Latest Library Links
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On July 30, American Library Association President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. paid a virtual visit to John Brown Watson Memorial Library at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff to discuss how libraries at Historically Black Colleges and Universities shape leaders within their communities. Watson Memorial Library is the fifth stop on Jefferson’s 12-stop virtual tour, Holding Space, to spotlight how libraries of all kinds across the country are addressing the needs of their diverse communities and engaging stakeholders to advocate for libraries.
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Despite retail sales declining generally, publishing is growing in terms of unit sales when compared to 2019—print sales are up 3.6% and ebook sales are up 4%. Factors include a strong online market (driven by Amazon); sales driven by current events and politics; the high adoption rate of ebooks and audiobooks during the pandemic; and the migration of print sales from bookstores to big-box retailers.
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Brewster Kahle writes: “There is a recent written attack on libraries that I find odd and somewhat dangerous—libraries overlap too much with new-book bookstores. At first I thought it was trolling, but I now believe it is sincere. More worrisome is that antilibrary lobbying is generally growing in strength, but their attacks on the concept of libraries have been more implied and disguised, until recently. Maybe it is time to think a bit about what a library is and what they are for.”
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The Black Caucus of the American Library Association has received an Institute of Museum and Library Services Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Award for $100,000 to support its “Breaking Barriers: The Future of Black Librarianship” national forum, a one-day preconference event to strengthen support for Black/African American MLIS students. BCALA also received an IMLS National Leadership Grants for Libraries Program Award of $99,934 to explore and catalog current Black History Month programming.
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The New York Times profiles several national and global book clubs organized by Black women and promoting the work of Black authors, including Chicago rapper Noname’s Book Club, Smart Brown Girl, London-based OKHA, and Well-Read Black Girl.
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“United for Libraries Virtual: Trustees – Friends – Foundations,” to be held August 4–6, will feature keynote sessions on equity, diversity, and inclusion; how groups can plan for an uncertain future, and the changing role of the library in the community. Speakers include Jim Taylor, vice president of leadership initiatives and education of BoardSource; Jan Masaoka, CEO of California Association of Nonprofits; and Beth Burns, president, and Ted Davis, advocacy chair/trustee of the Friends of the Saint Paul (Minn.) Public Library. For more information, visit www.ala.org/united/virtual.
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ALA has selected Evan Delano of Northampton, Massachusetts, as the 2020 David H. Clift Scholarship recipient. The $3,000 scholarship, named for a former ALA director, is awarded to a person pursuing a master’s degree in library and information studies. Delano decided to pursue a career in librarianship following community unrest caused by police shootings. He commented that he was “inspired when he learned that the Ferguson (Mo.) Public Library offered special programming and tutoring to children and gave the community a safe place to process its grief and outrage.”
ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, July 28
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Laura Lipke writes: “The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our service to communities in ways librarians could never have foreseen. Even with historic knowledge of the 1918 Pandemic, no amount of disaster planning could have prepared the profession for the implications we are facing in this current crisis. However, there are many insights we may now learn from these circumstances. One of these lessons is in the methods and sources we utilize to design and communicate with our patrons from traditionally underserved communities.”
ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services Intersections Blog, July 30
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Collection Development Librarian Abby Johnson writes: “If ever there’s a time to add to and update your books on homeschooling, now is the time. With so many school districts uncertain about in-person school, virtual learning, and more, you’ll likely have more families choosing homeschooling than ever before. So, what books do you need to have on your shelf?”
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Lorain (Ohio) Public Library and Lorain County Metro Parks are introducing a new feature at Lakeview Park: a “Little Library” built in a converted shipping container. The Little Library features a decorated interior and space for people to check out items, including yoga mats, a rubber horseshoe set, spikeball, soccer balls, badminton sets, and other equipment.
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Beloit (Wisc.) Public Library and Downtown Beloit Association teamed up to provide a summer reading activity that families can do while being safely distanced from others. The Downtown Beloit Story Stroll is an interactive experience that encourages families to read a story together while walking through downtown. The book—Hannah’s Tall Order: An A to Z Sandwich—is broken down page-by-page and displayed in the windows of 15 downtown businesses.
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