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The National Endowment for the Humanities has awarded ALA $300,000 in emergency relief funds to support humanities projects, including the creation of humanities content and resources for library workers in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The funding, awarded through the NEH Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will support the creation of professional development materials to help libraries present virtual and socially distanced programming for their communities....
Public Programs Office, June 19 |
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In Episode 51, Dewey Decibel welcomes two winners of 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards for illustration to discuss their work in the lead up to the American Library Association’s Book Award Celebration on June 28. American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with James E. Ransome, author and illustrator of The Bell Rang, a 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards Honor Illustrator Book, and April Harrison, whose illustrations in What Is Given from the Heart by the late Patricia McKissack earned her a 2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards John Steptoe Award for New Talent for illustration....
AL: The Scoop, June 19 |
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On June 12, the executive committee of United for Libraries, an ALA division, voted unanimously to remove Literary Landmark status from Beauvoir, the home of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, following an inquiry from Book Riot. United for Libraries Executive Director Beth Nawalinski said in an email that the executive committee is establishing a joint working group with ALA's Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services to review both the current guidelines for issuing the designation and to review the more than 170 current Literary Landmark designated sites....
Book Riot, June 18 |
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Michael E. Ruane writes: “The National Archives on Thursday located what appears to be the original handwritten Juneteenth military order informing thousands of people held in bondage in Texas they were free. The decree, in the ornate handwriting of a general’s aide, was found in a formal order book stored in the Archives headquarters building in Washington. It is dated June 19, 1865, and signed by Maj. F.W. Emery, on behalf of Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger. The order was located by Trevor Plante, director of an archives textual records division, who, because of current interest in the subject, was asked to search for it.”...
Washington Post, June 18 (subscription required) |
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June 20 is World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. This year’s theme is Every Action Counts. IFLA is proud to support World Refugee Day not only as part of its ongoing support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, but also as part of its ongoing advocacy and deep commitment to the enduring value and role of libraries. Read IFLA’s recent statement, condemning all forms of discrimination....
IFLA, June 5, June 19 |
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Thomas Wilburn writes: “If you find yourself scrambling for a good novel to escape the novel coronavirus, you're not alone. Across the country, libraries have seen demand skyrocket for their electronic offerings, but librarians say they continue to worry about the digital divide and equality in access—not to mention the complicated questions that must be answered before they can reopen for physical lending.”...
NPR, June 16 |
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Kade Crockford writes: “Last week, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft announced they would pause or end sales of their face recognition technology to police in the United States. Face surveillance is the most dangerous of the many new technologies available to law enforcement. And while face surveillance is a danger to all people, no matter the color of their skin, the technology is a particularly serious threat to black people in at least three fundamental ways.”...
ACLU blog, June 16 |
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Cynthia Graham Hurd, longtime librarian with Charleston County (S.C.) Public Library, was one of the nine people killed in the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church. This month, CCPL is honoring the lives of those lost by promoting acts of kindness around the county and releasing a special tribute documentary. CCPL is asking the public to perform acts of kindness and post a photo or video to social media using #ThisIsForCynthia....
Charleston County Public Library, June 15 |
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In "Librarians of the World Unite!" a librarian in New Orleans illustrates the response to the outbreak of COVID-19 from library workers, directors, city administrators, and state officials. The anonymous artist details the confusion and conflicting instructions that marked the beginning of the pandemic and the ways library workers banded together to support each other....
The Nib, June 17 |
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Nico Grant writes: “Zoom Video Communications Inc. will offer full end-to-end encryption to all users, free and paid, succumbing to pressure from members of Congress and the public who pushed the video-conferencing company to bolster privacy. Those using the service at no charge will have to verify their phone numbers to get access to the strongest level of security, Zoom Chief Executive Officer Eric Yuan said Wednesday in a blog post. End-to-end encryption makes it impossible for third parties to decipher communications, but will mean that participants cannot call into a Zoom meeting on a telephone line.”...
Bloomberg Law, June 17 |
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Chelsea Rizzolo writes: “Programming librarians everywhere have added yet another hat to their already extensive collection: the video producer’s hat. Since storytime has moved online for many communities in the United States, we find ourselves having to consider production value alongside the usual preparations. Whether you are filming at home or in the library, prerecording or live streaming—here are five tips to consider while preparing to film your program.”...
ALSC Blog, June 19 |
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Bridget Alex writes: “Board games have been popular pastimes in diverse cultures since the dawn of civilization. Archaeologists working around the globe have discovered remnants of these games, including boards, tokens and dice made from animal bones. The finds reveal the great antiquity and cross-cultural ubiquity of board games. But researchers still have much to learn about past games’ rules, players, and stakes.”...
Discover, June 16 |
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