July/August 2019
THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
NEWSMAKER George Takei p. 10 International Innovators p. 28 PLUS: Exhibit Hall Highlights and Battling Misinformation
2019
AnnualConference wrap-up p. 12 September is LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH! A library card is your ticket to adventure! Encourage everyone in your community to get one with the help of Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and Forky from Toy Story 4.
Toy Story Poster Toy Story Mini Poster Set
Place your order by August 19 to receive your materials in time using standard shipping.
Woody Buzz Bo Forky Bookmark Bookmark Bookmark Bookmark Toy Story Woody Stickers
SHOP THE DOWNLOAD FREE ALA STORE RESOURCES alastore.ala.org bit.ly/lcsum-toolkit-intro July/August 2019
American Libraries | Volume 50 #7/8 | ISSN 0002-9769
COVER STORY 12 2019 Annual Wrap-Up Library professionals explore tough topics and exciting opportunities BY Greg Landgraf
TRENDS FEATURES UP FRONT NEWSMAKER 2 From the 22 On Display in the Exhibit Hall 10 George Takei Editor A roundup of content, tech, and services Actor and activist D.C. Dispatches BY Marshall Breeding shares lessons from a BY Sanhita SinhaRoy childhood spent in WWII 28 International 5 From Our Readers internment camps BY Phil Morehart Innovators ALA ALA Presidential Citations 11 Noted and Quoted honor forward-thinking 3 From the President global libraries Find Your Place PEOPLE within ALA 36 Announcements 32 Battling Information BY Wanda Kay Brown THE BOOKEND Illiteracy 4 From the Trustees How misinformation ALA Endowment Update 38 Exhibiting Energy affects the future BY Rod Hersberger of policy BY Paul T. Jaeger and 6 Update Natalie Greene Taylor What’s happening at ALA
28 ON THE COVER: George Takei. Photo by Cognotes
READsquared 35 | San José State University 9 | American Library Association Editions Cover 4 | Graphics Cover 2 | JobLIST 21 | Resource Description and Access Cover 3 THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Address: 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795 D.C. Dispatches Website: americanlibrariesmagazine.org Email: [email protected] Phone: 800-545-2433 plus extension Career Ads: JobLIST.ala.org f you weren’t one of the more than 21,400 attendees EDITOR AND PUBLISHER who descended on Washington, D.C., for the American Sanhita SinhaRoy The Great Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibi- What’s [email protected] | x4219 Successor your summer tion last month, don’t worry—we have you covered. MANAGING EDITOR read? Terra Dankowski The Power I [email protected] | x5282 With the help of four member writers, our team pub- Broker lished more than 60 stories and posted a flurry of tweets SENIOR EDITORS Amy Carlton from conference. You can read all our coverage at bit.ly/ Revenge of [email protected] | x5105 The Great alaac19, or flip to page 12 for a recap. the She-Punks George M. Eberhart Halifax [email protected] | x4212 For exhibit hall highlights, check out library consul- Explosion Phil Morehart tant Marshall Breeding’s annual feature on page 22. He Heavy [email protected] | x4218 Sanhita SinhaRoy describes the floor as “brimming with every imaginable ASSOCIATE EDITOR product and service of interest to librarians.” Sallyann Price Evvie Drake [email protected] | x4213 Starts Over New this conference was our Daily Scoop e-newsletter, EDITOR-AT-LARGE aimed at bringing speaker, program, and event report- Anne Ford [email protected] ing directly to your inbox. We hope you enjoyed it and, The Unstoppable Wasp comics EDITORIAL INTERN as always, welcome your feedback. Diana Panuncial Before his Auditorium Speaker Series talk, former [email protected] | x2157 Star Trek actor George Takei spoke with us about his EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Carrie Smith childhood internment during World War II. As he says Go Ahead [email protected] | x4216 in his interview on page 10, the more he tried to learn Fleishman in the Rain ART DIRECTOR Is in Trouble Rebecca Lomax about his experience from history books, the more he [email protected] | x4217 The Code realized these books “were silent.” As a result, he said, ADVERTISING the goal of his new graphic memoir is to help make his- Michael Stack [email protected] | 847-367-7120 Read our Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement. tory accessible to a new generation of young people. ALA reserves the right to refuse advertising. extensive Four international libraries are being honored for Gun Island PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT fostering positive change in the annual Presidential Mary Mackay, Associate Executive Director Mary Jo Bolduc, Rights, Permissions, Reprints | x5416 Annual Citation for Innovative International Library Projects, MEMBERSHIP page 28. This year’s citations include initiatives that The Red Melissa Kay Walling, Director Conference Tent promote sustainable thinking, digital privacy, patron ADVISORY COMMITTEE coverage— engagement via gaming, and portable access to materi- Susan H. Polos (Chair), Helen Ruth Adams, Salvador Avila, Crystal Chen, Sonja Eyler, Janie L. Hermann, Jasmina Jusic, whether in als and services. In the latter example, Libraries Without Sigrid Kelsey. Committee associate: Rachel Beth Wykle Borders is being recognized for Ideas Boxes—movable Editorial policy: ALA Policy Manual, section A.8.2 this digital libraries housed in metal containers, some of which can INDEXED be found in refugee camps. Available full text from ProQuest, EBSCO Publishing, H. W. Wilson, issue, online, LexisNexis, Information Access, JSTOR. Last but certainly not least, American Libraries is SUBSCRIBE on social celebrating its own award recognition. Please join me Libraries and other institutions: $74/year, 6 issues, US, Canada, and Mexico; foreign: $84. Subscription price for individuals included in media, or in congratulating our art director, Becky Lomax, who ALA membership dues. 800-545-2433 x5108, email membership@ recently won an award for best design by a specialty/ ala.org, or visit ala.org. Claim missing issues: ALA Member and Customer Service. Allow six weeks. Single issues $7.50, with 30% in the new trade publication from the Chicago chapter of the Society discount for five or more; contact Carrie Smith, 800-545-2433 x4216 or [email protected] of Professional Journalists. Becky’s outstanding design Daily Scoop PUBLISHED work consistently brings our content to life. Our team American Libraries (ISSN 0002-9769) is published 6 times yearly e-newsletter. couldn’t be more proud. with occasional supplements by the American Library Association (ALA). Printed in USA. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Personal members: Send address changes to American Libraries, c/o Membership Records, ALA, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795. ©2019 American Library Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without written permission from the publisher.
2 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org from the PRESIDENT
Find Your Place within ALA Together let’s promote the value of libraries and the Association
ibraries are essential for the health of Second, I believe strongly in the opportuni- our democracy, our communities, and ties and obligations inherent in being a member our future. But too often we hear from of ALA. I would not be where I am today with- L elected officials and regular citizens out the guidance and mentorship of the Black alike that libraries are relics that are no longer Caucus of the ALA, as well as countless others necessary in our modern culture. who have taken time to encourage me along the The American Library Association’s (ALA) way. That isn’t everyone’s experience, though, strength in representing and advocating for and I recognize that an association like ours can librarians and library workers is likewise critical. be overwhelming to new members and intimi- However, the feedback we frequently receive is dating to others. Wanda Kay Brown that getting involved in an association as com- That’s why I’ve launched Finding Your ALA. plex as ours is daunting and that our Byzantine This initiative is about including all voices at structure often leads to exclusion and confusion. the table—a role I take seriously as I stand on Over the course of my presidential year, I will the shoulders of previous ALA leaders, who, work to promote both the value of libraries and like me, have been people of color. My goal ALA, broadly speaking, through a lens of social is to connect students and new library staff justice and inclusion. with ALA and help them find a place within First, I will embark on a project to under- the Association that furthers their careers and stand the library’s role in addressing social and their ambitions. economic inequity. This is of particular interest In order to be represented, we must have to me for two reasons. Forsyth County, North a seat at the table. My hope is to create a Over the Carolina—where Winston-Salem State Univer- welcoming association that grows with the sity is located and where I serve as director of strengths and interests of its members. At the course of my library services—is one of the least economi- same time, the staffers who support the work presidential cally mobile communities in the country. If you of member leaders like me are experiencing a are born in poverty in Forsyth County, your series of changes—including a new executive year, I will chances of climbing the ladder of prosperity are director and the possibility of a move from ALA work to dismally low. headquarters on Huron Street in Chicago. To I also know that economic advancement is ensure they feel prepared to meet the needs of promote both possible. I saw it in my own family. When I was an evolving Association, I’m also using part of the value of a little girl, I was adopted by a man who could my presidential program to establish adequate neither read nor write. He worked hard to gain change management training. libraries and those skills and better himself and his family’s We have a busy year ahead and an ambitious ALA, broadly life. His efforts inspired me throughout my life, agenda, but I am confident we can tackle big including my career in librarianship. issues and effect real change. Thank you for speaking, I will convene selected ALA and external trusting me to lead the Association during a through a groups to discuss collaborative approaches and challenging—and exciting—time for libraries, strategies to disrupt the school-to-prison pipe- librarians, and library workers. lens of social line that disproportionately affects young men of color. I will create tools for use by libraries justice and WANDA KAY BROWN is director of library services to help ensure that they serve as safe spaces for at C. G. O’Kelly Library at Winston-Salem (N.C.) inclusion. these vulnerable populations. State University.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 3 from the TRUSTEES
ALA Endowment Update Ensuring the Association’s financial outlook stays healthy for years to come
have been a senior trustee of the ALA Endow- improve effectiveness. The trustees drafted a ment Fund for the past six years. Although new investment policy statement, which the ALA my term came to an end following the 2019 Executive Board reviewed and accepted at the IAnnual Conference, I want to share four recent Annual Conference. As we wrap up this important achievements of the endowment over process, we will soon make available a new com- these past several years. prehensive policy and procedure manual on the The first is the endowment’s investment in endowment’s webpage that will contain several private equity. While it is illiquid, private equity important documents on investments. generally outperforms most other investment cat- The final area worth highlighting is our egories. We did not venture into this area lightly. shift toward making all trustees’ activities and Rod Hersberger The trustees conducted an extraordinary level documents more transparent and available to of discussion, review, and due diligence before members on ALA’s website. The content includes we made our first investment. In July 2015, we agendas and minutes, as well as the forthcoming invested $2 million in Blackstone Total Alternative policy and procedure manual. Solutions (BTAS). And in early 2016, we autho- Over the past five years, the endowment rized a $775,000 investment in Kohlberg Kravis spending policy has allowed trustees to make Roberts, another well-known private equity fund. approximately $9.1 million available to ALA As the BTAS investment has begun to deliver units for scholarships, awards, and general positive returns—10.7% to date—during this operations—an average of $1.8 million per bull market, adding money back into the endow- year. In that time, the portfolio has grown from ment, the seven trustees voted in September 2018 $38.7 million to $47.3 million, as of April. This to reinvest an additional $2 million into BTAS, is nearly all the result of market performance largely with revenue generated from these returns. related to asset allocation decisions with minimal In February, the endowment trustees agreed contributions. While the market has worked in Over the past to make a $1 million investment in PG LIFE from our favor these past few years, trustees recog- Partners Group, a private markets investment nize the need to help buffer the endowment five years, the manager. PG LIFE focuses on environmental, from potential volatility. As such, they will begin endowment social, and governance (ESG) factors in its working with the ALA Development Office to portfolio, and this investment brings the endow- discuss and review a more comprehensive and has made ment’s total commitment to private equity to diversified plan. roughly $5.78 million. I am proud of our achievements; they point to The second major achievement is the endow- an increasing maturity and investment sophisti- $9.1 million ment trustees’ aggressive search for and invest- cation of the endowment trustees as we carry out available to ment in these ESG funds—formerly known our fiduciary responsibilities. As I close out my as socially responsible investment funds. As a role as the senior trustee, I would like to welcome ALA units for result, 34.1% of the endowment portfolio has Patricia Wand, an endowment trustee since scholarships, such socially minded investments compared with July 2015, to the role of incoming senior trustee. 1.3% just five years ago. Her term will run through June 2021. awards, The third accomplishment is our strategic review process, which began last November, and general ROD HERSBERGER was senior trustee of the ALA to evaluate all our business, communication, Endowment Fund. His term ended at the close of the operations. training, education, and other practices to 2019 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
4 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org from our READERS
