Author Archive: Regina Carter

The Importance of Representation

By Regina Carter | June 25, 2019

Adeyemi’s novel, Children of Blood and Bone (CBB), is situated in a fantasy world that incorporates themes of racism, oppression, and the abuse of power. CBB was inspired by Adeyemi’s adoration of Avatar: The Last Airbender, as well as a visit to a gift shop in Brazil. It was while she was in that gift shop that the young author encountered … Continue reading The Importance of Representation →

Pauletta Bracy (second from left) gets a standing ovation as she receives the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement during the Coretta Scott King Book Awards 50th Anniversary Breakfast.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast

By Regina Carter | June 24, 2019

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Coretta Scott King, for … Continue reading Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast →

Amy Tureen (left, seated) and Amanda Melilli (right, standing at podium).

Overworked and Overwhelmed, Oh My!

By Regina Carter | June 24, 2019

33% of Americans report feelings of “extreme stress.” 60-90% of doctor visits are related to “stress-related complaints.” As such, it should not come as a surprise that there has been a strong emphasis on well-being at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference. Well-being has been emphasized because it is absolutely essential. Tureen is an extrovert. Melilli is … Continue reading Overworked and Overwhelmed, Oh My! →

Knowledge Is Power

By Regina Carter | June 23, 2019

Aliqae Geraci, assistant director of Catherwood Research and Learning Services at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and Shannon Farrell, natural resources librarian at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, provided attendees with four key steps to smart salary negotiations during the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Start Smart Salary Negotiations Workshop. The workshop … Continue reading Knowledge Is Power →

Veteran Emerging Leaders Audrey Barbakoff (right) and Pauline Stacchini present “Some Things to Keep in Mind: Lessons about Leadership” at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibitions June 22, 2019.

Leadership 101

By Regina Carter | June 22, 2019

Barbakoff, who is community engagement and economic development manager of the King County (Wash.) Library System, is a 2013 ALA Emerging Leader (EL). Stacchini, who is managing librarian at Austin Public Library, is a 2016 EL. As co-chairs of the EL program, they welcomed back the 2019 EL cohort with a thought-provoking conversation titled “Some Things to … Continue reading Leadership 101 →

Latest Library Links

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Tova Gaster writes: “Library Futures’s new research report, ‘Keeping an Open Mind: Awareness, Use, and Perspectives of OER in Public Libraries,’ takes a first look at how public librarians are using and perceiving open educational resources (OER). Library Futures surveyed public librarians about their use and awareness of OER via the Public Library Association mailing list from January–March 2024 and received 107 usable responses. Our flagship survey revealed that public librarians are very interested in OER, but many lack the resources, education, or support to bring interest into action.”

Library Futures, Nov. 22
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Jack Wallen writes: “Bluesky is a breath of fresh air. You’re not force-fed ads, nor are there algorithmic suggestions to clutter up your feed. Even better, there’s so much positivity. That alone is worth the time to migrate. But how do you get started? It took you years to collect those followers on Twitter. Will it take years to do the same on Bluesky? No. Bluesky’s starter packs are customized collections of accounts pre-loaded with users interested in different subjects.” Librarian Paul Jewell has created an information literacy starter pack.

ZDNet, Nov. 26; Information Literacy Weblog, Dec. 2
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A newly published research study from the American Association of School Librarians’ peer-reviewed online journal, School Library Research, investigates self-censorship of controversial topics in collection development. In “To Add or Not to Add: An Examination of Self‐Censoring Behaviors among School Librarians,” information science professors Jennifer Moore and Alissa Tudor use survey data to examine which controversial or frequently challenged topics school librarians chose not to collect. The research found that there were high amounts of self-censorship around books that dealt with sexual content, abortion, and self-harm.

American Association of School Librarians, Dec. 3; School Library Research, Volume 27
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Frank Strong writes: “Day one of pre-filing of bills for the 2025 Texas legislative session treated us with several attempts to further restrict reading rights for Texans. The headliner of those bills is House Bill 183, which would enable the State Board of Education to review and remove books from all public schools in the state, essentially creating a statewide banned books list. But it won’t be the only one. Below are six more antibook bills you should watch out for—and publicize, and speak out against, and fight—in the new year.”

Anger & Clarity, Nov. 29
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“In today’s society, libraries stand out as among the last truly public institutions. Providing access to resources without financial, social, or physical barriers, public libraries make a unique contribution to promoting individual and collective flourishing throughout the communities they serve. The New York Public Library’s Strategy and Public Impact team and the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center in Philadelphia have released a new report as part of an ongoing collaboration to study and advocate for the role of public libraries in the communities they serve.”

New York Public Library, Nov.
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ALA’s Games & Gaming Round Table announced the winners of its 2024 Platinum Play Hall of Fame Awards on December 2, representing the best games for library collections or programming released in the last two to 10 years. The “Platys” Class of 2024 includes longstanding favorites such as Splendor and Azul, approachable program-friendly titles like Just One and Exploding Kittens, the tournament-friendly Super Smash Bros. Melee, geolocation game Pokémon Go, and ‘80s throwback RPG Kids on Bikes.

ALA Games and Gaming Round Table, Dec. 2
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Samantha Kretschmer writes: “A staff survey conducted by administration at my library two years ago pointed to a general feeling of discontent amongst staff. The administration formed a Staff Advisory committee, which I was tasked with chairing. The point of this committee was to promote understanding and cooperation between the various branches and departments of the library; to promote productive cooperation between staff, management, and administration; to provide a place for a constructive exchange of ideas; to serve as a channel for staff questions, comments, and concerns; and to help create a community amongst staff.”

ALSC Blog, Nov. 28

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