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Larra Clark writes: “High school students on the tiny Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia are becoming published authors, thanks to the combined efforts of the island’s Soufrière Public Library, the regional Peace Corps, and local schools. As these young writers build their literacy and writing skills, the schools and libraries in the west coast town of Soufrière are adding these culturally relevant, Creole-influenced children’s books to their collections.”...
American Libraries feature, Apr. 28 |
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Michael Robinson writes: “The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom demonstrated its foresight when it started the Choose Privacy Week (May 1–7) program in 2010, launching an ongoing program to raise awareness among libraries and library users about the dangers of government surveillance and demonstrating why privacy is important, especially in light of the growing use of online resources. However, the Snowden revelations in 2013 and the Adobe e-reader kerfuffle in 2014 brought privacy to the forefront.”...
Intellectual Freedom Blog, Apr. 28; Choose Privacy Week, Oct. 13, 2014 |
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In the new episode of the Dewey Decibel podcast, American Libraries looks into the future of libraries with guests Miguel Figueroa, Kimber Fender, and Ryan Gravel....
AL: The Scoop, Apr. 26 |
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Jen Habley writes: “AASL’s newest recognition program, Social Media Superstars, honors school library professionals who enrich the profession and its work on behalf of students by sharing information, expertise, ideas, encouragement, dialogue, and inspiration widely via a variety of social media channels. After reviewing all of the endorsements left by peers and the original nominations, the Social Media Recognition Task Force has selected its AASL Social Media Superstars for 2017.”...
Knowledge Quest blog, Apr. 27 |
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Forty-two ALA chapters (state library associations) are partnering with ALA to offer students the opportunity to join both the chapter and ALA for the price of $38, now through August 31. The dues will increase by $2 after that date. New program partners in 2017 are Colorado Association of Libraries and the New Hampshire Library Association. To apply for joint student membership online, find your state association on the list and complete the online form through ALA’s secure database....
Chapter Relations Office |
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On April 27, the FCC put out its draft proposal for reversing the 2015 net neutrality order. Rather than undoing the order wholesale, the FCC is essentially splitting it up into two parts: One part undoes the legal authority used to implement net neutrality (Title II) and the other part asks whether or not it should keep the rules, such as no blocking or throttling websites. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai (right) said high-speed internet service should no longer be treated like a public utility with strict rules. The move would, in effect, largely leave the industry to police itself, something that history shows has not been very successful. The plan faces “a tsunami of resistance,” according to activists. The FCC vote is scheduled for May 18. ALA President Julie B. Todaro issued a statement on April 26 outlining the ALA and ACRL position....
The Verge, Apr. 26–27; Lifehacker, Apr. 27; The Guardian (UK), Apr. 26; Ars Technica, Apr. 26; AL: The Scoop, Apr. 26 |
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The Fight for Libraries has moved to the US Senate. On April 26, two “Dear Appropriator” letters began circulating in the Senate, one seeking $186.6 million for the Library Services and Technology Act and the other $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program for FY 2018. Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) are again championing funds for LSTA, while Sens. Reed, Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) are leading the fight for IAL. For National Library Legislative Day, May 1–2, hundreds of library supporters will convene in Washington, D.C., where they meet with their members of Congress to rally support for library issues and policies.....
District Dispatch, Apr. 26; United for Libraries, Apr. 25 |
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Illinois House members voted 111–3 on April 27 to make the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield a separate state agency, a first step in transferring it to the federal Office of Presidential Libraries under the National Archives. The facility is currently the only presidential library in the nation to be a state operation. The vote comes nearly a month after Gov. Bruce Rauner went ahead with the move by issuing an executive order. By passing the legislation, the change cannot be rescinded by a future governor....
Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register, Apr. 27
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The Internet Archive has been named as one of the 21st annual Webby Awards winners. The website won the 17th Lifetime Achievement Award “for its commitment to making the world’s knowledge available online and preserving the history of the internet itself. With a vast collection of digitized materials and tools like the Wayback Machine, Archive.org has become a vital resource not only to catalog an ever-changing medium, but to safeguard a free and open internet for everyone.”...
Internet Archive Blogs, Apr. 25
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On April 27, the Mystery Writers of America presented the 2017 Edgar Awards in New York City. The awards honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction, television, film, and theater published or produced in the previous year. The award for Best Novel went to Before the Fall by Noah Hawley; Under the Harrow by Flynn Berry won for Best First Novel; and The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale won for Best Fact Crime....
The Edgars, Apr. 27
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Barbara Fister writes: “Of all of our cultural institutions, the public library is remarkable. There are few tax-supported services that are used by people of all ages, classes, races, and religions. I find it intriguing that the American public library grew out of an era that has many similarities to this one—the last quarter of the 19th century, when large corporations owned by the super-rich had gained the power to shape society and fundamentally change the lives of ordinary people. It all sounds strangely familiar.”...
Inside Higher Ed: Library Babel Fish, Apr. 26
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Paula Cocozza writes: “Ten years ago, when the Kindle launched, the idea was miraculous. Here was the ability to carry hundreds of books enfolded in a tiny slip of plastic, countless stories in a few hundred grams. A decade on, set a Kindle next to a smartphone or tablet and it looks so much older, while the reading experience it delivers has scarcely progressed. There are fewer new readers of digital books, and they tend to consume physical books as well. Oyster, the so-called Netflix for books, folded after a year.”...
The Guardian (UK), Apr. 27
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