15h
Next week’s vote on the European Union’s Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market is an opportunity to advance library services. But unless an article that would effectively force the filtering of speech on the internet is removed, it could also do a lot of harm. The directive includes valuable progress on key dossiers for libraries, making it easier to carry out text and data mining, preserve documents, and give access to works that are not available on the market. But blocking free speech would be inevitable under Article 13 (renumbered to 17 in the voting document), a point already underlined by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Mar. 24
16h
Neely Tucker writes: “Our colleague Cait Miller published a pair of delightful posts about songs in the women’s suffrage movement on the In the Muse blog recently, the most recent of which is here. But it being Women’s History Month, we just had to know more about one of the sheet music covers she featured—the one with the remarkable title, ‘She’s Good Enough to be Your Baby’s Mother and She’s Good Enough to Vote with You.’ Published in the winter of 1916,when the suffrage movement was a hot-button political issue, the song (and its sheet music) are a nifty bit of insight into an earlier version of American pop culture.”
Library of Congress Blog, Mar. 25
16h
Susan Kriete writes: “When family historians come to the New York Public Library’s Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History, and Genealogy, they want to immediately ‘type their name’ into a database, not be referred to a book about how to trace their family tree. Genealogists are willing to hunt through thousands of digitized records to (not) find their ancestors instead of referring to a genealogy guidebook. Consulting a genealogy research guide will save you time, effort, and frustration, and also lead you to information and sources you might never discover otherwise. Here are a few examples of how that happens.”
New York Public Library blogs, Mar. 25
16h
Reforma, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, has received the 2019 Angel Award, sponsored by the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts, that recognizes outstanding contributions to children’s literacy and efforts to bring picture books to children everywhere. The award will be presented at Guastavino’s in New York City on September 26. Reforma is an ALA affiliate organization.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Mar. 20
17h
April 9 is National Library Workers Day, a time to recognize library professionals for their expertise and leadership skills in transforming lives and communities through education and lifelong learning. The day also reminds the public that library workers serve as community compasses that lead users to endless opportunities for engagement, enrichment, and development. Library users are invited to “submit a star” by providing a testimonial about a favorite library employee. Examples of nominations can include how library staff helped with learning 3D printing or writing a résumé.
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, Mar. 25
17h
The ALA-Allied Professional Association is recognizing libraries that go above and beyond in meeting the wellness needs of their staff. The organization is seeking nominations for its Presidential Citation for Wellness in the Workplace. The deadline to submit nominations is April 30. Candidates will be libraries that address staff needs in the areas of continuing education, wellness, positive work environment, unions, salaries, gender equity, pay equity initiatives, and other activities designed to improve the salaries and status of librarians and other library workers.
ALA-Allied Professional Association, Mar. 25
19h
Ashly Roman writes: “Just because teens do not have time for extensive programs does not mean they do not have time for the library. It means we need to take a step back and evaluate how we can still fit into their lives. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to meet with such people at a countywide youth service gathering that meets frequently throughout the year. At these meetings, we are able to share ideas, challenges, and passion projects that benefit our community as well as get support from our district library youth services consultant. Here are some of our ideas.”
YALSA Blog, Mar. 25
