The following libraries are winners of the 2013 Library Building Awards, sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ALA’s Library Leadership and Management Association. For the past 50 years, the biennial award has recognized distinguished accomplishment in library architecture by an architect licensed in the United States for any library in the US … Continue reading AIA/ALA Library Building Awards
Welcome to the 2013 Library Design Showcase, AL’s annual celebration of new and newly renovated libraries. These libraries are shining examples of innovative architecture that addresses user needs in unique, interesting, and effective ways. Rooms with a View Spartanburg County (S.C.) Public Library—Middle Tyger Branch Middle Tyger library’s renovation took full advantage of the … Continue reading Building the Future
Oliver Stone, the Academy Award–winning writer and director of Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, Natural Born Killers, and other films, and Peter Kuznick, professor of history and director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and the author of countless books on science and politics, nuclear history, and Cold … Continue reading Mikes Fail, Lights Flash, but Stone and Kuznick Forge Ahead
Librotraficante has had a rollercoaster year. Led by Houston-based author and activist Tony Diaz, the organization (whose name means “book smuggler” in Spanish) formed last year in response to Arizona House Bill 2281 (PDF file), which outlaws teaching courses in Arizona public schools that promote the overthrow of the United States government, foster racial and … Continue reading A Year in the Life of Librotraficante
Libraries across Kentucky face an uncertain future in the wake of recent court rulings against two libraries in the northern part of the state. On April 2, a Kentucky circuit court ruled that Campbell County Public Library has improperly raised its property tax rates since 1978. On April 11, a circuit court handed down a … Continue reading Lawsuits Impact Kentucky Libraries
They’re the new people greeting you at the reference desk, shelving books in the stacks, and experimenting with fresh ideas behind the scenes. These are the new library rising stars, the generation that will move, shape, and influence the present and future of the ALA and the library profession. These are the American Library Association’s … Continue reading Emerging Leaders: Class of 2013
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett has reversed a directive to pull Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, from CPS libraries, though she maintains the book is not appropriate for 7th graders and should be removed from classrooms. Byrd-Bennett’s reversal comes amid criticisms and complaints from parents, teachers, students, and … Continue reading Persepolis Stays in Chicago Public Schools, But Out of Classrooms
Caroline Kennedy has been a lifelong advocate for reading, literacy, and libraries. Her career has included work with the New York City Department of Education and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. Most recently, she spoke at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting and served this year as honorary chair of National Library Week. Kennedy has … Continue reading Newsmaker: Caroline Kennedy
“I’m descended from a long line of book worms and librarians. They would be very proud of me for being here with you.” Caroline Kennedy’s revelation at the beginning of her Auditorium Speaker Series talk at ALA Midwinter set the tone for the entire session. Her talk and Q&A with ALA President-elect Barbara Stripling was … Continue reading Caroline Kennedy on Libraries and Family
