The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | March 26, 2014

Melvil Dewey: Compulsive innovator
Joshua Kendall writes: “While most Americans know very little about ALA founder Melvil Dewey (1851–1931), nearly all are familiar with his signature achievement, the Dewey Decimal Classification system, which today governs the arrangement of library books in nearly 150 countries. Surprisingly, this ingenious search engine—the Google of its day—that he first published in 1876 reveals much about the man himself, as it was a direct outgrowth of the inner workings of his own mind. This native of New York State’s burned-over district never could stop thinking about the number 10.”...
American Libraries feature

Library: The most beautiful word?
Arthur Plotnik writes: “You might have missed it, but a passage in author Christopher Hitchens’s 2010 memoir, Hitch-22, triggered a happy buzz among library bloggers at the time, and it can still judder the heart of library lovers. These days any good word about libraries is cheering, and Hitchens exalted the word library itself: ‘The lexicographer Wilfred Funk was once invited to say what he thought was the most beautiful word in the English language and nominated mange. If asked, I would without hesitation give the word library.’ How many would agree?”...
American Libraries feature

Women making library history
Beverly Goldberg writes: “During Women’s History Month, it’s become traditional to celebrate the contributions of deceased women to scholarship and society. American Libraries has certainly done its share of articles about historic library figures over the years, such as Mary Letitia Jones and Sadie Peterson Delaney (PDF files). The Women of Library History Tumblr has taken a refreshing approach to the topic by intermingling homage to those of the past with the stories of inspirational living librarians.”...
AL: The Scoop, Mar. 25

The continuing benefits of the ALA Leadership Institute
Laurie D. Borman writes: “In August 2013, 40 librarians gathered at the Eaglewood Resort and Spa in Itasca, Illinois, to participate in the first ALA Leadership Institute. Facilitated by ALA Past-President Maureen Sullivan and ACRL Content Strategist Kathryn Deiss, the group learned about models of leadership, group dynamics, and shared ideas and research. They covered such essential issues as leading in turbulent times, interpersonal competence, power and influence, the art of convening groups, and creating a culture of transformation.”...
AL: The Scoop, Mar. 26

Florida library peddles bikes
Gearing up for spring, the Winter Park (Fla.) Public Library rolled out a new lending program: eight new bicycles, including a two-seater tandem, along with locks, helmets, and mounted baskets (squeaky bike horns not included). The bike lending program began February 11 after the library received a $2,500 grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation’s Healthy Central Florida initiative. Card-holding library patrons can check out bikes for one day....
American Libraries, Mar. 20

Copyright will be the next AL Live topic
Copyright issues pose many challenges for librarians. In an era when we rely increasingly on electronic materials and still make use of traditional resources, our picture of rights and responsibilities can get cloudy. In “Copyright Conundrum,” a panel of experts will discuss the challenges we face and strategies you can use to help navigate copyright in this rapidly evolving area. Tune in at 2 p.m. Eastern time on April 10 for this free, streaming video broadcast....
American Libraries, Mar. 21

Go back to the Top

Joint statement by ALA and its ethnic caucuses
The values of diversity, equity, and inclusion form the foundation of the library profession and our professional associations. Those values have been challenged by the discriminatory enforcement of the ‘Stand Your Ground’ law in Florida and the fact that ALA’s 2016 Annual Conference is scheduled for Orlando. The Executive Committee members of ALA and the executive boards of BCALA, AILA, APALA, CALA, and Reforma are issuing this joint statement of commitment and action....
AL: The Scoop, Mar. 25

Think Fit: A healthy break during Annual Conference
Attendees at the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas have a special opportunity to take care of their health as well as their professional development and networking. Beginners and master yogi alike are encouraged to join the Think Fit “Power Flow” yoga class on June 29 for a strength-building, body-balancing workout. Led by certified instructor Erika Trujillo from Sin City Yoga, this high-energy class should leave participants renewed, refreshed, and ready for the day’s activities. Use Ticketed Event code ALA3....
Conference Services, Mar. 24

ALA elections are open
Voting in the 2014 ALA elections is now open. On March 19–21, ALA sent emails to voters, providing them with their unique pass codes and information about how to vote online. The polls will close at 11:59 p.m. Central time on April 25....
Office of ALA Governance, Mar. 21

Celebrate NLW with new promotions and tools
Looking for ways to promote National Library Week, April 13–19? Librarians can encourage local celebrities, library staff, and library supporters to snap a selfie with the Lives change @ your library word balloon (right) and share their story of how the library has changed their life. Camera-shy supporters can are also encouraged to tweet their change using the hashtags #liveschange and #nlw14. There are also free downloadable tools available on the NLW website. All participants will be entered into a grand-prize drawing for a Kindle Fire HDX....
Campaign for America’s Libraries, Mar. 25

Sponsors for the next Emerging Leaders
The ALA Emerging Leaders program has begun the process of preparing for the 2015 class of participants. We are now accepting program sponsors. Sponsorship means that an organization will provide financial support of at least $1,000 ($500 per conference) for each Emerging Leader chosen as its participant. Sponsorship begins October 2014 and ends July 2015. The deadline is April 11....
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Mar. 21

Financial literacy programming during Money Smart Week
Seven hundred libraries of all types will be helping people become money smart April 5–12. Money Smart Week @ your library is a partnership initiative between ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to expand Money Smart Week to libraries across the country. Libraries will present programs for all ages, and all stages of life, related to personal financial literacy. For example, Rhode Island Library Association is partnering with the Providence Housing Authority to host a bilingual “Banking and Breakfast Expo.”...
Chapter Relations Office, Mar. 25

IFLA webinar archived
If you are curious about the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, what it does, and how you might get involved, this webinar (59:28) is for you. IFLA President-elect Donna Scheeder provides an overview of IFLA’s initiatives and highlights the upcoming World Library and Information Congress in Lyon, France, this summer; IFLA Governing Board Member Loida Garcia-Febo outlines the benefits of attending and presenting a paper at the 2015 Congress in South Africa....
International Relations Office, Mar. 20