I’ve said it Dual Roles, Double Duty before but I need A feature on recent research (“Notable Dissertations,” June, to say it again: If p. 54) led me to examine one you ever have the of the papers more closely: “A chance to hear Journey to Improve Collaboration Efforts Between Stakeholders and @JasonReynolds83 Teacher-Librarians,” by Jeanna speak, drop Wersebe at University of Cali- EVERYTHING and fornia, San Diego, which assigns go listen. He is a responsibility for leadership and by the user, but I don’t believe internships, such as limiting them collaboration to school librarians. this is the case. In fact, by to well-funded libraries. brilliant storyteller. It is asking too much of placing these devices in your Chris Shaffer Guaranteed San Francisco librarians to have them be library you are bound to create laughter, probable teachers, too, beyond instruction permanent records of your tears, and your cup on library resources. Librarians library visitors, including what Supporting Citizen are busy people, not super- they asked about. Science will be filled. What heroes. With the additional duties As the world has learned, this Regarding your “Citizen Science” a way to start promoted in our profession and data has many long-term impli- dispatch from ALA’s Annual Con- #ALAAC19 the rise of the catch-all “media cations that are hard to predict. ference (The Scoop, June 24): @JENNIFERSHARPTN, in specialist” title, librarians must If recent history is any guide, this Arizona State University (ASU) regard to Jason Reynolds, be exhausted. data will be abused, stolen, and and SciStarter deserve credit for opening speaker at the The role of the school librarian stored by many parties. For us, the heavy lifting when it comes American Library Asso- is to select, catalog, and pre- this means a very cautious and to citizen science, especially with ciation’s 2019 Annual serve books and periodicals; limited exploration of these devic- respect to libraries. I recommend Conference, June 21 manage check-in and checkout; es, including a decision never to googling the ASU LibGuide on and engage in professional place them in open public areas. citizen science and the newly development. Teachers and M Ryan Hess published Librarian’s Guide to knowledgeable volunteers can Palo Alto, California Citizen Science. help with certain tasks, as well. George Strawley All of these people can work Internal Inquiry Salt Lake City as a team but have distinct In the library at the University responsibilities. of California, San Francisco, we Saluting Sotomayor Mary Hollowell have a policy that all internships I was sure US Supreme Court Peachtree City, Georgia are paid at least minimum wage, Justice Sonia Sotomayor would unless otherwise prohibited by be an inspirational speaker [at Record Collection the intern’s sponsor organization. Annual]. I was not expecting her We are experimenting with We also try to adapt hours to the to be so warm, open, and opti- Amazon Echo Show but are run- intern’s schedule. Before reading mistic. Thank you, ALA, for invit- ning into many privacy concerns. Meredith Farkas’s column ing her and making it possible to “Your Library Needs to Speak (“Barriers to Diversity,” May, hear her speak! to You” (June, p. 34) suggests p. 48), I hadn’t considered the Jenny Bloom that user data can be removed potential side effects of paid Bainbridge Island, Washington
WRITE US: The editors welcome comments about recent content, online stories, FOLLOW US: and matters of professional interest. Submissions should be limited to 300 words and @amlibraries are subject to editing for clarity, style, and length. Send to [email protected] facebook.com/amlibraries or American Libraries, From Our Readers, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 5 ALA, US Library Associations Join in Statement on EDI he American Library Association (ALA), along with emphasizes the importance of collaboration among asso- seven other professional organizations, released a ciations. “Regardless of the type of library, constituency, or Tjoint statement on June 17 promising to uphold the region, we stand together to support the efforts of libraries to standards of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The other provide equitable access for all through inclusive collections, groups include the American Association of Law Libraries, resources, services, and programs,” the statement concludes. Association for Library and Information Science Education, Then–ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo said in a concur- Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, Coalition for Net- rent statement: “I am thrilled that US library associations worked Information, Medical Library Association, Society of have answered my call to affirm our commitment to EDI. As a American Archivists, and Special Libraries Association. profession, we have come a long way in creating opportunities The statement reads: “Equity, diversity, and inclusion to share EDI best practices and resources, but we have a long are core values of our associations. We believe that as a road ahead of us. This is a significant step in our quest to create profession we must continue to support efforts in building the associations we want as part of the society we deserve.” a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive society.” It goes ALA adopted EDI as its fourth strategic direction in 2017. on to highlight the efforts these organizations make to ALA encourages other associations to sign the statement advance EDI through best practices, tools, and resources and by contacting Raymond Garcia at [email protected]. •
AASL Offers Free District districts, or larger districts that will the 2020 ALA Annual Conference and Kits for Standards Training incorporate outlying solo librarians or Exhibition in Chicago. The American Association of School smaller districts. Applicants must be Nominations must be submit- Librarians (AASL), with the support of current, personal members of AASL. ted by September 3. Additional Bound to Stay Bound Books, is distrib- For more information and to apply, information about ALA honorary uting 100 AASL District Kits for the visit bit.ly/AASLStandardsKitRequest. membership is available at bit.ly/ National School Library Standards to Applications will be reviewed and kits ALAHonoraryMembership. support nationwide implementation of distributed on a rolling basis. the division’s National School Library Apply to Host Americans and Standards for Learners, School Librarians, Honorary Member the Holocaust Traveling Exhibit and School Libraries (ALA Editions, Nominations Open The United States Holocaust Memorial 2018). Fifty kits will be distributed in Nominations are being accepted for ALA Museum (USHMM) and the ALA Public 2019, and an additional 50 will be dis- honorary membership, the Association’s Programs Office invite libraries to apply tributed in 2020. highest honor, which is bestowed on to host Americans and the Holocaust, a Kits include materials to support the living individuals whose contributions to traveling exhibition that examines the facilitation of seven hours of profes- librarianship or a closely related field are motives, pressures, and fears that shaped sional development: a facilitator hand- of significant and lasting importance to Americans’ responses to Nazism, war, book, all necessary handouts, a National the field of library service. and genocide in Europe during the 1930s School Library Standards card game, Nominations will be reviewed during and 1940s. and a $50 grant for refreshments and the ALA Executive Board’s fall meeting The exhibition will travel to 50 US supplemental materials. and presented to Council during the public and academic libraries from 2020 Priority will be given to districts that 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits through 2022. provide professional development to a in Philadelphia. Newly elected honorary Selected libraries will be loaned the group of solo school librarians, school members will be formally recognized 1,100-square-foot exhibition for five librarians from combined small school at the Opening General Session during to six weeks. They will also receive a
6 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org AUG. 24–30 IFLA World Library and Information Congress ALA Releases Libraries’ Athens, Greece Guide to the 2020 Census 2019.ifla.org SEPT. n May 15, ALA released Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census, a new Library Card Sign-Up Month resource to prepare libraries for the decennial count of every person living ala.org/librarycardsignup Oin the United States. SEPT. 22–28 “Next year, when people begin to receive mail asking them to complete the Banned Books Week census, we know that many of them will have questions about it. ALA’s new guide ala.org/bbooks
will make sure library workers have answers,” said then–ALA President Loida SEPT. 25 Garcia-Febo in a statement. “Working to ensure a fair, accu- Banned Websites rate, and inclusive census aligns with our professional values Awareness Day and the needs of the diverse communities we serve.” ala.org/aasl/advocacy/bwad
The US Census determines congressional representation; OCT. 20–26 district boundaries for federal, state, and local offices; and allo- National Friends of cation of more than $800 billion annually in federal funding to Libraries Week states and localities, such as grants under the Library Services bit.ly/alafolweek and Technology Act. Libraries across the country provide access to US Census OCT. 21–27 Bureau statistical data and help businesses, government agencies, community Open Access Week organizations, and researchers find and use that information. openaccessweek.org On June 27, ALA issued a statement about the Supreme Court’s ruling NOV. 1–3 on whether the 2020 Census could include a citizenship question (bit.ly/ YALSA’s Young Adult Services ALASCOTUSCensus); ALA opposes the addition. Symposium | Memphis, Tennessee To download the Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census, visit ala.org/census, ala.org/yalsa/yasymposium where you will also find links to ALA policy statements about the census and primary data sources. NOV. 3–9 • International Games Week games.ala.org
NOV. 14–16 $2,000 allowance to support public “turning outward,” or using the com- AASL National Conference and Exhibition | Louisville, Kentucky programs, expenses for a library staff munity as a reference point for library national.aasl.org member to attend an orientation work- choices and action. Librarians, com- shop at USHMM in January in Wash- munity partners, and stakeholders in JAN. 24–28 ington, D.C., publicity materials, and libraries of all types can attend. ALA Midwinter Meeting & programming support. Discussions, hands-on activities, Exhibits | Philadelphia Applications will be accepted online and breakout groups will help libraries alamidwinter.org through August 9. For project guidelines convey their value as centers of commu- FEB. 25–29 and to apply, visit bit.ly/USHMMexhibit. nity engagement and stewards of public Public Library Association knowledge. Conference | Nashville, Tennessee Public Innovators Register at bit.ly/ALA-PILfL by placonference.org Lab for Libraries October 15. The cost of $995 per person APR. ALA and the Harwood Institute for Public includes a toolkit and other resources. School Library Month Innovation will host the 2019 Public Inno- ala.org/aasl/slm vators Lab for Libraries October 15–17 Call For 2020 Symposium on JUNE 25–30 at the Loudermilk Conference Center in the Future of Libraries Proposals 2020 ALA Annual Conference Atlanta. The Public Innovators Lab is a ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries and Exhibition | Chicago workshop that explores the practice of is accepting session proposals for the bit.ly/ALAUpcomingConfs
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 7 UPDATE
ProgrammingLibrarian.org. The Cultural Communities Fund is administered by New ACRL Research Agenda the ALA Public Programs and Develop- ment offices. he Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has released a To make a contribution to the Cultural new research agenda, “Open and Equitable Scholarly Communications: Communities Fund, visit ala.org/CCF. TCreating a More Inclusive Future.” The agenda was prepared by Nancy Maron and Rebecca Kennison with Paul Bracke, Nathan Hall, Isaac Gilman, Kara North Carolina School Receives Malenfant, Charlotte Roh, and Yasmeen Shorish. Disaster Recovery Grant It encourages the community to make the scholarly communications system Jones County (N.C.) Schools have more open, inclusive, and equitable by outlining trends, encouraging practical been awarded $7,060 as part of AASL’s actions, and identifying the most strategic research questions to pursue. The full Inspire Disaster Recovery Grant pro- agenda is available for free online at bit.ly/ACRL2019ResearchAgenda and will be gram. Sponsored by AASL member and available for purchase in print through the ALA Store (alastore.ala.org). retired middle school librarian Marina The agenda focuses on three priority areas—people, content, and systems— “Marney” Welmers, the grant program highlighting effective practices currently in use as well as research topics supports public middle or high school that can help further work in the future. The agenda’s appendices include an libraries that suffered damage or hard- essay on issues of social justice in scholarly ship because of a natural disaster, fire, communications and an annotated list of or terrorism. recommended readings. In September 2018, floodwaters from ACRL is offering grants of up to Hurricane Florence destroyed one of $5,000 for research related to topics Jones County’s two elementary schools addressed in the new agenda. Propos- and its middle school. All 155 students als must be received by September 30. from the middle school were transferred More information is available at bit.ly/ to the high school. ACRLScholCommGrant. • The grant will supplement the current library collection to include a partial col- lection of books suitable for the displaced middle school population. Symposium on the Future of Libraries (PPAO) has eliminated the Office of at the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting & Library Advocacy as a standalone unit ALA Selects 2019 Google Exhibits in Philadelphia. and shifted its responsibilities to PPAO. Policy Fellow Over three days, the Symposium will A manager of state advocacy position Katelyn Ringrose will serve as ALA’s explore the near-term trends inspiring has been created to perform state and 2019 Google Policy Fellow, spending 10 innovation in academic, public, school, local policy and advocacy activities and weeks with PPAO in Washington, D.C., to and special libraries as well as the long- assist the Committee on Library Advo- explore diverse areas of the information term trends that will help libraries adapt cacy with the support of PPAO. policy field. to the needs of their communities. Ringrose, a graduate of University The call for proposals at bit.ly/ALA- Cultural Communities Fund of Notre Dame Law School, recently SFL20 will close August 15. Proposals Reaches Donor Milestone completed an externship at the Com- are sought for information sessions, The ALA Cultural Communities Fund puter Crimes and Intellectual Property workshops, and discussions. Submissions received donations from 130 individuals Division of the US Department of should include a session title, format, between 2016 and 2019, surpassing its Justice, where she worked on issues description, preferred session times, and goal of $50,000 in individual donations. related to cyberlaw. Previously, at the participants’ contact information. Pro- The Cultural Communities Fund Washington State Attorney General’s posals will be reviewed by the Center for supports humanities, civic, and STEM Office, she analyzed legal implications the Future of Libraries Advisory Group. programming in libraries of all types. of the use of facial recognition technol- With help from individual and corpo- ogies by law enforcement. In addition to Public Policy and Advocacy rate donors, the fund has grown into her legal career, Ringrose is founder of Office Reorganizes an endowment of $1.9 million that Impowerus, an online company con- To provide more integrated services, the supports professional development, necting juvenile immigrants to pro bono ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office grants and awards, and the website legal aid.
