Top Ten Tweets

Top 10 Tweets—Tuesday Edition

June 26, 2018

You wore your nice socks. https://twitter.com/llebwohl/status/1011604908955578368 You made it to the Closing General Session. Waaaaaaay in the back for the last #alaac18 session. It’s been a great conference and this tweet is all the energy I have left 😬 pic.twitter.com/GfiBVP6eTT — Klaudia Janek (@kjanek) June 26, 2018 And you’re happy you did. https://twitter.com/CourtneyEJacobs/status/1011635745231077376 You re-created … Continue reading Top 10 Tweets—Tuesday Edition


Bohyun Kim, chief technology officer at the University of Rhode Island Libraries in Kingston

An AI Lab in a Library

June 26, 2018

“AI began to be used more in the 1980s, when expert systems were developed to mimic the human decision-making process,” Kim said. The technology has advanced profoundly because the internet “allows a vaster scale of data, and high-speed computing has multiplied the power of processing.” Advances in artificial neural networks have produced a technique called … Continue reading An AI Lab in a Library


Urging Leaders and Moving Diverse Librarians’ Careers Forward

June 26, 2018

Panelists reflected on their paths to their current leadership positions, and shared advice with a room full of current MLIS students and recent graduates. The panel included Anthony Davis from California State University, Fullerton; Nancy Kirkpatrick from Midwest Collaborative for Library Services; Cynthia Hohl from Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library; and Kirk MacLeod from the Open … Continue reading Urging Leaders and Moving Diverse Librarians’ Careers Forward


2018’s Top Tech Trends

June 26, 2018

Independent technology consultant Marshall Breeding moderated the discussion, which focused on upcoming technological shifts such as: Quantum Computing Jason Bengtson, assistant director of library IT services at Kansas State University Libraries, kicked things off by explaining quantum computing. While traditional, digital computers use bits (which store a 1 or 0), a quantum computer uses qubits, … Continue reading 2018’s Top Tech Trends


Beth Crist, Dustin Landrum, and Wendy Cornelisen

Collaboration is Key

June 26, 2018

A room full of library professionals shouted out the answers: “Build a better team!” “Increase awareness!” “Reach new audiences!” “Share resources!” “Take pressure off overworked librarians!” “Build capacity!” “Avoid duplicating efforts!” For attendees at “Collaboration is Key: Steps to Building Great Partnerships with Outside Organizations,” an Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies–sponsored program at … Continue reading Collaboration is Key


Viola Davis

Viola Davis Takes a Bow

June 26, 2018

“This is one of my favorite cities,” she announced to an auditorium packed with library professionals. “You can blow a fuse in this city, though, between the vodka and the fried oysters.” Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning actor Davis was the Closing Session speaker at the American Library Association’s 2018 Annual Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans … Continue reading Viola Davis Takes a Bow


"The Cooking Gene" author Michael W. Twitty presented at Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) President's Program "Dining from a Haunted Plate" on June 25 at the 2018 ALA Conference in New Orleans.

Michael W. Twitty: Author, Culinary Historian, and an “Agent of Change”

June 26, 2018

Although sharing that his favorite Southern foods include barbecue, buttermilk pie, gumbo, and jambalaya, The Cooking Gene author Michael W. Twitty said he never intended to write a cookbook; instead, he wanted to research and document the journeys of his ancestors in the American South through the evidence of their foods and cooking methods. “I think we’re … Continue reading Michael W. Twitty: Author, Culinary Historian, and an “Agent of Change”


Council III: Memorials, Tributes, Resolutions

June 26, 2018

Memorials were read for Herbert Biblo (M#7), Heather Lanier (M#8), John Byrum (M#9), Mary Lynette Larsgaard (M#10), Bernard (Bernie) A. Margolis (M#11), deg farrelly (M#12), Krista McKenzie (M#13), and Stephanie Squicciarini (M#14). Tributes were offered to honor the 50th ALA anniversary of Lois Ann Gregory-Wood (T#4), to mark the retirement of Pat May (T#5), and … Continue reading Council III: Memorials, Tributes, Resolutions


Maurice Coleman, Angela Ocana, Sara Benson, and Steve Thomas

How to Start a Podcast

June 26, 2018

Panel moderator Phil Morehart, associate editor of American Libraries, picked the brains of prolific Libraryland podcasters from wildly different professional backgrounds to help attendees understand what kind of content, show formats, gear, marketing, branding, and partnerships have made their shows successful—and how they got started. (Full disclosure: Terra works on the Dewey Decibel podcast.) Finding their niche … Continue reading How to Start a Podcast



Bookalicious event

Authors Dish on Latest Works at LibraryReads Bookalicious event

June 26, 2018

Speaking first was author Sarah McCoy, whose novel Marilla of Green Gables (William Morrow/HarperCollins) reimagines the life of Marilla Cuthbert, the beloved “spinster” character in L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 classic book, Anne of Green Gables. Out the outset, McCoy exclaimed to applause, “y’all are truly some of my favorite people on Earth,” explaining her deep connection to librarians, specifically her middle school … Continue reading Authors Dish on Latest Works at LibraryReads Bookalicious event