The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | September 24, 2014

Banned Books Week celebrates comics
Jack Baur and Amanda Jacobs Foust write: “Banned Books Week, running September 21–27, offers libraries everywhere an opportunity to celebrate challenging and challenged literature and let their communities exercise their freedom to read. This year is devoted to comics and graphic novels, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund—a nonprofit organization devoted to free speech and defending comic book readers, retailers, publishers, and creators—has partnered with ALA to create and distribute tools and resources for libraries.”...
AL: The Scoop, Sept. 22

Youth Matters: Storytime Underground
Abby Johnson writes: “Storytime Underground, an informal idea-sharing website where youth librarians can learn from each other, started with Guerrilla Storytime—gatherings of children’s librarians sharing ideas, brainstorming, and troubleshooting issues related to early childhood librarianship—at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago. Since then, Guerrilla Storytime has been held at conferences all over North America, creating grassroots professional development opportunities.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.

The Gates legacy
Janes LaRue writes: “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seems to be getting out of the world of libraries, which is a shame. One result of their investments has been the fascinating research conducted by the Pew Research Center. A succinct overview of the last three years of their examination of ‘Americans’ relationships to public libraries in the digital age’ can be found here. I suggest that this slideshow—suitable for projection—would make a terrific presentation to the library board, staff, or community group.”...
AL: E-Content, Sept. 22; Impatient Optimists, May 7; Pew Research Center, Aug. 18

The world is yours with American Libraries
Explore ALA’s worldwide impact in A Global View, the 2014 international digital edition of American Libraries. This special issue presents initiatives, advocacy, issues, and services that affect libraries and ALA members all over the world. Included is a report from the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Lyon, France, and a look at the first Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates....
American Libraries, Sept. 23

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Free webinar on Money Smart Week
Register for a free webinar on October 1 to learn how your library can participate in 2015 Money Smart Week @ your library. This hour-long session will provide you with resources and ideas to partner with others in your community, campus, or school. Money Smart Week @ your library, April 18–25, 2015, is a national initiative between ALA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to provide financial literacy programming....
Chapter Relations Office, Sept. 9

Planned giving campaign
Coming on board to lead the next phase of the ALA 15 x 15 planned giving campaign are new cochairs Robert Banks and Barbara Ford. In June 2012, ALA launched an ambitious campaign to raise $15 million in future support to the Association by December 31, 2015. As of September 1, 51 individuals have committed, recommitted, or increased their gift amount to more than $5.2 million in support of their areas of interest. To learn more, visit the Planned Giving website....
ALA Development Office, Sept. 22

Sixth Research Library Seminar
With support from the Library Research Round Table, the Sixth Library Research Seminar (LRS VI) will take place in Urbana, Illinois, on October 7–9. Focused on the theme of “The Engaged Librarian,” LRS VI will bring together LIS/iSchool faculty, graduate students, and librarians of all types for a three-day seminar exploring how collaboration and cross-disciplinary research can create new knowledge and chart a course for partnerships with deep and lasting impact....
Office for Research and Statistics, Sept. 19

Banned Books Week events
Banned Books Week started September 21, and Freedom to Read Foundation supporters are encouraged to check out some of these events from the 2014 recipients of grants from the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. Follow the links for many more great events from these sponsors. All events are free and open to the public. Here are some other Banned Books Week activities....
FTRF Blog, Sept. 17; Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 24

Dav Pilkey and Banned Books Week
In this video (1:54) Captain Underpants author Dav Pilkey explains how people can express concern about a book without undermining the freedom to read of those around them by making a simple change. Banned Books Week (September 21–27) celebrates everyone’s freedom to read. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship....
YouTube, Sept. 21

Which banned book are you?
Take the new online “Which Banned Book Are You?” quiz and find out which banned or challenged book best fits your personality. Developed by librarians at Columbus (Ohio) State Community College, the quiz was created to celebrate Banned Books Week, the freedom to read, and the right to choose reading materials without restriction....
Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 23; PlayBuzz, Sept. 22

Artistic typist raises awareness of censorship
All this week, Banned Books Week, a man is camping out in the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in Indianapolis, in the large picture window that fronts the sidewalk, and typing. He is the Los Angeles performance artist Tim Youd, who specializes in typing works of literature. Entire books. Word for word. On a typewriter. This week Youd is typing Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, which is about censorship and book burning....
Indianapolis Star, Sept. 22

