Latest Library Links
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Chicago Public Library Commissioner Andrea Telli is retiring, according to a press release issued on July 24 from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office. Under Telli’s leadership, which began in June 2019, CPL became the largest public library system in the country to eliminate overdue fines. Telli’s last day will be August 31. Lightfoot announced a national search is under way for her successor. -
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has created the Triad Black Lives Matters Collection is to document the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality protests, and race relations in the Triad area of the state. Collecting for the project is ongoing, and the archive is particularly interested in physical and digital photographs, video, protest signs, clothing, flyers, posters, and other creative works. -
Christopher A. Brown, curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collection at Free Library of Philadelphia, writes: “An Instagram post referencing an online program is fantastic, but the ephemeral nature of social media means that posts (and the staff time used to make those posts) is buried in a patron’s notification feed within a few days—sometimes within a few hours. A live stream may be lost immediately. Our goal, therefore, was to not only create engaging online content, but to house that material in a place that could be easily accessed for repeat viewings. After all, we know a thing or two about archiving important documents.” -
COVID-19 began to lead to closures of library buildings to the public at the start of March 2020. The National Authorities on Public Libraries in Europe has produced two reports to summarize the measures taken in response to the virus by public libraries in 20 NAPLE member countries to date, with specific focus on the extent of closures across Europe; the engagement of staff during closures; services offered to the public (both physical and online) while buildings were closed; quarantining of books and other health and safety measures; efforts by libraries to support national healthcare initiatives; and library efforts to address misinformation about the COVID-19 virus. -
The American Association of School Librarians has released its inaugural list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning. Best Digital Tools combines the previously separate lists of Best Apps and Best Websites for Teaching and Learning. The new list follows the evolution of technology as websites develop apps and resources are produced that are not easily classified in either platform. By moving to Best Digital Tools, AASL can recognize the depth and breadth of resources available to educators. -
Mario M. González, director of Passaic (N.J.) Public Library, and Rhea B. Lawson, director of Houston Public Library, have been selected to serve as the American Library Association’s newest Endowment Trustees. The ALA Executive Board made these selections during their last meeting of the 2020 Virtual Annual Conference on June 30. The three-year terms of these newly selected trustees will begin immediately upon notification of their selection. -
Library marketer Angela Hursh writes: “Your library website is getting quite the workout right now. In fact, during this pandemic, your website is the most important connection between your patrons and your services. It’s your digital doorway. It’s your news center. It’s a promotional tool. So, it needs to be welcoming and easy to navigate. You don’t have to completely overhaul your website to improve the user experience. There are 11 easy ways to improve your website.” -
The Association of College and Research Libraries and the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition are presenting the free online ACRL/SPARC Forum: Navigating the Current Budget Crisis While Creating a More Sustainable, Values-Aligned Future for Research at 2 p.m. Central on August 5. The forum will explore how different institutions are re-evaluating their relationships with vendors, seeking to align their spend with their values, and keeping an eye on the long-term consequences of urgent decisions that need to be made in the short term. -
The American Library Association announced the 13 public libraries selected to receive a total of $1.3 million to bolster their library entrepreneurship centers. Established as part of a Google.org initiative to create opportunity for all, Libraries Build Business will enable libraries across the country to increase the number of business creators they serve from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds. -
The Donald G. Davis Article Award is presented by the ALA Library History Round Table every even-numbered year to recognize the best article written in English in the field of US and Canadian library history. The 2020 winner is Laura E. Helton for “On Decimals, Catalogs, and Racial Imaginaries of Reading,” PMLA 134, no. 1 (2019): 99-120. -
Richard Byrne writes: “I’ve been revisiting some of my favorite books this summer. Doing that has reminded me of some ideas that I’ve shared in the past and also sparked some new ideas. One of those ideas is using multimedia creation tools to create alternatives to traditional book reports. Here’s a handful of ideas for alternatives to traditional book report projects.” -
Siobhan Reardon, president and director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, resigned July 23. In late June and early July, the Concerned Black Workers of the Free Library of Philadelphia published open letters decrying library administration and calling for Reardon’s resignation. In solidarity with library employees, at least six prominent authors canceled planned events at the library.
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