Tablet computers in academic libraries
Electronic discussion lists and boards, conference presentations, and journal articles have already suggested imaginative uses for tablet computers in an academic setting. Tablet Computers in the Academic Library, published as an ebook by ALA Editions, collects the best of these cutting-edge ideas from a range of contributors. Edited by Rebecca K. Miller, Heather Moorefield-Lang, and Carolyn Meier, the ebook is available from the ALA Store....
ALA Editions, Mar. 24

A guide to LIS literature
Library and Information Science: A Guide to Key Literature and Sources, published by ALA Editions, is a complete, up-to-date guide to sources of information on library science, covering recent books, monographs, periodicals, and websites, as well as selected works of historical importance. In addition to compiling an invaluable list of sources, author Michael F. Bemis digs deeper, examining the strengths and weaknesses of key works....
ALA Editions, Mar. 25

Get involved and reap the benefits
Sara Kelso writes: “This is the post where I convince you to get involved, if you aren’t already, with professional organizations as a library or information professional. I’m here to tell you that there are enormous advantages to professional organization membership and involvement that you may not have yet discovered. Fellow MLIS students, I’m particularly talking to you. Allow me to enumerate the myriad of benefits.”...
Hack Library School, Mar. 19

Go back to the Top

The new downtown
Stefanie Bailey writes: “As you are making your plans for ALA in Las Vegas, be sure to save some time to see more than just the Convention Center and the Strip. Just minutes north of the Las Vegas Strip lies the downtown area of Sin City. Its laid-back atmosphere and hip young crowd are drawing more visitors away from the Strip. The last few years have seen a long-awaited revitalization effort taking place in this downtown area.”...
YALSAblog, Mar. 24

Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, dedicated in 1935. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs. Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking, and photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also available. The park is six miles from Lake Mead and 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Daily summer temperatures average 100° F. and can reach 120° F. Rent a car to get there or take a Pink Jeep Tour....
Nevada State Parks; Wikipedia; Pink Jeep Tours

Best Las Vegas golf courses
Vegas has beaten the odds and joined the inner circle of outstanding desert golf destinations. It can’t quite match Arizona or Palm Springs for sheer quantity, but where quality is concerned, Vegas golf can hold its head high. Here are some of the best in the area. For the best bargain, try the Wildhorse Golf Club (above), with excellent mountain views, operated by the City of Henderson....
Golf Magazine, May 21, 2013

United steps up its carry-on rules
Brett Snyder writes: “United has recently stepped up enforcement of its carry-on rules. Now you will have to size your bag at the gate. If it’s bigger than 22″ x 14″ x 9″, then you’ll have to check it, and you’ll pay the bag fee to do it. This should mean more bin space for those who follow the rules, but it will cost you if you don’t.”...
The Cranky Flier, Mar. 21; United Airlines

Every Child Ready to Read, Spanish edition
ALSC and PLA have released a new Every Child Ready to Read product. The Every Child Ready to Read @ your Library Toolkit for Spanish-Speaking Communities is now available as a digital download from the ALA Store. The toolkit contains everything you need to offer Every Child Read to Read programming for your Spanish-speaking patrons. This digital download is a turnkey product that includes Spanish-language activities and booklists....
ALSC, Mar. 24

Paula Poundstone headlines United for Libraries event
United for Libraries will host “The Laugh’s on Us, sponsored by Sage,” featuring standup comedian and author Paula Poundstone, on June 29 at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. An outspoken advocate for libraries, Poundstone works with Friends groups to help them raise funds and raise awareness of the importance of libraries....
United for Libraries, Mar. 25

LLAMA webinar on hiring and evaluation
If you are looking for a fairer and more accurate way to select new hires or evaluate current employees, using rubrics may be just the tool you need. LLAMA will present “Keeping it Fair: Using Rubrics in Hiring and Evaluations” on April 23. This presentation will introduce the topic of rubrics and describe best practices in their construction. Register online....
LLAMA, Mar. 24

AASL preconferences
Attendees will learn the power of persuasion and the principles of project-based learning at preconferences offered by AASL before the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Half-day workshops “The Power of Persuasion: Developing Influence to Become Your Own Best Advocate” and “The PBL Way: Partnerships, Pedagogy, and Purpose” will be offered on June 27, in Las Vegas. Add one of these workshops to your conference registration....
AASL, Mar. 25

PLA preconferences
PLA is sponsoring three preconferences on June 27 that are ideal for public library professionals: branding, collaborative culture, and preparing for the role of director. Advance registration ends June 20. Add one of these events to your conference registration....
PLA, Mar. 25

RUSA preconferences
RUSA is offering three preconferences on June 27 prior to the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. The topics cover how business librarians support entrepreneurs, history genealogy, and the reference interview. Advance registration ends June 20. Add one of these events to your conference registration....
RUSA, Mar. 25

LITA preconferences
LITA is sponsoring three preconferences on June 27 prior to the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. The topics include managing data, practical Linked Data, and web therapy. Advance registration ends June 20. Add one of these events to your conference registration....
LITA Blog, Mar. 26

Preconference on serving incarcerated youth
ASCLA is offering a preconference showing how librarians are collaborating to serve incarcerated youth on June 27 prior to the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Hear about how New York City librarians are collaborating to serve students in custody and how New York Public Library partners with Rikers Island to help youth maintain connections to their families and literacy. Advance registration ends June 20. Add this event to your conference registration....
ASCLA, Mar. 25

ALCTS virtual preconferences
Two virtual preconferences coming in June bring the conference experience to you. ALCTS will offer two virtual preconferences that are sure to guarantee a great experience: library preservation and institutional repositories. Registration is open for each, so sign up early to make sure you get a spot....
ALCTS, Mar. 21

