public libraries Archives | Page 28 of 30 | American Libraries Magazine

Marilynn Lance-Robb, branch manager at the Carvers Bay Branch Library in Georgetown, South Carolina, assists a patron with health information. Photo: Marilynn Lance-Robb

Improving Health Literacy, One Public Library at a Time

By Lea Radick | October 30, 2015

Instead, Davis assists patrons with their health care questions by helping them find information on Medline-Plus, an authoritative, free website where the public can find health information in more than 40 languages. Although Davis, a former medical librarian, is familiar with health care topics, most public librarians do not necessarily have a medical background. Still … Continue reading Improving Health Literacy, One Public Library at a Time →

A death cafe meets in the Ann Stevens Room in the Anchorage (Alaska) Public Library. Photo: Kris Green

When the Subject Is Death

By Timothy Inklebarger | October 30, 2015

Since the first gathering, named death café, was held in the US in Columbus, Ohio, in July 2012, the forums have spread across the nation. And many are beginning to appear in libraries, according to Lizzy Miles, an organizer for DeathCafe.com. Miles, who organized the Columbus death café, tells American Libraries that she was inspired … Continue reading When the Subject Is Death →

Many libraries purchase coloring books or print free pages online for their clubs. Other supplies—such as crayons, markers, and coloring pencils—are also provided.

Coloring Book Clubs Cross the Line into Libraries

By Alison Marcotte | October 30, 2015

Editor’s note: A shorter version of this article originally appeared in The Scoop in August. “We purchase a couple of coloring books, I print out some free coloring pages that are available online, and we just get together and color,” says librarian Kellie Porter, who started the library’s Coloring Club in May. The club has … Continue reading Coloring Book Clubs Cross the Line into Libraries →

Salt Lake City Public Library System staffers pose as characters from the Back to the Future films. From left, teen services coordinator Christina Walsh as Doc Brown, children's services coordinator Liesl Johnson as Marty McFly, and adult services coordinator Tommy Hamby as Jennifer Parker. Photo: Salt Lake City Public Library System

Marty, We’ve Got to Go Back—to the Library!

By Alison Marcotte and Terra Dankowski | October 21, 2015

Many libraries are celebrating Back to the Future Day—October 21, 2015—with screenings of the Back to the Future trilogy and programming related to the films. The date, which is featured prominently in Back to the Future Part II, has been incorrectly depicted in internet hoaxes and memes for years. “We actually have a super fan … Continue reading Marty, We’ve Got to Go Back—to the Library! →

(left to right) Andy Cardimen, BMO Harris Bank managing director, Jackie Nytes, Indianapolis Public Library chief executive officer, Chris Cairo, director of project development at Indianapolis–Marion County Public Library, and Greg Ballard, mayor of Indianapolis, hold the One Book, Two Cities book selection, Vienna by Eva Menasse, at the program’s launch in December 2013. Photo: Indianapolis Public Library

The Indianapolis Public Library Goes Global

By Chris Cairo | September 29, 2015

With advanced technology and the ability to connect globally, the Indianapolis Public Library (IPL) formed partnerships with the eight international cities that are part of Indianapolis’s Sister City Program. IPL has made connections so far with Campinas, Brazil; Hangzhou, China; Cologne, Germany; and Piran, Slovenia. The first meetings involved a collection exchange between each city. … Continue reading The Indianapolis Public Library Goes Global →

A patron renews her driver’s license inside Ames (Iowa) Public Library in June. Iowa DOT unveiled 11 kiosks in libraries in May.

Driver’s License Kiosks Expand to Iowa Libraries

By Alison Marcotte | September 18, 2015

After a successful two-year pilot project to make driver’s license renewals easier for state residents via public kiosks, the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) began implementing similar kiosks in 11 libraries in late May. One of those kiosks is inside Ames (Iowa) Public Library. Mary Logsdon, the library’s adult services manager, says providing the … Continue reading Driver’s License Kiosks Expand to Iowa Libraries →

Los Angeles Public Library’s Central branch, partnering with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, provides free assistance filling out Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. The May 2014 event drew 120 attendees and resulted in 90 applications completed. Photo: Los Angeles Public Library

Librarians as Immigration Lawyers

By Terra Dankowski | September 17, 2015

“We realized we had to go for accreditation because there’s a fine line between legal advice and helping someone on the computer,” says Homa Naficy, chief adult learning officer for Hartford (Conn.) Public Library (HPL). Naficy is referring to Board of Immigration Appeals Recognition and Accreditation (BIA R&A), granted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), … Continue reading Librarians as Immigration Lawyers →

Library Card Spokesdog

By Sari Feldman | September 3, 2015

Snoopy has inspired all of us at Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Public Library (CCPL) to expand Library Card Sign-Up Month into a dog-tastic extravaganza. We are crowdsourcing a “top dog” to be featured on an official CCPL library card, and we’re giving customers the chance to create their own customized library cards during a special pet … Continue reading Library Card Spokesdog →

Woods Hole (Mass.) Public Library holds monthly coloring book clubs. The event attracts 15–20 people per month, ranging from tweens to 70 year olds.

