Art historian, curator, and Harvard professor Sarah Lewis began her keynote to the roomful of librarians by saying that at age 8, she and her sister “Dewey decimaled” the entire collection of books at their apartment while their mom had stepped out. Lewis, author of the acclaimed debut book The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of … Continue reading Sarah Lewis: The Art of Striving
The four panelists, representing authors, editors, and publishers, emphasized the importance of timelines. “Time management and project management is a big deal,” said Brad Eden, dean of library services at Valparaiso (Ind.) University. A timeline for editing a book needs to factor in calls for proposals, giving authors deadlines, and establishing the editor’s own deadline … Continue reading Get Published
The one-hour, standing-room-only program—titled “The Key to Getting Interviews: Great Cover Letters and Résumés”—was led by ALA Human Resources director Dan Hoppe, who has received thousands of résumés and cover letters over the course of his 18-year HR career. A cover letter, he says, is a “call to action” and should be tailored to the … Continue reading Want to Get Hired?
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews knows how to entertain a crowd. And the hundreds of librarians at the February 2 Wrap Up/Rev Up celebration at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago couldn’t have agreed more. Many danced as Andrews and five members of the New Breed Brass Band opened the celebration with upbeat New Orleans jazz. … Continue reading The Long and Short of Trombone Shorty
“Let me tell you a story,” he began, reading from his new children’s book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (Reading Rainbow, 2014). “It’s by one of my favorite authors,” he joked. The book’s plot addresses the issue of finding comfort and support in tough times. Burton said the theme was partly inspired by one … Continue reading LeVar Burton Delights
One in six American adults struggles with basic English literacy. That translates into 36 million people between the ages of 16 and 65 who grapple with reading on a daily basis, according to a 2013 study called Program for the International Assessment for Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Speakers Michelle H. Washington, director of ALA’s Office for … Continue reading Teaching Adults to Read
When Ben Bizzle joined the Craighead County (Ark.) Jonesboro Public Library in 2008, he helped introduce the staff to a culture of creativity where people were not afraid to fail. That philosophy has remained key for staff members as they have increased the library’s profile within the community by using technology, social media, and a … Continue reading Targeted Library Marketing: Get A Little Risky
ALA President Courtney L. Young opened the session, drawing a parallel between the mission of the Knight Foundation and ALA, both of which, she said, believe in the democratizing effect of keeping the public informed and engaged. This year’s News Challenge received 680 submissions, which were narrowed down to 41 semifinalists. In the end, 22 … Continue reading Knight News Challenge announces winners of $3 million in grants
Palfrey, who chairs the board of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, spoke to 500 library leaders from around the world about the disconnect between research that shows Americans love their libraries and the electoral will necessary to preserve them. “We say we love libraries, … Continue reading A New Nostalgia for Libraries
Emanuel used the event to announce that Chicago Public Library (CPL) had just received a $400,000 grant from the Knight Foundation for its Internet to Go program, which will allow library patrons in six neighborhood branches where digital access is low to check out Wi-Fi hotspot devices for three weeks at a time. The grant … Continue reading Creativity and Play at the Next Library Conference
During the months of January and February 2014, the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine found itself at the center of the anti-government clashes in Kiev…. Severe clashes between the protesters and government forces took place in front of the National Parliamentary Library. The square and streets around it were filled with smoke and fire from … Continue reading Ukrainian Library Association Releases Statement
“When you’ve been so deeply touched by violence, you don’t glorify it. You’re not fascinated by it in any way,” author Ishmael Beah told a captivated crowd of several hundred on Saturday afternoon at the Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture during the 2014 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits in Philadelphia. Beah grew up in the southern … Continue reading Tales of a Former Child Soldier
