Congress has a long to-do list for the end of this year and into 2012. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and appropriations for FY2012 are just a few of the items on their agenda that affect libraries.
Mike Blasenstein and Mike Iacovone have been named recipients of the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award, presented by the American Library Association (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT).
Jill Nishi of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation kicked off a panel discussion of “Recovery along the Gulf Coast” by saying it was hard for her to believe that it has been five years since Hurricane Katrina ravaged large portions of Mississippi and Louisiana. “But so much has been accomplished,” she added.
Friday night’s ALA Play event offered a ton of fun. Organized by ALA’s Gaming in Libraries Member Interest Group and Graphic Novels in Libraries Member Interest Group (GNMIG), the evening featured costume pieces to try on and model, video games, board games, and even members of the local chapter of the 501st Legion (a group of Star Wars cost
One of the new task forces to emerge from the 2015 strategic plan is the Transforming Collections Task Force, which met Friday to discuss its initial report to the ALCTS board.
Since 2007, the Emerging Leaders program has enabled newer librarians from across the country 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. It puts them on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership.
Representatives from many of ALA’s 18 round tables, mostly incoming chairs, met Friday morning to discuss the future of round tables and of the Round Table Coordinating Assembly (RTCA) itself. The Map and Geography Round Table (MAGERT), shortly to become the Map and Geospatial Information Round Table (MAGIRT), was particularly well-represented.
Over the past two years e-books have become an important—but controversial —part of library services.
“The Future Is Now! E-books and Their Increasing Impact on Library Services,” to be held on Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in MCC-392 will focus on the increasing significance of e-books and their impact on libraries.
Public libraries will confront formidable challenges in the coming years. The digital transformation of all media affects our resources, services, staff, and programs, while changes in users and their needs, the growth of competitive internet services, and financial stringencies add complexity.
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