New GiveALA opportunities from ALCTS
New GiveALA opportunities are now available through ALCTS. These new opportunities offer donors three distinct categories of giving: new and ongoing initiatives, Preservation Week, and supporting the good work of ALCTS. Donations may be at any level....
ALCTS, Mar. 21

Get your library in strategic shape with PLA Boot Camp
PLA is offering the always popular PLA Results Boot Camp, “Results Are What Matters: Management Tools and Techniques to Improve Library Services and Programs,” with June Garcia and Sandra Nelson, August 4–8, at the Nashville (Tenn.) Public Library. Apply by June 13....
PLA, Mar. 25

ACRL program proposals for the 2015 Annual Conference
ACRL invites its committees, sections, interest groups, and individual members to consider submitting program proposals for the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco. Program proposals are due September 1....
ACRL, Mar. 25

AASL seeks proposals for 2015 ALA Annual
AASL invites proposals for programs to be presented during the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco, June 25–30. The deadline for preconference submissions is 11:59 p.m. CDT on May 29. The deadline for concurrent session submissions is August 25. Submissions will only be accepted via the online form....
AASL, Mar. 25

ALCTS News editor wanted
ALCTS invites applications and nominations for the position of editor of the ALCTS News, the division’s official news source. ALCTS News is a digital news website. The editor will be appointed for a renewable three-year term, beginning July 1, just after the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas. The application deadline is April 18....
ALCTS, Mar. 24

C&RL book review editor wanted
Applications and nominations are invited for the position of book review editor for ACRL’s College and Research Libraries. The book review editor will work closely with the editor, members of the editorial board, production staff, and a team of reviewers to provide reviews of new publications pertinent to academic and research librarians. The deadline for applications is April 21....
ACRL, Mar. 24

PLA 2014 in Indianapolis
Humorist and author David Sedaris brought PLA 2014, the nation’s largest public library conference, to a laugh-filled close on March 15. Nearly 8,000 librarians, library workers, exhibitors, and supporters participated in five days of programs that explored the changing role of public libraries. Sessions and events featured the nation’s leading innovators and professionals both within and outside of the library community....
PLA, Mar. 20

Go back to the Top

David Loertscher wins Baber Research Grant
David Loertscher (right) is the 2014 winner of ALA’s Carroll Preston Baber Research Grant for his project titled “The Impact of Co-Teaching on Learning When Classroom Teachers Team with Teacher Librarians: The Testing of an Unobtrusive Measurement Tool.” The $3,000 grant focuses on a pressing national issue that could lead to an improvement in library services to any specific group of people....
Office for Research and Statistics, Mar. 25

New award: Roald Dahl’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award
AASL invites applications for the Roald Dahl’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award, a new addition to the division’s awards program. Sponsored by Penguin Random House, the Roald Dahl Award recognizes collaboration between school librarians and teachers in the instruction of social justice using school library resources. The award is named for Miss Honey, a character in Dahl’s Matilda. Recipients will receive $2,000, a $5,000 book donation, and up to $1,000 to attend ALA Annual Conference. Apply by June 1....
AASL, Mar. 20

2015 Arbuthnot Lecture with Brian Selznick
ALSC has opened applications to host the 2015 Arbuthnot Lecture that will feature well-known children’s book creator Brian Selznick (right). Applications are due May 16. Information about host site responsibilities is included in the application materials. The lecture traditionally is held in April or early May....
ALSC, Mar. 25

Literary Landmark designated for William Stafford
United for Libraries, in partnership with Friends of Lake Oswego (Oreg.) Public Library, designated the library a Literary Landmark in honor of William Stafford on Tuesday, February 25. Stafford, 1975–1979 poet laureate of Oregon and 1970–1971 poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, was an ardent supporter of the Lake Oswego Public Library, and he dedicated the present library in 1983....
United for Libraries, Mar. 25

ASCLA award winners
The ASCLA 2014 award winners have been selected. The three awards recognize outstanding achievement within the library profession by librarians and libraries for significant current or past achievements, including publications, program development, and leadership in the profession....
ASCLA, Mar. 21

2014 Loleta D. Fyan Grant
The Haslet (Tex.) Public Library’s early science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education program for preteens, the Haslet Robotics Club, has been awarded the 2014 Loleta D. Fyan grant. The library’s plan aims to fill science-based educational and entertainment gaps for children aged 9–16 within their service area. The $5,000 grant supports a project that will develop and improve public library services....
Office for Research and Statistics, Mar. 25

2014 Summer Resources Reading Grants
YALSA has awarded 20 libraries with Summer Reading Resources Grants. The grant is made possible through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Each grant is worth $1,000. The grant will allow libraries to purchase literacy resources to strengthen and expand the impact of their summer reading programs....
YALSA, Mar. 21

2014 Teen Intern Grants
YALSA has awarded 20 libraries with Summer Reading Teen Intern Grants. The grant is made possible through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. Each grant is worth $1,000. The grant will allow libraries to hire teen interns who will assist in the implementation of their summer reading programs....
YALSA, Mar. 21

Apply for a Smart Investing grant
Interested in applying for a grant from the Smart Investing @ your library program? Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $100,000. The program is administered jointly by RUSA and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. Funds may be used for a variety of activities that promote financial literacy in public and community college libraries. The application deadline is June 5....
RUSA News, Mar. 24

Applications open for Krug Banned Books Week grant
Applications are now open for the 2014 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Banned Books Week event grants, sponsored by the Freedom to Read Foundation. Organizations are encouraged to apply for grants of $1,000 and/or $2,500 in support of “Read-Outs” or other activities that celebrate Banned Books Week, held this year September 21–27. Apply by April 30....
Freedom to Read Foundation, Mar. 25

2014 Broadband Champions
The California Emerging Technology Fund has announced its 2014 Broadband Champions, recognizing 15 individuals for their groundbreaking work and strong commitment to close the Digital Divide. There of the champions are librarians: Susan Hildreth (right), director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; Connie Barrington, librarian, Imperial County, California; and Linda Crowe, executive director of Califa Library Group and executive director of the Peninsula Library System, San Mateo County....
California Emerging Technology Fund, Mar. 25

