Clark, Robert | American Libraries Magazine

Robert L. Clark, 72, director of Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) from 1976 until his 2000 retirement, died May 26. As state librarian, he headed two Governor’s Conferences on libraries and led a strategic planning process to redefine Oklahoma State Library’s role in the information age. Clark championed records preservation programs, government openness laws, literacy programs, and library technology. He and ODL made news in 1997 when a federal judge granted ODL intervenor plaintiff status in a court case surrounding the Academy Award–winning film The Tin Drum. When an Oklahoma County judge ruled the film contained obscenity, VHS copies of the movie were confiscated from the library system and area video stores. The Video Software Dealers Association (VDSA) sued, and ODL was granted standing in representing access and censorship concerns on the local level. The VSDA prevailed, and the film was ultimately returned to library and store shelves. Clark received Oklahoma Library Association’s Oklahoma Library Legend Award in 2007.

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New York Public Library, Jan. 13
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Samuel T. Barber and Sarah Parramore write: “The creation of a Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Mentorship Group [at California State University, Fullerton’s Pollak Library] was designed to address the unique challenges posed by the rapid expansion of probationary tenure-track faculty. By describing an application of the ripple effect leadership theory, this article explores the importance of strategic, empathetic leadership in supporting faculty development, which may be useful to other academic library faculty and leaders seeking to assist and support newly hired library employees.”

The Journal of Creative Library Practice, Jan. 8
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MakeUseOf, Jan. 11
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AL: The Scoop, Jan. 13
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ALA’s Games and Gaming Round Table is now accepting applications for the “Game On!” grant, which provides $2,000 to help a library or libraries develop gaming programs or collections for their communities. The grant has doubled in size since 2024 thanks to a $1,000 donation match from Cards Against Humanity, whose support will continue through 2029. The application deadline is March 10, and the winner or winners will be announced at GameRT’s “ALA Play” event at ALA’s 2025 Annual Conference this June in Philadelphia.

ALA Games & Gaming Round Table, Jan. 12
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ALSC Blog, Jan. 9
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