8 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org UPDATE
ALA Concerned by Publishers’ Changes to Digital Lending Policies
LA expressed concern about changes announced on cultural heritage,” said then–ALA President Loida Garcia- June 17 by Hachette Book Group (HBG) and on July 2 Febo in a June 17 statement. Aby Simon & Schuster (S&S) to their ebook and digital “Libraries must have fair and equitable access to resources, audiobook lending models for libraries. regardless of format, that is predictable and sustainable,” said Effective July 1, HBG has replaced its perpetual ownership ALA President Wanda Kay Brown in a July 2 statement. “ALA model for libraries with two-year access for ebooks and digital will amplify its role in championing the valuable and essential audiobooks. HBG also announced it will role of libraries in the publishing ecosystem.” decrease ebook and digital audiobook On June 25, at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibi- prices for libraries by as much as 25%; tion in Washington, D.C., ALA Council approved a resolution however, the discount does not apply if to form a working group to address library concerns with the library renews its access to titles. S&S publishers and content providers including digital licensing will replace its perpetual access models for ebook and digital models, content embargoes, fair options for delivering digital audiobook lending with two-year access effective August 1. content in libraries, and advocacy for congressional action on “The elimination of perpetual ownership will reduce long- digital content pricing. The resolution also directed ALA to term access to ebooks and digital audiobooks and increase develop an advocacy and public awareness campaign about challenges to the long-term preservation of our nation’s the value of library book purchases to publishers. •
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 9 TRENDS
when I was a teenager, so I became George Takei an omnivorous reader. I read all the history books I could get my hands Actor and activist shares lessons from a on. The books were silent on Japa- childhood spent in WWII internment camps nese internment. I read civics books hoping to find something there; I didn’t find anything. But I learned eorge Takei is best known for his role as Sulu in the 1960s cult-classic TV show Star about the noble ideas of our democ- Trek, but the actor has found even more fame later in life thanks to his prolific social racy, and I was puzzled. So I had Gmedia presence and activist work. In his new graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy long discussions with my father (Top Shelf Productions), Takei details his childhood years spent in internment camps for after dinner, and I learned from Japanese Americans during World War II. Takei spoke with American Libraries at the him. Sometimes it got heated and I American Library Association’s 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, said things that I regret to this day, D.C., about his book and the profound and lasting danger of not learning from history. but I learned from my father who bore the burden, pain, and anguish of American democracy. Later on, BY Phil Why did you choose to tell your seekers along the southern border other books began to appear. The Morehart story as a graphic novel? It’s been of the US. In the book, your father book that was encyclopedic on the my mission in life to tell the story says that Americans don’t teach internments was Years of Infamy: of my childhood imprisonment and the bad parts of their history, so The Untold Story of America’s Con- to raise awareness of that chapter they’re forced to repeat them. Was centration Camps (1976) by Michi of American history. There’s a new that another reason to write this Weglyn. But when I needed books generation of young people, and we book—to point out parallels with the most, they were silent. want to target them in the best way. the present? Indeed, it was. The I thought that a graphic memoir book comments on the humani- In your book, you talk about Her- would be an accessible way to tarian crisis at the border but also bert Nicholson, a missionary who reach them, telling the story on the first executive order that would bring books to the camps. from the eyes of 5-year-old this president signed—the Muslim Can you elaborate on his story? me and exposing them to travel ban. With one sweeping Nicholson was a Quaker, and he the larger reality that my statement, he [implied that] all strongly opposed the imprison- parents were struggling Muslims should be banned from ment of innocent people on the with [while interned]. entry in the US. That same mental- basis of their ancestry. He was an ity branded Japanese Americans as activist, and he brought books from The release of They Called potential spies, saboteurs, or fifth Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena to Us Enemy is timely, consid- columnists. The resonance today the Manzanar internment camp in ering the current is profound and loud. We repeat Owens Valley, California. It was a detainment of this chapter of American history long drive, about two-and-a-half to undocumented over and over again. Today, when three hours long. He did that every immigrants I tell my contemporaries about my month, regularly, and apparently and asylum childhood imprisonment, to people some people who opposed him I consider well-read, well-informed learned about his trips and shot up people, they’re shocked. They’ve his car. But he made it through and never heard of it. delivered the books. The people in Manzanar said, “Well that’s it. When you were a teenager and He’s not going to deliver more later in college, you wanted to books.” And yet, the next month, learn more about your experi- on the appointed date, Nicholson Libraries American ence, but few books and little was there with a carload of books. scholarly research were available. I learned that he did that with the Have things gotten better in that Arizona camps too. That was his regard? I became very curious resistance. He was an extraordi-
about my childhood imprisonment nary hero. Lomax/ Rebecca Photo:
10 July/August 2019 TRENDS
FROM THE 2019 ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
“Rappers were telling the stories when books didn’t. I didn’t read [Walter Dean Myers]’s books until I got to college. Gatekeepers, learn from the mistakes of my gatekeepers.”
ANGIE THOMAS, author of The Hate U Give, during a live taping of the Dewey Decibel podcast celebrating 50 years of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards June 22.
“The library is a place where “TO GET IT RIGHT, WE MUST immigrants can fill out paperwork, WRITE AND READ ALL OF job applications, résumés—believe OUR DIVERSE STORIES.” CLAIRE HARTFIELD, author of A Few Red Drops: The Chicago me, I know because I did it.” Race Riot of 1919, during her acceptance speech at the MARIANA ATENCIO, award-winning journalist and author, Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast June 23. during her Auditorium Speaker Series session June 24.
“Science fiction needs diversity “I love librarians because I am because it is a global think tank. living proof of how you can affect Technologies influenced by science people for the better.” fiction will be limited without diversity. SONIA SOTOMAYOR, US Supreme Court justice and author, If many different types of people aren’t during her Auditorium Speaker Series session June 22. participating in that think tank, we won’t have a diversity of technology.” “She chose library science, and I NNEDI OKORAFOR, author of Broken Places and Outer Spaces, understood why as we were kids growing during her Auditorium Speaker Series session June 23. up. We got the opportunity to see her in action—stacks of books, her hands
American Libraries American “I FEEL LIKE I’M AT A on them. You couldn’t believe we STAR TREK CONVENTION.” were that close to all of that magic.” GEORGE TAKEI, actor, activist, and author, on the reception from HODA KOTB, journalist and cohost of NBC’s Today, on the crowd at his Auditorium Speaker Series session June 24. her mother Sameha Kotb, who worked for 32 years at
Photo: Rebecca Lomax/ Rebecca Photo: the Library of Congress.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 11 2019
AnnualLibrary professionals explore tough wrap-up | topics and exciting opportunities
BY Greg Landgraf
Libraries = Strong Communities rally in the exhibit hall
12 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org al
Photos: Cognotes and Rebecca Lomax/American Libraries is all that matters, and it gives the impression matters, anditgives the is allthat unconscious level, you are whiteness saying that library. hesays,sonnel inthe “Onan Otherwise, collections,posters, andper-across programs, response, and represent diverse perspectives nationalist activity, prepare for aproper legal anticipateinstances: potential ofwhite forms to applied itsrecommendations Skokie (Ill.)Public Librar young adult librarian at organizer Dapier, Jarrett in racist Panel extremism. rise address the schools inclusive democracy, to help focused onstrengthening an advocacy organization Westernthe States Center, by atoolkit publishedby in Libraries,” was inspired fronting White Nationalism libraries facingsimilar Use session,“Con- of the most complex and urgent issues facing the country in most complex andurgent country of the issuesfacingthe One News You Can commanded asobertone, asspeakers andpanelists onsome touched tion, heldJune T y, y, Association’s (ALA) AnnualConference andExhibi Association’s (ALA) exhibitors who gathered for the American American for the whogathered exhibitors among the more than more than among the oflaughterhere was orconviviality noshortage Erica Freudenberger 20 – 25 inWashington, subjectmatter D.C.Butthe said Erica Freudenberger,said Erica consultant outreach to anoverall reduction inbehavioral issues. have staff for linked kids,which program snack This exchange afternoon library’s inspired the abouthaving enoughfoodworried for dinner.” homework“My kid’s isn’t onmy whenI’m radar “Scarcity isamyth we needto vanquish,” Jarrett Dapier americanlibrariesmagazine.org | 21 , 400
librar a preschool parent she’dmet:a preschool paraphrased Library District, County(Wash.)Spokane of strategic initiatives at Williams, managing librarian food andresources. Amber in to connectpatrons to examples of librariesstepping food insecurity, presenting scourges ofhunger and session addressed the patrons mightsupport.” ofyouronly asmallminority systems ofrepression that you are reinforcingthat The “Food for Thought” y workers and Librar 2019 y . July/August 2019 - 13 approaches by eight public libraries as she presented the Rally Caps findings of a study by OCLC, the Public Library Association, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services during a Advocacy Campaign session. “Libraries are still overlooked when it comes to city- wide responses,” she said. hen–ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo hosted At Denver Public Library, for example, more than 500 com- a rally at The Park @ ALA, a new indoor green munity members have volunteered to be trained to administer Tspace in the exhibit hall, to mark the last mile of the overdose-countering drug naloxone. “We know we’ve the Libraries = Strong Communities national advocacy saved about 30 lives using naloxone over three years,” said effort (see photo, p. 12). Attendees wore blue T-shirts City Librarian Michelle Jeske. Other libraries offer public emblazoned with the Libraries = Strong Communities awareness campaigns and bystander training to help reduce slogan as Garcia-Febo described traveling more the panic and stigma surrounding overdose events. than 200,000 miles to visit academic, public, and Reed Strege, director of library services at the Braille school libraries in seven countries. “It has been a long Institute of America, led “Best New Tech For Readers with journey, but a rewarding one that I believe will have a Blindness, Visual Impairments, and Physical Disabilities.” lasting impact on how libraries will connect with their The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically communities in the future,” she said. • Handicapped, for example, is developing interactive displays that link to smartphones and computers and convert text to Braille. The technology, to be circulated within three to five years, counters some of the logistical challenges of producing at Southern Adirondack Library System in Saratoga Springs, and maneuvering large Braille volumes. “This is a real poten- New York, which