In Episode 33, American Libraries’ editors speak with an array of authors about the inspirations behind their new books and the importance of libraries in their lives. Interviews include actor Sally Field (In Pieces), Bill Nye the Science Guy (Jack and the Geniuses series), poet and novelist Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X), journalists Jonathan Eig (Ali: … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast: Writers on Writing
The Moderator ALA President Jim Neal Are libraries neutral? Have they ever been? Should they be? Can libraries be neutral as part of societies and systems that are not neutral? Are libraries, through their processes, their practices, their collections and technologies, able to be neutral? ALA has long advocated for certain principles, detailed in the … Continue reading Are Libraries Neutral?
Islandborn is your first book for kids. What was its inspiration? There were multiple inspirations. A lot of it was being a writer with godchildren, nephews, and nieces always saying, “Hey, will you write us a story?” And knowing that I should write them a story, because when I was growing up a kid of … Continue reading Newsmaker: Junot Díaz
Just over 8,000 registrants came to the Mile High City for five days of presentations, conversations, and innovations, many of which centered on the importance of making sure that people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and walks of life have a voice in our national dialogue. Artist, activist, and author Patrisse Cullors began the Opening Session … Continue reading 2018 Midwinter Wrap-Up
American Libraries Associate Editor and Dewey Decibel host Phil Morehart joins the award-selection committees as they make phone calls to the winners the morning before the award announcement event. Morehart then talks to the heads of the Coretta Scott King Book Award and Newbery Medal committees to learn more about the award-selection process. Finally, we … Continue reading Dewey Decibel Podcast Bonus Episode
A list of all the 2018 award winners follows: John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature: Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is the 2018 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: Crown: An Ode to the Fresh … Continue reading 2018 Youth Media Awards Announced
Memorials were read for Mae Benne, Edwin Gleaves, Mary Kathleen Hanselmann, Julius Lester, Lora Lander, Gene Dickerson, and Henry R. Stewart Jr. Tributes were offered for the 70th anniversary of the Mountain Plains Library Association, Danita Vance-Cooks, and the 20th anniversary of E-Rate. Vivian Bordeaux, chair of the ALA Council Tellers Committee, presented the report … Continue reading Council III Provides Updates on Advocacy, Finances
The morning began with the Youth Media Awards, which left everyone in the crowd cheering and crying over the winners and honorees. It’s happening! They’re taking photos and making calls RIGHT NOW!! #alamw18 #alayma — Abby Johnson (@abbylibrarian) February 12, 2018 https://twitter.com/sujeilugo/status/963202854495268864 It was awesome to get to present the YALSA Excellence in Nonfication award … Continue reading Top Ten Tweets–Monday (Day 4)
“There is nothing like reading. I don’t want to shock you here at the library thing,” Nye announced to the laughter of librarians at the American Library Association’s 2018 Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Denver on Monday. “When you learn science, it’s empowering. You are not as afraid of things. You’re willing to take risks,” … Continue reading Bill Nye the Author Guy
Joe Mocnik, dean of libraries at North Dakota State University in Fargo (NDSU), was talking about his school’s relationship to renewable energy on a campus mainly heated by coal power—in a state about 75% reliant on coal—but the challenges and opportunities he described sounded familiar to librarians looking to make sustainable development ingresses at their … Continue reading Stories of Sustainability
Violaine Iglesias, director of business development for GVPi, a company in Arlington, Virginia, that provides hosting platforms for electronic publishers, opened by saying that “Accessibility is in very high demand among higher education institutions. Publishers are only now beginning to understand that accessible and discoverable video” is a high priority for educational institutions. She said … Continue reading Making Video Content Accessible
The session, titled “Equity-Driven Services and Programs: Exploring Alternative Information Services at the Library,” took place on Monday morning as part of the Symposium on the Future of Libraries at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Denver. Even as the Midwinter Meeting winds down, leaving some librarians exhausted, Casillas and Duarte held … Continue reading “The Change Starts With Us”
