Archiving Home Movies If ICE Shows Up

JaJanuary/Februarynuara y/Febbruaryy 22020020

THE MAGAZINE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

MIDWINTER PREVIEW

+ PHILADELPHIA DINING GUIDE

p. 50 Archiving Home Movies p. 40 If ICE Shows Up p. 46

PLUS: 2019 Year in Review, Referenda Roundup, Longest Table Conversations MLA More than 1,000 full-text ΖQWHUQDWLRQDO journals ready to explore %LEOLRJUDSK\ ZLWK)XOO7H[W

From the Modern Language Association (MLA) and EBSCO, this new database FRPELQHVWKHGHȴQLWLYHLQGH[IRUWKHVWXG\RIODQJXDJHOLWHUDWXUHOLQJXLVWLFV UKHWRULFDQGFRPSRVLWLRQIRONORUHDQGȴOPZLWKIXOOWH[WIRUPRUHWKDQ MRXUQDOVLQFOXGLQJPDQ\RIWKHPRVWXVHGMRXUQDOVLQWKH MLA International Bibliography([SHUWUHVXOWVDUHJXDUDQWHHG

To set up a Free Trial, please contact Request a your EBSCO representative or visit: Free Trial exploremla.is/26 January/February 2020

American Libraries | Volume 51 #1/2 | ISSN 0002-9769

COVER STORY 50 2020 Midwinter Preview Prepare for a knockout meeting in the City of Brotherly Love EDITED BY Greg Landgraf

58 The Philly Food Scene Where to dine during Midwinter BY Reid Bramblett

FEATURES 28 2019 Year in Review A look back at the stories that affected libraries 32 Referenda Roundup How states performed on library measures in 2019 BY Anne Ford 28 40 Uncovering the Past With digitization, libraries bring treasures to light BY Lauren Emily Whalen

46 Know Your Rights— and Theirs 40 How libraries prepare for possible ICE activity BY Claire Zulkey

32 46 ON THE COVER: Photo ©F11Photo/Adobe Stock 22 72 16

UP FRONT TRENDS PERSPECTIVES IN PRACTICE 3 From the 16 Tables of Content Editor Longest Table meals bring 64 Your Library’s Story Inspiring Resolve communities together BY Meredith Farkas BY Sanhita SinhaRoy for civil dialogue DISPATCHES BY Lara Ewen 8 From Our 65 Understanding Blockchain 20 Readers Free Speech—or Free-for-All? BY Michael Meth “First Amendment audits” YOUTH MATTERS ALA push privacy limits BY Taylor Hartz 66 Making Room for Inclusion 4 BY Tricia Bohanon From the 22 On the Zine Scene President Libraries partner with festivals for ON MY MIND Forward Together community expression 67 Get with the Programming BY Wanda Kay Brown BY Diana Panuncial BY Terrilyn Chun 5 From the 24 Ready to Binge-Watch? LIBRARIAN’S LIBRARY Treasurer Circulations soar as libraries add 68 Digital Strategies for Librarians Achieving Our Vision binge boxes to collections BY Anna Gooding-Call BY Maggie Farrell BY Timothy Inklebarger PEOPLE 6 From the NEWSMAKER Executive 26 Rainbow Rowell 70 Announcements Director Building worlds with Reﬂecting on Spotify and speciﬁcity THE BOOKEND Our Mission BY Alison Marcotte 72 MeMedicald Marvels BY Mary Ghikas PLUS 10 Update 17 By the Numbers What’s happening 25 Global Reach at ALA 27 Noted & Quoted

Address: 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611-2795 Website: americanlibrariesmagazine.org Inspiring Resolve Email: [email protected] Phone: 800-545-2433 plus extension Career Ads: JobLIST.ala.org appy new year—and happy Midwinter Preview EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Tina Fey Sanhita SinhaRoy issue (cover story, p. 50). If you’re attending What is [email protected] | x4219 the upcoming conference in Philadelphia, be your favorite MANAGING EDITOR Gritty sure to check out the session highlights and Philadelphia Terra Dankowski [email protected] | x5282 Hdining options (p. 58) found within these pages, and export? SENIOR EDITORS Joan Jett also to keep an eye out for our Daily Scoop e-newsletter, Amy Carlton [email protected] | x5105 which will bring four days of our team’s onsite reporting George M. Eberhart straight to your inbox. The first email arrives January 25. [email protected] | x4212 Other perennial favorites in this issue: Year in American The Roots Bandstand Phil Morehart Review (p. 28) and Referenda Roundup (p. 32), for [email protected] | x4218 Sanhita SinhaRoy American Libraries ASSOCIATE EDITOR which again partnered with the Cheesesteaks Sallyann Price Public Library Association to provide extensive cov- [email protected] | x4213 erage of how state ballot measures fared around the EDITOR-AT-LARGE Tastykakes Anne Ford country. Anne Ford tracked more than 100 elections to [email protected] bring you the results. EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE With a new political season under way, some libraries Carrie Smith will likely face a troubling trend of so-called First Amend- [email protected] | x4216 Fresh Air ART DIRECTOR with Terry ment auditors visiting their facilities to videotape and Rebecca Lomax Gross post alleged infractions or document perceived bias. In Bifocals [email protected] | x4217 “Free Speech—or Free-for-All?” (p. 20), Taylor Hartz ADVERTISING Michael Stack [email protected] | 847-367-7120 examines what libraries are doing to prepare. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement. Preparation is also the name of the game for libraries ALA reserves the right to refuse advertising. PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT hosting bystander trainings to tackle harassment, par- Mary Mackay ticularly that directed at immigrants. As Claire Zulkey Associate Executive Director reports in “Know Your Rights—and Theirs” (p. 46), Mary Jo Bolduc Rights, Permissions, Reprints | x5416 several libraries “hoping to empower and protect their MEMBERSHIP Library-led communities” have begun educating staffers on their Melissa Kay Walling, Director Longest rights and responsibilities should a raid by US Immigra- ADVISORY COMMITTEE tion and Customs Enforcement take place. Susan H. Polos (Chair), Helen Ruth Adams, Salvador Avila, Table meals Crystal Chen, Sonja Eyler, Janie L. Hermann, Jasmina Jusic, In stark contrast to the divisiveness is the civil dia- Sigrid Kelsey. Committee associate: Rachel Beth Wykle are fostering logue fostered at Longest Table meals throughout the Editorial policy: ALA Policy Manual, section A.8.2 country. Lara Ewen describes how library workers are INDEXED diversity, helping communities break down walls while breaking Available full text from ProQuest, EBSCO Publishing, H. W. Wilson, LexisNexis, Information Access, JSTOR. respect, bread in “Tables of Content” (p. 16). SUBSCRIBE And finally, you’ll notice we’ve made small design Libraries and other institutions: $74/year, 6 issues, US, Canada, and compassion, Mexico; foreign: $84. Subscription price for individuals included in changes in this issue, including a new look for our ALA membership dues. 800-545-2433 x5108, email membership@ columns (starting on p. 64). We’re also reintroducing ala.org, or visit ala.org. Claim missing issues: ALA Member and and empathy Customer Service. Allow six weeks. Single issues $7.50, with 30% our Librarian’s Library column (p. 68), with Reference discount for ﬁve or more; contact Carrie Smith, 800-545-2433 x4216 to help and Technology Librarian Anna Gooding-Call as the first or [email protected] of three new writers. Let us know what you think. As PUBLISHED unify their American Libraries (ISSN 0002-9769) is published 6 times yearly always, we welcome and appreciate your feedback. with occasional supplements by the American Library Association See you in Philly. (ALA). Printed in USA. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, communities. 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. ©2020 American Library Association. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without written permission from the publisher.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 3 from the PRESIDENT

