Author Archive: Diana Panuncial

Leading the Change

July 2, 2024

When people asked about the caution tape, she and the other campaign participants had a flier handy with information about their cause.  “By the end of the week, there were at least 100 kids at my school who had participated in the caution tape campaign,” she shared. “That’s what allowed us to expand.”  Goodman-Bhyat, co-president … Continue reading Leading the Change



Channeling Courage

June 30, 2024

Velshi, who is chief correspondent for MSNBC and host of the TV segment Velshi Across America, shared this message during his June 30 talk at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. While discussing his book, Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy (St. … Continue reading Channeling Courage


Lights, Camera, Internship

June 30, 2024

For its part, San Diego Public Library (SDPL), in partnership with the City of San Diego and the nonprofit Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD), launched a paid internship program comprising a six-week video production training course taught by visual artists and film producers. The classes offered hands-on opportunities to pitch a documentary idea, shoot … Continue reading Lights, Camera, Internship


Choosing Empathy

June 30, 2024

That was just one of the reasons why Henson, an Academy Award–nominated actor, producer, author, and mental-health advocate, chose to write her debut picture book, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) (June, Zonderkidz). She discussed her inspiration behind the book, her mental health initiatives, and the importance of letting others be seen … Continue reading Choosing Empathy


Building Great Manga Collections for Adults

Adults Read Manga, Too!

June 29, 2024

“Adults actually started getting recommendations from the high schoolers because they’re new to the genre and don’t know what to read next,” she said. “[The two groups] come from different points initially, but I think they all end up being in the same type of stream.” Flynn shared ways to curate a manga collection for … Continue reading Adults Read Manga, Too!


A New Class of Librarians

June 29, 2024

Through the Diverse Librarianship Career Training and Education (DLCTE) program, seniors from Sumner High School (SHS) in St. Louis can intern for nearby St. Louis Public Library (SLPL), learning the ropes of librarianship while getting paid. DLCTE is a three-year project of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), funded by an Institute of Museum and Library … Continue reading A New Class of Librarians


2024 Annual Conference Preview

2024 Annual Conference Preview

June 3, 2024

Annual promises an array of educational programs, speakers and authors, unique exhibitors, awards and celebrations, and networking opportunities. Making a return appearance from LibLearnX in January, a selection of Timely Topics—categories of sessions pertaining to current, critical issues in the profession—will be featured: artificial intelligence (AI), health and wellness, intellectual freedom, justice-involved services, and strategic … Continue reading 2024 Annual Conference Preview


Image shows a row of paper bags filled with Maynard (Mass.) Public Library's February spice of the month, fenugreek.

The Spice of Life

May 1, 2024

“Staff will come down and say, ‘What’s going on? Everything smells so good,’” says Sally Thurston, MPL’s adult programming coordinator and circulation assistant. Since January 2022, Thurston has run the library’s spice club, which offers patrons kits filled with a featured spice, recipes, and other information based on the selection. Patrons then prepare a dish … Continue reading The Spice of Life


Jesús Trejo

Newsmaker: Jesús Trejo

February 19, 2024

Its companion book, Mamá’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas (Minerva), will be released this September. American Libraries spoke with Trejo after his appearance at the American Library Association’s 2024 LibLearnX conference in Baltimore about his family, what fans can expect from his future work, and book bans. What role have libraries and librarians played in your life? … Continue reading Newsmaker: Jesús Trejo


Abby Vande Walle, a coordinator in circulation services at University of Notre Dame’s (Ind.) Hesburgh Libraries, speaks at “Ideas for Increasing Library Student Employee Training, Engagement, and Retention,” a January 22 session at the American Library Association’s 2024 LibLearnX conference in Baltimore.

What Is a “Lormal”?

January 22, 2024

A lormal is a library formal event, put on in celebration of student workers at the end of the school year, according to Abby Vande Walle, coordinator of circulation services at University of Notre Dame’s (Ind.) Hesburgh Libraries. Student workers are invited to dress up and walk the red carpet, eat fancy food, and have … Continue reading What Is a “Lormal”?


Playing to the Crowd

January 22, 2024

“[Twitch is] where gamers are,” Brown said. “That’s where we really wanted to do some outreach.”  She discussed the pros and cons of using Twitch, ideas for library programs that can be livestreamed, and how the popular platform enables libraries to reach new audiences at “Low Stress, High Mayhem: Using Twitch for Professional Development and … Continue reading Playing to the Crowd