The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | January 29, 2014

ALA 2014 Midwinter Meeting
Productive conversations, sessions, problem-solving, and networking throughout the Pennsylvania Convention Center and other venues at more than 1,800 meetings and events gave the 12,189 librarians, library workers, and library supporters (including 3,796 exhibitors) at the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits in Philadelphia, January 24–28, a special sense of accomplishment for having braved—and beaten—some fierce winter weather to get there. (The 2013 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle drew 10,981 attendees, including 3,144 exhibitors.)...
Public Information Office, Jan. 28

Wes Moore shares stories
Laurie D. Borman writes: “Speakers often come to ALA meetings and talk about a library, a librarian, or perhaps a book that changed their life. And in some ways, Wes Moore’s (right) story about a book on college freshmen basketball stars called Fab Five, which turned his rejection of books into a passion for reading, was not unusual. But how he became an author is.” Watch videos of Moore’s Midwinter appearance here, here, and here....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

Tales of a former child soldier
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “‘When you’ve been so deeply touched by violence, you don’t glorify it. You’re not fascinated by it in any way,’ author Ishmael Beah (right) told a captivated crowd of several hundred on Saturday afternoon at the Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture. During Sierra Leone’s civil war, Beah found himself recruited into the life of a child soldier, an experience he chronicles in his first book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier.” Watch excerpts from his presentation here and here....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 28

Interview with Matthew Quick
Phil Morehart writes: “Matthew Quick (right), author of a slew of books, including the bestseller Silver Linings Playbook, which was transformed into an Oscar-winning film in 2013, was at the Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia to discuss his new book, The Good Luck of Right Now. Quick spoke with American Libraries before delivering his Auditorium Speaker series talk. He discussed his inspirations, mental illness, librarianship, and more. Watch excerpts here (3:13).”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 29

David Baldacci: Taking the leap
Mariam Pera writes: “‘What is he doing up there, writing a book?’ A paratrooper on the ground said these words as David Baldacci (right), bestselling author of Absolute Power and King and Maxwell, stood atop a four-story tower at the US Army base at Fort Benning, Georgia, considering a jump. The nearly invisible wire attached to his shoulder strap would, the jump master assured him, keep him alive. Baldacci had been on the tower a few minutes and the Airborne Rangers on the ground at Fort Benning weren’t sure he would actually jump. But he did.” Watch the video (4:53)....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

NSA under the microscope (PDF file)
Brad Martin writes: “When Edward Snowden exposed the scope of surveillance done by the National Security Agency by releasing classified documents in March 2013, he provided much-needed specific evidence to support earlier reporting that only touched on the topic and had been largely ignored until that point, according to Spencer Ackerman (right), national security editor for The Guardian (US) and former reporter for Wired magazine. Ackerman divided his Saturday morning talk into three sections that he called darkness, daylight, and impacts.”...
Cognotes, Jan. 26, pp. 1, 17

Interview with Melissa Sweet
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “Award-winning children’s book creator Melissa Sweet (right) was at the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia where she spoke with American Libraries about the extensive research she does before crafting a book and the importance of her small-town library in Maine.” Watch the video (2:27)....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

Bringing TEDx to the library
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “What is TEDx, and why should libraries get involved? ALA President Barbara Stripling and two presenters were on hand at the Saturday morning session, ‘Talk about Innovation! TEDx @ your Library,’ to help librarians answer those questions. Unlike TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks, TEDx is planned and coordinated at the local level and is meant to give communities, organizations, and individuals the ability to independently host TED-like events.” Watch the video (2:23)....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

What we owe each other
Paul Signorelli writes: “Adi Redzic (right), founder and executive director of the financial-literacy organization iOme [I owe me], provided an engaging example of the power of storytelling at ‘Financial Literacy: Why Students Need Librarians to Get Involved’ on Saturday. Rather than relying heavily on statistics or discussions about financial policies to encourage library staffers to play a role in helping Millennials prepare for a secure financial future, he told his own story in a way that made audience members a part of that story—and one that is much bigger than any one person.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

A DPLA update
Stephen M. Brooks writes: “The Digital Public Library of America aggregates resources that can be made freely available on the web from libraries, historical associations, and other cultural institutions; applies metadata; provides a platform for discovery; and makes the resources available in one central place on the web for researchers and other interested parties. Executive Director Dan Cohen (above) provided an update on its continued growth on Sunday afternoon at the Midwinter Meeting.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 29

A very merry unconference
T. J. Szafranski writes: “Unconference is a participant-guided experience that aims to reinvent the informal, unstructured conversations that colleagues have at conferences. Instead of being talked at, the attendees decide on topics to discuss, and talk with one another. John Pappas of Upper Darby (Pa.) Free Public Library, and Audrey Barbakoff of Kitsap (Wash.) Regional Library moderated this Philadelphia unconference. The room selected five topics before splitting into smaller groups.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 24

An original Minecraft game in six weeks
T. J. Szafranski writes: “Valerie Hill’s students can make a polished puppet show in minutes with an iPad app. When they’re finished, they say ‘Now what?’ In the past, students might have spent an entire day making the actual puppets and performing the show. During her presentation at ‘Information Literacy and Gamification Using Minecraft,’ Hill, a librarian for the Lewisville (Tex.) Independent School District, stressed the need for a balance of tradition and innovation.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

The evolution of digital comics in libraries
Phil Morehart writes: “Comic book production, presentation, and distribution are evolving. Digital comics are on the rise, and the comic book industry is struggling to adapt its traditional print models to the new form. This struggle impacts libraries and their patrons as much as it does the average comic consumer. ‘The Continuing Evolution of Digital Comics in Libraries,’ a panel discussion presented by the ALA Comic Book and Graphic Novel Member Initiative Group, addressed this situation.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

Showing Up
Paul Signorelli writes: “‘We don’t have to be perfect,’ Lisa Bunker reminded me over lunch on Monday. ‘We just have to show up.’ Showing up was a theme I have noticed and experienced viscerally and repeatedly while preparing for, attending, participating in (onsite as well as online), and learning from numerous formal events and informal conversations at Midwinter. And it was certainly a necessary step for those of us who wanted to learn from Bunker’s ‘ALA Master Series—The Library as a Catalyst for Innovation’ session on Monday.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 28

