ALA President-Elect Drabinski calls on members to volunteer for committees

On July 15, ALA President-Elect Emily Drabinski called on members to volunteer to serve on ALA, Council, and joint committees for the 2023–2025 term. Members can shape the future of the Association by contributing to committees that address such topics as accreditation, awards, rural and tribal libraries, intellectual freedom, sustainability, and professional ethics. Members interested in volunteering must fill out the committee volunteer form by September 30. Drabinski will make committee appointments in consultation with the Committee on Appointments and Committee on Committees. Appointed individuals will be notified in spring 2023 and begin their term July 1, 2023.

ALA, July 15

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Catherine Hollerbach writes: “In addition to being the state’s capital, Annapolis is a college town bustling with activities. Community members are very involved and committed to supporting the US Naval Academy (USNA) and its students, faculty, and staff. When something happens on ‘the Yard,’ it impacts the community as well. The members of the community surrounding USNA took the removal of nearly 400 books [from USNA’s Nimitz Library] personally, reacting with surprise and concern.” The Associated Press reported May 21 that all but 20 books have been returned to the library.

Public Libraries Online, June 2; Associated Press, April 4, May 21
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After significant flooding in western Maryland on May 13, Allegany County (Md.) Library (ACL) had to close two locations. George’s Creek Library reopened May 19 after minor damage to the building and no damage to collections or historical items. However, the Westernport Library remains closed after severe damage, with an early estimate of damage to the building’s collections at more than $270,000. ACL is accepting cash donations to its recovery project fund to replace furniture and damaged collections and restore computer access.

Allegany County (Md.) Library, May 19, May 29; WBAL-TV (Baltimore), May 14
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Cindy Hohl writes: “Wopida Tanka! (Many thanks!) As I reflect on my story wheel coming full circle, I am blessed to be surrounded by humble leaders who are the true helpers of society. In my final column as ALA president, I am taking this opportunity to recognize them, as it is always right to celebrate the human spirit by honoring good people. Over the past year, I hope that I have brought encouragement to colleagues across this field as we work together for a bright future. I am not sure what’s next, but I am grateful for this experience.”

American Libraries column, June/July
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Alison Marcotte writes: “The City of Brotherly Love is also a city of firsts: The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, is considered the country’s first public library. Philadelphia was the original capital of the United States. And ALA held its inaugural Convention of Librarians there during the Centennial Exposition in 1876. ALA returns to this historic and vibrant city for its 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition, to be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center June 26–30. This preview offers a small sample of what to expect. For registration information and a complete list of events, visit alaannual.org.”

American Libraries feature, June/July
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Emma Roth writes: “If you’ve ever wondered how the Internet Archive uploads all the physical documents on its site, now you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the process. The Internet Archive launched a new YouTube livestream that shows the digitization of microfiche in real time—complete with some relaxing, lo-fi beats. The livestream shows a close-up look at one of the five microfiche digitization stations at the organization’s Richmond, California, location, along with a look at the document that it’s working on. It runs from Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern.”

The Verge, May 22
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Saikat Basu writes: “Listening to audiobooks is great for multitasking. It helps me take ten-kilometer walks without boredom or wash that foamy pile of dishes. But, unlike a physical book, I struggled to remember most of what I heard. After trying different methods, I found simple ways to make audiobooks stick. It is a matter of being intentional and active while listening. It starts with choosing the right titles and then taking notes to set the stage for better memory. In between, adding visual summaries and creating action plans helps make audiobooks stick to your memory.”

MakeUseOf, May 27
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Mark Dahlquist writes: “A two-year pilot program at Miami University Libraries in Oxford, Ohio, tested a system developed in-library for digitally providing library users with semester-long licenses to access a student-oriented commercial cloud-based collaborative video editing tool (WeVideo) and explored the development of related learning resources and instructional sessions. Collected usage and survey data reveal a strongly positive user response to this tool and library service. Significant obstacles, including accessibility problems, were encountered during the pilot study. However, subsequent platform improvements may have mitigated or resolved many of these challenges.”

The Journal of Creative Library Practice, May 20

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