The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | June 25, 2014

ALA, AASL urge Chicago to stop school librarian cuts
Marci Merola, director of the ALA Office for Library Advocacy, spoke on the importance of school librarians at an open hearing of the Chicago Board of Education June 25. The proposed Chicago Public Schools budget for 2014–2015 will leave librarians in only half of Chicago’s 523 schools. Merola testified that “it’s not too late to make Chicago a leader in education. I urge you to reinvest in school libraries and restore certified school librarian positions.” She also presented a letter by ALA President Barbara Stripling and AASL President Gail Dickinson to Board of Education President David Vitale....
AL: The Scoop, June 25

Creativity and play at the Next Library Conference
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “‘You are in the most American of American cities,’ Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told an estimated 500 world library leaders during the opening ceremony of the Next Library Conference, held at the Harold Washington Library Center. The Urban Libraries Council and the Chicago Public Library co-hosted the June 20–25 conference, themed ‘Accelerate Learning.’ Keynote speaker Bo Stjerne Thomsen, director of research and learning at the Lego Foundation, challenged each audience member to take six Lego blocks and create a duck within one minute.”...
AL: The Scoop, June 23

A new nostalgia
Sanhita SinhaRoy writes: “‘The civic role of libraries must be reconceptualized,’ said John Palfrey, the June 24 keynote speaker at the Next Library Conference, held at the Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago. Palfrey, who chairs the board of the Digital Public Library of America and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, spoke to 500 library leaders about the disconnect between research that shows Americans love their libraries and the electoral will necessary to preserve them.”...
AL: The Scoop, June 24; Pew Research Center, Mar. 14

The shifting tectonic plates of media ecosystems
Roger E. Levien writes: “What kind of public library, if any, will the beginning librarian of 2014 retire from in 2054? What distinctive benefits will it deliver that will earn it a continuing place in its community? This article examines the external changes to which the public library must adapt during the next four decades. Changes in the five domains that affect the public library (information technology, media, the media ecosystem, society, and the economy) will be far-reaching and disruptive.”...
American Libraries feature

Youth Matters: The myth of busy summers
Linda W. Braun writes: “When library staff members serving youth tell me how much busier they are when school is out for the summer (and in preparing for students’ vacation time), it makes me a little crazy. I say to myself, ‘Shouldn’t library staff be this busy all year long?’ We need to think differently about the way we position summer programming within the full spectrum of our work with youth. A helpful way to think about this is to look at summer programming goals and objectives.”...
American Libraries column, June

Another Story: Rolling the dice
Joseph Janes writes: “As I’m getting ready for Annual Conference in Las Vegas, what would I be doing besides thumbing through the latest Ithaka S&R survey of academic library directors? There’s much familiar here, whether in the academic world or not: shifting and competing priorities, constrained resources, constituencies and stakeholders with varying visions and levels of support, the need for thoughtful planning and strategy toward a nonetheless uncertain set of futures. You know the drill.”...
American Libraries column, June

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Be an Emerging Leader
ALA is now accepting applications for the 2015 class of Emerging Leaders. Details on the program criteria as well as a link to the application can be found on the Emerging Leaders webpage. The program is designed to enable library workers to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. The deadline to apply is August 1....
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, June 19

Stan Lee named honorary chair of Library Card Sign-Up Month
This September, Stan Lee (right), cocreator of Spider-Man, the Hulk, X-Men, Iron Man, and the Fantastic Four, will encourage children to get the most important school supply of all: a library card. As the honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month, Lee has donated his image to a print and digital public service announcement. ALA will place the PSA in magazines and on websites to remind parents and educators that a library card is a key tool in achieving academic success....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, June 24

What’s Happening at Annual Conference
ALA Senior Associate Executive Director Mary Ghikas has compiled a handy, informal guide (PDF file) to the most important tips, facts, events, and activities at ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas....
ALA Connect, June 23

Librarians Build Communities
If you want to learn more about the ALA initiative Librarians Build Communities, Emerging Leaders Team F is hosting an informational meeting at the 2014 ALA Annual Conference on Monday, June 30, at 2–3 p.m. in the Networking Uncommons at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The team will also distribute brochures and name-badge ribbons to conference-goers throughout ALA....
ALA Member Blog, June 25

