For daily ALA and library news, check the American Libraries website or subscribe to our RSS feed.
|
|
|
Due to the continuing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association for Library Service to Children has announced that the 2020 National Institute will be held virtually, in lieu of the originally planned in-person event in Minneapolis, October 1–3. The virtual event will feature a variety of key author and illustrator panels, programs, training, and virtual networking opportunities. The National Institute Task Force is working closely with ALSC staff to transition to a virtual platform. More information regarding registration, schedules, and specific panels and programs will be available in the coming weeks....
ALSC, June 22 |
|
The Executive Board of United for Libraries, an ALA division, issued a statement on June 20 about rescinding its Literary Landmarks designation for Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, earlier this month. According to the statement, “United for Libraries will review Literary Landmarks listings with guidance from a diverse committee of experts from the ALA’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, and Committee on Diversity.” The original designation will remain listed on the site with the date it was rescinded and a copy of the statement....
United for Libraries, June 20 |
|
|
As part of the REALM (REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums) Project’s Phase 1 research, Battelle has conducted a natural attenuation study to provide information on how long some commonly circulated library materials would need to be quarantined prior to being returned to public circulation. Testing was conducted by applying the virulent SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) on five materials held at standard room temperature and humidity conditions. Results show that the virus was not detectable on the materials after three days of quarantine. Download the report....
WebJunction, June 22 |
|
On June 19 an Allegheny County (Pa.) judge ordered home confinement and significant periods of probation for two men accused of stealing more than $8.1 million worth of rare books and artifacts from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Police charged former librarian Gregory Priore (right) and John Schulman, owner of Caliban Book Shop in Oakland, with stealing materials from the library over 25 years, one of the largest antique book thefts in the world....
Pittsburgh (Pa.) Tribune Review, June 19 |
|
|
Starting June 22, Google is adding fact-checking information to Google Images globally to help users navigate the origin, authenticity, or context of an image. When you search on Google Images, you may see a “Fact Check” label under the thumbnail image results. When you tap one of these results to view the image in a larger format, you’ll see a summary of the fact check that appears on the underlying web page....
Google Blogs, June 22 |
|
The Where Are People Moving? interactive story map uses American Community Survey data to show patterns of movement across the US last year. For example, most people who moved to California or New York moved from outside the US, while most people who were from the West or Midwest moved to another state in the same region. More people moved to and from the South than any other region....
ArcGIS StoryMaps, June 17 |
|
Earlier this month Zero to Three debuted the State of Babies Yearbook 2020, a huge collection of data about children 0–3 that has been compiled and organized to allow users to see trends both nationally and by state. Data from the Census Bureau and the National Survey of Children’s Health, among other sources, shows profiles of critical indicators for the healthy development of the very young. Compilations like this one can be extremely valuable for librarians as they advocate for programs and services, develop initiatives, write grants and obtain other funding, and simply be aware of some of the factors that have a big impact on our youngest patrons and their families....
ALSC Blog, June 22 |
|
Michelle J. Fernandez writes: “By their very nature, public libraries represent the opposite of social distancing. Bookmobile and outreach services, especially, exist to foster social connection by expanding access to library resources in communities where traditional library access is not a given. In a new era where the library’s foundational concept of bringing people together can have dangerous repercussions, libraries are confronted with a new challenge: how to continue connecting people and ideas while maintaining physical distance.”...
Public Libraries Online, June 22 |
|
|
Kayla Kibbe writes: “You may recall that the National Book Critics Circle has recently imploded. Now, after a dramatic week or so in which 15 of the organization’s 24 board members have resigned over a dispute about the board’s Black Lives Matter message, the National Book Critics Circle has ended up calling off its prestigious annual awards ceremony until things are sorted out.”...
Inside Hook, June 17, 19; National Book Critics Circle, June 18 |
|
Macmillan Publishing CEO John Sargent is stepping back from day-to-day management, the company announced in letters to staff on June 22. A new 13-member Trade Management Committee will take over “to make room for new voices” in leadership. The change addresses issues of diversity and representation in the industry, coming two weeks after a collective action protesting racism in book publishing that was organized by five Macmillan employees (Macmillan has declined to comment on the action)....
Publishers Weekly, June 8, 22 |
|
|
Jasmine Wallace writes: “This time last year, we were discussing the commencement of the conference season and ways to prepare. While some of that in-person meeting advice is still relevant, a few adjustments should be made to get the most out of conferences in this new virtual environment. It is important to remember that conferences, whether in-person or virtual, may still be the only time you have direct access to industry thought leaders, experts, and other professionals. For that reason, taking time to prepare for virtual conferences, just as you would an in-person meeting, helps to ensure you are able to get the most of what they offer.”...
Scholarly Kitchen, June 23; May 16, 2019 |
|
Ipswich County (UK) Library staffers have been calling 102-year-old patron Doris Bugg to check in on her during the pandemic, and she's been reminiscing about how her father used to read to her, particularly the long-out-of-print 1927 novel Portrait of Clare. Touched by her memories, librarians bought a copy for her online and are reading all 873 pages for her, recording it on CDs. “I was absolutely amazed at the kindness of them,” says Bugg....
BBC News, June 20 |
AL Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Tuesday and Friday to personal members of the American Library Association.
Editor, AL Direct: Amy Carlton, acarlton@ala.org
|
Send news and feedback: aldirect@ala.org
Direct ad inquiries to: Michael Stack, 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 and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation of 2018. Read the ALA privacy policy.
American Libraries
225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
800-545-2433, ext. 4216
ISSN 1559-369X
|
