Michigan schools without librarians risk state aid

Brian Reattoir, Brimley Area Schools superintendent

School districts in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are reeling after the state sent them a memo that means some schools have to close their libraries. The Department of Education memo sent to school districts on February 8, says school libraries operating without fully certified librarians could lose out on school aid. The school in unincorporated Brimley, Michigan, said the memo came as a complete surprise and it might be a while before they can figure out what to do next.

WWTV, Cadillac, Michigan, Feb. 12

Latest Library Links

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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions will host a new iteration of its four-week facilitated eCourse, “Getting Started with Library Service Design” with Joe J. Marquez and Annie Downey as instructors, starting on January 7. The course will also rely on a workbook created by the instructors that highlights the phases and tools of service design, as well as the list of library service design heuristics. By the end of the course, you’ll create a draft service design plan for a service or touchpoint in your own library. Registration is through the ALA Store.

eLearning Solutions, Nov. 14
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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions will host a new iteration of its four-week facilitated eCourse, “How to Market Your Library” with Dana Braccia as the instructor, starting on January 7. Braccia will show you all the necessary skills to market your library—from social media and PR campaigns to designing new library programs and enhancing the experience of your library’s users. Registration is through the ALA Store.

eLearning Solutions, Nov. 14
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If David Rush keeps it up, the Oak Brook (Ill.) Public Library might eventually find its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for the library hosting the greatest number of world records set. Rush, an Idaho resident, set a record in 2017 at the library, while in town for business, when he balanced a pool cue on his forehead for 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 14 seconds. He returned November 13 for another world record attempt: the most sweet corn kernels eaten in 3 minutes with a toothpick. It took him three attempts, but the 241 corn kernels he ate on his third attempt bested the previous record of 236.

Oak Brook (Ill.) The Doings, Nov. 14
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Oleg Kagan writes: “No one would argue that among two of America’s most beloved institutions are the late Fred Rogers and libraries. The reasons the two are such icons in American culture are not at all different. Kindness, curiosity, acceptance, learning, and understanding are all elements found both in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and the best libraries. Not to mention that both places have someone who gives young people the attention and respect they so deserve. Indeed, in episode 1637, Mr. Rogers goes to the library and requests videotapes about how people make sweaters and sneakers.”

Medium, June 30
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Fewer topics urgently demand expansive discourse more than digital preservation, which touches on everything from technology to copyright. ALCTS steps up to the challenge with Digital Preservation in Libraries: Preparing for a Sustainable Future, a comprehensive overview published by ALA Editions. Edited by Jeremy Myntti and Jessalyn Zoom, it is global in scope, featuring case studies and contributions that discuss such key issues as strategies for getting started, fine-tuning digital preservation workflows, and preserving ebooks.

ALA Editions, Nov. 14
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Alison S. Ricker writes: “‘On our campus there lives a microbe that can poop gold,’ says Danica Lewis, collections and research librarian for life sciences at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. ‘We just don’t know where it is.’ That’s how, last spring, Lewis enticed NCSU students into joining a Wolfpack Citizen Science Challenge, the university’s periodic call for student engagement in ongoing research, which saw them looking for samples of Delftia acidovorans, a bacterium known for its curious ability to produce tiny pellets of 24-karat gold after feeding on a solution of gold chloride.”

American Libraries Trend, Nov./Dec.
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David Lee King writes: “Are you ready to create fresh and engaging promotional content about your library that doesn’t involve typing on a laptop or printing out posters? If so, consider making videos. According to Cisco, video comprised 73% of global IP traffic in 2016, and by 2021 it is expected to increase to 82%. Your patrons are already consuming videos, so it makes sense for your library to create video content for them. Making videos can be an effective way to share what your library does, and thankfully, it’s easy. Here are seven simple steps to help you get started.”

American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.

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