Latest Library Links
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Amy Holland writes: “The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—while a good framework—must be bolstered by our libraries. In 2020, staff members at Irondequoit Public Library (IPL) in Rochester, New York, began rethinking our approach to accessibility and inclusion. With reduced hours and services during the COVID- 19 pandemic, we had an opportunity to reenvision how we wanted to welcome patrons back. ADA guidelines provide for a minimum standard of service, but we knew we could do better for the thousands of people who live with a disability in our community.”
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On April 8, ALA released of its highly anticipated list of the Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 and the State of America’s Libraries 2024 report. The report highlights the ways libraries and library workers have addressed community needs with innovative and critical services, as well as the challenges brought on by censorship attempts. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe was the most challenged book for the third consecutive year. The number of unique titles targeted for censorship surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by ALA.
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ALA released What Your Library Needs to Know: Seeking State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Funding, the second in a series of resources to help libraries apply for more than $1 billion in federal funding through the Digital Equity Act. The guide’s release coincides with the recent Notice of Funding Opportunity for the grants, though individual states will have different timelines, funding amounts, and application procedures. More information is available on ALA’s digital equity resources page, and in upcoming webinars on April 15 and April 17.
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Sarah Marsh writes: “Growing up with a pair of hearing aids, it never occurred to me that deafness was an experience. Mostly it was a problem that I was taught to hide. When I started meeting other deaf people my own age, and learning British Sign Language, I began to see deafness from a new perspective. Books, when I found ones by deaf authors or with deaf characters, became an important resource and source of joy. These nine books showed me just how varied the Deaf experience can be.”
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Victoria Song writes: “When Gmail launched with a goofy press release 20 years ago, many assumed it was a hoax. But soon, invites to Gmail’s very real beta started going out—and they became a must-have for a certain kind of in-the-know tech fan. It now has an estimated 1.2 billion users, and it’s a practical necessity to do anything online. But I don’t know anyone who’s champing at the bit to open up Gmail. In another 20 years, will Gmail still be central to our lives?”
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Cynthia Hudson Vitale writes: “The onset of new, more accessible, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies marks a significant turning point for libraries, ushering in a period rich with both unparalleled opportunities and complex challenges. In this era of swift technological transformation, libraries stand at a critical intersection. The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has released the results of two polls of ARL members conducted nine months apart, analyzing and juxtaposing the outcomes of these two surveys to better understand how library leaders are managing the complexities of integrating AI into their operations and services.”
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Kelly Jensen writes: “Book banning is not limited to school libraries. But censorship in public libraries does and will continue to look different than in school libraries. The destruction of public institutions remains at the core of the agenda, but things look different because they are different institutions than public schools. Here are several ways we’re seeing public libraries being targeted.” Ithaka S+R released a report on censorship in public university libraries, finding that while academic library collections are generally not being directly censored, state and university policies and politics are having an influence on decisions around collection building.
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Juma Sei writes: “Sine Die is the final day of Georgia’s 40-day legislative session. Typically, controversial legislation that turns heads and makes headlines comes up in the hours when the sun has set and the session’s midnight deadline looms closer and closer. Senate Bill 390 was an exception to that rule: Republican leadership tabled the legislation in the morning [of March 28, the final day of the session]. The bill would have outlawed the American Library Association from Georgia’s public and school libraries, making it illegal for them to accept ALA funding. In the end, Republican leadership could not get behind the bill.”
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Clara Turp and Jessica Lange write: “Maintenance is typically the largest component of a system’s life cycle, but many factors discourage proactive maintenance in libraries and beyond. These include the drives to ‘innovate,’ launch new products, and demonstrate relevance through the application and response to tech trends. Amid major infrastructure projects and responding to immediate systems needs, maintenance can become a challenge. How can we manage systems with care? Is there a way to balance maintenance and innovation? What are the ways to integrate maintenance into our work, helping to improve and keep systems relevant?”
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Anne Price writes: “Since 2022, North Platte (Nebr.) Public Library has partnered with the local office of the National Weather Service for career presentations about weather and meteorology and STEM events. When a meteorologist reached out regarding the library joining the Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) Ambassadors Program, it seemed a natural fit. WRN Ambassadors help disseminate information about steps individuals and organizations can take to be prepared for extreme weather events. It’s been a great way for our library to share possibly life-saving information with our patrons from a credible source organization.”
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ALA will celebrate National Library Week from April 7–13. This year’s theme is “Ready, Set, Library!” ALA will release its list of the Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2023 and its annual State of America’s Libraries report on Monday, April 8. Other noteworthy events during National Library Week include Right to Read Day, National Library Workers Day, National Library Outreach Day, and Take Action for Libraries Day. Additionally, the American Association of School Librarians is celebrating School Library Month throughout April.
ALA Communications, Marketing, and Media Relations Office, Apr. 2
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American Libraries is accepting submissions for the 2024 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating new and newly renovated libraries of all types, through May 1. The showcase will appear in the September/October issue. We are looking for examples of innovative library architecture that address patrons’ needs in unique, interesting, and effective ways. We are also interested in submissions from libraries that are approaching design with sustainability, accessibility, and smaller budgets in mind. For consideration, send a completed submission form and at least five high-resolution digital images with photographer credits to americanlibraries@ala.org via Dropbox or another file-sharing service.
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