Banned Websites Awareness Day
To raise awareness of the overly restrictive blocking of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools in schools and school libraries, AASL has designated one day during Banned Books Week as Banned Websites Awareness Day. On September 24, AASL is asking school librarians and other educators to promote an awareness of how overly restrictive filtering affects student learning....
AASL

Use extensible processing to reduce backlogs
Extensible processing allows collection managers to establish a baseline level of access to all holdings, then conduct additional processing based on user demand and ongoing assessment. Daniel A. Santamaria’s new book Extensible Processing for Archives and Special Collections: Reducing Processing Backlogs, published by ALA Neal-Schuman, details this important approach, which adheres to archival principles while emphasizing decision-making and prioritization....
ALA Neal-Schuman, Sept. 23

ALA’s European war representative
Lydia Tang writes: “Burton Egbert Stevenson (1872–1962, right) was surprised to find himself named the foremost ALA representative in Europe for the Library War Services campaign during the First World War. A college dropout from Princeton University and aspiring novelist, he fell into the library profession after marrying Chillicothe (Ohio) Public Librarian Elisabeth Shephard Butler and accepting a librarian position at the same library in 1899.”...
ALA Archives blog, Sept. 19

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New cataloging web course
A new Fundamentals web course is coming from ALCTS. “Fundamentals of Cataloging” is a six-week online course that is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices. It covers principles underlying cataloging practice, as well as examples, tools, and processes. The dates of the course are October 6–November 21. Register online....
ALCTS, Sept. 19

PLA Midwinter Institute
PLA is offering a thought-provoking Institute at the 2015 ALA Midwinter Meeting. “Who We Are, What We Do, Why It Matters: Our Distinctive Purpose” will be presented by Valerie J. Gross (right), president and CEO of Howard County (Md.) Public Library, on January 30. At this time the Institute is only available with ALA Midwinter / Annual Bundle registration....
PLA, Sept. 22

New version of scholarly communication toolkit
ACRL has released a new version of its popular Scholarly Communication Toolkit with updated content. The toolkit, developed and maintained by the ACRL Research and Scholarly Environment Committee, continues to provide content and context on a broad range of scholarly communication topics, including expanded information on data management....
ACRL Insider, Sept. 24

Managing outreach and instruction
If you’re looking for fresh ideas about managing your library outreach and instruction program, then LLAMA has a webinar that can help. LLAMA will present “Tips for Managing a Library Instruction/Outreach Program” on October 15. This webinar will provide practical ideas to help you move your programs forward and help you look at the problems managers commonly face from a different angle. Register online....
LLAMA, Sept. 22

Conferences: ALSC and ALA
Marge Loch-Wouters writes: “We all only have so much continuing education and professional conference funding. Choosing what works best and balancing our choices is definitely a challenge. Though we want to attend all the things, it just isn’t possible. Just off the end of the ALSC 2014 Institute in Oakland, I want to talk a bit about the differences in two of my favorite conferences.”...
Tiny Tips for Library Fun, Sept. 21

Expert panel at AASL Fall Forum
An expert panel showcasing an exemplary school district collaboration to create a truly blended learning experience has been added to the AASL 2014 Fall Forum, October 17-18, in St. Louis. Moderated by Fall Forum Committee Chair Steven Yates, the panel will feature Arturo Cavazos, Mireya Galvan, and Michelle Ayala, all from the Harlingen (Tex.) Consolidated Independent School District....
AASL, Sept. 23

PLA Leadership Academy
PLA is accepting applications for its Leadership Academy: Navigating Change · Building Community through September 30. This special event, held March 23-27 in Charleston, South Carolina, will offer intensive, empowering leadership education for public librarians who want to increase their capacity to lead not only within the library, but also in the community....
PLA, Sept. 23

Travel grants for San Francisco
Here is an abbreviated list of ALA grants that provide funding assistance to librarians traveling to the 2015 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Francisco. Some require ALA and/or division membership and others are open to a larger audience. The list is arranged by deadline. For a more comprehensive list of travel grants, visit the ALA Awards Database....
American Libraries news, Sept. 17

ALA 2015 scholarships available
ALA has more than $300,000 for students who are studying in library science or school library media programs at the master’s degree level. Scholarships typically range from $1,500 to $7,000 per student per year. The application and instructions are available until March 1....
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Sept. 18

LITA scholarships
Applications are being accepted for three LITA scholarships: the Christian Larew Memorial Scholarship, the LSSI Minority Scholarship, and the OCLC Minority Scholarship. The scholarships are designed to encourage the entry of qualified persons into the library technology field. References, transcripts, and other documents must be postmarked no later than March 1....
LITA, Sept. 17

