Cottom, associate professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Information and Library Science, spoke about how these discussions inform the courses she teaches as well as her current thinking about the role of the academic library. One course, “Networks of Racial Capitalism,” examines the effects of information capitalism and structural inequality. … Continue reading Ascending into an Open Future
Jefferson took a moment at the beginning of the meeting to mark César Chávez Day, celebrated each year on the labor leader and civil rights activist’s birthday, March 31. Amy Lappin, chair of the Chapter Relations Committee (CRC), and Justin de la Cruz, chair of the Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA), presented the ALA Vaccine … Continue reading March Virtual Council Meeting
Braunstein, digital humanities librarian at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and co-lead of Digital by Dartmouth Library, wants to help both crossword puzzles and libraries shed their reputations for stuffy elitism and exclusion. Braunstein started doing crosswords as a child with her grandfather, who emigrated from Moldova; the games were his way of learning … Continue reading Bookend: Clues You Can Use
Memorials were read for Susan S. Lazinger (M#1), Vicki J. Terbovich (M#2), Yvonne J. Chandler (M#3), Luisa Vigo-Cepeda (M#4), Marjorie Lewis (M#5), Judy Yung (M#6), Susana Liu (M#7), and Violette Y. Brooks (M#8). Tributes were read to recognize former Public Library Association Director Barb Macikas (T#1), Patricia Ann Tumulty (T#2), Ona Šimaitė (T#3), Barbara Johns … Continue reading Council III Tackles Privacy Issues, Vaccines for Library Workers
Jim Neal, chair of the Committee on Organization (COO), reported on COO actions since ALA Virtual in June (CD#27) and presented five action items, all of which passed: a motion to establish the Council Committee on Sustainability; a motion to discontinue the Library Education Assembly; a motion to discontinue the Exhibits Round Table; a motion … Continue reading Council II: Reports and Resolutions
John Mack Freeman, manager of Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Library’s Suwanee branch, opened with a clip that appeared to show former US President Barack Obama voicing support for Black Panther movie villain Erik Killmonger. (The clip was actually a BuzzFeed-produced PSA from director Jordan Peele, who imitated Obama’s speech patterns with cleverly synched video.) It … Continue reading Libraries and Invasive Technology
The minutes from the 2020 June, September, and December Virtual Council Meetings (CD#2, 2.1, 2.2) were adopted. ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall reviewed the Executive Board actions since the 2020 June Virtual Meeting (CD#15) and implementation of the 2020 Virtual Meeting Council Actions (CD#9). Patty Wong, chair of the Committee on Committees, presented the … Continue reading Council I: Forward Together Reports Presented
ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. opened the ceremony by noting that “these 10 individuals exemplify the leadership, expertise, and dedication of our nation’s librarians” and remarking on the challenging and unprecedented circumstances that required librarians to go above and beyond for their communities in 2020. ALA Past President and I Love My Librarian Award … Continue reading I Love My Librarian Awards Goes Virtual
Jefferson thanked the Forward Together Working Group (FTWG) and Council members for their work the past several months. FTWG cochairs Stephen Yates and Joslyn Bowling Dixon provided an update on the group’s activities since the summer (CD#51). It held six discussion sessions between August and November to give councilors time to review, consider, and discuss … Continue reading ALA Council Holds Second Special Virtual Meeting
Jefferson acknowledged the unprecedented times for libraries and their effects on the Association’s finances and services. But he added that the conversations around ALA’s framework have been ongoing for several years—with initiatives such as Forward Together (formerly the Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness) and increased investment in advocacy, development, and technology—to make the Association more … Continue reading ALA Virtual Fall Council Meeting
Memorials were read for Gayatri Singh (M#8), Yen-Tsai-Feng (M#9), Thomas Low (M#10), Clement Chu-Sing Lau (M#11), Tze-chung Li (M#12), Patricia Ann Hannon (M#13), Mary Ardeth Gaylord (M#14), Michelle Marie Miller (M#15), Ruth and Jay Toor (M#16), J. Linda Williams (M#17), Mary Jo Lynch (M#18), Peggy Sullivan (M#19), Charles Brown (M#20), William A. Bill Garrison Jr. … Continue reading Council III: Memorials, Resolutions, and SCOE
Privacy and security Jeremy Kurtz, director of systems and security at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, said that as an important part of privacy, information security is important to manage. Kurtz recommended that libraries use the Center for Internet Security’s 20 controls and resources. But, he added, vendor management is also vital. Just because … Continue reading Top Tech Trends: COVID Considerations