partners with the nonprofit Comfort Food tial game-changer, because if a person learns to read Braille Community in Greenwich to offer weekly deliveries of fresh and has some aptitude with these devices, what they’ll have produce at several of its libraries. access to will increase exponentially,” Strege said. Freudenberger also presented a session on the New At a panel hosted by the Association for Library Service Americans Library Project, a yearlong exploration of library to Children called “The Urgency of History,” Coretta Scott programs and services that support immigrant and refugee King Honor Book author Varian Johnson described historical populations, driven by ALA’s Public Programs Office. These events and the need for voices and stories from those who are programs often include English-language courses, financial affected by them, particularly voices that have been margin- literacy workshops, and opportunities for social inclusion and alized. “We are taught that Brown v. Board of Education was civic engagement—but a fraught political climate and dwin- a great decision in the civil rights movement, and it was,” he dling resources pose significant challenges. “Moving forward said. “But what happened to those kids who were moved to an we need to create services with, not integrated school?” He also dismissed for, new Americans, remembering misguided notions of “balance” as an that it’s a complex community with overrated ideal: “I’m not interested varying needs,” she said. in telling a both-sides story about Several sessions addressed the slavery,” he said. plight of library patrons experiencing Where do music and literature homelessness. Jerome Thomas, peer overlap? Randallstown (Md.) High outreach specialist at D.C. Public School Librarian Joquetta Johnson Library, recommended the use of peer addressed this question as she pre- navigators to help these patrons meet sented her research project, “Lyrics as Reed Strege life’s challenges and obtain impor- Literature: Using Hip-Hop to Amplify tant documents like birth certificates Student Voice and Social Justice.” and identification cards. “Customers She argued that lyrics, including want someone to listen and space for hip-hop and rap, should be viewed them to explain what they are going and taught as literature and windows through,” he said. into history. She pointed to Kanye Libraries are also employing the West’s “Blood on the Leaves,” a song peer navigator approach to support inspired by Billie Holiday’s “Strange patrons affected by opioid addiction. Fruit,” which was drawn from a Sharon Streams, director of OCLC’s poem by Lewis Allan protesting the Joquetta Johnson WebJunction, touched on various lynching of African Americans. When
14 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org Sukrit Goswami
Michelle Hamiel Loriene Roy
she gave the audience a series of verses, most couldn’t identify year drew national media attention, hundreds of complaints, whether they were written by modern hip-hop artists or Wil- and crowds of protesters and counterprotesters. Goswami liam Shakespeare. spoke with OIF for advice, worked closely with police and fire Anthony Chow, associate professor at the University of marshals to ensure safety, and treated everyone with equal North Carolina at Greensboro’s LIS department, and former respect and attention, making a point to provide water to ALA President Loriene Roy (2007–2008), professor at the protesters and counterprotesters alike. University of Texas at Austin School of Information, pre- “Everyone needs to be seen and represented in the library, sented findings from their study of literacy on the Blackfeet and we can’t let one group who disagrees with another Reservation, home to members of the Blackfeet Nation in group prevent you from performing your duties as librarians northwest Montana. “The magic number for one’s home in general,” said Peter Coyl, director of Montclair (N.J.) library is 80 books or more,” Chow said, explaining that Public Library and a member of ALA’s Intellectual Freedom that’s the number at which literacy levels significantly Committee. improve. Approximately three in four surveyed Blackfeet Reference and User Services Association President Ann Nation members reported having fewer than 80 books in Brown, instruction and outreach librarian at George Wash- their home libraries. ington University in Washington, D.C., hosted a discussion Banned Books Week has grown into one of ALA’s most on how library service decisions affect marginalized com- successful public-awareness campaigns, but the issue of munities. Libraries uphold privilege by planning programs, censorship in libraries encompasses more than just the books services, and resources around assumptions about their users, on their shelves. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) said Nicole A. Cooke, program director for the University Assistant Director Kristin Pekoll led a panel called “Censor- of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign MLIS program. Building ship Beyond Books,” named for her new book on the subject, relationships with community members can help break down citing 531 instances of nonbook resources that came under biases and lead to more inclusive services. fire last year, from videogames to drag queen story hours and It’s also important for library staff to reflect a community’s Black Lives Matter displays. diversity, or potential users may feel that the library isn’t their Another session focused specifically on considerations space, said Michelle Hamiel, chief operating officer for public surrounding controversial speakers. Sukrit Goswami, director services at Prince George’s County (Md.) Memorial Library. of Haverford Township Free Library in Havertown, Pennsyl- One often-overlooked element is how outreach to certain vania, recounted his library’s experience hosting drag queen groups is often left to minority staff members. “Emotional storytime. After an uneventful run last summer, the event this labor and fatigue come with being that person,” Cooke said.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 15 Sonia Sotomayor
Jason Reynolds Hoda Kotb
my house,” she recalled. The books there also started her on Spotlight on speakers the path toward studying law. Today Show cohost Hoda Kotb—daughter of a longtime Award-winning YA author Jason Reynolds kicked off the Library of Congress staffer—showered librarians with praise: conference with a stirring address, challenging librarians to “I can’t tell you how much you matter and how much you facilitate understanding and empathy in their communities. mean to your communities, to your states, and to this coun- “Maybe what librarians really are is architects, and your try.” She also shared how her 2-year-old daughter regularly libraries are warehouses where we build human libraries,” he pleads with her to read a story “just one more time,” which said. “Imagine a generation of walking, talking libraries, with taught her that kids crave books, even with nonstop access to reference desks here and here,” he added, gesturing to his the internet and other media. head and heart. Artist Frank Miller and screenwriter Tom Wheeler pre- The Auditorium Speaker Series drew big names from the viewed Cursed, a forthcoming YA graphic novel and Netflix worlds of literature, media, academia, and even the highest series that retells the King Arthur myth with a young girl court in the land. US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Soto- named Nimue at its center. Interviewed by Young Adult mayor spoke with her editor Jill Santopolo about how writ- Library Services Association President-Elect Todd Krueger ing kept her grounded after her appointment to the Supreme during an Auditorium Speaker Series talk, Miller shared that Court. Her autobiography My Beloved World was the result of his favorite childhood stories were Superman and Disney’s thinking deeply about her life as she moved from a relatively The Sword in the Stone. To help inspire and empower young anonymous job in New York to her highly visible role as an girls the way King Arthur inspired them, the creators made a associate justice. point to hire women as writers, directors, and designers on When she was a child, Sotomayor recalled, New York Public the Netflix series. Library’s Parkchester branch was a refuge after her father’s When she was young, science fiction author Nnedi death. “If I went to the library, I could escape the sadness in Okorafor found inspiration in the natural world. “From as far
16 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org back as I can remember, I’ve loved bugs,” she said in then– the importance of representa- ALA President Loida Garcia-Febo’s President’s Program. “It tion in art and literature. A huge was something about how within a small patch of grass, there More influence on her novel Children of was a whole world happening.” That love of bugs was part Blood and Bone involved a work of the inspiration for LaGuardia, her graphic novel about a Online of art she saw in Brazil depicting Nigerian-American woman who goes through airport customs Be sure to read black gods and goddesses, show- with a sentient alien plant. our full conference ing her she could be “the god of Okorafor, who is working on an adaptation of writer coverage at The her own universe.” Octavia Butler’s The Wild Seed, addressed the need for diverse Scoop blog and MSNBC reporter Mariana voices in speculative fiction. “Science fiction needs diversity check out videos of Atencio danced into her presenta- because it is a global think tank,” Okorafor said. “Technol- conference speakers tion to the beat of “America” from ogies influenced by science fiction will be limited without on YouTube. West Side Story. The song— diversity.” performed in the musical by “I feel like I’m at a Star Trek convention,” joked actor and Puerto Rican characters debating activist George Takei as he took the stage for his talk. His the benefits and drawbacks of life away from home—set the tone shifted as he spoke about the four years he spent in tone for her talk, which echoed themes from her new book internment camps for Japanese Americans as a child during Perfectly You, a memoir focused on authenticity in the face of World War II, which he details in his new YA graphic novel adversity. “When you are a woman and an immigrant from a They Called Us Enemy. Even though he and his family were US minority community, you don’t feel like you have a glass ceil- citizens, he recalled, “Suddenly we were the enemy, because ing over you, you feel like an entire concrete building sits atop we looked like people who bombed Pearl Harbor.” your head,” she said. “But sometimes, what you least expect Takei drew parallels between Japanese-American intern- or desire is exactly what will prompt you to do something so ment and the current conditions experienced by undocu- much bigger than yourself.” mented immigrants along the US border and Muslims facing Journalist and entertainer Mo Rocca closed the conference the Trump administration’s travel ban. “This is an American by sharing his fascination with obituaries, which he explores story,” he said. “Our past is filled with chapters like mine. in his forthcoming book Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Living There’s a continuing cycle of injustice.” and podcast of the same name. “To see a life distilled like that, During her session, author Tomi Adeyemi spoke with Rose you get the sweep and drama,” he remarked. Even the “for- Brock, professor of children’s and young adult literature gotten” presidents between Abraham Lincoln and Theodore and library science at Sam Houston State University, about Roosevelt have worthwhile stories, he said. Chester A. Arthur
Tomi Adeyemi
Nnedi Okorafor Frank Miller and Tom Wheeler
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 17 Mariana Atencio
MoMo Rocca Rocca Marcia Chatelain
(“Who’s probably from Canada, but that’s another scandal,” at the University of Washington Information School and he quipped), defended an African-American woman named fellow panelist. Since 2014, Fisher has worked with the Elizabeth Jennings who had been kicked off a “whites-only” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to promote streetcar in New York City in 1854. He won the civil suit, lead- literacy in the Za’atari refugee camp for Syrians in Jordan. ing to the integration of the city’s public transportation more “One of the reasons you cannot find books by Syrian authors, than 100 years before the Montgomery bus boycott. it has to do with the consequences of the regime,” she said. “There is so much censorship and oppression.” Author insights At “Wordy to Wordless: How Comics Writers Adapt to Different Author Grace Talusan, whose family Genres, Ages, and Artists,” comic and fled a brutal dictatorship in the graphic novel writers Julia Billet, Philippines when she was 2 years Amy Chu, Ezra Claytan Daniels, and old, addressed “When You Can’t Wilfrid Lupano talked about the inspi- Go Home Again: Refugee and Exile ration for their stories and how they
