15m
In a first for IFLA, the 2021 World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) will be held online. Faced with continued uncertainty about the health, economic, and travel situation into 2021, it already seems clear that business-as-usual is not an option, the organization said in a September 22 statement.
IFLA, Sept. 22
46m
Rare books worth more than £2.5 million that were stolen from a warehouse in west London in a daring Mission Impossible-style heist have been found buried under the floor of a house in rural Romania. The recovery of the 200 books, which include first editions of significant works by Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton, is the culmination of a three-year police operation that involved raids on 45 addresses across three countries and led to charges against 13 people.
The Guardian (UK), Sept. 18
2h
Librarian Anna Gooding-Call writes: “The assumption that librarians are also babysitters is an old problem. While it’s hard for a librarian to refuse a parent who simply leaves their kid in the children’s room and hopes for the best, it’s not a librarian’s job to look after kids—not now, and not during normal times. I am here today to explain why librarians are not childcare.”
Book Riot, Sept. 18
2h
September is National Library Card Signup Month. In celebration of this initiative and five Omaha (Neb.) Public Library branches reopening September 21, check out these staff-recommended books about libraries and librarians. Find them and more at omahalibrary.org.
Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald, Sept. 20
2h
Librarian’s Library columnist Araceli Méndez Hintermeister writes: “The library’s influence extends beyond its walls. These selections offer ways librarians can engage their community via volunteer efforts, collaborations, advocacy, and more.”
American Libraries column, Sept./Oct.
2h
Through Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, up to 650 US libraries in small and rural communities will receive $3,000 to tackle issues ranging from media literacy to COVID-19 safety to unemployment. The initiative is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. Library workers may apply online for grant funding from September 21 to December 2. Grants will be distributed over two funding rounds. Read the full project guidelines.
Programming Librarian, Sept. 21
