The Scoop

Libraries = Strong Communities Tour Launches in Colorado Springs

ALA president visits libraries, attends library rally
October 9, 2018
14 Tiles to the Right

Bringing high-capacity broadband and opportunity to Santo Domingo Pueblo Library
By cynthia aguilar and Marijke Visser | October 4, 2018
11 Questions with Stephanie Hlywak

Meet the new director of ALA’s Communications and Marketing Office
October 2, 2018
Museum and Library Services Act Introduced

Bill would reauthorize the Institute of Museum and Library Services
By Kathi Kromer | October 1, 2018
Keep Copyright Office in Library of Congress

ALA urges members to take action on Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act
By Alan S. Inouye | October 1, 2018
Protectors of Culture

Poet E. Ethelbert Miller closes JCLC 2018
By Terra Dankowski | October 1, 2018
Archive with Care

At Escondido Public Library, a participatory archive gives immigrants a voice
By Terra Dankowski | October 1, 2018
The Path to Environmental Justice

Models and approaches that libraries and communities can use
By Terra Dankowski | September 30, 2018
The Reality of Residency Programs

Three librarians of color talk about the challenges and benefits
By Terra Dankowski | September 30, 2018
My Library, My Story

ALA president announces new social media initiative, six-city tour
By Terra Dankowski | September 30, 2018
Serving Black Immigrants

How public libraries can overcome information overload to better reach this diverse population
By Terra Dankowski | September 29, 2018
Renaming and Reconciling

OSU shows how librarians and archivists can get involved with a building name evaluation process
By Terra Dankowski | September 29, 2018

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