NCSU’s Hunt Library wins Stanford Prize
Cited for “the creative and bold vision that went into designing an innovative model for a research library as a high-technology research platform,” the James B. Hunt Jr. Library at North Carolina State University was awarded the prestigious 2014 Stanford Prize for Innovation in Research Libraries. The award honors the “innovative impulses in research libraries worldwide.”...
North Carolina State University Libraries, Mar. 21

2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award
Japanese author Nahoko Uehashi (right) and Brazilian illustrator Roger Mello have won the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award. The awards were presented by the International Board on Books for Young People, a nonprofit organization that represents an international network of people who are committed to bringing books and children together. The award is given biennially to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature....
The Bookseller, Mar. 25

UK Political Book of the Year
Charles Moore’s Margaret Thatcher: The Authorized Biography (Allen Lane, 2013) won the Political Book of the Year (and its prize of £10,000) March 19 at the Paddy Power Political Book Awards ceremony in London. Simon Sebag Montefiore’s novel One Night in Winter (Century) won Political Fiction Book of the Year. Winner of the Political History Book of the Year was Richard Davenport-Hines for his book An English Affair (Harper Press)....
Paddy Power Political Book Awards, Mar. 19

Oddest book prize goes to How to Poo on a Date
Powered by the British public’s unstoppable enthusiasm for toilet humor, the enticingly titled How to Poo on a Date (Prion, 2013) has carried off the 2014 Diagram Prize for the oddest book title of the year. Almost 1,500 votes were cast for the 2014 award, with the pseudonymous Mats and Enzo’s guide to dating and toilet etiquette taking 30% of votes cast. Joint second place went to Are Trout South African? and The Origin of Feces, with Working Class Cats coming in fourth....
The Guardian (UK), Mar. 21

Go back to the Top

Retired librarian dies in Washington mudslide
Linda McPherson (right), for many years manager of the Darrington, Washington, branch of the Sno-Isle Libraries, was one of at least 24 fatalities in the Oso mudslide that took place March 22 in Snohomish County, Washington. She and her husband were home when the slide hit. Her husband survived, but the couple’s home was destroyed. McPherson had also served nearly 19 years on the Darrington School Board....
Everett (Wash.) Herald, Mar. 23

Journalist appointed California state librarian
California Gov. Jerry Brown may hear some raised voices from librarians over his March 25 decision to appoint a politically connected journalist as the state librarian. Greg Lucas (right) is a former political reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Since 2011, he has been a senior editor for the Sacramento website Capitol Weekly. Lucas, who will be paid $142,968 annually if confirmed by the Senate, has been a board member at the Friends of the California State Archives since 2012....
Los Angeles Times, Mar. 25

Baseball memorabilia at Delray Beach
They are relics of days long gone, special keepsakes from America’s pastime. And they were tucked away for years inside a man’s house in Delray Beach, Florida. Then Fran Marincola decided they needed to be shared. He started donating the things from his baseball collection—signed photographs and magazine covers, Mickey Mantle’s 1954 contract, and one of the iconic Yankees slugger’s watches—to the Delray Beach Public Library. The memorabilia is on display in a quiet hallway on the second floor....
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Sun-Sentinel, Mar. 22

Library cryptogram mystery at Western Ontario
A real-life mystery is brewing at the University of Western Ontario after a professor found a cryptogram tucked inside the pages of a library book—the first of many strange notes ultimately discovered in the university’s Weldon Library. At least 18 messages, all written in a “Wingdings-esque” font and found inside library books, have been uncovered since the original note was found in early March. Mark Moffatt, assistant professor of economics, has been tracking the mystery on his blog....
CTV News, Mar. 24; Reflections on Southwestern Ontario

Reference questions on the rise at Brooklyn Public Library
Did an elephant really swim from Brooklyn to Staten Island? That was one of the 3.5 million often funny and poignant questions visitors to 60 Brooklyn Public Library branches had for 100 research librarians in 2013, records show. Despite the advent of online search engines, the number of library queries rose by 10% last year—the highest since at least 2009, according to new BPL data....
New York Daily News, Mar. 26

Obama Library plans move into next stage
The team responsible for helping Barack Obama build his presidential library moved into the next stage of planning on March 20, as his foundation put out an official request for institutions and other entities to indicate their interest in hosting the library. Requests are due on June 16 and must include details of a potential site, access to transportation, and information about the surrounding community. Obama is expected to choose a site by early 2015....
Politico, Mar. 20

Politician’s name scrubbed from school library
It took five and a half years, but the name of one of New Mexico’s most infamous politicians no longer will grace the façade of a grade school in southeast Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, in a 6–0 vote with one abstention, decided March 19 to remove the name of former state Senate leader Manny Aragon from the library of the Lowell Elementary School. Aragon was found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to defraud $4.4 million from the state in 2009....
Capitol Report New Mexico, Mar. 20

Tool libraries equip do-it-yourselfers
Tom Watson writes: “Tool-lending libraries might seem too unusual to become a full-fledged environmental movement. But they already have a foothold in Seattle, and they do more than just help the environment and reduce climate change. Eminently practical, tool libraries save the average Joe or Jane real money. Most important, they build community.” The Pine River Library in Bayfield, Colorado, is planning to open a library of tools that people might only use once—like doorknob-hole saws, conduit benders, or compost aerators....
Seattle Times, Mar. 21; Durango (Colo.) Herald, Mar. 23

Calgary Public Library helps new Canadians
The Calgary (Alberta) Public Library is boosting its services for newcomers to Calgary and Canada, thanks to a donation from the Royal Bank of Canada. RBC has donated $550,000 toward the “Welcome to the Library” initiative. Library CEO Bill Ptacek said it’s important to help people new to Calgary to get established, so the program will “allow the library to focus on helping newcomers with the skills, information, and contacts that they need to navigate their new home.” CPL has produced a Welcome video (13:06) in 18 different languages....
CBC News, Mar. 22

