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A survey of college-bound students in California has found that four in five have had to change their plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was initiated by the California Student Aid Commission and the California Education Lab at the University of California–Davis, funded by the College Futures Foundation. Impacts of the virus were immediate. The survey found that 71% had lost some or all of their income due to COVID-19, 46% had their living arrangements change, and 24% dropped courses during the spring college term. -
Mihir Patkar writes: “Children need to learn, play, and stay active for well-rounded growth. These free websites for activities, crafts, and arts for kids will ensure they stay occupied while growing their skills and knowledge.” -
Alex Harrington writes: “As a medical school library, we already have students beginning a new academic year. Between nurse, PA, and MD programs, residents, and the nonstop functioning of a hospital we support, we knew we would be among the early returners—the guinea pigs, if you will. Some upsides: The majority of our user base is already accustomed to wearing surgical masks for long periods of time, so I imagine we’re correcting mask protocol less often than we would have to elsewhere.” -
Liz Hartnett and Allison Kaplan, cochairs of the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee, write: “Inclusiveness is a foundational idea of intellectual freedom, and it starts with knowledge about the challenges faced by people whose experience may be different from ours. Given that roughly only 12% of credentialed US librarians are Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), it’s safe to say that most of us could learn a thing or two about the BIPOC experience in America. And considering the fact that as of 2018 less than half of children under 15 in the US are white, it seems clear the work of children’s librarians will benefit from better multicultural awareness.” -
US Copyright Office Senior Copyright Specialist Nicole Lamberson writes: “To be copyrightable, a work only needs to meet a few minimal standards: First, a human being must have created the work. Selfies taken by a very talented monkey or paintings by an artistic elephant aren’t eligible. Similarly, a work produced by a machine without any creative input or intervention from a human author doesn’t qualify.” -
ALA has joined National Voter Registration Day as a premier partner for 2020 and encourages libraries to sign up to participate in this important event, culminating in a nationwide day of action on September 22. To inform library workers about participating in NVRD, ALA will host a free webinar, “Ready to Vote: Hosting National Voter Registration Day at Your Library,” on July 23, at 2 p.m. Central. The one-hour webinar will feature a voter engagement expert from NVRD and librarians who will share their tips and experiences based on prior participation. Free registration is required. -
When New Jersey reference librarian Lynne Olver died in 2015, she left behind The Food Timeline, the internet’s largest repository of chronologized food history. The site begins with entries on ice, water, and salt in prehistory and ends with cronuts and test-tube burgers in 2013. Olver’s family is looking for someone to carry on her legacy. -
With most of its programming canceled due to COVID-19, Ashland (Ohio) Public Library teamed up with Ashland County Park District to add a StoryWalk display to Byers Woods, which debuted July 14. A series of 16 signs on wooden posts tell the story of “The Sand Castle That Lola Built” by Megan Maynor. The library also plans to install a shorter story when a new quarter-mile paved trail is completed at the Ashland Fire Company Nature Cabin. -
The NASA Office of STEM Engagement invites proposals from libraries, museums, youth-serving organizations, and other eligible nonprofits via NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions Remote Opportunities Rapid Response. Selected parties will offer innovative remote or distance-learning opportunities, capable of reaching a diverse set of students with relevant NASA content, with specific focus on helping to minimize the inequities faced by communities without ready access to information and communication technology. Proposals are due August 13. -
As part of the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project’s Phase 1 research on COVID-19, Battelle studied how long some commonly handled materials—including Braille paper pages, magazines, and board books—would need to be quarantined prior to being returned to being put back into use. After four days of quarantine in a stacked configuration, the virus was not detectable on the Braille pages, glossy book pages, and board book, but the magazine pages showed a trace amount of virus. Read the full Test 2 results. -
Karin Greenberg writes: “For the past three years, as I’ve incorporated Google Suite, Canvas, Kahoot, and other interactive digital tools into my library practice, I’ve seen firsthand how technology can benefit my school community. During the quarantine, my technological skills helped me communicate with staff and students to provide instruction, book lists, videos, and research information. The most exciting pursuit for me while in lockdown, though, was starting a bookstagram account on Instagram.” -
US Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) died July 17 at age 80. In addition to a lifetime of civil rights activism, a long career as an elected representative, and a celebrated stint as an award-winning author, Lewis was a dedicated advocate for libraries and made many appearances at American Library Association (ALA) events over the years.
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