Libraries know the future is digital, but how do we get there in these times of shrinking budgets and staffs? In a tough economy, a collaborative approach makes digitization possible for many libraries. By joining a mass digitization collaborative, the historical society, museum, public library, or academic institution new to digitization can launch a small … Continue reading Step Easily into the Digital Future
Wake up, librarians! No-fee public access to government information is in danger, because on July 22 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 252–159 to drastically cut the Government Printing Office (GPO) appropriations for FY2012 and eliminate funding for the GPO Federal Digital System (FDsys). FDsys was created by GPO in 1994 to fulfill the requirement … Continue reading Government Information in Peril
“The digital divide gets bridged in public libraries everywhere in America,” said Mary Dempsey, Chicago Public Library commissioner, as she announced the expansion of a popular digital media center for youth in June. Recent books provide insights on how to bridge the divide, explain why we need to, and offer some research to help make … Continue reading Conquering the Digital Divide
The Winona Newspaper Project, an open, noncommercial digital archive, is providing access to a number of historic periodicals of Winona, Minnesota, a mid-sized city in the southeastern part of the state. The project is an indispensable resource for Winona State University’s Darrell W. Krueger Library and university faculty and students, as well as for local … Continue reading How One Library Digitized Its Community’s Newspapers
ALA’s Executive Board and governing Council spent much of their time during Annual Conference in New Orleans discussing—and acting on—a series of recommendations from five special task forces charged with exploring important issues facing libraries and the Association. Council’s Equitable Access to Digital Content Task Force has been studying the challenges and potential solutions in … Continue reading E-books, Young Professionals, and Reinventing ALA
“Libraries are about content plus community,” says Michael Porter. “What does that mean in a world where in 5, 10, or 20 years the vast majority of content is electronic?” Porter draws on two decades of experience as a librarian, speaker, and writer to envision an organization that will take a leading role in charting … Continue reading Libraries and the Future of Electronic Content Delivery
Technology, innovation, and convergence were all on display inside the bustling 2011 ALA Annual Conference exhibit hall in New Orleans. Aisles of publishers with bright, appealing print-book displays and long lines of fans awaiting author signings gave way to technology pavilions with presentation seating and numerous demonstrations in progress. Conference attendees flocked to the exhibits, … Continue reading New Technologies, New Directions Emerge at ALA 2011
The one-hour PBS documentary special Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness screened Monday during ALA in New Orleans, in advance of its September 21 national broadcast. The preview screening was part of Not In Our Town’s outreach to libraries nationwide, to invite them to use the film and related resources for free community screenings … Continue reading Free to Libraries: PBS Filmmakers Offer “Not in Our Town” Program Aids
A report by the Presidential Task Force for Improving the Effectiveness of ALA’s Council (Council Document #45), chaired by past ALA president Jim Retting, was the hot topic on the agenda of the third session of the Association’s governing Council in New Orleans. Three of the many suggestions required and received formal action. Others, except … Continue reading Council III: Effectiveness Task Force Recommendations Dominate Session
ALA’s governing Council referred the report from the Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC) to the Budget Analysis and Review Committee during its second session at Annual Conference (Council Document #41.1). The task force was directed to study the challenges and potential solutions for libraries regarding improved electronic content access, distribution … Continue reading Council II: Financial Impact of Equitable Electronic Access under Review
On Monday, June 27, the “Out of the Closet and Into the Library: LGBTQ Programming” panel discussed how to develop and implement LGBTQ programming in your library. The panelists were from both public and academic libraries and approached the topic of incorporating the programming from the perspective of the institutions they served. Bleue Benton, collection … Continue reading LGBTQ Programming in Your Library
Tom Blanton, director of the National Security Archive at George Washington University, met WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at a gathering of investigative journalists in April 2010, shortly after WikiLeaks had released a video of the U.S. military firing on Reuters journalists. Blanton told the audience at “When It Leaks It Pours: WikiLeaks, National Declassification System, … Continue reading Transparency and Ethics in the Wake of WikiLeaks
