#wlic2016 Archives | Page 2 of 2 | American Libraries Magazine

Marie Ostergaard, head of community engagement at Dokk1, describes the Danish cultural center as the “living room of the city.”

Moving Beyond the “Third Place”

By Phil Morehart | August 17, 2016

Marie Ostergaard, head of community engagement at Dokk1, a large cultural center in Aarhus, Denmark, that includes the Aarhus Public Library, led the session with a detailed presentation on the Dokk1 project and how it reenvisions the library-going experience. Dokk1 is a massive, open-air complex located in the city center on the waterfront that encompasses … Continue reading Moving Beyond the “Third Place” →

Garrett Scott (left), an antiquarian bookseller in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Edwin C. Schroeder, director of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University, presented their recommendations on preventing and uncovering theft in libraries.

Security, Inventory, and Provenance

By George M. Eberhart | August 17, 2016

Michael Zubal, a manager of Zubal Books in Cleveland, Ohio, related two instances when his store was involved with stolen books. The first took place in 1995 when he purchased a first edition of Tarzan and the Lost Empire (1929) by Edgar Rice Burroughs from an individual who came into the store. Shortly afterwards he … Continue reading Security, Inventory, and Provenance →

Sam Meister, preservation communities manager at the Educopia Institute, discusses the preservation of digital data in disasters.

Preparing for the Worst

By Phil Morehart | August 16, 2016

The panelists addressed the topic from a variety of angles. Bogdan Filip Zerek, head of the conservation department at the National Library of Poland, presented an exhaustive study of how the library combated the effects of water damage in the Krasiński Palace in Warsaw, built in the 17th century, which houses the library’s iconographic collections. … Continue reading Preparing for the Worst →

After the program, the fellows took a bus to the newly renovated Main Library of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The reception was held in the new reading room that overlooks a topiary garden.

Reception Celebrates 2016 IFLA Fellows

By Rebecca Lomax | August 16, 2016 The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) 2016 National Committee awarded 180 fellowships to librarians and information professionals from North America and beyond to attend IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. The fellows were selected from more than 3,000 applicants and represent 75 countries. The National Committee more … Continue reading →

Eddy Maepa, executive director for core programs at the National Library of South Africa in Pretoria, discusses his library's efforts to comply with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

National Libraries and Sustainable Development

By George M. Eberhart | August 16, 2016

Lili Boshevska, director of the University St. Kliment Ohridski Library in Bitola—one of five national libraries in Macedonia—said that the majority of the UN goals are already mirrored in national policy. “Sustainability is possible,” she said, “but there is still much to be done by 2030.” Combating poverty by eradicating illiteracy is one of Macedonia’s … Continue reading National Libraries and Sustainable Development →

Keynote speaker Loida Garcia-Febo, a library consultant with international expertise and a member of the IFLA governing board, addressed how libraries are using their powers to do good around the world.

Libraries Improving Lives in Asia and Oceania

By George M. Eberhart | August 15, 2016

Section Chair Jayshree Mamtora said that the problems these countries face—relations with indigenous peoples, developing economies, immigration, climate change, multilingual populations, and communication over vast distances—are all being addressed by libraries that are experimenting with new ways of contributing to the social and economic development of the communities they serve. Keynote speaker Loida Garcia-Febo, a … Continue reading Libraries Improving Lives in Asia and Oceania →

Ohio’s Native American history was celebrated with the drumming of the Red Circle Singers.

IFLA Opening Session Highlights

By Rebecca Lomax | August 15, 2016

Skip Prichard, president and CEO of OCLC, addresses the crowd at the Industry Symposium during the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' World Library and Information Congress in Columbus, Ohio, August 14.

OCLC: Purpose, Place, and People

By George M. Eberhart | August 15, 2016

OCLC made use of the occasion to showcase its services at its “Industry Symposium” on August 14. President and CEO Skip Prichard compared the work of OCLC with the Disneyland attraction It’s a Small World, saying that “Making the big world of information small enough to manage is what we do.” Prichard added that OCLC … Continue reading OCLC: Purpose, Place, and People →

Latest Library Links

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Steve Tetreault writes: “Educators face more pressure and push-back than at any point I can recall. Decision-makers at the national, state, and local levels resist the idea of educators as trained professionals. Too many parents feel entitled to dictate every second of students’ lives, both in and out of the classroom. Even students exhibit widespread attitudes of disrespect and disdain for school. In short: Education is in a dark age. But within that darkness, there are points of light. We are each a star. And if we are willing to connect with others, we can create fabulous constellations.”

Knowledge Quest, Sept. 9
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“Choice and LibTech Insights have published a white paper developed by Sandy Hervieux and Amanda Wheatley, two librarians from McGill University in Montreal with extensive experience in artificial intelligence (AI) and librarianship (long before the wave of generative AI), that offers an innovative framework for AI literacy. ‘Building an AI Literacy Framework: Perspectives from Instruction Librarians and Current Information Literacy Tools’ integrates interviews with many librarians on the ground who are teaching AI and AI literacy to highlight the shortcomings of current models and the needs a new one must address.”

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, Sept. 4
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Betsy Gomez writes: “Award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay has been named honorary chair for Banned Books Week 2024, which takes place September 22–28. DuVernay will be joined by youth honorary chair Julia Garnett, a student activist who fought book bans in her home state of Tennessee. A staunch advocate for education and free expression, DuVernay directed two films inspired by frequently banned books: A Wrinkle in Time and Origin. Garnett has been honored for her advocacy for the freedom to read by First Lady Jill Biden and is a leader in the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Student Advocates for Speech program, educating other students about advocacy.”

Intellectual Freedom Blog, Sept. 6
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Kate Knibbs writes: “The Internet Archive has lost a major legal battle—in a decision that could have a significant impact on the future of internet history. The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled against the long-running digital archive September 4, upholding an earlier ruling in Hachette v. Internet Archive that found that one of the Internet Archive’s book digitization projects [the pandemic-era National Emergency Library] violated copyright law. Notably, the appeals court’s ruling rejects the Internet Archive’s argument that its lending practices were shielded by the fair use doctrine.”

Wired, Sept. 4
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Anne Ford writes: “From outside, Downtown Reno Library of Washoe County (Nev.) Library System looks like a big square brown box. ‘There’s no pizazz out front,’ says Kristen Ryan, branch manager. So when people walk inside and find a lush central atrium with an abundance of philodendrons, spotted begonias, and other greenery; several towering trees; and a reflection pool, they tend to gasp the same thing: ‘Oh my god, look at all the plants!’”

American Libraries column, May
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“Every year, ALA recognizes the achievements of more than 200 individuals and institutions with an array of awards honoring their service to librarians and librarianship. Winners are chosen by juries of their colleagues and peers and embody the best of the profession’s leadership, vision, and service as well as a continued commitment to outreach and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Award recipients were honored at a June 30 ceremony and reception during ALA’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego.”

American Libraries feature, Sept./Oct.
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Rick Anderson writes: “‘Are libraries neutral?’ This is the question that was posed at the ALA Midwinter President’s Program in Denver a few years ago. A diverse panel of librarians was asked to take turns responding to that question, with results that were sometimes very interesting and sometimes fairly predictable. There was a very big problem, though, and it lay in the organizing question itself. One can’t really answer it meaningfully without first asking a clarifying question: ‘neutral’ about what? In some ways neutrality in the library is clearly a very bad idea—and yet in some important ways, it’s absolutely essential.”

The Scholarly Kitchen, Sept. 3

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