Author Archive: Stephanie Hlywak

From left: ALA Past President Loida Garcia-Febo; PLA Executive Director Barb Macikas; ALA Past President Sari Feldman; Alan S. Inouye, ALA senior director of public policy and government relations; and Tim Cherubini, executive director of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, outside the offices of Macmillan Publishers on October 30, 2019. Photo: Daniel Root

Library Advocates Deliver Ebook Petition to Macmillan

By Stephanie Hlywak | October 30, 2019

“I traveled from the nation’s capital to New York City, the publishing capital, to stand for the vast number of readers who will be impacted by this discriminatory embargo,” said Alan S. Inouye, the American Library Association’s (ALA) senior director of public policy and government relations. He was joined by past ALA Presidents Loida Garcia-Febo … Continue reading Library Advocates Deliver Ebook Petition to Macmillan →

Wrapping Up Digital Book World 2019

By Stephanie Hlywak | September 13, 2019

On September 12, Burleigh discussed the robust ebook and audiobook lending ecosystem. Rakuten Overdrive began servicing libraries in 2003, before publishers were fully on board with selling to the market. Fast forward 16 years, and Burleigh said one of the best things libraries do for publishers and authors is to offer discoverability. For every borrower … Continue reading Wrapping Up Digital Book World 2019 →

All Things Considered host Michele Norris addresses attendees at the Association of College and Research Libraries conference in Cleveland April 10. Photo: Laurie DeWitt/Pure Light Images

ACRL Opens with Michele Norris

By Stephanie Hlywak | April 11, 2019

That authority and confidence was on full display as she danced onto stage April 10 at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) conference in Cleveland to the Ohio Players’ “Love Rollercoaster.” Noting that it was the first time she’d been asked to select her own “walk out” music, Norris joked she would be … Continue reading ACRL Opens with Michele Norris →

Latest Library Links

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Michael Schaub writes: “When a Massachusetts teenager sent a letter to author E. B. White 40 years ago, he likely wasn’t expecting a response. And White almost certainly had no idea that his young fan would grow up to be one of the country’s most beloved talk show hosts. Conan O’Brien, the host of the TBS show Conan, mentioned the 1980 letter he had written to White a few weeks ago on his podcast. That led employees of Cornell University’s library, which houses White’s archive, to track down O’Brien’s letter. O’Brien posted an image of the newly discovered note on Twitter.”

Kirkus Reviews, Dec. 6
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In a year jam-packed with fast-moving science news and groundbreaking research, books can provide a more slower-paced, reflective look at the world around us—and a precious chance to dive deep on big ideas. But how do you decide which scientific page-turner to pick up first? Science Friday staff pawed through the piles all year long. Ira Flatow, Valerie Thomspon, and Deborah Blum round up their picks in this annotated list.

Science Friday, Dec. 6
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ALA President Wanda Kay Brown and Executive Director Mary Ghikas announced on December 6 that ALA has sold its headquarters buildings at 50 E. Huron and 40 E. Huron Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. In spring 2020, ALA will move its Chicago-based office functions to Michigan Plaza at 225 N. Michigan Avenue. ALA staff will continue to occupy the buildings on Huron until the new office buildout, designed by architecture firm Nelson, is complete. The move will provide ALA with a modernized workspace, including enhanced meeting space.

AL: The Scoop, Dec 6
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Almost 800 libraries have closed in the UK since the Conservative government implemented austerity in 2010, new figures reveal. The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s annual survey of British libraries, excluding Northern Ireland, shows there are 3,583 library branches still open in the UK—35 fewer than last year. Since 2010, a total of 773 have closed. The number of paid librarians has also plummeted—from 24,000 salaried staff in 2010 to 15,300 employees and more than 51,000 volunteers in 2019.

The Guardian (UK), Dec. 5
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Ex Libris, a ProQuest company, has signed an agreement to acquire Innovative, a provider of integrated library systems. Innovative will become a business unit within Ex Libris. The Innovative products will continue to be supported and enhanced. Ex Libris and Innovative have a long history of close collaboration with the user community and will continue to work with their user groups to receive input for the enhancement of services. The acquisition is expected to close in early 2020. Roger C. Schonfeld talks about the wider implications of the acquisition.

Ex Libris, Dec. 5
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Three foundations have committed more than $16 million for a bond-supported Flint (Mich.) Public Library renovation project set to begin in May. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which made an initial grant of $1.2 million in August, now will grant an additional $13.8 million to the project. The Ruth Mott Foundation will grant $1 million, and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint will grant $50,000. The enhanced grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation was secured after 68% of Flint voters said yes to a $12.6 million bond that will help fund a $27.6 million library renovation.

Flint (Mich.) Journal, Dec. 5
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Some residents of Laguna Niguel, California, are trying to save the city’s only library from being demolished as part of a proposed redevelopment project. The upcoming Laguna Niguel Town Center is in its preliminary development stages, with plans for retail, restaurants, office space, apartments, and outdoor community areas. A new library is also planned for it, but residents are skeptical that it will match the current facility in size and available programming. Julie and Bob Davey are spearheading the battle to preserve the current library, which has been there for over 30 years.

Orange County (Calif.) Daily Pilot, Dec. 5

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