From Brutal to beautiful Toronto Public Library, York Woods branch The York Woods renovation and addition retains the original 1970 brutalist library and connected theater while enhancing them with a new 2,000-square-foot glass entrance pavilion, topped with a timber roof to create a welcoming entryway. The interior retains the original structure but now incorporates exposed … Continue reading 2024 Library Design Showcase
OIF, which began collecting data about censorship attempts in US libraries in 1990—and started observing Banned Books Week in 1982—was formed in 1967 to provide tangible support to library workers as they sought to uphold the intellectual freedom tenets of the Library Bill of Rights and ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement. As high-profile battles with … Continue reading Censorship Throughout the Centuries
Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession Jennie Pu Pu, director of Hoboken (N.J.) Public Library (HPL), has transformed the library into a community hub with robust programming, pop-up libraries in schools, and partnerships with more than 50 local organizations. As part of a multimillion-dollar historic restoration of the main … Continue reading 2024 ALA Award Winners
“As soon as they get their card, they immediately place a hold on a ghost-hunting kit,” Knisley says. Like many libraries, CCPL has begun loaning out collections of specialized electronic items said to help seekers of the supernatural track down spirits. These kits usually consist of a backpack or carrying case filled with items such … Continue reading Spirit in the Stacks
“College students, being digital natives, are more inclined to engage with technology-driven learning tools,” says Yingqi Tang, distance education and electronic resources manager at Jacksonville (Ala.) State University’s (JSU) Houston Cole Library. That’s a major reason many institutions are using augmented reality (AR) to connect with students. Unlike virtual reality, which immerses the user in … Continue reading Optimizing Reality
For nearly a decade, Northwestern University (NU) in Evanston, Illinois, and the Chicago office of the national nonprofit World Relief have worked together to offer free summer programming for families who are refugees or seeking asylum. In 2021, after the US military withdrew its final troops from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of Afghan families fled … Continue reading Makerspace and Sense of Place
As US poet laureate, Limón has created You Are Here, an anthology (Milkweed Editions, April) and installation project in partnership with the National Park Service that explores the connection between poetry and nature. Limón, a MacArthur fellow and one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year for 2024, spoke with American Libraries about her signature … Continue reading Newsmaker: Ada Limón
Hewitt C. Wells, the library’s architect, wanted to build it in a park. When that plan fell through, he decided to build “a park in the library,” Ryan says. Completed in 1966, it won the 1968 Industrial Landscape Award (presented by Lady Bird Johnson) and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in … Continue reading Bookend: Lushness in the Library
September is an exciting time to welcome people into the library as we celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month and observe Banned Books Week, this year scheduled September 22–28. Since 1982, Banned Books Week has been a critical national program aimed at helping everyone see that all stories belong in libraries. October brings TeenTober literacy and … Continue reading We All Belong
For library workers who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, creating successful mentorship relationships is more than a boon: It’s a necessity. This is especially true in a career where it’s difficult for women of color to see themselves among peers or draw inspiration and encouragement from leaders who share their identity, culture, and … Continue reading Busy Intersections
A mantra I like to keep in mind: “Prep work creates a solid foundation.” Predesign may be the most difficult stage for staff because the project is still abstract, but the project will progress more smoothly if you can articulate your wants and needs. Predesign is split into four areas: needs assessment, program development, budget … Continue reading Gearing Up for a Great Build
