Author Archive: Timothy Inklebarger

Mobile Beacon, which provides mobile Wi-Fi devices (pictured above) and grants to libraries and other organizations for Wi-Fi lending programs, is one of the nonprofits that has filed a lawsuit against Sprint over a contract dispute. Photo: Mobile Beacon

Temporary Injunction Extended to Transition Libraries to New Wi-Fi Network

By Timothy Inklebarger | February 3, 2016

Last November, Educational Broadband Service-designated providers Mobile Beacon and Mobile Citizen successfully requested the court impose a 90-day injunction on Sprint’s plan to shut down its WiMax network and transition customers to the LTE network. Mobile Beacon and Mobile Citizen said they needed the injunction because contract negotiations collapsed with Sprint, which bought their former … Continue reading Temporary Injunction Extended to Transition Libraries to New Wi-Fi Network →

Kansas City (Mo.) Public Schools students work on the computers at Kansas City Public Library. (Photo: Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library)

Linking Students to Libraries

By Timothy Inklebarger | January 4, 2016

Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library (KCPL) is among the latest to link public school students’ identification numbers to the public library system, allowing students to use their school IDs in place of library cards to check out books and access online databases of downloadable content. Courtney Lewis, a KCPL spokesperson, says the program, launched in … Continue reading Linking Students to Libraries →

Student banner inside DuSable High School, Chicago.

Sara Sayigh Reinstated at Chicago Public School Library

By Timothy Inklebarger | December 18, 2015

Sayigh, a 13-year veteran in the school system, is the sole librarian at the former DuSable High School building, which now houses two majority African-American public schools and a charter school. She tells American Libraries that she is one of the few remaining librarians at a majority African-American high school in the city. Students of … Continue reading Sara Sayigh Reinstated at Chicago Public School Library →

Temporary Injunction Keeps Affordable Internet Access at Libraries

By Timothy Inklebarger | November 5, 2015

Updated Nov. 6, 2015 with Sprint’s statement. Mobile Citizen and Mobile Beacon, which provide unlimited broadband access for $10 per month to 61 libraries, 429 schools, and 1,820 nonprofits, requested the emergency relief order after negotiations stalled between Sprint and the nonprofits in October over the terms of the transfer to the new network. Sprint … Continue reading Temporary Injunction Keeps Affordable Internet Access at Libraries →

A death cafe meets in the Ann Stevens Room in the Anchorage (Alaska) Public Library. Photo: Kris Green

When the Subject Is Death

By Timothy Inklebarger | October 30, 2015

Since the first gathering, named death café, was held in the US in Columbus, Ohio, in July 2012, the forums have spread across the nation. And many are beginning to appear in libraries, according to Lizzy Miles, an organizer for DeathCafe.com. Miles, who organized the Columbus death café, tells American Libraries that she was inspired … Continue reading When the Subject Is Death →

New mobile hotspot users attend a launch event at New York Public Library’s Mott Haven branch.

Bridging the Tech Gap

By Timothy Inklebarger | September 11, 2015

For years, libraries have helped bridge the digital divide by offering internet access at brick-and-mortar branches. Many are expanding this mission by offering patrons mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for checkout. New York City launched a program this year that provides 10,000 mobile hotspots to patrons across three library systems, and in 2014, Chicago Public Library rolled … Continue reading Bridging the Tech Gap →

Boise (Idaho) Mayor David H. Bieter at the opening of the Boise Airport library facility on September 10, 2014.

Digital Books Are Up in the Air

By Timothy Inklebarger | February 11, 2015

Digital resources in the form of ebooks, audiobooks, and other media are beginning to take flight—literally—across the country by way of airport library branches. Branches are have popped up in airports around the country, including Philadelphia International; Seattle–Tacoma International; Manhattan (Kans.) Regional; Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood (Fla.) International; Boise (Idaho); and San Antonio International, over the last … Continue reading Digital Books Are Up in the Air →

A girl reads to Minnie from K9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore.

Dog Therapy 101

By Timothy Inklebarger | December 22, 2014

“I started pitching it at the school, and my principal was absolutely against it,” Weibling tells American Libraries. The former 3rd-grade teacher, who was then working toward her master’s degree in library science, was eager to find new ways to get students excited about reading and comprehension. “Reading therapy dog programs weren’t common knowledge to … Continue reading Dog Therapy 101 →

Ferguson’s Safe Haven

By Timothy Inklebarger | November 10, 2014

After being informed that classes would be canceled, Carrie Pace, an art teacher at Ferguson’s Walnut Grove Elementary, wanted to do something, anything, to help with the recovery. While driving through town she passed the Ferguson Public Library. That’s where she got the idea to use the facility as a place for kids to go … Continue reading Ferguson’s Safe Haven →

