For daily ALA and library news, check the American Libraries website or subscribe to our RSS feed.
|
|
|
Carrie Russell writes: “On March 15, the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559) was introduced in the US Senate, nudging the United States further toward adoption of the treaty. If the act is passed and signed by the president, the bill will greatly increase access for English speakers with print disabilities, especially in developing countries, where less than 1% of all published print content is accessible. ALA first became involved in advocating for an exception for the print-disabled back in 2008.” ALA President Jim Neal released a statement of support after the bill was introduced. Contact your senator at the ALA Action Center....
AL: The Scoop, Mar. 15; ALA Washington Office, Mar. 15 |
|
Amy Harpe writes: “Many schools teach about endangered species and humans’ effect on the environment, but they don’t always look at other threatened aspects of our world. Culture and history are disappearing every day, whether it is a language on the verge of extinction, a musical instrument that no one plays anymore, or town history that no one remembers. As we observe Preservation Week (April 22–26), keep in mind that even our youngest students are eager to hear about cultural and historic preservation.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr. |
|
Karen Muller writes: “The public library is the face of librarianship for many outside the profession. It’s a ubiquitous space that serves not only as an information repository but also as a community resource. New titles on public librarianship address its many facets and spheres of influence. The afterword in Introduction to Public Librarianship, 3rd edition, by Kathleen de la Peña McCook and Jenny S. Bossaller, captures the essence of public librarianship.”...
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr. |
|
In her role as the Shedd Aquarium librarian and archivist in Chicago, Alisun DeKock (right) keeps track of a multitude of fishy facts displayed on the iPads located in each exhibit for visitors to peruse. When new species are added to one of the habitats, DeKock and a team of Shedd curators do research to keep the information accurate, current, and consistent....
American Libraries Bookend, Mar./Apr. |
|
|
|
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown ousted the state librarian March 13 in a move that surprised and angered many librarians and library supporters around the state. Brown decided that State Librarian MaryKay Dahlgreen (right) “fell short of clear and timely expectations from legislators,” spokeswoman Kate Kondayen said. Brown gave Dahlgreen the option to transition out of her position, but she chose to be fired instead. Specifics remain elusive, and the governor has not yet chosen a replacement....
Portland Oregonian, Mar. 15; Pendleton East Oregonian, Mar. 14 |
|
A new public service announcement featuring author Jason Reynolds (right) is now available from AASL as part of the 2018 celebration of School Library Month. In the PSA, Reynolds speaks to how school libraries are places of refuge and recognition for students who want to feel less alone. School librarians and advocates for school libraries are encouraged to download and share the PSA throughout their communities in celebration of School Library Month....
AASL, Mar. 13 |
|
|
Laurie Putnam writes: “In study after study, libraries are ranked among the public’s most trusted sources of information. But how confident can we be in our position as trusted institutions—and how can we sustain that trust? It’s worth knowing our weak spots as well as celebrating our strengths, and public confidence is not something to get complacent about. Established trust can also be compromised, weakened, lost, and sometimes it doesn’t take much for the ground to shift.”...
Next Libraries, Mar. 15
|
|
Jessica Schomberg writes: “I went to library school to be a cataloger. There wasn’t an official cataloging track, but it was pretty easy to design your own. I also went to library school almost 20 years ago, in the midst of a massive shift in how library schools were structured—my first year I attended a Graduate School of Library and Information Science, my second year it was an iSchool! Here are 10 things I wish I’d learned in library school and some things that I’m glad I learned later.”...
Letters to a Young Librarian, Mar. 15 |
|
Dustan Archer writes: “Have you shown a movie at your library for a program? Did you check to see if you have the license to do a public performance of that movie first? If you don’t have a public performance license, you may have been in violation of copyright law—and as librarians, we need to take this more seriously than I’ve seen out in the wild world of public library teen programming. There are no exceptions for educational, nonprofit, or free of charge viewings.”...
Teen Services Underground, Mar. 16 |
|
|
Laura Weakly writes: “If you’ve ever tried your luck at an escape room, you know the thrill of working to make sense of clues that will let you unlock the door and make your escape. But the one thing that might have made your escape experience even better? Archives! What if you could bring this special thrill to your archives’ patrons, while introducing them to your collections and resources? How would you go about it? Here is how the University of Nebraska–Lincoln did it, using clues rooted in Nebraska history.”...
ArchivesAware!, Mar. 8 |
|
![Users’ additions to the text of the herbal Rams little Dodeon [sic], including manicules, annotations in red ink, and illustrations](../marchimages/dodoens.jpg "Users’ additions to the text of the herbal Rams little Dodeon [sic], including manicules, annotations in red ink, and illustrations")
Katarzyna Lecky writes: “The Folger Shakespeare Library has a wealth of pre-Linnaean English herbals (printed guides to the medicinal qualities of plants) ranging from gorgeous folios to pocket-sized reference manuals. Although the large-format botanical works boast an undeniable aesthetic appeal with their elaborate frontispieces and pages filled with engraved plates of flora, little herbals are often more compelling for those of us interested in who used them, how, and why.”...
The Collation, Mar. 15 |
|
A decade ago, we imagined a world of participatory culture where youth would be empowered to actively and strategically use technology. Through peer/self-learning and formal education, young people have developed a well-informed understanding of the world through social media. However, this participatory culture can be unhealthy, cruel, and socially devastating. In this SXSW talk (59:01), danah boyd (right) explores the unintended consequences of efforts to empower youth, media manipulation and literacy, polarization, and other issues....
SXSW EDU YouTube channel, Mar. 5 |
AL Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Tuesday and Friday to personal members of the American Library Association.
Editor, AL Direct: George M. Eberhart, geberhart@ala.org
|
Send news and feedback: aldirect@ala.org
Direct ad inquiries to: mstack@ala.org
AL Direct FAQ: americanlibrariesmagazine.org/al-direct
All links outside the ALA website
are provided for informational purposes only. Questions about the
content of any external site should be addressed to the administrator of
that site.
AL Direct will not sell your email to outside parties, but your email may be shared with advertisers in this newsletter should you express interest in their products by clicking on their ads or content. If the advertisers choose to communicate with you by email, they are obligated to provide you with an opportunity to opt-out from future emails in compliance with the CAN-SPAM act of 2003. Read the ALA privacy policy.
American Libraries
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
800-545-2433, ext. 4216
ISSN 1559-369X
|
