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Every day, libraries transform lives, communities, and the work we do—and the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits bring together thousands of library professionals to engage, network, and deepen our understanding of what it means to be a part of a dynamic profession. Attendees at Midwinter engage in the face-to-face committee work that moves projects forward and builds on virtual collaboration, as well as quality conversations with exhibitors on a less crowded exhibit floor....
American Libraries feature, Sept./Oct. |
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Larra Clark writes: “ALA, ACRL, the Association of  Research Libraries, and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies on September 21 argued in support of the FCC’s strong, enforceable rules to protect and preserve the open internet with an amicus filing (PDF file) with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The groups focused on four key points to rebut petitioners in the case of US Telecom Association, et al., v. FCC and United States of America.”...
District Dispatch, Sept. 21 |
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 Join PLA to learn how to make any weeding project a public relations dream. A “Weeding Smart” webinar will take place on October 2. Awful Library Books coauthors Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly will discuss communication, transparency, and timing. Learn how to get staff and patrons on board, be clear with your weeding plan, and set a pace that allows for careful decision making. The registration deadline is September 30....
PLA, Sept. 21 |
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A significant mold outbreak has forced the Boston Public Library to close its Rare Books Department for up to 10 weeks after staff found fuzzy white spores on a medieval manuscript and other prized items. The library routinely battles mold, but has never faced an outbreak “to this scale,” according to Laura Irmscher, the chief of collections strategy. The Copley Square library is in the midst of a major renovation, which could make it harder to control the environment....
Boston Globe, Sept. 18 |
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Vermont prison inmates who want to do legal research into their cases are finding themselves without the help of a state law librarian. A budget cut approved by lawmakers earlier in 2015 meant the departure of Paul Donovan (right) from the state law library in Montpelier. Donovan had a reputation in Vermont and around the country as a go-to person for inmates with legal research questions. The Vermont Law School in South Royalton will provide some of the services the state library had offered....
Burlington (Vt.) Free Press, Sept. 21 |
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Jessica Elgot writes: “Cyberbullying is a worse problem among teenagers than drug abuse, according to almost half of all young people surveyed in a new study that finds one in five has experienced online abuse. In the global Vodafone survey of more than 4,700 teenagers from across the world, a fifth of those who had experienced cyberbullying said it had made them consider suicide, and more than half said being taunted online was worse than being bullied in person.” Vodafone has announced a #BeStrong anti-cyberbullying emoji initiative, using a suite of “support emojis” to raise awareness of the importance of conveying compassion, sympathy, and support when friends are being bullied online....
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 22; Vodafone, Sept. 22 |
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Public libraries are welcoming refugees arriving into European countries with activities for both children and adults, as well as access to information and education. Libraries in Denmark have worked particularly hard to integrate resident refugees. The European Bureau of Library, Information, and Documentation Associations believes that libraries all over Europe should act as a platform for democratic and open-minded values, and be a safe place where social inclusiveness for all is a priority....
European Bureau of Library, Information, and Documentation Associations; Danmarks Biblioteksforening, Sept. 11 |
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Marsha Rakestraw writes: “The headlines are full of news about refugees. And while we adults struggle with what to do and how to help, many children and young adults are seeking understanding and wanting some answers. Talking with children about global issues can be challenging, but it’s necessary that we do so (in age-appropriate ways), so that they can feel safe, educated, and empowered. Here are 14 books for children and young adults that can help start the conversation.”...
Humane Connection, Sept. 21; May 8, 2012
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Google’s informal appeal against a French order to apply the so-called “right to be forgotten” to all of its global internet services and domains, not just those in Europe, has been rejected. The president of the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés, France’s data protection authority, gave a number of reasons for the rejection, including the fact that European orders to delist information from search results could be easily circumvented if links were still available on Google’s other domains....
ArsTechnica, Sept. 21; Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés, Sept. 21 |
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James LaRue writes: “I last wrote about Oyster, the ‘Netflix for ebooks,’ in January 2014. On September 21, Oyster announced that it is shutting down. Most of its very savvy engineers are moving over to Google, where they will no doubt work on the Google Books store. Apparently Google did not buy them outright, but it is paying some amount of money to hire the team, hence the portmanteau ‘acq-hired.’”...
AL: E-Content, Sept. 22; Jan. 20, 2014; TechCrunch, Sept. 21; Re/Code, Sept. 21 |
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Michael Kozlowski writes: “Are people reading the ebooks they purchase from companies such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo? There is growing research data that is supporting the notion that people are not reading the digital titles they buy online and, for the most part, they are never even opened. At BookExpo America last April, Kobo dived deep into global reading behavior and analyzed the data.”...
Good eReader, Sept. 20 |
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Phil Morehart writes: “The Digitalia Film Library, a division of Spanish-language e-content provider Digitalia Publishing, allows libraries to bring the world of cinema to their patrons. India for Everyone was founded in 2005 with a mission to make it easy for libraries to build collections of materials from India. The Criterion Collection from Alexander Street Press is one of the world’s most respected distributors of films spanning the history of cinema.”...
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct. |
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The American Alliance of Museums will host a three-part webcast series on October 7, 14, and 28 that will discuss inclusive practices at cultural institutions. Advocates and experts will explore issues of accessibility and inclusion from the perspective of visitors, staff, and facility or program users in museums, libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions. All AAM live webinars feature text chat, audience interactivity, closed captioning, and access to presentation handouts and other resources....
American Alliance of Museums |
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