So you’re looking for a job: Now what?
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “At Saturday’s session at the JobLIST Placement Center, two human resources directors offered some insight into what makes an application stand out, how candidates can best prepare for an interview, and how to negotiate a salary offer. The one-hour session, titled ‘HR Confidential: Insider Tips from Library HR Directors,’ was presented by Kathryn Kjaer of the University of California, Irvine, and Leo Agnew of the University of Iowa.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

AAP’s Library Family Feud
T. J. Szafranski writes: “Association of American Publishers Library Committee Chair Chris Vaccari hosted a Family Feud battle (based on the TV show) between Philadelphia librarians and authors at the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting on Sunday afternoon. Team Librarian featured Jeanne Clancy of Chester County Library, Molly Kritchten of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Garry ‘Bob’ Rubenstein of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Janis Stubbs of Delaware County Library System, and Sandra Thompson, Free Library of Philadelphia.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

Next AL Live episode: Library websites
Every library needs a website, but what makes a good site? How can you figure out how to most effectively allocate your resources and build a site that fits the needs of your community? In “The Library Website,” our panel of experts will look at the dos, should-dos, and don’ts of library websites. Tune in February 13 at 2 p.m. Eastern time for this free video broadcast that you can view from your home, library, or on-the-go....
American Libraries, Jan. 28

Go back to the Top

New Lemony Snicket Prize
At its Council III session, ALA Council approved the new Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity. The award, which ALA intends to present at its Annual Conference in Las Vegas, recognizes a librarian who “has faced adversity with integrity and dignity intact.” The $3,000 prize will be given annually from Snicket’s “disreputable gains, along with an odd, symbolic object from his private stash, as well as a certificate, which may or may not be suitable for framing.” Lemony Snicket is the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler (above), who said, “This seems like a better way to channel money to librarians than my previous strategy, which was incurring exorbitant late fees.”....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Jan. 29

ALA receives IMLS grant to assess public programs
The ALA Public Programs Office has received a National Leadership Grant of $99,996, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The funds will support a one-year project, titled the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA), for the development of a comprehensive research agenda to document the characteristics, audiences, outcomes, and value of public programming in libraries at a national level. PPO will collaborate on the grant activities with New Knowledge Organization, a nonprofit research organization....
Public Programs Office, Jan. 29

Libraries and the State of the Union message
ALA President Barbara Stripling released a statement January 29 regarding President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address: “President Obama’s State of the Union speech focused on many themes that form the basis of library services in communities across the country: the need to create and bolster ladders of opportunity; early learning is one of the best investments we can make in our future; and connecting students to high-capacity broadband is an immediate priority for supporting 21st-century education.”...
Office for Information Technology Policy, Jan. 29

Candidates’ Forum (PDF file)
ALA presidential candidates Sari Feldman (on the left) and Maggie Farrell offered their plans for their presidencies, answered questions, and inspired their supporters at the 2014 ALA Presidential Candidates forum. The forum, moderated by Past President Maureen Sullivan, gave the candidates a chance to articulate their hopes for the future of ALA and to acknowledge the support they’ve encountered along the way. Watch their closing statements in this video (3:43)....
Cognotes, Jan. 27, p. 4; YouTube, Jan. 26

Council I
ALA Council I session whipped through its agenda in barely an hour on Sunday, passing a resolution to improve electronic communications for ALA Council. The resolution involves organizing a task force that will prepare an interim report for the 2014 Annual Conference to advise Council on guidelines for email lists and electronic communications, in part to make it easier for members to access Council documents....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

Council II: The Snowden resolution, and others
ALA Council II managed to address nearly every item on its agenda on Monday, passing the FY2014 Programmatic Priorities, as presented by ALA Treasurer Mario Gonzalez, and an action item from the Policy Monitoring Committee on prayer in ALA meetings. After much debate, the resolution to recognize Edward Snowden as a whistleblower failed....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 28

Council III critiques government surveillance
ALA Council wrapped up its business for the 2014 Midwinter Meeting at Council III this morning, announcing the election of three new members (Peter D. Hepburn, Gina L. Persichini, and Gail A. Schlachter) to three-year terms. Mike L. Marlin was also elected to a five-month term, replacing Sylvia K. Norton, who now serves as executive director of AASL. Council also passed two resolutions from the Intellectual Freedom Committee and Committee on Legislation on curbing government surveillance, restoring civil liberties, and expanding federal whistleblower protections....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 28

Preserving the Association’s history
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “Even the world’s largest library association needs its own archive. And since 1973, ALA has partnered with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to have its institutional records preserved and managed by the university’s library. At a Sunday morning session, presenters Chris Prom, Cara Bertram, and Denise Rayman, all (above) from the U of I library, discussed the open-access repository, known as the ALA Institutional Repository (ALAIR).”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

New Members Round Table orientation
Stephen M. Brooks writes: “All right, so I’m not a new librarian and I’ve been attending ALA events since 2006, but since Philadelphia is my first Midwinter Meeting, I decided to check out the New Members Round Table orientation session Saturday morning. The program began by having the participants play ‘orientation bingo.’ We were encouraged to meet each other and sign boxes on the bingo cards. This exercise in networking was a great icebreaker and conversation starter.” Find out what T. J. Szafranski learned not to do at the same session....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

ALA, networking, and committees, oh my!
Ta-Shiré D. Tribbett writes: “Two of the functions I attended on Saturday were sponsored by the New Members Round Table. The first, a Membership, Networking, and Committee Interest meeting, lasted about an hour. During the meeting, attendees were introduced to current officers and told the goals and purpose of the organization.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

Informal learning in the conference hallways
Paul Signorelli writes: “Most of the learning at conferences takes place in the hallways, as I learned from ALA Strategy Guide Jenny Levine during a conversation we were having in an enormous hallway here at the 2014 Midwinter Meeting before she delivered the obvious punch line: ‘And ALA conferences have a very large number of hallways.’ Her observation about hallways (and, by extension, other spaces) parallels conclusions firmly grounded in research done on informal learning in our workplaces.”...
Building Creative Bridges, Jan. 28; Learning Solutions Magazine, Sept. 13, 2012

On attending Midwinter 2014
Jessica Olin writes: “I really did have an amazing time at Midwinter. I was surprised to get so much out of the conference, since the one time I went to ALA Annual was a mixed-emotions kind of experience. Now that I’ve had a couple of days to ruminate, I’ve come up with a list of reasons why I liked ALA Midwinter 2014 so much better than Annual 2010.”...
Letters to a Young Librarian, Jan. 28\

