Author Archive: Amy Carlton

ALA Virtual Fall Council Meeting

By Amy Carlton | September 18, 2020

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 →

Council III: Memorials, Resolutions, and SCOE

By Amy Carlton | June 28, 2020

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 →

Top Tech Trends: COVID Considerations

By Amy Carlton | June 24, 2020

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 →

ALA Virtual Opening Session Speaker Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland Gets to the “Pointe” of Representation

By Amy Carlton | June 24, 2020

ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall reflected on her first four months as head of the Association, a period marked by the simultaneous struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global uprising against police brutality and racism. “Our resistance in these struggles requires our resilience,” Hall said. In 2026, ALA will turn 150, and Hall … Continue reading Misty Copeland Gets to the “Pointe” of Representation →

Council II: ALA Divisions Dissolved, Merged

By Amy Carlton | June 24, 2020

Former ALA President Jim Neal, chair of the Committee on Organization (COO), presented the COO report (CD#27.2). COO worked on several initiatives, including the merger of three divisions—the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), the Library Information Technology Association (LITA), and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA)—into Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. A … Continue reading Council II: ALA Divisions Dissolved, Merged →

ALA Council Holds First Virtual Session

By Amy Carlton | June 23, 2020

The Virtual Council Rules (CD#5.1) and agenda (CD#8.5) were adopted. The minutes from the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting (CD#2.1) were also adopted. ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall presented the review of executive board actions taken since the 2020 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia (CD#15.2) and the implementation report on Council actions taken at Midwinter (CD#9.1). … Continue reading ALA Council Holds First Virtual Session →

Newsmaker: Samantha Irby

By Amy Carlton | February 10, 2020

Tell us about your new book, Wow, No Thank You. It’s pretty much in the same vein as my other two books, but I have exhausted writing about my mom and dad, and all my pets are still alive, so there are no sad essays. It’s mostly about dealing with this aging body and still … Continue reading Newsmaker: Samantha Irby →

Council III: Tributes, Memorials, and ALA Finances

By Amy Carlton | January 28, 2020

Memorials were read for Ellen Greenblatt (M#1), Willis Bernard “Bill” Lukenbill (M#2), Hilda L. Jay (M#3), Bill Ptacek (M#4), Carolyn A. Markuson (M#5), Learned T. “Dag” Bulman (M#6), and Jennifer Ford Paustenbaugh (M#7). Tributes were read to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Florida Library Association (T#1) and to honor Dita Kraus, “The Librarian of … Continue reading Council III: Tributes, Memorials, and ALA Finances →

Committee Reports and Resolutions at Council II

By Amy Carlton | January 27, 2020

Jim Neal, chair of the Committee on Organization (COO), presented the COO report (CD#27), which included a look at the requirement for committees to file biannual reports, an event that does not happen consistently. Kim Copenhaver, a member of the Committee Information Update subcommittee, presented a report on whether that requirement should be changed, based … Continue reading Committee Reports and Resolutions at Council II →

Marshall Breeding at the podium with (left to right) Victoria Blackmer, Alison Macrina, and Elisandro Cabada

Top Tech Trends Focus on Privacy

By Amy Carlton | January 26, 2020

Moderator Ida Joiner, senior librarian at the Universal Academy School in Irving, Texas, was joined by panelists Victoria Blackmer, assistant director of Robert R. Jones Public Library in Coal Valley, Illinois; Marshall Breeding, independent library consultant; Elisandro Cabada, medical and bioengineering librarian at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and Alison Macrina, founder and executive director … Continue reading Top Tech Trends Focus on Privacy →

The Latest on #eBooksForAll

By Amy Carlton | January 26, 2020

Ramiro S. Salazar, Public Library Association (PLA) president and director of San Antonio (Tex.) Public Library was aided by four panelists who have been working on the campaign since the beginning: Sari Feldman, Alan S. Inouye, Patrick Losinski, and Larra Clark. Salazar noted that the embargo affects all libraries, public libraries in particular. ALA has … Continue reading The Latest on #eBooksForAll →

Council I Introduces New Executive Director

By Amy Carlton | January 26, 2020

Brown introduced the first Lois-Ann Gregory Wood Fellow, Tashia Munson of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Brown then introduced Tracie D. Hall, ALA’s new executive director, who will start February 24. The minutes from the 2019 ALA Annual Conference (CD#2) were adopted. ALA Executive Director Mary Ghikas presented the review of executive board … Continue reading Council I Introduces New Executive Director →

Latest Library Links

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The ALA Executive Board is accepting applications to fill two ALA Endowment Trustees committee vacancies. ALA Endowment Trustees manage the ALA Endowment Fund on behalf of the Executive Board, guided by the established policies, procedures, and guidelines of the ALA investment policy statement. ALA members interested in submitting their candidacy for a three-year term are welcome to complete an application form and provide three professional letters of reference before June 5.

ALA Finance Dept., Apr. 22
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Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago have issued a working paper examining the returns on public investment in libraries. The report finds that library capital investment increases children’s attendance at library events by 18%, children’s checkouts of items by 21%, and total library visits by 21%. Increases in library use also translate into improved children’s test scores in nearby school districts.

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, April
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In recent weeks, nine bills have been introduced in seven states to bar the teaching of “divisive concepts” in school, specifically targeting teaching about social justice and systemic racism. These bills reflect a trend seen in the American Library Association’s recently-released Top 10 Challenged Books list. Several bills call out the teaching of the 1619 Project, a curriculum based on a New York Times series that frames US history through the lens of slavery and structural racism.

National Coalition against Censorship, Apr. 13
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Karla Peterson writes: “Odi’s Library Day is the first children’s book to be published by San Diego Public Library. The eight-page bilingual board book also marks the publication debut by writer Hunter Hackett and illustrator Anisi Baigude, two longtime San Diegans who met in a UCSD Extension art class. And while there is no definitive proof that this is the first children’s book to star a gender-neutral coyote, it is certainly the first children’s book to show a gender-neutral coyote getting their first library card from an owl librarian.”

San Diego Union Tribune, Apr. 17
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The Nominating Committee for the 2022 ALA election is soliciting nominees to run on the 2022 spring ballot for the offices of ALA president-elect, treasurer, and councilor-at-large. Members who wish to make nominations should submit the following information: nominee name; present position; institution; address; telephone; and email address. Self-nominations are encouraged. All potential nominees must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form. Nominations and forms must be received no later than July 1.

ALA Governance Office, Apr. 21
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NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) is now accepting proposals for two opportunities, including the new Community Anchor Awards for TEAM II to support institutions in establishing themselves as a local NASA STEM informal education community resource. Selected parties will offer NASA education directly aligned with space exploration, aeronautics, space science, earth science, or microgravity. Eligible proposers include US nonprofit science museums, planetariums, youth-serving organizations, and libraries. Proposals are due June 17 and July 19.

NASA, Apr. 22
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Rochester (Minn.) Public Library has a potato library. You can check out potatoes there, just like books. Library cardholders are able take an 8-oz. bag of Dark Red Norland seed potatoes, in addition to up to 10 seed packets from RPL’s seed library, to plant in their gardens.

KROC-AM (Rochester, Minn.), Apr. 19

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