Denise M. Davis, the director of the ALA Office for Research and Statistics (ORS) since 2004, has announced her resignation, effective October 1. She has accepted a position as deputy director of the Sacramento (Calif.) Public Library. In her new position, Denise will be responsible for assisting in the development and management of strategic initiatives … Continue reading Denise Davis to Leave ALA for Sacramento
Despite articles in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal suggesting otherwise, the American Library Association has no plans to sell its Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting trade shows to Reed Exhibitions and merge the Annual Conference with BookExpo America. ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels said today that he had received an inquiry from Jim Milliot … Continue reading ALA Is Not Selling Trade Show to Reed
Intellectual freedom is one of our bedrock values, and as the intellectual freedom issues and challenges libraries face are always evolving, so must the profession’s response. The eighth edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual offers, among other updated material, three “new Interpretations” of the Library Bill of Rights; 10 revised Interpretations; resolutions on the retention … Continue reading New from ALA: September 2010
Have you noticed that we seem to have entered an era of heightened competitiveness? Lots of wagon-circling and turf-protecting. Libraryland as one big happy family aside, shrinking funds are bringing out the tiger in us. For example, the decades-long competition between OCLC and rival library vendors came to a head July 28, when for-profit SkyRiver … Continue reading The Competition Intensifies
Welcome to a showcase of the dynamic doers—a snapshot of those who have dedicated themselves to the profession, who have gone above and beyond, and whose contributions have been so significant and so varied. These individuals and institutions have been recognized by their colleagues and friends for jobs well done. From Joseph W. Lippincott recipient Thomas C. … Continue reading Dynamic Doers
Mashup artists, smartphone users, academics, and people who are visually impaired are all winners, thanks to the latest exceptions made by the Librarian of Congress to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Since its enactment in 1998, the impact of the DMCA on fair use of digitized materials has been subject to review every three years … Continue reading LC Unlocks Doors for Creators, Consumers with DMCA Exceptions
Librarians and libraries should join with parents and other family members in “going back to the basics,” Roland S. Martin told the audience during the August 8 closing session of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s seventh National Conference of African American Librarians in Birmingham, Alabama. “When I look at the breakdown of … Continue reading Librarians Urged to Get Back to Basics
"Visions of Hope: Lunch with Two Extraordinary Men" was the title of the author luncheon featuring Ray Charles Robinson Jr. and Bryant Terry August 7 during during the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's seventh National Conference of African American Librarians in Birmingham, Alabama. "The work of librarians is vital for our youth," Robinson, … Continue reading Son of Musical Icon, Food Justice Activist Headline BCALA Author Luncheon
Kim Wayans, joined by her husband Kevin Knotts, shared a bit of her life growing up in a family of comedians at the August 6 author luncheon during the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's seventh National Conference of African American Librarians in Birmingham, Alabama, "Culture Keepers VII: Bridging the Divide with Information, Access, … Continue reading Kim Wayans/Kevin Knotts Writing Team Brings Laughter to Authors Luncheon
"It was the Little Rock Public Library's [then] small Ivory branch for colored people that helped me to begin to process information," Terrence Roberts said during the opening session John Tyson Lecture, August 5 during the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's (BCALA) seventh National Conference of African American Librarians in Birmingham, Alabama. Roberts, an … Continue reading Libraries and Information Key for Little Rock Nine Member
Two different library stories in Texas crossed my desk in the past week that gave me pause. The first was the discouraging news from far southeast Jefferson County that county commissioners seeking to close a several-million-dollar deficit have zeroed out the $297,236 budget for the 80-year-old county library, which serves 33,000 residents in unincorporated and … Continue reading Facts, with a Generous Helping of Heart
A post-conference interactive issue of Cognotes is now available online. ALA is going green this year and sending it out electronically to attendees. Deidre Ross, head of Conference Services, invites feedback and suggests that you send her a short e-mail with your thoughts, to dross@ala.org. If you were at the Annual Conference, this issue … Continue reading Post-Annual Conference Interactive Issue of Cognotes Now Available
