Top Tech Trends: Advice for Makerspaces

June 25, 2017

“Makerspaces should meet the needs of your patrons and be built around your budget and staff,” shared Radniecki.  Here are some other helpful tips she shared regarding managing makerspaces: Fees are fine. Some libraries cannot comprehend a makerspace model that charges anything, even if they are offering services that commercial services like Shapeways offer at … Continue reading Top Tech Trends: Advice for Makerspaces


Alchemy of Audiobooks

June 25, 2017

When asked about the origin of Anna, Savit recalled a conversation between his niece and his brother-in-law. When his niece asked her father if Peter Pan could really fly, her father said no.  Gavit felt this question expressed a state of human being and needed further exploration. Orli Moscowitz explained the interesting process that leads from novel to … Continue reading Alchemy of Audiobooks


Rebecca Stavick, Executive Director of Do Space,

How to Run a Tech Space

June 25, 2017

Stavick began with a focus on leadership and communication. Tech space leaders are face of the project and communication is important because it will influence staff and the community and how they feel about technology. Stavick recommended hiring for strong soft skills over high educational levels. You can always teach someone how to 3D print … Continue reading How to Run a Tech Space


2017 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition logo

Council I Tackles Climate Change

June 25, 2017

The minutes from the ALA Midwinter Meeting (CD#2.1) were adopted. ALA President-Elect Jim Neal presented the nominations for the ALA Committee on Committees (COC) (CD#12): Ismail Abdullahi, Lauren Comito, Roberto Carlos Delgadillo, Martin L. Garnar, Mel Gooch, Eboni Henri, Jenna Nemec-Loise, and Kimberly Anne Patton. Neal then presented nominations for the 2017–2018 Planning and Budget … Continue reading Council I Tackles Climate Change


From left: Marguerite Avery, April Hathcock, and Jamie LaRue (speaking) at the American Library Association’s 2017 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 24, 2017. Photo: Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries

Intellectual Freedom and Open Access: Working Toward a Common Goal?

June 25, 2017

Marguerite Avery, senior acquisitions editor at Trinity University Press in San Antonio, Texas, spoke from a publisher’s point of view. Avery eagerly joined this conversation because, “framing intellectual freedom and open access is seldom discussed over intellectual property and open access,” she explains. Avery defines intellectual freedom as “being able to seek and receive all … Continue reading Intellectual Freedom and Open Access: Working Toward a Common Goal?


Top Ten Tweets

Top 10 Tweets — Saturday (Day 2)

June 25, 2017

You wake up excited for day two and can’t wait for the day to begin! https://twitter.com/corrinaaallen/status/878583032994816000 Then you realize you’ve been making a big mistake—misspelling the hashtag. When you realize you have accidentally misspelled the #alaac17 hashtag on some of your tweets pic.twitter.com/adQvb1j8QX — Denisse (@Luna_Dee) June 25, 2017 You know that running late to … Continue reading Top 10 Tweets — Saturday (Day 2)


Digital Media Recommendations for Our Youngest Patrons

June 25, 2017

Brooke Newberry (early literacy librarian, LaCrosse [Wisc.] Public Library), Stephanie C. Prato (head of children’s services, Simsbury [Conn.] Public Library), and Mary Schreiber (youth collection development specialist, Cuyahoga County [Ohio] Public Library) set out to clarify the revised standards for the under-18 months, 18–24 months, and 2–5 years groups, and provide actionable tips in an … Continue reading Digital Media Recommendations for Our Youngest Patrons


Kathryn Matthew, director of the Institute for Museum and Library Services, speaks at the American Library Association’s 2017 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 24, 2017.Photo: Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries

Becoming Catalysts in a Changing World

June 24, 2017

In “Be a Catalyst: Harnessing Your Portfolio of Resources to Create Catalytic Change in Communities,” sponsored by the ALA Washington Office, Matthew provided advice on how libraries can learn about their communities in order to strengthen their connections to them, while Rip Rapson and Barbara Bartle provided context from national and regional funder points of view. … Continue reading Becoming Catalysts in a Changing World


New Instruction Librarians Find Many Hats to Wear

June 24, 2017

Miller, head of library learning services at Pennsylvania State University Libraries in State College, spoke about the startling statistics found by several studies, which reveal that many instruction librarians receive no in-house training, preparation, or support for teaching, but are simply “thrown into the fire.” Miller herself found this to be true for about 68 percent of … Continue reading New Instruction Librarians Find Many Hats to Wear