Why did you decide to write a memoir about your childhood experiences in Sierra Leone? ISHMAEL BEAH: It came out of several frustrations about the lack of knowledge about the use of children in war and also the way my country was only presented as a place of violence. I wanted to put a human … Continue reading Newsmaker: Ishmael Beah
As president of ALA, I advocate for all types of libraries, librarians, and library workers. We are, after all, a community. Together, we can fulfill the promise that all libraries change lives. Yet the promise of libraries is in peril because school libraries are in crisis; a threat to one type of library is a … Continue reading Advocating for School Librarians
Flying to Philly is the only thing I don’t look forward to when it comes to Midwinter. Flying is not pleasant business. The indignity of airport screening, waiting to board an overcrowded plane, jamming my carryon into the overstuffed bins. The sole redeeming feature of air travel is my 15 minutes of quiet reading because … Continue reading Fear of Flying
Over the next several years, ALA will be leading a major initiative to help libraries of all types utilize proven community engagement tools and techniques to better understand their communities and to encourage community-based innovations in library service. This effort, which is part of the Association’s strategic goal of assisting in the ongoing transformation of libraries, … Continue reading The “Kitchen Table” Conversations and ALA
Attached is the first price comparison for ebooks (PDF file) of the new year. A few things stand out: This was a very good fall for Random House, followed by Penguin. They dominate the New York Times bestseller list. Most of the titles are now available, thanks to the pressure applied by ALA presidents. The terms … Continue reading DCL Ebook Report for January 2014
Beth Bacon, vice president of content management at Seattle publishing platform Booktrope, posted a piece December 30, 2013, on the idea of libraries as ebookstores. On the surface, there is much to commend it. Many bookstores have closed, and the more than 15,000 public libraries in the United States—more, ALA tells us (PDF file), than … Continue reading A New Year’s Vision of Libraries as Bookstores
New Year’s week was a good time for me to catch up on work (or at least attempt to become less behind!). Accordingly, there are a few recent developments and upcoming events involving the Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (DCWG) that I’d like to highlight here. Several weeks ago, I ventured forth to New … Continue reading Catching Up Over the Holidays
Why do you think story is the tool with which to combat the “real-life horcruxes” of inequality, illiteracy, and human rights violations? A good story opens us up, makes us vulnerable. And in that moment of vulnerability, we can be preyed on or prayed for. We’ve seen stories put to a lot of bad use. … Continue reading How Harry Potter Changed
This Man’s Life
Kate DiCamillo will be inaugurated the 2014–2015 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in a ceremony at the Library of Congress on January 10. Winner of the Newbery Medal in 2004 for The Tale of Despereaux and numerous other literary honors, DiCamillo has chosen “Stories Connect Us” as her ambassadorial theme. “I’m feeling overwhelmed by … Continue reading Kate DiCamillo Named 2014 – 2015 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature
Ten exemplary librarians are the 2013 winners of the prestigious Carnegie Corporation/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award, announced earlier today. The recipients were nominated by 1,100 grateful patrons from among the more than 166,300 certified librarians and 200,000 library workers who provide dedicated service in US public and school libraries, as well as institutions of higher … Continue reading Meet the Winners: 2013 I Love My Librarian Award recipients
Cory Doctorow shared the sad tale on December 15 of one family’s holiday hopes being dashed by bah-humbug capitalism and the slippery nature of contractual licenses. Here is Bill's story, with another type of license taken from Clement Clarke Moore’s A Visit from St. Nicholas. ’Twas the night before movie time, when all thro’ the house Not … Continue reading On the Perils of Licensing; or Bah Humbug Capitalism
As I wrote this column, I decided to check my go-to dictionary, the Merriam-Webster, about the definition of “outreach.” It stated: “the extending of services or assistance beyond current or usual limits <an outreach program>; also: the extent of such services or assistance.” Youth services outreach frequently centers on luring young people inside the library … Continue reading Moving Beyond Same-Old