Forward Together Charting a path to a more vibrant and eﬀective organization

eeting members and learning how and that the ALA described in Forward Together may where they found their place in ALA take away levers of power. These members have has given me the opportunity to reflect given much through their service to ALA within on my own path. I was lucky enough to the current structure and may be less receptive to Mbe guided and mentored early on by members of change. We do understand that. However, we feel the Black Caucus of the American Library Associ- strongly that this plan can and will work. While we ation, and through my involvement in that group, continue to review and refine our recommenda- I found a path for engagement and leadership tions, we are weaving in some of the strategies we that brought me to where I am today. are so excited about. But as we hear often, many members find the We currently have no exact correlation for Wanda Kay Brown path to engagement too confusing, too insular, the proposed leadership assemblies described and too expensive. How do we address these in Forward Together, but they seek to be direct, concerns while also modernizing the way our open lines of influence to the Board of Directors. Association functions? Leadership assemblies maintain the functions and This is where we start. For the past 18 months, strengths of existing groups such as ALA Council, as a member of the Steering Committee on Orga- the Chapter Leaders Forum, and the Round Table nizational Effectiveness (SCOE), I’ve been on the Coordinating Assembly. (In fact, this is already front lines of a once-in-a-generation opportunity happening: In October 2019, leaders convened to create a more vibrant and effective Association virtually for the first Chapters Assembly, and I that supports libraries and library workers in a heard great things about it from participants!) society and culture that was almost unimaginable What this means practically is that the first when our current structure was developed. To Council vote on the adoption of these recom- help realign our Association with the world we mendations will likely not take place at the 2020 The aim of live in today, we have collected recommendations Annual Conference in Chicago as originally stated the new called Forward Together. but instead at the 2021 Midwinter Meeting. It wasn’t easy to get here. As a committee This extended timeline provides the oppor- Forward member, I can assure you we didn’t always agree tunity to do an in-depth financial review. It also Together with one another. But I watched as we struggled allows the votes to happen with the same Council with our differences and focused on the greater rather than a split group. One of SCOE’s stated plan is to good. Each of us represents a distinct perspective, goals was to “enable sustainable, long-term encourage discipline, or library type, and we used our back- change (including evaluation of progress and grounds to ensure our final recommendations more frequent future adjustments).” We are mod- those who will work for all members, not just ourselves or eling that by trying and doing as we go. don’t feel people who think like we do. Changing culture takes time and intent. I Our aim is to encourage those who don’t feel invite you to read the report and engage with its they have a they have a place in ALA to participate and flour- conclusions at forwardtogether.ala.org. I believe place in ALA ish. Forward Together codifies an institutional our work will help many more members find commitment to diversity in our governing bodies their place within ALA. the ability to and builds safeguards against homogeneity. participate Not everyone will agree with our recommenda- WANDA KAY BROWN is director of library services tions. We understand there are a few caring and at C. G. O’Kelly Library at Winston-Salem (N.C.) State and ﬂourish. extremely involved members who are concerned University.

4 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org from the TREASURER

Achieving Our Vision To build a ﬁnancially stable Association, we must work together

t is my honor to serve as your treasurer and to on our priorities. This work has already started, receive the baton from Susan Hildreth. Susan as Executive Director Mary Ghikas has noted in provided strong leadership for our financial past columns about the streams of change. operations with expertise and diligence, and her Members are considering our Association Icollegiality is a model for me as we—ALA offices, structure through intense conversations related divisions, round tables, and other units—work to the Steering Committee on Organizational together toward a financially stable Association. Effectiveness (SCOE). We have examined the I start my tenure by reporting mixed results for costs of the ALA headquarters building in Chi- our finances, but I am optimistic about the work cago, noting the significant maintenance and being done to advance libraries. modernization costs compared with favorable Maggie Farrell In 2018, the ALA Executive Board approved a leasing rates and the ability to significantly add plan to strategically invest in three critical areas: to our ALA endowment. information technology, advocacy, and develop- Together, we are creating a strong founda- ment. Over a three-year period already underway, tion for the future through better technology, $8.8 million has been dedicated to upgrading increased member engagement, and increased software and capabilities to better manage private revenues. Association operations that improve member As members, you have been engaged in such services. Funding for advocacy will strengthen efforts in your own libraries—determining priori- relationships with key D.C. stakeholders for proac- ties, staffing activities that advance your mission, tive and targeted interactions that support library examining operations, and dealing with aging issues. And expanding development activities will facilities. That is why your input on SCOE, service increase private and corporate donations for our for ALA, and involvement are so critical in these Association, furthering vital initiatives and build- efforts. Your insights into operational effective- Strategic ing endowments to contribute to our future work. ness and experience in making difficult decisions investments This has been a bold move. The Budget Analysis contribute to our broad conversations about how and Review Committee (BARC), chaired by Peter we engage members to further our libraries. are necessary, Hepburn, is working closely with ALA offices and Financial information is available on the ALA but they the Executive Board to develop metrics to assess website on the Executive Board, Finance and these investments. Their work will be presented at Audit Committee, and BARC pages. Peter and I alone cannot the ALA Midwinter Meeting, and it is my commit- are working to make our financial information make up for ment to keep members aware of our progress. readily available and easier to understand, but Strategic investments are necessary and over- please do not hesitate to contact me directly at increased due, but they alone cannot make up for increased any time if you need more information. costs, new operational costs, new ways of working, and a I am excited about the future of ALA because different economic environment that impacts of members like you who are talented, creative, ways of Membership, Publishing, and conferences. dedicated, and smart. Your involvement in working, and ALA is examining operations to determine streams of change will enable us to collectively possible streamlining and efficiencies. With the build the Association that our profession so a different Executive Board, ALA is asking difficult questions richly deserves. economic about how we fund activities, staff operations, and conduct our work. During the next three MAGGIE FARRELL is dean of university libraries at environment. years, we will need to make difficult choices based University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 5 from the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Reﬂecting on Our Mission Enter the new year with purpose and strategy

s we move forward into 2020, it is He defines “mission gap”—which we should worthwhile to stop, take a deep breath, collectively seek to close—as the difference and ask ourselves those perennial between the ideal and the current reality. questions about why we exist, what we So as we begin 2020 together, it is a good time Aare meant to accomplish, and by what strategies. to consider and talk with one another about our Like other nonprofit, tax-exempt organiza- community aspirations. tions, ALA exists because we seek to accomplish ■ Where are we succeeding (and where are a mission, initially defined in ALA’s Constitution, we failing) in achieving our mission? “to promote library service and librarianship.” ■ Where are we succeeding (and where are That critical social purpose was later more we failing) in achieving those overarching Mary Ghikas expansively stated in ALA Policy Manual, goals that mark our major roads to mission section A.1.2: “The mission of the American achievement: advocacy; equity, diversity, Library Association is to provide leadership for and inclusion; information policy; and the development, promotion, and improvement professional and leadership development? of library and information services and the ■ Now that we’re almost 20 years into the profession of librarianship in order to enhance 21st century, if we were to revisit our learning and ensure access to information for mission, how would we organize the all.” Like other nonprofits, our mission is meant Association today to achieve that mission to make a difference for society. and accomplish our strategic directions We are, additionally, a particular kind of non- and goals? profit, tax-exempt organization: an association. ■ Where are new opportunities for mission We are a membership organization—based on achievement? the belief that individuals coming together with ■ What new internal capabilities do we need purpose and strategy provide the critical force for to develop? social improvement and achieving a mission. ■ Do we need to establish new short-term ALA members—librarians and library staff “stretch” goals related to our mission and from a growing range of backgrounds, library organization? As we trustees, Friends and advocates, leaders of ■ How do our goals, initiatives, and plans fit library-related businesses—are at our organiza- together to form a coherent strategy? begin 2020 tional core, working collaboratively with ALA Each of us brings to this community a unique together, it is staff, external allies, and stakeholders. perspective, based on our individual lived So why should we stop periodically to examine experience. To be an effective force, to improve a good time what seems obvious to so many of us? In Mission the society in which we live through striving to to consider Impact: Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits, achieve our mission, it isn’t enough for each of us Robert M. Sheehan Jr., academic director at Uni- to individually engage in year-end reflection; we and talk with versity of Maryland’s business school, outlines a need to talk with—and listen to—one another, one another “mission accomplishment” approach to articulat- to reflect together, to craft a shared community ing and measuring impact. narrative, and to then move confidently into the about our Sheehan defines carrying out a mission as new year. community the “core purpose” of an organization, and nonprofits must measure the progress toward MARY GHIKAS is executive director of the American Library Association. aspirations. achieving that mission.

