design-alcuin5

August 14, 2018 750 × 500 2018 Library Design Showcase

Impressive Facelifts

Alcuin Library, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota

Designed by famed Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer in 1965, Alcuin Library is an architectural landmark. But it needed a modern overhaul. CSNA Architects’ renovation transformed it from a dark, dense, collection-centered facility, to one that embraces openness and space for campus use while still maintaining the integrity of Breuer’s original design.

Project: Renovation and expansion
Architect: CSNA Architects
Size: 80,547 square feet
Cost: $21 million
Photo: Fred Fuhrmeister

Latest Library Links

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Ella Creamer writes: “A fundraising campaign has raised [more than £190,000 (US $207,000)] to help repair a Liverpool (England) library and community hub that suffered severe fire damage after being targeted by anti-immigration rioters on August 3.” Spellow Hub Library is located near a mosque where right-wing groups gathered and clashed with police. The riot was one of many in England prompted by false online claims that the suspect in the July 29 killing of three young girls in the town of Southport was a Muslim asylum seeker. The fundraising campaign was created by local manicurist Alex McCormick.

The Guardian, Aug. 6; Liverpool Echo, Aug. 3
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Steve Tetreault writes: “I am an Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education skeptic. I think there are ethical, legal, and environmental issues with the use of AI that need clarification, at the least, before schools start promoting the use of AI. I realize folks will say, ‘It’s already out there, so we have to prepare students for how to use it.’ But there’s a lot of stuff we don’t take school time to prepare students for.” Relevant to Tetreault’s concerns, Aaron Tay discusses ways that large language models are using library content.

Knowledge Quest, Aug. 1; Musings about Librarianship, Aug. 2
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Lisa Campbell and Brittany Kester write: “In April, the Department of Justice updated its regulations to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The update ensures web content will be accessible for people with disabilities in libraries. Under this rule, all local and state governments will need to meet international accessibility standards for online services and online electronic documents (WCAG 2.1 level AA) by 2026. While this may be a lengthy but necessary undertaking for many libraries, there are several easy things you can start doing now to ensure your web content is accessible.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, Aug. 5
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Samantha LaFrance writes: “A new spate of state laws and policies is giving lie to the idea that banning books is about families making decisions for their own children. In Utah, Tennessee, Idaho, and South Carolina, state lawmakers have moved away from so-called “parental rights”—and into government-mandated book bans. In Utah, for example, House Bill 29 will require all schools in the state to remove a book that is deemed to be ‘objective sensitive material’ by just a few school districts in the state. [The Utah State Board of Education ordered 13 books removed from public schools in the state August 2.] In effect, the law will make the objections of just a handful of parents the law of the land.”

PEN America, July 29, July 18; New York Times, July 29; Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune, August 2.
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Matt Wilson writes: “Mission Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas says it won’t remove or review 676 books the school system’s former superintendent committed to purging earlier this summer. In May Mission CISD, like other Rio Grande Valley districts, received an email from local representatives of a conservative advocacy group. Former Superintendent Carol G. Perez unequivocally agreed to remove all the books on the group’s list minutes after receiving their email. Perez, however, left her position as the district’s chief last month and Mission’s new superintendent says no books were removed or are going to be removed based on the group’s request.”

Progress Times, July 28; June 13
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ALA has opened applications for volunteers for ALA standing committees for the 2025–2027 term, and the 2025 class of Emerging Leaders. Committee membership offers members opportunities to gain leadership experience, make an impact on key issues and policies, engage with colleagues nationwide, and build their resume. Submit an ALA volunteer form by September 30. Emerging Leaders is a leadership development program that enables early-career library workers to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. Apply by September 6.

ALA Governance Office, July 29; ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, July 29
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Marshall Breeding writes: “ALA’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition brought 13,532 registrants to sunny San Diego for educational programs, featured speakers, business meetings, and celebrations. The conference attracted more than 550 vendors to the Library Marketplace, the largest commercial exhibition aimed at the global library community. Vendors displayed a near-comprehensive range of products and services available to libraries, both physical and digital. Representatives were on hand to demonstrate solutions for use in the library, as well as services that can be offered virtually to patrons or deployed beyond building walls.”

American Libraries feature, July/August

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