Blog | American Libraries Magazine

Newsmaker: Emma Boettcher

This Chicago librarian took down a Jeopardy! giant and won $98,002 over four days
By George M. Eberhart | June 11, 2019
2019 Annual Conference Preview

Washington, D.C. | June 20–25, 2019
By Greg Landgraf | June 3, 2019
A Culinary Capital

Dining in D.C. during Annual Conference
By Meredith Pratt | June 3, 2019
Making It Count

Librarians get ready for the 2020 Census
By Timothy Inklebarger | June 3, 2019
Notable Dissertations 2019

For new practices, look to breaking research
By Kathy Rosa | June 3, 2019
50 Years of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards

A conversation with nine winners and committee members who have been part of the influential children’s book awards
By Anne Ford | June 3, 2019
Your Library Needs to Speak to You

Getting ahead of the voice assistant hype
By Carrie Smith | June 3, 2019
Give Them Shelter?

Libraries face tough choices when homeless patrons set up permanent residence
By Claire Zulkey | June 3, 2019
Target: Librarians

What happens when our work leads to harassment—or worse
By Lara Ewen | June 3, 2019
By the Numbers: Literary Washington, D.C.

Stats to get you ready and reading for the 2019 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition
By Alison Marcotte | June 3, 2019
Newsmaker: Tomi Adeyemi

Author brings magic to YA fiction
By Alison Marcotte | June 3, 2019
A Sensory Wonderland

A programming space for the special needs community
By Michael Damron | June 3, 2019

Latest Library Links

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PLA has commenced its Inclusive Internship Initiative (III) activities for summer 2019. Through III, PLA sponsors paid and mentored summer internships at public libraries for high school juniors and seniors. The libraries were selected through a competitive application process in early 2019. With individual guidance from a mentor, each intern engages with multiple facets of library life, from administration to user services. A total of 96 people—48 interns and 48 mentors—are attending the 2019 III Kick-Off, taking place in Chicago, June 13–15.

PLA, June 13
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In the PBS documentary American Creed, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different points of view to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides. On June 22 at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., attendees are invited to watch segments of the film and learn about programming ideas to bring home to their libraries. All attendees will receive a free DVD of American Creed for their circulating collections.

AlA Public Programs Office, June 14
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During the ALA 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., ALA is rolling out a new ALA Scholars Program. Recipients of ALA scholarships will be brought to Annual Conference and given opportunities to learn about ALA governance while meeting seasoned library workers. To find out about the scholars who will be participating in the program this year, visit the scholarship 50th anniversary page. To support the ALA Scholarship Program, visit the donation page.

Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, June 14
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After serving St. Paul, Minnesota, for 98 years, the James J. Hill Center is closing on July 3. Originally the James J. Hill Reference Library, it has served as a wedding and event center in recent years. The railroad magnate commissioned the library in 1911, but died five years before its completion in 1921. He wanted the library to have the most current and accurate materials, and he intentionally left out the subjects of law, genealogy, medicine, and popular fiction. The center is currently evaluating all options related to the future of the institution and its historic building.

Minnesota Public Radio News, June 13
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Tony Hoffman writes: “Projectors have come a long way from the days when the most useful way to categorize them was by their weight class. Today, you can break them down into any number of more meaningful categories, including their intended use (business presentations, home theater, or gameplay), their base technology (LCD, DLP, or LCOS), and the throw distance (how close to the screen you can place the projector). Here are some questions to answer that will help you find a projector with the right features and performance for your needs.”

PC Magazine, June 12
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Tim Gideon writes: “Improving the quality of your podcast vocals isn’t rocket science, but it does require paying attention to some aspects of the recording process that you might be ignoring. After all, sound engineers and producers spend years honing their craft, and voice-over artists and radio personalities need to develop at least a modicum of mic technique. Understanding the basics of a microphone’s characteristics, be it a USB mic or an XLR mic, will help you approach your recordings with more confidence.”

PC Magazine, June 13
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Amherst (Mass.) College on June 5 announced a gift of approximately $25 million from the late William McCall Vickery to the college’s endowment, approximately $22 million of which is designated for use by the Emily Dickinson Museum. The transformative gift, the largest ever received by the museum, will be known as the “William McCall Vickery ’57 Emily Dickinson Fund” and is specifically earmarked for the maintenance and improvement of its buildings, grounds, and collections. Vickery, who was a devoted Amherst alumnus, volunteer, employee, and supporter, also was a founding member of the Dickinson Museum’s board of governors.

Emily Dickinson Museum, June 5