Annual Conference session proposals welcomed
2014 ALA Annual Conference attendees will have the chance to inspire colleagues and move the needle forward for the profession in one-hour “Conversation Starters” and five-minute “Ignite” sessions. Conversation Starters may be in lecture, panel, or discussion formats; Ignite sessions must be accompanied by 20 slides that advance automatically every 15 seconds. Session proposals will be accepted through February 18....
Conference Services, Jan. 25

Programming for youth with autism spectrum disorder
Those who understand the unique sensitivities of young people with autism spectrum disorder, now the second most commonly diagnosed serious developmental disability, know that ordinary library programming guides are not up to the task of effectively serving these library users. Barbara Klipper, author of the new book Programming for Children and Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder, published by ALA Editions, is ideal for audiences ranging from preschool through school-age children, teens, and families....
ALA Editions, Jan. 29

Exploring digital libraries
In Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects, published by ALA Neal-Schuman, Karen Calhoun offers a thought-provoking, authoritative, and in-depth treatment of the digital library arena. Her book provides an up-to-date overview of the progress, nature, and future impact of digital libraries, from their collections and technology-centered foundations over two decades ago to their emergent, community-centered engagement with the social web....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Jan. 29

Go back to the Top

Tech Services Big Heads meeting
Stephen M. Brooks writes: “I got up early on Friday morning and found my way to the ALCTS Technical Services Directors of Large Research Libraries Interest Group (aka Tech Services Big Heads) meeting in the Marriott Hotel. The meeting began with two presentations about inter-institutional cooperative cataloging efforts: one from the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC libraries of the historic Big Ten plus University of Chicago) and the other among three Ivy League schools and the University of Toronto.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 24

Best Fiction for Young Adults teen session
Angie Manfredi writes: “One of the most exciting and interactive ALA sessions took place on Saturday afternoon, the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults teen feedback session. What many people don’t know is that at every ALA meeting, both Annual and Midwinter, local librarians recruit their teen readers to come and speak at the open teen session about their thoughts and reactions to each of the titles. Librarians and publishers love to come hear the teen feedback and it helps give our work real-world application and impact.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

Where the sausage gets made: The inner workings of ALCTS
Stephen M. Brooks writes: “Perhaps I didn’t know any better, but I crashed the meeting of the All Committee and Executive Committee of the ALCTS Acquisitions Section on Saturday afternoon. The Policy and Planning and the Research and Statistics committees were gracious enough to let me sit in on their business meetings. This was my first glimpse into how the work of ALA gets done.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

Publishers, vendors, and libraries in 2014
Stephen M. Brooks writes: “‘What drives acquisitions in 2014?’ was the teaser for the 2014 ALCTS Publisher/Vendor/Library Relations Interest Group at Midwinter. A panel with one representative apiece from publishing, book jobbers, and libraries painted a picture of forces at play, including relationships represented by each side of the publisher/vendor/library triangle. Alex Holzman (right) of Temple University Press noted that ebook sales have been about 15% of the university press’s business, while print sales have been on the decline.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

Survival skills for newbies in academe
T. J. Szafranski writes: “Tyler Dzuba, physics-optics-astronomy librarian at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) River Campus Libraries, moderated a panel of speakers who shared advice for new librarians on how to pick your battles, how to identify opportunities for change, and when to accept things as they are. The Sunday session was sponsored by the ACRL New Members Discussion Group.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

Talking about play at #alamw14
Amy Musser writes: “On Sunday the Preschool Discussion Group brainstormed ways to incorporate play into storytime. Guest speaker, librarian Amanda Robinson, spoke to the group about the importance of storytime play. She reminded us that children learn every single time they play and that storytime is a great way to model good adult-child play. She encouraged librarians to add play before/during/after storytime because it’s a sneaky way to teach parents without making a formal presentation.”...
ALSC Blog, Jan. 26

Balancing babies and books
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “More than a dozen academic librarians—and one 13-month-old—met late Sunday afternoon at the Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia for the ACRL Balancing Baby and Book Discussion Group. Topics at this one-hour informal gathering ran the gamut from conversations about the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to parental leave policies at various institutions to discussions about child care services, both at professional conferences and on campus.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

February 5: Digital Learning Day
AASL again joins the Alliance for Excellent Education and other national educational organizations in celebrating the third annual Digital Learning Day on February 5. Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of teaching and learning through digital media and technology that engages students and provides them with a rich, personalized, education experience. School librarians are encouraged to participate in events and contribute resources through the website....
AASL, Jan. 29

PLA 2014 Virtual Conference brings learning to your desktop
On March 13–14, PLA will share a condensed, live and online PLA Virtual Conference with public library workers who can’t make the trip to Indianapolis. It will include many familiar elements of the onsite conference, including high-quality educational programming, author interviews and networking opportunities with colleagues. Each day will feature five live programs—the same programs available to in-person conference attendees. Registration is open....
PLA, Jan. 28

Become a confident grant writer
In the competitive world of grants, it helps to have an inside edge. Sharpen your edge with a new online course, “How to Win Grants for Your Library,” from PLA. This four-week course runs from April 21 to May 16 and includes online discussions and webinars, independent activities, and personal feedback. The deadline to register is April 18....
PLA, Jan. 29

Go back to the Top

Youth Media Award winners
ALA announced the top books, videos, and audiobooks for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, and Printz awards—at its Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. The announcement was webcast for those who could not attend and is still viewable as an hour-long archived recording. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. This is why people want to hear the announcements in person....
Public Information Office, Jan. 27; AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

Newbery and Caldecott winners
Kate DiCamillo, author of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures (Candlewick), and Brian Floca, illustrator of Locomotive (Atheneum), are the 2014 winners of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals. The Newbery and Caldecott medals honor outstanding writing and illustration of works published in the United States during the previous year....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Morales, Medina win Pura Belpré Awards
Yuyi Morales, illustrator of Niño Wrestles the World (Roaring Brook), and Meg Medina, author of Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass (Candlewick), are the 2014 winners of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award and Author Award, honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Williams-Garcia, Collier, Taylor win Coretta Scott King Awards
Rita Williams-Garcia, author of P.S. Be Eleven, and Bryan Collier, illustrator of Knock Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me, are the winners of the 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Awards honoring African-American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. Theodore Taylor III, illustrator of When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip-Hop, is the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent winner....
Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, Jan. 27

The post-award aftermath: 10 truths
Marge Loch-Wouters writes: “Post Youth Media Awards scuttlebutt is ever and always the same. People swoon. People go nuclear. People swear and threaten (they clearly have had bad days for other reasons). People cheer. People go crazy. People sigh over how unpopular the winners or honorees will be with kids. People glow in agreement. I’m going to tell you all what I think and know and how I react: my 10 truths, as it were.”...
Tiny Tips for Library Fun, Jan. 27; AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