LAC’s new Code of Conduct
Political pressure sometimes works. In a victory for staff, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has withdrawn its controversial Code of Conduct put into effect in early 2013. The code contained severe restrictions on staff behavior, both in their public and personal lives. In the wake of intense public pressure, LAC administrators placed the code under review. In December 2013, a revised code was introduced....
Canadian Association of University Teachers, Mar. 25

Manchester’s Central Library reopens
Manchester Central Library in the UK reopened to the public March 22 after a £50 million ($82.5 million US) renovation that saw the 80-year-old library closed for three-and-a-half years. The new building has restored its spectacular reading room and Shakespeare entrance hall, as well as new digital features including a media lounge (above) equipped with 200 computers. The new Children’s Library, themed on The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, includes digital interactive screens and interactive floor projections....
BBC News, Mar. 22; Manchester Evening News, Mar. 23

Bodleian Library obtains Joanna Trollope archive
Joanna Trollope (right), one of the most-read British authors, has bequeathed her literary archive to Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries. This comprehensive literary archive comprises research notes, related correspondence, and manuscript drafts of Trollope’s 18 contemporary fiction books, two nonfiction titles, and 10 historical fiction works. The archive will join the Bodleian’s extensive collection of literary manuscripts, including those relating to her relative, Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope....
Bodleian Library, Mar. 25

Vatican Library digitizes its archives
The Vatican Apostolic Library, founded in 1451 and considered one of the world’s most important research libraries, is hoping by 2018 to digitally archive its entire collection of 82,000 manuscripts. The library announced March 20 that it will work with the Japanese NTT Data Corporation on the project. While the library has already begun to digitize some 6,000 manuscripts, the collaboration will employ special measures to improve long-term storage and safekeeping....
The Telegraph (UK), Mar. 20

National Library of Ireland acquires Christy Brown papers
A collection of invaluable works left behind by the Irish author and painter Christy Brown (1932–1981, right) has been purchased jointly by the National Library of Ireland and the Little Museum of Dublin. The disabled writer was portrayed by Oscar-winner Daniel Day Lewis in the film My Left Foot, and left behind a sizeable collection of memorabilia after his death. Photographs, sketches, personal effects, poetry, and artifacts relating to the writer’s eventful life were auctioned at Bonhams in London on March 19....
Dublin Evening Herald, Mar. 20

Plan for bookless library in Australia scrapped
A council proposal to have a bookless library in Melbourne’s western suburbs has been scrapped after it faced strong opposition from a local group of book lovers. Hobsons Bay Council was considering replacing all physical books with ebooks at a new library facility in Newport, but has since abandoned the plan after facing the wrath of library users. Residents rallied strongly against the proposal and set up a Facebook page, “Save Newport Library,” in which they related emotional stories about their experiences with the Newport Library and books in general....
Melbourne Age, Mar. 24

Go back to the Top

Indiana opts out of Common Core standards
Less than four years after Indiana became an early adopter of the national Common Core education standards, Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation March 24 making Indiana the first state to opt out of the school guidelines. But the law does not prohibit parts of Common Core from being written into new standards that are expected to be voted on by the state Board of Education in late April....
Indianapolis Star, Mar. 24

School data reveals patterns of racial inequality
Racial minorities are more likely than white students to be suspended from school, to have less access to rigorous math and science classes, and to be taught by lower-paid teachers with less experience, according to comprehensive data released March 21 by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. In its first analysis in nearly 15 years of information from all of the country’s 97,000 public schools, the DOE found a pattern of inequality on a number of fronts, with race as the dividing factor....
New York Times, Mar. 21

Trying to close a knowledge gap, word by word
Motoko Rich writes: “Amid a political push for government-funded preschools for 4-year-olds, a growing number of experts fear that such programs actually start too late for the children most at risk. That is why Deisy Ixcuna-González, the 16-month-old daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, is wearing a tiny recorder (right) that captures every word she hears and utters inside her family’s cramped apartment one day a week. The recorder will tell Deisy’s parents how to turn even a visit to the kitchen into a language lesson.”...
New York Times, Mar. 25

How accessible is online government information?
Pat Ball writes: “Libraries have been offering government services for many years. This evolved into e-government as information migrated online. New to this array of services online are the many social services and benefits applications that have also migrated online. In some instances, these are available online exclusively. Accessing information online requires a skill set other than walking or driving to the library, which presents a challenge for many.”...
District Dispatch, Mar. 25

The origin of the future is in the present
Mita Williams writes: “This is the text and the slides from my keynote address at the 2014 Library Technology Conference on March 19. I’ve been asked to open today’s conference with a look forward to the future of libraries. As we know from the small print of so many investment commercials, past performance cannot be considered an indicator of future performance. What will be the future of the library if the internet continues to make text no longer scarce and our abundance no longer impressive?”...
New Jack Librarian, Mar. 19

The misguided freakout over ICANN
Jonathan Zittrain writes: “On March 14, the US government announced that it would relinquish a privileged role in the management of internet names and numbers. A nonprofit organization called Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is to continue doing what it’s doing without maintaining an ongoing contract with the Department of Commerce. Some of the reaction to this has been surprisingly alarmist. But the truth is much less salacious—and far more interesting—than any of the reactions.”...
New Republic, Mar. 24; National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Mar. 14

Standardizing DMCA takedown notices
Grant Gross writes: “A government effort to encourage agreement among copyright holders and web-based services on how to improve the notice-and-takedown process in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act began March 20 with some disagreement about what direction the discussions should take. Several participants in the Department of Commerce Internet Policy Task Force’s first public forum called for the group to focus on standardizing the takedown notices, which copyright holders use to ask websites to remove infringing material.”...
PC World, Mar. 20; US Patent and Trademark Office, Mar. 10

