Before the Newbery, Caldecott, King, and ALA’s other prestigious youth media awards were announced at the Midwinter Meeting in Denver, the selection committees crowded into tiny private rooms to call the honorees. This year, AL Focus was invited to capture some of those happy calls and reactions. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
You probably heard it for yourself, but last night President Barack Obama did it again. He said "libraries." At his first prime-time press conference since taking office, he addressed a nervous nation about unemployment, emphasizing that "the single most important part of this Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is the fact that it will save … Continue reading President Obama Says It Again
AL Focus caught up with Steve Vander Ark, author of The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials, and co-author Lisa Bunker, in the exhibit hall at the 2009 Midwinter Meeting. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
Got a fax yesterday from Ken Miller, director of the Bayliss Public Library in Sault Sainte Marie, located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula near the Soo Locks. Ken and I were pages together a long time ago at the Detroit Public Library. "We received the attached letter with a $50 check," Ken said. "I thought you … Continue reading An Angel with $50 for 50 Libraries
Stephanie Vance of AdvocacyGuru.com discusses the three points ALA members need to keep in mind when advocating for libraries with the new presidential administration. Vance talked with AL Focus after speaking at the Washington Office Update at ALA’s 2009 Midwinter Meeting in Denver. More ALA videos available at alfocus.ala.org.
Members of ALA Council discuss what Council actually does and why you should consider getting involved. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
Just one day before winning a Newbery Honor for her book “Savvy,” author Ingrid Law sat down with Booklist and spoke about the origin of the term, how she wanted to write a book about magic without the word “magic,” talking to children about their own secret powers, and the how librarians inspire her. Bonus: … Continue reading Ingrid Law interview
The beginning of February also means the beginning of Facilities season at AL. The Library Design Showcase in the April issue is one of the largest individual articles of the year, and with the deadline for submissions passing yesterday, the bulk of the work on this end starts now. AL editors and designers will meet … Continue reading Buildings and Landscapes
The third and final Midwinter session of ALA Council commenced bright and early Wednesday morning and the agenda moved rapidly into resolutions presented by Ken Wiggin, chair of the Committee on Legislation. The Council passed a glowing resolution praising President Barack Obama for "recognizing the importance of openness, transparency, and accountability in government by signing … Continue reading Midwinter Wednesday: Council Commends Obama, Urges Peace
Strolling through the Midwinter exhibit hall just before it closed on Monday afternoon, I felt that traffic was light and wondered what some of the vendors would have to say about it, plus I wanted to pick their brains about what they were doing to prepare for revenue drops precipitated by the economic meltdown. I … Continue reading Midwinter Tuesday: Heard, Overheard, and Smelled
As my last Midwinter post (from the Denver airport, on a decidedly spotty wireless connection), I offer this collection of interesting, thought-provoking, or just amusing quotes from the meeting—weather heard or overheard. "I'm just going to stand here and have a wonderful time!" —a woman near the entrance on Friday, apparently after unexpectedly meeting the … Continue reading Midwinter Tuesday: Heard and Overheard
I visited Denver Public Library this morning, invited by DPL writer/editor (and author of AL’s Midwinter dining guide this year) Sherry Spitsnaugle. It was a lovely tour of a wonderful building, but the whole event was overshadowed by the big event of the day. This morning, a woman who was riding the bus to work … Continue reading Midwinter Tuesday: It’s a Girl @ your library