The McKissacks win CSK–Virginia Hamilton Award
Patricia and Fredrick McKissack (right) are the recipients of the 2014 Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Patricia and her late husband Fredrick, both natives of Tennessee, began their writing and research partnership in the 1980s.Their subject matter, from family-based folklore to nonfiction titles, is carefully researched and written with accurate, authentic text, creating a cultural transmission of history....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Jan. 27

Greg Pizzoli wins Geisel Award
Author and illustrator Greg Pizzoli is the 2014 recipient of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for The Watermelon Seed (Disney Hyperion). A watermelon-loving crocodile becomes distraught after swallowing a seed, believing it will grow inside of him. The Geisel Award is given to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Midwinterblood wins Printz Award
Midwinterblood, written by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, has won the 2014 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Doomed love circles back through the centuries in a series of seven intricately plotted, interlocking stories set on a mysterious, isolated island. Forgetting and remembering, blessed and cursed, modern and ancient, these dualities brilliantly infuse the novel’s lush landscape....
YALSA, Jan. 27

Markus Zusak honored with Edwards Award
Markus Zusak (right) is the recipient of the 2014 Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors his significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens for The Book Thief, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger. The award is named in honor of the late Margaret A. Edwards, a pioneer in providing library services to young adults....
YALSA, Jan. 27

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi, written by Neal Bascomb and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, has been named the 2014 winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, a national award that honors the best nonfiction books for teens. The book tells the true story of the capture of Nazi fugitive Adolf Eichmann with rich detail and captivating suspense....
YALSA, Jan. 27

Charm & Strange wins William C. Morris Award
Charm & Strange (St. Martin’s Griffin), written by Stephanie Kuehn, has been named the 2014 winner of the William C. Morris Award, which honors a book written for young adults by a previously unpublished author. Drew, aka “Win,” has been isolated at boarding school since age 12. While he outwardly excels, a horrific secret pushes him toward madness. With the help of friends, can he conquer the beast within?...
YALSA, Jan. 27

Batchelder Award honors Enchanted Lion Books
Enchanted Lion Books is the winner of the 2014 Mildred L. Batchelder Award for Mister Orange, the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a foreign language and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States. Originally published in Dutch in 2011 as Mister Orange, the book was written by Truus Matti and translated by Laura Watkinson....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Carnegie Medal goes to Bink & Gollie
Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard of Weston Woods Studios, producers of Bink & Gollie: Two for One, are the 2014 recipients of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video. In three lively vignettes, Bink and Gollie visit the state fair, playing a game, participating in a talent show, and discovering their destiny. These best friends share joy and laughter, comfort and encouragement. The stellar full cast, anchored by Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome, captures the charm of Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee’s original story....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Selznick to deliver 2015 Arbuthnot Lecture
Author and illustrator Brian Selznick (right) will deliver the 2015 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. Each year, an individual of distinction in the field of children’s literature is chosen to write and deliver a lecture that will make a significant contribution to the world of children’s literature. The lecture is delivered in April and subsequently published in Children and Libraries....
ALSC, Jan. 27

Roth, Trumbore win Sibert Medal
Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore were named the winners of the 2014 Robert F. Sibert Medal for Parrots over Puerto Rico (Lee & Low), the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2013. The book tells the story of the rescue and return of the Puerto Rican parrot, a species once so abundant it blotted out the sun. Through the efforts of a dedicated team of scientists and residents, the fate of this native bird is now inching away from extinction....
ALSC, Jan. 27

2014 Alex awards
YALSA has selected 10 adult books with special appeal to teen readers to receive the 2014 Alex Awards. The awards, sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust, were created to recognize that many teens enjoy and often prefer books written for adults, and to assist librarians in recommending adult books that appeal to teens....
YALSA, Jan. 27

Odyssey Award goes to Listening Library
Listening Library, producer of the audiobook Scowler, has won the 2014 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production. The award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults. Scowler is written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne. When Ry’s abusive father escapes from prison, Ry summons The Unnamed Three from his childhood, including the hellish Scowler, in order to protect his family....
YALSA, Jan. 27

2014 Schneider Family Book Awards
The Schneider Family Book Awards honor authors and illustrators for the artistic expression of the disability experience for children’s and adolescent audiences. A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin (Knopf), written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, won the award for younger children; Handbook for Dragon Slayers (HarperCollins) by Merrie Haskell was the winner in the middle school category; and Rose under Fire (Hyperion) by Elizabeth Wein was the winner in the teen category....
Public Information Office, Jan. 27

2014 Stonewall Children’s and YA Literature Awards
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children (Flux) by Kirstin Cronn-Mills and Fat Angie (Candlewick) by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo are the 2014 recipients of the Stonewall Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award. The awards are given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience....
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, Jan. 27

Mammals of Africa wins Dartmouth Medal
RUSA has selected Mammals of Africa (Bloomsbury) as the winner of its 2014 Dartmouth Medal, an annual award for a reference work of outstanding quality and significance. Written by Jonathan Kingdon and David Happold, Mammals of Africa is the result of 15 years of detailed work and will serve as a rich source of information and as a baseline for preserving the biodiversity of this great continent....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Outstanding Reference Sources
RUSA has announced its selections for the 2014 Outstanding Reference Sources. This list of titles identifies the most important reference publications for small and medium-sized public and academic libraries published in a given year....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Notable Books List
RUSA has announced its selections for the 2014 Notable Books List—a source for important fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for the nation’s adult readers. The winners were selected by the Notable Books Council, a group of RUSA members and readers’ advisory experts from around the country. Since 1944, the council has annually chosen a list of 25 important books for adults....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Listen List
RUSA has made its selections for the 2014 Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration. The Listen List recognizes and honors the narrators who create extraordinary listening experiences meriting special attention by general adult listeners and the librarians who work with them. Titles are selected because they are a pleasure to listen to and make one reluctant to stop listening....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Reading List of genre fiction
RUSA has announced the selections for its 2014 Reading List, which annually recognizes the best books in eight genres: adrenaline (including suspense, thrillers, and adventure), fantasy, historical fiction, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction, and women’s fiction. This year’s list includes novels that will please die-hard fans, as well as introduce new readers to the pleasures of genre fiction....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Sophie Brody Medal for Jewish literature
Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi (HarperCollins) was chosen by RUSA for this year’s Sophie Brody Medal, given to encourage, recognize, and commend outstanding achievement in Jewish literature published in the US. Using interviews with seven surviving members of the 55th Paratroopers Reserve Brigade, the author traces the history of Israel and the diverse political and religious ideologies that shape the nation....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Best of the Best Business Websites
The RUSA Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) Education Committee has announced its selections for the 2014 Best of the Best Business Websites award, which recognizes outstanding free websites used by librarians in business reference services. The winners are: SCORE, Entrepreneur, and Entrepreneurship.org....
RUSA Blog, Jan. 27

