PLA2016 Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Making Progress with Digital Content

By Toby Greenwalt and Richard Kong | April 14, 2016

Carolyn Anthony, director of Skokie (Ill.) Public Library and cochair of American Library Association’s Digital Content Working Group (DCWG), kicked things off. She shared insights gained during meetings with major publishers in December 2015. For instance, publishers generally continue to show greater willingness to provide better pricing and more flexible licensing terms. Penguin Random House … Continue reading Making Progress with Digital Content →

Vailey Oehlke, PLA President (left) and Tig Notaro at PLA 2016 in Denver.

Tig Notaro: She’s Just a Person

By Laurie D. Borman | April 9, 2016

Though she says she is the “worst guest for librarians” because she flunked out of 7th grade and dropped out of school, she cleverly began her hilarious stand-up routine for the closing session of the Public Library Association 2016 conference with a story about Fluff, her kitten. Fluff and her night-night ribbon. The cat-loving librarians loved … Continue reading Tig Notaro: She’s Just a Person →

Felton Thomas, PLA president-elect, introduces Big Ideas speaker and New York Times columnist Anand Giridharadas.

What is a True American?

By Laurie D. Borman | April 9, 2016

In many ways, Giridharadas says, some of the darkest themes in his book have become even more prevalent since it was published in 2014. “Their story was the story of America fracturing,” he said to the crowd gathered for his Big Ideas talk at the Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver today. Giridharadas is a New York … Continue reading What is a True American? →

Arianna Huffington addresses the crowd at the Adult Author Lunch during the Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver.

Arianna Huffington Touts the Wonders of Sleep

By Laurie D. Borman | April 8, 2016

Huffington, the Adult Author Lunch speaker at today’s Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver, took the fall as a literal wake-up call. She had been “running on empty” with just 4–5 hours of sleep a night. She learned new ways to calm herself before bed, and slowly worked her way back up to eight hours … Continue reading Arianna Huffington Touts the Wonders of Sleep →

Psychologist, author, and MIT professor Sherry Turkle encouraged attendees at the Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver to put down their phones in favor of face-to-face conversation.

Time to Put Your Phone Away and Talk

By Laurie D. Borman | April 8, 2016

In speaking at the early morning Big Ideas session today at the Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver, sponsored by Penguin Random House, Turkle drove home her point with numerous studies and anecdotes about people of all ages who find their phones have interfered with developing personal relationships. In the last 20 years, she … Continue reading Time to Put Your Phone Away and Talk →

Attendees learn CAD modeling in the COLab at the 2016 Public Library Association Conference in Denver.

How-To Lessons, Makerspaces, and Coding

By Laurie D. Borman | April 8, 2016

Colorado businesses and libraries partnered in COLab, where attendees could try out 3D printing with a printer made in Colorado, as well as other makerspace projects that are part of the partnership. At the Take Charge Lounge, spin bikes were set up with a phone charger attached to the flywheel, making it freewheeling charging. Programs … Continue reading How-To Lessons, Makerspaces, and Coding →

Entrepreneur, author, and cultural innovator Verna Myers was the featured BIG IDEAS speaker for the Public Library Association 2016 conference in Denver.

Big Ideas with Vernā Myers

By Laurie D. Borman | April 8, 2016

She told the story of her first visit to China, and found herself the object of stares. Everyone was looking at her, and it didn’t feel good. “Why are these people staring at me?” she thought. She asked a Chinese associate to explain what was happening, and he said it was common for Chinese people … Continue reading Big Ideas with Vernā Myers →

A drum line energizes the crowd and opens the exhibit hall at the Public Library Association Conference in Denver.

PLA2016 Opens with Anderson Cooper and a Drum Line

By Laurie D. Borman | April 7, 2016

In an open and nonpolitical conversation, Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor, talked about his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, and their relationship, the focus of their new book, The Rainbow Comes and Goes (Harper Collins). Cooper, who experienced tremendous loss in his life with the death of his father at a very young age, and then the suicide of his … Continue reading PLA2016 Opens with Anderson Cooper and a Drum Line →

Author, podcast host, and motivational speaker Kari Chapin inspires the crowd at the Public Library Association Conference in Denver, April 6, 2016.

