The last concurrent session at LITA Form 2009 will be the first one I've written about so far (but more will come, to be sure). Sunday morning Will Kurt from the University of Nevada in Reno talked about his new library (lots of cool technology there) and how they're actively looking toward the future. It's … Continue reading LITA Forum Sunday: Scratching the Surface
The last concurrent session at LITA Form 2009 will be the first one I’ve written about so far (but more will come, to be sure). Sunday morning Will Kurt from the University of Nevada in Reno talked about his new library (lots of cool technology there) and how they’re actively looking toward the future. It’s … Continue reading LITA Forum Sunday: Scratching the Surface
After yesterday's opening keynote session at LITA National Forum, Past President Andrew Pace told me that there's a lot of work involved in diversifying the keynote topics, which are set up to be "fact, fun, or fancy." The Coalition for Networked Information Associate Director Joan Lippincott's keynote was fraught cold, hard "fact" to support libraries' … Continue reading LITA Forum Opening Keynote: Making the Case for Mobile
After yesterday’s opening keynote session at LITA National Forum, Past President Andrew Pace told me that there’s a lot of work involved in diversifying the keynote topics, which are set up to be “fact, fun, or fancy.” The Coalition for Networked Information Associate Director Joan Lippincott’s keynote was fraught cold, hard “fact” to support libraries’ … Continue reading LITA Forum Opening Keynote: Making the Case for Mobile
Sara Kelly Johns, school library media specialist for grades 6–12 at Lake Placid (N.Y.) Middle/High School, and Molly Rafael, recently retired as director of Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon, are candidates for the 2011–12 presidency of the American Library Association. Running for ALA treasurer are Alan Kornblau, director of Delray Beach (Fla.) Public Library, … Continue reading Johns, Rafael Seek ALA Presidency; Kornblau, Neal Are Treasurer Candidates
Attending the Banned Books Read-Out on September 26, 2009, was Gabe Levinson, operator of the Book Bike. The concept is simple: Levinson travels around Chicago giving away books. He spoke to AL Focus about his efforts and motivation. The Book Bike’s web site, www.somethingtoread.net, is currently under construction. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
In just four hours, 15,000 people gathered September 27 at the three branches of Salinas (Calif.) Public Library—John Steinbeck, El Gablian, and Cesar Chavez—for a simultaneous celebration of the library’s 100th birthday that included entertainment, a read-out, birthday cake, and the sealing of a time capsule. Library Director Elizabeth Martinez told American Libraries that the … Continue reading Once Doomed, Salinas Public Library Draws 15,000 to Its Centennial
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels met with staff last week for a frank assessment of the financial outlook for the Association. On everyone's mind was what the recession means to libraries and how it will affect our work at ALA. Fiels indicated that information on ALA's year-end performance for 2009 and updated 2010 projections … Continue reading Executive Director Apprises Staff of Tight Financial Outlook
Denver Public Library has destroyed 31 books and fumigated four areas of its central library after a bedbug infestation caused, ironically, by a patron dedicated to preserving classic literature. The contaminated books, which are rare works that were borrowed from DPL through interlibrary loan, had been checked out by Roger Goffeney, a retired poet and … Continue reading Denver Bibliophile’s Bedbugs Take a Bite Out of ILL Loans
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels met with staff last week for a frank assessment of the financial outlook for the Association. On everyone’s mind was what the recession means to libraries and how it will affect our work at ALA. Fiels indicated that information on ALA’s year-end performance for 2009 and updated 2010 projections … Continue reading Executive Director Apprises Staff of Tight Financial Outlook
Each of the top 10 most challenged books were represented at the 2009 Banned Books Read Out, which kicked off Banned Books Week September 26 at Chicago’s Bughouse Square (across the street from the Newberry Library.) This video features ALA President Camila Alire, authors Cecily von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl) and Lauren Myracle (ttyl), and a … Continue reading 2009 Banned Books Read-Out
E-books are nothing new, and librarians and library patrons have long struggled with their lack of utility. Reading on a computer screen for long periods of time is not most people's cup of tea and leads to hundreds of pages-long printouts in many a library lab. However, in early 2008, e-books began to make waves … Continue reading E-readers in Action