2014 Diversity Research Grants
The Office for Diversity has awarded Diversity Research Grants to three individuals: Shannon M. Oltmann, Amy VanScoy, and Michelle Abate. The grants consist of a one-time $2,500 award for original research. Recipients will conduct their research over the course of the year, are expected to compile the results of their research into a paper, and will be asked to present and publish the final product in conjunction with ALA....
Office for Diversity, Sept. 19

Carterette Professional Development Grant
In memory of Pat Carterette, former staff development coordinator at the Cleveland Heights–University Heights (Ohio) Public Library, the Learning Round Table is offering the Pat Carterette Professional Development Grant. The grant winner will be awarded up to $1,000 to attend a continuing education event. Monies can be used to cover registration, travel, lodging, or other expenses. Apply by December 15....
Learning Round Table, Sept. 19

ALA Trustee Citation applications
United for Libraries is accepting applications for the ALA Trustee Citation through January 15. The citation was established in 1941 to recognize public library trustees for distinguished service to library development. Visit the United for Libraries website to apply....
United for Libraries, Sept. 22

YALSA grants for 2015
YALSA has opened up applications for its 2015 grants. Twenty summer reading resources grants, worth $1,000 each, will be awarded to libraries for purchasing resources that better equip them to serve struggling readers and teens who are English-language learners. Twenty teen summer intern program grants, also worth $1,000 each, will be awarded to libraries to implement summer reading and learning programs. Apply by January 1....
YALSA, Sept. 23

Six programs commended for support of school libraries
Moving on recommendations made by its Affiliate Assembly, AASL formally commended six programs based on their support of school libraries and librarians. To be considered, programs must align with AASL’s learning standards and program guidelines as well as the principles expressed in the AASL mission and value statements....
AASL, Sept. 23

Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards
The Rona Jaffe Foundation is giving its 20th annual Writers’ Awards under a program that identifies and supports women writers of exceptional talent. Six emerging women writers have been singled out for excellence by the Foundation and will receive awards of $30,000 each. The 2014 winners are Solmaz Sharif, T. L. Khleif, Mara Naselli, Danielle Jones-Pruett, Karen Hays, and Olivia Clare....
Rona Jaffe Foundation, Sept. 22

2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize
Two books exploring the role that religion can play in spurring either endless conflict or potential peace—The Woman Who Lost Her Soul by Bob Shacochis and Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here by Karima Bennoune—have won the 2014 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for fiction and nonfiction, respectively. The $10,000 prize is the only international literary peace prize awarded in the United States....
Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Sept. 24

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New set of Banned Books Week trading cards
The Lawrence (Kans.) Public Library on September 18 unveiled its third edition of banned books trading cards, the project that asks residents to submit artwork inspired by censored books for the chance to have it converted into a collector’s item. Forty-seven artists submitted works, seven of which were chosen by a panel of judges. Following Banned Books Week, the library will have the 2014 deck available for purchase online....
Lawrence (Kans.) Journal-World, Sept. 18

New York insists on more school librarians
New York State Education Commissioner John King Jr. (right) has rejected New York City’s request to employ fewer librarians in schools, in part because the city took too long to come up with an alternative plan to provide library services to students. King said he was troubled by the number of city schools that don’t have librarians on staff, a violation of state regulations. In a decision he issued to the city and union lawyers representing librarians last week, King ordered the city to begin following the rules immediately....
Chalkbeat: New York, Sept. 22

Library student helps create Ebola tracking site
A team of students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including School of Information and Library Science student Alison Blaine (right), has joined in the fight against the Ebola epidemic by helping to create ebolainliberia.org. This website, which launched in early September, was commissioned by Liberia’s Ministry of Information and Communication. It seeks to provide a central location for data about the Ebola outbreak....
UNC Library News and Events, Sept. 23

Challenge to The Fault in Our Stars
Riverside (Calif.) Unified School District’s book reconsideration committee voted September 22 to remove John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars from its middle schools after a parent challenged the teen love story as inappropriate for that age group. But the book will be allowed at high school libraries, said committee chairwoman Christine Allen, librarian at Arlington High School, where the meeting was held....
Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise, Sept. 22

Palo Alto files claim against contractor
The city of Palo Alto, California, has kicked off the legal process to collect millions of dollars from the general contractor that was hired to rebuild its Mitchell Park Library and Community Center but did not finish the job. The city announced plans to pursue a $9.4 million legal claim against Flintco Pacific. A “notice of contract dispute” has been filed that includes the city’s claim for liquidated damages, credit for noncompliant work, and the cost of repeated inspections. The new facility is expected to open on December 6....
San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, Sept. 19

