“We were jazzed to have her come to the library,” said Director Betty Waznis, whose staff has been marketing the four-year-old program with press releases and partnerships with local government offices. Kunze heard about the program by word-of-mouth and called the library to make an appointment, explaining that she had a deadline looming. Library staffers asked Kunze … Continue reading Library Passport Program Wins Miss California
After years of practicing adult collection development skills in a medium-sized suburban public library, I have discovered that specific “shortcut” rules have become second nature to me. I present here an annotated rundown of my shortcuts that can help anyone create and maintain viable and successful collections for customers older than 10. My guide begins … Continue reading The Practical Librarian’s Guide to Collection Development
You’re known for making movie cameos. What is your favorite one to date? Stan Lee: I did one in the new Captain America: The Winter Soldier movie. I think it’s a very funny one. We’re pretty partial to the librarian you play in The Amazing Spider-Man. Do you have a spidey sense? No, I wish I … Continue reading Newsmaker: Stan Lee
Velez moved in with her brother, a US citizen, and at his suggestion enrolled in a free Spanish GED program offered at the Waukegan (Ill.) Public Library (WPL). She earned her degree in just a few months. Now Velez and her son serve as volunteer library promotores, helping other Latinos to take advantage of free … Continue reading Connecting Latinos with Libraries
In our more modern, connected, and ever-busy age, however, traditional library book clubs have been undergoing a quiet revolution. Lack of time, scheduling conflicts, mobility issues, desire for anonymity, and other factors have moved the conversation online—namely onto social media. Tech-savvy librarians aware of these trends are using emerging technologies to both enhance physical book … Continue reading A Novel Idea
Catch the speakers Start conference on a high note at the Opening General Session (June 27) with alternate-reality game designer Jane McGonigal and learn how games that tackle real-world problems like hunger and poverty can be used in library programming. Hear from bestselling authors and thought leaders, as well as experts from adult and youth … Continue reading 2014 ALA Annual Must-Dos
The holiday, now commonly known as Día, celebrates multicultural children’s books, reading, and education, with libraries holding reading events and play activities for young patrons. What may have been one of the wildest celebrations in the country took place at Joliet (Ill.) Public Library. Wildlife education center Big Run Wolf Ranch brought to the library … Continue reading Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros 2014
Kelechi Nwafor (above) and his mother Chioma Nwafor and Chloe Warwick (right, with her father Mark Warwick) get absorbed in two of Harford County (Md.) Public Library’s (HCPL) iPad minis at the recent launch of the library system’s Little Leapers 3.5 program. The $24,000 initiative—funded by the Morris A. Mechanic Foundation, the library foundation, and … Continue reading Little Leapers 3.5 Launches in Maryland
Librarians have always welcomed users’ suggestions for titles to add to the collection. When those titles meet the guidelines on subject matter, format, and price, librarians are happy to buy patron-suggested material. Some libraries even offer suggestion forms on their website. However, in the same way that many librarians have moved away from title-by-title selection … Continue reading Patrons: Your New Partners in Collection Development
It seems unlikely that people will give up their reliance on general-purpose search engines or their practice of beginning a search using Google or one of its competitors. But people should be encouraged to use other research tools when needed, such as databases and more specialized search engines—otherwise known as the Invisible Web. What makes … Continue reading Going Beyond Google Again
Youngsters learn how to navigate a sewing machine courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library’s Lorain branch “Sew Lorain Kids” program. Debuting this past fall, the low-tech drop-in maker class has students producing finger puppets, lunch napkins, and hand warmers. At the suggestion of one boy in the program, kids are also experimenting with upcycling older … Continue reading Keeping Kids in Stitches
This phase of the industry offers many choices, including both proprietary and open source license options, some based on cloud technologies and others that continue to rely on local hardware. Though a new generation of library services platforms has entered a phase of early adoption, the integrated library system remains viable, especially when extended to … Continue reading Library Systems Report 2014
