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To help break down the relevant library issues in this election year, LJ convened a roundtable of experts including John Chrastka of EveryLibrary; Nick Grove of Meridian Library District, ID; Jason Kucsma of Toledo Lucas County Public Library, OH; and Representative Ashley Hudson from the Arkansas House of Representatives. They covered everything from voter engagement strategies for libraries on the ballot to book ban advocacy in challenging districts to engaging the electorate in an important presidential election year.
In January 2020, Crosby Kemper III stepped into a four-year term as director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). At the time, one of the main concerns at IMLS was then-President Donald Trump’s repeated efforts to zero out the agency’s budget; less than two months later, libraries across the country would shut down for COVID-19 safety precautions, and, soon after they began to reopen, a surge of intellectual freedom challenges would escalate. Kemper’s term ends on March 8; LJ caught up with him to hear his take on the past four years and find out what’s next.
As the 2024 election year heats up, positive framing will be increasingly important for libraries. I’m certainly guilty of falling into a “doom loop” of negativity when I think about what the future might hold for libraries—or even democracy itself. But we cannot be our smartest, most strategic selves if we focus only on negating anti-library rhetoric. We need to advance a positive pro-library narrative—one that is grounded in the history of our good work—to unite us as advocates and connect with voters across the spectrum.
Ry Moran, associate university librarian for reconciliation at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, was named a 2023 Library Journal Mover & Shaker for his work bringing the university’s reconciliation department to fruition and developing a podcast called Taapwaywin, which means “truth” or “speaking truthfully” in Michif, a language of the Métis people. LJ recently touched base with Moran to learn more about his work with truth and reconciliation, and how the podcast is going.
This is the 13th year of the LJ Index of Public Library Service and Star Library ratings. The 2020 scores and ratings are based on FY18 data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Public Library Survey (PLS). Because of that delay, they don’t reflect the impact of the coronavirus; that won’t be reflected in the data until 2022. The big news in this year’s edition is that successful retrievals of electronic information (e-retrievals)—measuring usage of online content, such as databases, other than by title checkout—joins the six other measures that determine the LJ Index.
Library Journal’s annual Placements & Salaries survey reports on the experiences of LIS students who graduated and sought their first librarian jobs in the previous year: in this case, 2019. Salaries and full-time employment are up, but so are unemployment and the gender gap; 2019 graduates faced a mixed job market even before the pandemic.
Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL; 43.1, 2024) was today (March 18, 2024). It’s published by ALA’s Core Division and is a peer-reviewed, open-access publication. Direct to Table of Contents Editorials Letter from the Editors: March 2024 Kenneth J. Varnum; Marisha C. Kelly Public Libraries Leading the Way How Libraries Can Fosr a Vibrant Local Music […]
Little Free Libraries Dav Pilkey, Scholastic, and Little Free Libraries Launch New Initiative Louisiana New Orleans Public Library is Now Fine Free (via NOPL) Open Book Collective Collective Development Fund Grant Programme: Scoping Update (via Open Book Collective) Scholarly Communications Scientific Journals Are Publishing Papers with AI-Generated Text (via 404 Media) Standards W3C Adopts New […]
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (Vol. 19, No. 1) was recently published online. EBLIP is a peer reviewed, open access journal published quarterly by the University of Alberta Library. EBLIP publishes original research and commentary on the topic of evidence based library and information practice, as well as reviews of previously published research (evidence summaries) on a […]
From Magnolia State Live: Audiovisual holdings in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Archives and Special Collections will be modernized and gain audiences worldwide through a new digitization project. “Here in Archives and Special Collections, we have so many rich resources related to Mississippi and the American South,” said Greg Johnson, head of the department. […]
When the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines began to roll out in mid-December 2020, their distribution was immediately complicated by a shortage of doses and widespread uncertainty about who would be given priority. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued suggested guidelines for phased allocation. When it was not yet clear who would be next, many library workers, leaders, and associations began advocating for public facing library workers to be vaccinated as soon as feasible.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of books on the subject has been increasing exponentially. This introductory list, which will be updated regularly, is meant to help collection development librarians get started on determining which books work best for their collections.
Library Journal’s galley guide for the 2024 Public Library Association conference is now available. Get a jump on reader demand and get in the know; sign up to get a PDF download now.
People’s book of the week, Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle, leads holds this week. Also getting buzz are titles by James Patterson and Nancy Allen, Percival Everett, Chris Bohjalian, and Steve Cavanagh. The 2024 Future Worlds Prize shortlist is announced. The April LibraryReads list arrives, featuring top pick The Husbands by Holly Gramazio. People highlights Dua Lipa’s book club. Christine Blasey Ford discusses her new memoir, One Way Back. Plus, author Jo Nesbø will adapt his Harry Hole series for Netflix.
People are always a library’s greatest assets. The trained and experienced staff who interact with patrons, answer questions, recommend resources, lead story hours, and oversee workshops are what make libraries a vibrant and essential part of their communities. But librarians can’t be everywhere all at once. This is where technology can help.
On March 14, the American Library Association (ALA) released its most recent book challenge data for 2023. According to ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF), which tracks challenges and acts of censorship in public schools and libraries across the United States, the number of targeted titles rose 65 percent from 2022—once again, the highest levels ever documented by ALA. In public libraries, numbers increased 92 percent over the previous year; school libraries saw an 11 percent increase. Challenged titles featuring the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47 percent of those targeted in censorship attempts.