More than two years after the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, vast numbers of Haitians are still struggling just to return to something resembling normal life. The first thing you see in the capital city of Port-au-Prince is miles and miles of “Tent City,” as the temporary housing has come to be … Continue reading Haiti Rising from the Rubble
You may have wondered whether you hold the copyright to work you’ve put many hours into creating on the job. Who holds the copyright to works created by teachers or librarians? Short answer: In general, when employees create works as a condition of employment, the copyright holder is the employer. As a school librarian or … Continue reading Copyright for Librarians and Teachers, in a Nutshell
If you think it is hard to explain to nonlibrary users what a librarian does, try explaining the job of a cataloger. Not long ago (when I was still in library school), if someone had asked me what exactly a cataloger is, my answer would have been, “a guardian of the catalog.” This still holds … Continue reading Cataloging Then, Now, and Tomorrow
Bannon, who earned his MLIS from the University of Washington in 1999, joined CPL in March 2012, succeeding Mary Dempsey, who stepped down after nearly 18 years as commissioner. Now, several months into his new role, Bannon—who says he has “hit the ground running”—took a break from his whirlwind introduction to CPL and the city … Continue reading Newsmaker: Brian Bannon
Attendees say ALA’s Annual Conference is the “best gathering for professional development opportunities, exhibits and vendor reps, and networking possibilities that a librarian is likely to find” and “the gold standard in professional development and networking.” Join the discussion during ALA’s 136th Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, June 21–26. Hear from the two winning authors … Continue reading Annual Conference Preview: Transforming Our Libraries, Ourselves
Libraries are constantly evolving to adapt to the needs and desires of our users. Most of these changes have occurred inside our buildings, from obtaining cutting-edge technology to providing self-service and redesigned spaces. While these changes have been vital, they have failed to increase our presence in the community. How can we truly demonstrate our … Continue reading Community Reference: Making Libraries Indispensable in a New Way
When Maureen Sullivan becomes ALA president on June 26, one thing that is certain to continue from Molly Raphael’s presidency is the thematic focus on “Transforming Libraries.” “Since ALA leaders build on the work of their predecessors, it is particularly fortuitous that Maureen and I have been able to work closely together,” Raphael said. “Our … Continue reading Transforming Libraries . . . Continued
Librarians and publishers are not effectively communicating with each other. There, I said it. Many of us already know this to be true, but as someone who comes from the publishing side, I came to this realization during my yearlong process of selling ebooks across the country and through my many conversations with library directors, … Continue reading A Publisher’s View
Last September, libraries and librarians around the country welcomed the announcement that OverDrive and Amazon had reached an agreement that would allow Kindle owners to borrow books through their public libraries. The new arrangement allowed libraries to meet a pent-up patron demand for Kindle ebook loans. But librarians and users alike learned that the deal … Continue reading A Digital Dilemma: Ebooks and Users’ Rights
If out of frustration comes new ideas, creativity, and entrepreneurship, then ALA’s Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG) is due its lightning-bolt moment. Following the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting in January, there were optimistic signs for future dialogue with publishers over the crucial issue of library access to ebooks, and the newly formed DCWG … Continue reading Digital Working Group Pushes for Expanded Ebook Access
It’s here. Long heralded, the e-revolution has finally arrived in the form of rapid adoption of e-reader devices. It seems safe to assume that by the end of 2012, public libraries may be directing as much as 20% of their collection budgets to digital content. By the end of three years, it may be closer … Continue reading Navigating the Ebook Revolution
For the first time in decades, we are living through a moment in which the book is being reenvisioned and reenlivened, creating richer cultural expressions that paradoxically may be less universally accessible than before. The 21st-century author can choose from an array of writing tools. Computers allow us to create stories much like those in … Continue reading Lessons from the Typewriter
