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George Eberhart writes: “All seven of the speakers at the IFLA President’s Program at the World Library and Information Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, on August 17 emphasized the potent links between libraries, information access, literacy, and national economic development. The session title, ‘Strong Libraries, Strong Societies: Access, Development, Transformation,’ highlighted IFLA President Sinikka Sipilä’s own theme of libraries as essential players in the empowerment of individuals to create sustainable societies.”...
AL: The Scoop, Aug. 18 |
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Visitors from more than 10 countries crowded the exhibit hall in search of information, wine, and snacks at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions conference in Cape Town during the opening reception on August 16. Some 65 companies, libraries, and organizations were available at the World Library and Information Congress for consultation, including each of the nine provinces of South Africa....
AL: The Scoop, Aug. 17 |
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 Kista Public Library in Sweden has won the 2015 Systematic Public Library of the Year Award. The $5,000 prize is awarded by the Danish Agency for Culture as a part of the Model Programme for Public Libraries and sponsored by IT company Systematic. The award was presented August 16 at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Library and Information Congress in Cape Town, South Africa....
Danish Agency for Culture, Aug. 16 |
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The Cambridge Digital Library now includes rarely seen treasures from the university's Chinese collection, including several oracle bones (ox shoulder blades and turtles shells that make up one of the earliest surviving examples of Chinese writing anywhere in the world). Also part of the site now is the Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, a 1633 book of multicolor prints that was too fragile to be opened until it was digitized....
Cambridge University Library |
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Charlie Wapner writes: “South by Southwest (SXSW) is once again around the corner and, as in years past, we need your help to make sure libraries are well represented. The Office for Information Technology Policy proposed two programs, one for Interactive and one for EDU. Public voting counts for 30 percent of SXSW’s decision to pick a panel, so please support these great programs. It’s easy: Become a registered voter in the Panel Picker process by signing up for a free account, and get your votes in before Friday, Sept. 4.”...
District Dispatch, Aug. 17 |
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Emily Childress-Campbell writes: “I am sure I am not the only librarian who has repeatedly heard the phrase ‘real reading.’ I always cringe at the phrase. I have no problem with readers having a particular preference. Everybody has their own inclinations towards specific formats. What bothers me is the complete lack of exposure that youth may suffer due to a parent’s bias against particular formats, or readers of any age feeling inferior and self-conscious about something as individualized and personal as a reading choice.”...
YALSA: The Hub, Aug. 18 |
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Want to keep the momentum going after a successful teen event? That “one off” can easily be turned into a popular monthly club that will keep young adults coming back. In their new book Club Programs for Teens: 100 Activities for the Entire Year, published by ALA Editions, Amy J. Alessio, coauthor of the bestseller A Year of Programs for Teens, and Heather Booth, coeditor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services, show you how....
ALA Editions, Aug. 17 |
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At the Edinburgh International Book Festival, author Ali Smith warned that cuts to local public libraries in the UK threatened the “democracy of reading”: “It’s very important we all think about it, because councils who have had the draconian effect of the cuts on them don’t like to say libraries are closing, they like to say that they are becoming ‘community libraries.’ That means nobody gets paid to look after them and it does mean that in the end they will fall apart.”...
Edinburgh (Scotland) Reporter, Aug. 17
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The third annual Read-a-Romance Month (RARM) kicked off August 1, and this year's theme is “The Joy of Romance.” This year also marks the first RARM Librarians Day on August 21, featuring essays on the RARM blog from three librarians in the field of romance advocacy and admiration: Wendy Crutcher, Monique Flasch, and Christyna Hunter....
USA Today, Aug. 13 |
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Justin Pot writes: “Remember when everything on the web felt ... new? Back when ‘surfing the web’ was a common expression, and part of the joy of using the Internet was making random discoveries. Is that feeling of serendipity gone forever? It doesn’t have to be. From discovering useful websites to seeing sheep on Google Street View, we’re going to point out five great starting points for exploring the web.”...
MakeUseOf, Aug. 15 |
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 Like a lot of kids, Willa McKamey, 6, and Henry McKamey, 2, of Moline, Illinois, opened a lemonade stand one warm and sunny summer afternoon. But the McKameys donated the proceeds to their favorite place, the Moline Public Library. “I wanted to give this money to them because I like reading books a lot from that library,” said Willa. Their total donation: $30, plus a pitcher of fresh lemonade for the librarians....
Moline (Ill.) Dispatch, Aug. 14 |
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