Ask the ALA Librarian header

Newbery and Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speeches

Posted: Jul. 13, 2011.
In the Words of the Winners: The Newbery and Caldecott Medals, 2001-2010

Q. I wasn't able to be at the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.  Will the speeches be published somewhere?

  

How to Label a Book

Posted: Jun. 8, 2011.
Illustration of round spine labels

Q.  Does ALA have any guidelines or sample policies for labeling books for the shelves?

Children’s Libraries

Posted: May. 25, 2011.
Noyes Library for Young Children

Updated July 31, 2012

Sample Policies

Posted: May. 11, 2011.
Cover of the book Creating Policies for Results

Q. Can you direct me to one or two sites with sample library policies. I've just taken over our small public library and have convinced trustees we need to have policies newer than 25 years ago!

A. Certainly—but some framework first.

Overdues

Posted: May. 4, 2011.
Third Overdue Notice

Q. We're reviewing our policies on overdue fines and are looking for resources to guide our investigations. What's out there?

Loss Rate

Posted: Apr. 26, 2011.
Library security gates

Area libraries increasing security to combat rising thefts” is the headline for the April 23, 2011, article posted by the Dayton Daily News. But the question that comes to the ALA Library is “what is a ‘typical’ loss rate?&

Recommended Viewing - Movies and DVDs

Posted: Apr. 20, 2011.
DVD Disc

Q. I know ALA has reading lists in different age groups. But what about lists for other materials? Does ALA make a list of recommended movies or DVDs? And are there lists for different age groups?

Association Libraries

Posted: Apr. 5, 2011.
Schoharie Free Association Library

Q. How many public association libraries are there in the US? Why are they association and not municipal?

First School Library?

Posted: Mar. 28, 2011.
Interior of one room school house

Q. When was the first school library established?

Perennial Question

Posted: Mar. 21, 2011.
Cover of Banned Books Resource Guide