Trends Archives | Page 14 of 23 | American Libraries Magazine

Penn State University student Luz Sanchez Tejada uses the school's microcredentialing platform in Pattee Library to earn badges as part of her peer research consultant training. Photo: Steve Tressler

The Making of a Microcredential

By Emily Rimland | January 2, 2019

In the last two years, Penn State University Libraries has seen rapid adoption of its information literacy microcredentials among students. Microcredentials—transferable forms of metadata-encoded, performance-based educational credits—are not new; they started gaining traction in academic libraries around 2012. What is different at Penn State is that to help manage the sudden volume of badge submissions, … Continue reading The Making of a Microcredential →

Roberta McCulloch-Dews, director of administrative services in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, listens during a speed-repping event at Berkshire Athenaeum.

Lawmaker Matchmaker

By Emily Udell | January 2, 2019

“I thought that maybe something similar could advance the city’s goals of getting information out to the public,” Griffin says. He adapted the format to allow residents one-on-one time with several local leaders at a single event. He wanted to appeal to people who might not feel comfortable speaking up at a city meeting or … Continue reading Lawmaker Matchmaker →

Faculty and librarians work on a research sprint at the University of Kansas Libraries in 2017.

Academic Speed Trials

By Timothy Inklebarger | January 2, 2019

Karna Younger, faculty engagement librarian at Kansas University Libraries, says the idea of research sprints—during which faculty and librarians work together for about a week on the same project, and, more importantly, in the same space—is not a wholly new idea. But the approach is being formalized into a method that can be replicated. “It … Continue reading Academic Speed Trials →

The Camp Fire in Northern California, as viewed by NASA's Landsat 8 on November 8. Photo: NASA

California Libraries in Wildfires’ Wake

By Timothy Inklebarger | January 2, 2019

“Miraculously, the Paradise branch of the Butte County Library system is still standing,” says Butte County Library Director Melanie Lightbody, noting that it’s one of the only remaining structures in town. While the library was not destroyed by the fire, the building and its contents have suffered extensive smoke damage. The five other branches in … Continue reading California Libraries in Wildfires’ Wake →

Judith A. Downie poses with growlers from CSUSM Library’s Brewchive. Photo: Brandon Van Zanten (Brewchive)

Tapping into Beer History

By Judith A. Downie | November 1, 2018

“Who’s collecting San Diego’s beer history?” This question—asked by Char Booth, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Library associate dean, during a brewing science certificate proposal review in 2016—launched what would become the Brewchive at CSUSM Library. In 2018, the archive received the American Library Association’s John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award. With the … Continue reading Tapping into Beer History →

More than 250 patrons attended a recent “Paint-Along with Bob Ross” event at Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library. Photo: Tracy Grosshans

Painting with Purpose

By Lara Ewen | November 1, 2018

Patron paint-alongs During the events, patrons watch an episode of The Joy of Painting and paint along, while library staffers facilitate and provide canvases, paints, and other supplies. Some libraries hire Certified Ross Instructors, trained by Bob Ross Inc., to lead the workshops; others obtain video permissions from the official Bob Ross YouTube channel or … Continue reading Painting with Purpose →

When Universities Cut, Libraries Bleed

By Anne Ford | November 1, 2018

As universities across the country trim offerings in hopes of addressing budget deficits, academic libraries must attempt to maintain services, even as it becomes more and more difficult to fulfill their missions. “We’re really getting slim,” says Laura Jacobs, library science professor and interim director of the Jim Dan Hill Library at the University of … Continue reading When Universities Cut, Libraries Bleed →

Dr. Dave demonstrates Bernoulli’s principle with a leaf blower and toilet paper at Ohio State University’s Whiz Bang Science Café at Worthington Libraries. Photo: Worthington (Ohio) Libraries

Excited about Science

By Alison S. Ricker | November 1, 2018

The library furnished students with kits that they used to gather soil samples around campus, which were then returned to NCSU’s biotechnology lab for extracting DNA to locate the “gold-pooping gene,” as Lewis calls it. They then took the samples with the most Delftia and sequenced a portion of the gold genes at the Genomic Sciences Laboratory. With … Continue reading Excited about Science →

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

By the Numbers: Picture Book Month

By Alison Marcotte | November 1, 2018

2011 Year that November was designated Picture Book Month by Dianne de Las Casas and fellow children’s book authors and illustrators Katie Davis, Elizabeth Dulemba, Tara Lazar, and Wendy Martin. The international literacy initiative was in response to a 2010 New York Times article, “Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children.” 12th Century when … Continue reading By the Numbers: Picture Book Month →