Authors in the US.” Karen Fisher (left) work with artists to bring them to life. “I learned to be afraid to tell sto- Through a translator, Billet said the ries and say the wrong thing, because story in her graphic novel Catherine’s something I say could impact a family War is actually her mother’s story member back in the Philippines, or about surviving the Holocaust—with even someone who shares one of embellishments in parts. “My mother my last names,” she said. “I waited told me the story, but not the whole until a lot of those relatives died, and story,” she said. After conducting that’s when I finally felt comfortable research and talking to survivors, sharing my stories.” Billet reimagined her mother’s story. Syrian refugees face similar At the Association for Library Julia Billet (left) issues, said Karen Fisher, a professor Collections and Technical Services
18 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org COUNCIL MATTERS cknowledging that Melvil Dewey’s behavior toward Bill of Rights (CD#19.5-19.11 and #19.12–20), all of which women, African Americans, and Jewish people passed. Warga coproposed the resolution “Intellectual Aover several decades does not represent ALA’s Freedom Advocacy and Education” (CD#19.20/CD#24.3) values of equity, diversity, and inclusion, Council approved with Committee on Professional Ethics Chair Sara Dallas, a resolution renaming the Melvil Dewey Medal (CD#50) which passed. to remove his association with the award. Council also Steve Matthews, chair of the Constitution and Bylaws passed resolutions on library service for children at Committee, proposed an action item (CD#25.1) to clarify migrant detention centers (CD#52) and digital content language in the ALA Bylaws regarding the status of a pricing for libraries (CD#53). councilor of a division or round table going through the Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada, chair of the Steering discontinuance process. The motion passed. A second Committee for Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE), action item to insert the phrases electronic voting in and Jim Meffert, consultant from Tecker International, addition to voting by mail passed. A motion to change the provided preliminary recommendations from the SCOE majority needed to carry a vote of Council taken by mail or project (CD#45). Proposed changes include redesigning electronic voting passed. the Executive Board and the ALA committee structure. ALA Treasurer Susan H. Hildreth presented the FY20 A possible new model for division membership is also annual estimates of income (CD#13.3), which was approved. being discussed. Final recommendations are expected Former ALA president Courtney L. Young (2014–2015) in September, but timeline extensions can be made with presented an update on the ALA Executive Director member feedback. Search Committee (CD#34). ALA Councilor Tyler Dzuba gave an update on the Peter Hepburn, chair of the Eliminating Library Fines proposed new division that will combine the Library Infor- as a Form of Social Equity Working Group, proposed a mation and Technology Association, Association for Library motion to extend its deadline for a final report to Council Collections and Technical Services, and Library Leadership to August 31, 2019 (CD#43); the motion passed. and Management Association. The new division’s working DeEtta Jones, founder and principal of the consulting name is Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. firm DeEtta Jones and Associates, facilitated a discus- Shali Zhang, chair of the Committee on Organization, sion among councilors on equity, diversity, and inclusion reported that the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender through a social justice lens. Round Table has changed its name to the Rainbow Round Ed Sanchez, chair of the Taskforce on Online Delib- Table (CD#27.1). Zhang also proposed an action item to eration and Voting for ALA Council, reported on its add representatives from the Association of Bookmobile work since its formation at the Midwinter Conference in and Outreach Services and the Association for Rural and Seattle (CD#42). A motion to extend the taskforce until Small Libraries to the Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of Midwinter 2020 passed. All Kinds Committee. The motion passed. Susan Jennings, chair of the Council Forum Working Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair Julia Warga Group, reported on the results of its survey and next steps proposed several revised interpretations of the Library for the group (CD#44). •
President’s Program, Georgetown University Professor refueled, protesters bought milk to soothe their tear-gassed Marcia Chatelain spoke about the importance of fast-food eyes, and journalists used the Wi-Fi to file their news stories. corporations in African-American culture. Chapters of her upcoming book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America detail how students in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, used Practical magic McDonald’s to plan sit-ins at a time when African Americans were banned from other lunch counters, and how white Success in budgeting talks starts early. That was the mes- flight led to McDonald’s installing black franchise owners in sage of a panel focused on budgeting processes for libraries. black neighborhoods. “Talk to your councilpersons, talk to your town supervisors, Chatelain also touched on the influence the McDonald’s and have that dialogue so they’ll be able to make those location in Ferguson, Missouri, had after Michael Brown was decisions come budget season,” said Koran Saines, Ster- killed by police in 2014. “McDonald’s was, in many ways, the ling district supervisor for Loudoun County (Va.) Board of epicenter of the crisis,” she said, noting it’s where the police Supervisors. Saines related how Loudoun County Board
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 19 of Trustees Chair Mark Miller brought him a surprising idea: eliminating fines on overdue materials. When Miller explained how charges adversely and disproportionately affect lower-income people—many of whom are Saines’s constituents—Saines then championed the proposal to the rest of the county board. In the “Start Smart Salary Negotiations Workshop,” pre- sented by the American Association of University Women, panelists shared strategies for conversations surrounding compensation. Aliqae Geraci, assistant director of research and learning services at Catherwood Library at Cornell
University in Ithaca, New York, and Shannon Farrell, natural Koran Saines (right) resources librarian at the University of Minnesota in Min- neapolis, gave four main tips: Know your value; know your target salary and benefits; know your strategy; and practice audience to recognize that when it comes to making libraries before entering a negotiation. accessible, people are not problems. “There’s no step-by-step The session “Accessibility and Creation of Online Library guide,” she said. “Taking a proactive and inclusive approach Materials: Applying Universal Design for Learning” intro- benefits all learners.” duced attendees to a framework for improving and orga- Alicia Lillich, emerging technologies specialist at the nizing learning experiences for all people, regardless of National Institutes of Health Library in Bethesda, Maryland, background or ability. Liz Johns, teaching and learning addressed the role of private citizens in scientific research librarian at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, urged the at the “Citizen Science in Libraries” program. “Anyone can
50 years of CSK
everal events honored the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Book Awards, given annu- Sally to outstanding African-American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African-American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. and honors his wife’s commitment to world peace. This year’s CSK Book Award recipients—which included Claire Hartfield, author of A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919, and Ekua Holmes, illustrator of The Stuff of Stars—were recognized at the annual awards breakfast. CSK Book Award–winning illustrator Ekua Holmes speaks at the Holmes also participated in a panel discussion marking the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast. anniversary, recorded live for the Dewey Decibel podcast. “I think the first book that I read about an African- Author Jacqueline Woodson, also on the panel, recog- American girl was one that I wrote myself,” Holmes said. nized the award’s practical impact. “What the CSK Awards “To come full circle to this time and have a rich library of did was completely change the narrative” at a time when sources that I can share with my granddaughter feels like the Caldecott and Newbery committees didn’t see people we’ve done something really powerful.” of color, she said. “Eventually publishers caught on.” •
20 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org participate, all participants use the same protocols, the The award-winning source for jobs in Library data retrieved helps and Information Science and Technology scientists come to real conclusions, and a wide com- munity of people Where job seekers and share the data for Matt Beckstrom (left) the advancement employers get results. of science and the public benefit.” JOB SEEKERS EMPLOYERS Librarians can find Filter and sort Strengthen your citizen science hundreds of job candidate pool—ALA projects through ads by position reaches the engaged sources like SciStarter, which type, employer, professionals and lists more than location, job title, students you want 3,000 projects, she and more. to hire. Candice Mack said. Libraries can also seek funding for citizen science programming from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, the Foundation Center, state libraries, and government agencies. The dark web—the section of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines and requires specialized tools to access—has a negative reputation because of illegal activities that often take place there. The “Casting Light on the Dark Web” program highlighted the many legitimate resources and significant pri- vacy benefits it offers. “The dark web really should be called something more like the hidden web,” said Matt Beckstrom, systems librarian at Lewis and Clark Library in Helena, Montana. “Are You Going to Tell My Parents?” was the name of a session focused on privacy rights for minors in the joblist.ala.org library. Interim OIF Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone reviewed relevant federal laws and urged librarians to research local library confidentiality statutes, which vary by state. “Ensuring library users’ confidentiality frees them from fear of retaliation or intimidation as a result of reading a book, visiting a website, or consult- ing other library resources,” said Candice Mack, senior YA services librarian at Los Angeles Public Library. “This is regardless of age.”
GREG LANDGRAF is web content specialist at Greene County (Ohio) Public Library. Amy Carlton, Regina Carter, Terra Dankowski, George M. Eberhart, Phil Morehart, Sallyann Price, Carrie Smith, Amy Steinbauer, Brian M. Watson, and Steve Zalusky contributed reporting for this story. HRDR
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 21 ON DISPLAY in the exhibit hall
A roundup of content, tech, and services
BY Marshall Breeding
he nation’s capital was a popular venue for the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2019 Annual Conference and Exhibition June 20–25, attracting more than 21,400 attendees and exhib- itors. With more than 900 vendors represented, the exhibit hall Twas brimming with every imaginable product and service of interest to librarians. The 6,827 registered exhibitors comprised an impressive corps of knowledgeable representatives of diverse organizations that share a common interest in supporting libraries. Keeping up with even a fraction of the latest industry developments requires a substantial amount of time on the exhibit floor. Here are some of the products that caught my attention.
