American Libraries Magazine | The magazine of the American Library Association

Interns Focus on ALA Website's Human-Computer Interface

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 21:04

Three interns from the University of Michigan recently completed a one-week stint at the American Library Association where they wowed the staff Web Editorial Board with presentations of their projects related to improving the “human-computer interface” of the ALA website—-“in other words, improving its usability and making its riches more accessible,” as Karen Muller, ALA Librarian and co-chair of the WEB put it.

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Take the American Libraries Go-Green Survey

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 18:03

Starting this month, each new issue of American Libraries will be accompanied by a digital edition. You can now read the entire digital edition of the March issue in the easy-to-use flipbook format, or download it as a PDF for offline reading. After you’ve enjoyed March’s digital edition, please take our brief survey. Your input will help us move toward delivering the magazine the way you prefer.

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LJ, SLJ Sold to Media Source

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 18:08

“Reed Business Information has taken another step in the divestment of its U.S.-based magazines,” Folio magazine reported yesterday, saying that the publisher has sold Library Journal and School Library Journal to Media Source Inc., based in Plain City, Ohio.

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Passing the (Library) Buck in Michigan

Submitted by Beverly Goldberg on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 16:49

What was thought last fall to be a reprieve for the Library of Michigan has turned out quite differently, as evidenced by the reaction in some quarters to a February 12 status memo about the downsizing of the Library of Michigan.

Exclusive Interview with FakeAACR2

Submitted by Sean Fitzpatrick on Tue, 02/23/2010 - 21:48

With the reverberation of a couple dozen subfield delimiters echoing through the Twitterverse, @FakeAACR2 announced her presence. “Sorry. Dropped my fat self on the keyboard,” she apologized.

Kirkus Reviews Gets New Owner

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Fri, 02/12/2010 - 17:35

In a move that surprised those who had already mourned the passing of Kirkus Reviews, the venerable source of prepublication reviews of new books has been bought by Herb Simon, owner of the Indiana Pacers, of the National Basketball Association.

A Chance to Show Off: Library Snapshot Day

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Fri, 02/05/2010 - 19:36

The concept of Library Snapshot Day originated in New Jersey, when librarians at the State Library and the New Jersey Library Association put their heads together and dreamed up a clever way for libraries of all types in every part of the country could show off what happens in a single day.

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President's Budget Freeze Seems Oddly Familiar

Submitted by Leonard Kniffel on Mon, 02/01/2010 - 17:01

The ALA Washington Office issued a press release this morning, announcing that President Obama’s FY2011 budget proposal to Congress calls for a freeze on federal library funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the primary source of federal funding for libraries. Under the president’s plan, LSTA would be level-funded at $214 million.

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