Archives

Needham, George

November 16, 2022

George Needham retired as director of Delaware County (Ohio) District Library September 30.

Nutty, David

November 16, 2022

August 2 David J. Nutty retired as university librarian and director of libraries and learning at University of Southern Maine in Portland after 19 years in the position.

Thackoorie, Meg

November 16, 2022

In March Meg Thackoorie retired as youth services librarian at Moorpark (Calif.) City Library.

Waite, Inga

November 16, 2022

Inga Waite retired as director of Monterey (Calif.) Public Library July 31.

Coleman, Marleen

November 16, 2022

Marleen Coleman joined the Public Policy and Advocacy Office as project coordinator July 11.

Drago, Lian

November 16, 2022

Lian Drago, meetings manager for the Public Library Association, left ALA August 12.

Janicki, Megan

November 16, 2022

June 27 Megan Janicki was promoted to deputy director of strategic initiatives in the Public Policy and Advocacy Office.

Schnake, Abeje

November 16, 2022

Abeje Schnake became editorial assistant for Booklist July 18.

Zabaneh, Lina

November 16, 2022

August 11 Lina Zabaneh, conference coordinator for Conference Services, left ALA.

Armstrong, Kacie

November 16, 2022

In August, Ohio Library Council named Kacie Armstrong, director of Euclid (Ohio) Public Library, its 2022 Librarian of the Year. Armstrong—who is being recognized for her efforts to curb learning loss during the pandemic, provide more afterschool activities, and recruit minority librarians, among other achievements—is the first Black woman to receive this honor.

Benson, James

November 16, 2022

James A. Benson, 78, whose library career at St. John’s University in Queens, New York, spanned five decades, died June 27. He held the roles of dean of libraries, chief information officer, dean of information resources, vice provost of academic affairs, and professor of university libraries before retiring from St. John’s as dean emeritus in 2010. … Continue reading Benson, James →

Dillingham, Missy

November 16, 2022

Missy Dillingham, 64, children’s services manager at John P. Holt Brentwood (Tenn.) Library for nearly 38 years, died August 1. She was an active member of the Tennessee Library Association (TLA), serving as head of the Children’s and Young Adult Services Round Table and cochairing the Conference Planning Committee. She received TLA’s 2011 Daniel A. … Continue reading Dillingham, Missy →

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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