Author Archive: Greg Landgraf

James Patterson on Libraries, Librarians, and Book Bans

By Greg Landgraf | June 26, 2023

Patterson’s upcoming book, The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading (Little, Brown, 2024), shares stories from dozens of librarians and booksellers. But he attended American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago largely in support of Amina Luqman-Dawson, whose Freewater won both the Newbery Medal and … Continue reading James Patterson on Libraries, Librarians, and Book Bans →

Stephanie Robertson, assistant professor and outreach librarian at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, speaks at the “It’s Not Either/Or!: How to Include Open Access Materials to Transform Curriculum and Collections” session at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago June 25.

Blending Open Access and Traditionally Published Materials

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2023

“I think that to have a collection that is high-quality and has the layers of complexity you would expect from a collection, you need both OER and traditionally published materials,” said Robertson, assistant professor and outreach librarian at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, in the “It’s Not Either/Or!: How to Include Open Access Materials to Transform Curriculum … Continue reading Blending Open Access and Traditionally Published Materials →

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden smiles on stage at the "In Conversation with Carla Hayden" session at the ALA Annual Conference

A Presidential Center Preview

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2023

“The presidency that is the main thrust of this particular story is also the story of the first digital president,” said Obama Presidential Center museum director Dr. Louise Bernard. Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden interviewed Bernard and Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown about the Center at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and … Continue reading A Presidential Center Preview →

Anne Holland demonstrates an eclipse-related activity by using a flashlight and a toy tree to cast a shadow.

Preparing for the Next Great American Eclipse

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2023

Librarians hoping to avoid last-minute scrambling to prepare for the upcoming annular (on October 14, 2023) and total solar (on April 8, 2024) eclipses visible in the continental United States attended the session “A Procrastinator’s Guide to the 2023/2024 Solar Eclipses” at the American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June … Continue reading Preparing for the Next Great American Eclipse →

Katie Strand, first year experience librarian at Utah State University, speaking at the “Connecting Library Experiences: Collaboration Across Library Types to Better Support our Patrons” session at the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2023 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 24

Library Collaboration to Improve Information Literacy

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2023

USU’s efforts are one example of the benefits that can be gained when different types of libraries collaborate. Librarians from USU and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, shared success stories in the session “Connecting Library Experiences: Collaboration Across Library Types to Better Support our Patrons” at the American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and … Continue reading Library Collaboration to Improve Information Literacy →

Aaron LaFromboise speaking at the “Food is Medicine in Medicine Spring Library: Food Sovereignty Needs in a Tribal Library" session

Food as Medicine

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2023

LaFromboise, American Indian Library Association (AILA) past president and director of library services at Medicine Spring Library at Blackfeet Community College in Browning, Montana, shared her story at the AILA President’s Program, “Food is Medicine in Medicine Spring Library: Food Sovereignty Needs in a Tribal Library,” at the American Library Association’s 2023 Annual Conference and … Continue reading Food as Medicine →

Catherine Murray-Rust speaking in the "Creating the Future Library Workforce" program at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Solving Worker Struggles

By Greg Landgraf | June 27, 2022

Murray-Rust offered four questions, adapted from the Harwood Institute: What are your aspirations for the library workforce community? What challenges do you face in meeting them? What changes are needed in your community to reach those aspirations? And how are you committed to reaching those aspirations? Low compensation is a major problem across the library … Continue reading Solving Worker Struggles →

Veronda Pitchford (left) and Callan Bignoli

Technology’s Silver Linings

By Greg Landgraf | June 26, 2022

Despite that positive theme, perhaps the most fervent response came when the discussion turned to the controversy of Hoopla’s recent platforming of content advancing white supremacy, COVID misinformation, and conversion therapy. “At a recent meeting in Massachusetts, they relied on the Library Bill of Rights” to justify providing access to these materials, observed Callan Bignoli, … Continue reading Technology’s Silver Linings →

Screen cap of the presentation showing Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library's donor wall, with Kimberly Coughran (at podium) and Amanda McKay

Capital Campaigns Made Easy(er)

By Greg Landgraf | June 26, 2022

Community connections are critical to successfully making the “ask” for major gifts. McKay spoke about the importance of identifying community prospects, a difficult task as she was new in Effingham. “I went to everything—every chamber event, any civic group that would have me, I went to talk to them,” she said. Coughran credited her membership … Continue reading Capital Campaigns Made Easy(er) →

Holly Ritchie, with Jon Solomon in the Background

Facility Funding Options

By Greg Landgraf | June 25, 2022

Holly Ritchie, director of Manassas Park (Va.) City Library, said the bulk of funding for a new building scheduled to open in August came from the municipal budget, which required public hearings and opportunities for feedback from city residents. “These are a perfect opportunity for your supporters to show their support,” she said. Ritchie also … Continue reading Facility Funding Options →