6 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (noun) The process of working collaboratively with community members — library users, residents, faculty, students and/or local organizations — to address issues for the betterment of the community.

GRANT-FUNDED PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE: U `iÛi«}ÊVÕÌÞÊi}>}iiÌ programs and services U «>ÀÌiÀ}ÊÜÌ Ê>ÊVÕÌÞ agency that builds the capacity APPLY BY of the community to address an important issue FEB. 3, 2020, AT U VÀi>Ì}Ê>ÊiÛiÌÊÌ >ÌÊViVÌÃÊÌ i library to a community-identiﬁed ALA.ORG/LTCEG aspiration or concern U >`ÊÕV ÊÀi from our READERS

Lots of Mismatched Coverage interesting I was glad to see “From the suggestions Library with Love” (Nov./Dec., for browser p. 18). I found my own sweetie extensions that on OkCupid in 2015, when I was 71 and he was 85. For some time, will flag fake news libraries have helped patrons online. Currently navigate the digital universe. It checking out makes sense for libraries to help NewsGuard older adults understand how common and successful online particularly the author’s attitude are paid fairly. “Putting teens extension. Thanks, dating has become and how it toward the deprofessionaliza- first” is an admirable goal. Union @amlibraries! can work. tion of librarianship. A common contracts promise living wages #tlchat #edchat A few things, however, struck complaint for administrators and and vital benefits for the pas- me as off-base. First, the graphic management is the lack of flex- sionate professionals pursuing @DRTLOVESBOOKS in draws on cutesy stereotypes. ibility in union contracts—that that goal. response to “Check Your Few patrons—or even older is, that these contracts make it Wesley Fiorentino Facts” (Nov./Dec., p. 36) librarians—would identify with more difficult to exploit workers. Boston these mocking caricatures. This seems to be the underlying Few things Second, the subheading “Strat- concern of the suggestion that Embargo Embitters move my soul egies for successful swiping” is “volunteers and nondegreed Library Community like a visually misleading. In the current envi- staffers” can do the work of pro- In all the coverage of the ebook ronment, there is much online fessional librarians. embargo (“ALA Responds to appealing library. discussion about swipe-based I have worked with many Macmillan Letter,” The Scoop, @THEBIGBABOOSKI mobile apps (like Tinder and talented and passionate parapro- Oct. 31), no one seems to be in response to “2019 Bumble, although OkCupid has fessional library workers, and they addressing that the publishing Library Design Show- added a swiping feature) versus play important roles in libraries. process for ebooks is pretty case” (Sept./Oct., p. 32) programs that don’t involve swip- They are often paid far less than frictionless for the publisher! No ing; the latter seem to facilitate degreed librarians to work less printing press, no warehouses, connections based on personality desirable and consistent hours, no workers needed to pack and and shared interests more than often without union protections. ship books. This is a money grab photos. In any case, knowing the This is a destructive pattern that on the part of the publisher. I difference between the two types devalues the work we do and applaud the systems that are of apps is important, and I would contributes to the exploitation of boycotting, but I also wonder if never recommend that older young people. It is also very tell- they are not further restricting adults start by swiping. ing that it is a library director, not access for their customers. Then Martha Cornog a front-line librarian, complaining again, it’s nice to do something. Philadelphia that union contracts prevent the Danielle Stanley hiring of “youth of color.” Phoenix Fair Contracts for To diversify our field, we must Fairer Libraries make education more afford able Bad News for Libraries I was disappointed with “Contract and ensure that professionals ALA’s statement (“ALA Responds Concerns” (Nov./Dec., p. 58), (and prospective professionals) to Citrus County New York Times

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.

8 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org on our WEBSITE

Block,” The Scoop, Nov. 5) reads and don’t provide articles where like a regurgitation of existing the bad advice drowns out the What You’re Reading policy and provides no condem- good advice. Librarians, Start New Game See how aca- nation of the commissioners Elissa Moritz demic librarians are building collections for responsible, and effectively Ashburn, Virginia 1 videogame scholars. bit.ly/AL-videogame states that the Citrus County libraries are on their own. ALA Automation Frustration Media Literacy in an Age of Fake News had a chance to stand up and “Automatic for the People” A review of the latest books, courses, and fight back but instead chose to sit (Sept./Oct., p. 48) portrays 2 other resources for librarians. bit.ly/AL-medialit down and lob a weak response. unstaffed, self-serve libraries as Laura Deshler Lambert novel yet flawed. The impact of Connecting with Congress Librarians are Lake Elmo, Minnesota automation is certainly worth using year-round advocacy skills to build ALA’s Office for Intellectual exploring, but I worry about 3 relationships with elected officials at all Freedom issued this response: the need to surveil patrons. levels of government. bit.ly/AL-yr-advocacy “ALA stands firmly in opposition The layout opens with security of censorship, particularly when camera screen-grabs, setting the it threatens the First Amend- tone for an article that regret- In Case You Missed It ment rights of a library commu- tably omits a discussion on the nity. In any specific situation, we privacy implications of unstaffed Newsmaker: Debbie Harry The work in partnership with local libraries. Privacy is one of the Blondie bandleader spoke with us librarians and state association casualties of our reliance on con- about art, music, libraries, and how leaders to support constructive venience and the lionization of climate activists are the new punk. dialogue that is focused on a technology. Sure, the extended bit.ly/AL-Blondie resolution that promotes library hours are popular, but through users’ rights and access to infor- the paradigm of the internet-at- How the CPS Strike Affected Chicago mation, and we will continue to large we’ve been conditioned School Librarians More than 80% of Chicago do so in this and other situations to acquiesce to ease of use. Public Schools still lack a librarian. What’s next for in the future.” Why sacrifice a core value of the district? bit.ly/AL-CPS-strike librarianship when some elbow Challenging Advice grease and outreach can achieve Can My Library Ban Guns? Our The article “Up to the Chal- the same ends? online Letters of the Law column lenge” (Sept./Oct., p. 52) left Ross Sempek debuts with questions about Narcan me speechless. Telling a school Portland, Oregon and guns. bit.ly/AL-LetterLaw1 librarian to deal with books that The rise of self-service might not Division conference coverage Reports from are often targets for challenges have a major effect on librarians, November’s YALSA Symposium (bit.ly/AL-yalsa19) by rearranging books on shelves but it does reduce the need for and AASL’s National Conference and Exhibition is not only foolish, it is not practi- clerical and support staff, and (bit.ly/AL-aasl19). cal. Why wouldn’t the author use that is not a social good. the tools described in the book Unlike librarians, these staffers to promote sound collection are usually people who grew up development guidelines and a in the area and have their fingers Coming Soon strong reconsideration process on the pulse of the community. Check The Scoop for our full team coverage of to help guide school librarians? It’s also one of the all-too-rare ALA’s Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Philadelphia, If a school librarian must hide or jobs not requiring a degree that January 24–28, and reports from the PLA 2020 restrict a book from the school carries decent benefits and often Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, February 25–29. population, then the book should a pension. I hate the idea of these not be in the school’s collection. jobs disappearing. Please give school librarians Susan Levy AMERICANLIBRARIES.ORG more credit for the work they do, Brooklyn, New York

