2015 State of America's Libraries Report (PDF)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Federal Funding n Asserting the Value of Libraries n Connected Learning SPECIAL ISSUE THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION The State of AMERICA’S LIBRARIES A REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 2015 n Top 10 Frequently Challenged Books n Libraries as Community Anchors The State of America’s Libraries A REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 2015 Edited by Kathy Rosa, Ed.D., MSLS Office for Research and Statistics American Library Association ABOUT ALA The American Library Association (ALA), the voice of America’s libraries, is the oldest, largest and most influential library association in the world. Its approximately 56,000 members are primarily librarians but also trustees, publishers and other library supporters. The Association represents all types of libraries; its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information. CONTENTS THE STATE OF AMERICA’S LIBRARIES THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION Special Issue April 2015 | ISSN 0002-9769 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY americanlibrariesmagazine.org email [email protected] toll free 800-545-2433 plus extension local 312-944-6780 • fax 312-440-0901 5 INTRODUCTION online career classified ads: JobLIST.ala.org Editor and Publisher 6 ACADEMIC LIBRARIES Laurie D. Borman • [email protected] • x4213 Managing Editor Sanhita SinhaRoy • [email protected] • x4219 Senior Editor 8 SCHOOL LIBRARIES Amy Carlton • [email protected] • x5105 Senior Editor George M. Eberhart • [email protected] • x4212 10 PUBLIC LIBRARIES Associate Editor Phil Morehart • [email protected] • x4218 Associate Editor Mariam Pera • [email protected] • x5282 12 ISSUES AND TRENDS design and production 12 Children’s and Teen Services Managing Editor, ALA Production Services Chris Keech 14 Public Programs Senior Production Editor Krista Joy Johnson Production Editor T.J. Johnson 14 Equitable Access 15 Intellectual Freedom publishing department Associate Executive Director Donald Chatham 18 Accreditation Standards Rights, Permissions, Reprints Mary Jo Bolduc • x5416 membership development 19 NATIONAL ISSUES AND TRENDS Director Ron Jankowski 19 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) advisory committee 20 Privacy Sandy Hirsh (Chair), Ernie Cox, Lee A. Cummings, 20 Federal Library Funding Luren E. Dickinson, Christine Korytnyk Dulaney, Megan Hodge, Jennifer Amy Maddox Abbott, Marc Truitt 20 Workforce Bill Passes Editorial policy: ALA Policy Manual, section 10.2 21 Copyright Updates advertising 21 E-Rate Michael Stack • [email protected] • 847-367-7120 21 Net Neutrality Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorse- 21 National Library Legislative Day ment. ALA reserves the right to refuse advertising. 21 ALA Policy Revolution indexed Available full text from ProQuest, EBSCO Publishing, H. W. Wilson, LexisNexis, Information Access, JSTOR. 22 RESOURCES subscribe Libraries and other institutions: $70/year, 6 issues, 28 CONTRIBUTORS US, Canada, and Mexico; foreign: $80. Subscription price for individuals included in ALA membership dues. 800-545-2433 x5108, email [email protected], or visit ala.org. Claim missing issues: ALA Member and Customer Service. Allow six weeks. Single issues $11.50, with 40% discount for five or more; contact Charisse Perkins, 800-545-2433 x4286. published American Libraries (ISSN 0002-9769) is published 6 times special issue april 2015 yearly 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. ©2015 Ameri- can Library Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without written permission from the publisher. americanlibrariesmagazine.org 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ibraries provide people of all ages and backgrounds with unlimited possibilities to participate in a media- and technology- Lenriched society. As community anchors, libraries touch people’s lives in many ways and stand as protectorates of the tenets of a democratic government. This report discusses current issues, developments, and practices of academic, school, and public libraries. Academic libraries provide resources and services to support digital books, access to databases, meeting spaces, and the learning, teaching, and research needs of students, instruction on how to use new technologies. More than faculty, and staff.Surveys show that both students and fac- two-thirds of Americans agree that libraries are important ulty value high-quality digital and print collections and the because they improve the quality of life in a community, instructional support that helps them use these resources. promote literacy and reading, and provide many people Academic librarians are finding creative ways to repurpose with a chance to succeed. library spaces and make optimal budgeting choices. special issue april 2015 | School libraries provide learning environments that Issues and trends enable students to acquire the reading, research, digital Libraries demonstrate their value as community anchors literacy, and citizenship skills necessary for college and by responding to issues and identifying trends that impact career readiness. Certified school librarians ensure that the community. Free library programs provide learning 21st-century information literacy skills, dispositions, opportunities and entertainment for children as well as responsibilities, and assessments are integrated through- adults. Books and digital resources support educational out all curriculum areas. goals from early literacy through lifelong learning. Library Public libraries serve as community anchors that ad- collections include books and resources that represent dress economic, educational, and health disparities in the the diversity of people, cultures, and the faraway places community. They offer educational programs, print and that make up the world we live in. Librarians help protect americanlibrariesmagazine.org 2 people’s rights by proactively supporting equitable access Reasons: Anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/ and intellectual freedom. A high standard of education smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, helps librarians respond to many issues and trends. sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence. Addi- Traditional library programs, from story times to author tional reasons: “depictions of bullying.” talks, have always been popular with patrons. New forms 2. Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi of programming today, from makerspaces to drop-in Reasons: Gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint. craft activities reflect our changing world. In 2012, there Additional reasons: “politically, racially, and socially offen- were 92.6 million attendees at the 4 million programs sive,” “graphic depictions.” offered by public libraries. This represents a 10-year 3. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and increase of 54.4% in program attendance. Peter Parnell In addition to programs, libraries engage our nation’s Reasons: Anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, youth, from preschool through religious viewpoint, unsuited the teen years, with books and In 2012, there were for age group. Additional rea- digital resources. Early liter- sons: “promotes the homo- acy materials include books 92.6 million attendees sexual agenda.” and e-resources that intro- 4. The Bluest Eye, by Toni duce words and concepts. at the 4 million programs Morrison Children benefit from story- offered by public libraries. Reasons: Sexually explicit, time, homework assistance, unsuited for age group. and diverse books. Many Additional reasons: “contains controversial issues.” libraries provide a space for teens to hang out, read, do 5. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris homework in groups, and try out new technologies. Young Reasons: Nudity, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited adult collections and teen programs have flourished in to age group. Additional reasons: “alleges it [to be] child libraries in the past decade. pornography.” Youth learn about various cultures and traditions 6. Saga, by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples through library books and programs. Librarians have Reasons: Anti-Family, nudity, offensive language, sexually proactively called for diversity in children’s literature. In explicit, and unsuited for age group. his April 2014 white paper, The Importance of Diversity in 7. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini Library Programs and Material Collections for Children, Jamie Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited to age group, Campbell Naidoo explores the critical role libraries play violence. in helping children make cross-cultural connections. He 8. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky calls on libraries to include diverse programming and Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, homosexuality, offensive materials for children as an essential step in meeting the language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group. Addi- needs of their communities. tional reasons: “date rape and masturbation.” 9. A Stolen Life: A Memoir, by Jaycee Dugard Access and challenges Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, offensive language, sexu- While most community members appreciate having a ally explicit, and unsuited for age group. window to the world through a diverse collection of books 10. Drama, by Raina Telgemeier