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The Scoop

Speaking Technically 2008

Seven leading publishers shared their insights on the future of reference databases at American Libraries' second annual "Speaking Technically" panel at ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim. Moderated by American Libraries Direct Editor George Eberhart, the panelists talked about their new products and ideas for enhanced services. The panel was comprised of representatives from Gale/Cengage Learning, Alexander Street Press, Ebrary, EBSCO Publishing, Greenwood Publishing Group, Capital IQ, and ProQuest. More videos at alfocus.ala.org.
July 16, 2008
Annual 2008 Wrap-up

Over 22,000 attendees soaked up the rays in Anaheim, California June 26-July 2 at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference. This brief compendium of conference highlights includes such luminaries as Jamie Lee Curtis, Dean Koontz, Lisa Loeb, Wes Studi, Vernon Jordan, Ron Reagan, Khaled Hosseini, Diahann Carroll, and events like the Parade of Bookmobiles, the Book Cart Drill Team Championship, and a musical number by the members of RUSA. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
July 15, 2008
Your ALA Annual Conference & You!

Gee willakers! Check out this swell 1950's-style educational film that gives you the A-B-Cs of having a jim-dandy time at Annual Conference. It's packed with so many super tips that every Billy and Sue out there will exclaim, "Golly! Can we watch it again?" Yes indeedy, you can! (Stick around afterwards for a few bloopers, too.) More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.o
April 29, 2008
Illinois State Librarian Visits School for National Library Week

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White visits Chicago's Walt Disney Magnet School April 14 and answers questions from students to kick off National Library Week 2008. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
April 18, 2008
National Library Week: College Reference Desk

"Can athlete's foot catch on fire?" "Do you guys need any tutors for football?" "Do you have anything to eat?" These and other urgent academic library reference questions are answered in this final National Library Week (April 13-19) homage to the 72.8 million reference questions answered by academic librarians each year - that's almost twice the attendance at college football games. Shot at Morton College Library in Cicero, Illinois, and starring Shad Kunkle - who grew up in Iowa, which gives him every right to wear that sweatshirt. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
April 8, 2008

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PLA Conference 2008

Comedian and Keynote Speaker Paula Poundstone kicks off this overview of the 2008 Public Library Association Conference (March 25 - 29) in Minneapolis, explaining why her new book took nine years to write. Other highlights include Nancy Pearl discussing her Book Buzz program, Room to Read CEO John Wood on his plans to establish 20,000 libraries across the developing world, and some amazing Japanese drumming from Mu Daiko. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
April 4, 2008
National Library Week: Monkey Wars

Imagine there was a movie at your local multiplex called "Monkey Wars: Part 6." Sounds like the greatest movie ever, right? But what would you do if you had not seen Parts 1 through 5? One solution is given in this celebration of National Library Week (April 13-19). Hint: Americans go to school, public, and academic libraries 50% more than they go to the movies. Starring Shad Kunkle and shot in part at Morton College Library in Cicero, Illinois. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
March 27, 2008
National Library Week: People Magazine

Here's an unpleasant fact: If the cost of People magazine had risen as fast as the cost of academic library periodicals since 1990, its subscription would cost $150 per year. In this National Library Week (April 13-19) video, an avid People reader comes to terms with losing track of Britney, Brangelina, and TomKat. Starring Shad Kunkle and shot at Morton College Library in Cicero, Illinois. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
March 27, 2008
National Library Week: Go Fish

Two card players, fiercely battling over a hand of... Go Fish. But in this game, the stakes are high because these aren't ordinary cards. "Do you have a MasterCard?" "Mass transit card?" "Myrtle Beach Nudist Club Card?" Of course both players are forgetting an all-important fact: 63% of adults in the U.S. have public library cards. Celebrate National Library Week April 13-19. Starring Shad Kunkle and shot at Morton College Library in Cicero, Illinois. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
March 27, 2008
National Library Week: Vending Machine

Do you ever put all of your change into a vending machine, and then wish there were options other than Doritos, Fritos, Snickers, and Skittles? To help celebrate National Library Week (April 13-19), we spin a tale with a very happy (v)ending. Fact: Americans spend more than twice as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries. Starring Shad Kunkle. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
March 27, 2008
National Library Week: Super Sized