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 9 ALA Turns to Congress Amid Macmillan Ebook Embargo n November 1 Macmillan Publishers began to limit collective voices. We will continue to advocate and fight on access to ebooks through America’s libraries by institut- multiple fronts for fair prices and terms to help ensure equita- Oing an eight-week embargo on library ebook purchases, ble access to information and resources.” despite robust public demand to reverse the policy. Regardless In response to Macmillan’s decision, ALA has collected of the size of the library, Macmillan will sell only one copy of a signatures on ebooksforall.org and gathered stories about how new ebook title for the first two months after its release. the ebook embargo is affecting communities. In addition to In October, the American Library Association (ALA), the the public awareness campaign, ALA has deepened legislative Public Library Association (PLA), and other allies delivered engagement on Capitol Hill. nearly 160,000 petition signatures from all 50 states and The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Canada, demanding equitable access to digital content (that Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law announced a figure had risen to more than 216,000 by November 27). bipartisan investigation into competition in digital markets “We want a fair path forward for readers, libraries, authors, in June 2019. On October 15, ALA released a report (bit. ly/ and publishers,” said ALA President Wanda Kay Brown in a DigitalMarketsReport) in response to that inquiry that November 1 statement. “ALA urged the publisher to suspend denounces embargoes by companies like Macmillan and the embargo, but Macmillan is determined to go through with Amazon, which refuses to sell any of its published content to the new policy.” libraries. Such restrictions threaten Americans’ right to read In that statement, PLA President Ramiro Salazar said he is what and how they choose and imperil other fundamental “disappointed and extremely upset Macmillan has ignored our First Amendment freedoms, the report said. •

New Publications Respond public libraries across the US that have Exchange, the Exchange will be held to Opioid Crisis employed various strategies to address May 4, 6, and 8 with the theme “Build- In October, PLA and OCLC released the epidemic. ing the Future Together.” Participants two publications that detail how public The report highlights findings from in the Exchange will share the research, libraries are responding to the opioid these case studies, identifies emerging trends, and developments in collections, crisis, including a summary report (bit practices among responding libraries and leadership, technology, innovation, .ly/PLAOCLCreport) and supplemental their community partners, and identifies sustainability, and collaborations. Submit case studies (bit.ly/PLAOCLCstudies). considerations for libraries aiming to proposals and find more information at With financial supportpp from the Insti- ramp up their response. bit.ly/ExchangeProposals. tute of Museum and Library Divisions Collaborate LITA to Honor Student Work Services, the two on Virtual Forum LITA will offer an award for the best organizations The Association for Library Collections unpublished manuscript submitted by partnered in and Technical Services (ALCTS), Library a student or students enrolled in an September 2018 and Information Technology Association ALA-accredited graduate program. to collect and (LITA), and the Library Leadership and Sponsored by LITA and Ex Libris, the share information Management Association (LLAMA) have award consists of $1,000, publication in and resources to collaborated to create the Exchange, Information Technology and Libraries, and support public libraries and their com- an interactive, virtual forum designed a certificate. munities in addressing this public health to bring together experiences, ideas, The award, intended to enhance crisis. Over 12 months, PLA and OCLC expertise, and individuals from these students’ professional development, rec- conducted a research study of eight divisions. Modeled after the 2017 ALCTS ognizes superior writing. The manuscript

10 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org JAN. 24–28 ALA Midwinter Meeting & ALA Responds to Citrus Exhibits | Philadelphia County New York Times Ban alamidwinter.org FEB. 25–29 he Board of Commissioners of Citrus County, Florida, voted in late October Public Library Association to prohibit the county’s public libraries from purchasing digital subscriptions Conference | Nashville, Tennessee Tto The New York Times, which one commissioner labeled “fake news.” On placonference.org November 5, ALA issued a statement in response to the decision. MAR. 16 “Both ALA’s Library Bill of Rights and Code of Ethics encourage libraries and Freedom of Information Day librarians to ensure that the criteria used to select materials do not discriminate ala.org/advocacy/foi-day

on the basis of factors such as political or religious viewpoint or the background, APR. identity, gender, or beliefs of the publisher or author,” the statement read. School Library Month “Public libraries are government agencies subject to the First Amendment. ala.org/aasl/slm Rejecting or censoring a publication based upon its political viewpoint represents APR. 4–11 both content and viewpoint discrimination that is contrary to the spirit of the First Money Smart Week Amendment’s promise of freedom of speech and freedom of belief. Our consti- moneysmartweek.org tution and Bill of Rights promises every person the right and equal opportunity to discover, develop, and defend their own political, social, and religious beliefs. APR. 19–25 National Library Week A government official’s decision to prevent access to a particular publication ala.org/nlw based on partisan disapproval of that publication denies this right. We stand by our Freedom to Read Statement: We believe that democratic societies are more APR. 21 safe, free, and creative when the free flow of public information is not restricted by National Library Workers Day governmental prerogative.” • ala-apa.org/nlwd APR. 22 National Bookmobile Day ala.org/aboutala/bookmobileday can address any aspect of libraries and standards and will be posted on the APR. 26–MAY 2 information technology. The deadline for portal as they are completed. AASL also Preservation Week manuscript submission is February 28; plans to create professional learning ala.org/preservationweek the winner will be announced in May. resources to assist practitioners in devel- APR. 30 Guidelines and application form at bit.ly/ oping their own local plans as needed El día de los niños/ LITAaward. to supplement the national changes El día de los libros published by the division. dia.ala.org AASL Standards Alignment In an effort to provide school library ASGCLA Seeks Presenters MAY 1–7 Choose Privacy Week professionals the materials and resources The Association of Specialized, Gov- chooseprivacyeveryday.org needed to implement the National School ernment, and Cooperative Library Library Standards, the American Asso- Agencies (ASGCLA) invites librarians MAY 4–5 ciation of School Librarians (AASL) has and subject-matter experts to submit National Library Legislative released a plan to align the AASL Stan- proposals for 2020 Annual preconfer- Day | Washington, D.C. dards to the Next Generation Science ences or 2021 Midwinter institutes ala.org/advocacy/nlld Standards. The plan and accompanying (bit. ly/ASGCLAproposalform). Accepted JUNE how-to-read document are available for proposals will be presented at either GLBT Book Month download on the AASL Standards Portal the 2020 ALA Annual Conference and ala.org/glbtbookmonth

(bit.ly/AASLcrosswalk). Exhibition in Chicago or the 2021 ALA JUNE 25–30 Other national teaching and learning Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits in Indi- ALA Annual Conference standards are being reviewed by AASL anapolis. Librarians and subject matter and Exhibition | Chicago for possible future amendments to the experts are also encouraged to submit alaannual.org

