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ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. writes: “When we started laying the foundation for what would become
'Holding Space' nine months ago, I imagined an adventure spanning thousands of miles. We’d rent a bus and take to the open road, crossing the US and visiting libraries along the way. But I’ll be embarking on a different kind of journey now. Rather than a celebration on wheels, 'Holding Space' will take place virtually. The intent remains the same: As ALA president, I want to elevate the stories and successes of libraries whose work takes place just out of the spotlight.”...
AL: The Scoop, July 27
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The American Association of School Librarians has released its inaugural list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning. Best Digital Tools combines the previously separate lists of Best Apps and Best Websites for Teaching and Learning. The new list follows the evolution of technology as websites develop apps and resources are produced that are not easily classified in either platform. By moving to Best Digital Tools, AASL can recognize the depth and breadth of resources available to educators....
AASL, July 27
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A new American Alliance of Museums survey of more than 750 museum directors confirmed early estimates of the dire economic harm to museums caused by the COVID-19 closures, which are expected to continue due to recent outbreaks across the country. One-third (33%) of museum directors surveyed confirmed there was a “significant risk” of closing permanently by next fall, or they “didn’t know” if they would survive. The vast majority (87%) of museums have only 12 months or less of financial operating reserves remaining, with 56% having less than six months left to cover operations....
American Alliance of Museums, July 22
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Lindsey Simon writes: “With false information proliferating online, it’s essential to separate fact from fiction, and libraries play a key role in teaching their communities how to evaluate news items with a critical eye. Vincci Lui, a librarian at the University of Toronto’s Gerstein Science Information Center, has created a
comprehensive online guide with advice for spotting inaccurate information about the pandemic. Tips include consulting fact-checking organizations, visiting reputable health-focused websites, and looking closely at news sources for potential bias or hoaxes.”...
I Love Libraries, July 27; University of Toronto Libraries
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Douglas County (Nev.) Sheriff Daniel Coverley (left) suggested on July 27 that his agency would not respond to calls at Douglas County Public Library after the library expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Coverley wrote in a letter to the library’s board of trustees that because of its support of the movement and “the obvious lack of support or trust with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, please do not feel the need to call 911 for help.” Less than 24 hours later, he walked back the comments....
Las Vegas Sun, July 28
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On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This year is also the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is recognized in October. To mark these occasions, the Law Library of Congress talks to its staff members who work to improve accessibility about some of the projects and initiatives they are currently undertaking....
In Custodia Legis, July 26
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Mario M. Gonzales (left), director of Passaic (N.J.) Public Library, and Rhea B. Lawson, director of Houston Public Library, have been selected to serve as the American Library Association’s newest Endowment Trustees. The ALA Executive Board made these selections during its last meeting of the 2020 Virtual Annual Conference on June 30. The three-year terms of these newly selected trustees began immediately....
ALA News, July 24
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Author Kate Reed Petty writes: “Most events are still following the old-fashioned format of the in-person bookstore event, where two authors have a conversation, maybe with a short reading, maybe with an audience Q&A. Rather than developing new ideas for book events to suit the technology we’re using, the literary community is by and large continuing to do what we’ve always done. It’s time to start experimenting—and to try radically reinventing what a ‘book event’ can be, in this radically different year.”...
Electric Literature, July 28
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Composers from 86 countries have submitted more than 7,800 musical compositions as part of a collaborative project by the UCLA Music Library and the Los Angeles–based Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra to highlight the work of living composers and bring it to a wider audience by making it available online. The project, which the organizers say is the largest call for scores in the world, also represents the largest open access publishing effort for contemporary music compositions, with more than 6,000 of the submissions being published on eScholarship, an open access repository where UC scholars share their work....
UCLA Newsroom, July 23
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Benj Edwards writes: “If you used a computer between 1997 and 2005, you probably burned valuable data to at least one recordable CD (CD-R) or DVD-R. Unfortunately, these have a limited lifespan, and many have already become unreadable. That’s why it’s important to back up your recordable discs before it’s too late—here’s how to do it.”...
How-To Geek, July 28
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Teen Services Librarian Andrea Sowers writes: “I know this summer/year has been a struggle for most of us. It’s been a scramble to find what the patrons do and don’t want. I knew virtual/Zoom programming would be a bust for our community, but I thought craft pickup packs would be popular. Little did I know how popular they would be. Every week I ran out of all our kits, which ranged from 72–100 depending on the craft.”...
Teen Services Underground, July 28
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Mikkaka Overstreet writes: “The #OwnVoices movement has challenged the publishing industry to increase the number of books written about and by authors from underrepresented populations. With that in mind, I’ve compiled this list of audiobooks read by Black authors. After all, how much more #OwnVoices can you get than listening to audiobooks written and read by Black authors?”...
Book Riot, July 24; CorinneDuyvis.net
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