Jonathan Zittrain, Harvard Law School professor and cofounder of the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, urged attendees to first define the core purpose of libraries in his “Creativity, Innovation, and Change: Libraries Transform in the Digital Age” presentation. “The book as we know it, as an artifact,” he declared, “is on its way out.” … Continue reading Midwinter 2016 Wrap-Up
The panel was hosted by DCWG cochairs Erika Linke, associate dean of Carnegie Mellon University Libraries, and Carolyn Anthony, director of the Skokie (Ill.) Public Library. The panelists were Mark Kuyper, executive director of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG); Andrew Albanese, senior writer and features editor for Publishers Weekly (PW); and Kelvin Watson, chief … Continue reading The Ebook Glass Is Half Full
The last big day of Midwinter started with a much-anticipated morning: The Twitterverse was abuzz with Youth Media Awards excitement. And as Midwinter drew to a close, attendees showed off their hauls. And one more Midwinter aftereffect:
Before this session, I had given little thought to the intricacies of the voices I hear when listening to audiobooks, but now my ears will prick up at the sound of the reader taking a breath. My appreciation for sound effects has grown, and my admiration for vocal imitation has spiked. For each clip, the … Continue reading An Enthusiastic Earful
Here’s a recap of the happenings at Midwinter this past Sunday: The musical Hamilton continued to bring out the musical side of attendees with Act II. What does ALA really mean? Some insights on conference: Catching up on Cognotes: Can this be our Meowinter mascot? Leaving a library conference like…
Council members rose as Feldman read memorials for Shereen Marx, Kuang-Hwei (Janet) Lee-Smeltzer, Richard C. Fyffe, Billy Charles Beal, Allene Farmer Hayes, and Linda Waddle. A tribute was read for Barbara Blosveren. Kent Slade, chair of the Council Committee of Tellers reported the election of three ALA Executive Board members. Karen E. Downing and Andrew … Continue reading Council III Memorials and Resolutions
The majority of attendees said they worked in the humanities, but the exact definition of digital humanities is still nebulous. Kathy Rosa, director of ALA’s Office for Research and Statistics, offered a basic definition—digital tools and technology applied to the traditional objects and methods of the humanities. She also pointed to Jason Heppler’s What is … Continue reading Digital Humanities: Bridging the Gap of Library and Faculty Engagement
As a kid, she read the newspaper with her Cheerios in the morning. She wrote a letter to Ronald Reagan about the Bitburg Cemetery controversy, stamped with rainbow and heart stickers “as a gesture of goodwill,” she says. Her grandmother Dorothy was an influence, particularly when it came to education access issues. And she cites … Continue reading Chelsea Clinton Inspires at Closing Session
The panel included James G. Neal, university librarian emeritus of Columbia University, trustee of the Freedom to Read Foundation, and a member of ALA’s Executive Board; Abigail Slater, vice president, legal and regulatory policy, for the Internet Association; and Tomas Lipinski, dean of the School of Information Studies at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a member … Continue reading Should There Be a Right to Be Forgotten?
Introduced by ALA President Sari Feldman and Trevor Dawes and Martin Garnar of the Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, which cosponsored the event, Booker was on hand to talk about themes from his forthcoming book United (Penguin Random House, February 2016), including ideas for coming together, improving our country’s access to information and … Continue reading Cory Booker Headlines President’s Program
Dearing, Boston College professor of social work and codirector of the Center for Social Innovation, focused her talk on defining the differences between social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise; illustrating cases of social innovation; and creating connections with social innovation and the work of libraries. She also invited audience members to participate in the … Continue reading Social Innovation and Library Transformation
Vicky Crone, chair of the Policy Monitoring Committee, presented their report (CD#17) and requested approval to separate Policy B.2.1.7 Labeling and Rating Systems into two new interpretations (Labeling Systems, CD#19.4, and Rating Systems CD#19.5). The motion passed. Andrew Pace gave the report for the Committee on Organization (COO), in place of committee chair Susan Considine … Continue reading Council II: Addressing Priorities
