollins titles. Scribd is a six-year-old document-sharing company. Laura Hazard Owen writes: “Overall, the service is a strong contender in this emerging space, and if you’re trying to choose between Scribd and Oyster, you’ll have to consider selection, design, and platform.” Nate Hoffelder notes a potential problem with content availability....
TeleRead, Oct. 1; GigaOM, Oct. 1; The Digital Reader, Oct. 1

Ebooks price people out of reading
Art Brodsky writes: “This is not one of those rants about missing the texture, touch, colors, whatever, of paper contrasted with the sterility of reading on a tablet. No, the real abomination of ebooks is often overlooked: The real problem with ebooks is that they’re more ‘e’ than book, so an entirely different set of rules govern what someone can and can’t do with them compared to physical books—especially when it comes to pricing to libraries.”...
Wired, Oct. 2

OverDrive releases library circulation APIs
Adam Sockel writes: “Last year we introduced the initial set of OverDrive APIs that enable approved vendors to deeply integrate OverDrive-hosted catalogs and nearly one million digital titles with their apps and platforms. These included the ability to access catalog metadata, see the availability of a title, and search the library’s collection. The all-new Circulation APIs are now available on the OverDrive Developer Portal.”...
OverDrive Digital Library Blog, Oct. 1

Latest Sony Reader not available in US
Nathan Groezinger writes: “Earlier in the week I reached out to the Sony Reader division in the United States to inquire about the Sony PRS-T3 ebook reader to see if and when it was coming to the US. As it turns out, the PRS-T3 will not be released in the US. It sounds like Sony would rather focus on tablets and phones moving forward.”...
The eBook Reader Blog, Sept. 26

2014 Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits, Philadelphia, January 24–28. Registration and housing are now open. Gold-standard networking; updates, research, reports, legislation; ebooks, digital content, community engagement; 450+ exhibitors, hundreds of authors; Ishmael Beah, Andrew Slack, Tonya Bolden, Brian Floca, Kadir Nelson, Steve Sheinkin, Melissa Sweet; ALA Youth Media Awards. Make your case for attending. #alamw14; Facebook event; Tumblr; Pinterest.

100 great children’s books of the past 100 years
Chosen by children’s librarians Jeanne Lamb and Elizabeth Bird of the New York Public Library, these 100 inspiring tales have thrilled generations of children and their parents—and are still flying off the shelves. 100 Great Children’s Books (PDF file) has been published on the occasion of the library’s exhibition “The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter,” on view at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building....
New York Public Library

Books about departed musicians
Colleen Seisser writes: “History is ripe with stories of artists, musicians, performers, and other gifted geniuses whose lives were cut short. Nowhere is this more common than when we talk about great musicians. A recurring theme with many of my favorite musicians from the past was their tragic life stories. If you are interested in reading about musicians who were gone too soon, check out the list I have put together.”...
YALSA The Hub, Sept. 26

Realistic fiction with a bite
B. A. Binns writes: “The wealth of paranormal YA books keeps growing. Angels, mermaids, werewolves, dragons, and vampires are all great for escapism. But readers live in the real world, where it’s not Twilight and there are no Mortal Instruments. Contemporary realistic YA fiction is girding its loins and tackling issues important to today’s teens head-on, from self-esteem to sexting, predators, eating disorders, and feeling like an outsider.”...
YALSA The Hub, Oct. 1

Three memoirs that prove libraries and books save lives
Hector Tobar writes: “Your English teacher and your local librarian are as important in a crisis as a fireman or an ambulance driver. That’s the message to be found inside three recent American memoirs, each written by authors whose lives were saved by literature. Thankfully, the three writers I’m thinking of found the teachers and the libraries they needed, despite growing up in different parts of the US during similarly austere times.”...
Los Angeles Times: Jacket Copy, Oct. 1

20 great American cities for writers (besides New York)
Jason Diamond writes: “Places like Brooklyn and San Francisco are becoming too overcrowded with writers and other creative types, to the point where it’s impossible for the newer, less successful among them to pay the skyrocketing rent. Since the world shouldn’t and doesn’t revolve around those two places, Flavorwire has compiled a list of 20 cities that might be a better fit.” Some even offer excellent bookstores and libraries....
Flavorwire, Sept. 25