22 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org Photos: Cognotes porting library services. Digital content Digital requires library services. porting abroad ecosystem sup- oftechnologies within user interfaces of state-of-the-art full spectrum demandfor content digital results ina rising industry. information of the Thecontinually toa unique get opportunity awiderpicture AnnualConference provides ALA products, the largest anywhereAs the exhibition for library Towering giants as analternative to library-managed facilities. was onhandto promote storage itsoffsite service involvesoften storage. offsite equipment. and other Managing library materials lendingoflaptops, assupporting tablets, such for library operations, other services plementary com- integrated library system Most offer (ILS). to enableitsproducts to library’s work the with hasalsodeveloped technologies Each integration INTERNATIONAL, P. V. SUPA, LYNGSOE SYSTEMS, D-TECH include or RFIDtechnologies demonstrating materials-handling equipment vendors isfascinating.Someofthe floor exhibit handling equipment onthe inoperation materials- andother sophisticated sorters ing the specializedequipment. Observ- requires efficient, physical anddigital. libraries needto both materials, manage these that andtechnology equipment, services, porting needfor sup- the drives Thefocus onbooks chat. and are present books favorite to sign authors timeswhentheir visitsaround the exhibit their as quality literature. Many librarians schedule recognize inpromoting titlesthey influence their attentionto of librarians, appreciated winthe for stops pulloutallthe anddistributors Publishers Traditional hall. ofthe still dominate much books allure ofbooks The ongoing The effort involvedThe effort inmanagingphysical books and ENVISIONWARE. MK SOLUTIONS, IRON MOUNTAIN big-name islands. midsized vendors have way found their into the wares ofmany the help butnotice smallor that Longtimeconferenceportfolios. attendees can’t ever-expanding with consolidated corporations incompetitive fill gaps amongthe and services specializedandboutique products tions with itself.Themany organiza- library industry the mirrors andtables more modest booths the spacesamong exhibition The mixofsupersized ready. atthe ofpersonnel smallarmies with investmentssubstantial conference, often inthe giants draw attention to organizations making cies andvalues. protectionsprivacy library poli- consistent with cost andbusinessmodels,aswellsustainable as became part of Follett in2016.Itsrole asone became part itsfamouscatmascots, hallwith exhibit the FOLLETT, materials. materials. classroomwell andother asusedtextbooks delivered itsTitlewave through as platform, has amassedalarge content, bodyofdigital libraries wellPreK–12 school Follett established, itsDestinyWith automation system for tailored ofcontenting array offerings. andtechnology Our tour of the big names begins with bignamesbeginswith Our tour ofthe industry ofthe booths lofty As always, the americanlibrariesmagazine.org | BAKER &TAYLOR, a massive company aninterest- with amainstay of July/August 2019 LibDispenser. the mk demonstrates mk Solutions A rep with 23 The 2019 conference was unusually quiet on the mergers and acquisitions front, with two recent announcements relating to ProQuest. Though some- what downplayed as far as its impact on the company, independent investment firm Atairos has acquired minority ownership of ProQuest. Ex Libris’s acquisition of the RapidILL service from Colorado State University Libraries was a livelier topic of conversation. This move accelerates the company’s initiatives related to resource sharing and interlibrary loan, an area of critical interest to its academic library customers. GALE, a division of Cengage Learning, demonstrated its broad portfolio of content products and technologies for libraries. The company has concentrated on making major enhancements to its patron-facing interfaces, incorporating more elegant features and design char- acteristics. At this year’s conference, the company previewed its soon-to-be-released In Context suite The Baker of the main distributors of books to libraries resonates of resources that will assist educators in discovering & Taylor cat with the librarians. This year the messaging at the booth content appropriate for educational activities aligned mascots tour emphasized the synergies of Follett and Baker & Taylor as with applicable state or national curriculum standards. the exhibit floor. “better together.” Gale has also launched a new digital collection on public The EBSCO INFORMATION SERVICES island health, its first installment titled Public Health in Modern highlighted its core products: the EBSCOhost databases, America, 1890–1970. The company downplayed a pro- EBSCO Discovery Service, the GOBI acquisitions tool, posed merger between its parent company Cengage and and NoveList. EBSCO Faculty Select, a relatively new McGraw-Hill Education publishers, but more details will offering, assists teachers and faculty in exploring open likely be available in 2020 once the deal has been com- educational resources and DRM-free ebooks in support of pleted. Industry observers anticipate that the Gale brand courses. EBSCO seemed especially enthused to promote will remain intact and that its library-facing products will its FOLIO Library Services, an open source platform draw from a much broader collection of content from the now on the cusp of implementation. FOLIO came about combined organization. through a broad community of companies and libraries, OCLC’s booth was replete with the broad range of with EBSCO providing extensive financial backing and products and services offered by the nonprofit organi- leadership. EBSCO also engages in philanthropy and zation. Although ample literature and expertise were announced the recipients of its most recent Solar Grants: available about its core services for cataloging and inter- Hedgesville (W.Va.) Public Library, New Port Richey library loan, Wise, a new patron-centered ILS for public (Fla.) Public Library, and Medicine Hat (Alberta) College libraries, seemed to be more conspicuous, as was the were awarded $100,000 each to pay for the installation WorldShare Management Services cloud-based platform. of a solar power system to reduce electrical costs. At the PROQUEST booth, content and technology were both given prominence. The new ProQuest One Aca- Purveyors of digital content demic resource provides a unified interface to a diverse assortment of multidisciplinary content offerings. The Libraries continue to make ever-growing investments company showed off an improved interface to its Alexan- in digital content. Public libraries maintain a delicate der Street video collections, acquired in 2016. Recently balance between physical and digital content, with the added capabilities include new virtual reality technology scales continually tipping more toward digital, especially with 360-degree viewing for selected video content. in ebooks and audiobooks, with expanding opportunities ProQuest’s EX LIBRIS products were well repre- for streaming audio and video. sented. With the Alma library services platform as OVERDRIVE plays an oversized role in the public its flagship offering, Ex Libris’s reps were especially library ebook and audiobook space, serving an impressive interested in discussing the Leganto course resource 44,000 libraries in 70 countries. The company launched list application and the new Esploro research services Sora, a new reading app designed for K–12 schools, that platform—still in development but with early implemen- joins Libby, its main app for digital content launched at tations expected soon. the 2017 ALA Annual Conference. OverDrive released a
24 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org curated collection of titles from the Indie Author Project, and lendable hotspot enabling access to movies and TV featuring ebooks from self-published authors. programs in settings without an internet connection. BIBLIOTHECA’s towering booth illustrates the The floor was abuzz with grumblings over pricing reality of the demand libraries face for physical and models. The popularity of digital content, unprotected digital information. This global giant demonstrated its by the first-sale doctrine, combined with rising popu- expansive array of self-service circulation kiosks, sorters, larity and less-than-ideal terms from publishers, has and security gates, as well as its cloudLibrary app for raised alarms. Just prior to the conference, Hachette digital lending. The company has found synergies and Book Group changed its terms for library ebook lending integrated technologies among its products to meet the by limiting access to two years instead of the previous demand for seamless interfaces and workflows that span arrangement for perpetual ownership. Simon & Schus- physical and digital formats. ter followed suit in early July. Though the cost per title Madrid-based ODILO demonstrated its platform for is lower and embargoes have been eliminated, libraries the discovery, management, and distribution of ebooks will need to reselect and reinvest, resulting in greater and other digital content. Its presence in this market efforts in collection development and higher costs over continues to expand, serving a customer base of 4,500 time, especially for titles retaining interest beyond two institutions with titles from more than 5,000 publishers. years. ALA has expressed concern about these changes. HOOPLA showcased its diverse catalog of streaming Demand-driven acquisitions and pay-per-use pricing like- digital content for public libraries, including movies, TV wise come with budget challenges. programs, audiobooks, and ebooks. Its cost-per-view business model avoids patron queues for access, with capped amounts to protect library budgets. The service is Patron engagement a subsidiary of Midwest Tape, a longstanding provider of content on physical media for libraries. Companies developing products and services for libraries KANOPY’s booth featured its growing catalog of clas- strive to emulate the sophistication and ease of use of sic and independent cinema titles and documentaries, tech giants like Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter. delivered through its streaming platform. Its patron- Rich user experience and patron engagement have driven acquisition business model, combined with inter- become essential if libraries are to be well regarded by est by patrons and students, has strained the budgets of their patrons. The conference displayed a host of prod- many of its library customers. ucts that aim to help libraries strengthen their engage- Other exhibitors supplying streaming and other digital ment with their communities. content included INFOBASE PUBLISHING, which BIBLIOCOMMONS’s BiblioCore discovery service From left: offers aggregated online databases, ebook collections, embraces features used by social networks to increase OverDrive’s Libby app; and streaming video for schools and libraries. LIBRARY patron participation and guide them to their next the towering IDEAS highlighted its popular Freegal Music and Fread- library reads. The company commissioned a new study ProQuest ing ebook service as well as GoChip Beam, a portable by an independent consultant that suggests that public booth.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 25 From left: libraries that use their products see more visits than Examples seen in the exhibits include MUGO WEB, The Sirsi- comparable libraries that do not use BiblioCommons based on the eZ Publish CMS, Springshare’s LibGuides Dynix booth; services. As the next step in building patron engagement, CMS, Stacks (now part of EBSCO Information Services), Springshare’s booth. the company just launched BiblioEmail, which uses email and BiblioCommons BiblioWeb. campaigns or newsletter templates for targeted messag- ing to patrons based on their interests, location, and age. CHILIFRESH targets similar goals, with dynamic Voice controls content and services layered into a library’s existing catalog or discovery service. ChiliPAC, now live at Brook- This year’s exhibits included a variety of voice-activated lyn (N.Y.) Public Library, adds cover art, personalized devices similar to those now commonplace in the con- summaries, and reviews to the library’s online catalog sumer market. CONVERSIGHT.AI demonstrated its to enrich patron engagement. Reading lists created by Libro platform for enabling voice control for such library librarians or patrons can be shared locally or throughout services as online catalogs. Libro uses artificial intelli- the community that uses the platform. gence and other technologies that use natural language CAPIRA TECHNOLOGIES showed off its products to allow users to perform specific tasks. This appeals to aimed at modernizing the patron experience, including those who use voice commands on their home devices mobile apps and location-based services using iBeacon and is especially helpful for patrons with disabilities. to enable interactive communication with patrons within The Libro technology operates independently of such the library. The company also provides apps for digital virtual assistants as Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and library cards, self-service lending and renewal, and issu- Google Assistant. ing passes to local museums. Another set of products links library services with SPRINGSHARE continues to expand its portfolio of these consumer interfaces. Hoopla has enabled its products for both library staff and patrons. Its LibGuides service on Amazon Alexa devices. PELLUCENT platform has moved well beyond a convenient way for TECHNOLOGIES lets libraries implement the Alexa librarians to build resource pages on key topics to serve as Skills Kit and Actions on Google to allow patrons to a library-specific content management system (CMS) that use smart speakers to make requests addressed to their can replace the library website. Recent additions include library’s catalog. COMMUNICO demonstrated its tools for analytics and customer relationship manage- impressive suite of applications that work together to ment. Its LibAnswers service, which supports remote ref- provide a modern environment for patrons and staffers, erence and other customer interactions, gained a major integrated with the library’s ILS and content services. Its feature through the acquisition of OCLC’s QuestionPoint booth this year demonstrated the suite’s ability to use virtual service. Alexa as a voice interface to enable patrons to ask about Complicated website frameworks such as Drupal library events and hours, search the catalog, or request have sparked a genre of library-specific CMS options. details about their account.
26 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org A kiosk at the conference’s main entrance provided an services for its open source ILS and repository platform Alexa device for visitors to ask for directions, restaurant and its recent placement in the Columbia Law School recommendations, and other information. Though not Library. INDEX DATA has been heavily involved in the related to any of the library vendors exhibiting at the development of FOLIO, for which it will also provide conference, the kiosk reflected the prevalence of these hosting and support services. The company has also devices and sparked conversations among librarians been engaged in the PROJECT RESHARE initiative about privacy implications. These products raise concerns to develop an open source resource sharing platform. about the intermingling of data between library services LYRASIS, a nonprofit membership organization, is and commercial advertising networks. First-time exhibi- involved with a variety of open source projects, includ- tor LDH CONSULTING SERVICES specializes in issues ing DSpace, Fedora, ArchivesSpace, CollectionSpace, relating to the protection of patron data. and SimplyE.
