|
On January 13, the ALA Executive Board released a statement describing what library professionals can do to support communities affected by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. To date, at least 24 people have died, and more than 12,000 structures have been destroyed, including Los Angeles Public Library’s Palisades branch, according to news reports. The
full statement encourages those who wish to help to donate to local relief efforts and the
ALA Disaster Relief Fund, volunteer for local libraries and organizations mobilizing to assist those in need, and advocate for policies and funding to help libraries continue critical work during and after disasters....
AL: The Scoop, Jan. 13
| |
|
Alison Marcotte writes: “Welcome to the Valley of the Sun, the Big Saguaro, the Silicon Desert. Phoenix is known for its picturesque landscapes, hearty succulents, and scorching heat, but come January 24–27 the city will usher in a different kind of vibrancy and warmth: the community, creativity, and connections of ALA’s LibLearnX conference. LibLearnX 2025 will bring together authors, thought leaders, and subject matter experts at the Phoenix Convention Center for educational programs, awards, celebrations, and networking opportunities. This year’s programmatic theme is ‘Reimagine, Refocus, Reset: Charting a Path for the Future.’”...
American Libraries feature, Jan./Feb.
| |
|
Peter Hepburn writes: “When I look back at previous columns and reflect on my term as treasurer, which ends June 30, I realize just how much has happened—and been accomplished—over the past three years. For one, I’m proud of finishing the work started under my predecessor, Maggie Farrell, on the financial piece of the ALA Operating Agreement, which governs the relationship between ALA and its membership divisions. I’m also pleased with the progress made in improving communication within the Association on finances. I am not, however, greatly encouraged by the current financial health of the Association.”...
American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.
| |
|
|
|
Emily Jaeger-McEnroe writes: “Many information evaluation methods include values like objectivity and authority that imply that only traditional scholarly sources are acceptable for inclusion in scholarly work. Although this is often a desirable outcome, it can bias research to exclude groups traditionally disenfranchised from scholarship, such as Indigenous, racialized, queer, and disabled communities. The CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) test, originally created in 2004, is a commonly taught method of source evaluation. This article presents a few simple modifications to the CRAAP test that provide a means to evaluate marginalized information and prevent its exclusion.”...
College & Research Libraries News, Jan.
| |
|
Jackie Partch writes: “Graphic novels are wildly popular with kids—and librarians also know that they can help build visual literacy skills, increase reading confidence and strengthen vocabulary knowledge. Kids who read graphic novels also show increased reading motivation. So why not offer a graphic novel book group at your library? [At our system,] librarians who want to offer a Graphic Novel Club participate in a planning session each summer. We brainstorm a list of potential titles beforehand, and during the session we narrow down that list to 12–14 titles and divide them up to write short book talks.”...
ALSC Blog, Jan. 9
| |
|
ALA’s Games and Gaming Round Table is now accepting
applications for the “Game On!” grant, which provides $2,000 to help a library or libraries develop gaming programs or collections for their communities. The grant has doubled in size since 2024 thanks to a $1,000 donation match from Cards Against Humanity, whose support will continue through 2029. The application deadline is March 10, and the winner or winners will be announced at GameRT’s “ALA Play” event at ALA’s 2025 Annual Conference this June in Philadelphia....
ALA Games & Gaming Round Table, Jan. 12
| |
|
|
|
Kelly Jensen writes: “One of the trends we’ll see in book censorship in 2025 is the increased use of unprofessional, politically driven book review websites like BookLooks to make decisions in professional library and educational settings. BookLooks is the most well-known website for unprofessional, biased book reviews. That’s because it is a tool created by a former Moms for Liberty member and continues to be the tool they put their weight, energy, and time behind. But if your knowledge ends there, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”...
Book Riot, Jan. 10
| |
|
Chris Gillespie writes: “Using ChatGPT to gather data can save you a significant amount of time. But the accuracy and reliability of the results depend heavily on the quality of the information the model uses. The good news is you can use a few strategies to force ChatGPT to provide responses based only on high-quality sources.” Recommended techniques include defining the source type, giving specific instructions, and asking for recent data only....
MakeUseOf, Jan. 11
| |
|
Samuel T. Barber and Sarah Parramore write: “The creation of a Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Mentorship Group [at California State University, Fullerton’s Pollak Library] was designed to address the unique challenges posed by the rapid expansion of probationary tenure-track faculty. By describing an application of the ripple effect leadership theory, this article explores the importance of strategic, empathetic leadership in supporting faculty development, which may be useful to other academic library faculty and leaders seeking to assist and support newly hired library employees.”...
The Journal of Creative Library Practice, Jan. 8
| |
|
|
|
The New York Public Library has acquired the archive of Jhumpa Lahiri, shedding new light on the award-winning author and multilingual translator. Comprising 31 boxes of material stretching to nearly 40 linear feet, the archive, which will become publicly available in 2025, chronicles Lahiri’s literary accomplishments from a young age and her commitment to critical reading, the nuances of language, and the craft of writing. Highlights include correspondence with friends and peer writers including Michael Cunningham, Jennifer Egan, Elena Ferrante, Salman Rushdie, Amy Tan, and others, and notebooks and drawings from Lahiri’s teenage years....
New York Public Library, Jan. 13
| |
|
“After the hundreds (thousands?) of hours trawling through online image collections since the Public Domain Review’s inception, we’ve decided it was time to create one of our own! We are really excited to share with you the launch of our new sister project, the
Public Domain Image Archive, a curated collection of more than 10,000 out-of-copyright historical images, free for all to explore and reuse. Our aim is to offer a platform that will serve both as a practical resource and a place to simply wander—an ever-growing portal to discover more than 2,000 years of visual culture.”...
Public Domain Review, Jan. 8
| |
|
“Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a nonviolent civil rights movement in the late 1950s and 1960s to achieve legal equality for African Americans in the US. Each year, the US honors and celebrates King’s life and legacy on the third Monday in January. Here are some books that honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and his role in the civil rights movement.” Find additional booklists from the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta,
Colorado Mountain College Libraries, and
New Orleans Public Library....
Livingston (N.J.) Public Library, Jan. 8; Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change; Colorado Mountain College Libraries, Jan. 9; New Orleans Public Library, Jan. 13
| | |
|
|
|
American Libraries Direct is a free electronic newsletter emailed every Wednesday to personal members of ALA.
Editor, AL Direct: Greg Landgraf
Direct ad inquiries to: Melissa Carr
Send news and feedback:
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 FAQ.
American Libraries 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 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.
To manage your American Libraries email preferences, click here.
To unsubscribe from all ALA emails, click here.
American Library Association | 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300 | Chicago, IL 60601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=spacer}