Tim Bucknall named 2014 Academic Librarian of the Year
Tim Bucknall (right), assistant dean of libraries and head of electronic resources and information technologies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, is the 2014 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year. The award, sponsored by YBP Library Services, recognizes an outstanding member of the library profession who has made a significant national or international contribution to academic/research librarianship and library development....
ACRL, Jan. 25

2014 Excellence in Academic Libraries awards
ACRL has announced the recipients of its 2014 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award: Illinois Central College Library, East Peoria; Lafayette College Skillman Library (right), Easton, Pennsylvania; and Cal Poly State University Robert E. Kennedy Library, San Luis Obispo, California. Sponsored by YBP Library Services, the award recognizes the staff of a college, university, and community college library for programs that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution....
ACRL, Jan. 25

Susan Roman receives ALSC Distinguished Service Award
Susan Roman (right) is the 2014 recipient of the ALSC Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to library service to children and to the division. Roman was executive director of ALSC in 1986–2000, director of the ALA Development Office in 2000–2005, and is currently dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University....
ALSC, Jan. 25

2014 Service to Young Adults Achievement Award
YALSA has awarded the ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Service to Young Adults Achievement Award to Pam Spencer Holley (right). The $2,000 award, given every other year, recognizes a YALSA member who has demonstrated unique and sustained devotion to young adult services through substantial work in several initiatives....
YALSA, Jan. 25

Jackson-Brown wins 2014 Zora Neale Hurston Award
Grace Jackson-Brown (right), assistant professor of library science at Missouri State University, is the 2014 recipient of RUSA’s Zora Neale Hurston Award. The award honors librarians who have demonstrated leadership in promoting African-American literature. Jackson-Brown was cited for the Springfield African American Read-In program, which celebrates authors and literacy, and the Dream Big program, which showcases African-American authors and promotes reading by youths and adults....
RUSA, Jan. 26

Francine Graf wins 2014 Louis Shores Award
Francine Graf (right), managing editor of Choice magazine, is the 2014 winner of the RUSA Louis Shores Award. The award recognizes an individual reviewer, group, editor, review medium, or organization for excellence in book reviewing and other media for libraries. Graf has worked at Choice since 1982 and has made outstanding contributions to reviewing and was instrumental in creating Choice Reviews Online from its first iteration....
RUSA, Jan. 26

2014 Stonewall Book Awards
Hilary Sloin, author of Art on Fire (Bywater); Lori Duron, author of Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son (Broadway); and David McConnell, author of American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage among Men (Akashic) are the 2014 winners of the Stonewall Book Awards, the oldest award honoring books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender experience....
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, Jan. 27

2014 Over the Rainbow List
The 2014 Over the Rainbow Project book list, sponsored by the ALA Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, was announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The bibliography features quality fiction and nonfiction books for adults that are recognized by the Over the Rainbow Project, an ad hoc committee of GLBTRT, for their authentic expression of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experiences. This year’s list includes 71 titles published between July 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013....
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, Jan. 28

2014 Rainbow Books List
The 2014 Rainbow Books list, a joint project of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table and the Social Responsibilities Round Table, was announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. The bibliography features recommended fiction and nonfiction titles for young readers, from birth through age 18, noted for their significant and authentic GLBTQ content. Twenty-nine books and graphic novels were selected for the 2014 Rainbow list....
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table, Jan. 27

2014 Amelia Bloomer List
The Amelia Bloomer Project, a product of the Social Responsibilities Round Table’s Feminist Task Force, has announced the 2014 Amelia Bloomer List, which consists of well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content, intended for young readers from birth to 18 years old. The books on this year’s list portray stories of women and girls that spur the imagination while confronting traditional stereotypes. See the list’s Top 10 titles here....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Jan. 28; Amelia Bloomer Project, Jan. 25

2014 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature (PDF file)
The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association has selected the winners of its 2014 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature. The awards promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and are given based on literary and artistic merit. The Picture Book winner is Red Kite, Blue Kite by Ji-li Jiang (Disney/Hyperion), and the Young Adult Literature winner is Jet Black and the Ninja Wind by Leza Lowitz and Shogo Oketani (Tuttle Publishing)....
Cognotes, Jan. 25, p. 10

2014 American Indian Youth Literature Awards
The American Indian Library Association has selected Caribou Song, Atihko Oonagamoon (2012), written by Tomson Highway and illustrated by John Rombough; How I Became a Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story (2013), written by Tim Tingle; and Killer of Enemies (2013), written by Joseph Bruchac, as recipients of the 2014 American Indian Youth Literature Awards. The biennial awards identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians....
American Indian Library Association, Jan. 26

2014 BCALA Literary Awards winners
(PDF file)
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association announced the winners of the 2014 BCALA Literary Awards during the Midwinter Meeting. The awards recognize excellence in adult fiction and nonfiction by African-American authors published in 2013. The winner of the 1st Novelist Award is The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (Knopf) by Edward Kelsey Moore. In the fiction category, the winner is The Good Lord Bird (Riverhead) by James McBride....
Cognotes, Jan. 27, p. 7

Nathan Filer wins Costa Book of the Year
Nathan Filer has won the £30,000 ($49,700 US) Costa Book of the Year prize with The Shock of the Fall, his debut novel about loss, guilt, and mental illness. The book follows the experience of Matthew Holmes, a 19-year-old who is haunted after witnessing his brother’s death at a holiday park in Dorset, England. The Costa Book of the Year is open to authors residing in the UK or Ireland....
BBC News, Jan. 28

2014 USBBY Outstanding International Books (PDF file)
The United States Board on Books for Young People announced its 2014 Outstanding International Books list on January 24 during the USBBY membership meeting at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia. The list includes 37 books published or released in the US in 2013. The entire list, selection criteria, and previous lists can be found on the USBBY website....
Cognotes, Jan. 25, p. 17