Sacramento seeks to be a Library of Things
Sonya Sorich writes: “A guy walks into a library, and leaves with a sewing machine. No, that’s not the start of a bad joke. It could be the future of the local library system. Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library is seeking public input for the creation of a Library of Things—a system that would allow patrons to borrow an expanded list of items other than books.”...
Sacramento Business Journal, Sept. 23

Memphis to get Teen Learning Lab
The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in Memphis, Tennessee, is ramping up to begin construction on its $2 million state-of-the-art Teen Learning Lab, which is slated for a spring 2015 opening. The 8,300-square foot space will include video and audio production labs, editing and mixing stations, a video game zone for paying and creating games, formal and informal learning areas, digital and analog displays, an art studio, a performance stage, and a Makerspace, as well as brainstorming, homework, and collaboration zones....
High Ground News, Sept. 17

Boulder tries out a new code of conduct
The Boulder (Colo.) Public Library is seeking public comment on revisions to its code of conduct that remove many specific rules while giving library staff broader discretion to intervene to stop “disruptive” behavior. Gone are explicit rules about eating, having large bags, and washing hair and clothes in restroom sinks. Library spokeswoman Jennifer Bray said the purpose of the changes is to make the library a more welcoming place....
Boulder (Colo.) Daily Camera, Sept. 22

Bangor thief sentenced
A man who admitted to stealing historic photographs and posters from the Bangor (Maine) Public Library was sentenced September 16 to two years in prison with all but six months suspended after pleading guilty to a theft charge. Russell Graves was also sentenced to two years of probation, which means he cannot come into the library. Earlier this year, Graves took 75 Civil War-era cartes de visite and about 50 posters from World War I and World War II....
Bangor (Maine) Daily News, Sept. 17

Former director pleads guilty to embezzlement
A former director has pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the Albion (Mich.) District Library. Karen Kuhn-Clarke pleaded guilty September 22 to a count of embezzlement of an estimated $14,000 from a nonprofit organization after an investigation of improper use of a library credit card. As part of a plea agreement she could be placed on probation if she repays the stolen money by the time she is sentenced November 3....
Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer, Sept. 22

Chinese officials shut down rural library chain
A nongovernmental organization that had run a rural library project with as many as 22 libraries across China has announced that it is closing down, citing “tremendous pressure” from local authorities. No reason was given for the shutdown. Since 2007, Liren, which means helping someone find his way, had devoted itself to providing children in underprivileged areas with free access to books and fostering independent thinking. Some 40,000 readers, mainly rural primary and secondary school students, were affected by Liren’s shutdown....
New York Times: Sinosphere, Sept. 22

Public library services to teens
Libraries are home to microfilm readers and encyclopedias, but they are also a popular space for something a little newer—teenagers. “It’s a place where you can read and learn and truly find yourself and find your passion and you can be guided by highly trained professionals,” said ALA President-Elect Sari Feldman. Many public libraries include a space just for young people so that they feel at home, Feldman said, and oftentimes teens are involved in designing the spaces....
US News & World Report, Sept. 22

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Banned books and collection development
Andy Woodworth writes: “The library collection development process remains an enigma to the general public. For all the time devoted to presenting the image of the library as welcome to all ideas and opinions, the reality is more pragmatic and nuanced so as to keep the library efficient, relevant, and functional. While freedom of speech should be near-universally supported within the library, the collection is a different matter. It is a finite resource in so many definitions of the term.”...
Agnostic, Maybe, Sept. 22

In praise of #teamharpy
Barbara Fister writes: “One thing the US does get right is the high bar we set for charges of libel. It’s a lot easier to use the courts to make people shut up in the UK and Canada because their laws favor plaintiffs in libel cases. A Canadian librarian and another who lives in the American Midwest are being sued in Canada for $1.25 million by an American librarian named Joe Murphy, whom I have never met but who is fairly well known as a conference speaker.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Library Babel Fish, Sept. 23; Team Harpy

Why public libraries need social workers
Jenna Nemec-Loise writes: “When I heard that the District of Columbia Public Library hired a social worker this past May to help improve outcomes for homeless patrons, I almost surprised myself. I don’t know if ‘underwhelmed’ is quite the right word for my reaction, but I wasn’t exactly bowled over, either. Because of course a library would hire a social worker. It’s kind of a no-brainer, isn’t it?’...
Public Libraries Online, Sept. 23

