As seen in ALA blogs on Sunday, June 26:
Whirling and twirling, with books in hand – ALSC Blog
“In my household, #ALA11 is known as ‘Librarians Gone Wild’ and I think the name does really fit!” writes Mary Ann Scheuer. “It’s hard to put into words how wonderful this experience has been so far, but I think the greatest part of it has been making connections with people whose work I’ve read – authors, bloggers, friends on GoodReads, librarians on list-serves, reviewers. On the first day, I walked into the exhibit hall’s graphic novel artist’s lane because I knew my students adore graphic novels. I’m quite a shy person, not very good at asserting myself into conversations, so I was waiting patiently to say hi to Raina Telgemeier, the author of our most popular graphic novel Smile, when she saw me and shouted, ‘Mary Ann! Hello!!!’ and gave me a huge hug. I’ve never met Raina or her husband Dave Romanbefore, but I’ve shared my enthusiasm for their stories on my blog and on Twitter. My support (and truly, the support of my students) has meant a lot to them, and Raina recognized me immediately from my blog – I was stunned!”…
ALA Student Chapters Organize to Effect Change – Student Membership Blog
According to Micah Vandegrift, “…the only way to effect change is to be involved, and the establishment of this group, which will manage and represent ALA student chapters and provide continuity across our groups, has the potential to be a catalyst for a revived and relevant professional organization. Look for great things from the ALA student chapters as a result of this initiative, and students, if your student org sucks, fix it. We’ve got work to do.”
Daniel Ellsberg: Gentleman, Scholar, Nation's Most Famous Whistleblower – Inside Scoop
Leonard Kniffel reported, “I was making my way from the screening yesterday evening of The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers to an adjacent auditorium where we were told that Ellsberg himself would make a surprise appearance. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a white-haired man walking ahead of me with the assistance of a cane—a slender, handsomely dressed man whom I guessed immediately was the world's most famous whistleblower himself.”…
ABC’s of Sustainable Partnerships: Affiliations Build Communities – Programming Librarian Blog
Jeana Elizondo wrote, “Libraries that seek to instruct a family as a whole can face an overwhelming and challenging task, especially in the case of literacy education. Literacy programs take many forms, but finding a program that caters to kids and parents alike is difficult. The session “ABC’s of Sustainable Partnerships: Affiliations Build Communities” discussed how libraries can develop partnership programs that can serve as a direct way to connect the user with crucial information, critical to literacy success. Highlighted was the program “PRIME TIME Family Reading Time,” an award-winning literacy program that reaches both children and adults.”…
@ your library #ALA11 – ALSC Blog
Heather Acerro was excited to share that “ALA has a new promotion that you need to know about: Connect With Your Kids @ your library. I spoke with Megan Humphrey, Manager of Campaign for America’s Libraries about it this afternoon. She provided me with gorgeous bookmarks and pamphlets to hand out to parents in my community. All of the information that you need to promote this campaign is downloadable from the website. The idea behind the promotion: let parents know that the library is the perfect place to bring their kids. How awesome is that?”…
LITA Program Discusses Library e-Content Delivery Possibilities – Membership Blog
“Saturday’s LITA-sponsored program ‘You Mean Libraries Will Be Able to Deliver Electronic Content Better Than iTunes and Netflix?’ provided an update on the presidential task force on equitable access to electronic content,” reported Jessica Horvath. “EQUACC, ALA's Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content, was formed as a result of a groundbreaking ALA resolution passed by council in 2010. According to Michael Porter, EQUACC chair and Communications Manager at WebJunction, one purpose of EQUACC is to work toward creating solutions to e-content access problems. Moreover, Porter poses the question — ‘why aren’t libraries streaming e-content as well or better than iTunes or Netflix?’”…
Day 3: Klatch-tastic – The PLA Blog
Celise wrote, “The YALSA Coffee Klatch was a fantastic opportunity for youth literature supporters to chat with the authors whose worlds we send teens to explore. Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why emceed the event, welcoming the attendees and introducing the authors. Then, the authors sat down at tables with 5-7 YALSA members/supporters for 3-4 minute intervals. Those minutes were precious, and though we did not get to talk to every author, we did have the chance to mingle briefly with everyone at the conclusion of the event.”…
Amelia Bloomer Project: conceived in an elevator, born in a bar – ALSC Blog
Mary Ann Scheuer shared, “This morning’s #ALA11 celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Amelia Bloomer Project annual list of feminist books for young readers was an inspiring, joyful affair. I found particularly inspiring the introduction written by Nel Ward, co-founder of the project, describing the roots and inspiration for this wonderful list, and shared by this year’s co-chair Beth Olshewsky. Ten and a half years ago, four ALA members started talking in an elevator about how a book selection committee ‘might help young people become better adults,’ as Nel described it. Jenny Baltes, Debbie Carton, Peter Holland and Nel Ward were all fresh off of major book award committees, and over lunch that day they developed the idea for the Amelia Bloomer Project annual list of books for youth that embody feminist ideals, principles and stories.”