The ILS arena Training and learning
The usual cadre of organizations involved in ILS Another set of vendors provide content and platforms products were on hand, featuring the latest revisions for specialized learning scenarios. Lynda.com, a famil- to their core products and supplemental products or iar brand for libraries, has now become LINKEDIN interfaces. SIRSIDYNIX showed off the latest improve- LEARNING. The platform provides courses and content ments to its BLUEcloud suite of products, and its across different areas in business, technology, and reps were keen to talk about the success of its virtual creative fields and has been adopted by many libraries events for librarians, such as the Connections Summit: to provide training for patrons. BRAINFUSE provides Directors Edition. INNOVATIVE INTERFACES came online tutoring, homework help, and test preparation to the conference under new leadership, energized to through its online classroom. It also includes tools and demonstrate its new Inspire Discovery service and give resources to help with writing, interview preparation, previews of upcoming components of its next genera- job coaching, and résumé writing. TUTOR.COM offers tion Inspire platform. an educational platform for online tutoring, homework THE LIBRARY CORPORATION, offering the help, test preparation, and other ongoing educational CARL•X and Library•Solution ILS products, exhibited needs. Google exhibited at the conference again this jointly with its subsidiary TECH LOGIC, provider of year, featuring its GROW WITH GOOGLE community automated materials-handling equipment. AUTO- program to provide training and tools to help individ- GRAPHICS, offering SHAREit as a web-based inter- uals learn new skills to advance in the workplace. This library loan platform and the VERSO ILS, showed its program includes workshops, in-person training, and latest products based on cloud technologies. PTFS and individualized coaching through local events offered its subsidiary LIBLIME showed off the latest version of throughout the country. its Bibliovation platform for managing print and digital This summary can give only cursory coverage of the resources. Other ILS vendors present included BOOK vast expanse of organizations, products, and services SYSTEMS, INSIGNIA SOFTWARE, and MEDIA represented in the ALA Annual Conference exhibit hall. FLEX with its OPALS product for schools and other Apologies to the many worthy vendors with interesting small libraries. and impressive products not mentioned. The exhibits complement the programs and meetings, and vice versa. Hopefully the issues, topics, and conversations The open source scene that take place in the meeting rooms and hallways of the conference will make their way into the develop- Open source technologies were well represented. ment stream of the products that will populate the BYWATER SOLUTIONS emphasized its support exhibits in future years. The ongoing collaboration of services for the Koha ILS and the CORAL electronic vendors and librarians will be essential to ensure each resource management system, as well as planned new round of product development addresses our stra- services for FOLIO. The EQUINOX OPEN LIBRARY tegic needs and core values. INITIATIVE, now a nonprofit organization, provides MARSHALL BREEDING is an indepen- services for both the Evergreen and Koha ILS products. dent consultant, speaker, writer for Smart Equinox recently launched a new open source software Libraries Newsletter and Library Technology grant program where eligible libraries can receive Reports, and editor of the website Library hosting and support services for Koha. TIND featured its Technology Guides.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 27 our libraries earned this year’s American ALA Presidential Library Association (ALA) Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects. Citations honor Their projects included sustainability efforts, portable libraries for refugee camps, gaming forward-thinking apps to increase engagement, and installing Tor browsers on patron computers. The Presidential Citations began as an initiative global libraries of former ALA President Loriene Roy (2007–2008). Presented by the International Relations Round Table (IRRT), the awards recognize exemplary services and projects that draw attention to the potential for library services to create positive change, demonstrate sustain- ability, and provide a model for others. The four winning libraries for 2019 were commended by then–ALA Pres- ident Loida Garcia-Febo during the IRRT International Librarians Reception at the Library of Congress during the 2019 ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C. The winners are: ■ Biblioteca Pública Central Estatal in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico ■ Libraries Without Borders in Paris ■ Toronto (Ont.) Public Library ■ Milton (Ont.) Public Library Interested in nominating a project for 2020? The dead- line is January 1. More information can be found at ala.org/irrt.
28 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org Biblioteca Pública Central Estatal: Sustainable Library MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO Photos: Biblioteca Pública Central Estatal Estatal Pública Central Biblioteca Photos:
Volunteers at Biblioteca Pública ince 2014, Biblioteca Pública Central Estatal in Mexicali, Baja Central Estatal collected bottle caps and potted plants as part of the SCalifornia, Mexico, has promoted awareness of the environ- library’s sustainability project. ment with its Sustainable Library project. In collaboration with Fundación Hélice A.C., a nonprofit that advocates for environ- mental issues in Baja California, the library educates the public about the effects of pollution, recycling, and conservation. Biblioteca Pública Central Estatal: Sustainable Library is being recognized for: ■ initiating a program to address environmental sustainability with its patrons through a series of organized trainings, film screenings, guided visits, and events ■ training library staffers to encourage patrons to change their thinking about pollution and to teach patrons about resource conservation efforts that can be practiced daily to eradicate pollution in Baja California ■ collaborating with a local high school to design a logo for the program ■ ongoing efforts to engage 94 more libraries to participate in its program •
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 29 Toronto Public Library’s Tor Browser TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA oronto Public Library’s decision to offer the anon- since 2017. Toronto Public Library is the first Canadian Tymous Tor web browser on its public computers public library to provide Tor browsers on its computers. originated from ongoing efforts to position the library as Toronto Public Library is being recognized for: a place for digital privacy guidance and advocacy. The ■ successfully addressing the needs and concerns of its library developed a multipart “Lock Down Your Digital Pri- patrons regarding digital privacy and online security vacy” public education course that has run in more than through a comprehensive, multitiered digital privacy 25 branches across the library initiative, which includes Tor browsers system, educating more than 700 ■ providing an open source browser that is easy to install residents and training more than and use and effectively protects users’ online privacy 35 staff members in the process ■ providing a visible service that has generated online and offline debate and new supporters of the library ■ modeling sustainability and replicability through the deployment of free open source software available to libraries regardless of their size, location, and techno- logical and financial capabilities • Photo illustration: © Tono Balaguer/Adobe Stock (library); Tor Project (screenshot) Project Tor (library); Stock Balaguer/Adobe © Tono illustration: Photo
Milton Public Library’s Gaming App MILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA
uest Milton, an app created by Milton Public more points, they can convert game points into QLibrary using open source code, allows a monetary value that can be used to pay fines, the library to engage with its patrons through offset printing costs, and contribute toward the gaming. Whenever a patron participates in a costs of exam proctoring fees and other library program or accesses services offered by Milton services. Teens were the library’s intended audi- Public Library, the town of Milton, or the local ence, but usage has been equally strong among conservation group Conservation Halton, they younger children and their parents. The app has can unlock games in the app for 24 hours. As resulted in at least 50 new users per month since users progress through the games and gain its launch in February 2018.
30 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org From left: Volunteers in Colombia unload a Libraries Without Borders mobile Ideas Box; a child in Dabeiba, Colombia, uses a tablet from an Ideas Box. Libraries Without Borders PARIS, FRANCE
ibraries Without Borders (LWB) is a nonprofit devoted to education and culture led to the founding of 80 Code Travel- Lfacilitating the growth of libraries and expanding access ers coding clubs in France—many of which meet in libraries— to knowledge in 50 countries around the world. For the past while a collaboration with Khan Academy in 2013 provided eight years, LWB has served more than 500,000 people via more than 1.5 million people in France with French transla- mobile libraries in Burundi, Colombia, France, Haiti, Iraq, tions of the academy’s lessons and curriculum. Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Rwanda, and Tanzania, and in ref- LWB is being recognized for: ugee camps in France, Germany, and Greece. These libraries ■ expanding library services through mobile Ideas Boxes include Ideas Boxes—portable libraries housed in metal ■ identifying and successfully collaborating with partners containers stocked with books, games, craft materials, and to sustain and expand its programs technology, including a server, internet connection, gener- ■ its ongoing global effort to educate the public about ator, tablets, laptops, and digital cameras. LWB’s focus on libraries and their services • Photos: Libraries Without Borders Without Libraries Photos:
Milton Public Library is being recognized for: ■ developing a gaming app that attracts more patrons to the library and remov- ing financial barriers to accessing library services ■ increasing the number of library card regis- trations and direct usage of the library ■ developing a resource that can be shared
Screenshots: Milton Public Library Milton Screenshots: among libraries and municipalities •
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 31 Battling Information Illiteracy
How misinformation affects the future of policy
BY Paul T. Jaeger and Natalie Greene Taylor
32 July/August 2019 n summer 2018, California was experiencing its worst wildfire season ever. In the midst of the destruction—damage to thousands of homes, evacuations of tens of thousands of people, and deaths of Ifirefighters and residents—President Trump initially addressed the situation with a tweet that did not acknowledge these losses. Instead, he blasted the laws of the state for intensifying the wildfire damage: “California wildfires are being magnified and made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!”
This tweet and policymaking may be turning into the big- was a state- gest information policy issue of all. And as tech- ment by a US nologies and methods of communication evolve, president about a large part of engaging with and advocating for a major event, information policy will consist of addressing the suggesting changes new challenges of teaching information literacy to existing policies. and behavior. It is also not true. Every element of the Misinformation literacy tweet—other than the The internet has made it easy for people to be existence of California, information illiterate in new ways. Anyone can the Pacific Ocean, and This is an excerpt create information now—regardless of quality— wildfires—is false. And from Foundations of and get it in front of a large number of people. it was not a simple mis- Information Policy The ability of social media to spread information understanding, because by Paul T. Jaeger as fast as possible, and to as many people as a tweet from Trump the and Natalie Greene possible, challenges literacy, as does the ability to next day reiterated these Taylor (ALA Neal- manipulate images, sounds, and video with ease. themes and blamed the Schuman, 2019). Since the 2016 presidential election, libraries state’s governor person- have constructed hundreds of online fake news ally for holding back pathfinders and tools, but the scope of the water to fight the fires. problem is larger than learning aids alone can So how does this pertain to information handle. The future of information literacy stands policy, since the tweet is about environmental at the intersection of literacy and behavior. Self- policy issues? The answer is in the information. awareness; decision-making processes for what The use and misuse of information in governance to access, use, trust, and share; and awareness Illustrations: © Feodora/Adobe Stock © Feodora/Adobe Illustrations:
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 33 of potential manipulations of informa- information literacy as “bleak” and The ability of tion are central and explicit aspects of noted that they are “easily duped” into information literacy. However informa- believing fake content. Interestingly, a tion professionals address the spiraling 2018 Pew Research Center study found social media to challenges of information literacy and that 18- to 49-year-old Americans were information behavior, that work will be a better than their elders at distinguishing spread information key part of serving patrons and commu- factual news statements from opinions, nities directly and society as a whole. although no age group did particularly as fast as possible, Too much reliance on incorrect informa- well—less than half of those surveyed tion can lead to very poor policy choices. could distinguish all the factual and Confirmation bias is also a serious opinion statements correctly. and to as many impediment, even when you are aware The cliché about a lie spreading of it. When faced with information around the world faster than the truth people as possible, that contradicts or even disproves can get out of bed has been attributed what they believe, people tend to to a number of people recently, but the challenges literacy. resist facts, according to “Misinforma- expression has been around at least tion and the Currency of Democratic 200 years. Lies have always spread Citizenship” (Journal of Politics, 2000). efficiently. But now, lies can move faster These limitations are based not just on and be disseminated more easily than For instance, both France and India demographics or level of technological ever, meaning that political opinions have used their national information engagement. A 2016 Stanford study and policy decisions can be shaped and and technology policies as focusing of US middle school, high school, and determined by misinformation and mechanisms for policy decisions. That college students described their online disinformation. has led to huge gains in the information technology sectors of their economies Information policy while also encouraging their citizens in a dangerous time to work in information and technology. Along with the challenges raised by France, for example, overhauled its information literacy, information behav- French Tech Visas in early 2019 to make ior, fake news, and the information it easier for international tech business misbehavior of political figures, another founders, employees, and investors to challenge for librarians is the lack of a work in the country. unified governmental approach to infor- The lack of a similar policy in the mation policy. The US has no compre- US is more than an issue of education hensive strategy for information policy or economic competition. It means or an omnibus legal framework for that information policy grows and information. This is rare among techno- matures or fails to grow and mature logically advanced nations, especially in in a perpetual ad hoc fashion. Policies the age of the internet. do not necessarily link or even make sense together, and preparing for policy developments can be very difficult for fields and professions. For information professions, these difficulties cut to the bone because we need to advocate simultaneously for the people we serve and for the profession. Understanding and engaging with information policy must be central to the career of every information professional.
