The Scoop

The Refugee Experience
By George M. Eberhart | April 12, 2019
“I am a refugee—present tense,” Nguyen said. “Although long ago I made the transition from refugee to bourgeoisie, I claim present tense because my earliest memories began as a refugee when I was 4 years old.” Put into an internment camp at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Nguyen was soon separated from his parents and older … Continue reading The Refugee Experience →
Library Advocates Deliver
By Kevin Maher | April 12, 2019
The annual campaign to gather support for the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program began with the congressional appropriations process in March, prime time for advocates to tell members of Congress about the important library programs supported by federal funding. With the Institute of Museum and Library … Continue reading Library Advocates Deliver →
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 →
Farrell Elected ALA Treasurer
April 10, 2019
Farrell received 5,221 votes, while her opponent, Andrew K. Pace, executive director of technical research at OCLC in Dublin, Ohio, received 2,735 votes. Farrell will step into her role as treasurer at the close of the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Upon learning the outcome of the election, Farrell remarked, “I am honored … Continue reading Farrell Elected ALA Treasurer →
Jefferson Wins 2020–2021 ALA Presidency
April 10, 2019
Jefferson received 5,108 votes, while his opponent, Lance Werner, executive director of Kent District Library in Comstock Park, Michigan, received 3,011 votes. As ALA president, Jefferson will be the chief elected officer for the oldest and largest library association in the world. He will serve as president-elect for one year before stepping into his role … Continue reading Jefferson Wins 2020–2021 ALA Presidency →

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The State of America’s Libraries 2019
April 7, 2019
The report finds that library workers are on the front lines addressing community challenges. Many serve as first responders who take on roles outside of traditional library service that support patrons’ needs and community development. Functioning at various times as career counselors, social workers, teachers, and technology instructors, library staffers give special care to adopt programs … Continue reading The State of America’s Libraries 2019 →
April Foolswatch 2019
By Greg Landgraf | April 4, 2019
Libraries are fir everyone Nearly half of Oregon is forest, but the state’s trees are a remarkably underserved population. Tigard (Oreg.) Public Library addressed that with a brand-new storytime for plants, guaranteed to help saplings grow healthy and strong. One Seed, One Library, 1 million damaged tires Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library already operates a … Continue reading April Foolswatch 2019 →
PLA Debuts African Leadership Academy
By Mary Hirsh | April 3, 2019
Since 2013, 140 US public librarians have participated in the PLA Leadership Academy, which was developed in collaboration with Adam Goodman, director of the Center for Leadership at Northwestern University. With funding and support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries program, PLA partnered with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions … Continue reading PLA Debuts African Leadership Academy →
ALA Joins Groups Opposing Census Citizenship Question
By Larra Clark | April 2, 2019
“Accurate and reliable census information features in an astonishing array of decisions, from where voters cast their ballots, to where small businesses choose to invest, to how the federal government allocates money, to how emergency responders prepare for natural disasters, among many others,” the brief states. The brief argues that the US Commerce Department’s addition … Continue reading ALA Joins Groups Opposing Census Citizenship Question →
Dewey Decibel Podcast: Spring Cleaning
March 29, 2019
In Episode 36 of the Dewey Decibel podcast, two librarians discuss different aspects of the weeding process. American Libraries Senior Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Rebecca Vnuk, executive director of LibraryReads and author of The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-By Shelf Guide (ALA Editions, 2015) about why weeding is necessary, how to get started, and … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Spring Cleaning →
Defeating Bullies and Trolls
By Phil Morehart | March 15, 2019
“All hell broke loose when just the title of the grant was discovered” she said. In the weeks that followed the report’s release, Cooke’s email address and phone number were disseminated by hate groups and their online followers, leading to harassing phone calls and emails. When she asked for her contact information to be removed … Continue reading Defeating Bullies and Trolls →
ALA #FundLibraries Campaign Kicks Off for FY2020
By Kathi Kromer | March 11, 2019
In a statement issued shortly after the budget was released, American Library Association (ALA) President Loida Garcia-Febo said, “As discouraging as it is that the administration has again proposed eliminating IMLS, the bipartisan support in Congress over the past two years gives us reason to hope.” The president’s proposal slashes IMLS yet again despite his … Continue reading ALA #FundLibraries Campaign Kicks Off for FY2020 →

Latest Library Links

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Lauren Carlton writes: “Ever wonder how other librarians come up with such creative program ideas? So do we! It’s not easy to keep library programming fresh, but these tips can help you find inspiration. Here are six places where you can find inspiration: publisher catalogs, event calendars, social media, local nonprofits and businesses, your patrons and coworkers, and the Programming Librarian Interest Group.”

Programming Librarian, Apr. 18
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We often forget that intellectual property rights are not ends in themselves, but instruments at the service of development, creativity, innovation, and welfare. Today, for World Intellectual Property Day 2019, IFLA presents this side of intellectual property, and how it has an impact on libraries. It is not the case that more rights mean better outcomes. Scholars have underlined on several occasions how more flexibility contributes to development, rather than stronger protection. Exceptions and limitations are key for many public interest activities. Copyright needs to be mindful of its impact on cultural heritage, research, and education.

IFLA Library Policy and Advocacy Blog, Apr. 26
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Matthew Humphries writes: “Thinking of a secure password is hard, so demanding a user change it every 60 days fills many with dread and leads to weaker security. Microsoft has realized this and decided to remove default password expiry as a security baseline feature in Windows 10. As part of its security baseline, Microsoft had stipulated a 60-day password expiration policy, but now admits that ‘periodic password expiration is a defense only against the probability that a password (or hash) will be stolen during its validity interval and will be used by an unauthorized entity. If a password is never stolen, there’s no need to expire it.’”

PC Magazine, Apr. 26
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Trustees of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on April 25 deferred a vote on changes to the library’s collection development policy. The policy will likely be voted upon at the board’s May meeting. Questions on weeding raised by residents at a public hearing in March are expected to be answered by the end of April. “The board wants to make sure that they give adequate time and attention to issues they need to think about before they vote,” Library Director Greta Southard said. The goal of the revised collection development policy is “to continue with the spirit of the policy as it’s always existed,” but seeks to clarify the language.

Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette, Apr. 25
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Police investigators say Boyd N. Klingensmith was denied computer access at the Greensburg Hempfield (Pa.) Area Library on April 18 because of an outstanding library fine at the affiliated Penn Area Library in Harrison City. This didn’t sit well with Klingensmith, who, according to court records, said, “I hate Penn Library. I’ll have to shoot them. If I go and shoot them, will that take care of the fine?” Library staff let him use a computer, but police later showed up. Klingensmith said he had been joking, but police found an unregistered pistol in his car. Klingensmith is being held on a $10,000 bond and was charged with terroristic threats and weapons counts.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Apr. 25
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The ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section has selected six winners, three honorable mentions, and a notable citation for the 2019 Katharine Kyes Leab and Daniel J. Leab American Book Prices Current Exhibition Awards. The awards recognize in five categories outstanding printed exhibition catalogs, guides, and electronic exhibitions produced by North American and Caribbean institutions. The winning catalogs will be on display at the 2019 RBMS Conference Booksellers’ Showcase in Baltimore.

ACRL, Apr. 25
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Sally Pewhairangi writes: “When did you last describe your current project as ‘beautiful’? We know beauty when we see it right? So why not beautiful library projects? Wouldn’t you love to think back on a beautiful library project that you worked on 2, 5, or 25 years ago? I think it’s less about what projects you do, and more about how you do them—the work itself. So if you want to make your next project one that you will recall fondly in years to come, here are seven ways you can do that.”

The Library Boss, Apr. 23

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