Nothing is more popular than McDonald's, right? Don't be so sure. To help celebrate National Library Week (April 13-19), take a trip through the information drive-through and see what ends up in your take-out bag. Fact: There are more public libraries than McDonald's in the U.S. - a total of 16,549, including branches. Starring Shad Kunkle and shot at... well, it should be obvious where it's shot at. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
March 27, 2008
National Library Week: Game On

The spirit of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Pitfall lives in this dot-gobbling, laser-firing celebration of National Library Week (April 13-19). This week's fun fact: Americans spend nearly 10 times as much money on home video games ($9.9 billion) as they do on school library materials for their children ($1 billion). Starring Shad Kunkle and shot at lovely Morton College Library in Cicero, Illinois. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
March 26, 2008

Latest Library Links

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Jashayla Pettigrew writes: “Following a days-long occupation, Portland (Ore.) State University (PSU) library isn’t projected to re-open until later this fall. According to a letter sent to the campus community this afternoon, PSU President Ann Cudd toured Branford Price Millar Library on May 3 and realized it was ‘not suitable for occupation.’” Pro-Palestinian protestors occupied the library for three days until they were removed by police May 2. Damage includes messages painted on the walls, furniture overturned or blocking entrances, broken glass, and missing fire extinguishers.

KOIN-TV (Portland, Oregon), May 4; The Oregonian/OregonLive, May 3
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The US Department of Transportation announced May 1 that its Build America Bureau (BAB) has approved its first Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) loan for up to $26.8 million for the Mt. Vernon (Wash.) Library Commons Project. The project covers half of a city block in Mt. Vernon and includes a public library, community center, commercial kitchens, electric vehicle chargers, and other amenities, all within walking distance of a multimodal transportation center. TOD is a new category of project for BAB, which offers below-market rate financing on infrastructure projects.

US Department of Transportation, May 1
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Sara Goek writes: “The Association of College and Research Libraries joined ALA, the Association of Research Libraries, and the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries in a comment objecting to the proposed elimination of the Academic Libraries component from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the interrelated surveys conducted each year by the National Center for Education Statistics. The associations strongly object to the elimination of academic library data from IPEDS, believing it is essential to understanding the value of libraries and their contributions to the mission of higher education.”

ACRL Insider, May 3
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Sarah Hunter writes: “In early 2020, Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir) was wrapping up promotion for eir memoir Gender Queer when e received an email out of the blue from Sarah Peitzmeier, a social epidemiologist working in LGBTQ+ health at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Peitzmeier, a fan of Kobabe’s work, wanted to collaborate with em on an illustrated guide based on her research on current chest-binding practices. The resulting book became Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding. American Libraries spoke with Kobabe and Peitzmeier about their new title, their collaboration, and the importance of making evidence-based information about trans health care widely available.”

American Libraries Trend, May
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Frank Strong writes: “On May 5, many Texas school districts held elections for their boards of trustees. For months I’ve tracked contested races in 23 districts where there have been controversies about books, book bans, and censorship. The results were… great, overall!” Thirteen districts definitively rejected slates of candidates supported by Moms for Liberty, 1776 Project PAC, and other procensorship groups. Seven districts had mixed or neutral results, while candidates opposed to the freedom to read won in three. The results “don’t necessarily capture the balance of power in a given district,” but “these elections provide a strong foundation from which we can start restoring sanity to school boards next year.”

Anger & Clarity, May 6
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Sarah Ravits writes: “The Louisiana House of Representatives April 30 passed a bill loosening hiring requirements for library directors across the state, a move that could make it easier for conservative local officials to hire supporters of book banning. House Bill 974 (formerly HB-168) by Rep. Josh Carlson (R-Lafayette) removes a requirement that candidates for library director positions have master’s degrees in library sciences, which are accredited by the ALA. Librarians and anti-censorship advocacy groups, including the Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, view this bill as an attack on librarians’ credentials and an attempt to undermine ALA.”

NOLA.com Gambit, Apr. 30
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Kiara Alfonseca writes: “Samira Ahmed, an author of young adult and middle-grade literature, never expected to hire security for events, travel under an alias, or face cancellations at schools and libraries. Ahmed told ABC News she faces threats and book bans over her novels—including Internment and Hollow Fires—which have caused a firestorm of criticism for tackling complex issues about race, oppression and politics. Titles highlighting Asian American cultures have been targets among the long and growing inventory of books singled out by critics, prompting concerns about representation in literature.”

ABC News, May 2

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