OCLC/ALISE 2014 Research Grants
OCLC Research and the Association for Library and Information Science Education have awarded research grants to Denise Agosto of Drexel University and June Abbas of the University of Oklahoma; Leanne Bowler, Daqing He, and Jung Sun Oh of the University of Pittsburgh; and Lynne (E. F.) McKechnie of the University of Western Ontario. The awards were presented January 23 at the ALISE 2014 Annual Conference Awards Reception in Philadelphia....
OCLC, Jan. 24

Go back to the Top

Librarians speak up for the lack of Philly school libraries
Pat Loeb writes: “Librarians in town for the ALA Midwinter Meeting joined Philadelphia public school parents, students, and staff on January 27 to call attention to the lack of libraries in district schools. There are just 16 librarians in all 214 district schools—and two of them are paid by anonymous donors. The group gathered at the Library Company of Philadelphia and signed the Declaration for the Right to Libraries (above).”...
KYW-TV, Philadelphia, Jan. 28

Illuminating the rare manuscripts at Penn
Inga Saffron writes: “Step off the elevator into the University of Pennsylvania’s rare-book room in the Van Pelt–Dietrich Library, and you immediately recognize something is different. Where’s the wood? Instead, you confront a shimmering glass screen, etched like crystal. Bright sunshine beams around the space. To the right, a glassed-in porch beckons. Forget that stuffy collegiate style of yore. This is what a rare-book library looks like in 2014.”...
Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 23

New Jersey to launch statewide Makerspaces
The New Jersey State Library and LibraryLinkNJ, the statewide library cooperative, have partnered to launch “New Jersey Library Makerspaces: The Leading Edge,” an initiative that combines equipment with community-driven innovation, and provides library patrons with the tools and space to collaborate to design and build manufactured work. The project will subsidize 15 Makerspaces at public, school, and academic libraries statewide, and will offer creative laboratories where residents can access equipment and information that they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. The Idaho Library Commission has also launched a statewide “Make It at the Library” project....
New Jersey State Library, Jan. 28; YALSAblog, Jan. 28

Massachusetts plans to restore school librarian jobs
A multiyear plan in Massachusetts calls for filling the high school and middle school librarian positions as of the FY2014–2015 budget. The schools have been without librarians since the start of the FY2013 school year. The cuts drew strong opposition from students, parents, and the president of the Massachusetts School Library Association. Swampscott elementary school librarian positions were cut several years ago....
Swampscott (Mass.) Patch, Jan. 22

Budgets are cut, but New York libraries thrive—for now
Suzanne Travers writes: “Demand for public library services has risen dramatically in New York City during the past decade, even as repeated budget cuts have forced libraries to operate with smaller staffs, reduced hours, shortened weeks, and shrinking capital investments. Library advocates are pushing the city for deeper and more consistent funding to help address some of the key issues they face: how to balance multiple and evolving roles, overcome disparities within the system, and maintain and invest in infrastructure for years to come.”...
City Limits, Jan. 23

Mold mars University of Missouri volumes stored off-site
University of Missouri Libraries officials face tough choices as they consider what to do with 600,000 mold-covered books at an off-campus storage facility. The volumes are stored at Subtera, an underground storage facility off Stadium Boulevard in north Columbia. Jim Cogswell, director of MU Libraries, said library staff discovered the mold problem in October. The mold has been identified as aspergillus and/or penicillium, common types of mold that do not pose a health threat....
Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune, Jan. 28

Cat abandons fish truck for Brooklyn Public Library
Turns out a cat who went missing for months was just catching up on some reading. Rosie, a Long Island cat that went missing nearly eight months ago after stowing away on a fish truck, resurfaced January 27 after a brief residency in the basement of the Brooklyn Public Library. Rosie’s owner, Stephanie Villani, said the curious cat sneaked aboard her husband’s fish truck last Memorial Day weekend and leapt out at the Grand Army Plaza farmer’s market....
WNYC-FM, Jan. 22

Car bomb damages Egypt’s National Library
A car bomb that gutted Cairo’s central police headquarters early on January 24 has also caused severe structural damage to Egypt’s National Library and Archives, located across the street from the target of the blast. Minister of Culture Saber Arab said that all the NLA’s lighting and ventilation systems were completely destroyed, while the decorative façade, representative of Islamic architectural styles, had collapsed. He added that all showcases and furniture inside the building had also been badly damaged....
Al-Ahram (Cairo), Jan. 24

Japan, Vatican collaborate on digitizing archive
The Vatican library and four Japanese historical institutions have agreed to inventory, catalog, and digitize 10,000 documents from a lost Japanese archive detailing the persecution of Christians in Japan in the 17th–19th centuries. An Italian missionary priest took the 22 bundles of documents, called the Marega Papers, out of Japan in the 1940s and brought them to Rome. They sat in the Vatican library’s storage depository for decades until a Vatican researcher who could read the characters realized their importance in 2010....
Associated Press, Jan. 28

Go back to the Top

Pew Research update
Phil Morehart writes: “Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, led an energetic, insightful, and often humorous discussion of the project’s latest research on the role of libraries in their communities and in the lives of their patrons on Sunday at the Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. Rainie used his quick wit and fast way with words throughout the session to give zing and life to survey results about the library services patrons most appreciate and the different ways that various people think about libraries.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 29

Books are for use
Barbara Fister writes: “Scratch a librarian and you’re likely to find some Ranganathan. The Five Laws of Library Science were first formulated by Indian librarian S. R. Ranganathan (right) in 1931, but even today many fledgling librarians can recite them by heart. They begin with the proposition that ‘books are for use.’ Today, it’s still a meaningful phrase. Books shouldn’t be a ticket required for a steady job or a badge of scholarly distinction. They should be read. They should be used.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Library Babel Fish, Jan. 23

The future of libraries and Wikipedia
Jake Orlowitz and Patrick Earley write: “Wikipedia and libraries connect to one another in a circle of research and dissemination. Wikipedia is becoming the starting point for research for many; it can in turn lead readers back to other sources and encourage them to engage in deeper learning within their library. The Wikipedia Library is an open research hub for improving the world’s largest encyclopedia and connecting readers back to libraries and reliable sources.”...
Library Journal: The Digital Shift, Jan. 25