2022 Annual Conference Preview

By Greg Landgraf | June 1, 2022

In addition to the face-to-face networking opportunities that so many have missed, Annual will offer a full slate of programs, including educational sessions, author talks, exhibit hall attractions, and new ideas to shape the future of libraries. Also available is the Digital Experience, a virtual option for those who cannot attend the celebration in the … Continue reading 2022 Annual Conference Preview →

Libraries are turning to the Toward Gigabit Libraries Toolkit to improve and advocate for their broadband connections.

The Last Mile

By Greg Landgraf | March 1, 2022

Using a 2015 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), nonprofit consortium Internet2 and its Community Anchor Program (CAP) have worked with technology consultant Carson Block to develop a free, downloadable toolkit to help library staffers understand and improve their broadband services and technical knowledge, says CAP Director Stephanie Stenberg. Called the … Continue reading The Last Mile →

Latest Library Links

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The US Department of Transportation announced May 1 that its Build America Bureau (BAB) has approved its first Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) loan for up to $26.8 million for the Mt. Vernon (Wash.) Library Commons Project. The project covers half of a city block in Mt. Vernon and includes a public library, community center, commercial kitchens, electric vehicle chargers, and other amenities, all within walking distance of a multimodal transportation center. TOD is a new category of project for BAB, which offers below-market rate financing on infrastructure projects.

US Department of Transportation, May 1
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Sara Goek writes: “The Association of College and Research Libraries joined ALA, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries in a comment objecting to the proposed elimination of the Academic Libraries component from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the interrelated surveys conducted each year by the National Center for Education Statistics. The associations strongly object to the elimination of academic library data from IPEDS, believing it is essential to understanding the value of libraries and their contributions to the mission of higher education.”

ACRL Insider, May 3
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Sarah Hunter writes: “In early 2020, Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir) was wrapping up promotion for eir memoir Gender Queer when e received an email out of the blue from Sarah Peitzmeier, a social epidemiologist working in LGBTQ+ health at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Peitzmeier, a fan of Kobabe’s work, wanted to collaborate with em on an illustrated guide based on her research on current chest-binding practices. The resulting book became Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding. American Libraries spoke with Kobabe and Peitzmeier about their new title, their collaboration, and the importance of making evidence-based information about trans health care widely available.”

American Libraries Trend, May
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Frank Strong writes: “On May 5, many Texas school districts held elections for their boards of trustees. For months I’ve tracked contested races in 23 districts where there have been controversies about books, book bans, and censorship. The results were… great, overall!” Thirteen districts definitively rejected slates of candidates supported by Moms for Liberty, 1776 Project PAC, and other procensorship groups. Seven districts had mixed or neutral results, while candidates opposed to the freedom to read won in three. The results “don’t necessarily capture the balance of power in a given district,” but “these elections provide a strong foundation from which we can start restoring sanity to school boards next year.”

Anger & Clarity, May 6
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Sarah Ravits writes: “The Louisiana House of Representatives April 30 passed a bill loosening hiring requirements for library directors across the state, a move that could make it easier for conservative local officials to hire supporters of book banning. House Bill 974 (formerly HB-168) by Rep. Josh Carlson (R-Lafayette) removes a requirement that candidates for library director positions have master’s degrees in library sciences, which are accredited by the ALA. Librarians and anti-censorship advocacy groups, including the Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, view this bill as an attack on librarians’ credentials and an attempt to undermine ALA.”

NOLA.com Gambit, Apr. 30
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Kiara Alfonseca writes: “Samira Ahmed, an author of young adult and middle-grade literature, never expected to hire security for events, travel under an alias, or face cancellations at schools and libraries. Ahmed told ABC News she faces threats and book bans over her novels—including Internment and Hollow Fires—which have caused a firestorm of criticism for tackling complex issues about race, oppression and politics. Titles highlighting Asian American cultures have been targets among the long and growing inventory of books singled out by critics, prompting concerns about representation in literature.”

ABC News, May 2
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Susan D. Ballard and Sara Kelly Johns write: “As school librarians, we are always rethinking how to convey who we are and what we do. To compete and remain viable, we need to work on our brand identity. The feelings and impressions that members of our school community have when they think of our library, and their memories of interactions they’ve had with us—positive or negative—are our school library’s brand. The goal is not so much to transform the school library’s image as it is to build credibility through ongoing improvement and exemplary brand behavior.”

American Libraries feature, May

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