Explore the American Dream Starts @ your library
Since 2008, the American Dream Starts @ your library grant initiative has supported English-language-learner programming in more than 100 libraries in 24 states. Learn about the opportunities and challenges libraries encounter as they provide innovative literacy services in their communities at “Stories from the Field” on June 29 during the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas....
Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, June 24

Take advantage of the ALA Opportunities Exchange
Jenny Levine writes: “You can now search the 800+ awards listed in the Financial Assistance for Library and Information Studies (FALIS) Directory in the Opportunities Exchange in ALA Connect. The directory is maintained by the Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment. All of the awards can now be searched by type, library type, education program level, state, keyword, and more. It is also still available as a PDF file.”...
ALA Connect, June 25

Kyle Cassidy’s portrait sessions in Las Vegas
Ingrid Abrams writes: “Do you want Kyle Cassidy of Slate’s ‘This is What a Librarian Looks Like’ fame to take your portrait at ALA Annual Conference? Do you know a librarian who would be great for this project? Photo sessions welcome walk-ins and will be held on Friday and Saturday at 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30–10:30 a.m. in the Convention Center North Hall (N3 lobby), as well as at ALA Play on Friday night and the Librarian Wardrobe party on Saturday night....
The Magpie Librarian, June 17

The librarian stereotype
ACRL has published The Librarian Stereotype: Deconstructing Presentations and Perceptions of Information Work, edited by Nicole Pagowsky and Miriam Rigby. The book serves as a response to passionate discussions regarding the ways in which librarians are perceived. Through 12 chapters, covering topics such as racial and ethnic identity, professional personas, pop culture, and a variety of specific librarian stereotypes, it reignites an examination of how librarians are presented within the field and in the public eye, employing theories and methodologies from throughout the social sciences....
ACRL, June 24

Film programming for public libraries
Screening movies is a fun, engaging way to bring people of all ages into the library, and Film Programming for Public Libraries, published by ALA Editions, offers the tools to make movie programming a reality at any public library. Kati Irons, a public librarian who has overseen a county-wide movie program, offers a complete guide to creating, mounting, running, and evaluating a successful program....
ALA Editions, June 19

An ode to the ALA conference program book
Cara Bertram writes: “Among all of the exhibits, sessions, speakers, and free swag, there is one item that is essential to get around any conference: the program. The program is the guide that allows people to navigate the conference, select which events to go to, which speakers to listen to, and where to obtain a free lunch. Over the years, the Annual Conference program book has become thicker as the conference has expanded, and it has changed its appearance.”...
ALA Archives blog, June 23

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Last-minute tips from ALSC
Bethany Lafferty writes: “Here are the Top Five Tips the Local Arrangements Committee members want to make sure you have before you arrive in Las Vegas. Number 4: Everything in Las Vegas is indeed larger than life. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to travel between hotels and to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Just because something is ‘just across the street’ doesn’t mean you can just cross the street. You must get a cab at designated cab stands, easily accessible at all hotels.”...
ALSC Blog, June 24

Just before you go: 40 free things
Tammilee Tillison writes: “We find that a trip to Las Vegas can be either really expensive or really cost-effective depending on what you like to do and whether you spend any time at the tables or slot machines. We are not huge gamblers so we go to Las Vegas for the sites, people watching, amazing food, shows, and so much more. I love how many free things there are to do in Las Vegas.”...
Tammilee Tips, July 30, 2013

Epic Las Vegas desserts
Joanna Haugen writes: “Vegas isn’t just good at destroying hotels, it will also gleefully destroy your waistline with things like giant steaks, chef-lebrity burgers, and this collection of Sin City’s most epic desserts, including s’mores you make at your table and a sundae that runs $1,000. And Sprinkles’s cupcake ATM (right) can save the day (or night) with a walk-up, on-the-go vending machine at 3545 South Las Vegas Boulevard stocked with the shop’s flavor of the day for just 4 bucks.”...
Thrillist, Oct. 16, Nov. 25, 2013; Feb. 25, Apr. 1

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YALSA’s 2014 Maker Contest
YALSA invites libraries with brilliant summer “maker” programs to compete in its 2014 Maker Contest. Qualified maker programs must be specifically designed for and targeted at young adults ages 12–18, take place during the summer months of June–August, and engage young adults in some aspect of making as defined in the Making in the Library Toolkit (PDF file). Applications must be submitted by September 1....
YALSA, June 18

