Archives

Wilder, Jennifer Kelly

September 21, 2015

Jennifer Kelly Wilder has been named development and communications officer at George Mason University Libraries in Fairfax, Virginia.

Wieringa, Jeri

September 21, 2015

Jeri Wieringa is the new digital publishing production lead for the Mason Publishing Group at George Mason University Libraries in Fairfax, Virginia.

Griesinger, Peggy

September 21, 2015

Peggy Griesinger has been appointed metadata and cataloging librarian at George Mason University Libraries in Fairfax, Virginia.

Della Sala, Carolyn

September 21, 2015

Carolyn Della Sala recently became manager of Somerset County (N.J.) Library System’s North Plainfield branch.

Norman, Ola

September 21, 2015

June 20 Ola Norman retired after 20 years as librarian at Appalachian Regional Library’s Traphill (N.C.) branch.

Barbour, Brittany

September 21, 2015

Brittany Barbour became librarian at Appalachian Regional Library’s Traphill (N.C.) branch in June.

Roberson, Marla

September 21, 2015

June 8 Marla K. Roberson became director of academic resources at Greenville (S.C.) Technical College.

Baker, Raymond

September 21, 2015

June 17 Miami-Dade County Public Library System appointed Raymond Baker as assistant director of the Library Department.

Markus, Jamie

September 21, 2015

Jamie Markus became interim Wyoming State Librarian June 17.

Saltzburg, Richard

September 21, 2015

Richard Saltzburg recently joined the University of Florida George A. Smathers Libraries in Gainesville as Arabic, Slavic, and Germanic Studies Liaison Librarian.

O’Dell, Allison

September 21, 2015

The University of Florida’s George A. Smathers Libraries in Gainesville has appointed Allison O’Dell as metadata librarian.

Welch, Melanie

September 21, 2015

Melanie Napoleon Welch joined the Public Programs Office as project director June 15.

Latest Library Links

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Tova Gaster writes: “Library Futures’s new research report, ‘Keeping an Open Mind: Awareness, Use, and Perspectives of OER in Public Libraries,’ takes a first look at how public librarians are using and perceiving open educational resources (OER). Library Futures surveyed public librarians about their use and awareness of OER via the Public Library Association mailing list from January–March 2024 and received 107 usable responses. Our flagship survey revealed that public librarians are very interested in OER, but many lack the resources, education, or support to bring interest into action.”

Library Futures, Nov. 22
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Jack Wallen writes: “Bluesky is a breath of fresh air. You’re not force-fed ads, nor are there algorithmic suggestions to clutter up your feed. Even better, there’s so much positivity. That alone is worth the time to migrate. But how do you get started? It took you years to collect those followers on Twitter. Will it take years to do the same on Bluesky? No. Bluesky’s starter packs are customized collections of accounts pre-loaded with users interested in different subjects.” Librarian Paul Jewell has created an information literacy starter pack.

ZDNet, Nov. 26; Information Literacy Weblog, Dec. 2
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A newly published research study from the American Association of School Librarians’ peer-reviewed online journal, School Library Research, investigates self-censorship of controversial topics in collection development. In “To Add or Not to Add: An Examination of Self‐Censoring Behaviors among School Librarians,” information science professors Jennifer Moore and Alissa Tudor use survey data to examine which controversial or frequently challenged topics school librarians chose not to collect. The research found that there were high amounts of self-censorship around books that dealt with sexual content, abortion, and self-harm.

American Association of School Librarians, Dec. 3; School Library Research, Volume 27
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Frank Strong writes: “Day one of pre-filing of bills for the 2025 Texas legislative session treated us with several attempts to further restrict reading rights for Texans. The headliner of those bills is House Bill 183, which would enable the State Board of Education to review and remove books from all public schools in the state, essentially creating a statewide banned books list. But it won’t be the only one. Below are six more antibook bills you should watch out for—and publicize, and speak out against, and fight—in the new year.”

Anger & Clarity, Nov. 29
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“In today’s society, libraries stand out as among the last truly public institutions. Providing access to resources without financial, social, or physical barriers, public libraries make a unique contribution to promoting individual and collective flourishing throughout the communities they serve. The New York Public Library’s Strategy and Public Impact team and the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center in Philadelphia have released a new report as part of an ongoing collaboration to study and advocate for the role of public libraries in the communities they serve.”

New York Public Library, Nov.
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ALA’s Games & Gaming Round Table announced the winners of its 2024 Platinum Play Hall of Fame Awards on December 2, representing the best games for library collections or programming released in the last two to 10 years. The “Platys” Class of 2024 includes longstanding favorites such as Splendor and Azul, approachable program-friendly titles like Just One and Exploding Kittens, the tournament-friendly Super Smash Bros. Melee, geolocation game Pokémon Go, and ‘80s throwback RPG Kids on Bikes.

ALA Games and Gaming Round Table, Dec. 2
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Samantha Kretschmer writes: “A staff survey conducted by administration at my library two years ago pointed to a general feeling of discontent amongst staff. The administration formed a Staff Advisory committee, which I was tasked with chairing. The point of this committee was to promote understanding and cooperation between the various branches and departments of the library; to promote productive cooperation between staff, management, and administration; to provide a place for a constructive exchange of ideas; to serve as a channel for staff questions, comments, and concerns; and to help create a community amongst staff.”

ALSC Blog, Nov. 28

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