There are many benefits to spending one’s life on a college campus: beautiful settings, the rhythm of the academic year, and of course continually being surrounded by bright, energetic students. Each summer they come for orientation, eager, excited, and younger by the year. You too can play the “where were you the year they were … Continue reading Common Ground
Libraries can’t buy Catching Fire as an ebook. But note the “divergent” pricing for Divergent—an actual savings from the consumer price. Random House continues to be the worst price offender for library ebooks. A question: Since no library that I can find has actual physical possession of a Random House ebook file and the publishing house claims … Continue reading DCL Ebook Report for December 2013
“We avoided it for awhile,” says Gail Shackleton, director of library services at Appleby College, a 7–12 grade school in Ontario. She and library technician Stefania Mulyk administer the library’s social media presence, which already includes Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, and YouTube. They waited to adopt Vine until four months after the app’s introduction because of … Continue reading Libraries on the Vine
In the November 19 Atlantic, Megan Garber explored a nascent meme that has been gaining traction on the web. Previously just a simple conjunction, “because” is evolving into a preposition as a way of concisely declaring reasoning that should be overwhelmingly obvious. On a more esoteric level, Garber attempts to trace the etymology of this … Continue reading Because Libraries
The count is in: The official wrap-up last week of the 32nd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) in the UAE reported that 900,000 visitors had browsed more than 400,000 titles on display in Sharjah’s Expo Centre, 150,000 UAE schoolchildren had participated in more than 500 interactive activities and workshops as part of class trips, and … Continue reading For Love of the Written Word
The 16th American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference and Exhibition in Hartford, Connecticut, drew 3,000 school librarians, administrators, and exhibitors over its four-day run, from November 14 through November 17. Some attendees arrived early on November 13 for preconference workshops and tours. The biannual gathering featured 168 exhibitors, an authors’ alley where dozens … Continue reading AASL Conference Draws Authors and Crowds
More than 2,300 attendees listened to speakers at the opening event of ALA’s American Association of School Librarians 16th National Conference and Exhibition in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 14. Themed “Rising to the Challenge,” the conference is one of the largest AASL gatherings in recent years, according to organizers. Gail Dickinson, AASL president, said of the group’s … Continue reading Rising to the Challenge at AASL Conference
Have you noticed a tidal change in public perception about the future of libraries? I certainly have. I rarely hear the gloom-and-doom question from a reporter, “Do libraries have a future in this age of technology?” Now I am asked, “Libraries seem to be changing in interesting ways. What’s happening?” Libraries of all types are using innovative … Continue reading The Future of Libraries
Two things jump out at me in this month’s Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries Ebook Report. Between September 2012 and this report (PDF file), we’ve gone from 30% to 80% availability of ebook titles to libraries. That is most definitely the result of the good work of ALA. But two areas remain dismal: price and ownership. … Continue reading DCL Ebook Report for November 2013
The conversation starts here … Midwinter provides several opportunities to share and engage with colleagues. Experts give the latest updates on policy, research, statistics, and technology in the “News You Can Use” segment. Sponsors include ALA divisions and offices and the ALA Digital Content and Libraries Working Group. Hear library specialists describe their latest in-house … Continue reading 2014 ALA Midwinter Must-Dos
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On a clear autumn day, I sit on my balcony reading a book when I hear a muffled cheer and see fireworks erupt. Moments later, a slightly delayed TV signal repeats the same sounds from the Chicago Bears game at nearby Soldier Field. All day, people in orange and blue shirts parade down the streets, … Continue reading Scoring Points with Sports Fans and History Fans
If you hear shrieks and moans coming from your library’s stacks or see sinister apparitions floating through the children’s section, blame the Horror Writers Association (HWA). The nonprofit organization of horror writers and writing professionals, which currently touts more than 1,200 members worldwide, has been a leading advocate for literacy and horror/dark fantasy writing for … Continue reading Bringing Horror to the Stacks