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 11 UPDATE

proposals for ASGCLA’s webinars (bit. ly/ identify possible areas of causal align- certificate and will be recognized at the ASGCLAwebinar) and online courses ment warranting further investigation. NMRT Student Reception at the 2020 (bit.ly/ASGCLAonline). In their paper “The Preparation and Annual Conference. Proposals are sought in the following Certification of School Librarians” The deadline to apply is March 2. Sub- key areas of training: veterans; accessibil- (bit. ly/AASLprepreport), the authors mission forms and additional informa- ity; consortia management; and health, contend that individual educator attri- tion available at bit.ly/NMRTSCOTYA. particularly mental health, substance butes may have a direct effect on what abuse, degenerative neurological dis- and how much their students learn. United for Libraries to eases, and aging in place. Honor Notable Trustee NMRT Seeks Outstanding The ALA Trustee Citation, established in New AASL Research Student Chapter 1941 to recognize public library trustees New research published in AASL’s peer- ALA’s New Members Round Table for distinguished service to library devel- reviewed online journal School Library (NMRT) is seeking nominations for the opment, honors the best contributions Research examines how to define a Student Chapter of the Year Award, and efforts of the estimated 60,000 people high-quality school librarian (ala.org/ presented in recognition of a chap- in the US who serve on library boards. aasl/slr). ter’s outstanding contributions to the United for Libraries is accepting nomina- An eight-member team researched Association, their library school, and tions for the 2020 ALA Trustee Citation how studies of high-quality teachers the profession. All interested appli- through January 10 (bit.ly/UFLcitation). can inform studies investigating school cants must be accredited ALA Student Trustee service may have been librarians’ impact on student outcomes. Chapters. The winner will receive $1,000 performed on the local, state, regional, The team compared findings from causal to help defray travel expenses to ALA’s or national level or at a combination educational research to findings from Annual Conference. The winning chapter of levels. Equal consideration is given descriptive school librarian research to and the runner-up will each receive a to trustees of libraries of all sizes. The citation will be presented during the Opening General Session of the 2020 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

Applications Open for Google Grant to Support 2020 AASL Awards Library Entrepreneurship Applications for AASL’s 2020 awards are now available. AASL awards and grants LA received a $2 million grant from Google.org, announced October 3, to recognize excellence and showcase best develop library entrepreneurship centers and enable libraries across the practices in the school library field in Acountry to increase support for people looking to start new businesses. the areas of collaboration, leadership, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the funding is part of a $10 million pledge to help and innovation. AASL members are entrepreneurs from low-income and underrepresented groups. encouraged to nominate a colleague or The grant enables ALA to fund a cohort of 10 libraries with established models themselves. to increase the number of business creators they serve. Participating libraries The Collaborative School Library will work to establish new partnerships with community-based organizations Award, now sponsored by Scholastic and integrate library resources with their communities. Through this initiative, Book Fairs, recognizes school librarians libraries will directly support 15,000 people looking to start or grow businesses. who collaborate with other educators in The grant will also support the development of a playbook for successful meeting goals outlined in AASL’s National library-entrepreneurship programs. It will contain a set of best practices and School Library Standards for Learners, common metrics to evaluate success. ALA also plans to build a peer-learning net- School Librarians, and School Libraries work for librarians interested in developing their own entrepreneurship programs. through joint planning of a program, “This funding will enable ALA to expand library entrepreneurship programs unit, or event in support of the curricu- in a handful of places where they already thrive,” said ALA President Wanda lum and using school library resources. Kay Brown in a statement. “We are creating a path to success for aspiring Honorees receive $2,500 and recognition entrepreneurs everywhere—in particular, those with the fewest resources to at the AASL Awards Ceremony. chart new territory on their own.” Find grant guidelines and application infor- AASL’s Past-Presidents Planning Grant mation at bit.ly/AL-GoogleGrant. • enables affiliates to design an event, initiative, or activity focused on the

12 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org UPDATE

D.C. Circuit Court Ruling Mixed on Net Neutrality n October 1, the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. courts for more than a decade. In the current court case, ALA Circuit upheld the Federal Communications Commis- joined higher education and other library groups in filing an Osion’s (FCC) authority to issue its 2018 order elimi- amicus brief in support of the petitioners seeking to defend nating net neutrality protections while also vacating parts of net neutrality. the order and remanding other parts. Importantly, the court “Without strong and clear net neutrality protections in vacated the portion of the order in which the FCC attempted place, there is nothing to stop internet service providers from to preempt state or local efforts to protect an open internet. blocking or throttling legal internet traffic or setting up com- In the case—Mozilla et al. v. the Federal Communications mercial arrangements where certain traffic is prioritized,” said Commission—consumer groups and some companies sought ALA President Wanda Kay Brown in an October 1 statement. to restore net neutrality protections passed in 2015 but “ALA and the nearly 120,000 libraries across the country eliminated in 2017. ALA has been on the front lines of the will not stop until we have restored net neutrality protections— net neutrality battle with the FCC, Congress, and the federal whether in the states, Congress, or in the courts,” she said. •

implementation of the AASL Standards. the Distinguished Service Award, the Reading Grant, and the Ruth Toor Grant Recipients receive $2,500 and recogni- Intellectual Freedom Award, and Roald for Strong Public School Libraries. tion at the AASL Awards Ceremony. Dahl’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award. Applications for the National School Other award opportunities include Grant opportunities include the ABC- Library of the Year Award are due the National School Library of the Year, CLIO Leadership Grant, the Innovative January 1. All other applications and

Join American Libraries Senior Editor Phil Morehart as he hosts conversations with librarians, authors, thinkers, and scholars about topics from the library world and beyond. Listen to these recent episodes:

EPISODE 44 EPISODE 42 Advocacy: Libraries of All Anyone Can Do It Shapes and Sizes

EPISODE 43 EPISODE 41 It’s a Mystery Beyond Our Borders

Listen at bit.ly/deweydecibel

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 13 UPDATE

nominations are due February 1. Find award criteria and submission forms at ala.org/aasl/awards. Library Community Stands Literary Landmarks Added Against Racial Violence United for Libraries, in partnership with LA and several professional affiliates—including the American Indian Connecticut Center for the Book, Con- Library Association, Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, necticut Humanities, and Hartford Public Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Chinese American Library, designated two Connecticut A Librarians Association, Joint Council of Librarians of Color, and Reforma: the Literary Landmarks in a joint dedication National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos ceremony in October: the Mark Twain and the Spanish Speaking—contributed funds to libraries on the front lines of House and Museum and the Harriet defending equity, diversity, and inclusion. Beecher Stowe Center, both in Hartford. In response to racist acts of abuse and violence in 2019 in Baltimore; Dayton, The Mark Twain House and Museum Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Gilroy, California; and Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, ALA is the 11,000-square-foot home built President Wanda Kay Brown and ALA affiliates each donated $500 to support by Samuel Clemens, who used the pen library programming that aims to bridge cultural divides. name Mark Twain. The Harriet Beecher The group released the following joint statement: “We stand united in Stowe Center preserves and interprets unequivocally condemning the senseless loss of life and the trauma of the mass Uncle Tom’s the home of the author of shootings targeting religious institutions and the African-American and Latinx Cabin, and showcases its collections. communities. These frequent incidents remind us that there are still enormous Any library or group may apply for challenges ahead as we take steps to eradicate racism and cultural invisibility. a Literary Landmark through United “We stand in solidarity with our colleagues in affected communities, as well for Libraries. More than 150 Literary as the hundreds of library users who rely on their support and compassion Landmarks across the United States have during this time of healing.” been dedicated since the program began • in 1986.

Round Table Highlights List. The inaugural year of the read- diverse comics creators, and aid library Best Graphic Novels ing list will highlight the best graphic staff in the development of graphic ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Round novels for adults published in late 2019 novel collections. The first list will be Table (GNCRT) has announced a new through 2020, increase awareness of the announced at the 2021 ALA Midwinter Best Graphic Novels for Adults Reading graphic novel medium, raise voices of Meeting & Exhibits in Indianapolis.

