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Emily Udell writes: “Social workers who connect patrons to needed physical and emotional care.
Quiet rooms for rest and relaxation.
Robotic pets that purr away patrons’ anxieties. And
grief groups to support patrons over the holidays. Over the past decade, mental health support in libraries has grown more inventive, specific, and widespread. Institutions continue to innovate while meeting community needs, piloting targeted tools, dedicating roles and spaces to well-being, and investing in specialty programming and services for both patrons and staff. American Libraries spoke with workers from four libraries that are pioneering mental health practices in the field.”...
American Libraries feature, June
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Kate Brunner writes: “Who cares for the young children in your community? Depending on where in the US you live, anywhere from one-quarter to two-thirds of children ages 6 and under may be looked after by family, friends, and neighbors as opposed to formal caregivers, such as day cares. To better serve these caregivers, Colorado State Library founded its Growing Readers Together (GRT) program in 2016. By mobilizing public libraries, GRT aims to equip caregivers with resources and skills so they can confidently engage in early literacy activities with those in their care.”...
American Libraries column, June
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Cass Balzer writes: “On a leisurely Saturday afternoon, guests draped in Regency-era fashion—lightweight muslin and chiffon, adorned with delicate lace and ribbons—converge in an airy hall to indulge in a spread of tea, elaborate pastries, cakes crowned with sugared berries, and delicate canapés. But this isn’t 19th-century London. It’s the 21st century, these guests are gathered at Collier County (Fla.) Public Library. Amid a resurgent interest in TV period dramas, public libraries are hosting Regency- and Victorian-era-themed programs featuring book discussions, trivia, crafts, and, of course, tea.”...
American Libraries Trend, June
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The Public Library Association published the 2023
Public Library Technology Survey report July 9. The annual, national survey updates emerging trends around technology capacity, resources for patrons, infrastructure, digital literacy, and staffing in US public libraries. Key findings include that nearly half of libraries offer hotspots for checkout, an increase of 14.4% from 2020; that 52% of libraries applied for the federal E-Rate program to support library technology needs; and that subscription costs or payment terms are the most significant factor affecting libraries’ ability to offer digital content....
Public Library Association, July 9
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Steve Tetreault writes: “New Jersey (and many other states) require public schools provide a ‘thorough and efficient education.’ Numerous studies find that students achieve improved outcomes at schools with a full-time librarian. A district near my home proposed cutting their high school librarian’s position from full time to part time. During the public comments of the meeting where the board proposed this idea, I shared a statement focused on the data of school librarianship. If you find this statement or any of its parts helpful, please use it.”...
Knowledge Quest, July 3
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Ashley Bressingham writes: “Whether it’s your first conference or your fiftieth, I think it’s quite easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of wonderful ideas that you just learned. I love going to conferences, but I’ve found myself struggling to actually put into practice all of that new knowledge. When we come home from conferences, we most likely will come back to a ton of emails and things that need to be taken care of. So how do we take the exciting information we’ve acquired and enact it once we’re back in real life?”...
ALSC Blog, July 3
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Enas Saleh writes: “In 2018, I was led to an evaluation that changed my life. After some initial research, I was evaluated and discovered that I have an unspecified neuro-cognitive disorder. While we often discuss accessibility for library patrons with disabilities, we sometimes overlook the needs of staff members with disabilities and the accommodations they may require. I have discovered many strategies that have helped me, and I offer them here in the hopes that they may help others cope and be successful in their work and personal life.”...
Public Libraries Online, July 2
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The City of Altamonte Springs, Florida, writes: “With a heavy heart, we announce that after 64 years of service, Altamonte Springs City Library will close on September 30. This decision was not made lightly. With budget constraints, rising costs and five quality Seminole County libraries around us, we have made the hard decision to close the doors and consolidate resources. We trust that the community’s needs will continue to be met through Seminole County’s public libraries. We understand the significance of the library to residents and city staff and recognize its special place in Altamonte Springs’ history.”...
Altamonte Springs City Library, July 8
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Todd Spangler writes: “In the days after Paramount Global disabled mtvnews.com and mtv.com/news in June—removing a trove of hundreds of thousands of articles about music and pop culture from the internet—the not-for-profit Internet Archive assembled a
searchable index of 460,575 web pages previously published at mtv.com/news. The Wayback Machine’s archive of MTV News is not the full complement of what was published over the span of more than two decades. But the new collection at least ensures, for the time being, that much of MTV News’ articles remain accessible in some form.”...
Variety, July 2
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“A federal appeals court in New Orleans is taking another look at its own order requiring a Texas county to keep eight books that deal with subjects including sex, gender identity, and racism on public library shelves. Llano County officials had initially removed 17 books from its shelves amid complaints about the subject matter. The
June 6 order was vacated July 3 after a majority of the 17-member court granted Llano County officials a new hearing before the full court. The order did not state reasons and the hearing hasn't yet been scheduled.”...
Associated Press, July 7
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“Many people already turn to libraries as sources of trusted information ahead of elections, and organizations like ALA and the League of Women Voters are hoping to expand those numbers. We’ve curated a selection of resources, tools, and ideas to help inform your library’s approach to this important work.”...
WebJunction, July 3
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Aaryn Bierly writes: “Disability Pride Month is traditionally celebrated in July to celebrate the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA regulates laws regarding service animals, requires employers to accommodate their employees’ physical and medical needs, stipulates the number and placement of accessible parking spaces and restrooms, and more. One in five Americans has some type of disability that makes working more difficult, and the ADA has made working conditions easier for a significant number of Americans. We’ve got several great lists of books for kids and teens of different ages featuring characters with a range of disabilities.”...
Herrick District Library (Holland, Mich.), July 1
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