#alaac16 Archives | Page 4 of 6 | American Libraries Magazine

Council I Passes Two Resolutions, Discusses Libraries Transform

By Amy Carlton | June 26, 2016

The 2016 Midwinter Meeting minutes were accepted with one correction (CD#2.1). President-Elect Julie B. Todaro, chair of the 2015–2016 Committee on Committees, presented the candidates for the 2016–2017 Council Committee on Committees election (CD#12). The nominees are Diane R. Chen, Ed Garcia, Cyndee Sturgis Landrum, Hanna K. Lee, Kimberly Ann Patton, Alexandra P. Rivera, Sandy … Continue reading Council I Passes Two Resolutions, Discusses Libraries Transform →

Giving Tweens Ownership in Space and Programs

By Kara Pauley | June 26, 2016

She began by asking her audience, a room full of youth librarians, how they defined “tween.” Many replied that their tweens were between ages 8–12, and Kropp further explained that many libraries had teen sections that ranged from ages 7 to as high as 13. “It’s hard if you are in a rule-driven place where … Continue reading Giving Tweens Ownership in Space and Programs →

Top Ten (And Then Some) Tweets—Day 2 (Saturday)

By Julie Cai | June 25, 2016

Now that Friday is over, many conference attendees are now settled in for #alaac16, but it’s only just beginning!

Marcela Peres, Lizzy Walker, and Ivy Noelle Weir

Valhalla: A Safe Space for Women Librarians Who Love Comics

By Kara Pauley | June 25, 2016

On Saturday, Marcela Peres from Lewiston (Maine) Public Library, Lizzy Walker from Wichita (Kans.) Public Library, and Ivy Noelle Weir of Kennett (Pa.) Public Library led a panel with moderator Eva Volin of Alameda (Calif.) Public Library to introduce other librarians to Valhalla, an online community for women who love comics and do comics-driven work in libraries and other organizations.

Be Our Guest: Create Your Own Pixie Dust at the Library

By Meredith Myers | June 25, 2016

Room W110B was packed tighter than Disney’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the first day of summer vacation. Instead of magical pixie dust, RUSA chose Dave Cobb to turn everyday librarians into user experience designers, all with the click of his mouse.

Exploring Learning through Making

By Amy Carlton | June 25, 2016

Having a functioning makerspace depends more on your people and your relationships in the community than on your technology. That’s the message a group of experienced makers gave to attendees at a packed session on Friday.

Margaret Atwood on Shakespeare and Technology

By Amy Carlton | June 25, 2016

Despite her body of work in futuristic and speculative fiction, Margaret Atwood displayed a somewhat uneasy relationship to modern technology in her address at the 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. When the announcement was made before the Canadian author and poet took the stage that she requested no photos be taken during her talk, the disappointment in the room was audible.

"Harnessing Research and Data to Advance Readers' Advisory Services" panel

Improving Readers’ Advisory with Data and Research

By Terra Dankowski | June 25, 2016

When you hear the phrase “readers’ advisory,” do you think of the single librarian recommending books to the individual user in the library? The three presenters at “Harnessing Research and Data to Advance Readers’ Advisory Services,” a program sponsored by the Reference and User Services Association at the American Library Association’s 2016 Annual Conference and Exhibition, challenged attendees to start thinking about readers’ advisory in a more holistic, aggregate, and data-informed way so that they could better serve their communities.

Writing Advice from Avi

By George M. Eberhart | June 25, 2016

Children’s author Avi was the featured speaker at the President’s Program of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) on Saturday morning. AASL President Leslie Preddy introduced the 2003 Newbery Medal‒winner (for Crispin, the Cross of Lead), saying, “He writes literature, not books” and “never ‘writes down’ to his readers,” skillfully using “power, voice, and integrity in his writing.”

Negotiation graphic from LLAMA President's Program

Lessons from Getting to Yes with Yourself

By Laurie D. Borman | June 25, 2016

When William Ury, cofounder of Harvard’s Program on Negotiation and the author of eight books about negotiating including the classic Getting to Yes, asks his audience which is tougher—negotiating with external audiences or internal ones like colleagues or family members—the answer is resounding: internal conflicts. Speaking at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando for the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) President’s Program, Ury has the advantage. He knows we know the enemy and the enemy is us.