2020 Census: Why It Matters

Libraries. Hospitals. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community.

Join us in ensuring everyone is counted. Interested in partnering? Stop by Booth #1703 or visit 2020census.gov.

14 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org UPDATE

List selection will be determined by a includes information about layout, Grant, which supports a library initiat- committee of GNCRT members with a programming, collection development, ing a graphic novel service or program. background in graphic novel selection technology, communications, budgeting, Recipients each receive a $4,000 grant and use for adults. and stakeholder engagement. for programming and collection development, a collection of Will Eisner’s works Tools for Tiny Libraries Eisner Grant Celebrates and biographies, and a selection of the The new Tiny Library Toolkit, developed Graphic Novels graphic novels nominated for the 2020 by Meridian (Idaho) Library District, ALA and the Will and Ann Eisner Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards at shares that library’sy experience creating Family Foundation are now accepting Comic-Con International. The grant also a “lighter, quicker, applications for the 2020 Will Eisner includes a travel stipend for a library cheaper” means Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries, representative to travel to the 2020 ALA of installing a which recognize libraries for their role Annual Conference and Exhibition in library service in the growth of graphic literature. The Chicago to receive recognition from the point using an grant honors the legacy of Will Eisner, a Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation. upcycled shipping cartoonist whose career spanned nearly An applying librarian or their institution container (bit.ly/ eight decades. must be an ALA member to be eligible, TinyLibToolkit). Three grants will be awarded: Two and the grants are now open to libraries The development recipients will receive the Will Eisner in the US, Canada, and Mexico. of the toolkit was funded by the 2018 Graphic Novel Growth Grant, which The Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants Future of Libraries Fellowship from the supports libraries in expanding their for Libraries are administered by GNCRT, ALA Center for the Future of Libraries. existing graphic novel services and and submission information is available The toolkit documents the library’s programs, and one recipient will receive at ala.org/rt/gncrt. The application development of its tiny facility and the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation deadline is February 9.

INDISPENSABLE Writing and Publishing Guides for Higher Ed and Public Libraries

Paper $25.00 Paper $25.00 Paper $20.00 Paper $15.00 Your Price $12.50 Your Price $12.50 Your Price $10.00 Your Price $7.50

50% off for American Libraries readers who order direct with promo code AMERLIB50.

The University of Chicago Press www.press.uchicago.edu

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 15 Howard County (Md.) Library Sys- tem’s Longest Table 2019, held at Howard Community College on September 21, drew 231 guests.

Longest Table event in 2017. Chris- tie P. Lassen, director of communications and partnerships at Howard County Library System, says she was inspired by the Tallahassee event and another in Dayton, Ohio. Lassen’s library has now hosted three dinners, including one on September 21 that drew 231 guests. Typical fare includes chicken and vegetarian entrées, salad, bread, and dessert. Both Howard and Harford counties’ events are organized under the umbrella of Choose Civility, a library-led initiative that values diversity, respect, compassion, and empathy as essential to the commu- Tables of Content nity’s quality of life, according to choosecivility.org. The best part of the Harford Longest Table meals bring communities County brunch, based on attendee together for civil dialogue comments, was the camaraderie. “I learned a lot from people who have different backgrounds and BY Lara Ewen ttendees of the May 2019 county leaders, local nonprofit The experiences,” said one guest. A Longest Table brunch Village Square, and Leadership Another wrote that the day was “a hosted by Harford County Tallahassee. Then-Tallahassee wonderful opportunity to discuss (Md.) Library System weren’t Mayor Andrew Gillum imagined the my home with people I don’t usu- simply fed; they were nurtured. night as a way to bring members ally get to speak to.” That’s because the day wasn’t just of the city’s diverse communities In September 2019, Amy Rodda, about a shared meal of eggs, pan- together—in the wake of the 2014 director of adult services at Pikes cakes, and fresh fruit. It was also riots in Ferguson, Missouri, and the Peak Library District (PPLD) in about community. 2012 murder of Trayvon Martin— Colorado Springs, Colorado, made The origins of these events can to let their guard down and speak Longest Table part of the 40th be traced back to communal meals openly and civilly with one another anniversary celebration at its Foun- such as the World’s Longest Lunch, while sharing food. tain branch. And Brian Shepard, held annually across Australia. Longest Table meals have since executive director of Indian Trails In 2015 the first Longest Table spread to libraries across the coun- Public Library District in Wheeling, meal served 400 people along a try. Mary Hastler, CEO of Harford Illinois, says he plans to host his two-block stretch of downtown County Library System, says she first Longest Table in 2020. “The Tallahassee, Florida. That inaugural got the idea from nearby Howard Longest Table, for me, came from

evening was organized by city and County (Md.) Library System’s first trying to find a way to bring our System County Library S. Baker/Howard Geoffrey Photo:

16 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org by charging $10–$15 admission, Literary Philadelphia “There’s a lot of although free tickets are made power in bringing available. Event costs can also vary widely: The dinner budget at PPLD’s 6 people together Fountain branch was $1,800, which Number of years since the American Library covered catering plus table and Association last held its Midwinter Meeting & over a meal.” chair rentals, Rodda says. Exhibits in Philadelphia. BRIAN SHEPARD, executive director of Indian Trails Public Library Setting the Table 6 million District in Wheeling, Illinois Rodda, whose 90-person dinner Number of visits the Free Library of Phila- was free to the public, says the con- delphia’s (FLP) 54 locations receive annually. versation is what makes the events special. PPLD assigns random community together to facilitate seating to encourage new interac- civic engagement and conversation tions. “If people came with family and break down walls between members or spouses, we tried to people,” he says. “There’s a lot of spread them out,” she says. power in bringing people together Lassen says that in addition to over a meal.” random seating, it’s important to Organizing and funding an event keep guests in their chairs. She has like this requires extensive plan- her meals served family-style, with ning as well as coordinating the large plates of food passed from calendars of several stakeholders, person to person. “That’s meant to 130,000 says Hastler. She adds that local foster interaction and discourage Number of current and historical maps in the Minor League Baseball team the people from moving around too Map Collection at FLP’s Parkway Central Library. Aberdeen IronBirds hosts Harford frequently,” she says. “We wanted County’s Longest Table brunch that to encourage conversation.” events in its stadium when there’s Howard County also recruits “table 2010 no game scheduled. hosts” and strategically places them Year the Black Writers Museum—the only US For the past three years, Lassen to promote interactions. “They museum to focus exclusively on black literature has partnered with Howard Com- get some training and help ahead by classic and contemporary writers—was munity College, which hosts the of time to facilitate the conversa- established. Its Ida B. Wells Library and Resource dinners in its parking lot. Space, tions,” Lassen says. Table runners Center contains works from Jacob H. Carruthers, however, is only one part of the have questions on them to make Zora Neale Hurston, and Sapphire. puzzle. Libraries say the funding for sure diners always have something these events comes from a combina- to talk about. For her most recent 11 tion of grants, ticket sales, private event, Lassen also added a social Number of years that Apiary donors, and in-kind donations. hour before dinner, with a pop-up Magazine—an all-volunteer, “We probably have a $10,000 library, games, and an interactive free literary magazine published budget range, and a good part of public art piece. for and by Philadelphians— that is food,” Lassen says. Lassen has been in existence. and Hastler have each received Overcoming challenges $5,000 grants from Maryland No matter how much planning goes State Library as part of the Choose into the event, the one thing that 532 Civility initiative. To supplement can’t be predicted is the weather. North 7th Street address where Edgar Allan Poe her funding, Lassen was helped by “We had this long table set up out- lived in a red-brick home with his wife, Virginia, a local business donor as well as side, and of course at the 11th hour, and mother-in-law, Maria Clemm. The house— the library’s Friends and Founda- designated a National Historic Site in 1962—

Photo: Free Library of Philadelphia Library Free Photo: tion. She additionally offsets costs Continued on page 18 is where Poe penned “The Black Cat.” •

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 17 T ENDS

Continued from page 17

it started raining,” says Alicia Gomori-Lusker, manager of PPLD’s Fountain branch. “We had to drag the tables into our meeting room.” Lassen also had to make certain modifications. “The first time I saw the setups with all the tables, I just got goosebumps.” says Lassen. However, one long table with no breaks created some navigational issues. “If you needed to get from 2020 one side to another, you had to walk around or crawl under,” she LIBRARY explains. For the following year, her team created short breaks so that DESIGN caterers could get through, while SHOWCASE still maintaining the appearance of one long table.

