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Charlottesville violence poses new challenges for libraries

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville, Virginia (Photo: Billy Hathorn/Creative Commons license)

Timothy Inklebarger writes: “White supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville that erupted in violence and left three dead and dozens injured have prompted discussion among library officials on the institution’s role in everything from intellectual freedom to disaster relief. Libraries at both the public and university level historically have developed response plans for natural disasters, but the Charlottesville demonstrations and similar white nationalist rallies planned for other cities have library administrators working not only to protect patrons and library infrastructure but to assist in relief efforts.”...

AL: The Scoop, Aug. 18

Library employee suffers stroke after Charlottesville attack

Tyler Magill, an employee with the University of Virginia’s Alderman Library, suffered a stroke on August 15 that may be related to injuries he received while protesting white supremacists on the university campus in Charlottesville August 12. According to reports, Magill was hit in the neck with a tiki torch, which may have contributed to the partially dissected carotid artery and blood clots that doctors found Tuesday morning. Magill works as a liaison with Ivy Stacks, the library’s offsite shelving facility....

Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 16

PLA to host discussion of opioid crisis for libraries

More than 2 million people in the US are estimated to be dependent on prescription opioids or heroin. This national epidemic is affecting communities of all sizes and the public libraries that serve them. The Public Library Association is partnering with WebJunction to host a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the opioid epidemic for public library professionals, 2–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 12. Representatives from libraries and other community organizations will describe their local efforts and partnerships in addressing this epidemic....

Public Library Association, Aug. 17; American Libraries feature, June 21

Eclipse madness: Zombies might be easier

Alexa Newman writes: “In case you are one of the 18 people who haven’t yet heard the news: There’s going to be a total solar eclipse on August 21 that will cross the United States. Media coverage of this rare occurrence is exploding. It’s exciting to have such an enthusiastic response from the public. It’s also a little intimidating.”...

ALSC blog, Aug. 16

Get a Girls Who Code starter kit for your library

Cover of <em>Girls Who Code: The Friendship Code,</em> by Stacia Deutsch

Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani writes: “Computing skills are the most sought-after in the US job market, but girls across the US are being left behind. What started as an experiment with 20 girls in a New York City classroom has grown to a movement of 40,000 middle and high school girls across the states. In 2017, we’re expanding our movement with the launch of a 13-book series as an invitation for girls everywhere to learn to code and change the world.” To request a free Girls Who Code Starter Kit for your library, including tips for leaders, giveaways, and more, email: schoolandlibrary@us.penguingroup.com...

District Dispatch, Aug. 16; AL: The Scoop, June 24

The problem with reading levels

James Fenimore Cooper portrait by Matthew Brady

April Dawkins writes: “When my niece was in 6th grade, she was informed by her teacher that she had to choose a book on her Lexile level for her next checkout from the library. When she told her librarian her Lexile level (1350), they checked the catalog. What were her choices? Anything from the Leatherstocking Tales by James Fenimore Cooper. That was it. Do you want to turn off a student from reading? Tell them they have to read 19th-century American fiction for fun.”...

Intellectual Freedom Blog, Aug. 15

Teens can now vote for the 2017 Teens' Top Ten

Teens all around the world can start casting their votes for their favorite titles for the 2017 YALSA Teens’ Top Ten now through October 14. The voting page, hosted by DOGObooks, showcases all 26 nominees with their respective book covers and summaries, as well as the opportunity for teens to leave comments about their favorite titles. The top 10 titles will be announced the week following Teen Read Week, October 8–14. All teens aged 12–18 are eligible to vote and can vote for up to three of their favorite titles....

YALSA, Aug. 15

Pairing picture books and primary sources

<em>Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California</em> by Dorothea Lange

Tom Bober writes: “Pairing primary sources with a picture book about the event or individual who created the sources can give students an opportunity to explore not only what perspective is shared through the primary sources, but also why the person who created the sources shared the perspective. The picture book Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression by Carole Boston Weatherford and accompanying photos by Lange can be a strong pairing to demonstrate perspective.”...

KnowledgeQuest blog, Aug. 17

Best laptops under $500

Matthew Murray writes: “‘Cheap’ is no longer a dirty word when it comes to laptops. These days, manufacturers are inventing new ways to outsell each other, including aggressive price cutting. Now we're seeing full-size and ultraportable Windows 10 notebooks with processors powerful enough for use at home, school, or work, as well as full-featured chromebooks and hybrid systems that give you both laptop and tablet functionality in one device.”...