Mimi Coenen, Stephen Parker, Trina Travis

Taking Advantage of Workforce Funding

By George M. Eberhart | June 25, 2016

The US government is spending $1.5 billion on career information and assistance for American workers, job seekers, and employers through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), first implemented in 2013. On Saturday morning at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, the ALA Washington Office brought together a panel of librarians and state workforce experts to show how public libraries can get funding as eligible providers to collaborate with job centers to provide recruitment, digital training, and consultation services to workers who need reemployment—activities that many libraries are already doing for their patrons.

At the 2016 Rare Books and Manuscripts conference, three panelists discuss outreach with special collections. From left: Christoph Irmscher, Pellom McDaniels III, and Sarah Werner.

Sometimes You Have to See the “Poop” Too

By Erika L. Jenns | June 25, 2016

Updated June 29, 2016 Moderator Erika Dowell, associate director and head of Lilly Library Public Services at IU, opened the plenary by expanding on an outmoded definition of outreach in libraries. In the past, she said, outreach has been defined as “library services that extend beyond the library building. Today, outreach retains these goals but … Continue reading Sometimes You Have to See the “Poop” Too →

Latest Library Links

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Cara S. Bertram writes: “As we look forward to book award ceremonies at the ALA Annual Conference in San Diego this summer, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the history of one of the most prestigious children’s book awards, the Caldecott Medal. The idea was first presented in 1935 in a letter by Frederic G. Melcher,” who had established the Newbery Medal in 1921. Melcher’s suggestion was prompted when Professor May Hill Arbuthnot of Western Reserve University in Cleveland communicated the concern that the Newbery was not recognizing literature for the youngest children.

American Library Association Archives, Apr. 29
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Kristi Kellogg writes: “Images are an essential component of online content—and it’s obvious why. Images aren’t just pretty—they’re powerful marketing tools that help you stand out. Whether you’re creating a social media post, a webpage, an ebook, a blog post, or something else, adding visuals goes a long way in improving the overall user experience. However, you can’t just pull images off the internet and use them—and it’s your responsibility to determine if and how you can use the image without breaking the law.”

Search Engine Journal, Apr. 6
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Rachée Fagg writes: “Reading, a gateway to knowledge and empowerment, serves as the cornerstone of education worldwide. However, for English as a Second Language (ESL) students, the journey of mastering this essential skill can present unique challenges. Traditional reading materials, laden with text, often intimidate and discourage ESL learners, hindering their progress. Wordless books, as the name suggests, eschew conventional text in favor of vivid illustrations that narrate compelling stories. By relying solely on visuals, these books transcend language barriers, inviting readers of all ability levels to embark on imaginative journeys.”

ALSC Blog, Apr. 26
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Keahi Adolpho and Stephen G. Krueger write: “This comprehensive review illuminates the current state of scholarly literature on trans and gender diverse inclusion in libraries, with the intention to provide a foundation and identify gaps for further research. We found that, with the exception of works on archives and cataloging, little scholarly literature goes beyond introductory talking points on basic information about trans and gender diverse people. We conclude with a call for much more in-depth research on this essential topic.”

In the Library with the Lead Pipe, Apr. 24
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Allison Escoto writes: “There’s no doubt about it. Librarianship can be a demanding career path, and the quest to find just the right work-life balance while managing stress is perennial. This eclectic collection of books speak to that delicate balance by covering the importance of wellness, preventing burnout, practicing mindfulness, and essential self-care practices.”

American Libraries column, May
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Emily Drabinski writes: “When you’re president of the ALA, you get asked a lot of questions. But here’s one that’s hard to answer: ‘What’s your favorite library?’ When you’ve seen as many amazing libraries as I have, it’s impossible to choose, so my favorite library is always the most recent one I’ve visited. As much as individual libraries are distinct, they also have a lot in common. Librarians select, acquire, describe, organize, and provide access to information. These fundamentals might look different in time and place, but they remain the core of our profession.”

American Libraries column, May
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Marshall Breeding writes: “The library technology industry had a quiet year in 2023. But in the absence of major business moves and acquisitions, companies set their sights on executing strategies to strengthen their market position. Previous cycles of business consolidation have yielded a layered landscape with distinct levels of competition. Competition at each level remains vigorous. Libraries may have fewer product choices because of past acquisitions, but the options remaining are distinctive. Most libraries can choose between for-profit and nonprofit vendors, and between proprietary and open source products.”

American Libraries feature, May

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