technology Archives | Page 34 of 34 | American Libraries Magazine

Vendors Spotlight New Wares in Technology Showcase

January 18, 2010

Nine vendors garnered a spot in the Technology Showcase, which ran concurrently in two theaters during the Boston Midwinter meeting. Aptly named One If By Land and Two If By Sea, the theaters featured demonstrations by Infor Global Solutions, Emerald Group Publishing, 3M, Credo Reference, Thomson Reuters, ebrary, Innovative Interfaces, Springer, and IGI Global. Jeff … Continue reading Vendors Spotlight New Wares in Technology Showcase →

Top Tech Trends MW10

January 18, 2010

LITA's Top Tech Trends was interesting to me this year because its participants, while all formidable representatives of the world of cutting edge library tech geeks, were all new to the panel: David Walker kicked off the discussion by talking about discovery layers, a top trend indeed. Although their growth is somewhat slowed by the … Continue reading Top Tech Trends MW10 →

Washington Office Update, part 1

January 16, 2010

The Washington Office covered a number of topics in its Midwinter update. Due to a scheduled interview on the MCCA/ALA Haiti Relief Fund, I was able to attend the first hour only; Pamela Goodes will be writing about topics discussed after I left. Patriot Act “It’s back, and it’s not real great news, said Lynne … Continue reading Washington Office Update, part 1 →

Brand Perception 2.0

By Meredith Farkas | December 16, 2009

Many librarians have tried to play a role in educating young adults about developing a presence on social networking sites. They have warned teens that nothing online ever really disappears and that compromising photographs or derogatory posts can impact their future job prospects. Online identity is built upon all of the things we have put … Continue reading Brand Perception 2.0 →

Gamers take over U.S. libraries

November 18, 2009

Children, teens, and adults showed up in droves to play board games and video games at the biggest National Gaming Day yet November 14, with 1,365 registered libraries participating, easily doubling the number of participants from last year, NGD mastermind Jenny Levine told American Libraries. Libraries who participated in the massive, nationwide, ALA-sponsored event received … Continue reading Gamers take over U.S. libraries →

Your Desktop: The Movie

By Meredith Farkas | October 26, 2009

In virtually all libraries today, there will be many more people using the library than just those who come through the door. Our patrons are increasingly accessing our resources and services virtually, to the point where some never use the physical library at all. This has challenged libraries to find creative ways to provide comparable … Continue reading Your Desktop: The Movie →

Censorship Gets Smart

By Joseph Janes | October 26, 2009

As we all know, Judith Krug—the director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, who passed away April 11, was an extraordinary woman, a force for the freedom to read and view and write and think as we please. She was a hero and role model for us all to live up to, and she left … Continue reading Censorship Gets Smart →

OCLC’s Andrew Pace Reveals Plans for Web-Scale Management

April 28, 2009

The executive director for networked library services at the world’s largest library consortium paints the big picture regarding OCLC’s web-platform initiative in an April 24, 2009, conversation with American Libraries Editor-in-Chief Leonard Kniffel. American Libraries: Who is the target market for this new management service? Andrew Pace: You’re talking about the web-scale management services, not … Continue reading OCLC’s Andrew Pace Reveals Plans for Web-Scale Management →

Latest Library Links

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Mackenzi Klemann writes: “Hoosiers suffering mental health crises are visiting public libraries for help—transforming the role of librarians who act simultaneously as researchers, archivists, and quasi–social workers. Mental Health America of Indiana is stepping in to train librarians in how to respond to these crises and direct patrons to reliable information on suicide prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health disorders. Todd Grooten, a licensed social worker and co-chair of the Indiana Library Federation’s mental health committee, welcomed the opportunity as library staff like himself increasingly encounter people in crisis seeking internet access and other resources from public libraries.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle, July 9
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Kelly Jensen writes: “If there were a single word to capture the state of library cuts across the US, it would be ‘rough.’ It’s rough not only for public libraries but also for school and academic libraries. This is not a comprehensive look at library cuts in 2026. It can’t be. Most of the time, these stories—especially ones about ‘smaller’ cuts to library materials budgets or to popular databases—don’t make the news. But this sampling is representative of what’s happening across libraries in the US right now.”

Well Sourced, July 11
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The Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has added new committee-recommended sources to its Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction and Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction lists. The committee updates these lists with new resources and annotations annually. Resources included on this list are chosen for their innovative discussions of teaching methods, instructional design, and assessment tools or techniques in library instruction.

Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section, July 7
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Jose Ruiz-Vazquez writes: “Public libraries are dealing with budget cuts, book bans, and the usual existential questions about whether anyone needs physical collections when they can Google everything. And now artificial intelligence (AI) shows up, and everyone assumes libraries are about to get steamrolled by it too. But watch what’s happening at reference desks: Patrons ask how to determine whether an IRS email is real or a phishing attempt. Small business owners are trying to figure out which AI tool won’t steal their marketing copy. These aren’t edge cases. This is what reference work looks like now.”

Public Libraries Online, July 12
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Maria McCauley writes: “For 30 years, E-Rate has been one of America’s most visionary programs, opening the doors of digital opportunity to every community in our nation. But now E-Rate is under threat. Opponents argue that because E-Rate has succeeded, we no longer need it. But just as our streets and roads require ongoing investment, so too does our digital infrastructure. A digitally connected America—across rural, urban, and tribal lands alike—is a stronger America.” Learn more about proposed changes to E-Rate and how to contribute to advocacy to protect the program at a webinar July 16.

American Libraries column, July 14
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Sallyann Price writes: “Chicago was an apt host for the ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, marking both ALA’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday. At the Opening General Session, journalist, author, and podcaster Rachel Maddow set the tone for a convening that was both celebratory and deeply reflective on what’s happening in the world. Shifting demographics, rapid advances in technology, and the rise of authoritarianism are all affecting how libraries serve their communities. Maddow wasn’t the only speaker to draw inspiration from the challenges of these times.”

American Libraries feature, July 14
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Whitney Christopher writes: “As concerns about data privacy continue to grow and become increasingly difficult to navigate, libraries play an important role in helping patrons make informed decisions. A key challenge is ensuring patrons understand what happens to their data when they access third-party vendor websites, particularly in cases where tracking and data collection are not immediately visible. An ongoing project within Cornell University Library examines vendor privacy policies alongside the data collected by vendor platforms. The goal is to better align what vendors say in their policies with what their websites actually do, while also improving transparency for patrons.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, July 13

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