American Libraries spoke with five leading African-American librarians about their careers, the changes they have witnessed over the decades, and the current issues in librarianship. While no two people have the same story, all five interviewees note inclusivity as an important theme. They discuss libraries as safe havens, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the … Continue reading Blazing Trails
As both the academic library for Oglala Lakota Tribal College and the public library for the reservation, the Woksape Tipi Library oversees 13 branch libraries scattered over nearly 3,500 square miles. “We’re all about local access,” says archivist Tawa Ducheneaux (pictured), one of six library employees. If a staff member isn’t present at a branch … Continue reading Bookend: Tribal Heritage
This didn’t make sense—the books had been in an area of the library considered very dry by Hawaii standards (relative humidity in the 40s and sometimes 50s) ever since a temperature and humidity data logger was deployed there in late 2008. Mold is commonplace in Hawaii and is something UHM library has battled for years. … Continue reading The Mysterious Case of White Film on Old Books
Sixteen years ago, American Libraries published Mark Y. Herring’s essay “Ten Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library” (April 2001). Technology has improved exponentially since then—social media didn’t even exist yet. But even the smartest phone’s intelligence is limited by paywalls, Twitter trolls, fake news, and other hazards of online life. Here … Continue reading Ten Reasons Libraries Are Still Better Than the Internet
Gifts Under $20 “Cool Story, Poe” Mug ($16) This 15-oz. ceramic mug features the star of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat” giving a twist on the deadpan “cool story, bro” rejoinder. Perfect for the sarcastic coffee-drinker. Novel Teas ($12.50) In addition to providing a great pun, these Sri Lankan black teas are perfect for … Continue reading 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for Librarians and Book Lovers
What made you want to write this book? Candice Benjes-Small: One of my new librarians, Katelyn Tucker Burton, suggested we present at some regional conferences about our library’s training program for instruction. The response was overwhelming. Our presentations were packed, and attendees shared over and over how they had been thrown head first into the … Continue reading A Conversation with Authors Candice Benjes-Small and Rebecca Kate Miller
“We use a lot of librarians on the show,” says longtime Jeopardy! staffer Maggie Speak. “One of the coolest things about being a librarian, from what we hear from our contestants, is that on any given day they’re facing a whole new set of questions or problems, and that keeps them very sharp. Plus, for … Continue reading The Badass Librarians of Jeopardy!
Looking forward ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries presents the second annual Symposium on the Future of Libraries, included with full registration for Midwinter. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (February 10–12), attendees can explore near-term trends inspiring innovation in academic, public, school, and special libraries and longer-term trends that will help professionals adapt to … Continue reading Making the Most of Midwinter 2018
This December, OIF is celebrating 50 years of fighting for intellectual freedom: half a century of championing libraries, finding allies within the literary community, and aiding librarians in times of high anxiety. It’s an evolving role to be cherished and safeguarded. Lighting the flame At the 1965 Midwinter Meeting preconference in Washington, D.C., the Intellectual … Continue reading 50 Years of Intellectual Freedom
“When you start talking about compost and food waste, people immediately think of fruit flies and mice and stinky garbage,” Tans says. As the school’s environmental sciences librarian, Tans participates in MSU Libraries’ robust programming around recycling, composting, and deaccessioning books. Founded in 1855, MSU is a historically agricultural school. The institution’s long tradition of … Continue reading Leading the Green Revolution
So why do we need to keep talking about this? Teaching is certainly a huge part of any instruction librarian’s job, but to be effective, he or she must move beyond the classroom and into different spheres of library life. Our work is multifaceted, and we need to address that as we prepare for that … Continue reading The Hats We Wear
You worked on this story for several years while recovering from West Nile virus, getting a master’s at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and raising your daughter. Then this nearly 400-page book comes out, and cartoonist Art Spiegelman is calling you “one of the most important comics artists of our time.” How … Continue reading Newsmaker: Emil Ferris
