Author Archive: Kevin Maher

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Library Advocates Deliver

By Kevin Maher | April 12, 2019

The annual campaign to gather support for the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program began with the congressional appropriations process in March, prime time for advocates to tell members of Congress about the important library programs supported by federal funding. With the Institute of Museum and Library … Continue reading Library Advocates Deliver →

Museum and Library Services Act Stalls in House

By Kevin Maher | December 14, 2018

In closed-door meetings in November, the House and Senate negotiated a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to move MLSA (S. 3530) forward. The Senate, with the assent of the library community, accepted changes requested by the House Republican majority prior to the bill passing the Senate on December 4 by unanimous consent. In return, the House committed … Continue reading Museum and Library Services Act Stalls in House →

Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases

By Kevin Maher | September 14, 2018

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): $2 million increase Title IV-Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act: $70 million increase National Library of Medicine: $13 million increase Career and technical education state grants: $70 million increase Adult education state grants: $25 million increase Head Start: $200 million increase Level funding was provided for … Continue reading Subcommittee Calls for Library Funding Increases →

Next Steps to Fund Libraries

By Kevin Maher | March 7, 2018

The following excerpt originally appeared March 6 on District Dispatch, the blog of the American Library Association’s Washington Office. Read the full post at District Dispatch. The White House budget proposal for FY2019 recommends the elimination of most federal library funding. Though the budget proposal is concerning, Congress has the final say over the budget. Starting today, two … Continue reading Next Steps to Fund Libraries →

Help preserve funding for the LSTA and IAL

Fight Cuts to Library Services

By Kevin Maher | March 10, 2016

While the American Library Association (ALA) is working in Washington to protect critical library funding, members of Congress respond best when they hear from their constituents. Take a few minutes to call, email, or even tweet your representative and both of your senators to request that they add their names to two letters supporting LSTA … Continue reading Fight Cuts to Library Services →

Latest Library Links

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PLA has commenced its Inclusive Internship Initiative (III) activities for summer 2019. Through III, PLA sponsors paid and mentored summer internships at public libraries for high school juniors and seniors. The libraries were selected through a competitive application process in early 2019. With individual guidance from a mentor, each intern engages with multiple facets of library life, from administration to user services. A total of 96 people—48 interns and 48 mentors—are attending the 2019 III Kick-Off, taking place in Chicago, June 13–15.

PLA, June 13
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In the PBS documentary American Creed, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different points of view to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides. On June 22 at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., attendees are invited to watch segments of the film and learn about programming ideas to bring home to their libraries. All attendees will receive a free DVD of American Creed for their circulating collections.

AlA Public Programs Office, June 14
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During the ALA 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., ALA is rolling out a new ALA Scholars Program. Recipients of ALA scholarships will be brought to Annual Conference and given opportunities to learn about ALA governance while meeting seasoned library workers. To find out about the scholars who will be participating in the program this year, visit the scholarship 50th anniversary page. To support the ALA Scholarship Program, visit the donation page.

Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, June 14
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After serving St. Paul, Minnesota, for 98 years, the James J. Hill Center is closing on July 3. Originally the James J. Hill Reference Library, it has served as a wedding and event center in recent years. The railroad magnate commissioned the library in 1911, but died five years before its completion in 1921. He wanted the library to have the most current and accurate materials, and he intentionally left out the subjects of law, genealogy, medicine, and popular fiction. The center is currently evaluating all options related to the future of the institution and its historic building.

Minnesota Public Radio News, June 13
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Tony Hoffman writes: “Projectors have come a long way from the days when the most useful way to categorize them was by their weight class. Today, you can break them down into any number of more meaningful categories, including their intended use (business presentations, home theater, or gameplay), their base technology (LCD, DLP, or LCOS), and the throw distance (how close to the screen you can place the projector). Here are some questions to answer that will help you find a projector with the right features and performance for your needs.”

PC Magazine, June 12
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Tim Gideon writes: “Improving the quality of your podcast vocals isn’t rocket science, but it does require paying attention to some aspects of the recording process that you might be ignoring. After all, sound engineers and producers spend years honing their craft, and voice-over artists and radio personalities need to develop at least a modicum of mic technique. Understanding the basics of a microphone’s characteristics, be it a USB mic or an XLR mic, will help you approach your recordings with more confidence.”

PC Magazine, June 13
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Amherst (Mass.) College on June 5 announced a gift of approximately $25 million from the late William McCall Vickery to the college’s endowment, approximately $22 million of which is designated for use by the Emily Dickinson Museum. The transformative gift, the largest ever received by the museum, will be known as the “William McCall Vickery ’57 Emily Dickinson Fund” and is specifically earmarked for the maintenance and improvement of its buildings, grounds, and collections. Vickery, who was a devoted Amherst alumnus, volunteer, employee, and supporter, also was a founding member of the Dickinson Museum’s board of governors.

Emily Dickinson Museum, June 5

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