Collecting building use data
LLAMA will present “Beyond the Gate and Counting: Collecting and Organizing Building Use Data in Public and Academic Libraries” on July 23. Organized by the LLAMA MAES Data Collection for Library Managers Committee, this webinar will feature two presentations exploring multiple aspects of collecting space and building use data. Register online....
LLAMA, June 24

Applications, nominations invited for C&RL editor
Applications and nominations are invited for the position of editor of College & Research Libraries (C&RL), the scholarly research journal of ACRL. The association seeks an innovative, experienced candidate to lead its top-tier, open access journal with an eye to the future of scholarly publishing. The editor is appointed for a three-year term, which may be renewed for an additional three years. Applicants must be a member of ALA and ACRL at the time of appointment. The deadline is October 31. Email Dawn Mueller....
ACRL, June 24

Feedback wanted on ACRL information literacy framework
The ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education Task Force seeks feedback on the revised draft of the division’s Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Since the publication of the first standards in 2000, the information environment has evolved into a fragmented, complex information ecosystem that demands greater sense-making and metacognition from the student. Suggestions will be accepted through July 15....
ACRL, June 19

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2014 I Love My Librarian Award nominations
ALA is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. The award invites library users nationwide to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community, or university librarians. Nominations will be accepted through September 12. Ten librarians will each receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque, and a travel stipend to attend the awards ceremony in New York City....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, June 24

ALA awards 50 Spectrum Scholarships
The ALA Office for Diversity has awarded 2014–2015 Spectrum Scholarships to 50 exceptional students pursuing graduate degrees in library and information studies. Since 1997, ALA has awarded more than 850 Spectrum Scholarships. The scholarship is a one-year, non-renewable award of $5,000. A prestigious committee of seven jurors selected this year’s Spectrum Scholars based on their commitment to diversity, commitment to entering the library profession, demonstrated community outreach, academic ability, and achievements and leadership potential....
Office for Diversity, June 24

ProQuest broadens commitment to Spectrum Scholarships
ALA Library Champion ProQuest will broaden the scope of its long-standing support for the Spectrum Scholarship Program. In support of Spectrum’s goal to increase opportunities for students from groups currently underrepresented in the library profession, ProQuest will donate $52,000 per year through 2016. The contribution will fund a total of 24 scholarships, including one each year awarded in memory of Ron Clowney, a beloved ProQuest executive and champion of the Spectrum program....
Office for Diversity, June 24

2014 Sarah Jaffarian School Library Program Award
An Indiana middle school library has been recognized by ALA for its work in creating an innovative genealogy program for 8th-graders. Perry Meridian Middle School in Indianapolis won the 2014 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming for its “R.O.A.D. (Research, Observe, Analyze, Discover) I Travel” unit. The library will receive $5,000 and promotion on ALA websites and communications....
Public Programs Office, June 24

2014 Presidential Citations (PDF file)
The 2014 ALA Presidential Citations for Innovative International Library Projects will go to the Edge, State Library of Queensland, Australia; the Jagodina Public Library in Serbia and its five village library branches; the Topic Room iPad Application at the ZLB Library in Berlin, Germany; and the In-House Library Training Program Supporting Roma People at the Public Library Fran Galović in Koprivnica, Croatia. Recipients will receive their awards at the IRRT International Librarians Reception on June 30....
International Leads 28, no. 2 (June): 6

2014 Jesse H. Shera Award
The ALA Library Research Round Table has chosen Paul Conway as the winner of the 2014 Jesse H. Shera Award for Distinguished Published Research for the article “Preserving Imperfection: Assessing the Incidence of Digital Imaging Error in HathiTrust” in Preservation, Digital Technology, and Culture 42 no. 1 (2013): 17–30. Conway’s article exemplifies well-defined research, with a clear problem statement as well as good application of research methods....
Office for Research and Statistics, June 24

Andrew Carnegie Medal finalist read-alikes
This year, readers’ advisory experts on the Notable Books Council of RUSA’s Collection Development and Evaluation Section have compiled a list of read-alikes for this year’s Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction finalists. Similar titles are recommended for each shortlisted book in both the fiction and nonfiction categories....
RUSA News, June 23

