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Shawnda Hines writes: “One of the best things about working in ALA’s Washington Office is the opportunity to attend celebratory events like the presentation of the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medals, the nation’s highest honor for libraries and museums in service to their communities. Over the award’s 24 years, 182 museums and libraries have received the honor. This was my first year to attend the annual ceremony, which was held at the US Institute for Peace on May 24.”...
District Dispatch, May 25 |
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Join American Libraries Live on June 11 for “Librarians’ Insights on How to Integrate STEM and Coding into Makerspaces,” a free, 60-minute webinar led by Azadeh Jamalian, head of education strategy at littleBits. Jamalian will talk about how school libraries are bringing STEM into their curriculum and the leading role that librarians and media specialists are taking to make this a reality. Register online....
American Libraries Live, May 25 |
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Evan Michael Bush writes: “I’ve found that one of the most satisfying ways to encourage young children to flex their creative muscles is through an artist workshop. My rule of thumb for creating programs is to always let a great book be the starting point for my planning. The artist workshop is no different. Start by selecting a children’s picture book about a famous artist, like Patricia MacLachlan’s The Iridescence of Birds: A Book about Henri Matisse, illustrated by Hadley Hooper.”...
ALSC Blog, May 26 |
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Hale Library at Kansas State University in Manhattan will be closed indefinitely after a fire broke out on the roof on May 22. Fire investigators have determined the blaze, which was contained to an attic, started accidentally due to roofing operations. KSU President Richard Myers launched a fundraising campaign to help with restoration costs and hopes to have the library operational again for the fall semester. The main reading room has holes in the roof, and books and furniture appear to have been damaged by water. Insurance adjusters are still evaluating smoke, water, and fire damage....
Wichita (Kans.) Eagle, May 23; Manhattan (Kans.) Mercury, May 25, 27 |
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At least half of the staff members at the James Kennedy Public Library in Dyersville, Iowa, say they have noticed books and chairs getting moved around or heard odd noises and footsteps when alone in the library. They wanted answers, so they called in a team of paranormal investigators in Decorah called Police Investigating Ghosts, who brought in some cameras, microphones, and measuring devices the night of May 13. The group will analyze its findings and report back to the library in the fall....
KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 24; Dyersville (Iowa) Commercial, May 16 |
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A vacant Carnegie library in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that was built in 1905 has been named among the most endangered historic sites in Canada. The National Trust for Canada has put Winnipeg’s former library on its 2018 Top 10 Endangered Places List. Although it was replaced by the Centennial Library in 1977, the Carnegie continued to serve as a library branch until the city archives moved there in 1995. When the building underwent renovations in 2013, a heavy rainstorm damaged the roof and forced the archives to move out....
CBC News, May 28 |
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Starting May 23, the Brooklyn Public Library became the first public musical instrument lending library in New York City, enabling adult library patrons to rent (for free) a violin, acoustic guitar, ukulele, electronic keyboard, drum pad, or music stand for a period of two months from the Central Library. The musical instrument lending library is available to any adult patron with a current BPL card and less than $15 in fines. They’ll be able to check out one instrument at a time, as well as a music stand....
Metro (New York), May 23 |
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Tony Brooks writes: “Built in the early 1900s but designed to look like it came from the 1300s, the University of Chicago’s Harper Memorial Library is now a popular study space, housing the third-floor reading room and Common Knowledge Café. But it wasn’t always this way. Back in June 1912, it was the newest building on a new campus, and it would continue to serve as the university’s primary library until the Regenstein Library opened nearly 60 years later.”...
The Chicago Maroon, May 28 |
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The door of the blue bus slides open and dozens of children excitedly bound up the steps, eager to get their hands on hard-to-find books in the first mobile library in Kabul, Afghanistan. Nicknamed Charmaghz (Dari for “walnut”), the converted public bus offers as many as 300 kids free daily access to children’s books, which are in short supply at public schools and libraries. The vehicle avoids government buildings, main roads, and other crowded areas targeted by militants, and is a relatively secure place for pupils to read, play chess, and see friends....
Digital Journal (Toronto), May 27 |
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What role should public libraries play in civic engagement? That was the question posed to a cross-section of leading thinkers—invitees from public libraries, civic media, technology, collective action, and the arts—at a gathering hosted by the University of Washington Information School’s Technology and Social Change Group. A new TASCHA report documents the ideas shared at the forum by such participants as Brian Bannon (Chicago Public Library); An-Me Chung (Mozilla); and Diego Merizalde (Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia)....
University of Washington Information School, May 25
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Cameron Summerson writes: “Google and Facebook do collect your data—your name, birthday, and sex are all a part of what they know about you. Other details, like your search history, where you go, and who you communicate with is also collected (relative to the network). These services rely on your data to continue to function. Therefore, it’s paramount that they keep it safe. Neither company makes money by selling your data; but if they keep your data, they can make money from companies that want to advertise to you.”...
How-To Geek, May 29 |
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Jaime Donally writes: “Early adopters of ARVRinEDU (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in education) have sought out resources to meet the needs of students and managed to keep their spending in line with the school budget. Our students are hungry for the opportunity to show what they know. Using immersive technology, they have the freedom to create content that would otherwise be impossible. These activities are easy to develop without extensive training. Here are five of my favorites.”...
eSchool News, May 29 |
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