Success stories

Richland Library Main in Columbia, South Carolina, was featured in the Challenges aside, librarians say 2019 Library Design Showcase. they have been pleased with the results. “People literally would have stayed there all night if they could,” Show Us Your says Gomori-Lusker. “I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback. And I was Beautiful New Library amazed at how easily people were able to talk.” merican Libraries is now accepting submissions for the Hastler said that seeing her A2020 Library Design Showcase, our annual feature celebrating community eating together was new and newly renovated libraries of all types. The showcase well worth the efforts spent making will appear in the September/October 2020 issue. the meal happen. “We were really We are looking for shining examples of innovative library architec- happy to see 150 people attend,” she ture that address patrons’ needs in unique, interesting, and effective says. “And what struck me the most ways. Previous submissions have ranged from stunning restorations is the structure of the event. If you of historic Carnegie buildings to vacant structures that have been walked up and down the tables, repurposed into libraries to high-tech facilities with audio and video people were really talking about production studios. the challenges we face as a com- If your library is on the cutting edge, we want our readers to munity, and it ran the gamut from know. To be eligible, projects must have been completed between 20-something millennials to grand- May 1, 2019, and April 30, 2020. The submission deadline is mas. And it resonated with them. May 31, 2020. Unfortunately, not all submissions can be featured. Entire groups were raving about To have your library considered, send a completed submission form what this meant to them. And they (bit.ly/DesignShowcase20Form) and at least five high-resolution said they met people they would digital images with photographer credits to [email protected] via not have otherwise met. It was an Dropbox or another file-sharing service. incredible day, and it helps us focus View last year’s showcase at bit.ly/ALDesignShowcase2019. For on what we can do together.” more information, email [email protected]. • LARA EWEN is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: Garrett Rowland Garrett Photo:

18 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org

T ENDS

“We’re not necessarily concerned with recording in public libraries per se,” says Caldwell-Stone, whose office has collected 10 reports of similar incidents across five states, as of press time. “What we’re most concerned about is when the behavior crosses the line into harassment and invasion of privacy.” Patrons should be able to use library services without fear that their identity, location, or reading choices will be published on YouTube, she says. Though unsettled by the call, Guest seized the opportunity to Free Speech—or Free-for-All? mobilize her staff. She circulated written instructions, provided one- “First Amendment audits” push privacy limits on-one consultation, and held a training workshop on how to handle these so-called auditors. BY Taylor n October 2019, a phone rang at Defusing the situation “It gave us a chance to figure out Hartz I Silas Bronson Library in Water- Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director how we would respond if the caller bury, Connecticut. When Director of the American Library Associ- came in and tried to start a fight,” Raechel Guest answered, the “very ation’s (ALA) Office for Intellec- Guest says. “The bottom line is that hostile” voice on the other end made tual Freedom (OIF), addressed they love it if you lose your temper a threat she’d never heard before: the phenomenon in a post on because they see an opportunity The caller told her he planned to ALA’s Intellectual Freedom blog there. They want clickbait, a video visit the library to perform a “First (bit. ly/1stAmAudit). Libraries where people are arguing, because Amendment audit.” are legally considered limited or that’s something people will watch.” The call represented a trend nonpublic forums when it comes From what she can tell, the only unfolding in public facilities across to First Amendment rights, she tactic that makes these real-life trolls the country: individuals who arm says. In these spaces, agencies in go away is to react neutrally. themselves with video cameras, pro- charge are only obligated to allow The auditor never materialized, claim themselves First Amendment activities that comply with the but Guest says the call left her staff auditors, and enter police precincts, nature of the space—meaning that nervous about the possibility of a post offices, libraries, and other rights to film and photograph can hostile confrontation. spaces under the auspices of the First be restricted if they interfere with “That first week everyone was Amendment right to free speech in library functions or operations. very anxious and distracted, con- order to record staff violations. stantly looking out for him,” she says.

The Connecticut caller was partic- “They love it if (man, library) Stock and ©Adobe ularly aggressive, according to Guest. Seeking YouTube notoriety He threatened to bring bodybuilders you lose your Staff at Pima County (Ariz.) Public and an attorney with him to the temper because Library (PCPL) encountered three

library and said that if police were self-styled auditors last year, American Libraries called, the bodybuilders would wres- they see an prompting the library system to hold tle officers to the ground and perform training events and spend more than a citizens’ arrest, Guest recalls. opportunity there.” $125 to post signs throughout its When these self- appointed audi- RAECHEL GUEST, 27 facilities that make its stance on tors arrive, library staffers must director of Silas Bronson Library filming clear. Arizona state statute strike a delicate balance between in Waterbury, Connecticut says that libraries are prohibited patrons’ rights to film and the pri- from disclosing information about

vacy of library users. what patrons are reading or viewing. Lomax/ Rebecca illustration: Photo

20 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org travel with ASGCLA to As far as Caldwell-Stone knows, no libraries have yet been sued for damages for First Amendment viola- Southern tions. “This has become an attempt to become YouTube famous,” says scotland Caldwell-Stone. “They’re trying to generate numbers so they can get & money from advertisements.” In each of these cases, administrators empha- Northern sized the importance of staying calm and focused. england “It does look like the auditors are Pima County (Ariz.) Public Library facilities looking for us to make a mistake,” says May 9-16, 2020 posted signs to clarify the system’s stance PCPL Community Relations Manager www.asgcladirect.org/travel on ﬁlming. Holly Schaffer. “It puts our staff in a Pursuant to this law, staffers at Pima position where they’re not focusing on County libraries have been instructed the library mission, because the more to prohibit filming, a measure now time you’re spending on worrying included in PCPL’s code of conduct. about missteps, the less time you’re “Once someone filming has been able to spend helping a patron.” asked to stop and they don’t, it becomes a violation of our code of Planning ahead TRAVEL conduct. We’ve told our staff that Other libraries, noting the trend, they can contact [other] library staff have taken proactive measures to or police,” says PCPL Deputy Director prepare staff for audits. Karyn Prechtel-Altman. Stacy Wittmann, director at the On March 24, police were called to Eisenhower Public Library District PCPL’s Oro Valley branch after three (EPLD) serving Harwood Heights men entered the library using video and Norridge, Illinois, which has not cameras to record staff and patrons experienced one of these incidents, using computers. The men were plans to train front-line staff. asked to stop filming and shown the “This is the type of situation code of conduct, but they refused to where being prepared is key,” she stop, citing their First Amendment says. “We need to arm our staff with rights to film. No arrests were made, the tools to get through something and a video later surfaced on YouTube like that.” under the moniker “Arizona Auditor,” As of now, EPLD’s policy is to according to library administrators. allow patrons to film and take pho- On July 14, PCPL staff noticed a tographs in the library, as long as man filming in the Murphy-Wilmot they do not capture what people are branch. Staff didn’t engage the man viewing or disrupt patrons or staff. but later found another video on “If we feel that people’s privacy YouTube in which he talked about is being infringed, we can say that the library guard’s behavior. A few the behavior is inappropriate,” weeks later, another person came Wittmann says. “If they’re agitating into the Oro Valley branch with a people, that triggers a behavior video camera and said he had a con- policy. No one is allowed to create stitutional right to film. Staff again a hostile work environment here, informed the man of their rules; he whether staff or patrons.” immediately went to the local police department to claim that library staff TAYLOR HARTZ is a multimedia story- were violating his rights. teller based in Chicago.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 21 T ENDS

San Antonio Public Library hosted On the Zine Scene the third annual San Anto Zine Fest in October. In 2018, the fest wel- Libraries partner with festivals for community expression comed more than 1,000 attendees.