PLA2016: Making It Extraordinary

By Laurie D. Borman | April 6, 2016

Conference-goers received a “Little Guide for Your Big Ideas” created by Chapin, filled with tips and templates for pinpointing ideas and making plans, including a 30-day challenge to keep the conference flow going. The author of Grow Your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop, and Sustain a Successful Creative Business (Storey Publishing, 2012), Handmade Marketplace: How to … Continue reading PLA2016: Making It Extraordinary →

John Fuduric, owner of The Cleveland Brewery, who used library resources to print unique beer taps for his business.

Library Advocacy Video Premieres at PLA

By Laurie D. Borman | April 6, 2016

The video featured John Fuduric, owner of The Cleveland Brewery, who used the local library’s 3D printer to create custom keg tap handles, and helped demonstrate how libraries assist local entrepreneurs in unusual ways. “Policy makers, community decision makers, and funders do not always recognize the expanded roles and capabilities of libraries nor recognize the extent … Continue reading Library Advocacy Video Premieres at PLA →

Latest Library Links

4h

“Two years after Brooklyn Public Libraries’ (BPL) launch of Books Unbanned, an initiative to protect the freedom to read for young people, In Their Own Words: Youth Voices on Books Unbanned gives new insight into the impact of censorship on teen and young adults across the US and how restrictions and other barriers to access build upon and reinforce each other. The new report, published April 11 by BPL and Seattle Public Library, analyzes 855 stories shared by young people who signed up for a free Books Unbanned ecard from April 2022 through December 2023.”

Seattle Public Library, Apr. 11
8h

Samantha Guss, Sojourna Cunningham, and Jennifer Stout write: “Recruitment and retention are both critical to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in academic libraries, and failing to improve retention has and will continue to derail these initiatives. Research that addresses retention tends to focus on proposed strategies, such as stay interviews (structured interviews aimed at strengthening employee and employer relationships) and mentorship programs. But there is no agreed-upon definition of retention that would allow us to assess these strategies. We should recognize that involuntary staying can be just as negative an outcome for the individual and the organization as leaving, setting the stage for legacy toxicity.”

In The Library With The Lead Pipe, Apr. 10
1d

Jackie Edwards writes: “As spring rolls around, seasonal allergies can flare up among library workers, resulting in symptoms like sneezing; runny or stuffy nose; itchy eyes, ears, and nose; coughing; and asthma. Not only are these symptoms detrimental to well-being and productivity, but they can also mean you’re less able to provide excellent customer service to library users. Fortunately, by purifying the air, preventing mold, and keeping your work area clean, you can improve indoor air quality and combat allergies in your library.”

Library Worklife, Apr.
1d

In Episode 94, Call Number celebrates Preservation Week, to be held this year April 28–May 4. The week’s events aim to raise awareness of the role libraries and cultural institutions play in protecting historic and culturally significant collections. Segments include Traci Sorell, honorary chair of this year’s Preservation Week, discussing the role of preservation through storytelling; Kathleen Monahan, special collections public services supervisor at Boston Public Library, addressing the importance of security in preservation; and Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone, cofounders of the Poison Book Project, talking about their research on potentially toxic bookbinding materials from the 19th century.

AL: The Scoop, Apr. 15
2d

Leigh Kunkel writes: “The legalization of marijuana in many states and municipalities in recent years has created a newly legal industry and budding entrepreneurs who can benefit from the expertise of business librarians. As soon as Washington state introduced an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis use in 2012, Seattle Public Library librarian Jay Lyman started fielding questions from potential entrepreneurs. Since then, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis use, and 14 more have legalized medical use of cannabis. This cultural shift brings a new opportunity for libraries to step in with support services.”

American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
2d

ALA launched its “Reader. Voter. Ready.” campaign April 10, calling on advocates to sign a pledge to be registered, informed, and ready to vote in all local, state, and federal elections in 2024. Available resources include a 2024 voter engagement guide for libraries, a tip sheet to share with community leaders and partners, highlighting the ways libraries support voter participation and education, and a one-pager, “Voters Count on Libraries: The Numbers,” illustrating the role libraries play as centers of civic lift and patron engagement with library services. ALA is collaborating with partners to provide nonpartisan resources and learning opportunities for librarians.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Apr. 10
5d

Joyce McIntosh writes: “Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants to organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during Banned Books Week. Grants are awarded for $1,000 and applications are accepted through April 30. FTRF also offers the annual Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship for library school students and new professionals to attend ALA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition. The scholarship provides conference registration, transportation, six nights of housing, and a $300 stipend for meals and other expenses. The application deadline is April 26.”

Freedom to Read Foundation, Mar. 28, 29

View more Latest Library Links