#alaac19 Archives | Page 7 of 7 | American Libraries Magazine

Strengthening the ALA Endowment

By Rod Hersberger | June 18, 2019

The first is the endowment’s investment in private equity. While it is illiquid, private equity generally outperforms most other investment categories. We did not venture into this area lightly. The trustees conducted an extraordinary level of discussion, review, and due diligence before we made our first investment. In July 2015, we invested $2 million in … Continue reading Strengthening the ALA Endowment →

Dewey Decibel Podcast: Insider’s Guide to Washington, D.C.

June 14, 2019

In Episode 39, Dewey Decibel explores where to eat and see live music during Annual. First, American Libraries Managing Editor Terra Dankowski speaks with Meredith Pratt, author of Frommer’s EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2020 and the Annual Conference dining guide featured in American Libraries’ June issue, about the best places to dine in the district. Next, American … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Insider’s Guide to Washington, D.C. →

The American Library Association's 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held in Washington, D.C., June 20–25. Photo: ©Tono Balaguer/Adobe Stock

2019 Annual Conference Preview

By Greg Landgraf | June 3, 2019

Conference highlights Sonia Sotomayor, associate justice of the US Supreme Court and author of four books, will take the stage 8:30–9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, for a conversation with her editor, Jill Santopolo of Philomel Books. For more on Sotomayor, whose latest book Just Ask! is forthcoming in September, read our interview. The Opening General Session features Jason Reynolds, author … Continue reading 2019 Annual Conference Preview →

A Culinary Capital

By Meredith Pratt | June 3, 2019

Today, rock-star chefs have transformed neighborhoods into epicurean destinations and turned what was once a dining drought into a wave of new restaurants, vibrant tastes, and international cuisines. Ready to dig in? Here is a guide to the best flavors in our culinary capital, excerpted from Frommer’s EasyGuide to Washington, D.C., 2020. Near the Convention … Continue reading A Culinary Capital →

Costume sketches and swatches for a 19th-century production of King Lear from the Folger Shakespeare Library. (Photo: Folger Shakespeare Library)

By the Numbers: Literary Washington, D.C.

By Alison Marcotte | June 3, 2019

9 Number of years since the American Library Association last held its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. 800 Number of electronic newspaper front pages the Newseum receives each day from around the world. The museum enlarges and prints 80 for display in its Today’s Front Pages gallery. 12,000 Approximate number of items the Library of … Continue reading By the Numbers: Literary Washington, D.C. →

Newsmaker: Tomi Adeyemi

By Alison Marcotte | June 3, 2019

Adeyemi will be an Auditorium Speaker at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C., on June 24. American Libraries spoke with her about writing, her inspirations, and the importance of representation in media. From being a New York Times bestselling debut author to getting a movie deal, what has been the most … Continue reading Newsmaker: Tomi Adeyemi →

A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC

May 9, 2019

On May 9, the American Library Association (ALA) Conference Services Division announced the following session to take place at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference: A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, was born in Bronx, New York, on … Continue reading A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in Washington, DC →

Newsmaker: Jason Reynolds

By Alison Marcotte | April 12, 2018

This year’s theme for School Library Month is “Making Connections at Your School Library.” You’ve said reading the lyrics to Queen Latifah’s 1993 album Black Reign changed your life and inspired you to start writing poetry. When students connect with and see themselves in the music, multimedia, and books they read, it changes their relationship with reading completely. … Continue reading Newsmaker: Jason Reynolds →

Latest Library Links

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“Elton John’s monumental album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, the original cast recording of Broadway’s Hamilton, and Microsoft’s reboot chime have been selected as some of the defining sounds of history and culture that will join the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. On April 9, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden named 25 recordings as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage. The recordings selected for the National Recording Registry this year bring the number of titles on the registry to 675.”

Library of Congress, Apr. 9
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“Due to continued challenges in accessing federal funding, the Maine State Library will temporarily close and reorganize its operations. This decision follows layoff notices issued this week to 13 employees whose positions are funded through a program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, DC. The library tentatively plans to reopen to the public on April 28. IMLS support accounts for approximately 30% of the library’s annual budget, and the 13 affected employees represent about 30% of its staff. Should access to federal funding be reinstated, the layoffs may be reversed.”

Maine State Library, Apr. 10
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Brittany Allen writes: “The American Academy of Poets launched National Poetry Month in 1996. Reviving a recent tradition, the fine minds at Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG) are celebrating the sonnet in style this spring. Every weekday this entire month, you can call the FSG Poetry Hotline (385-DIAL-FSG) and hear an FSG author read a poem, right into your personal ear.” For recommendations of poetry books, see lists from NCW Libraries in Washington; Utah State University; Canton (Mich.) Public Library; Boston Public Library; or St. Joe County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana.

Literary Hub, Apr. 1; NCW Libraries, Apr. 9; Utah State University, Apr. 7; Canton (Mich.) Public Library, Jan. 8; Boston Public Library; St. Joe County (South Bend, Ind.) Public Library, Apr. 10
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Phil Morehart writes: “The Secret Life of Librarians has been nominated for a Webby Award. Produced by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the online series explores the unexpected stories of librarians across the country. The 10 recipients of the American Library Association’s 2024 I Love My Librarian Award are at the series’ heart, with each penning a short piece encapsulating their work, and more importantly, why they do it. These are the stories of the unsung heroes whose work impacts lives both inside the library and outside its walls. Award voting is open until April 17.”

I Love Libraries, Apr. 14
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Ella Creamer writes: “Requests to remove books from library shelves are on the rise in the UK, as the influence of pressure groups behind book bans in the US crosses the Atlantic, according to those working in the sector. Most of the UK challenges appear to come from individuals or small groups, unlike in the US, where 72% of demands to censor books last year were brought forward by organized groups, according to the American Library Association earlier this week. However, evidence suggests that the work of US action groups is reaching UK libraries too.”

The Guardian, Apr. 14, Apr. 8
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Aviva Bechky writes: “For more than a century, Canadians have used nothing but a narrow sidewalk to cross their national border into Vermont and enter the Haskell Free Library and Opera House. Now, however, the US Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to limit access to the library from the Canadian side of the border. After [October 1], anyone in Canada who wants to use the library’s main entrance must cross at an approved checkpoint or use an entrance on the Canadian side of the library that is about to undergo renovations.”

American Libraries Trend, Apr. 14
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“Tabletop game collections are an increasingly popular addition to libraries. They can provide innovative new ways for patrons to interact with library collections, and they can support hours of programming and events. But you know what makes game collections 20% cooler? When they’re discoverable in your library catalog! We at the ALA Games and Gaming Roundtable (GameRT) understand: if you’re not a cataloger, cataloging probably seems daunting. To that end, GameRT’s Metadata Committee has developed a guide for cataloging tabletop games, created for both catalogers and non-catalogers alike.”

ALA Games and Gaming Roundtable, Apr. 11

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