15h
Consider attending “New Directions for Libraries, Scholars, and Partnerships: An International Symposium” on October 13 at the German National Library during the Frankfurt Book Fair. The symposium will feature talks and posters by speakers from Europe and North America as well as related activities throughout the week, including tours of Harrassowitz, the Frankfurt Public Library, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. The symposium is organized by two working projects of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago.
Center for Research Libraries
15h
Kevin Maher writes: “Support for libraries figured in several bills that were recently introduced in Congress immediately prior to the August recess. The outlook for these bills is uncertain. None of the bill authors sit on the committees of jurisdiction considering the legislation, which often dims the chances of passage. In addition, two of the bills would create new funding streams, an uphill battle in the current congressional atmosphere. Nevertheless, we are pleased to see libraries thoughtfully included.”
District Dispatch, Aug. 23
15h
Eugenia Williamson writes: “CNN has reported that the White House has issued the paperwork to pardon Joe Arpaio, the extremely controversial former Arizona sheriff who in July was found in contempt for disregarding a court order to stop detaining suspected undocumented immigrants. Writers of crime fiction have long been enamored of troublesome sheriffs. Here are six recent novels that feature a head cop on the wrong side of the law.”
The Booklist Reader, Aug. 23
16h
YALSA has selected Stephen Ashley, teen engagement coordinator at the Chapel Hill (N.C.) Public Library as its new member manager for its blog, The Hub. As member manager, Ashley will lead an advisory board that provides oversight for the blog and solicits content from the YALSA community. He will also finish the process of transitioning the selected book lists to The Hub. Ashley succeeds Molly Wetta, who served as the member manager of The Hub for the past two years.
YALSA, Aug. 23
16h
LLAMA will present a webinar on “21st Century Library Ethics” on September 13. The webinar will explore what the current political climate means for library ethics and how librarians can shape the future and be a force for positive change in their communities. Presenter Sarah Houghton will discuss the ALA Library Bill of Rights and Professional Code of Ethics, as well as library ethics initiatives around the world. Register online.
LLAMA, Aug. 23
18h
Katie Kilkenny writes: “A response to a FOIA request threw further light on the prison library collection at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. On August 21, FOIA logging site Government Attic posted all 634 pages of Guantanamo’s inmate library catalog, which the US Southern Command’s Joint Task Force–Guantanamo compiled to respond to a 2015 request. Harry Potter is a clear favorite, with many translated editions; and inmates have no shortage of titles by conspiracy auteur Dan Brown or mystery maven Agatha Christie.”
Pacific Standard, Aug. 22
18h
Sascha Segan writes: “The Galaxy Note 8 is just what we expected. That’s great news. Samsung’s pen-enabled, high-end flagship phone fills the shoes of the dearly departed Note 7 elegantly. It’s basically a Galaxy S8+ with an S Pen and dual cameras on the back. And considering the S8 is our favorite phone of the year so far, the Note 8 looks very promising. We got a chance to spend some time with the phone ahead of Samsung’s launch event and have some first impressions.”
PC Magazine, Aug. 23
