14h
Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work, has been added to the speaker lineup at ALA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, June 26–30. Brown has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy, and her TED talk on the “Power of Vulnerability” is is one of the five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 60 million views. Brown will present the ALA President’s Program on Sunday, June 29, at 3:30 p.m.
ALA Conference Services, Mar. 28
16h
Violet Fox writes: “On February 18, the Library of Congress (LC) announced a special list of revisions in the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) relating to Trump’s Executive Order 14172, [notably changing] the LCSH for Gulf of Mexico to America, Gulf of, and for Mount Denali back to McKinley, Mount (Alaska). It was not surprising that LC would follow the example of the US Board of Geographic Names, as that’s standard operating procedure. What wasn’t standard was the speed at which this revision was pushed through.”
ACRLog, Mar. 28
20h
Megan Bennett writes: “Bob the Drag Queen—who won RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2016 and has since starred in other reality shows such as HBO’s We’re Here and Peacock’s The Traitors, as well as several comedy specials—released his debut novel this month. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert (Gallery Books) imagines the iconic abolitionist coming back to life and creating a hip-hop album. American Libraries spoke with Bob about his longtime fascination with Tubman, as well as his inspiration for the novel and accompanying songs.”
American Libraries Trend, Mar. 31
2d
Jory Heckman writes: “The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) put all of its approximately 75-employee workforce on paid administrative leave March 31, according to several IMLS employees, as the agency prepares for major cuts to its operations. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403 [which represents IMLS staff] said all work processing 2025 grant applications has ended, ‘in the absence of staff’ and that ‘The status of previously awarded grants is unclear. Without staff to administer the programs, it is likely that most grants will be terminated.’” In ALA’s response, ALA President Cindy Hohl said “Within months, if not weeks, local libraries will experience the impact of IMLS grant cancellations.”
Federal News Network, Mar. 31; ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Mar. 31
2d
Allison Escoto writes: “Sustainability has rightly become a major concern for our profession. From education and advocacy to library architecture and supportive workplace environments, library professionals are addressing all types of sustainability in their work. These recommended reads are part of American Libraries’ special report on libraries and sustainability.”
American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
2d
Avani Kalra writes: “In 2022, Sami Aaron started facilitating virtual climate cafés, forums where people could express their anxieties about climate change and connect with like-minded individuals without the pressure to turn sessions into activism. Aaron has so far facilitated 32 virtual climate cafés—including several alongside ALA’s Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT)—and is in the early stages of developing in-person events for libraries. In recent years, dozens of other organizations, activists, and therapists have hosted similar cafés at libraries across the country.”
American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
5d
Phil Morehart writes: “Hubbard (Ohio) Public Library’s (HPL) oldest patron, Lily Walter, who celebrates her 105th birthday in May, stopped by the library last month to renew her library card. She told the library she has loved reading and libraries for 101 years—as long as she can remember. Lily got her first library card at age four, and it began a lifelong love of the library. She volunteered at HPL during her 80s and 90s and said she was fascinated by learning about library circulation and what people did—and didn’t—read.”
I Love Libraries, Mar. 14
