public policy Archives | Page 2 of 2 | American Libraries Magazine

Policy Corps: A New Generation of Advocacy

By Timothy Inklebarger | October 13, 2017

Neal says the Association has always had a group of library workers with practical and policy experience it could call on to testify before national committees and speak with the press on behalf of libraries. But that advocacy network, which was already small, is shrinking even more as longtime advocates retire or move out of … Continue reading Policy Corps: A New Generation of Advocacy →

In D.C., It’s All about Our Values

By Keith Michael Fiels | March 1, 2017

As an Association, we advocate for a wide range of federal legislation and policy issues, from intellectual freedom and privacy to access to government information to preservation to copyright. We also advocate for funding for library programs, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the E-Rate program, … Continue reading In D.C., It’s All about Our Values →

At the ALA National Policy Convening, Alan S. Inouye (left) moderates a panel on "Future Directions for the Library of Congress," featuring Robert Darnton, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and university librarian emeritus of Harvard University; Sascha Meinrath, Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State University; and Katie Oyama, senior policy counsel of Google.

ALA’s National Policy Convening

By Charlie Wapner and Alan S. Inouye | April 19, 2016

The National Policy Convening brought together experts from across the beltway policy ecosystem to address some of the most pressing policy issues facing the library community. Programming consisted of three sessions: “Youth Engagement with Technology,” “Advancing Economic Opportunities in Communities,” and “Future Directions for the Library of Congress.” Youth engagement with technology Sen. Angus King … Continue reading ALA’s National Policy Convening →

A Policy Revolution for Digital Content

The poor and deteriorating state of library ebook lending in 2011 catalyzed this initiative. Waiting for publishers to take different actions would have likely worsened the conditions for libraries. A proactive policy stance must become the library community’s mainstream way of thinking and operating. This is true for ebooks and large publishers, but also more … Continue reading A Policy Revolution for Digital Content →

A New Nostalgia for Libraries

By Sanhita SinhaRoy | June 24, 2014

Palfrey, who chairs the board of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, spoke to 500 library leaders from around the world about the disconnect between research that shows Americans love their libraries and the electoral will necessary to preserve them. “We say we love libraries, … Continue reading A New Nostalgia for Libraries →

Latest Library Links

3d

Emily Temple writes: “As you might have heard, on [June 24], the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, eliminating Americans’ constitutional right to an abortion and dragging the country back in time almost 50 years. If you’re looking for help making sense of it all, here are just a few recent pieces we recommend.” The list includes a recent New York Times essay by librarian and public intellectual Tressie McMillan Cottom (pictured).

LitHub, June 28; The New York Times, June 28
3d

Liz Mineo writes: “Collections at Schlesinger Library at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute document the abortion dispute in the US, providing rich historical and political context and offering insights into the evolution of one of the nation’s most stubbornly polarizing issues. The holdings of Schlesinger, a research library on the history of women in America, include archival materials that chronicle the dispute from both the abortion rights and the anti-abortion movements, said Jenny Gotwals, Johanna-Maria Fraenkel Curator for Gender and Society there. Among them are photographs, records of abortion-rights organizations, posters of anti-abortion advocates, and personal letters of women asking for help to terminate their pregnancies, as well as personal papers and documents of anti-abortion activists.”

Harvard Gazette, June 28
3d

Laura Sackton writes: “These days I cannot get short stories into my bloodstream fast enough. There are so many! More come out every month! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with non-queer short story collections, but as someone who grew up hungering for queer lit, this current abundance is especially satisfying.”

Book Riot, June 28
3d

Madeleine List writes: “Parents who attended an LGBTQ-themed storytime at a Wilmington, North Carolina, public library say members of the Proud Boys protested outside and entered the building during the event to antagonize them.… ‘I was starkly nervous that they were in the building,’ one parent said. ‘I definitely felt unsafe at that point. I never imagined that the police would allow them to go into the library.’”

Qnotes Carolinas, June 25
3d

Alisha Ebrahimji writes: “A library board in New York reversed its decision to remove all LGBTQ-related displays from its children’s section in four of its libraries during Pride Month after the removal was criticized. On [June 21], four out of seven Smithtown Library Board of Trustees had voted to remove all Pride material displays from the children’s section in its Commack, Kings Park, Nesconset, and Smithtown locations on Long Island.… On [June 23], however, the board met once again for an emergency meeting to talk about the ban, resulting in a reversal on a 4–2 vote. The Pride Month material will remain on display through July 15 and be removed afterward at the supervisory librarian’s discretion.”

CNN, June 24
3d

Brett Zongker writes: “Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced today that historian George Chauncey will receive the 2022 John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity. Chauncey is the DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History at Columbia University. He directs the Columbia Research Institute on the Global History of Sexualities. ‘Professor Chauncey’s trailblazing career gave us all better insight into, and understanding of, the LGBTQ+ community and history,’ Hayden said. ‘His work that helped transform our nation’s attitudes and laws epitomizes the Kluge Center’s mission to support research at the intersection of the humanities and public policy.’ Chauncey is the first scholar in LGBTQ+ studies to receive the prize.”

Library of Congress Blog, June 22
3d

Deanna Schwartz writes: “Authors are protesting Amazon’s ebook return policy, a system they say allows readers to ‘steal’ from self-published authors. Amazon’s current return policy for ebooks allows customers to ‘cancel an accidental book order within seven days.’ But, for some readers, seven days is more than enough time to finish a book and return it after reading, effectively treating Amazon like a library.… Those suggesting the read-and-return practice think they’re ‘sticking it to Amazon’ but in reality are only harming the authors, said Eva Creel, a fantasy writer who publishes under the name E. G. Creel. ‘I have my book available at the library. If somebody wants to read it for free, they can,’ Creel said.”

View more Latest Library Links