The Scoop

The Moment of Lift

Melinda Gates opens Midwinter with stories of empowerment
By Phil Morehart | January 27, 2019
Council I Votes on Sustainability
By Amy Carlton | January 27, 2019
Soft Skills: Hard to Teach?

On self-direction, flexibility, and other things you didn't learn in library school
By Lindsay Gypin | January 27, 2019
Midwinter 2019 Top 10 Tweets—Day 2
By Crystal Carrazco | January 27, 2019
Podcast Pros

Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart leads librarian podcaster panel at Midwinter
By Terra Dankowski | January 27, 2019
Innovating with Creativity and Empathy

Symposium on the Future of Libraries session brings business and design to social issues
By Terra Dankowski | January 27, 2019
Gratitude and Rocket Science

Sylvia Acevedo thanks librarians for helping her reach the stars
By Amy Carlton | January 27, 2019
Libraries = Strong Communities Tour Reaches Seattle

ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo sends a message of advocacy
By Steve Zalusky | January 26, 2019
Midwinter 2019 Top 10 Tweets—Day 1
By Crystal Carrazco | January 26, 2019
ALA Launches Advocacy Resources

ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo announces new website at Midwinter
By Kathi Kromer | January 25, 2019
Midwinter 2019 Top 10 Tweets—Day 0
By Crystal Carrazco | January 25, 2019
Librarian Shutdown Stories

Dipping into retirement savings, filing for unemployment after weeks without pay
By Timothy Inklebarger | January 23, 2019

Latest Library Links

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James Folta writes: “Last week a Silicon Valley startup announced a new kind of e-reader that you can wear on your face. Maybe it’s because I don’t often want to read while lying fully flat on my back with my arms at my side, but I don’t see a ton of utility for these book goggles. How do these new glasses stack up against all the other technology we already have to access text? Here is my definitive [and comedic] ranking of ways to get text into your brain,” from books and smartphones to refrigerator magnets and wax tablets.

Literary Hub, July 15
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Tony Phillips writes: “Copying data from an image into a Google Sheets file manually can be time-consuming and increases the chance of typos. Luckily, you can extract the information into your spreadsheet in just a few simple steps using the Optical Character Recognition tool in Google Drive. Here’s how.”

How-to Geek, July 9
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On July 18, ALA unveiled a new multi-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening libraries, growing the library workforce, driving innovation, and expanding community impact. The new plan is the result of a data-driven process conducted over several months in partnership with a strategic planning consultant. It was shaped by the insights of a Strategic Planning Task Force—a diverse group of member volunteers representing different sectors, roles, and perspectives from across the association. Key priorities include developing the library workforce pipeline, driving innovation and technology adoption, expanding advocacy efforts, and growing community programs.

ALA Communications, Marketing, and Member Relations Office, July 18
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Brandon Jarvis writes: “The Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission presented a report to members of the General Assembly July 14 about books that are being removed from school libraries across Virginia. The report found that some school divisions are misinterpreting a 2022 law to justify removing titles. The law requires schools to notify parents if their children’s instructional materials include sexually explicit content. It does not require districts to remove books when a parent withholds consent; instead, schools are expected to provide alternative, non-explicit materials for those students.”

Virginia Scope, July 14; Virginia Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission, July 14
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ALA is sending a delegation to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York. ALA’s participation is a significant step in elevating libraries as key partners in global development and reflects ALA’s commitment to aligning library advocacy with the United Nations 2030 Agenda. ALA and New York Public Library’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library will present “Imperatives for Growth: Libraries as Catalysts for Inclusive Employment, Skills, and Prosperity,” on July 21 at 6 p.m. Eastern. Anyone can register to attend virtually.

ALA Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office, July 14
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Caelin Ross writes: “Librarians are trained to believe that if information exists, is published, and we can access it, then it’s ours to use. The idea that Indigenous communities might have sovereignty over how their knowledge is shared, taught, or represented often comes as a genuine surprise. And how uncomfortable it is for white folks who are allies to analyze their relationship to information critically. We cannot assume that there is always a ‘better’ way to be more inclusive; sometimes, it’s better to stay in our lane.”

ACRLog, July 9
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Susan Maguire writes: “At this year’s ALA Annual Conference, Booklist and LibraryReads teamed up for the popular Read ’n’ Rave, where superstar librarians scour the exhibit hall floor to find the books you’ll want to know about for late summer and fall. If you missed the event, or if you had trouble keeping up with the rapid-fire raving (can’t blame you!), here’s a list of the books everyone talked about.”

Booklist Online, June 30