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Sallyann Price writes: “In 1969, at the height of the civil rights movement, legendary ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell founded
Dance
Theatre of Harlem (DTH). It was imagined as a space where dancers of all cultures and colors could train in the fine art of classical ballet. Now, more than 50 years later, former DTH dancer and archivist Judy Tyrus and musician Paul Novosel have collaborated on Dance Theatre of Harlem: A History, a Movement, a Celebration (Dafina, October), an expansive account of the company’s first half-century through the stormy present. The pair, who cofounded a nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity in the arts, talked with American Libraries ahead of their appearance at the 2021 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition Virtual on Friday, June 25.”...
American Libraries Trend, June 15
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Mary Davis Fournier began her first official day as executive director of ALA’s Public Library Association on June 14, but she’s no stranger to the Association. During her 20 years at ALA, Fournier has worn many hats, most recently that of deputy director of the Public Programs Office, where she helped spearhead projects such as Libraries Transforming Communities and the National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment. Fournier answered our “11 Questions” to introduce herself to ALA members....
AL: The Scoop, June 16
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Bill Furbee writes: “Early last year when Americans were advised to stay home to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, libraries had to consider new ways to connect with the communities they serve. Most libraries already had an online presence pre-pandemic, and many offered virtual programming, providing a vital lifeline to the library for patrons sheltering in place. With such attention devoted to digital engagement, however, a new problem emerged: how to reach and support those who don’t have access to Wi-Fi, the internet, or even a device that can connect online.”...
American Libraries Trend, June
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Nicollette M. Davis, adult services and reference librarian at East Baton Rouge Parish (La.) Library’s Greenwell Springs Road Regional branch, got her first hair relaxer when she was 5 years old. In her early 20s, she decided to cut off her chemically treated hair and return it to its natural state—a journey, she says, with many emotional and physical ups and downs. To help support others going through similar transitions, Davis started the Natural Hair Support Group at the library in 2016. Before the pandemic, these monthly meetings drew dozens of women, men, and children from the area to share tips and concerns about going natural....
American Libraries Trend, June
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Joy Choquette writes: “More than one in five people in the United States—or 73 million—is a baby boomer, according to the Census Bureau. By 2030, all boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—will be at least 65 years old, joining a growing pool of senior library patrons with shifting needs.”...
American Libraries Trend, June
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To help libraries take advantage of the new $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund program, ALA has created
the ECF Solutions Toolkit. Established as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Communications Commission’s ECF program will provide funding for public and tribal libraries and K–12 schools to purchase connected devices and broadband internet connections for use off library and school grounds by library patrons, students, teachers, and staff who otherwise lack internet access....
ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, June 15
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New York is now the second state to pass a bill that would ensure public libraries the right to license and lend ebooks that are available to consumers in the state. After votes on successive days this week in the Assembly and the Senate, the bill crossed the finish line just before the June 10 close of the legislative session and is now headed to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk. If signed, the law would be the second such piece of digital library legislation to pass, following Maryland’s....
Publishers Weekly, June 11
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Danielle Cooper and Roger C. Schonfeld write: “During the pandemic, streaming media and in particular video has exploded. And it’s not just Netflix and Disney+—there is also growing demand for video services offered through libraries. The significance of this market for licensed streaming media services was cemented last week when
OverDrive acquired Kanopy. At a minimum, OverDrive’s acquisition creates a public library powerhouse with continuing growth aspirations. Both services, however, have struggled in the academic sector. Will the combination now provide the scale needed to create a more sustainable offering for this market?”...
Scholarly Kitchen, June 15; Library Technology Guides, June 9
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Conflicts are playing out in cities and towns across the country, amid the rise of at least 165 local and national groups that aim to disrupt lessons on race and gender, according to an NBC News analysis of media reports and organizations’ promotional materials. Reinforced by conservative think tanks, law firms, and activist parents, these groups have found allies in families frustrated over COVID-19 restrictions in schools and have weaponized the right’s opposition to critical race theory, turning it into a political rallying point....
NBC News, June 15
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Last year, as the nation was confronting ongoing issues related to racial justice, Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero established a task force of National Archives and Records Administration employees to identify issues of racial inequality in both customer-facing operations and internally within its workplaces, in pursuit of an equitable and inclusive environment for all employees and customers.
The full report, which includes the methodologies used in the task force’s assessment and more detailed recommendations, is now available to the public....
National Archives and Records Administration, June 14
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The Law Library of Congress recently published a new report on the protection of children online. The report, titled Children’s Online Privacy and Data Protection, surveys 10 jurisdictions on the special measures they have put in place to protect children online after the General Data Protection Regulation took effect in the EU in 2018....
In Custodia Legis, June 10
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Emily Temple writes: “It’s June, the summer reading lists are out in full force, and so are our newly vaccinated knees (and chins), which can only mean that it’s that time of year again. This year, I read 38 lists, which recommended a grand total of 522 individual books. I have included those books recommended at least three times below, in descending order of frequency. So if you want to Read the Book That Everyone is Reading (or at least recommending) this summer, here’s where you should start.”...
LitHub, June 10
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