34 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org Taking action that share similar commitments as Information professionals can and allies and partners in advocacy. should have a voice in the future of We need to think about educating information policy, if we are willing to as broadly as possible in these areas. make the effort. We have a great deal to That can mean reaching far beyond contribute, both by improving current our current users to those who may policies to increase their overall benefit not be aware of our institutions but and impact and by identifying new who would certainly benefit from areas to be addressed. We have priori- their help. Think about the public tized teaching information literacy and battles over health care laws, access to thoughtful information behavior for insurance, coverage of preexisting con- more than a century. The people drawn ditions, and related issues that have to our profession have a service orien- been central to political debates since tation and an interest in improving the the passage of the Affordable Care common good. Rather than staying on Act. Many of the institutions in our the periphery, we need to put all these field—especially public and academic pieces together and put them to good libraries—helped people sign up for use. We need to carry the fire that fuels coverage, but we collectively could be our focus on education, learning, and doing so much more. Imagine if health service into the realm of information and medical librarians promoted policy. Too often, the good that we do health information and health policy and the help that we provide are known literacy at the same time by producing only to those who already benefit. guides to understanding information Our institutions are essential but issues raised in political debates. need to make themselves more visible. Our institutions are trusted by the We need to be information activists, public and have a great deal to contrib- advocating not just for our own institu- ute to public discourse, if we just learn tions and communities but for infor- to trust ourselves. mation itself and the good it provides to everyone. The most crucial step is PAUL T. JAEGER is putting aside our collective fear of being professor, diversity and seen as political. Building an informa- inclusion officer, and tion institution and opening its doors to codirector of the MLIS program of the College patrons daily are political statements, of Information Studies statements that emphatically express and codirector of the our beliefs in education, equity, and Information Policy and the common good. We do not need to Access Center at the side with specific political candidates University of Mary- or parties, but we should loudly and land. He is an editor of Library Quarterly, editor enthusiastically advocate for the right to of Advances in Librarianship, and asso- information and the right to be educated ciate editor of the International Journal about information and all that those of Information, Diversity, and Inclusion. fundamental rights entail. We should NATALIE GREENE TAYLOR is assistant encourage community members to professor at University of South Florida. She is an editor of Library Quarterly and seriously engage with politicians and has published articles in Information policymakers on information policy Retrieval Journal, International Journal of issues. And we need to seek out and Public Administration in the Digital Age, engage institutions in professional fields and Public Library Quarterly.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 35 March 31 Alan Hall retired as director of ON THE MOVE the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County (Ohio). Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library The Librarians Association of the Shirley McDougal, library associate at appointed Kristine Cook University of California, Los Ange- Medina County (Ohio) District Library adult services manager les, recognized Scholarly Com- for 37 years, retired in May. at the main library effec- munication Education Librarian Meg Scharf, associate director of com- tive April 7. Marty Brennan and Curator of munications, assessment, and public History and Special Collections for March 4 Debbie Estrella joined Tiverton relations at University of Central Florida the Sciences at the UCLA Biomed- (R.I.) Public Library as adult services in Orlando, retired May 31. ical Library Russell Johnson as its and outreach librarian. Librarians of the Year in April.
Makiba Foster was named regional man- The Maryland AT ALA ager for Broward County (Fla.) Libraries Daily Record named Division’s African-American Research Harford County Katie Connelly joined the Association Library and Cultural Center in May. for Library Service to Children April 15 Public Library CEO as awards coordinator. Grace Frenzel joined Livonia (N.Y.) Mary Hastler as Public Library as youth services coordi- one of its 2019 Megan Cusick became manager of state nator April 18. Influential Marylanders March 28. advocacy for ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office May 16. John Guscott was named manager of The Mitchell Chautauqua Literary Lorain (Ohio) Public Library System’s and Scientific Circle in Blue Tammy Dillard-Steels joined the Young Columbia branch in April. Earth, Minnesota, named Heidi Adult Library Services Association as Schutt, director of Muir Library executive director April 23. Jay Miley recently joined the State in Winnebago, its 2019 Woman of Library of Ohio’s Serving Every Ohioan Achievement. • Joaquin Falcon, communications spe- Library Center in Caldwell as library cialist for the Office for Library Advo- customer services manager. cacy, left ALA May 16. Matt Jansen was promoted to data March 11 Katy Miller joined the Univer- Raymond Garcia joined the ALA Gover- analysis librarian at the University of sity of Central Florida in Orlando as nance Office as communications assis- North Carolina at Chapel Hill University student success/textbook affordability tant April 9. Libraries Digital Research Services unit librarian. May 13. Booklist Executive Editor Keir Graff left Sonoe Nakasone joined ALA May 17. The University of the University of North Wisconsin–La Crosse Carolina at Chapel Hill The Office for Diversity, Literacy, and promoted John Jax as community archivist Outreach Services promoted Briana to director of Murphy for the Southern Histor- Jarnagin to program coordinator for Library in April. community engagement May 7. ical Collection at Wilson Special Collections Library April 8. April 9 Allyson Morgan was promoted The Public Library Association (PLA) to manager of Lorain (Ohio) Public promoted Samantha Lopez to manager Library System’s South branch. of marketing and membership April 16. PROMOTIONS Marci Merola, director of the Office for The University of North Carolina at RETIREMENTS Library Advocacy, left ALA May 16. Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library promoted Rebecca Carlson to health Marilyn Genther retired as executive RUSA and ASGCLA promoted Ninah sciences librarian and liaison to the director of Mount Prospect (Ill.) Public Moore to program officer for continuing Eshelman School of Pharmacy May 13. Library in June. education in May.
36 July/August 2019 | americanlibrariesmagazine.org SUBMISSIONS Send notices and photographs to Amy Carlton, [email protected].
MORE ONLINE americanlibrariesmagazine.org/currents
Eula Mae Anderson, 97, librarian at Lafourche Parish (La.) Arkansas Library Association’s 2007 Francis P. Neal Award in Public Library from 1947 until her 1984 retirement, died in recognition of notable service to librarianship in Arkansas. March. Anderson was the parish’s first black librarian and Sandra Joy Nailor, 82, director of Helen Kate Furness Free helped open the Carver branch for black patrons, who were Library in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, for 27 years until not allowed to use the main library. After desegregation in retiring in 2012, died April 23. She modernized the library 1973, she moved to the Thibodaux branch. On her retire- through computerization and spearheaded a building expan- ment, Thibodaux’s mayor declared March 27, 1984, “Eula sion in the mid-2000s. Anderson Day.” Susan K. Nutter, 74, who spent 30 years as vice provost and Shirley Echelman, 84, former executive director of the director of North Carolina State University (NCSU) Libraries, Medical Library Association and the Association of Research died March 25. During her tenure, the award-winning James Libraries (ARL), died May 2. She began her library career B. Hunt Jr. Library opened in 2013, while the university’s as director of information services at Chemical Bank New first main library, D. H. Hill Jr. Library, underwent rede- York Trust Company. She served as president of the Special sign. Nutter embraced technology, beginning the process Libraries Association and as a delegate to the White House of building an online library early in her tenure. NCSU Conference on Library and Information Services in 1979. Libraries became one of the first research libraries to develop After retiring from ARL in 1988, she became a library consul- online courses. Nutter received the Association of College tant and took librarian positions at Handley Regional Library and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Hugh C. Atkinson Memo- System in Winchester, Virginia, and Holy Cross Abbey in rial Award in 1999 and was named 2016 ACRL Academic/ Berryville, Virginia. Research Librarian of the Year. NCSU Libraries won ACRL’s Joe A. Hewitt, 80, university librarian at University of North Excellence in Academic Libraries Award in 2000 and the Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1993 until his 2004 retirement, National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the died December 19. He joined the university as associate Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2016. university librarian for technical services in 1975. Under his Nicolette Warisse Sosulski, 56, business leadership, the library launched “Documenting the American and reference librarian at Portage (Mich.) South,” a project to digitize slave narratives. He helped to District Library since 2005, died May 15. establish the North Carolina Literary Festival, oversaw the Sosulski created a well-used business library renovation of the R. B. House Undergraduate Library, and and a set of resources for patrons to check out founded the Carolina Academic Library Associates program. related to specific health conditions. She was a columnist for both Reference and User Services Quarterly Ellen Sikes Johnson, 77, librarian at University of Central and Booklist, and she received the 2019 Margaret E. Monroe Arkansas (UCA) from 1987 until her 2007 retirement, died Library Adult Services Award. April 15. She served as head of the circulation department, as a reference librarian, and as a children’s librarian at UCA. Melissa Tracy, 31, marketing and program specialist at ALA’s She was elected to two terms on ALA Council and also served Association of Specialized, Government, and Cooperative as Arkansas’ state councilor. Johnson was a founding member Library Agencies (ASGCLA) and the Reference and User Ser- of ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee and received the vices Association (RUSA) since 2016, died April 10. •
Sallyann Price joined American Libraries Shuntai Sykes became membership Symone Villasenor joined PLA as proj- as associate editor April 29. and programs specialist for RUSA and ect manager for strategic initiatives ASGCLA in May. April 15. Nathan Strong became e-commerce RUSA and ASGCLA named Melissa project manager for Information Tech- Vanyek marketing communications and Booklist Editorial Assistant Ada Wolin nology and Technical Services April 29. web services coordinator in May. left ALA April 12.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org | July/August 2019 37 the BOOKEND
Exhibiting Energy rom authors to zines and everything in between, the exhibit hall is the pulse of any American Library Association conference. This year’s Annual FConference and Exhibition in Washington, D.C., was no exception, with attendees clamoring for autographs and advance reading copies, testing new products, and lining up for specialty stages. Here are some of our favorite photos, clockwise from top left: ■ Shanna Hollich, collection manage- Wallette branch in Shreveport, ment librarian at Wilson College Louisiana, tries out spectral in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, glasses at the NASA booth. learns to play Illimat at the Gaming ■ Jim Cowen, music reference and Graphic Novel Pavilion. librarian at University of the Arts ■ Carolyn Long (right), volun- Libraries in Philadelphia, takes the American Libraries American teer at STAR Academy Charter Star Wars READ Selfie Challenge. School in Memphis, Tennessee, ■ Ann N’Gadi, technical infor- poses with Caylin Louis Moore, mation specialist at the author of A Dream Too Big. Smithsonian’s Museum Conser- ■ Wyolanda Hall, manager at vation Institute, gets crafty at
Shreve Memorial Library’s the Creativebug booth. Lomax/ Rebecca Photos:
38 EXPLORE THE NEW RDA AND RDA TOOLKIT
The English language version of RDA stabilized in April 2019. In July, the RDA Online Orientations, a program of educational events will rollout. These events will provide an introduction and illustrative examples to the many changes to RDA and RDA Toolkit introduced during the RDA Toolkit Restructure and Redesign Project, also known as the 3R Project.
The webinars will be presented by RDA experts and cover such topics as nomens, aggregates, relationship elements, and application profiles. Be sure you’re signed up for our e-newsletter for further information on the RDA Online Orientations: RDATOOLKIT.ORG/RDALIST.
SPECIAL NEW TEACHING TOPICS CONCEPTS RDA SERIES SERIES AFTER 3R Begins July 15 Begins July 17 August 19
Learn more about these webinars at ALASTORE.ALA.ORG/CONTENT/SPECIAL-TOPICS-WORKSHOP-SERIES and ALASTORE.ALA.ORG/CONTENT/NEW-CONCEPTS-WORKSHOP-SERIES. Questions? Contact us at [email protected]. Highlight award-winning books in your library with these resources from
GRAB-AND-GO Visit alastore.ala.org/rfr to learn more! AWARDS PAMPHLETS for readers are Help your patrons build their “want-to-read” list by a great value and encouraging them to explore your collection. will help your Easy to distribute, and they’re also time-saving tools library’s users for creating book displays. find their next With picks for every type of reader, they’ll keep your favorite book! patrons coming back for more.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King (CSK) Book Awards and spotlighting the work of the author and illustrator winners and honorees since the awards’ inception, this unique resource is an excellent tool for collection development, readers' advisory, and classroom use. alastore.ala.org