American Libraries podcast Archives | Page 8 of 10

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Insider’s Guide to New Orleans

June 19, 2018

So what to do? Episode 27 features must-see and must-eat recommendations from two folks who know New Orleans well. First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with David Slater, director of culinary development for famed New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants. David shares his favorite places to eat and drink in the city. Next, American … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Insider’s Guide to New Orleans →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Becoming a Library Advocate

June 8, 2018

In Episode 26, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with four Policy Corps members—Lisa Varga, executive director of the Virginia Library Association; Qiana Johnson, collection and organizational data analysis librarian at Northwestern University Libraries in Evanston, Illinois; Larry Neal, director of Clinton–Macomb (Mich.) Public Library, who is the ALA Policy … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Becoming a Library Advocate →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Disaster Response

May 9, 2018

First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with Miriam Centeno, a collections care coordinator at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Libraries, who traveled to Puerto Rico to help train librarians in preservation and collections care following Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Centeno shares what she saw and learned during her trip to the storm-damaged … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Disaster Response →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Money Talk

April 9, 2018

First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Lori Burgess, director of operations at Fond du Lac (Wis.) Public Library and the recipient of a 2012 Wisconsin Financial Literacy Award, about her library’s programs and why financial literacy education is important. Next, Morehart speaks with Heather McCue, a children’s librarian … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Money Talk →

Dewey Decibel Episode 23: Saving Lost Cinema

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Saving Lost Cinema

March 5, 2018

First, Steve Zalusky, manager of communications for the American Library Association’s Public Awareness Office, reports from the Mostly Lost film workshop at the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia. Next, Phil Morehart, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries associate editor, talks to AJ Lawrence, media conservation and digitization assistant at the … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Saving Lost Cinema →

Dewey Decibel Podcast Bonus Episode

February 16, 2018

American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart joins the award-selection committees as they make phone calls to the winners the morning before the award announcement event. Morehart then talks to the heads of the Coretta Scott King Book Award and Newbery Medal committees to learn more about the award-selection process. Finally, we … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast Bonus Episode →

Dewey Decibel Episode 22: Diversifying Comics

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Diversifying Comics

February 6, 2018

First, Dewey Decibel host and American Libraries Associate Editor Phil Morehart talks with G. Willow Wilson, the writer of the Ms. Marvel series. She discusses the inspiration behind the character Kamala Khan, the first Muslim-American superhero at Marvel to have her own comic, and why diverse comics are essential to creating a true representation of … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Diversifying Comics →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Looking Back at Books

By Phil Morehart | December 29, 2017

First, American Libraries Associate Editor Terra Dankowski talks with author Stephanie Powell Watts in a conversation taped right after her book No One Is Coming to Save Us was announced by Sarah Jessica Parker as the first selection in ALA’s Book Club Central. Next, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Looking Back at Books →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Escape Rooms and the AASL Standards

By Phil Morehart | December 11, 2017

In Episode 20, we explore practical applications of the new Standards. First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart speaks with Marcia Mardis, associate professor and assistant dean of interdisciplinary research and education in the College of Communication and Information at Florida State University and chair of the Standards editorial board, about … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Escape Rooms and the AASL Standards →

Dewey Decibel Episode 18: Dewey Goes Global

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Dewey Goes Global

October 4, 2017

First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with Sandra Uwiringiyimana, author of How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of War Child (HarperCollins, 2017), which chronicles her life as a survivor of the 2004 Gatumba massacre in Burundi and as a refugee in the United States. They discuss the book, the … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Dewey Goes Global →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Responding to Charlottesville

September 5, 2017

First, American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart talks with John Halliday, director of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville, and Krista Farrell, assistant director and manager of Jefferson-Madison’s Central Library. The Central Library sits on what was the front lines of the protests. Halliday and Farrell share how their community handled the … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Responding to Charlottesville →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Fighting Fake News

August 1, 2017

Host and AL Associate Editor Phil Morehart talks with Joanna Burkhardt, fake news expert, professor and director of the University of Rhode Island branch libraries, and author of Teaching Information Literacy Reframed: 50+ Framework-Based Exercises for Creating Information-Literate Learners, about the history of fake news and its pernicious presence in today’s media landscape. Next, Dewey Decibel … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Fighting Fake News →

Latest Library Links

4h

Len Bryan writes: “People generally fall into one of two camps when it comes to weeding library collections. Either a person approaches weeding with great enthusiasm and a desire to clean up the collection and make it more accessible for students, make the space more inviting, create places for displays, and secure additional library funding. Or they approach weeding with great dread and trepidation, afraid they are going to throw away something that someone might need someday, that they may never get the funding needed to replace weeded books, and of possible pushback from teachers or parents about the process.”

Knowledge Quest, July 14
8h

Chelsea Heinbach writes: “The Librarian Parlor team knows how important it is to foster connection and community with fellow researchers, so we developed Research Community Bingo as an open resource that can be adapted for various contexts. I tested Research Community Bingo at my institution, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After a brief introduction explaining the rules, participants received their bingo cards and began mingling. The energy in the room quickly shifted from initial hesitation to enthusiastic conversations.”

The Librarian Parlor, July 11
12h

Michael Blackwell, Jennie Rose Halperin, Catherine Mason, and Carmi Parker write: “The data forces us to conclude, reluctantly, that not only does print still offer libraries a far better bang-per-book than digital, but that for most popular titles, digital collections are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Some smaller and independent publishers are, however, now more likely to be present in the market and offer some hope for long-term and cost-effective holdings.” ReadersFirst has additional data and analysis that was cut for space from the published article.

Computers in Libraries, July/Aug.; ReadersFirst, July 7
3d

“Disability Pride Month is a time to honor the history, achievements, and diverse experiences of people with disabilities. This curated collection features fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages that explore disability through the lens of pride, empowerment, and identity. Highlighting both visible and invisible disabilities, these stories reflect the richness and resilience of the disability community and the ongoing movement for inclusion and equal rights. Explore the display and celebrate the voices that challenge stigma, expand understanding, and inspire change.”

Baltimore County Public Library, July 1
3d

Heidi Blackburn, Chris Magee, and Trevor Watkins write: “George Mason University Libraries launched a yearlong Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community of Practice for library employees in fall 2024, focused on the use of specific AI tools for work and research best practices. We didn’t just explore what AI could do—we also asked what it should do, and how to use it responsibly in service to our patrons and profession. After participant feedback, the community was modified to focus on task-based themes. Prior experience with communities of practice made the creation of yet another community easier, but not without challenges.”

Choice 360: LibTech Insights, July 7
4d

Kelly Jensen writes: “After the Supreme Court ruled on Mahmoud v. Taylor on June 27, there were so many bad and misinformed takes. Is this a case that is going to be used to justify a lot more censorship, quiet and loud, and create a chilling effect in public schools? Absolutely. But we don’t need to bow to this case. ‘I’m scared’ and ‘What does this mean?’ Those responses are ones that are far more productive in the fight. There’s room to have legitimate feelings and room to talk about the next steps.”

Well Sourced, July 5
4d

Katie Burkholder writes: “After 15 years of working at the Pierce County Public Library in Blackshear, Georgia, where she advanced from part-time clerk to branch manager, Lavonnia Moore was unexpectedly and abruptly fired due to a display featuring a trans-inclusive children’s book. The patron-led display aligned with Georgia’s summer reading theme, ‘Color Our World.’ When a child at the library asked her to include the book When Aidan Became a Brother, she didn’t hesitate. Unbeknownst to Moore until her termination, this decision inspired an online hate campaign from the Alliance for Faith and Family.”

Rough Draft Atlanta, July 5

View more Latest Library Links