“Corporate archives are a key part of a society’s cultural heritage,” said Annette Bochenek, assistant professor of information studies at Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies and coauthor of a 2024 paper, “Business Archives as a Tool for Academic Business Researchers,” in the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship. “Accessing business archives can … Continue reading How to Succeed in Business
The collaborative, grassroots Community Book Gardens (CBG) initiative aims to transform deserts into landscapes where local storytelling flourishes by helping communities to create their own books. A panel of librarians and literacy advocates talked about the CBG model at “Community Book Gardens: Helping the Underrepresented Write and Publish Their Own Stories,” a June 29 session … Continue reading A Garden in the Desert
District Attorney of Sacramento County, California, Thien Ho, the lead prosecutor in the case—which encompassed 13 known murders, 50+ rapes, and approximately 120 burglaries in the 1970s and 1980s—picks up where McNamara’s account left off, with his firsthand perspective from inside the courtroom. He spoke about his book, The People vs. the Golden State Killer … Continue reading Revisiting the Golden State Killer
Wood wrote about these experiences in The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir (Crown, October) and discussed them with ALA President-Elect Sam Helmick at a June 29 session of the 2025 American Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. “Having your first kid unlocks something emotionally,” he said. “I started … Continue reading Figurative Fathers
Theresa Chmara, general counsel of ALA’s Freedom to Read Foundation, and Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, dove into some of these cases and the legal arguments underlying them at “Censorship in the Courts: Current Litigation throughout the United States,” a session of ALA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. “One … Continue reading The Case for Intellectual Freedom
A panel of librarians and authors dug into this slice of the broader fight against censorship at “Free Children Read Freely: Banned Books in Story Times for Young Children,” a June 28 session of the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2025 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia. Pat Scales, a retired school librarian and author of … Continue reading Free Children Read Freely
A tweeted invitation from then-Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, teasing the world’s largest collection of a single instrument, did the trick. Lizzo’s scheduled tour turned into a three-hour visit as she sampled centuries-old flutes; the viral moment involved an impromptu performance with a crystal model made for James Madison in 1813. Then there was the … Continue reading Influencer Marketing Can Be Good as Hell
The second day of Council at Annual involved committee reports and a wide-ranging discussion about the future of the Association.
Living History Cincinnati and Hamilton County (Ohio) Public Library, Walnut Hills branch The oldest branch in its system and the first of several of Cincinnati’s Carnegie libraries, Walnut Hills recently underwent its first significant improvements since its construction in 1906. The branch is now fully accessible. The architects preserved its French Renaissance–style details—red brick, a … Continue reading 2023 Library Design Showcase
The unprecedented rise in book ban attempts at schools and libraries across the country in recent years—particularly challenges against titles by and about the LGBTQIA+ community and people of color—was top of mind throughout the conference, imbuing a familiar topic with fresh urgency. Participants continued to explore crucial questions for libraries: What do inclusive, accessible … Continue reading 2023 Annual Wrap-Up
Environmentally sound Fulton County (Ga.) Library System, Central Library in Atlanta The interior design of the renovated downtown Central Library prioritizes accessibility, flexibility, and transparency, with large windows, multipurpose collaboration spaces, and a two-story atrium wrapping around a central staircase. The building, which is LEED Gold–certified, also emphasizes sustainability. By renovating instead of building entirely … Continue reading 2022 Library Design Showcase
The citations began as an initiative of 2007–2008 ALA President Loriene Roy. Presented by the International Relations Round Table, the awards recognize exemplary services and projects that draw attention to libraries creating positive change, demonstrating sustainability, and providing a model for others to follow. This year’s winners are Run Run Shaw Library at City University … Continue reading 2022 International Innovators
