Archives

Shaw, Jon

November 16, 2022

July 1 Jon Shaw became university librarian for the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Snider, Allen

November 16, 2022

Rainier (Ore.) City Library named R. Allen Snider city librarian in July.

Sylvestre, Jay

November 16, 2022

Georgetown University Library in Washington, D.C., appointed Jason “Jay” Sylvestre rare books curator effective August 1.

Vano, Leslie

November 16, 2022

In July Leslie Vano became director of Kewanee (Ill.) Public Library.

Zohar, Ryan

November 16, 2022

August 1 Ryan Zohar joined Georgetown University Library in Washington, D.C., as Middle Eastern studies liaison and reference librarian.

Askew, Consuella

November 16, 2022

Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, named Consuella Askew vice president for university libraries and university librarian effective July 18.

Rice, Melissa

November 16, 2022

Melissa Rice was promoted to children’s librarian at Cranberry (Pa.) Public Library August 1.

Rios, Elena

November 16, 2022

July 27 Cranston (R.I.) Public Library appointed Elena Rios youth services librarian at its Central Library.

Vivier, Brian

November 16, 2022

University of Pennsylvania Libraries in Philadelphia named Brian Vivier director of the Center for Global Collections effective July 21.

Bradbeer, Gayle

November 16, 2022

July 1 Gayle Bradbeer retired as researcher support librarian at University of Colorado Denver’s Auraria Library.

Comer, Alberta

November 16, 2022

Alberta Comer will retire as dean of J. Willard Marriott Library at University of Utah in Salt Lake City December 31.

Mann, Barb

November 16, 2022

In June Barb Mann retired as dean of library services at Daniel J. Kaufman Library and Learning Center at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville.

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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