Go back to the Top

Hanging out with the tech crowd
Paul Signorelli writes: “Hanging out took on a completely new meaning Friday afternoon in the Networking Uncommons at the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. LITA board members and colleagues took advantage of a block of unscheduled time between more formal events to gather around a table and share tech stories. And, as if to prove how quickly our tech environment is changing, the conversation soon became a multimedia extravaganza as soon as colleagues learned that LITA Parliamentarian Jason Griffey (above) had brought along a Google Glass that he had obtained two days earlier.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25

OK, Glass
Paul Signorelli writes: “Many of us began gathering right at 9 a.m. Saturday morning for a chance to begin trying demonstration models of Google Glass with a tap of the finger and the spoken command ‘OK, Glass,’ and it was obvious that it wasn’t just the tech crowd that was interested in seeing firsthand how this wearable technology might be helpful to library staff and library users in everything from reference interactions to training, teaching, and learning endeavors.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 25–26

Prescription eyewear for Glass users
Mat Honan writes: “If there’s been one consistent complaint from Google Glass users, it’s that the face computer was incompatible with prescription eyeglasses. In response, Google repeatedly promised that Glass would eventually work with prescription lenses. As of January 28, that promise is coming true. Existing ‘Explorers,’ Google’s term for those it has selected to try Glass, will be able to order frames in four different styles and a variety of colors. There are three separate sunglass styles you can attach Glass to as well.”...
Wired: Gadget Lab, Jan. 28

Top Tech Trends 2014
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “Openness was a key theme at the Top Technology Trends session Sunday morning. ‘We are in the business of making resources available, and we shouldn’t forget that,’ said Emily Gore, director for content at the Digital Public Library of America. Gore was one of five panelists speaking to an estimated 200 attendees at LITA’s popular event reporting on changes and advances in technology.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

Discrimination, intersectionality, librarianship
Lauren Bradley writes: “One of the true highlights of the conference has been the LITA Challenges of Gender Issues in Technology Librarianship session. This panel took a look at discrimination towards women in the library technology field. Organizer Andromeda Yelton did a fantastic job of selecting a diverse group of participants: There was a balanced representation of people of color, sexual orientation, gender presentation, and ability. The panel suggested some action items for making the workspace a safer and more inclusive environment.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 26

The world’s first carbon-fiber 3D printer
Jamie Condliffe writes: “Carbon fiber is a wonderful material, strong and lightweight. But building with it is both intimidatingly complex and prohibitively expensive—which is why Mark Forged has developed this new 3D printer which can build objects layer-by-layer using the stuff. Unveiled at SolidWorks World 2014 in San Diego, the Mark One can print in carbon fiber, fiberglass, nylon, and polylactic acid. And perhaps most strikingly it looks sleek. Real sleek.”...
Gizmodo, Jan. 29

TouchDevelop helps students understand programming
Richard Byrne writes: “TouchDevelop is a great platform through which students can learn to program simple animations and games. Miles Berry gave an entertaining presentation about it at TeachMeet BETT. As I watched his presentation I was struck by how much TouchDevelop reminded me of Logo Writer that I used as a student in 1990. If you used Logo Writer, you’ll probably notice the similarities too.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, Jan. 28

When your smartphone shuts down from the cold
Nick Bilton writes: “While we know smartphones can overheat when left out on a sweltering summer day, people in the cold are discovering that their cellphones can shut down in extreme chills, too. Thankfully, they come back to life when they are brought inside and get a little time to warm up. But can a cellphone get frostbite? The answer depends at least partly on your phone, or the battery inside it.”...
New York Times: Bits, Jan. 22

A guide to library ebook vendors
Phil Morehart writes: “A large crowd gathered on Sunday afternoon for ‘ALA Masters Series: ReadersFirst Guide to Library E-Book Vendors and More,’ an introduction to a new resource (PDF file) developed by the ReadersFirst Working Group that will help public librarians evaluate ebook vendors. Michael Santangelo, electronic resources coordinator for BookOps Library Services Center, the shared technical services of the Brooklyn and New York public libraries, detailed the history of the group, which first came together in June 2012 to address challenges faced by librarians regarding ebook access.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 29

Abrams gets in the ebook game
Even with a call for librarians to think more broadly about their ebook future, progress is progress, and in Philadelphia, another large publisher announced it was expanding its library ebook lending. Beginning this year, Abrams will now make its entire frontlist available for public libraries to purchase through their respective ebook vendors....
Publishers Weekly, Jan. 28

OverDrive audiobooks to be only in MP3
OverDrive announced at the Midwinter Meeting that it will discontinue the sale of audiobooks in the WMA format. With the largest collection of audiobooks from leading publishers in MP3 format for schools and libraries, OverDrive will soon make this the only file format offered for its digital audiobooks. The company is working with publishers to gain permissions to update customer inventories to MP3....
OverDrive Blogs, Jan. 22

Alexander Street’s Public Library Video Online
Alexander Street Press has launched an online video database designed exclusively for public libraries and their patrons. Public Library Video Online features more than 11,000 of the titles most relevant to public library users, with 5,000 additional titles coming in spring of 2014. In addition to films chosen from Alexander Street’s existing collections in history, current affairs, performing arts, and science, this growing collection delivers cooking tutorials, craft demonstrations, and travel documentaries that will meet the needs of the community’s lifelong learners....
Alexander Street Press, Jan. 29

2014 Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits, Philadelphia, January 24–28.

Visit the ALA YouTube channel to see coverage of the Midwinter Meeting.

Check out the ALA Midwinter Flickr photostream, Google+, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

Keep track of Midwinter events and photos at the American Libraries #alamw14 feed. And catch up on the Midwinter Twitter buzz at #alamw14.

Children read an average of 40 minutes a day
Children ages 2–10 are reading an average of 40 minutes per day, spending 29 minutes reading print, 8 minutes reading on computers, and 5 minutes reading on digital platforms, according to a new report from The Joan Ganz Cooney Center titled Learning at Home (PDF file). According to the report, 62% of these kids have access to e-readers or tablets, but only 31% actually use these devices because their parents want them to read print books....
GalleyCat, Jan. 27

A private look at primates
Ta-Shiré D. Tribbett writes: “On Sunday night at Midwinter, I had the grand experience of joining bestselling author Nancy Tillman at a signing for her new children’s book titled Let There Be Light, coauthored with Nobel Peace Prize–winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Sponsored by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the event gave the audience a private look into the PECO Primate Reserve at the Philadelphia Zoo.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

Librarian’s Library: Organizing content
Karen Muller writes: “Five years ago, ALA’s Presidential Task Force on Library Education specified eight areas of core knowledge for librarians. The third area, titled ‘Organization of Recorded Knowledge and Information,’ details how librarians provide library users access to materials. The following books elaborate on this, from providing detailed information on indexing a single item to structuring access to a collection of documents, whether on paper or in other forms.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.