Coloring Book Clubs Cross the Line into Libraries

By Alison Marcotte | August 24, 2015

“We purchase a couple of coloring books and I print out some free coloring pages that are available online, and we just get together and color,” says librarian Kellie Porter, who started the library’s Coloring Club in May. The club has seen about 15–20 members a month, ranging from tweens to 70-year-olds. “I really try … Continue reading Coloring Book Clubs Cross the Line into Libraries →

Ferguson, One Year Later

By Sarah Ostman | August 7, 2015

ALA: How are you feeling about the anniversary? Scott Bonner: Worried. Not knowing is the worst part. There’s a possibility that we’ll see a big crowd of protesters, and if the police react strongly, things could get rough. We just don’t know. I tend to be optimistic, but I was also optimistic about the grand … Continue reading Ferguson, One Year Later →

Richard Frieder (standing), community engagement director at Hartford Public Library, facilitates a community dialogue among neighborhood residents and Hartford police officers on the topic of community violence and public safety. The dialogue took place in June 2015 at Hartford Public Library's Barbour Street branch. (Photo: Judy Wyman Kelly)

Hartford Public Library Builds, Strengthens Community–Police Relationships

By Alison Marcotte | August 3, 2015

HPL is one of 10 public libraries in the US that have been participating in ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) initiative since April 2014. The initiative, in collaboration with the nonprofit Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, is an 18-month community engagement training program where libraries learn how to address challenges facing their community. (Read more … Continue reading Hartford Public Library Builds, Strengthens Community–Police Relationships →

The Washington Post on Libraries and Ebooks

By James LaRue | July 13, 2015

But I find myself wondering a bit about this paragraph: “As long as the reading public stays interested in print, libraries should not abandon it. At the same time, e-books are popular: Electronic waiting lists were hundreds of people long when e-books first arrived on the public library scene, though librarians say demand has leveled off somewhat … Continue reading The Washington Post on Libraries and Ebooks →

Latest Library Links

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Gavin Damore writes: “As you’re busy planning for your various programming and activities to keep kids and tweens engaged during school break, be sure to check out the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) 2025 Summer Reading Lists. Every year, ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee compiles and annotates these lists. They provide an easy way to share recommended reads with parents and caregivers during the busiest time of year. We know that summer reading programming and recommendations aren’t one-size-fits-all. That’s why the committee compiles four summer reading lists based on age group.”

ALSC Blog, May 12
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Brittany Allen writes: “On May 8, 1925, one of the country’s largest collections of Black arts, literature, and history was born out of a Harlem brownstone. Now called the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in honor of the late curator, Arturo Schomburg, this branch of the New York Public Library is home to a staggering archive. So it’s only fitting that the library observe its centennial in style.” The year-long celebration includes a major exhibition, a series of programs, a limited edition library card, and more. The exhibition opening included several fireside chats featuring Director Joy Bivins, current and former Schomburg staff, and noted authors.

Lit Hub, May 7; New York Public Library, Apr. 22; Schomburg Research Center, May 8
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Elissa Malespina writes: “Something big just happened—and not enough people are talking about it. The US Copyright Office has released a sweeping three-part report series on artificial intelligence (AI), covering everything from deepfakes to AI-generated content to whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted materials to train their models. It’s the most important government action we’ve seen yet on AI and copyright—and it directly affects educators, librarians, students, and creators. Let’s unpack what this report says—and why the sudden dismissal of Copyright Office Head Shira Perlmutter matters more than ever.”

The AI School Librarian, May 13; US Copyright Office, May 9
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Becky Spratford writes: “Everyone is interested in the conclave right now, no matter what their religion. And they are going to stay that way [even after the new Pope was elected]. This will have a long tail of interest. Keep the displays up until books are not being checked out. Many of these are great backlist titles that deserve a moment to shine on your displays. And you need these displays up to show readers that you know they are interested in the topic but appreciate that they may not have made it in during the actual conclave itself.”

RA for All, May 8
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Matt Witkos and Kallista Cory write: “Patmos Library in Jamestown Township, Michigan, gained national attention for facing tension over books featuring LGBTQ+ topics. And it faced potential closure because of a lack of funding. It took three separate millage votes for funding to finally be renewed. Now the local community spot is closed” temporarily after five of eight staff members resigned last week. “The five shared with FOX 17 that they felt limited by the board in doing the jobs they were hired to do.” The majority of residents who attended the library’s board meeting May 12 expressed support for the staff.

WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.), May 9, May 13; Holland (Mich.) Sentinel, Nov. 8, 2023
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Lolita C. Baldor writes: “The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on May 9. It follows similar efforts to remove hundreds of books from the libraries at the military academies [and schools]. The memo says that educational materials at the libraries ‘promoting divisive concepts and gender ideology are incompatible with the department’s core mission.’ By May 21, the memo says, additional guidance will be provided on how to cull that initial list.”

Associated Press, May 9; Apr. 1; ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office and American Association of School Librarians, Feb. 14
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Anne Ford writes: “With total earnings of $426,600, Adriana Harmeyer, archives and special collections assistant professor and archivist for university history at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, is the winningest library professional ever to have appeared on Jeopardy! On May 14, she seeks to further cement that title, as she aims for the quarterfinals of the 2025 Jeopardy! Masters Tournament. Harmeyer—who holds the 11th longest consecutive winning streak of any player on the show—spoke with American Libraries about her longtime love of the game, her least favorite category, and how she blazed her path to the Masters.”

American Libraries Trend, May 12

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