Public libraries must agree on a mission
Kimberly Matthews writes: “As librarians we are repeatedly told that the average person doesn’t really know what the library does. We worry about this. We recognize that this lack of understanding leads to reduced funding, marginalization, and potentially worse fates. We discuss at length how to address the problem. We market. We advocate. We promote. And still we hear from surveys and studies that people ‘love the library’ but they aren’t really sure what we do or offer. The more frightening notion is that by not understanding what we do they cannot truly understand why we exist.”....
21st Century Library Blog, Sept. 24

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Create an online catalog with Google Drive
Andreas Hofer writes: “At the beginning of this school year I was faced with a novel task: putting the school’s library catalog online for our students. My first thought was simply to use Google Docs or Sheets and publish the catalog online. However, after having tried out these options I found them quite cumbersome for users and tried to come up with something more database-like using Google Fusion Tables. I was quite satisfied with the result.”...
G-Learning, Sept. 20

The best free antivirus for 2014
Neil J. Rubenking writes: “Going without antivirus protection isn’t an option. Even if you don’t care about your own computer, leaving it unprotected could let cyber-crooks turn it into a zombie minion and force it to participate in DDoS attacks. If you have any computers without an antivirus, you need to install protection. Right now. Don’t worry; it won’t cost you a penny.”...
PC Magazine, Sept. 17

Making peace with phablets
Farhad Manjoo writes: “It’s time to make peace with the term ‘phablet.’ Sure, the tech industry could have come up with a prettier, less jarring way to refer to smartphones that are big enough to be used as tablet computers. But phablets deserve their own unforgettably descriptive name. They aren’t simply large-screen phones. They are a distinctly new type of computing device, a machine that is often more useful, and more versatile, than either smartphones or laptops.”...
New York Times, Sept. 17

Why media website redesigns all look the same
Jason Abbruzzese writes: “If web design is art, we may be entering its minimalist phase. Website redesigns from some of the most-visited media destinations on the internet may be leaving users with a bit of déjà vu, since many are sporting the same visual elements. The designs are responsive, a concept that allows websites to conform to a wide variety of screen sizes while still providing a useful experience. The rise of responsive design has been driven by steadily rising mobile traffic combined with the introduction of a wide range of devices.”....
Mashable, Sept. 24; Pew Research Center, Mar. 17

How to delete online accounts
Eric Griffith writes: “No matter what you call it—deleting, canceling, removing—when you want to be rid of an online account, many sites don’t make it easy. You don’t want to rush into a break-up, but if you’re ready, we’ve compiled the links, tips, and, in the most extreme cases, the phone numbers you need to sever ties with social media sites, online retailers, entertainment services, and dating sites. And there are a few accounts you can’t delete.”...
PC Magazine, Sept. 23

All the news, in print
Maura Smale writes: “I’m suddenly finding myself very nostalgic for the age of paper newspapers in our academic libraries. I know they’re impractical for a whole range of reasons (so I’m not really serious about their return), but I do think they’re better for students in a number of ways. It’s been really interesting to go back to a print newspaper at home. Here are some things I’ve noticed.”...
ACRLog, Sept. 22

San Diego trolley passengers can read and ride
Trolley and bus passengers in San Diego, California, can now use their digital devices to check out books on the go. City Librarian Janice Wilhelm said the idea is to foster a greater appreciation for reading among the 300,000 daily transit riders. Like a traditional book club, readers will be able to exchange ideas about the books in the real and virtual world. The two featured ebooks this quarter in the new “Read and Ride” program are Maya’s Notebook and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes....
KPBS-TV, San Diego, Calif., Sept. 23

ProQuest digitizes Thomas Edison
ProQuest and Rutgers University are teaming to make the university’s acclaimed Thomas A. Edison Papers more accessible to scholars and students around the world. More than 175,000 of Edison’s laboratory notebooks, diaries, business records, correspondence, and other documents will now be available in the ProQuest History Vault. The Thomas A. Edison Papers Collection (PDF file) provides an intimate look at the life, work, and vision of the inventor credited with integrating the worlds of science, technology, movies, business, and finance....
ProQuest, Sept. 22

2015 Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits, Chicago, January 30–February 3. Bundle registration for 2015 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference is now open. You can save up to $130 and also book Midwinter housing. The conversation starts in Chicago, January 30–February 3, 2015, and continues at ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco, June 25–30.