ALA scholarship winners announced
ALA has chosen nine students to receive scholarships to help them pursue an LIS master’s degree: Elizabeth L. Lieutenant (Miriam L. Hornback Scholarship), Alice Krebill (Mary V. Gaver Scholarship), Angela D. Price (Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship), Sue E. Graves (Cicely Phippen Marks Scholarship), Elizabeth June-Heline Dobbins (Tony B. Leisner Scholarship), Hannivett D. Nabahe (David H. Clift Scholarship), Lauren Stamm (Tom and Roberta Drewes Scholarship), Michael L. Peterson (ALA Century Scholarship), and Samuel Dodson (Peter Lyman Memorial Scholarship)....
Office of ALA Governance, June 19, 24

South Carolina librarian wins prize for best first novel
James E. McTeer II (right), librarian at the Polo Road Elementary School in Columbia, South Carolina, has won the 2014 South Carolina First Novel Competition for Grave Dust from the Islands Far (Hub City Press). The South Carolina Arts Commission sponsors the annual competition to discover new novelists in the state....
Columbia (S.C.) Free Times, June 18

Texas A&M Map Library wins Esri award
The Map and GIS Library at Texas A&M University in College Station was selected by GIS software producer Esri to receive its Special Achievement in GIS Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions in GIS to the global community. The award will be presented during the 2014 Esri International User Conference, July 14–18. The award cited the library’s popular Mapping Historic Aggieland digital exhibit....
Texas A&M University Libraries, June 18

Knight News Challenge winners
On June 23 the Knight Foundation announced 19 winners of the Knight News Challenge on Strengthening the Internet, with awards totaling $3,466,000. Three libraries won prizes for their projects in the “access” category: Chicago Public Library won $400,000 for its Internet to Go project, and the New York Public Library won $500,000 for Check Out the Internet, both of which involve lending out wireless hotspots. The Digital Public Library of America won $300,000 to build simplified and more coherent proposals for intellectual property rights....
Knight Blog, June 23

2014 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals
Kevin Brooks and Jon Klassen are the winners of the 2014 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals presented by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the UK. Brooks was awarded the Carnegie Medal for the YA book The Bunker Diary, a fictional diary of a kidnapped boy held hostage in a bunker. Klassen, the first Canadian to be awarded the prestigious illustration prize, won the Kate Greenaway Medal for This is Not My Hat (Walker Books), which sees a thieving fish get his comeuppance....
The Telegraph (UK), June 23

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Leawood, Kansas, shuts down boy’s little free library
A 9-year-old Kansas boy and his family have moved their “little free library” after their town said it violated city code banning detached structures in the front yards of single-family homes. Spencer Collins (right) and his parents moved the library to the garage after the town of Leawood warned in a letter that they would receive a citation if they didn’t act. Collins planned to speak to the city council to ask for a change in the law to exempt little libraries....
ABA Journal, June 20; Prairie Village (Kans.) Post, June 18

USF Library to lend drones to students
Beginning in the fall, students at the University of South Florida in Tampa will be able to check out remote-controlled drones for school-related projects. The library purchased two drones with some leftover money from a grant to remodel its facility with new technology. The drones are capable of taking aerial video and photography. Dean of USF Libraries Bill Garrison says the drones could be a great resource for students working on multimedia projects, and sees the program working in conjunction with other university departments....
CNN, June 21; WTSP-TV, Tampa, Fla., June 21

Florida school drops Paper Towns from summer reading
When Joanne Corcoran’s daughter, Hope, picked the John Green’s 2008 novel Paper Towns from the 8th-grade summer reading list at Dr. John Long Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Florida, she decided to read it too—after the 13-year-old girl came to her, book in hand, asking for a definition of “masturbation.” Corcoran sent an email and by June 23, the title no longer appeared on the school’s summer reading list, in apparent violation of the district’s own policy regarding objections to books....
Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, June 24

University of Arkansas suspends website’s research privileges
The University of Arkansas has temporarily blocked the Washington Free Beacon from its special collections after the conservative website published audio recordings of Hillary Clinton without asking for the university’s permission. The library issued a statement June 20 saying that it would “reinstate that organization’s privileges to access Special Collections pending confirmation that the organization will follow the rules similar to all other patrons.”...
Politico, June 19; University of Arkansas Libraries, June 20

San Rafael offers bamboo library cards
Sarah Houghton writes: “Starting on July 1, the San Rafael (Calif.) Public Library will begin issuing bamboo library cards to users. We are proud to be the first library anywhere in the world (that we know of) to be offering library cards made out of renewable bamboo. We have partnered with Grovemade, a leading designer of handcrafted wooden and leather accessories.”...
San Rafael (Calif.) Public Library, June 23

