Latest Library Links, December 22, 2014

News from ALA and the profession

January 23, 2015

Midwinter Meeting News

Making the most of Midwinter

American Libraries Online

Libraries use dog therapy programs to reach reluctant readers

Mind the Gap

Early childhood literacy is front-page news

A Drone’s-Eye-View of a Wintery Chicago

Latest Library Links

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Terra Dankowski writes: “Stacey Abrams wants a fair fight—and a fair count. ‘In 2018, I did not become governor of Georgia,’ the nonprofit CEO, 11-year Georgia House representative, recent Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and author of the forthcoming Our Time is Now told a packed auditorium at the Opening Session of the Public Library Association (PLA) 2020 Conference in Nashville on February 26. ‘I had some time on my hands.’”
AL: The Scoop, Feb. 27
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Terra Dankowski writes: “Sharon Kay Edwards—legislative monitor for the Tennessee Library Association (TLA), librarian at Motlow State Community College, and an American Library Association (ALA) Policy Corps member—and her Tennessee colleagues presented the preconference ‘Developing Your Advocacy Assets’ at the Public Library Association 2020 Conference in Nashville on February 25 to demonstrate tangible advocacy and audit methods, such as contacting government officials, conducting surveys, creating partnerships, and using graphics and video to tell the library’s story.”
AL: The Scoop, Feb. 26
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The publisher Library of America is offering 50 libraries, museums, and nonprofit cultural institutions $1,200 grants to host a minimum of two public programs celebrating African-American poetry. “Lift Every Voice” programs will take place from September 2020 to March 2021. The application deadline has been extended to March 20. A multimedia website will fully launch in June to promote the events, and Library of America will publish African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle and Song, an inclusive new canon of African-American poetry for the next century edited by Kevin Young, in September.
Library of America
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Alex Perry writes: “Google announced February 25 that its iconic image search feature will get some new icons to clarify things a bit before you click on an image. On the search page itself, you’ll start seeing small badges on the lower left corner of each result letting you know if they came from shopping pages, recipe websites, or YouTube videos, for example. Mousing over them will give you more specific information. Giving users a quick heads-up before they click through is a nice change. But the icons will take the place of the image dimensions display that currently shows up when you mouse over a search result.”
Mashable, Feb. 26
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Reis Thebault writes: “If unchecked internet information is any guide, there’s an inexhaustible list of products ‘you should buy’ to prepare for the spread of coronavirus—which, according to US health officials, now appears inevitable. But here’s the thing: Covid-19 may be novel, but you really don’t need to buy anything new or special to brace for it. In fact, the Washington Post spoke to epidemiology experts, and they said the most important aspect of preparedness costs nothing at all: calm. Here’s what doctors, researchers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say you can do now to prepare and protect yourself.”
Washington Post, Feb. 26
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The Humane Society of the United States has donated its historical archives to the North Carolina State University Libraries Special Collections Research Center. The materials, which include a broad range of original correspondence, photographs, reports, publications, and ephemera, all relate to the society’s history since its founding in 1954 and that of its various affiliates, including the Fund for Animals, the Doris Day Animal League, the National Association for the Advancement of Humane and Environmental Education, Humane Society International, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and the Center for the Respect of Life and Environment.
NC State University Libraries, Feb. 24
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Tennessee lawmakers have proposed a library censorship legislation nearly identical to a bill proposed last month in Missouri. In light of this, the National Coalition Against Censorship reiterates its original statement from January calling on the legislature to reject the proposed bill. The ALA, Tennessee Library Association, and PEN America have also issued statements. NCAC supports the ongoing work of ALA, an NCAC partner, in fighting to prevent this legislation from progressing. It will continue to monitor and prepare for further copycat bills, should they appear in other states.
National Coalition Against Censorship, Feb. 25