speakers Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Attendees crowd around travel author Rick Steves for autographs following his Auditorium Speaker Series presentation at the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting. Photo: Cognotes

2019 Midwinter Wrap-Up

By Anne Ford | February 5, 2019

The Emerald City played host to more than 9,200 attendees (as compared with 8,036 in 2018 and 8,995 in 2017), who came to soak up the words of big-name speakers, learn from the practices of their peers, and network around subjects practical and theoretical. As with recent Midwinters, many sessions focused on the empowerment of … Continue reading 2019 Midwinter Wrap-Up →

Preview of the American Library Association's 2019 Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Seattle.

2019 Midwinter Preview

By Greg Landgraf | January 2, 2019

Featured speakers Opening Session Friday, January 25, 4–5:15 p.m. Philanthropist Melinda Gates, cofounder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has dedicated her life to transforming the health and prosperity of families, communities, and societies. Core to her work is the empowerment of women and girls. Gates is the author of the forthcoming The Moment … Continue reading 2019 Midwinter Preview →

Skip Prichard addresses the crowd at the 2018 OCLC Americas Regional Council Conference on October 25 in Chicago. (Photo: OCLC)

Game Changers for Libraries

By Sanhita SinhaRoy | October 26, 2018

When Skip Prichard opened the 2018 OCLC Americas Regional Council Conference on October 25 in Chicago, the president and CEO of OCLC ran through a list of changes that have occurred in recent years to the ways in which we live and work. “What influences change is control,” he told the more than 200 people … Continue reading Game Changers for Libraries →

Attendees of the American Library Association's 2018 Annual Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans display matching Michelle Obama T-shirts ahead of the Opening General Session. Photos: Cognotes and Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries

2018 Annual Wrap-Up

By Anne Ford | July 18, 2018

Among the many big-name speakers in the Big Easy was former First Lady Michelle Obama, who opened the conference with an inspiring talk about work ethic, raising children, being a woman, striving for work/life balance, and the importance of remembering one another’s humanity. “I know that there are so many people in this country, in … Continue reading 2018 Annual Wrap-Up →

Welcome to Jason Segel’s Nightmare

By Phil Morehart | January 31, 2015

Segel is the co-author with writer Kirsten Miller of Nightmares!, the first entry in a new book series for kids. Nightmares! follows a young boy named Charlie as he battles the witches, goblins, and more that inhabit his nighttime dreamworld. Segel spent much of his very funny Saturday morning talk at Midwinter, part of the … Continue reading Welcome to Jason Segel’s Nightmare →

Interview with Melissa Sweet

By Sanhita SinhaRoy | January 27, 2014

Among Sweet’s awards are a Caldecott Honor for A River of Words (Eerdmans, 2008) and, more recently, a 2014 Sibert Honor for A Splash of Red (Knopf), which was announced at the January 27 Youth Media Awards. Video: Melissa Sweet on the Influence of Libraries See, hear, and read more about what’s going on … Continue reading Interview with Melissa Sweet →

Latest Library Links

2d

PLA has commenced its Inclusive Internship Initiative (III) activities for summer 2019. Through III, PLA sponsors paid and mentored summer internships at public libraries for high school juniors and seniors. The libraries were selected through a competitive application process in early 2019. With individual guidance from a mentor, each intern engages with multiple facets of library life, from administration to user services. A total of 96 people—48 interns and 48 mentors—are attending the 2019 III Kick-Off, taking place in Chicago, June 13–15.

PLA, June 13
2d

In the PBS documentary American Creed, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David M. Kennedy come together from different points of view to explore the idea of a unifying American creed. Their spirited inquiry frames the stories of citizen-activists striving to realize their own visions of America’s promise across deep divides. On June 22 at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., attendees are invited to watch segments of the film and learn about programming ideas to bring home to their libraries. All attendees will receive a free DVD of American Creed for their circulating collections.

AlA Public Programs Office, June 14
2d

During the ALA 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., ALA is rolling out a new ALA Scholars Program. Recipients of ALA scholarships will be brought to Annual Conference and given opportunities to learn about ALA governance while meeting seasoned library workers. To find out about the scholars who will be participating in the program this year, visit the scholarship 50th anniversary page. To support the ALA Scholarship Program, visit the donation page.

Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment, June 14
2d

After serving St. Paul, Minnesota, for 98 years, the James J. Hill Center is closing on July 3. Originally the James J. Hill Reference Library, it has served as a wedding and event center in recent years. The railroad magnate commissioned the library in 1911, but died five years before its completion in 1921. He wanted the library to have the most current and accurate materials, and he intentionally left out the subjects of law, genealogy, medicine, and popular fiction. The center is currently evaluating all options related to the future of the institution and its historic building.

Minnesota Public Radio News, June 13
2d

Tony Hoffman writes: “Projectors have come a long way from the days when the most useful way to categorize them was by their weight class. Today, you can break them down into any number of more meaningful categories, including their intended use (business presentations, home theater, or gameplay), their base technology (LCD, DLP, or LCOS), and the throw distance (how close to the screen you can place the projector). Here are some questions to answer that will help you find a projector with the right features and performance for your needs.”

PC Magazine, June 12
2d

Tim Gideon writes: “Improving the quality of your podcast vocals isn’t rocket science, but it does require paying attention to some aspects of the recording process that you might be ignoring. After all, sound engineers and producers spend years honing their craft, and voice-over artists and radio personalities need to develop at least a modicum of mic technique. Understanding the basics of a microphone’s characteristics, be it a USB mic or an XLR mic, will help you approach your recordings with more confidence.”

PC Magazine, June 13
2d

Amherst (Mass.) College on June 5 announced a gift of approximately $25 million from the late William McCall Vickery to the college’s endowment, approximately $22 million of which is designated for use by the Emily Dickinson Museum. The transformative gift, the largest ever received by the museum, will be known as the “William McCall Vickery ’57 Emily Dickinson Fund” and is specifically earmarked for the maintenance and improvement of its buildings, grounds, and collections. Vickery, who was a devoted Amherst alumnus, volunteer, employee, and supporter, also was a founding member of the Dickinson Museum’s board of governors.

Emily Dickinson Museum, June 5

View more Latest Library Links