Mental health sensitivity training for librarians
Josh Berk has worked at libraries throughout the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania for 15 years and worked with homeless patrons in all three locations. But until April he never received training on how to deal with people with mental illness. Inspired by a conference he attended that looked at the connection between libraries and mental health services, Berk took part in a mental health sensitivity training session at the Recovery Partnership in Bethlehem....
Easton (Pa.) Express-Times, June 23

Queens Library reform bill passes New York Senate
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz praised the New York State Senate for voting 59–1 on June 20 for a measure that would reform the appointment of members to the Queens (N.Y.) Library board of trustees, replace the committee that oversees the library’s personnel with an executive committee, and require the library to respond to the state’s Freedom of Information Law. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry and Katz, passed the State Assembly unanimously by a vote of 132–0 on June 9....
Queens (N.Y.) TimesLedger, June 20

Yale’s Beinecke Library to close for renovations
Following commencement ceremonies in May 2015, Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library will close its iconic building for 16 months to undergo a major renovation that will replace its climate-control systems and double its classroom space. The 50-year-old library building will reopen in September 2016, poised for another 50 years as a world-class center of scholarship and learning....
Yale News, June 17

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Education at a tipping point
A new OCLC report suggests that the cumulative weight of changing consumer habits, enabling technologies like MOOCs and mobile, and the high cost of postsecondary education are resetting expectations and bringing permanent changes to education and lifelong learning. On June 25, the organization released At a Tipping Point: Education, Learning, and Libraries, the latest in a series of OCLC Membership Reports designed to explore emerging trends that impact libraries and librarianship. Watch the video (1:07)....
OCLC, June 25; YouTube, Jan. 25

Pediatricians: Read aloud to kids from birth
Doctors will tell parents to read aloud to their infants from birth, under a new policy that the American Academy of Pediatrics announced at the annual Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in Denver on June 24. AAP is asking its members to become powerful advocates for reading aloud and tell parents they should be “reading together as a daily fun family activity” from infancy. To aid the initiative, Scholastic is donating 500,000 books that Reach Out and Read will deliver to more than 5,000 sites nationwide. The AAP and Too Small to Fail will develop an online early literacy tool kit doctors can share with parents and caregivers....
New York Times, June 24; Pediatrics, June 23; On Our Minds, June 24

The FCC plan to close the Wi-Fi gap
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler has a plan to close the gap between schools and libraries that have wireless internet and those that don’t. On June 20, Wheeler unveiled his plan to spend $2 billion over the next two years to close this “Wi-Fi gap” as an expansion of the FCC’s E-Rate program, which comes after pressure from the White House to increase connectivity in schools. Wheeler proposes spending $1 billion next year and another $1 billion in 2016 to put Wi-Fi networks in schools and libraries. ALA is encouraged by Wheeler’s commitment to reform....
The Hill, June 20; District Dispatch, June 20

Mobile phones will not close the Digital Divide
Bobbi L. Newman writes: “Reports and studies show that minorities and lower-income households rely on mobile access because they do not have access at home. I agree that mobile technology is improving at a rapid pace. However, it is not on par with a computer with a high-speed internet connection. There are many things you still cannot do with a smartphone. Are we really willing to say that this less robust point of access is acceptable for minorities and the economically challenged?”...
The Librarian By Day Notebook, June 20

What academics should know about net neutrality
Margaret Heller writes: “John Oliver described net neutrality (13:17) as the most boring important issue. More than that, it’s a complex idea that can be difficult to understand without a strong grasp of the architecture of the internet, which is not at all intuitive. This post will only scratch the surface. Despite the technical and legal complexities, net neutrality is worth understanding, since as academic librarians our daily lives and work revolve around internet access for us and for our students.”...
ACRL TechConnect Blog, June 23; YouTube, June 1

Universities get poor value from journal Big Deals
Many universities are paying too much for scores of academic journals provided by major publishing companies, according to a recent article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Barbara Fister writes: “The study demonstrates two things. First, nonprofit publishers don’t gouge libraries nearly as much as for-profit publishers do. And second, the differences in pricing among schools are huge and difficult to justify. In any case, it’s high time these secret contracts were disinfected with a little sunshine.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Library Babel Fish, June 23; The Guardian (UK), June 16; Proceedings of the NAS, June 16

