“Can athlete’s foot catch on fire?” “Do you guys need any tutors for football?” “Do you have anything to eat?” These and other urgent academic library reference questions are answered in this final National Library Week (April 13-19) homage to the 72.8 million reference questions answered by academic librarians each year – that’s almost twice … Continue reading National Library Week: College Reference Desk
Comedian and Keynote Speaker Paula Poundstone kicks off this overview of the 2008 Public Library Association Conference (March 25 – 29) in Minneapolis, explaining why her new book took nine years to write. Other highlights include Nancy Pearl discussing her Book Buzz program, Room to Read CEO John Wood on his plans to establish 20,000 … Continue reading PLA Conference 2008
Imagine there was a movie at your local multiplex called “Monkey Wars: Part 6.” Sounds like the greatest movie ever, right? But what would you do if you had not seen Parts 1 through 5? One solution is given in this celebration of National Library Week (April 13-19). Hint: Americans go to school, public, and … Continue reading National Library Week: Monkey Wars
Here’s an unpleasant fact: If the cost of People magazine had risen as fast as the cost of academic library periodicals since 1990, its subscription would cost $150 per year. In this National Library Week (April 13-19) video, an avid People reader comes to terms with losing track of Britney, Brangelina, and TomKat. Starring Shad … Continue reading National Library Week: People Magazine
Two card players, fiercely battling over a hand of… Go Fish. But in this game, the stakes are high because these aren’t ordinary cards. “Do you have a MasterCard?” “Mass transit card?” “Myrtle Beach Nudist Club Card?” Of course both players are forgetting an all-important fact: 63% of adults in the U.S. have public library … Continue reading National Library Week: Go Fish
Do you ever put all of your change into a vending machine, and then wish there were options other than Doritos, Fritos, Snickers, and Skittles? To help celebrate National Library Week (April 13-19), we spin a tale with a very happy (v)ending. Fact: Americans spend more than twice as much on salty snacks as they … Continue reading National Library Week: Vending Machine
Nothing is more popular than McDonald’s, right? Don’t be so sure. To help celebrate National Library Week (April 13-19), take a trip through the information drive-through and see what ends up in your take-out bag. Fact: There are more public libraries than McDonald’s in the U.S. – a total of 16,549, including branches. Starring Shad … Continue reading National Library Week: Super Sized
The spirit of Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Pitfall lives in this dot-gobbling, laser-firing celebration of National Library Week (April 13-19). This week’s fun fact: Americans spend nearly 10 times as much money on home video games ($9.9 billion) as they do on school library materials for their children ($1 billion). Starring Shad Kunkle and shot … Continue reading National Library Week: Game On
“How do you undo nerve gas?” “How do you make rope out of human hair?” “Would you mind checking out this rash?” These are other burning reference questions are answered in this homage to the 7.2 million questions answered weekly by the nation’s public and academic librarians. Starring Shad Kunkle, and shot at lovely Morton … Continue reading National Library Week: Reference Desk
Want to watch those adorable National Library Week monsters over and over again? Here is the isolated introduction, created just for you. More ALA videos at alfocus.ala.org.
In an exclusive interview, First Lady Laura Bush tells American Libraries that she will definitely play a role in the establishment of her husband’s presidential library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and talks about how her profession influenced her own initiatives and will continue to do so when her husband’s presidency ends. Editor in … Continue reading Interview with First Lady Laura Bush
Friends of Libraries USA honored Philadelphia’s American Philosophical Society Library January 14 by naming their Col. Richard Gimbel Collection of Thomas Paine Papers a “Literary Landmark.” AL Focus was there at the dedication and got an inside look at the book vault, a treasure of Paine materials, including a bloodstained copy of “The American Crisis” … Continue reading Thomas Paine Literary Landmark Dedication
