“Let me tell you a story,” he began, reading from his new children’s book, The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm (Reading Rainbow, 2014). “It’s by one of my favorite authors,” he joked. The book’s plot addresses the issue of finding comfort and support in tough times. Burton said the theme was partly inspired by one … Continue reading LeVar Burton Delights
Sunday put the winter in Midwinter, showing #alamw15 attendees just how strong a punch Chicago winters can pack. ARCs can serve multiple purposes it seems… Rain or shine, blizzard or heat wave, ALA events must go on! https://twitter.com/RabbleBabbles/status/562032111704481792/photo/1 LeVar Burton captivated the audience… And to add to the blizzard, those who … Continue reading Top Ten (plus!) Tweets – Sunday (Day 3)
ALA News Council I meets at Midwinter Midwinter Meeting News Youth Media Awards webcast at 8 a.m. Central time on Monday A field guide to makerspaces LeVar Burton’s words of wisdom Performance measures for public libraries Learning about digital migration The everyday importance of STEM Teaching adults to read Ben Bizzle on being bold (video) … Continue reading Latest Library Links, February 1, 2015
The Public Library Association (PLA) appointed a task force in July 2013 to develop standardized measures of effectiveness for public library programs that go beyond traditional circulation numbers and gate counts. Its goal was to develop a simple survey that libraries could use to collect meaningful outcome measures that would be useful to improve their … Continue reading Performance Measures for Public Libraries
During her Masters Series talk on Sunday morning, Mita Williams, user experience librarian at the University of Windsor (Ont.) Leddy Library, offered an introduction to the many new types of creative spaces that libraries and communities are adopting. Williams began with c-base in Berlin, launched in 1995 as one of the first independent “hackerspaces” in … Continue reading A Field Guide to Makerspaces
One in six American adults struggles with basic English literacy. That translates into 36 million people between the ages of 16 and 65 who grapple with reading on a daily basis, according to a 2013 study called Program for the International Assessment for Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Speakers Michelle H. Washington, director of ALA’s Office for … Continue reading Teaching Adults to Read
In a town known for deep dish pizza and hot dogs, Chicago can seem barren of good barbecue. But chef and author Gary Wiviott, who demonstrated how to saute and grind your own chili spices at the What’s Cooking @ ALA stage today, had the crowd hungering for the closest barbecue spot for dinner. (Wiviott … Continue reading Low and Slow: What’s Cooking @ ALA
The ALA Council met for its first session Sunday morning. After a brief introduction and announcements, ALA President Courtney Young established a quorum. Council then adopted the rules and the day’s agenda (CD #8.1rev_12815_act). Councilors also approved minutes from the 2014 ALA Annual Conference (CD #2). Council then accepted nominations for election to the ALA … Continue reading ALA Council meets at Midwinter
What better way to spend a Saturday than at #alamw15? Jason Segel on the importance of reading … The Women in Geekdom panel brought to light an important discussion … With so much to do at Midwinter, the demand for Time-Turners must be heavy! The #alaleftbehind’s coping methods … And a bonus sweet tweet from … Continue reading Top Ten (or so …) Tweets – Saturday (Day 2)
Remember that terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day when everything went wrong? Not the book, the real day. There is a solution to avoid the anger, the sadness, the frustration, says Anne Mejia-Downs, a physical therapist who shared her research on the subject with ALA Midwinter Meeting attendees Saturday in a session titled “Stop … Continue reading Throw the book at stress
Segel is the co-author with writer Kirsten Miller of Nightmares!, the first entry in a new book series for kids. Nightmares! follows a young boy named Charlie as he battles the witches, goblins, and more that inhabit his nighttime dreamworld. Segel spent much of his very funny Saturday morning talk at Midwinter, part of the … Continue reading Welcome to Jason Segel’s Nightmare
About a dozen energetic attendees arrived at 7 this morning for ALA’s Think Fit Zumba class, sponsored by Innovative. The hourlong session, led by local instructors Megan Knee and Suzanne Crawford, was followed by a healthful breakfast of fruit, yogurt, and granola. Participants received an infusion water bottle, resistance band, and hot/cold pack to take … Continue reading Body and mind