What’s next for school libraries?
Luba Vangelova writes: “At a time when public libraries are starting to offer everything from community gardening plots to opportunities to check out humans for conversations, some school libraries are similarly reevaluating their roles and expanding their offerings. Case in point: Monticello High School in Charlottesville, Virginia. ‘People no longer have to come to a library to get information,’ she said, ‘so the library has to get people coming in for different reasons. Students need somewhere to socialize, create things, and collaborate.’”...
KQED: Mind/Shift, June 18

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How to circulate Roku streaming devices
The Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, Illinois, began offering Roku checkouts to its patrons on January 2. As of June, it is circulating six devices with approximately 82 titles. Head of Technical Services Ann M. Stovall has shared data on the costs and details of the procedure on the library’s website, in case other libraries wish to explore this service....
Indian Prairie Public Library

Open Wireless Router will open up Wi-Fi networks
Joe Silber writes: “The Electronic Frontier Foundation plans to unveil open-sourced router firmware called Open Wireless Router at the Hackers on Planet Earth conference in July. The firmware would enable individuals to share a portion of their Wi-Fi networks with anyone nearby, password-free. It also utilizes smart technologies that prioritize the network owner’s traffic over others, and it walls off each connection from all other connections.”...
Ars Technica, June 20; Wired, June 20

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5
Mark Spoonauer writes: “Thanks in part to Samsung’s own success with big-screen phones, tablets have begun to lose their luster. The Galaxy Tab S 10.5 literally brings it back with a display so vibrant and colorful that it promises to make the iPad look dull. The 10.5-inch tablet is also thinner than the iPad Air and lets you control your Galaxy Phone from its eye-popping canvas. It borrows some features from the Galaxy S5 smartphone, including its fingerprint scanner. Although its performance and app selection could both be stronger, overall the Tab S is an excellent Android tablet.” And here’s a review of Samsung’s new 8.4-inch tablet. Gizmodo and PC Magazine like them too....
Laptop, June 24; Gizmodo, June 24; PC Magazine, June 24

Adobe’s new sketching and drawing hardware
Kyle Russell writes: “Adobe has made its first foray into the realm of hardware gadgets with its June 18 announcement of the Ink and Slide, a combination smart stylus and digital ruler. The company describes the pair of gadgets as a ‘Creative Cloud Pen and Digital Ruler.’ In my time with the Ink and Slide, I’ve found that it works quite well in concert with Adobe Line, one of the company’s latest apps designed specifically for the iPad.”...
TechCrunch, June 19; PC Magazine

Hachette, Ingram buy Perseus Group
The Perseus Books Group, founded by the late Frank Pearl in 1996, is being sold to the Hachette Book Group. Through the deal, Hachette will then sell Perseus’ distribution business to Ingram. The company now publishes more than 6,000 backlist titles. The deal is not expected to close before July 31....
Publishers Weekly, June 24

OverDrive signs deal with Warner Bros.
Digital media lending platform OverDrive has announced an agreement with Warner Bros. Digital Distribution to offer hundreds of popular streaming video titles to public and government library partners in the US and Canada. With these titles, libraries will be able to benefit from a transactional, pay-per-use lending model from OverDrive for the first time. The model eliminates the need to purchase titles in advance of their use and ensures that they are available instantly to all patrons simultaneously....
OverDrive, June 25

Building a publisher “maker” culture
Peter Brantley writes: “For ebooks, it seems, if all is not well, then it is better than it might have been. Libraries have fairly effectively, though not without a struggle, preserved their lending rights for ebooks through persistence, public relations, and hard negotiating. I think there are new opportunities and choices ahead. We are on the cusp of witnessing the full impact of the internet on the book business, and it will sweep away much of what we understand today about publishing.”...
American Libraries feature

Book and ebook sales visualization
Wonder how much money is spent on books at retail in the US per second? Retale has created an infographic with a feed that breaks out print book sales versus ebook sales and also includes a comparison with Amazon’s net sales, smartphones sold, Walmart and Best Buy retail sales, and firearms sold. The site offers a glimpse of how and where Americans spend their cash and just how quickly these numbers grow....
GalleyCat, June 19

What’s next for ebooks in libraries?
Andrew Albanese writes: “Here’s the good news: When it comes to libraries and ebooks, there’s been progress. All the major publishers are now participating in the library ebook market, and there are a number of competing platform providers in the space. The big question now is, can the library ebook experience meet users’ expectations?”...
Publishers Weekly, June 20

2014 Annual Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, June 26–July 1. The best way to keep up with what’s going on at ALA Annual Conference — whether you’re there or not — is to bookmark American Libraries’ coverage where you’ll find the top news, images, and social media highlights throughout.