Bookshelf boombox
Steve Hoefer writes: “Don’t judge these books by their covers! They hide an amplifier, a speaker, and a plush compartment for your portable audio player. Putting things in hollowed-out books is a trick as old as bookbinding, but with a little more effort we can even disguise some of the controls in a natural way, such as using a tasseled bookmark as the volume control.”...
Make magazine, Sept. 24

The 10 most expensive books ever sold
Richard Davies writes: “With so much excitement surrounding the Bay Psalm Book coming up for auction at Sotheby’s on November 26, this is a good time to step aside and consider the most expensive books that have ever been sold. By saying books, we are including documents and manuscripts, and not just objects published on a press. I would be thrilled just to see any of these books, but imagine bidding for them?”...
AbeBooks’ Reading Copy, Sept. 23, 25; Sotheby’s

Use of small and rural libraries
Rural and small public libraries in the US are community anchors, providing critical services and resources to meet a variety of local needs. The IMLS brief, The State of Small and Rural Libraries in the United States (PDF file), provides the agency’s first targeted analysis of trends for rural and small library services. The report gives an overview of the distribution, service use, fiscal health, and staffing of these important community assets. One of the report’s surprising findings is the sheer number of public libraries that can be classified as either small or rural....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 25

Keep your collection smelling FRESH
Jennifer LaGarde writes: “Yesterday I had the opportunity to work with a fun group of librarians in the northern part of my state who had some questions about weeding. Specifically, they were concerned about getting rid of old materials when their collections are already small and there’s no money to toss the discards for shiny new replacements. I understand this concern, but when it comes to weeding, I err on the side of less being more. To me, these are the major problems with holding onto old, out-of-date, musty materials.”...
The Adventures of Library Girl, Oct. 1

Cataloging as observation
Karen Coyle writes: “Cataloging rules actually instruct their users on how to observe. In fact, the very first rule in AACR2 (1.0.A) defines the sources of information for the catalog entry: The preferred source of information is always the thing being described. Thus, the act of cataloging is an act of describing what is being observed. This makes cataloging something like the act of a biologist who is describing a specimen. In theory, if both librarians and biologists follow the rules, the same specimen or artifact would be described similarly by two different professionals.”...
Coyle’s InFormation, Oct. 1

Wikidata and cataloging
Robinson Meyer writes: “Wikidata promises a single, shared infrastructure of knowledge beneath Wikipedia in every language. This underlying data layer can be read by both humans and machines, and it propagates changes from one language’s version of Wikipedia to other languages. During the early part of its development, Wikidata used a hierarchical taxonomy to organize its data entries. The system was called GND. But now it hopes to get by without an ontology at all.”...
The Atlantic, Oct. 2

How to move your blog from Blogger to WordPress
Amit Agarwal writes: “Your blog (abc.blogspot.com) is hosted on Blogger but you would now like to move it from Blogger to WordPress (self-hosted) with a personal domain name like abc.com. What is the easiest way to switch from Blogger to WordPress without losing search traffic and your existing subscribers? WordPress provides an easy one-click option, but there’s more to migration than just transferring content.” Watch the video (5:26)....
Digital Inspiration, May 18, 2007; Sept. 26; YouTube, Sept. 26

The best times to tweet, blog, email, and post
Belle Beth Cooper writes: “I’ve collected research and stats on Twitter, Facebook, email, and blogging to help you find the best time to communicate with others in each format. The tricky thing I’ve come across is that since the web is still so new, much of the research available to us is conflicting. Use this guide to help you work out what to test for your own audience, so that you can see what actually works best in your specific case.”...
Buffer, Aug. 29

Five tips for keeping student devices secure
Caleb Barlow writes: “There are many security and privacy concerns when it comes to kids having access to mobile devices at all times. Like many things, it basically all comes down to education sprinkled with a little common sense. Here are a few pointers that parents and school officials can share with their kids and students when it comes to mobile security.”...
The Huffington Post, Oct. 1

October is Canadian Library Month (PDF file)
The Canadian Library Association has designated October as Canadian Library Month. The event provides an opportunity to celebrate libraries across Canada and the important contributions they make to Canadian life. This year’s theme, “Libraries Connect / Bibliothèques Branchées,” speaks to the need that all Canadians have to connect with each other on a personal and social level....
Canadian Library Association, Oct. 1

Google revamps its search engine
Greg Kumparak writes: “Have you noticed recently that Google has gotten a bit better at offering up direct answers to questions? If so, there’s a reason for it: It recently flipped the switch on a new search algorithm it calls Hummingbird, which focuses on parsing searches as complex questions.” The change, announced September 26, is said to improve conversational searches. Danny Sullivan provides an FAQ on the new algorithm....
TechCrunch, Sept. 26; SearchEngineLand, Sept. 26