Guess the classic novel from its first sentence
Seventeen openers, including this one: “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” Of Mice and Men, Franny and Zooey, or Catcher in the Rye?...
Buzzfeed Books, Jan. 23

50 essential mystery novels
Emily Temple writes: “In these weeks of midwinter, there’s nothing more satisfying than curling up by the fire with a good novel—and in particular a good mystery novel, because they somehow seem to keep you the warmest. Plus, with the new season of Sherlock, your appetite for more murders, clues, and suspicious persons might just be piqued. Check out these 50 essential mystery novels (and spy novels, and crime novels) that will bring color to your cheeks and set your brain ticking.”...
Flavorwire, Jan. 21

12 fascinating facts about famous literature
Oliver Tearle writes: “The blog site Interesting Literature: A Library of Literary Interestingness and its accompanying Twitter feed celebrated its one-year anniversary in December. With that in mind, here are the 12 most interesting facts that Interesting Literature has uncovered over the past year—one for each month the site’s been up and running.”...
Huffington Post: Books blog, Dec. 1

Guerrilla Storytime
Angie Manfredi writes: “On Sunday the Uncommons were rocking with the sound of some 40 children’s librarians singing the classic children’s rhyme ‘Open, Shut Them’ together as one, as they opened the first-ever Midwinter session of Guerrilla Storytime. What’s Guerrilla Storytime? Launched by Cory Eckert at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, the idea was to give youth services librarians a chance to invite ALA attendees to witness the energy and engagement of a live storytime program.”...
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 27

OCLC Research report on print collections
OCLC Research has released a new report, Understanding the Collective Collection: Towards a System-wide Perspective on Library Print Collections, which shows how libraries have begun the shift from local provisioning of library collections and services to increased reliance on cooperative infrastructure, collective collections, shared technology platforms, and “above-the-institution” management strategies. Download the complete report here....
OCLC, Jan. 23

How three school districts make use of their librarians
Laura Devaney writes: “Librarians and libraries are in a unique position to help schools and districts prepare for and progress through the digital transition, according to a just-released Alliance for Excellent Education report. Leading In and Beyond the Library notes that three districts have created excellent, leading examples of how school libraries and librarians are partnering with school leaders to ensure an effective digital transition.”...
eSchool News, Jan. 29

The Library of Congress by the numbers, 2013
The Library of Congress released its statistics for Fiscal Year 2013 on January 23. The daily business of being the world’s largest library, home of the US Copyright Office, and a supportive agency to Congress resulted in LC adding 2.65 million physical items to its permanent collections, registering more than 496,000 copyright claims, and responding to 636,000 congressional reference requests in fiscal year 2013....
Library of Congress, Jan. 23

How to read in the Library of Congress
Becky Cole writes: “We’ve already established why a book nerd would want to take advantage of the Library of Congress. Today, I’m going to tell you how. Like most Federal buildings, LC has public areas that you can wander around or tour. The public areas are very grand and sometimes have exhibits, but they’re not the actual library-ish part. For that, you want the Reading Rooms.”...
Book Riot, Jan. 13, 24

And the survey says. . .
Doug Johnson writes: “Earlier this month, Jennifer LaGarde and I sent out a survey asking librarians in one-on-one and Bring Your Own Device programs for some information. Over the course of two weeks, we received 144 responses. Here is a summary of the responses—my interpretation, anyway. All (24 single-spaced, 10-point font pages) can be found here. I’ve put in bold those items that stood out to me, but all comments were valuable.”...
Blue Skunk Blog, Jan. 28

Internet Verification Handbook released
Gary Price writes: “A new Verification Handbook for internet sources was published January 29 (available for free online) by the European Journalism Center in the Netherlands and edited by Craig Silverman from the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. Although the book targets journalists working to verify information during the coverage of an emergency many of the tools and techniques discussed will be of interest and value to information professionals and our users.”...
Library Journal: InfoDocket, Jan. 29

How LinkedIn’s Contacts can help job hunters
Ellyssa Kroski writes: “LinkedIn used to be just another place to post your résumé, but over the past couple of years it has evolved to be so much more. Most recently, LinkedIn rolled out enhanced functionality to its ‘Contacts’ section, adding the ability to keep track of conversations and interactions with your network, make notes about interactions with contacts, set reminders to contact them in the future, or tag them with customizable keywords. Here are 10 ways that this recent enhancement can help today’s job hunters.”...
iLibrarian, Jan. 24

Geospatial emergency website
A new US Interior Department website offers the public online maps containing the latest available information on earthquakes, earthquake shakemaps, streamflow data and floods, volcanoes, and wildfires, as well as information on severe weather hazards. The Interior Geospatial Emergency Management System provides ongoing awareness of natural hazards, enabling individuals to monitor and analyze natural hazard events as they occur....
US Department of the Interior, Jan. 24

Breakthrough in the Voynich Manuscript mystery?
In the 100th issue of its quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, HerbalGram, the nonprofit American Botanical Council published a feature that may change the course of research on an approximately 500-year-old, illuminated text known as the Voynich Manuscript. Arthur O. Tucker and Rexford H. Talbot conclude that many of the plants and animals portrayed there may be North American species....
American Botanical Council, Jan. 20; HerbalGram, no. 100 (2013): 70–75

A few more books we really should look out for (satire)
Jesse Steele writes: “So with The House of the Spirits back in the news for a third time and the controversy still ongoing about what constitutes offensive reading material front and center, I thought I would do my part to suggest other offensive and dangerous books that the concerned citizens of Watauga County, North Carolina, should protect their children from. But I also feel like having some fun and making a game of this. So I’m going to describe them without actually giving the titles till the answer list below. See how many you can guess before peeking.”...
Boone (N.C.) High Country Press, Jan. 22

The history of Wardman Library at Whittier College
John Jackson writes: “2014 marks the 10th anniversary since the remodeling of Whittier (Calif.) College’s Wardman Library that created the Rose Hills Center for Library and Information Resources. To celebrate, we created this video (4:18) on the history of the library. We are excited about the future, especially our plans to create a Digital Liberal Arts Collaboratory for innovation with the help of a $750,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation.”...
Wardman Library Blog, Jan. 23; YouTube, Jan. 23; Whittier College, Nov. 11, 2013

Go back to the Top