To kick off the beginning of the 2013 ALA Annual Conference, members of the Instruction Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries mingled in the Reading Room of the Columbia College Chicago Library, where there was music, refreshments, and just good company. Before getting swept up in the nonstop schedule of meetings, sessions, … Continue reading Faces from Annual: ACRL Instruction Section Soiree
One of the best perks of working at ALA is picking up “gently used” advance reading copies (or ARCs, as they’re known) of yet-to-be-published books. Every few weeks, Booklist editors share with the ALA staff piles of bound galleys and ARCs that have been considered for review by the magazine. When these books arrive in … Continue reading Chicago, My Kind of Town
You’ve finally arrived: After 40 years of working your library gig, it’s your dreaded retirement party. After all the “over the hill” jokes and the stories about how you started out with a stamp pad and ended with an iPad have been told, after the last piece of Costco cake has been eaten, and after … Continue reading No More Mr. Nice Guy
In late April, the ALA Executive Board and the Budget Analysis and Review Committee met to review the status of the current 2013 ALA budget and to approve a preliminary budget for the 2014 fiscal year that begins September 1, 2013. The continuing impact of the recession on libraries and projected revenues this year and … Continue reading Rethinking, Reinventing
It has been a privilege this year to serve as your president. The experience exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I especially enjoyed representing ALA in the larger world. One of the special joys was working closely with Immediate Past President Molly Raphael and President-Elect Barbara Stripling to ensure continuity across our terms to … Continue reading Representing ALA
Helping launch the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done in my many years at Booklist. We had very little time to get the awards off the ground last year. The official announcement that Booklist, RUSA, and Carnegie Corporation of New York would … Continue reading Reading the Carnegie Longlist
Content creation may seem like a novel function for libraries, but it’s nothing new. If you think back to the traditional library of yesteryear (or even traditional services in today’s library), you will notice plenty of examples of content being created. For instance, has your library ever done any of the following? Produced a pathfinder … Continue reading Libraries as Content Creators
Almost every state in the Union has adopted the Common Core State Standards, which emphasize that students read literary nonfiction. A great way to stimulate students’ curiosity and encourage youngsters to pick up informational books is to include nonfiction in your library programs. With a wealth of new narrative nonfiction being published each year, a … Continue reading Nonfiction Programming
This is the final week to submit your library for American Libraries’ 2013 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating the best new and newly renovated or expanded libraries of all types. The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 31. We are looking for libraries that are shining examples of innovative architecture and that address … Continue reading Last Call for 2013 Library Design Showcase Submissions
“Far too many people are floundering in our educational system and I believe libraries can change that.” “What else is a coffee-obsessed, over-organized, well-read information analyzer with a love for technology to do?” “I am a convener, a catalyst for action, a collaborative project manager.” “I want to be forever bothered—bothered people make great things … Continue reading The Applicant Pool
“Every academic librarian worth her salt is embedded.” “3D printers are so hot right now.” “Are you telling me you don’t have QR code scavenger hunts at your library?” “Your library doesn’t tweet?” “But surely you have a Pinterest site!” Although I’ve been in the profession only a decade, I’ve seen plenty of hyped-up ideas … Continue reading Spare Me the Hype Cycle
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined the County of Los Angeles Public Library on April 18 as it celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Rio Hondo Event Center in Downey, California. The 7-foot-2 inch-tall former center for the Los Angeles Lakers and bestselling author of seven books was the guest speaker at the library’s annual Library … Continue reading Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Visits County of Los Angeles Public Library