Google and hashtags
Mark O’Neill writes: “Google has announced that Google Search will be indexing hashtag search terms. But there’s one catch: It will only pull results from Google+, at least for the moment. This is a clever way for Google to integrate its social network into search results. If users had to choose between Facebook and Google+, most would probably choose Facebook.”...
MakeUseOf, Sept. 27; Google+, Sept. 25

Who really said that?
Corey Robin writes: “The Wrongly Attributed Statement is not just a thing, it’s an experience. A quote floats in your head for years, resting in cloistered obscurity. One day you decide to use it in a book or an article. You look it up to get the exact wording and to cite the original source. But you find multiple wordings and no credible source. More often you find that no one said it at all. There are basically three kinds of Wrongly Attributed Statements.”...
Chronicle of Higher Education: Chronicle Review, Sept. 16

Geneva sets up a Fantasy Library League
The Geneva (N.Y.) Public Library has created a Fantasy Library League promotion in which patrons can test their ability to purchase books that your community wants to read—just like a librarian. Players go online to choose an assortment of popular books that are currently available in or coming soon to libraries throughout the Pioneer Library System. The library will track how each player’s collection of titles circulates, and those whose collections have the most circulations will win fun prizes and bragging rights....
Geneva (N.Y.) Public Library

Host a superhero party
Kimberly Castle-Alberts writes: “I wanted to try a Superhero Training Academy for grades K–5 this past summer at the Hudson (Ohio) Library and Historical Society. After asking for advice on the Listservs and perusing some library blogs, I decided to do self-directed stations. This would allow kids to spend as much or as little time as they wanted at each station. I dressed up as Batgirl, which seemed the most obvious because she too is a librarian.”...
ALSC Blog, Sept. 28

Yu-Gi-Oh! in the library
Lisa Brien writes: “There is no game in Topeka that is more intensely played than the bi-monthly Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments held at the Topeka and Shawnee County (Kans.) Public Library. Teens from all over the county gather to pit their decks and skills against each other. As they wait for the doors to open to our teen room, The Edge, they pace the halls outside as they check and double-check their decks in preparation. TSCPL has hosted Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments continuously since the card game was first released nearly 11 years ago.”...
International Games Day @ your library, Sept. 30

Michigan libraries register organ donors
In an effort that saves lives, the Canton Public Library and 43 other libraries across Michigan are drawing praise for urging their community residents to sign up for Gift of Life’s organ and tissue donor registry. Canton’s library has become part of the campaign, which is in its fourth year. It began with five University of Michigan libraries and has grown to 44 others, mostly in southeast Michigan....
Canton (Mich.) Observer, Sept. 27

Biases against online library school
Emily Weak writes: “For our latest survey, ‘What Should Potential Hires Learn in Library School?,’ the most responses were the ones that expressed some sort of bias against online schools or classes. I’m a graduate of an online-only school myself (SJSU). I had thought the prejudice against online degrees was not prevalent, and was surprised to see it crop up in the surveys. But how frequently?”...
Hiring Librarians, Sept. 28, 30

An anthropologist among the librarians
Matt Thompson writes: “It’s been more than five weeks since I first settled in Libraryland and the natives are starting to accept me as one of their own. Since navigating the perilous voyage to this out-of-the-way place and learning their customs and expectations, I have finally begun networking in earnest. Now, having studied at the feet of the Librarian elders, I can begin to offer these first insights, hunches, and observations.”...
Savage Minds Backup, Sept. 25

Reference in the days before Google
Chicago Slices was a program that aired on WPWR-TV in the early 1990s documenting life in and around the city. This clip (5:14) shows how the Chicago Public Library Information Service at the Harold Washington Library worked in 1993. This was a few years before the internet exploded and information could be found on Google and Wikipedia. The footage never made it on the air, and the library’s service soon faded as internet search engines outpaced its usefulness....
Chicagoist, Sept .26; YouTube, Sept. 12

Brandon Township Public Library geeks out
The Brandon Township Public Library in Ortonville, Michigan, produced this promotional Geek the Library video (3:55) for its Septemberfest. It was created by Teen Associate Librarian Alexa Webb and volunteer Kate Nanney. “No books were harmed in the making of this video.”...
YouTube, Sept. 30

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