Archives

Kimball, Lesley

November 16, 2022

Lesley Kimball became assistant director of outreach at Chelmsford (Mass.) Public Library July 12.

Laurita, Paula

November 16, 2022

August 29 Paula Laurita became command librarian for the Army Materiel Command Headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama.

Magnuson, Jake

November 16, 2022

Jake Magnuson became director of Jacksonville (Ill.) Public Library August 15.

McLellan, Amanda

November 16, 2022

Amanda McLellan became director of Wittenberg University’s Thomas Library in Springfield, Ohio, August 1.

Marquez, Alejandro

November 16, 2022

In January Alejandro Marquez joined University of Colorado Denver’s Auraria Library as researcher support librarian.

Newman, Alexa

November 16, 2022

Mondovi (Wis.) Public Library named Alexa Newman as director effective May 16.

Pettit, Julia

November 16, 2022

In June Julia Pettit became youth services librarian at Gulfport (Fla.) Public Library.

Prestigiacomo, Mariana

November 16, 2022

Mariana Prestigiacomo joined Auraria Library at University of Colorado Denver as researcher support librarian in January.

Quigley, Sarah

November 16, 2022

July 1 Sarah Quigley started as director of special collections and archives at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Revilla, Dana

November 16, 2022

July 26 Dana Revilla joined Arlington Heights (Ill.) Memorial Library as deputy director.

Ritter, James

November 16, 2022

July 25 James Ritter became Tennessee’s state librarian and archivist.

Schroeder, Kaiya

November 16, 2022

Auraria Library at University of Colorado Denver appointed Kaiya Schroeder online teaching and learning librarian in March.

Latest Library Links

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Maddie Hanna writes: “The Radnor school board voted April 22 to restore three books that were removed in February from Radnor (Pa.) High School’s library, after impassioned pleas from community members to reject censorship and support LGBTQ students. The board voted 6–0, with three members abstaining, to return Gender Queer, Fun Home, and Blankets to the high school library. The vote reversed decisions by an ad hoc committee appointed by the district’s superintendent that determined the books—all graphic novels, with some sexual depictions—were not age appropriate.”

Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr. 23; Patch.com, Mar. 7
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Jack Dura writes: “North Dakota’s Republican governor Kelly Armstrong on April 23 vetoed bills to further restrict sexual content in libraries and to create a private school voucher program, rejecting two measures that have seen widespread support by GOP governors in other states. The library bill would have expanded North Dakota’s 2023 prohibition on ‘explicit sexual material’ in public libraries to school districts, and require those entities to have policies for relocating such material ‘to an area in the library not easily accessible to minors.’” The Senate’s attempt to override the veto failed on April 25.

Associated Press, Apr. 23; KFYR-TV (Bismarck, N.D.), Apr. 26
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Since early April, numerous libraries and library organizations have received notices that their federal grant awards—such as those from the Institute of Museum and Library Services—have been terminated. ALA is responding to these politically motivated attacks on library funding with public advocacy and litigation. In addition, ALA has encouraged grantees who receive a termination notice to consider several suggestions.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Apr. 22
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Anne Ford writes: “Adele Puccio, director of Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, comes by her wedding dress obsession honestly. ‘When I was a kid, my great-aunt was the buyer at [famous New York bridal boutique] Kleinfeld’s, so I used to go over and look at all the dresses,” she says. “Other people were buying Seventeen; I was buying Brides.’ Decades later, Puccio’s passion now manifests itself in a rotating collection of vintage and modern bridal gowns, which she stores in her library office and loans to any bride who asks.”

American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
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Martha Meyer writes: “About three in five young adults worldwide report they are “worried” about climate change, but 55% of teachers don’t address the topic because they feel unprepared to do so. And when it comes to books that present climate information to preschool- and elementary-age kids, many titles end up exacerbating readers’ fears or engaging in greenwashing. Our mid-size Midwestern public library thought: Why not develop an award to honor excellent titles that buck this trend?”

American Libraries column, Mar./Apr.
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“Greening your library with limited resources and lukewarm buy-in might seem overwhelming. But sustainability is also about committing to small changes. Here’s a list of low-lift ideas that libraries of any type or size can start incorporating.” Libraries can develop zero-waste programming, start seed libraries, forge partnerships to reuse waste, host repair cafes, and much more.

American Libraries feature, Mar./Apr.
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Minyoung Kim writes: “In the summer of 2024, I spent eight weeks at the American Antiquarian Society (AAS) for my first paper conservation internship. Under the guidance of Chief Conservator Babette Gehnrich—who has dedicated over 35 years to stewarding this remarkable collection—I had the privilege of engaging in various conservation projects. Through this internship, I came to appreciate how AAS’s vast collection, comprising over four million items, embodies American history not only through its texts and imagery but also through traces of use, repair, and past conservation efforts.”

Past is Present, Apr. 22

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