Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, today canceled her scheduled June 27 appearance at the American Library Association's Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Although her publicists gave no immediate reason for the cancellation, they told ALA that a statement was forthcoming. Ferguson was recently caught on videotape in the compromising position of trying to sell access … Continue reading Duchess of York Cancels
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels today announced the official launch of ALA Online Learning, a new section of the ALA website showcasing all web-based professional development opportunities across the Association. "This new section will allow website visitors to easily find all ALA online training in one place for the first time ever," Fiels said. … Continue reading Website Now Offers One-Stop Shopping for ALA Online Learning Opportunities
At the ALA Executive Board’s spring meeting, held April 23-25 at the Association’s headquarters in Chicago, the board spent a significant amount of time discussing the draft ALA 2015 Strategic Plan (PDF file) and the latest revisions made to the plan based on comments provided by over 750 ALA members. The ALA Council agenda includes discussion … Continue reading Planning and Budgeting
ALA Treasurer Rod Hersberger, whose term ends after this year's Annual Conference in June, delivered a report today on the American Library Association's financial picture. His assessment is scheduled for publication in the June-July issue of American Libraries, but here's a preview: "Over the last three years, I have tried to share information with ALA … Continue reading ALA Treasurer Sees Challenges Ahead
Election results just announced: Molly Raphael has been elected 2011-2012 president of the American Library Association, and James Neal was elected ALA treasurer for the 2010-2013 term. Raphael is the former director of Multnomah County Library in Oregon, and Neal is university librarian at Columbia University in New York City. Raphael received 5,857 votes for … Continue reading Raphael, Neal Elected ALA President, Treasurer
"The change we need," according to Tim O'Reilly, keynote speaker on day two of DrupalCon San Francisco, "is DIY on a civic scale. " We've come to rely on what O'Reilly called "vending machine government," where we put tax dollars in and expect services out, but real progress in civic organizations during tough economic times … Continue reading Drupal: The Change We Need
In the latest book on a persistent challenge, Michael Sullivan offers readers’ advisory as a strategy to bring boys to the library and get them to read. Serving Boys Through Readers’ Advisory explains “boys’ lit” and outlines how to use readers’ advisory effectively. Librarians will appreciate the many boy-friendly booktalks and book lists. Indexed. 152p.PBK. … Continue reading New from ALA: May 2010
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels summed up the state of Association finances at a general staff meeting in the Chicago headquarters the morning of April 7. “Overall revenues for 2010 are now projected to be 4% less, or just over $2 million,” Fiels said, “than ALA had projected a year ago” (on a total … Continue reading $1-Million Shortfall Results in Another Round of ALA Staff Furloughs
"Education is telling the truth to students," said author and contributing editor to National Public Radio's This American Life Sarah Vowell at the closing of the Public Library Association conference in Portland today. "You have the goods," she added. "You have the places where that person can find that truth." Vowell was responding to a … Continue reading Author Sarah Vowell Closes Public Librarians Conference in Portland
Waiting is never easy for a child. For a child in a hospital, though, it’s really a tough go. The looming surgery, the unfamiliar setting, even just the break in routine all pile on anxiety and make minutes seem like hours. Now many libraries are partnering with hospitals to help ease that anxiety as well … Continue reading Libraries, Hospitals Join Forces to Promote Wellness
The 2010 Olympic Winter Games are over and the Richmond O Zone celebration site here in British Columbia is being dismantled, but Richmond Public Library (RPL) staff are still reflecting on what it means to host the world. But let me shatter all your illusions right up front: We started out being a library, thinking … Continue reading Canadian Library Serves Community as Olympics Host
Members of the ALA governing Council learned yesterday from his wife, Amanda, that longtime councilor and association leader Bernard Margolis has been diagnosed with a severe type of blood cancer. His wife said they were consulting with the famed Dana-Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center in Boston and anticipate that he will need a bone marrow transplant … Continue reading Longtime ALA Leader Margolis Diagnosed with Blood Cancer
