Keith Michael Fiels

Reenvisioning ALA

January 14, 2013

Over the past few months, the ALA Executive Board has been involved in a range of discussions that reflect some of the more urgent issues facing libraries, and the Association’s strategic priorities. Because the Association, like libraries, must change and evolve to best serve our communities, a series of brainstorming meetings this fall asked both … Continue reading Reenvisioning ALA


Libraries as Safe Spaces

December 11, 2012

Without a doubt, the past decade has experienced a sea change in favor of LGBTQ rights. During the 2012 election, voters decided on a series of landmark ballot initiatives at the state level that championed marriage equality; a sitting president (and vice president) has for the first time voiced support for same-sex marriage; and the … Continue reading Libraries as Safe Spaces



Library 2.012 Conference Explores the Future of Libraries

November 20, 2012

The 40 continuous hours of Library 2.012, the “Future of Libraries” free conference, which ran from October 3 through October 5, featured 150 presentation sessions and more than a dozen keynote addresses from across the globe. Topics ranged from physical and virtual learning spaces to evolving professional roles in today’s world, organizing and creating information, … Continue reading Library 2.012 Conference Explores the Future of Libraries





Welcoming New Immigrants into Your Library

September 21, 2012

With that data and other Census statistics in hand, Fred Gitner and Wai Sze Chan, librarians at the New Americans Program at Queens Library, talked on September 21 about the changing demographics of US communities and how libraries can analyze information to help create programming and develop collections for these new arrivals. “Welcome, Newcomers! Using … Continue reading Welcoming New Immigrants into Your Library


Ethnic Caucus Presidents Discuss Advocacy at JCLC

September 20, 2012

The Latino community, for example, “is constantly shifting and changing,” said Denice Adkins of Reforma, but the unifying group for advocacy within the Latino community of librarians is the association, she said. Because a variety of cultures make up the community, Adkins emphasized that Latino librarians need to “have a voice in librarianship.” Jerome Offord … Continue reading Ethnic Caucus Presidents Discuss Advocacy at JCLC


2012 ALA Award Winners

September 17, 2012

This year, the American Library Association bestowed its highest honors and awards on a variety of individuals and institutions whose achievements underscore their bold vision for librarianship and their strong commitment to the profession. Selected by their colleagues and peers, the 2012 honorees highlighted in these pages represent the best of the best in ALA … Continue reading 2012 ALA Award Winners