Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships: Enhancing Health and Quality of Life This title showcases libraries as vital collaborators in communities through their efforts to foster engagement, build connections, and serve as partners in leadership. Firsthand accounts of projects and programs help illustrate the ways these institutions are uniquely positioned to recognize local needs and facilitate … Continue reading Knowledge Creates Power
The citations, chosen by the International Relations Round Table (IRRT), were the creation of 2007–2008 ALA President Loriene Roy. The awards recognize exemplary services and projects that draw attention to libraries that are creating positive change, demonstrating sustainability, and providing a model for others. The winners were honored this year during IRRT’s International Librarians Reception … Continue reading 2023 International Innovators
“I wouldn’t have done it any other way,” Menzel—a world-renowned singer and performer best known for her stage and screen roles in Frozen, Rent, and Wicked—said about working with her sister Cara Mentzel, an author and former elementary school teacher. “I knew that she would bring it to life and guide me in my storytelling.” … Continue reading Newsmakers: Idina Menzel and Cara Mentzel
Nikole Brown, assistant manager of reference at St. Louis (Mo.) County Library, with Chicago-based drag performer Ginger Forest, who did a “Read the Rainbow” storytime at the Lyrasis booth. Desiree Thomas, collection development librarian at South Carolina State Library in Columbia, with The Pigeon from Mo Willems’s book series, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. … Continue reading Bookend: Electric Exhibits
Whatever your school’s library is like, the opportunity to bring in culturally responsive principles exists. If you are a school librarian, time is not always on your side. But with intentional steps, the culturally responsive practices that you decide to implement in your library can be structured into feasible tasks. Each of the following tasks … Continue reading Culturally Diverse Collections
“We know that if people don’t have enough food, every other need they have is going to seem secondary,” says Montgomery, associate director of community engagement at Charleston County (S.C.) Public Library (CCPL). The pandemic exacerbated food insecurity throughout the country, with an estimated 3 million more US residents facing food insecurity in 2020 than … Continue reading Fresh Ideas
It’s not unusual for libraries to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship preparation programs. But Jones Library (JL) in Amherst, Massachusetts, has designed a program specifically for older adult beginners ages 50 and over. A college town that attracts workers and academics from around the world, Amherst has a higher immigrant population … Continue reading Older Beginners
Jennings explores the afterlife in his latest book, 100 Places to See After You Die (Scribner, June). The satirical travel guide offers tips for visiting the Great Unknown, as it’s been described in popular culture and lore throughout history. American Libraries spoke with Jennings about his afterlife research, game show hosting duties, and what impact … Continue reading Newsmaker: Ken Jennings
71 Number of institutions recognized by the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries. These libraries are often housed within public gardens, arboretums, or universities around the world. 2004 Year the first seed library opened in a public library. Hudson Valley Seed Library—which has since evolved into Hudson Valley Seed Company, selling seeds and garden-themed art—got … Continue reading By the Numbers: Gardening
It’s maddening that so few people outside the library profession—even those we work with—see what is going on. But unfortunately, it’s not surprising. These days, news events reported across too many platforms compete for our limited time and attention. As local news outlets diminish, so does reporting on community events like school or public library … Continue reading Let’s Get Loud
Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism By Safiya Umoja Noble Understanding algorithms is crucial for library workers grappling with emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence chatbots and their effect on information access. This is one of the first major books to examine algorithms and how they may perpetuate biased representation, remaining on point … Continue reading Seize the Data
Like this earlier period of our history, the rise in social media and the 24-hour news cycle has made our ability to distribute information or messages (including false or misleading ones) grow faster than we can manage socially or politically. My hope for our current era is that we quickly come up with ways to … Continue reading Literacy in a Post-Truth World