Go back to the Top

Security warning: Previewing RTF files in email
Attackers are actively exploiting a newly discovered Microsoft Word vulnerability that could be used to gain remote access of your PC, Microsoft warned March 24—even worse, the exploit can be triggered by opening or merely previewing a malicious email using Outlook’s default settings. The attack is delivered using booby-trapped Rich Text (RTF) files. Accessing or previewing a poisoned file with Word grants the attacker the same rights as the current user....
PC World, Mar. 25

How to spring clean your gadgets
Chandra Steele writes: “Spring is in the air, but gunk is in your gadgets. There are the smudges and crumbs you can see and the creepy-crawly bacteria that you can’t (and would rather not). Studies have shown that infection-causing E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as fecal matter and just plain dirt are hanging out on your tech. So grab some microfiber cloths, Q-tips, distilled water, isopropyl alcohol, and dish soap, and read our guide to getting your gadgets gleaming.”...
PC Magazine, Mar. 19

New software for controlling student devices
Dennis Pierce writes: “The lines are blurring between mobile device management (MDM) and classroom management software, as both now offer some classroom-level control over students’ mobile devices. That’s good news for educators who are looking for more control over what students can access on their iPads, Chromebooks, and Android tablets during class—an ability that will be particularly useful for online testing.”...
eSchool News, Mar. 26

Five reasons why you love Windows XP
Chris Hoffman writes: “Nearly 30% of computers on the web are still using Windows XP. It was the first consumer version of Windows that really delivered on its promise, providing a stable, reliable system after the unreliable DOS-based Windows 9x systems. But all good things come to an end. There are many reasons people love Windows XP, but most of them aren’t a good reason to keep using it.”...
MakeUseOf, Mar. 26

How to choose the right tablet
Wendy Sheehan Donnell writes: “It’s been four short years since the original Apple iPad hit the scene and the current tablet market was born. Since then, we’ve seen scores of manufacturers trying to snag a slice of the tablet pie. And the game is finally getting interesting: In 2013, for the first time, Android tablet sales overtook the iPad. But which tablet is right for you? Here are the key factors you need to consider when shopping for a tablet.” And these are the 10 best tablets on the market right now....
PC Magazine, Mar. 18–19

Are two screens always better than one?
Farhad Manjoo writes: “For years, techies have argued that getting an extra monitor or two for your desktop computer is an especially effective way to increase personal productivity. Now two-monitor setups, once the rarefied domain of Wall Street and Silicon Valley, have become de rigueur in offices across America. But what if we’ve all been duped? What if more monitors and bigger monitors actually detract from, rather than improve, how you work?”...
New York Times: Personal Tech, Mar. 20

Five Windows tools you might not know about
Walter Glenn writes: “Even if you live in Windows, you may be surprised to find that it includes some rather powerful built-in tools for helping you monitor your system and troubleshoot when things go wrong. We’ve taken a look at Windows’ dark corners before and at some awesome features you may have forgotten about. Here are a few more of our favorite overlooked Windows tools.”...
Lifehacker, Mar. 21; Jan. 31, Aug. 7, 2012

Web fiction, serialized and social
David Streitfeld writes: “Not since the heyday of Dickens, Dumas, and Henry James has serialized fiction been this big. In 2014, excited readers are turning to their phones to keep up with the latest adventures of sweet Tessa and outrageous Harry, who meet on their first day of college and have a heartbreaking and inspiring relationship. Every few days, Anna Todd uses Wattpad, a storytelling app, to post a new episode of this couple’s torrid tale. Wattpad has more than two million writers producing 100,000 pieces of material a day for 20 million readers on an intricate international social network.”...
New York Times, Mar. 23

ABC-CLIO offers three free ebooks for National Library Week
Librarians will have free access to three professional-development ebooks from Libraries Unlimited in April, thanks to ABC-CLIO. The titles are: Growing Schools: Librarians as Professional Developers, LIS Career Sourcebook: Managing and Maximizing Every Step of Your Career, and Embedded Librarianship: What Every Academic Librarian Should Know will be free as a celebration of National Library Week, as will all ABC-CLIO Solutions online reference and research resources....
ABC-CLIO, Mar. 20

ProQuest completes digitization of NAACP papers
ProQuest has completely digitized the archives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (PDF file). Nearly 2 million pages of internal memos, legal briefings, and direct action summaries from the association’s national, legal, and branch offices throughout the United States are now fully searchable and accessible through academic, research, and public library websites as part of the ProQuest History Vault....
ProQuest, Mar. 24

New Gale collections
E-publisher Gale has launched several new Gale Digital Collections products for academic and special libraries, as well as additions to its Gale Artemis: Primary Sources platform. One is News Features and Internal Communications and the US City Bureaus Collection, the first two of three planned collections for 2014 in the Associated Press Collections Online program. Others include an archive of Indigenous Peoples of North America....
Cengage Learning, Mar. 26

Europeana expands access to Spanish newspapers
Europeana now includes more than one million newspaper articles from the Spanish aggregator Hispana that are labeled as being in the public domain. These newspapers were digitized and made available as part of the Virtual Library of Historical Newspapers project. Its aim is not only to preserve widely used material that is in a poor state of conservation, but to give access to bibliographic material that in many cases is unique and not easily accessible....
Europeana Professional, Mar. 25

“Pretend it’s print” ebook ILL is silly
Eric Hellman writes: “When we try to think about digital things as if they are still the real things they used to be, we can lose touch with the parts of reality that are important. It’s silly. For interlibrary loan of digital content, in principle, there’s no shipping costs, and modern databases can retrieve a digital item in milliseconds. But to see why it still makes sense for publishers to allow ebook ILL, consider what it is competing against: ‘patron-driven acquisition’ (PDA). It’s often better for the publisher to encourage ‘just-in-case’ acquisition, because the resulting revenue can be put to work immediately to publish more books.”...
Go to Hellman, Mar. 22

2014 Annual Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, June 26–July 1. Add value when you add a preconference to your plans for Las Vegas: Learn about circulating iPads, branding and media bootcamps, gamification, data-driven decision making, refreshers on fundamentals, building partnerships with purpose, and many more topics.

