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Ann Ewbank writes: “ALA’s Washington Office has, for the past 70+ years, been the voice of libraries in the nation’s capital. That voice—your voice—has had a significant positive impact on laws, policies, and attitudes. ALA has risen to and met many public policy challenges throughout its history. If there’s a common lesson to be drawn from those experiences it’s that we’re better together. The ALA Committee on Legislation and the Washington Office feel strongly that that’s the best way forward in these challenging times.”...
District Dispatch, Dec. 19 |
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Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden invites the public to provide input to the Library of Congress on expertise needed by the Register of Copyrights. An online survey is open to the public, the results of which will inform development of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the position. Information provided through the survey will be posted online and submitters’ names will appear. The deadline to respond is January 31....
US Copyright Office, Dec. 16 |
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A Post-Election 2016 Library Guide, developed by the Penn State University Libraries, has created a supportive virtual space to explore, learn, and discuss ideas brought up in the 2016 US election and the ideas and reactions following it. Reference and Instruction Librarian Hailley Fargo created the LibGuide with the encouragement of Head of Library Learning Services Rebecca Miller. The guide is a repository of information on the election, the democratic process, and online and local resources....
Penn State News, Dec. 19 |
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On December 19, NBC news anchor Lester Holt began a special two-week run of the “Inspiring America” series on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt with a feature story (2:13) on Colbert Nembhard, who manages the Morrisania branch of the New York Public Library and has inspired a pilot project to introduce libraries in family shelters across New York City....
Broadway World, Dec. 19; NBC Nightly News, Dec. 19 |
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Jason Griffey writes: “The idea that libraries are neutral spaces has been disabused over the last few years. From the services we offer to the collections that we curate, the decisions that libraries and librarians make are political ones that reflect values. In the face of the current political climate, it is up to those who value fact and believe in the care of those in need to stand up and positively affirm that to do otherwise is evil. For libraries and librarians, that means engaging in a few vital and necessary actions.”...
Pattern Recognition, Dec. 16; Feral Librarian, Jan. 28, 2015; Indivisible Team, Dec. 17 |
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The German Library Association (Deutscher Bibliotheksverband) has issued its 2016/2017 Report on the State of Libraries in Germany in a special English edition. In addition to offering selected facts and figures, the report highlights the most urgent issues in the German library landscape, suggests appropriate measures and solutions, reviews the position statements of the association, and provides supportive statements by politicians from the national and European level....
Deutscher Bibliotheksverband, Dec. |
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Rebecca Scotka writes: “The East Lyme (Conn.) Public Library encourages children to become part of the movie during our weekly movie programs. The weekly ‘Pajama Story and Movie Time’ is designed for preschoolers and early elementary-school-age children and their families. For this program, we only show movies that are based on books. First we read the books, then show the movie version. Without any prompting, the children take the books and read along, sometimes pointing out differences to their parents.”...
ALSC Blog, Dec. 19 |
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Madison Well writes: “In the middle of all of the holiday cheer, December is also a month for librarians across the country to think back on those who gave back to their communities. The late Lutie Eugenia Stearns (right), born on September 13, 1866, influenced many within the field of librarianship. With the holiday season upon us, who better to write about than a woman who selflessly dedicated her life to advocate for those whose voices went unheard?”...
ALA Archives Blog, Dec. 19
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Hayden Dingman writes: “Picking the right gaming mouse is an intensely personal decision. Every little detail—its overall shape and size, its buttons’ shape and placement, its cable (or lack thereof), its weight, its materials—can change how you feel about it. More than any other peripheral, the mouse is the hardest to recommend, because there is no perfect mouse. Everyone’s hands are different. Here are our recommendations for gaming mice, both as gamers and as writers for PC World.”...
PC World, Dec. 16
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Jason Fitzpatrick writes: “It’s that holiday time of year again, and that means it’s time to fix your family’s Wi-Fi and other tech problems. Being the tech support for your family can be enormously frustrating. But, at the same time, thanks to the increasing role of technology in people’s lives, you’ve got an important job to do. So with that in mind, we’re going to run through a crash course that will help you whip your family’s tech life into shape so their networks are secure, their computers are backed up, and everything is connected.”...
How-To Geek, Dec. 20
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Danielle Jones writes: “Previously I posted about Social Justice and Disability: Evaluating Materials and Media with Characters with Disabilities. I am back to share some other essential resources and sites. When it comes to social justice we need to be as informed as possible and empathetic as possible. The following is a partial list of the many great websites out there talking about issues of social justice and disability.”...
YALSA The Hub, Dec. 18, 20
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Giaco Furino writes: “Each week, the minicomic Strip Panel Naked uses creator interviews, video essays, and critical thinking to find ‘some of the cool stuff lurking in the pages of some of the best comics.’ But on December 10, the episode examined the growing world of digital comics designed specifically for the small screens of smart devices. By looking specifically at Ibrahim Moustafa’s digital comic Jaeger, the series delved into the digital world of cramped storytelling spaces.”...
The Creators Project, Dec. 18; Strip Panel Naked YouTube channel, Dec. 10
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