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

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

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The Library of Congress’s new AI tool lets users search through 16 million historical US newspaper pages for images that help explain the stories of the past. The Newspaper Navigator shows how seminal events and characters, such as wars and presidents, have been depicted in the press.

The Next Web, Sept. 16
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Library Media Specialist Karin Greenberg writes: “For most of us in school libraries, this year’s back-to-school season is unsettling. My administrators have designated our high school library as a special education testing center, a place for overflow classroom students, and a computer distribution site. In order to fulfill social distancing requirements, they have no choice but to utilize the large spaces of libraries, gymnasiums, and cafeterias. But school librarians, whose roles are no longer clearly defined, are worried about their jobs. Because of this, we’re challenged to find innovative ways to reach students and staff members.”

Knowledge Quest, Sept. 21
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Open access publishing has made academic research more accessible, but it has also become more precarious to preserve. Nearly 200 open access journals vanished between 2000 and 2019, a new study published on arxiv found. Another 900 journals are in danger of meeting the same fate. The Internet Archive has created its own scholarly search platform, which includes more than 25 million research articles and other scholarly documents preserved on its servers.

Open Culture, Sept. 22
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Banned Books Week 2020 kicks off on September 27. Throughout the week, libraries, schools, bookstores, and organizations will be hosting events that spotlight the freedom to read—make sure to check out events happening around you. Here are also some virtual events from the American Library Association and its friends to add to your calendar.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Sept. 25
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In 2018, the Howard County (Ind.) Master Gardeners Association held a public meeting to gauge interest in installing a butterfly garden at the south branch of Kokomo–Howard County Public Library. That idea planted two years ago became a reality earlier this month when the library officially opened the KHCPL Community Butterfly Garden. Today, the site is packed with more than 30 native plants such as black-eyed Susans, golden alexander, Shasta daisies, rattlesnake master, and Joe-Pye weed, which are all expertly arranged to create a kind of living fireworks display of color.

Jeffersonville (Ind.) News and Tribune, Sept. 25
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School library instruction coordinator Leeanne Ellis writes: “The moon landing is fake. The earth is flat. 5G radio waves cause COVID-19 and suppress the immune system. What do these claims have in common? They are conspiracy theories. They are a massive part of the misinformation landscape and only increasing in scope and sequence. Teaching conspiracies provides a natural framework for lessons on information and media literacy: the construction of arguments, bias, context/background information, authority, author’s intention, types of evidence, and logical fallacies.”

Knowledge Quest, Sept. 18
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Help support a diverse workforce in the next generation of academic librarians by mentoring an ALA Spectrum Scholar through the ACRL Dr. E. J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program. This program links library school students and new librarians who are of American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern and North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander descent with established academic librarians who provide mentoring. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for a Spectrum Scholar, complete the online application.

ACRL, Sept. 22

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