And now, word has reached me that the Internet Public Library (IPL), which I wrote about in the last issue, will no longer be supported at the end of this year. The news means that IPL will just miss making its 20th birthday next March 17 (the happy coincidence of my Irish heritage and a … Continue reading RIP, IPL
Technology has been changing libraries for as long as baby boomers have been in the workforce, or longer, if you consider that typewriters supplanted “library hand.” The internet increased the complexity and diversity of this change, enabling librarians—or anyone, really—to access information in more formats and in more ways. Effective use of these new means … Continue reading New Technology; New Skills
"Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor," a new exhibition at the Library of Congress (LC) in Washington, D.C., celebrates the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the influential document that limited the powers of Britain’s King John, upheld individual rights, and later came to serve as the cornerstone of constitutional law. On loan from the Lincoln … Continue reading The Magna Carta Comes to America
UPDATE: The results are in; read how these ballot initiatives fared here. In the midst of the numerous congressional seats, gubernatorial spots, and ballot measures that will be decided this Election Day 2014, today’s vote will also be pivotal to the future of some local library systems. Here is a snapshot of … Continue reading Election Day: 6 Referenda to Watch
We’ve all done that a thousand times. On the surface, “just curious” is one of those phrases that doesn’t really mean anything and gets tossed in just to signal that a question isn’t urgent or immediate or that it doesn’t connect to any larger matter. Which is fine on its face and is, in most … Continue reading Just Curious
When I talk to librarians about 3D printing, the most common question I hear—after the question about printing a gun—is “Why provide this service?” Of the many answers, the most straightforward is “We’ve always done this sort of thing.” The library is, at its core, an engine for the democratization of knowledge and information. Conceptually, … Continue reading The Case for 3D Printing
The first few months of my tenure as president of ALA have been amazingly full and rewarding. At once exhilarating, educational, and sometimes exhausting, this time has reinforced one of my own longest and deeply held convictions: Libraries are powerful. They shape minds, bolster economies, and anchor communities of every size in every corner of … Continue reading Advocate. Today.
After more than a year of development and research, the ReadersFirst Guide to Library Ebook Vendors (PDF file), which compiles information on ebook vendors and their products and then rates them on ease of use and efficiency, is available to the public. And it’s working. The guide is the brainchild of the Readersfirst Working Group, which … Continue reading ReadersFirst Eases the Ebook Experience
AMERICAN LIBRARIES: Your efforts to promote literacy and books of universal literary value are directed primarily toward young people and adults. AZAR NAFISI: Oh, definitely. They are directed toward readers in general. I think that readers have so much in common no matter what background they come from or what age they are. Where do … Continue reading Newsmaker: Azar Nafisi
ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition can be quite a production, especially in Las Vegas. For the American Libraries team, this past conference involved four editors reporting, blogging, tweeting, and posting on Facebook, with five freelance librarian writers reporting. Two editors hung back in the Chicago office to accept our on-the-spot work, editing for style, resizing … Continue reading How We “Do” Annual Conference
As I begin my ALA presidency, I’m aware of the need for both consistency and change. Like ALA presidents before me, I bring to the table my commitment to the profession as well as a good understanding of the Association’s structure, finances, members, and aspirations. But my unique experiences will also help shape my approach … Continue reading Advancing Our Mission
Kindergartners get a Sneetches storytime at Fullerton College Library from Acquisitions Librarian Monique Delatte Starkey (left) and Library Assistant Betsy Murray. The children were among 1,800 who came to the campus’s 19th annual KinderCaminata (children stroll) this spring, during which they tour the campus with parents and teachers. “One event goal is that young participants, some from disadvantaged backgrounds, … Continue reading Kindergartners Go to College
