Romania’s New National Library Remains a Dream Yet to Come True

January 28, 2013

Visible from nearly half a mile away, an enormous rooftop Samsung banner leads the casual observer to suppose that the imposing new building in Bucharest is the Romanian headquarters for the electronics giant. Not so. A small plaque near one of the massive entrance doors says that this is the National Library of Romania. The … Continue reading Romania’s New National Library Remains a Dream Yet to Come True



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Unlocking the Riches of HathiTrust

January 16, 2013

The constitutionality of digital fair use was upheld this past October, when US District Court Judge Harold Baer summarily dismissed the Authors Guild’s year-old lawsuit against the HathiTrust library collaborative to block the use of its growing repository of millions of full-text book scans. Calling the project “the enduring work of libraries,” HathiTrust Executive Director … Continue reading Unlocking the Riches of HathiTrust


The Conversation Starts in Seattle

January 7, 2013

Our profession stands at a crossroads: How do libraries meld traditional roles and responsibilities with the changing expectations and needs of the communities they’re in? Joining the many different kinds of conversations at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, January 25–29, in Seattle, Washington, will help attendees address these and other urgent transformational issues facing libraries. ALA … Continue reading The Conversation Starts in Seattle


A Q&A with Midwinter Speaker Peter Block

January 7, 2013

[leadAuthor and consultant Peter Block says empowerment, stewardship, and accountability are at the heart of what makes libraries function. As a bestselling author of Flawless Consulting, The Empowered Manager, and Community, Block writes books that deal with providing an alternative to mainstream cultural beliefs. He says connected communities can change the world, and libraries are … Continue reading A Q&A with Midwinter Speaker Peter Block


Seattle: Food Heaven

January 2, 2013

Seattle offers an amazing food culture. In this guide, we’ve highlighted restaurants near the convention center as well as ones worth a short walk/taxi/bus ride. We’ve also indicated which spots are good for a few folks and those that may be better for a big gang, as well as price ranges. To help you narrow … Continue reading Seattle: Food Heaven


Dine Around Seattle

January 2, 2013

Looking to hit the town and explore Seattle over a great dinner with old and new conference friends? Look no further—join us for the evening for Dine Around Seattle. Dine Around Seattle gives conference-goers a chance to sign up—for a single seat or as a group—to several local hot-spot restaurants on Friday, January 25. ALA … Continue reading Dine Around Seattle


The Library as Lifeline: Getting Past Superstorm Sandy

December 28, 2012

Library workers know that public libraries provide essential services. We live it every day. Until Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on tens of thousands in New York and New Jersey in October 2012, we at Queens Library didn’t realize how pivotal our role is in our communities. As the extent of the damage became apparent, so … Continue reading The Library as Lifeline: Getting Past Superstorm Sandy


2012 Year in Review

2012 Year in Review

December 28, 2012

HathiTrust In a big win for digitization, a federal judge ruled October 10 that the book-scanning program run by the research-library collaborative HathiTrust was fair use, on the grounds of both scholarship and transformative value. The ruling went against the Authors Guild’s contention that it ­violated the copyright of ­individual works.     Ebooks and … Continue reading 2012 Year in Review


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Library Design Showcase Has Moved to September/October 2013

December 19, 2012

American Libraries is now accepting submissions for the 2013 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating the best new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types. The Showcase will be moving from our March/April issue to our September/October 2013 issue. We are looking for libraries that are shining examples of innovative architecture and … Continue reading Library Design Showcase Has Moved to September/October 2013


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2012 I Love My Librarian Award Winners Honored

December 19, 2012

Ten dedicated and passionate librarians were honored for their unwavering commitment to patrons, communities, and libraries when they received the I Love My Librarian 2012 Award, presented in New York City on December 18. Patrons nominate candidates for the award, which recognizes public, school, and academic librarians. Sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York and … Continue reading 2012 I Love My Librarian Award Winners Honored


Singer Paten Locke performing at JPL's Main Library in July 2011.

Live at Your Library!

December 11, 2012

Just look at Seattle Public Library, which in July partnered with the University of Washington’s acclaimed KEXP radio station to make its extensive archive of live performances by both local and national acts available for library users. “We see the KEXP offerings as an added bonus to our music collection,” Seattle City Librarian Marcellus Turner … Continue reading Live at Your Library!