Long Live the Maker Lab

By Timothy Inklebarger | June 5, 2014

“Our Maker Lab has already served more than 42,000 visitors in just 10 months, and this gift from the Motorola Mobility Foundation and our foundation will allow us to offer thousands more patrons hands-on experience with the latest in 3D software and advance manufacturing technology,” CPL Commissioner Brian Bannon said in an April press release. … Continue reading Long Live the Maker Lab →

Google Donates Robots to Chicago Public Library

By Timothy Inklebarger | May 14, 2014

As part of its ongoing initiative to offer library patrons access to 21st-century technology, Chicago Public Library (CPL) has added programmable Finch Robots to its catalog. The library is partnering with Google to offer 500 of the robots, which can be picked up at the Harold Washington YOUmedia Center, two regional libraries (Sulzer and Woodson) … Continue reading Google Donates Robots to Chicago Public Library →

CPL Teen Program Expands and Replicates

By Timothy Inklebarger | April 9, 2014

CPL Commissioner Brian Bannon tells American Libraries that the program—already in place at the Harold Washington Library Center and other locations throughout the city—will expand to six new branches. A pop-up version will bring YOUmedia to 12 more neighborhoods, giving teens one- or two-day experiences with the latest technology, he says. “It’s all part of … Continue reading CPL Teen Program Expands and Replicates →

Latest Library Links

2d

Isabella Cheng writes: “Grambling (La.) State University (GSU) held a ribbon cutting August 22 to celebrate its new Digital Library and Learning Commons. According to GSU, the library is a state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot facility where people can connect, create, and collaborate and features 150 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of study space, and multipurpose space for events, meetings, and seminars.” GSU states the $16.6 million facility is the first of its kind at a Historically Black College and University in the US, and the first in Louisiana.

KTAL-TV (Shreveport), Aug. 23; Grambling State University, Aug. 22
2d

Trisha Parsons writes: “Battle of the Books is a nationwide reading program that gives kids the chance to participate in a competition that doesn’t involve sports equipment; all the kids need is dedicated time to read and study books. Students on Battle of the Books teams prepare to be asked questions about the content of the books in a competition style. Every year, our library district hosts the Battle of the Books program for grades 3–5. We partner with local schools to bring this fun, educational program to the students.”

ALSC Blog, Aug. 24
2d

Ken Fountain writes: “After months of rancorous discussions, a split Fort Bend (Tex.) Independent School District board of trustees on August 26 approved revisions to the district’s policy on removal of books from school libraries that put the ultimate decision-making authority in the hands of the district’s superintendent. It removes a permanent reconsideration committee made up of district staff from the process of evaluating challenges to books. The 5–2 vote came after at least 16 members of the public, including teachers and librarians, parents, and former and current students, spoke against the changes. No members of the public spoke in favor.”
3d

Book challenges and restrictions in US public schools have increased dramatically since 2021. A new research report by the Knight Foundation surveyed more than 4,500 people to explore public attitudes about restricting students’ access to books. The study found that two-thirds of Americans oppose book restriction efforts in public schools, and more than three-fourths are confident that their local public schools select appropriate books. While nearly a quarter of respondents were aware of efforts to restrict book access for students in their community, only 3% have participated in efforts to either maintain or restrict access.

Knight Foundation, Aug. 21
4d

A wide range of funding opportunities are available for public libraries under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to build digital literacy skills, support workforce development and economic advancement programs, offer telehealth support, and enable access to devices and broadband. A free September 4 webinar will provide essential information, examples of eligible projects, and practical tips to apply for funding opportunities. Register for the webinar and review additional resources for grant applicants. The grant application deadline is September 23. (ALA will host additional webinars about other funding opportunities, including a webinar on applying for E-Rate funding on September 25.)

Public Library Association; AL: The Scoop, Dec. 28, 2021; Public Policy and Advocacy Office
4d

Anjuli Patil writes: “Halifax, Nova Scotia, Public Libraries staff are on strike after conciliation talks between the employer and their union ended over the weekend without an agreement. Negotiations had been ongoing since last October between Halifax Public Libraries and the union, which represents 340 employees. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. on August 26. [In addition to wage increases, union Vice-President Chad] Murphy said the union is also looking to address issues such as parental top-ups for adoptive parents, sick leave provisions and a safe working environment.”

CBC News, Aug. 26
4d

Kathleen Hughes writes: “On Saturday, October 19, libraries and advocates nationwide are planning a Freedom to Read Community Day of Action with rallies at libraries, bookstores, places of worship, and other community hubs in towns big and small all across the nation. The goal is to demonstrate the broad support that exists in our communities for libraries and the freedom to read. Get more information about holding a Freedom to Read rally at your library and opt in to participate.” The event is organized by Unite Against Book Bans, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library.

Public Libraries Online, Aug. 26

View more Latest Library Links