A book you can scroll
Karen Coyle writes: “I was traveling in Italy where I spent a lot of time in bookstores. While there I came across something that I find fascinating: the flipback book. These books are small; the one I picked up is about 4 3/4" x 3 1/4". It feels like a good-sized package of Post-it notes in your hand. The first thing you notice is that you read the book top-to-bottom across two pages. It’s almost like scrolling on a web page, because you move the pages up, not across.”...
Coyle’s InFormation, Sept. 23

Books about modern China
Keir Graff writes: “I don’t know nearly enough about Chinese history. I think that, for most of us, that amazing country exists as a sort of looming idea, a place where cheap stuff comes from that we all feel vaguely guilty about consuming, a place we feel both superior to and threatened by, a place that only enters our minds when we read about overcrowding, pollution, and gargantuan civic works. We owe it to ourselves to learn more. I spent a large part of this morning looking for good books about modern China, and here’s a selected list.”...
Booklist Online: Likely Stories, Sept. 22

Famous historical book bannings
Claire Fallon writes: “Attempts to control and squelch literary speech have existed nearly as long as published literature itself. The ALA’s yearly Banned Books Week shines a light on how censorship and restriction of speech continue to affect readers and authors in America today, but the roots of book banning stretch deep into the past. Here are six historical moments when book censors won major victories, restricting access to the written word.”...
The Huffington Post, Sept. 23

New combined system for Montana academic libraries
The collection holdings of 14 academic libraries in Montana are now available through a single online search, thanks to a new statewide partnership. The system is made possible by a collaborative effort of the libraries of the four campuses of the University of Montana and the four campuses of Montana State University, as well as private colleges, tribal colleges, and a community college. The discovery system is powered by Primo software from Ex Libris and is designed to search across the 14 libraries’ catalogs, databases, and e-resource subscriptions....
University of Montana News, Sept. 24

Homebound outreach to new parents
Bringing the library to its patrons is the latest focus of the Eisenhower Public Library District in Harwood Heights, Illinois, to reach out to the community. Developing a love a reading is the philosophy behind its new program, Baby’s First Book Bag, which features a heavyweight shoulder bag with pockets that includes a board book and information on how to participate in “1,000 books before kindergarten.” New mothers may register through the library’s home delivery service....
Norridge–Harwood Heights (Ill.) News, Sept. 22

Getting uncomfortable
Linda W. Braun writes: “When I went to library school a few decades ago, we learned that in order to provide high-quality library service to youth it was imperative to read library professional literature and attend library related local, regional, state, and national conferences. Today, though it’s possible to provide good library services to teens by focusing on library professional development, to provide great service to a wide variety of teens from a wide variety of demographics you must move outside of the library silo.”...
YALSAblog, Sept. 22

Art painted on discarded library books
Since 2006, Los Angeles-based artist Mike Stilkey has been painting dreamlike figures of people and animals on discarded library books. “Most libraries have thousands and thousands of books that they can throw away at any time,” Stilkey said. Books can’t be recycled due to binding glue, so he gives them “a second life.” His book sculptures, the highest of which is 24 feet tall and is made up of 3,000 books, have been exhibited around the world. Painting on books adds an extra layer of meaning because of the objects’ history, he says....
The Observer (UK), July 19

Three warning signs that email is malicious
Ian Paul writes: “Email spam filtering is far better than it used to be. There was a time when nearly every scam email would land in your inbox. Thankfully that’s not the case anymore—especially if you’re a Gmail user. But no system is perfect. How do you know when you’re looking at a scam or not? Here are three basic tip-offs you can look for to figure out whether you’re looking at an email with dishonest intentions.”...
PC World, Sept. 16

Medieval selfies
Erik Kwakkel writes: “Self-portraits of medieval book artisans are as exciting as they are rare. In the age before the modern camera there were limited means to show others what you looked like. In the very late medieval period, when the Renaissance spirit was already felt in the air, some painters made self-portraits or included themselves in paintings commissioned by others. A particularly telling self-portrait (right) was made in 1512 by the German book decorator Nicolaus Bertschy.”...
medievalbooks, Sept. 19

The science of slimy things
Amy Koester writes: “A few months ago, one of my frequent program-goers made a request: Would I please be able to offer a program that includes slugs, one of his favorite animals? I was inclined to agree to the challenge, even before said child had his mother email me a photo of him with his three pet slugs. How does a librarian say no to that? This gave me the idea to explore ‘slime’ from two different perspectives: animal biology and physics. Thus ‘The Science of Slimy Things’ was born.”...
ALSC Blog, Sept. 23

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