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Sallyann Price writes: “Two libraries earned this year’s ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects. The winning entries include a program that teaches information literacy through calligraphy and a community center that’s creating a new model for library governance. Presented by the International Relations Round Table, the awards recognize exemplary services and projects that draw attention to libraries creating positive change, demonstrating sustainability, and providing a model for others to follow. This year’s winners are Run Run Shaw Library at City University of Hong Kong and La Bulle, a library and community space in Annemasse, France.”...
American Libraries feature, July/Aug.
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Celeste Ng’s third novel, Our Missing Hearts, tells a story that may not feel as speculative as we might wish: When an economic crisis hits the United States, fear and racism poison society, and people look for a scapegoat. Books by and about Asian Americans are banned, mail at the post office is read by the government, and hate crimes against Asian Americans are ignored and even encouraged. Ng talked with American Libraries about the novel, which calls to mind the not-so-distant past—and the anti–Asian American hate we are seeing today....
American Libraries feature, July/Aug.
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ALA Conference Services is seeking program proposals for the next LibLearnX, which will be held in New Orleans January 27–30, 2023. LibLearnX is a member-focused conference designed to motivate, inspire, and engage discussions that will shape the future of libraries and their communities. Preference will be given to proposals that reflect best practices, have clear learning objectives, and focus on applicable content, instructional design, and diverse audiences.
Proposals are due by August 5. For more information, see the submission guide and
video....
ALA Conference Services, July 8
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ALA is now accepting
applications for the 2023 class of Emerging Leaders. The Emerging Leaders program is a leadership development initiative that allows newer library workers from across the country and Canada to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Applications are due September 9. See the
program guidelines for more information, including selection criteria and sponsorship opportunities....
ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, July 22
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Jana Hayes and Dana Branham write: “A report by Vice cited an email and meeting notes that told employees [of Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma] they couldn’t discuss abortion or help with any abortion-related searches. This guidance was a placeholder until legal counsel had formed official guidelines, Metropolitan Library System Director Larry White said. White
emailed library employees Thursday morning and said they can provide factual information about abortion.”
White has noted that it’s not yet clear how the Oklahoma law will be applied....
The Oklahoman, July 22; News on 6 (Tulsa, Oklahoma), July 21; Vice, July 21; Metropolitan Library System, July 21
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The Network of the National Library of Medicine’s All of Us Program Center Community Awards is offering up to five grants of up to $30,000 for library projects that further individuals’ and communities’ health and digital literacy, build and strengthen partnerships with communities that are underrepresented in biomedical research, raise awareness of the
All of Us program, or increase awareness and use of trustworthy health information from All of Us or other souces. Projects may include programming, health fairs, loanable kits, technology acquisition and distribution, community science, and more.
Applications are due August 26....
Network of the National Library of Medicine
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Lydia Kulina-Washburn writes: “Though so-called book-banning legislation
was
recently introduced in Pennsylvania, I doubt it will affect my practice at an underresourced public school in the West Philadelphia neighborhood. The provision aims to inform parents of suggestive material in curricula and libraries. The bill follows other attempts throughout the country to limit student access to books with controversial thematic matter. However, many schools do not have school libraries or many of the materials to fill them that could be examined for explicit content. Politicians, families, and policymakers who argue the finer points of book selection in schools are ignoring the low-income schools in their states that don’t have adequate literary resources.”...
Education Week, July 26; WPMT-TV (York, Pa.), June 30
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Nicole Wilhelms, Elena Cabodevilla, Kathleen Robertson, Wendee Mullikin, and Emily Sedgwick write: “Historically, Latinx populations are less likely than other Americans to have ever visited a public library and are much less likely to say that they see it as ‘very easy’ to do so. [A project that was funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services] sought to identify the existing barriers to Latinx families’ use of public libraries and to find community-driven solutions. The project used aspects of a codesign approach, which entailed designing with, and not for, the people most impacted by the issue at hand.”...
Public Libraries Online, July 18
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Julie Oborny writes: “There are few options for searching without being tracked. To search anonymously from home requires tech-savvy and money. This is something many people do not have. Libraries should help any user access information anonymously.” She offers guidelines to help libraries do so, covering starting sessions, filtering software, erasing computer sessions, physical protections, browsers and search engines, and training....
Choose Privacy Every Day, July 21
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David L. Ulin writes: “According to
Banned in the USA, a report issued by the writers’ organization PEN America in April, nearly 1,600 individual books were banned in 26 states between July 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. Although the challenging of books and curriculum is hardly new in the United States, what we’re facing now is somewhat different. Of the current bans, PEN notes, ‘41% (644 individual bans) are tied to directives from state officials or elected lawmakers to investigate or remove books in schools.’ It is not parents or even school boards driving many of these challenges. It is the power of the state.”...
Los Angeles Times, July 19
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Richard Watts writes: “Traditionally, it’s believed that ‘graphic novels’ are a relatively recent phenomenon, with American cartoonist Will Eisner’s 1978 book A Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories generally acclaimed as the first of the genre. However, the previously unknown Voyage and Adventures of a Good Little German in Kangarooland, a five-part autobiographical graphic novel dating from 1916–1919 and recently donated to the University of Adelaide Library’s Special Collections, might just rewrite the history books.”...
ArtsHub, July 22
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Kendra Winchester writes: “If this is your first time observing Disability Pride Month, I understand that it can feel overwhelming. ‘Disabled’ is really just an umbrella term that refers to a wide range of conditions, lived experiences, and communities. How do you know what terminology to use when? What is the difference between deaf and Deaf? What’s the difference between disability rights and disability justice? While you might feel flooded with disability lit recommendations at the moment, here are a few books that I think will help you learn some key points about the disability community.”...
Book Riot, July 22
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