Holding Space, a national conversation series with libraries

The Stories of America’s Libraries, Virtually

ALA president’s cross-country tour moves online

Newsmaker: Adrian Tomine

Graphic novelist reflects on COVID, craving loneliness, and libraries

US Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) speaks to attendees at the 2013 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.

Remembering John Lewis

The late congressman, author, and civil rights leader was also an advocate for libraries

Dewey Decibel: Libraries and Sustainability

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Libraries and Sustainability

Librarians discuss efforts to reduce their environmental footprint

The Latest on Broadband Bills

ALA supports federal efforts to expand access

Infobase’s Films on Demand fashion studies streaming video collection includes more than 1,300 titles.

Arts Online

Streaming services highlight art, music, and fashion

Responding to a Threat
The importance of immediate action

Bookend: The New Normal

Rethinking Police Presence
Libraries consider divesting from law enforcement

When Not to Call the Cops
A plea to protect Black patrons

Congress Introduces Library Stabilization Fund Act
ALA asks advocates to urge cosponsors for new legislation

How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic
Conservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19

Latest Library Links

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Holly Korbey writes: “Across the nation, libraries are stepping up in a time of crisis. This summer, as communities continue to deal with COVID-19, both public libraries and school libraries are innovating new ways to provide services for communities that reach beyond physical books and buildings. One of libraries’ main goals has been to help children, many of whom have already missed out on a lot, stay engaged, reading and learning at a time when they can’t physically be in the building.”
KQED MindShift, July 31
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On July 28, the Internet Archive filed its response to the lawsuit brought by four commercial publishers to end the practice of Controlled Digital Lending, which it says is the digital equivalent of traditional library lending. “What is at stake with this lawsuit?” writes Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle. “Every digital learner’s access to library books.”
Internet Archive Blog, July 29
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On July 30, American Library Association President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. paid a virtual visit to John Brown Watson Memorial Library at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to discuss how libraries at Historically Black Colleges and Universities shape leaders within their communities. Watson Memorial Library is the fifth stop on Jefferson’s 12-stop virtual tour, Holding Space, to spotlight how libraries of all kinds across the country are addressing the needs of their diverse communities and engaging stakeholders to advocate for libraries.
ALA Communications and Marketing Office, July 28
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Despite retail sales declining generally, publishing is growing in terms of unit sales when compared to 2019—print sales are up 3.6% and ebook sales are up 4%. Factors include a strong online market (driven by Amazon); sales driven by current events and politics; the high adoption rate of ebooks and audiobooks during the pandemic; and the migration of print sales from bookstores to big-box retailers.
Jane Friedman, July 30
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Lapham’s Quarterly presents an illustrated timeline of bookmaking technology, from labor- and time-intensive woodblock printing (ca. 220) to the invention of the first movable type (1040), paperback books (1845), and the relatively speedy hot metal typesetting (ca. 1884).
Lapham's Quarterly, July 30
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Brewster Kahle writes: “There is a recent written attack on libraries that I find odd and somewhat dangerous—libraries overlap too much with new-book bookstores. At first I thought it was trolling, but I now believe it is sincere. More worrisome is that antilibrary lobbying is generally growing in strength, but their attacks on the concept of libraries have been more implied and disguised, until recently. Maybe it is time to think a bit about what a library is and what they are for.”
Brewster Kahle's Blog, July 28
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The Black Caucus of the American Library Association has received an Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Award for $100,000 to support its “Breaking Barriers: The Future of Black Librarianship” national forum, a one-day preconference event to strengthen support for Black/African American MLIS students. BCALA also received an IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program Award of $99,934 to explore and catalog current Black History Month programming.
Black Caucus of the American Library Association, July 30

View more Latest Library Links

The Stories of America’s Libraries, Virtually

ALA president’s cross-country tour moves online

Newsmaker: Adrian Tomine

Graphic novelist reflects on COVID, craving loneliness, and libraries

Remembering John Lewis

The late congressman, author, and civil rights leader was also an advocate for libraries

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Libraries and Sustainability

Librarians discuss efforts to reduce their environmental footprint

The Latest on Broadband Bills

ALA supports federal efforts to expand access

Arts Online

Streaming services highlight art, music, and fashion

Responding to a Threat
The importance of immediate action

Bookend: The New Normal

Rethinking Police Presence
Libraries consider divesting from law enforcement

When Not to Call the Cops
A plea to protect Black patrons

Congress Introduces Library Stabilization Fund Act
ALA asks advocates to urge cosponsors for new legislation

How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic
Conservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19

Filtering: The Man in the Middle

A Plan for More Meaningful Work and Professional Fulfillment

Diversity in Libraries

ALA president’s cross-country tour moves online

Graphic novelist reflects on COVID, craving loneliness, and libraries

The late congressman, author, and civil rights leader was also an advocate for libraries

Librarians discuss efforts to reduce their environmental footprint

ALA supports federal efforts to expand access

Streaming services highlight art, music, and fashion

Responding to a ThreatThe importance of immediate action

Rethinking Police PresenceLibraries consider divesting from law enforcement

When Not to Call the CopsA plea to protect Black patrons

Congress Introduces Library Stabilization Fund ActALA asks advocates to urge cosponsors for new legislation

How to Sanitize Collections in a PandemicConservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19

Responding to a Threat
The importance of immediate action

Rethinking Police Presence
Libraries consider divesting from law enforcement

When Not to Call the Cops
A plea to protect Black patrons

Congress Introduces Library Stabilization Fund Act
ALA asks advocates to urge cosponsors for new legislation

How to Sanitize Collections in a Pandemic
Conservators weigh in on the mysteries of materials handling during COVID-19