March/April 2012

Features & Trends

8 Tips to Highlight History Using Facebook

By Sanhita SinhaRoy

At the University of Nevada, Reno, Donnelyn Curtis, head of special collections, turned to Facebook to connect the university’s archives with students who care about history and the school’s tradition. She began by creating Facebook pages for Joe McDonald and Leola Lewis—two students who attended the university in the 1910s, married a few years later, … Continue reading 8 Tips to Highlight History Using Facebook →

QR Codes Extend Library Programming

By Tim Blevins

You receive a postcard in the mail from Colorado Springs. It says, “Wish you were here.” You look at it more carefully and notice the photograph is of a dead man. No, wait! A dead man—and a dead woman. The caption reads, “Frozen to death on Pikes Peak, August 21, 1911.” Really? Two people freezing … Continue reading QR Codes Extend Library Programming →

Directions to Library Wayfinding

By Donald A. Barclay and Eric D. Scott

Signage is one of the most important tools for wayfinding. If there is one truism about library signage, it is that most of it is not very good. Understanding the mistakes that lead to bad signage is the first step on the road to creating good ones. Libraries need to recognize that signage is a … Continue reading Directions to Library Wayfinding →

Columnists

Latest Library Links

13h

Kelly Jensen writes: “One of the trends we’ll see in book censorship over 2025 is the increased use of unprofessional, politically driven book review websites like BookLooks to make decisions in professional library and educational settings. BookLooks is the most well-known website for unprofessional, biased book reviews. That’s because it is a tool created by a former Moms for Liberty member and continues to be the tool they put their weight, energy, and time behind. But if your knowledge ends there, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Book Riot, Jan. 10
17h

Peter Hepburn writes: “When I look back at previous columns and reflect on my term as treasurer, which ends June 30, I realize just how much has happened—and been accomplished—over the past three years. For one, I’m proud of finishing the work started under my predecessor, Maggie Farrell, on the financial piece of the ALA Operating Agreement, which governs the relationship between ALA and its membership divisions. I’m also pleased with the progress made in improving communication within the Association on finances. I am not, however, greatly encouraged by the current financial health of the Association.”

American Libraries column, Jan./Feb.
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Alison Marcotte writes: “Welcome to the Valley of the Sun, the Big Saguaro, the Silicon Desert. Phoenix is known for its picturesque landscapes, hearty succulents, and scorching heat, but come January 24–27 the city will usher in a different kind of vibrancy and warmth: the community, creativity, and connections of ALA’s LibLearnX conference. LibLearnX 2025 will bring together authors, thought leaders, and subject matter experts at the Phoenix Convention Center for educational programs, awards, celebrations, and networking opportunities. This year’s programmatic theme is ‘Reimagine, Refocus, Reset: Charting a Path for the Future.’”

American Libraries feature, Jan./Feb.
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Clare Starkey, Haley Lykins, and Kelli Hansen write: “In the spring of 2024, Special Collections at the University of Missouri [in Columbia] hosted a series of field trips for every sixth grader in the local public school district, more than 1,300 students. This workshop gave students a chance to experience ancient writing technologies from across Africa and Asia while interacting with primary sources, to complement the school curriculum on ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. This post will cover the advantages and pitfalls of hands-on teaching on a large scale, and strategies to make the most of a shoestring budget and a small staff.”

TPS Collective, Jan. 2
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Bianca Schweighofer and Julia Bartlewski write: “The transition to open access has increased the visibility of scholarly work, but understanding and managing publication costs remains complex. Shifting from subscription-based to fee-based or institution-financed models fundamentally changes processes, financial flows, and the roles of stakeholders. Additionally, the lack of cost transparency from publishers poses significant challenges for institutions and researchers, who often face hidden or unclear fees, making budgeting and financial planning more complicated. Our project, openCost, addresses this issue head-on.”

Katina, Dec. 18
4d

Elizabeth Kaye Cook and Melanie Jennings write: “Literary fiction is dead. Or, so we’ve been told. It’s convenient to assume that readers are to blame for killing literary fiction. But what has actually occurred is death by committee. Mirroring many other American industries, publishing has followed the path of consolidation, starting when Random House bought Knopf in 1960. The result is a monopsony, a market dominated by only a few buyers. Publishing houses used to have blood feuds, much to the benefit of literature writ large. But monopolies are always sedate, always predictable.”

Persuasion, Dec. 19
5d

Becky Spratford writes: “I have a goal I think all of us need to consider adding to our 2025 to-do lists. We are terrible at communicating what we do and why we are important. People outside the library world do not understand how important our work is. I want you to start speaking out about how great we are before people try to attack you. I want you to do it in 2025 but then keep doing it, on a regular basis going forward.”

RA for All, Dec. 23

View more Latest Library Links

March/April 2012

Features & Trends

8 Tips to Highlight History Using Facebook

QR Codes Extend Library Programming

Directions to Library Wayfinding

Library Design Showcase 2012

The Once and Future Library

Library History and Women’s History: An Ongoing Convergence

Women in the White City

Newsmaker: Jamal Joseph

Columnists

Hot Issues Drive ALA Presidential Priorities

Click Here to Engage

The Librarian’s History of the Library

Of Design, Danes, and Daffodils

The Conversation Continues @ your library

Key Strategies Discussed

It’s Always Time for CE-TV

A Hazy Shade of (Mid)winter

The Coolness Factor

Science for the Nonscientist

Create a Library “Tech Shop”

Returning the Love