How public libraries are solving America’s reading problem
David Vinjamuri writes: “We have a reading problem in the United States. It’s not that people aren’t reading. In fact, the Pew Research Center reports that 76% of adults have read a book in the past year. Even kids are reading, and some studies suggest that Millennials are more likely to read literature than previous generations. The problem is choice. Readers are drowning in books.”...
Forbes, Mar. 11; Pew Research Internet Project, Jan. 16

Get creative with YA lit
Jessica Lind writes: “Do you know the feeling that comes sometimes when you finish reading a really great book, the one in which you don’t want the story to end? Keep the book’s world alive by creating something yourself. Here I have listed a handful of ways that youth and adults are taking their favorite stories and making something new.”...
YALSA The Hub, Mar. 21

Celebrating Youth Art Month in YA lit
Kelly Dickinson writes: “By high school, art was embedded into my daily life. Creating art was always a transporting experience—a time to escape my life and be more present in myself. Accordingly, I’m always keen to find stories that explore and celebrate the varied roles of visual art in the lives of young adults. And, because March is Youth Art Month, it seems like the perfect time to share some novels featuring young artists.”...
YALSA The Hub, Mar. 24

Biographies for teens
Gretchen Kolderup writes: “YALSA-bk is a discussion list with lively discussions among librarians and educators about all things YA lit. Sometimes one list member will ask for help finding books around a certain theme or readalikes for a particular title. This post is a compilation of responses for one such request, on biographies for teens. Do you have more titles that you think belong on these lists? Add them on the YALSA wiki.”...
YALSA The Hub, Mar. 21

A censored history of ladies in YA fiction
Kelly Jensen writes: “The first woman of YA—and the first person to be recognized as a YA author—started out as many first women in history do: downplaying the fact she was a woman. It wasn’t entirely by choice that S. E. Hinton didn’t publish under her full name. She was urged by her publisher to use her initials in order to avoid being readily dismissed by male reviewers who would potentially be turned off by her real name, Susan Eloise. It didn’t matter that her book featured male main characters.”...
Book Riot, Mar. 24

Bookspotting app from Publishing Scotland
Book lovers can discover if they are near a classic scene from Scottish literature with a new app that uses GPS location. The Bookspotting application works on smartphones and tablets, linking books and authors to dates, themes, and locations around Scotland. The app, developed by Publishing Scotland, draws on data from 3,500 books and aims to help people find new titles. The iOS app is free to download from the App Store and in the Android version from Google Play....
BBC News, Mar. 19

Resources for learning about Shakespeare
Richard Byrne writes: “Last week, I shared John Green’s latest Crash Course videos about Hamlet. If you’re looking for some other resources to help your students understand the works of Shakespeare, take a look at these materials.”...
Free Technology for Teachers, Mar. 17, 23

10 best overlooked moments from Moby-Dick
Rachel Smalter Hall writes: “During my latest re-read of Moby-Dick this winter, I was on the lookout for awesome moments that we don’t always consider when we think about Herman Melville’s epic whaling novel. Sure, Ahab is a monomaniac, and whale skulls are really huge. But what other juicy morsels are tucked into the pages of one of the world’s best-loved books? Here are my picks for the 10 best overlooked moments in Moby-Dick.”...
Book Riot, Mar. 25

“I cannot live without books” —Thomas Jefferson
Endrina Tay writes: “‘I cannot live without books, where fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object,’ declared Thomas Jefferson to John Adams in June 1815, shortly after the 10th and last wagon carrying his library left Monticello for Washington, D.C. Jefferson had sold his library to Congress to replace the congressional library that was destroyed when the British burned the United States Capitol on August 24, 1814. Congress, he felt, could not function without access to a proper reference library, so he promptly offered his own.”...
Memorandum: The Jefferson Style Blog, Nov. 5, 2013

American public libraries, great and small
Rachel Arons writes: “In the course of 18 years, beginning in 1994, the California-based photographer Robert Dawson took pictures of hundreds of public libraries across the US. The results are collected in his new book, The Public Library: A Photographic Essay, to be released in April. Many writers have written eloquently about the role of libraries in American life, but Dawson makes a powerful case for how public libraries serve communities in every corner of the country.”...
New Yorker: Page-Turner, Mar. 21

Libraries are becoming community problem-solvers
Larra Clark writes: “We must fundamentally change how we view libraries and move from a historical idea of libraries as merely physical repositories to seeing them as an opportunity for proactive community engagement. One example of this is Princeton (N.J.) Public Library, now the home of more than 2,000 Tech Meet-up members. Entrepreneur Venu Moola and librarian Janie Hermann show how the library is bringing together techie entrepreneurs in dozens of networking events, supporting research and development, and enabling greater levels of coworking.”...
The Guardian (UK), Mar. 26

Libraries should look beyond library card ownership
Bobbi Newman writes: “Last week the Pew Internet and American Life Project released its latest report on the role of libraries in the digital age. A first look at the data on typology looks promising. For example, 98% of Library Lovers, which make up 10% of the population, have a library card. Sweet! Except. Wait. Only 86% of them say the closing of the library would affect their community. Rather than aiming for every resident to have a library card, the goal should be for every community member to support the library, whether they use it personally or not.”...
Librarian by Day, Mar. 22; Pew Research Center, Mar. 13

What good is a gigabit?
Angela Siefer writes: “The Inclusive Gigabit Libraries project, funded by an IMLS grant and administered by the Center for Digital Inclusion at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign GSLIS, looked at how libraries with a gigabit-speed network can create opportunities for 21st-century learning. Case study libraries included Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library, Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library, and Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library. Each is providing public access to their high-speed bandwidth and experimenting with how to meet the needs of their communities.”...
District Dispatch, Mar. 25