Diverse YA titles to look for at ALA Annual Conference
Sharon Rawlins writes: “I’m here to list some upcoming YA books that contain non-white, non-heterosexual, non-cisgendered, or differently-abled characters that you should be on the lookout for. If you are attending the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, ask the publishers about ARCs for many of these. Not all of them will be available as ARCs because some aren’t being published until 2015, but publishers’ reps should still be able give you the scoop on them.”...
YALSA The Hub, June 24

Literary Legos
Kelly Jensen writes: “How about some scenes from classic, contemporary, and YA literature as rendered in Lego? All of these are from the awesomely fun Tumblr titled LEGO Stories, and it goes beyond novels. The creators have also included Lego creations for films, television, famous people, and comics. It’s an extremely simple idea and a lot of fun (trying to guess what the figures are acting out before seeing the caption or accompanying story makes it a challenge).”...
Book Riot, June 16

Audiobooks for reluctant listeners
Colleen Seisser writes: “June is Audiobook Month. Where should you start if you have never listened to an audiobook before? Some great awards and lists are put out every year: the Odyssey Award, the Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults annual list, and the Audies are a few places to start. Here I have compiled some of my favorites that I think will be a great first listen for all of you who are new to audiobooks and want to give them a try.”...
YALSA The Hub, June 20

What do librarians read?
Margaret Aldrich writes: “If you were lucky enough to spend your day surrounded by stacks and stacks (and stacks) of books, what would you pick up next? In this blog series, I’ll talk with people deep in the book world and all its book-y secrets to hear about their personal reading lists. Here, librarians from around the country reveal what’s on their nightstands.” NYPL’s Lynn Lobash: “The book I have recommended more than any other is probably The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills. I love that book. It is so deadpan, odd, sinister, and funny. It’s like watching a Coen brothers movie.”...
Book Riot, June 24

Thoughts on reader’s advisory
Amy Koester writes: “At the end of April, I decided to spend a few hours of my vacation in a Reading Spa at Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, a fabulous indie bookshop in Bath, England. For me, this Reading Spa was pure luxury. It was wonderful to be on the other end of talking about books—me sharing what I like as opposed to me being the careful listener of others’ tastes. I left with a big stack of 15 books as well as some thoughts on reader’s advisory. Three big ideas follow.”...
The Show Me Librarian, June 9

LC acquires African-American video collection
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced the donation of a video archive of thousands of hours of interviews—The HistoryMakers—that captures African-American life, history, culture, and achievements. The collection consists of 2,600 videotaped interviews with African-Americans in 39 states, averaging three to six hours in length. The videos are grouped by 15 different subject areas ranging from science, politics, and the military to sports, music, and entertainment. Watch an excerpt (1:00) from a 2010 Maya Angelou interview....
Library of Congress, June 24; New York Times, June 23

Formats for long-term preservation
The Library of Congress has released a set of recommended format specifications for a broad spectrum of creative works, ranging from books to digital music, to inform the library’s acquisition practices. The format recommendations will help ensure the library’s collections processes are considering and maximizing the long-term preservation potential of its large and varied collections....
Library of Congress, June 23

Robots teach the basics
Kristi Sadowski writes: “The Booth and Dimock Memorial Library in Coventry, Connecticut, purchased its very own 3D printer this past winter. That forced us to take the leap from encouraging the maker-mentality to full-on makerspace. It is still a work in progress (and always will be) but we learned many great things during the past few months. Here is my favorite: Sometimes it takes a complex project to make you learn the simplest of tasks.” Learn more from YALSA’s Making in the Library Toolkit (PDF file)....
YALSAblog, June 19

Creating computer games with MaKey MaKey and Scratch
Amy Koester writes: “Last week, I took advantage of two newer additions to my library district’s programming supplies to offer a school-age STEAM maker program. I had sent to my branch one of our mobile computer labs—eight laptops, plus an instructor laptop, so those of us without dedicated program computer lab space can offer computer programs—and a MaKey MaKeys kit and a group of 9–12 year-olds. I set to creating our own computer games with the added excitement of using the MaKeys to play them. Here’s what we did.”...
The Show-Me Librarian, June 23

