But don’t despair, said David Connolly, who compiles ALA’s JobLIST, a resource for career advice and job search information. The market is back to pre-2008, he said. “We may be treading water, but at least, it’s not getting worse.” In fact, according to Connolly, experienced librarians can anticipate a relatively strong job market because the … Continue reading Toughing It Out in a Tight Job Market
These days it’s more important than ever to communicate with people outside of the library world—“civilians,” as library consultant Joan Frye Williams calls them. Community publications offer endless opportunities to share stories of library resources, services, and needs with our users, potential users, and funders. Let’s look at how we can increase the visibility and … Continue reading Writing for Civilians
It was a sunny June afternoon, perfect for playing baseball, taking a dip in the local pool—or having a virtual chat with a favorite author over Skype about what you’ve been reading. That was the message the New Albany–Floyd County (Ind.) Public Library set out to impart this summer through our first “Guys Read” program … Continue reading Connect Guys with Authors
How many passwords do you have? Michael has 221; David has 210. Some are for social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter, while others are for services used occasionally, such as SoundCloud (a place to store and share audio files) or Tripit (a travel app). The rest are for services and tools we have tried … Continue reading Unforgettable Passwords
“Writing Women Back into History” is the theme for National Women’s History Month, March 2010, the annual celebration of women in the United States. For years women’s contributions were routinely underestimated or ignored even in the history of our own profession. While this still remains the case for much of history, the second wave of … Continue reading How to Celebrate Women’s History @ Your Library
Times are tough for libraries, and when times get tough, managers—whether college administrators, a principal, a board of trustees, or even voters—start asking about the viability of programs and the measurable benefits of those programs. That’s why understanding how to measure your library’s activities—and therefore proving their value—is critical in today’s economic environment. In Using … Continue reading Making Sure Libraries “Measure Up”
Brain Hive is creating buzz, and a bit of controversy, with a new business model for delivering ebooks to school libraries. The site claims that its $1-a-read rental strategy will “add thousands of titles to your collection.” Can it deliver? At first glance, I was quite skeptical: $1 a read seems rather high. After all, … Continue reading School Library Ebook Company Challenges Traditional Business Model
Renowned author and media studies scholar Henry Jenkins set the tone for a weekend of dedicated learning at the opening of the 2012 Fall Forum of ALA’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL), held October 12–13. Jenkins characterized school librarians as central figures in the movement to reshape education. “You can change things in a … Continue reading AASL’s Fall Forum Focuses on Transliteracy and School Libraries
Like many librarians, I was a frequent user of libraries as a child. Yet I have always avoided asking for help. I wrote an entire undergraduate thesis without talking to a librarian. If I didn’t understand something, I’d find a way to figure it out myself. For years, my experiences fueled my desire to make … Continue reading The DIY Patron
Although Days 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday) of New York Comic-Con are designed for fans (Saturday normally features some star panels and screenings, and Sunday is the day for kids and families), I found interesting and engaging professional panels this weekend. This was a good thing, since getting into some of the star sessions—such … Continue reading New York Comic-Con Days 3 and 4: Of Censorship and (Digital) Content
At last year’s NYCC, New Jersey City University Library’s Head of Acquisitions and (founder of the ALA Dance Party) J. P. Porcaro gathered every single librarian in the ALA booth for the Epic Librarian Photo Shoot. The tradition continued this year, and as you can see from the photo below, we crammed every possible librarian into … Continue reading The Show Floor (and more) at NY Comic-Con
DPLA Midwest—taking place on October 11–12, 2012 in Chicago—is the third major public event bringing together librarians, technologists, creators, students, government leaders, and others interested in building a Digital Public Library of America. Convened by the DPLA Secretariat at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society and cohosted by the Chicago Public Library, the event … Continue reading DPLA Midwest in Chicago