Features of school culture that embrace creativity
Doug Johnson writes: “Does your school’s culture inhibit or encourage creativity in its students and employees? Often formed over dozens of years, the values, habits, and climates of school buildings are incredibly difficult to change. Were I looking for a school in which to work (or in which to enroll my children), I’d be looking for some of the following attributes.”...
The Blue Skunk Blog, Mar. 25

Instead of an AUP, how about an EUP?
Scott McLeod writes: “Most school technology acceptable use policies (AUPs) contain phrases like this: ‘Students shall not use technology unless authorized by appropriate school personnel.’ That’s a lot of legalistic language. That’s a lot of negativity. How about an empowered use policy (EUP) instead? In other words, instead of saying no, no, no all the time, how about saying yes? Here’s one to consider.”...
Dangerously Irrelevant, Mar. 21

Rainbow Loom: A small-scale maker project
Martha Cordeniz O’Hara writes: “Rainbow Loom is the latest fad sweeping across American classrooms. With the help of a plastic loom and a crochet hook, kids can weave, twist, and loop tiny rubber bands into anything from bracelets and lanyards to hats and charms. It’s popular, it appeals to boys and girls, it’s good for fine motor development, and it’s perfect for a maker program.”...
ALSC Blog, Mar. 26

Other uses for a card catalog
Jean Lang writes: “Wooden card catalog cabinets, once an essential component of public and school libraries, are nearly extinct in their natural habitat. In the James Library and Center for the Arts in Norwell, Massachusetts, one maintains its position at the end of a large bookcase near the center of the room. In the Dyer Memorial Library in Abington, it has been relegated to the corner, left mostly untouched for the past decade. Others are repurposed to hold recipes, display Christmas cards, or stash canned goods.”...
Boston Globe, Mar. 23

Ready-made outreach materials
Lizz Zitron writes: “Creating outreach materials can be a time suck, even for the most creative citizen of Libraryland. For those of us who feel graphic design–challenged, creating outreach materials is akin to a level of hell. Here is our attempt to provide a one-stop shop for templates, generators, and other helpful promotional tools of the outreach trade, both free resources and those that cost.”...
The Outreach Librarian, Mar. 21

Using Tumblr for outreach and media collections
Charlotte Price writes: “Tumblr is not an ideal blog format for a librarian. We pride ourselves on organization, making information easily accessible and discoverable. Yet Tumblr has an abysmal search function, the tagging could be better, and it’s very difficult to find properly sourced content to reblog. Where Tumblr excels is in showcasing media content.”...
The Desk Set, Mar. 22

Things to look for in a new WordPress theme
Amit Agarwal writes: “The WordPress ecosystem has grown exponentially in the last few years and there’s a never-ending supply of WordPress themes coming from independent developers. With so many choices available, how do you choose a theme? Should good design and typography be the only criteria? Or are there other things you should look for before picking a theme?”...
Digital Inspiration, Mar. 25

Film Forward screens films in Pennsylvania libraries
Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities have announced that Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue on April 9–13 will host free screenings of eight films with moderated discussions, panels, and artist roundtables at libraries and other venues in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Centre County, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The program uses the power of cinema to promote broader cultural understanding, inspire curiosity, and enhance awareness of shared stories and values across generations, religion, ethnicity, and borders....
Sundance Institute, Mar. 19

1964 Alaska Earthquake clips on YouTube
The Alaska Film Archives has posted dozens of film clips from the Great Alaska Earthquake of March 27, 1964, including never-before-seen footage, on its YouTube channel. The archives, located in the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, compiled the films in commemoration of the earthquake’s 50th anniversary. The films were shot by amateur and professional cameramen following the earthquake at Anchorage, Kodiak, Seward, Valdez, Chenega, Afognak, and other locations....
Delta Junction (Alaska) Delta News Web, Mar. 24

Historiated initials
Jenny Weston writes: “Medieval initials come in all shapes and sizes. They also come with different kinds of decoration. While some feature twisty vines, flowers, and other abstract designs, others present more detailed and distinctive figures and scenes. Known as ‘historiated initials,’ these portray figures or scenes that are clearly identifiable—they tell a story. The letter H (on the right), for example, depicts Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from heaven.”...
Medieval Fragments, Mar. 21

Preserving audio for the future
Emily Siner writes: “Ever since the first identifiable recording in 1860, sound has added captivating and significant context to history. The Library of Congress is one of thousands of institutions, large and small, trying to make sure that future historians, and even future archaeologists, have access to those recordings. Gene DeAnna, head of LC’s recorded sound section, oversees the library’s multidecade efforts to save millions of the nation’s recordings before they are lost.”...
NPR: Weekend Edition Sunday, Mar. 23

Stuffed animal husbandry
Shelly Smith writes: “The New York Public Library is the proud home of the real Winnie-the-Pooh, the actual toy teddy bear that once belonged to Christopher Robin Milne, son of A. A. Milne, and the basis for the character Christopher Robin in the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Winnie and his friends Tigger, Eyore, Kanga, and Piglet have all resided at the New York Public Library since 1987. We have an important job in taking care of Winnie and friends; these iconic stuffed animals are visited by thousands of children.”...
New York Public Library blogs, Mar. 20

NYPL launches book recommendation tool
The New York Public Library launched a state-of-the-art book recommendation tool on March 24 in its online catalog, BiblioCommons, to help library users discover new books based on their reading preferences. Powered by Bookish Recommends from New York startup Zola Books, the online program connects people to a broader selection of the library’s vast collection by offering relevant book suggestions. Users visiting the online catalog can click on a selected title to see a set of related titles that might be of interest....
New York Public Library, Mar. 24

Boston Public Library unveils Netflix-like service
The Boston Public Library launched a Netflix-like service March 25, allowing its patrons to view streaming movies and TV shows from the comforts of their home. BPL now offers the free Hoopla Streaming Media service for all cardholders, providing access to thousands of movies, TV shows, music, and audiobooks for instant streaming or temporary download for smartphones, tablets, or computers. Library users can download up to 10 titles per month....
Boston Business Journal: TechFlash, Mar. 25

Go back to the Top