Intellectual Freedom 101: The Brains of the ALA – Inside Scoop
Liz Humrickhouse wrote, “‘If the Intellectual Freedom Committee is the brains of the ALA and the Committee on Professional Ethics is the conscience, then we (the LeRoy C. Merritt Fund) are the righteous arm for the individual librarian,’ declared Loriene Roy, past ALA president and current Merritt Fund trustee.”…
In the Moment: The Emerging Leaders Salon – Membership Blog
“It was 1:30 p.m. on the second day of ALA Annual Conference for the Emerging Leaders,” wrote @johnmeier1. “Faces were beginning to show conference fatigue or perhaps the results of a previous night on the town in the Crescent City. Half a dozen tables were slowly filling with Emerging Leaders—past, present, and potential future. @jaimebc rushes into the room and gets things started. There is no A/V and the microphone is quickly abandoned in the intimate setting of clustered tables. She introduces the first, featured speaker @lisacarlucci, and the title of her talk ‘Cadillac Leadership.’ ‘What does that even mean?’ I think, but I am surprised when our speaker gives voice to the same thought.”…
Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button? – ALSC Blog
Mary Voors shared, “Walking through the massive Exhibit Halls at #ala11 can be a treasure hunt. Some people are searching for ARCs to bring home, some are searching for authors to sign books, some are searching for particular vendors to talk with, some are just looking for what’s new and exciting in the profession. I do all of these things, but I’m always keeping my eye open for buttons. I love the variety and the styles of this type of advertising. I am particularly drawn to the ones that make you go ‘hmmmm’ such as these buttons I found at the Milliken booth. Aren’t they fun?”…
Libraries in the Cloud – The PLA Blog
Loretta Gharst wrote, “At a Library Board meeting some months ago I was asked by a board member if we had considered moving our library technology to the ‘cloud’ with the inference that we would not need the level of funding we were requesting for hardware, software, networking equipment, electrical, etc. Caught off guard I went blank for a minute. What cloud? – then, it hit me, he was talking about outsourcing like SAAS (Software as a Service). I lamely explained that we actually did have some technology that was remote hosted, some that had been but hadn’t worked out well and some that had. This morning’s session “Updates on Cloud Computing Uses for Library Services” provided an excellent explanation of the pros and cons of the various forms of cloud computing: SAAS, IAAS, PAAS.”…
The White Light of Librarianship, Reconsidered – Membership Blog
“There are so many different ways to be a librarian in 2011,” wrote Kim Leeder. “Where once the field was populated largely by a limited number of more or less predictable job titles, today it encompasses positions focused on trending issues like assessment, digital technologies, outreach, and the first-year experience. Just take a look at ALA JobLIST on any given day to see the shift in action. Or, if you happened to catch ACRL’s University and College Libraries Sections’ (ULS and CLS) joint 2011 annual program, “Academic Librarian Lightning Round! Innovative New Roles,” held on Saturday, June 25, in New Orleans, you would have heard it direct from the source. For their program, the two sections collaborated to bring together a unique group of individuals from around the United States who are already doing the “new work” of librarianship.”…