“First in, last to leave the library,” says Jane, describing herself and her homeless community. “It’s our routine.” Jane, who prefers not to give her last name, says she’s classified as chronically homeless. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development defines a chronically homeless person as an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition who … Continue reading A Home to the Homeless
More than five years after the start of the Great Recession, school libraries in the US are in crisis, their budgets constricted and their staff short-handed or nonexistent. Professional staff positions are left vacant or filled by uncertified personnel, materials budgets slashed. Many library programs have been eliminated. Most of these actions are taken at … Continue reading District Library Supervisors Under Duress
On Tuesday, we previewed six pivotal referenda across the country that put the fate of local library funding up for a vote. With all precincts now reporting, here’s a look at how the ballots were cast: Funding Approved Cape Elizabeth, Maine – Voters approved a plan to renovate and expand the Thomas Memorial Library. Falmouth, Maine … Continue reading Update: 6 Referenda to Watch
Election Day 2014 turned out to be a success for many library systems across the country seeking to raise or continue funding. Here are some early returns on local library victories: Voters approved a $108.5-million plan by the Charleston County (S.C.) Public Library to build five new facilities, renovate 13 others, and complete a system-wide technology … Continue reading Election Day Results: Citizens Vote ‘Yes’ on Library Funding
Since its opening in June 1939, the Hall has served as the cornerstone of baseball, honoring the sport’s greats and marking its significance in history over the years. Pictured here, James L. Gates Jr., library director, holds the promissory note for the sale of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York … Continue reading Bookend: National Pastime
The title of that tale was The Travels and Adventures of Three Princes of Serendip. The story inspired Walpole to coin the term serendipity. Who among us has never known, however trivial, a serendipitous discovery? More essentially, nearly every librarian has heard at some point in his or her career someone’s story about a serendipitous … Continue reading Collections Are for Collisions
Information is an important tool in fighting the outbreak. Alison Blaine, a master’s student at the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science and a research assistant in the UNC Davis Library’s Research Hub, is part of an interdisciplinary team that developed ebolainliberia.org, a website that provides data and news about the … Continue reading Tracking Ebola in Liberia
Before study hall was over, the principal was dealing with the perpetrators. “We handled it all immediately,” Watson tells American Libraries. “That’s a key role of what librarians can do in schools to be a force against bullying. If the students know you’re there, and that you’re an advocate for them, they’ll come to you.” … Continue reading How Libraries Help Kids Stand Up to Bullying
Self-service software and devices were the focal point of the September 18 episode of American Libraries Live (AL Live). Panelists Karen McPheeters, director, Farmington (N.Mex.) Public Library; Mary Johns, director, Siouxland Libraries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Matt Bellamy of 3M (which sponsored the episode) answered questions from moderator Dan Freeman, eLearning manager for … Continue reading #ALLive: Self-Service Software and Devices
Still, the books keep coming: Even with increasing numbers of e-journals and ebooks, US college and university libraries collect more than 25 million print volumes every year, on top of the more than 1.1 billion print items already held, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics’ Academic Libraries 2004. Where are these books getting shelved? … Continue reading Winning the Space Race
Deadline: October 1, 2014 Penguin Young Readers Group Award Description: Up to four children’s librarians can receive a stipend to attend their first ALA Annual Conference. Award amount: $600 Requirement: Must be ALSC member Administered by: ALSC Sponsored by: Penguin Young Readers Group Deadline: December 1, 2014 Baker & Taylor Conference Grant Description: Two grants for … Continue reading Travel Grants for San Francisco
Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) recognizes the achievements of more than 200 individuals and institutions with various awards. This selection represents only a portion of those honored in 2014 but who are notable for their contributions to the field of librarianship. New this year, the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with … Continue reading Honoring Excellence and Leadership in the Library Profession
