The Scoop

Spatial Humanities in Libraries
By Carrie Smith | June 25, 2018
Council II Committee Reports
By Amy Carlton | June 25, 2018
Finding the Right Fit: The Mentorship Search
By Kate Thompson | June 25, 2018
Fake News or Free Speech: Is There a Right to be Misinformed?

Discussing media literacy with a packed house
By Carli V. Lowe | June 25, 2018
Should We Be Cynical or Skeptical?

Causes for public cynicism about government documents and the civic education cure
By Carrie Smith | June 25, 2018
YA Coffee Klatch

"Speed dating" for the YA crowd
By Lisa Krok | June 24, 2018
The Librarian and the Archivist

Carla Hayden and David S. Ferriero engage in good-natured rivalry
By George M. Eberhart | June 24, 2018
Top 10 Tweets—Sunday Edition
By Heather Cho | June 24, 2018
Putting the Pieces Together

Sally Field opens up about her life, career, and new book
By Phil Morehart | June 24, 2018
Jonathan Eig Pulls No Punches

Auditorium Speaker shares what he learned researching the biography of Muhammad Ali
By Terra Dankowski | June 24, 2018
STEM for Babies 

Public libraries model math and science through playtime 
By Terra Dankowski | June 24, 2018
Dr. Carla Hayden: In Her Words
By Kate Thompson | June 24, 2018

Latest Library Links

18h

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
20h

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
23h

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
2d

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
2d

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
3d

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
3d

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