Archives

Jaskowski, Selma

June 1, 2020

Selma Jaskowski, associate director for technology services and resource management at the University of Central Florida Libraries in Orlando, retired March 19 after 25 years with the Libraries.

Portman, Sally

June 1, 2020

Sally Portman retired after 34 years as librarian at Winthrop (Wash.) Public Library in March.

Scott, Wendy

June 1, 2020

Wendy Scott, associate director for organizational design and learning at North Carolina State University Libraries in Raleigh, retired in April.

Vincent, Sue

June 1, 2020

Sue Vincent retired as interlibrary loan librarian at Dover (N.H.) Public Library in March.

Bucknall, Tim

June 1, 2020

Tim Bucknall, assistant dean for electronic resources and information technology and associate professor for University Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, received the 2019 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Efficiency and Innovation, the highest honor a state employee can receive for service to North Carolina and its people.

Dixon, Don

June 1, 2020

Don Dixon joined ALA’s IT office in April as database administrator.

Eberhart, George

June 1, 2020

George Eberhart, American Libraries senior editor and an ALA employee since 1980, will retire June 8.

Cain, Beverly

June 1, 2020

Beverly Cain retired as executive director of the State Library of Ohio in Columbus March 31.

Albano, Anne

June 1, 2020

Anne Warren Albano, 95, former director of Lyndhurst (N.J.) Public Library, and later director of the children’s room at West Caldwell (N.J.) Public Library, died March 16. During her career, Albano also served as a librarian at Trinity Academy in Caldwell, Roseland Free Public Library, and Caldwell Public Library, all in New Jersey.

Brown, Charles

June 1, 2020

Charles Brown, 1990-1991 president of the Public Library Association, died February 15. During a nearly 5O-year career, he held directorships at New Orleans Public Library, Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Library, Hennepin County (Minn.) Library, Arlington (Va.) Public Library, and Solano County (Calif.) Library. Brown also served on the executive boards of the American Library Association (ALA) … Continue reading Brown, Charles →

Ekelund, June

June 1, 2020

June Ekelund, 72, librarian for many years at Brookside Elementary School in Ossining, New York, died March 21.

O’Brien, Bonnie

June 1, 2020

Bonnie L. O’Brien, 77, director of Shrewsbury (Mass.) Public Library from 1978 until her 2004 retirement, died March 13. She oversaw a renovation and addition to the library building and was one of 28 librarians who organized and developed CW MARS, a western Massachusetts library consortium for resource sharing. O’Brien was elected to the Massachusetts … Continue reading O’Brien, Bonnie →

Latest Library Links

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Mackenzie Aucker writes: “Shikellamy (Pa.) Area High School students in the construction trades program are giving a tour of the school’s library they’re renovating. The Shikellamy School Board supported and decided to have the construction trades students do the project—costing around $350,000 to renovate. The high school’s old library was outdated, and so was the technology. Once the library renovation project is complete, it’ll come with many rooms and different amenities. Students hope to have the renovation project completed by the end of September.”

WNEP-TV (Scranton, Pa.), May 16
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Michelle Gagnon writes: “Let’s face it—sometimes you want your crime fiction shaken, not stirred, with a twist of absurdity and a garnish of gallows humor. If you prefer your murder mysteries served with sass, sarcasm, and a healthy dose of chaos, the campy and comedic thriller is where it’s at. And personally, when I fall in love with characters, I want them to stick around for many, many books. These are stories where the danger is real—but so are the laughs.”

Crime Reads, May 15
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Kyle McClenagan writes: “Following the May 3 election results, Katy (Tex.) Independent School District (ISD) students and community members are asking school board members to repeal the Houston-area district’s controversial book and gender policies. The board appointed trustee Lance Redmon as its new president Monday after Katy ISD voters ousted former president Victor Perez, who had championed the policies and campaigned on conservative principles. In August 2024, the board approved a library policy that bans books ‘adopting, supporting, or promoting gender fluidity’ from elementary and junior high libraries in Katy ISD.”

Houston Public Media, May 14
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Seung Min Kim writes: “President Donald Trump’s abrupt firing of top officials at the Library of Congress has morphed into an enormous fight over the separation of powers. Republican leaders have delivered rare pushback against the president, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and other Republicans have been talking with the White House about a potential path to détente.” The Associated Press reported that it is unclear whether Trump’s nominee for acting librarian of Congress, Todd Blanche, is currently in that role or if Principal Deputy Librarian Robert Newlen is in charge. The Authors Guild has created a petition demanding the reinstatement of fired Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter, and library colleagues from around the world have expressed their support for American librarians in facing federal and other challenges.

Associated Press, May 16, May 15; Authors Guild, May 13; ALA International Relations Office, May 20
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Cali Lichter writes: “For five years, Lowell (Mich.) Area Schools (LAS) Library Media Director Christine Beachler says she has been the target of untruthful, personal social media attacks. After a video of Beachler during a library tour in February, posted by self-described parental rights advocate Stefanie Boone, went viral, she says it pushed it over the edge. On May 13, Beachler filed a civil lawsuit in 17th Circuit Court, asking for damages and for Boone to take down all her posts referencing Beachler.” A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $25,000 to support Beachler’s legal fees.

WZZM-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.), May 13, 14
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Ginny Monk writes: “Ebook contracts for libraries often come with terms that mean the library has to repurchase the book after it’s been borrowed 26 times or every couple of years, whichever comes first. Connecticut Senate Bill 1234 wouldn’t allow simultaneous restrictions on the loan period and the number of times people can borrow the book.” The Connecticut legislature gave final approval to the bill May 15, sending it to Gov. Ned Lamont for his signature. If he does sign it, the bill will only take effect if one or more other states with a total population of 7 million pass similar legislation. Connecticut library associations celebrated the bill’s passage.

Connecticut Mirror, May 15; Connecticut Library Consortium, May 15
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While ALA welcomed the preliminary injunction ordering the administration not to implement President Trump’s executive order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it raised alarm over the administration’s cancellation of the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act grant program as of May 9. The congressionally authorized program was designed to close the digital divide by establishing grants to support broadband access and digital skills training for underserved communities. ALA is collecting information regarding Digital Equity Act grant cancellations to identify the impact of this loss of funding for libraries, and urges library workers who have received grant termination notifications to report their program cancellation and share the impact this loss of funding will have on their library.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, May 15

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