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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. -
Author Kate Reed Petty writes: “Most events are still following the old-fashioned format of the in-person bookstore event, where two authors have a conversation, maybe with a short reading, maybe with an audience Q&A. Rather than developing new ideas for book events to suit the technology we’re using, the literary community is by and large continuing to do what we’ve always done. It’s time to start experimenting—and to try radically reinventing what a ‘book event’ can be, in this radically different year.” -
Composers from 86 countries have submitted more than 7,800 musical compositions as part of a collaborative project by the UCLA Music Library and the Los Angeles–based Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra to highlight the work of living composers and bring it to a wider audience by making it available online. The project, which the organizers say is the largest call for scores in the world, also represents the largest open-access publishing effort for contemporary music compositions, with more than 6,000 of the submissions being published on eScholarship, an open access repository where UC scholars share their work. -
Mary Elizabeth Allen writes: “Zines are having a moment. With so many folks staying home and looking for new ways to keep themselves occupied, it’s no wonder that #quaranzine has been trending on social media. As many new zine makers pick up their Sharpies, it’s crucial for all of us to embrace the diverse voices who engage in this unique, self-made medium. In the spirit of this, I am presenting you with three different sources to support zines made by BIPOC artists.” -
On July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is recognized in October. To mark these anniversaries, the Law Library of Congress talks to its staff members who work to improve accessibility about some of the projects and initiatives they are currently undertaking. -
Carrie McBride writes: “It seems so long ago that our minds had room to contemplate “prestige television,” but the Emmy Award nominations announced July 28 were a reminder of the dark dramas and clever comedies that formerly occupied our evenings, many of which we hope to see again in future seasons. Not surprisingly, books served as the inspiration for many of the honored programs, and we’d like to suggest that, if you haven’t already, you check out the source material these shows drew from.” -
Teen Services Librarian Andrea Sowers writes: “I know this summer/year has been a struggle for most of us. It’s been a scramble to find what the patrons do and don’t want. I knew virtual/zoom programming would be a bust for our community, but thought craft pickup packs would be popular. Little did I know how popular they were. Every week I ran out of all our kits, which ranged from 72–100 depending on the craft.” -
Benj Edwards writes: “If you used a computer between 1997 and 2005, you probably burned valuable data to at least one recordable CD (CD-R) or DVD-R. Unfortunately, these have a limited lifespan, and many have already become unreadable. That’s why it’s important to back up your recordable discs before it’s too late—here’s how to do it.” -
Douglas County (Nev.) Sheriff Daniel Coverley suggested on July 27 that his agency would not respond to calls at Douglas County Public Library after the library expressed its support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Coverley wrote in a letter to the library’s board of trustees that in support of the movement and “the obvious lack of support or trust with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, please do not feel the need to call 911 for help.” Less than 24 hours later, he walked back the comments. -
Lindsey Simon writes: “With false information proliferating online, it’s essential to separate fact from fiction, and libraries play a key role in teaching their communities how to evaluate news items with a critical eye. Vincci Lui, a librarian at the University of Toronto’s Gerstein Science Information Center, has created a comprehensive online guide with advice for spotting inaccurate information about the pandemic. Tips include consulting fact-checking organizations, visiting reputable health-focused websites, and looking closely at news sources for potential bias or hoaxes.” -
Mikkaka Overstreet writes: “The #OwnVoices movement has challenged the publishing industry to increase the number of books written about and by authors from underrepresented populations. With that in mind, I’ve compiled this list of audiobooks read by Black authors. After all, how much more #OwnVoices can you get than listening to audiobooks written and read by Black authors?” -
ALA has selected Amanda Rose Toledo of Pasadena, California, as the 2020 Christopher Hoy/ERT Scholarship recipient. The scholarship was named for a longtime ALA staff member who directed the ALA Conference Services Office for more than 20 years. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a person pursuing a master’s degree in library and information studies. Toledo works as a library associate for the Altadena Library District. She commented that “some of the most gratifying work that she has done thus far includes establishing storytime for children on the autism spectrum, being awarded and managing grant-funded programming for tweens and families, and creating a deposit library at a locally owned laundromat, which provides greater access to underserved parts of the community.”
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