Facebook page likes don’t matter anymore
PC Sweeney writes: “I know we all spend so much time cultivating the likes on our library’s Facebook pages, but guess what? That’s so over. Facebook killed likes. But don’t worry, I’m going to talk to you about why they don’t matter, and why I think that killing likes is a fantastic thing, and what you need to do.”...
PC Sweeney’s Blog, June 25

Reaching teen parents
Carrie Rogers-Whitehead writes: “On May 30, Salt Lake County Library Services partnered with the Granite School District Young Parents program for a “Teen Parent Picnic” to serve this at-risk population. About 30 young parents and their families came to the library to sign up for library cards, participate in storytimes, have snacks, and learn about the library. Each young family took home free children’s books and other materials donated by the library and the Assistance League of Salt Lake City.”...
The Outreach Librarian, June 25

Academic patron-driven acquisitions
Stephen Arougheti writes: “At times a subjective practice, academic collection development relies on the professional knowledge of librarians to select material tailored to course curricula and the anticipated demands of library users. It is best to view PDA as one tool among several to augment a library’s collection development policy. The foresight required to refine a comprehensive collection for future scholarship and address ongoing subject trends requires the continued role of librarians in advancing an inclusive strategy.”...
ACRL Keeping Up With..., June 19

Digital displays on public screens
Jamie Lausch Vander Broek writes: “Recently I opened a folder of images submitted by a colleague to display in the University of Michigan Library’s digital gallery space, Bert’s Study Lounge. A soldier stared obliquely back at me, his rifle displayed across his midsection. I sighed, my heart sinking. Though we’ve gotten used to our space’s format and medium, each successive partner—from library colleagues to campus departments, faculty members, and individual students—confronts it anew, and this is where the awkwardness comes in.”...
Programming Librarian, June 20

10 tips on organizing an exhibition
Freda Matassa writes: “All of us who put on exhibitions know there is never enough time. Even when dates look good, there are always changes and unforeseen problems. In the run-up to the opening, it really does seem to prove Parkinson’s Law: No matter how much time you have, it always seems to go up to the wire. Here are my 10 tips for organizing a successful exhibition.”...
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, June 17

Audio archaeology
Karen Fishman writes: “In the past few years, LC’s National Audio-Visual Conservation Center has been working with the Document Scan Center to digitize around 1 million pages of public-domain, media-related periodicals such as Radio and TV Mirror and Radio Digest, as well as trade publications like The Phonoscope, Talking Machine World, and Variety Radio Directory. All are available on the Internet Archive, but the Media History Digital Library also harvests these scans for presentation on its site along with other books, periodicals, and pamphlets. Here are a few examples.”...
Library of Congress: Now See Hear!, June 19

LC’s new Pinterest boards
Continuing its effort to make its digital educational, historical, and cultural resources available to web users across many platforms, the Library of Congress on June 20 launched an account on Pinterest. The library’s initial boards include the Thomas Jefferson Building, the Library of Congress Magazine, the Library of Congress Shop, the National Book Festival, vintage travel posters, baseball, and the Star-Spangled Banner, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this year....
Library of Congress, June 20

Summer slump
Melanie A. Lyttle and Shawn D. Walsh write: “At some point in ‘the season’ everyone gets tired and cranky. Summer slump, sheer exhaustion, or whatever phrase you choose to use happens to everyone in your reference desks or outreach departments. It’s not just a malaise of people in the children’s departments. Summer slump affects library morale. What can you do to improve morale?”...
Public Libraries Online, June 18

Conservation of World’s Fair pop-up books
Katie Wagner writes: “A set of four pop-up books from the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 were recently treated in the book conservation lab. The books are part of the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Library World’s Fair materials. The chromolithographic prints are still vibrant and the paper supports, while brittle, are still in good condition. Pop-up books tend to break at the hinges or moveable supports. In the best-case scenario, the missing pieces are still housed with the book and can be located and reattached.”...
Smithsonian Libraries Blog, June 18

The old Cincinnati Public Library building
Vanessa Grall writes: “The old Public Library of Cincinnati was the sort of place you only see in a Harry Potter film: colossal cast-iron book alcoves and spiral staircases that went several stories high, checkerboard marble floors that shone beneath the skylight roof, a magnificent maze of books. In 1955, the building was demolished when the library opened a more sizeable and contemporary building just a few blocks down on Vine Street. Today, a parking lot and an office building stand in its place.” Here are some historic photos....
Messy Nessy Chic, June 17

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