By the Numbers: Banned Books Week

By Jordan Sarti | September 25, 2018

This year’s Banned Books Week is September 23–29. 416 Number of books banned or challenged in 2017, according to the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). 100,000 Number of copies that Angie Thomas’s young adult novel, The Hate U Give, printed in its first month. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards honoree, about … Continue reading By the Numbers: Banned Books Week →

Mobile food programs, like this one at Camden County (N.J.) Library System, are teaching food literacy and delivering nutritious meals in food deserts. Photo: Camden County (N.J.) Library System

A Movable Feast

By Lara Ewen | September 4, 2018

“The city of Camden has only one grocery store, and most city residents rely on small stores and bodegas for food,” says Devlin. “These stores have a more limited supply of healthy food, which limits meal planning.” Inspired by a visit to the nearby Culinary Literacy Center at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Devlin decided … Continue reading A Movable Feast →

Open Access Week is October 22–28, 2018.

By the Numbers: Open Access Week

By Jordan Sarti | September 4, 2018

11 Number of years ago that International Open Access Week was first observed. In 2007, a coalition of US college students, researchers, and librarians celebrated Open Access Day, which was extended to Open Access Week the following year and has evolved into a global effort. 72 Number of countries represented by groups discussing issues of … Continue reading By the Numbers: Open Access Week →

Latest Library Links

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Isabella Cheng writes: “Grambling (La.) State University (GSU) held a ribbon cutting August 22 to celebrate its new Digital Library and Learning Commons. According to GSU, the library is a state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot facility where people can connect, create, and collaborate and features 150 computer stations, 17,000 square feet of study space, and multipurpose space for events, meetings, and seminars.” GSU states the $16.6 million facility is the first of its kind at a Historically Black College and University in the US, and the first in Louisiana.

KTAL-TV (Shreveport), Aug. 23; Grambling State University, Aug. 22
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Trisha Parsons writes: “Battle of the Books is a nationwide reading program that gives kids the chance to participate in a competition that doesn’t involve sports equipment; all the kids need is dedicated time to read and study books. Students on Battle of the Books teams prepare to be asked questions about the content of the books in a competition style. Every year, our library district hosts the Battle of the Books program for grades 3–5. We partner with local schools to bring this fun, educational program to the students.”

ALSC Blog, Aug. 24
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Ken Fountain writes: “After months of rancorous discussions, a split Fort Bend (Tex.) Independent School District board of trustees on August 26 approved revisions to the district’s policy on removal of books from school libraries that put the ultimate decision-making authority in the hands of the district’s superintendent. It removes a permanent reconsideration committee made up of district staff from the process of evaluating challenges to books. The 5–2 vote came after at least 16 members of the public, including teachers and librarians, parents, and former and current students, spoke against the changes. No members of the public spoke in favor.”
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Book challenges and restrictions in US public schools have increased dramatically since 2021. A new research report by the Knight Foundation surveyed more than 4,500 people to explore public attitudes about restricting students’ access to books. The study found that two-thirds of Americans oppose book restriction efforts in public schools, and more than three-fourths are confident that their local public schools select appropriate books. While nearly a quarter of respondents were aware of efforts to restrict book access for students in their community, only 3% have participated in efforts to either maintain or restrict access.

Knight Foundation, Aug. 21
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A wide range of funding opportunities are available for public libraries under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to build digital literacy skills, support workforce development and economic advancement programs, offer telehealth support, and enable access to devices and broadband. A free September 4 webinar will provide essential information, examples of eligible projects, and practical tips to apply for funding opportunities. Register for the webinar and review additional resources for grant applicants. The grant application deadline is September 23. (ALA will host additional webinars about other funding opportunities, including a webinar on applying for E-Rate funding on September 25.)

Public Library Association; AL: The Scoop, Dec. 28, 2021; Public Policy and Advocacy Office
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Anjuli Patil writes: “Halifax, Nova Scotia, Public Libraries staff are on strike after conciliation talks between the employer and their union ended over the weekend without an agreement. Negotiations had been ongoing since last October between Halifax Public Libraries and the union, which represents 340 employees. The strike began at 12:01 a.m. on August 26. [In addition to wage increases, union Vice-President Chad] Murphy said the union is also looking to address issues such as parental top-ups for adoptive parents, sick leave provisions and a safe working environment.”

CBC News, Aug. 26
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Kathleen Hughes writes: “On Saturday, October 19, libraries and advocates nationwide are planning a Freedom to Read Community Day of Action with rallies at libraries, bookstores, places of worship, and other community hubs in towns big and small all across the nation. The goal is to demonstrate the broad support that exists in our communities for libraries and the freedom to read. Get more information about holding a Freedom to Read rally at your library and opt in to participate.” The event is organized by Unite Against Book Bans, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library.

Public Libraries Online, Aug. 26

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