BY Diana he elderly man had been to “More public libraries are step- at CZF about her own zine, which Panuncial T Milwaukee Public Library ping up to host zine events,” says details her experiences as a wheel- (MPL) often, but never librarian Violet Fox, Dewey Decimal chair user with limited mobility. attended any of its programs. That Classification editor at OCLC. She As Anderson recalls, Ray men- changed the day he came in while is co-organizer of the Zine Pavilion, tioned that part of her platform is to the library was hosting the Milwau- an exhibit that regularly showcases educate people about what it’s like kee Zine Festival (MZF), where he zines at the American Library to have a disability. For Anderson, encountered a local artist who had Association’s Annual Conference, the lesson was that through zine fes- brought several typewriters to help as well as the Twin Cities Zine tivals, “you get to see other people’s attendees create their own zines. Fest in Minneapolis, which has stories and points of view.” “He was really excited about been hosted by Hennepin (Minn.) Emma Hernández, program them,” says Kristina Gomez, MPL County Library for two years. “I manager of the Latino Collection events and programming librarian. think that hosting zine events really and Resource Center at San Anto- “I was really happy to see that he drives home the idea that libraries nio Public Library, points out that participated.” are a place for creation and collabo- her library serves a largely Latinx Though usually small enough to ration,” Fox says. population (64%, per US Census fit in the palm of your hand, zines Bureau estimates from 2018). pack a punch as an empowering New voices at the library Hosting the San Anto Zine Fest form of personal and commu- Chattanooga Zine Fest (CZF), (SAZF), which welcomed more nity expression. Small and self- hosted by Chattanooga (Tenn.) than 1,000 attendees in 2018 (its published, zines are handmade Public Library (CPL), is in its second year), helps the library publications filled with original or seventh year. Jaclyn Anderson, CPL highlight “the multitudes that repurposed content and photo- head librarian, says that having the exist within the Latinx commu- copied for easy, fast distribution. zine fest in the library is not just a nity,” she says. “Zines are tools to Libraries, which have collected way to welcome zine creators; it’s a uplift voices who may not be part zines for years, are starting to do way to educate others, too. of the hegemonic Latinx narra- more than just stack them on the She recalls the time Priya Ray— tive: queer Latinxs, trans Latinxs, shelves; they’re now partnering founder of DIYabled, a grassroots Afro Latinxs, Central Americans, with local organizations to throw group that advocates for inclusive, undocumented Latinxs, and more.

zine festivals. accessible DIY makerspaces—spoke [SAZF gives us] the opportunity Mari Hernandez Photo:

22 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org T ENDS

to create community with people brought to a larger format here,” who are yearning to have their says CPL’s Anderson. “They also perspectives heard.” knew that we had some very prom- Zine creators and public libraries inent zinesters who live here, and share a goal, says Gomez: to foster the rest is history.” welcoming environments. “It’s In Milwaukee, meanwhile, the really important to be inclusive to public library’s downtown location everyone,” she says. That’s why and extensive resources mean MPL has coproduced the annual broad community engagement for MZF since 2016, first in partner- the zine festival it hosts. ship with the Queer Zine Archive “[It] really checked all these Project, then with local shared boxes for the experiences [MZF] workspace and literary center The wanted festival attendees to have,” Bindery. (Founded in 2008, MZF Gomez says. was held at locations including As for libraries, they reap plenty University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee of benefits from hosting zine festi- and a local bar/bowling alley before vals, too. “Zine fests can bring in that moving to the library.) demographic that we don’t always MPL also values creativity, see at the public library,” such as Gomez says, which makes the anywhere. In Chattanooga, CPL’s millennials and those who are start- zine festival a natural fit. “As a in-house Zine Library was estab- ing families, Hernández says. library, we want to make sure we’re lished in 2014 through a collabora- Anderson adds: “It’s really a supporting artists and what they’re tion with the fine art department celebration of the library and how creating, finding opportunities to of University of Tennessee– it supports self-published books, showcase what they’ve made, and Chattanooga. That partnership which can be a lost form. They say, finding opportunities for connec- arose from a chance conversation ‘Your story is important. You are tions to happen,” she says. between two university colleagues valid. Your city has a voice. Embrace (a public relations coordinator and the community that’s here.’” Partnering with allies an art professor). Alliances between libraries and zine “They both had an interest in DIANA PANUNCIAL is a writer in Zion, organizations can spring up from zines and really wanted to see zines Illinois.

Tips for hosting a zine festival Gauge public interest. Start a zine collection or hold preliminary events 1 before pursuing the idea of an entire festival. Be transparent about content. Zines often address heavy topics such as 2 sexuality and racism. Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library Head Librarian Jaclyn Anderson’s recommendation: “Be clear [to parents] and say, ‘There may be content you may not find appropriate for kids.’” Have a game plan—and a good floor plan. “Always think about space, 3 accessibility, and the vibe of the physical area,” says Kristina Gomez, events and programming librarian at Milwaukee Public Library. To that end, she advises attending at least one zine festival before getting involved in your own. Ask attendees and vendors for feedback. Comments from both zine cre- 4 ators and festivalgoers have “helped me think more about implementing library initiatives around equity and inclusion,” says Gomez. • Chattanooga Zine Fest Photo: Chattanooga (Tenn.) Public Library Chattanooga (Tenn.) Photo:

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 23 T ENDS

Leah Elzner, a staff member at Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, Florida, looks over the latest binge bundles.

duplicate copy, but “we didn’t want to throw it away,” Helsabeck says. QPL started its collection about a year ago, mainly with children’s titles, but its popularity prompted the library to grow the program to about 100 binge boxes and include more offerings for all ages. The program is so popular, the library has since dedicated a small portion of its budget to creating more binge boxes. “Everybody likes to binge-watch on the internet,” she says. “Why don’t libraries do it with the collection we already have?” Bismarck (N.Dak.) Veterans Ready to Binge-Watch? Memorial Public Library (BVMPL) Circulations soar as libraries add binge boxes to collections started offering binge boxes about three years ago after Library Direc- tor Christine Kujawa saw a Face- BY Timothy hen Mandel Public Mirroring offerings from Netflix book post about another library’s Inklebarger W Library (MPL) in West and Hulu, libraries are seeing collection. In Bismarck, each box Palm Beach, Florida, renewed interest in materials comes with four to six movies. started offering binge boxes— through the creation of binge box The most popular themed boxes which it calls binge bundles—this collections—sets of movies and include “80s Rewind,” “Perpetually year as part of its summer reading television shows on DVD with Popular Pixar,” “It’s the End of the program, its DVD circulation more related themes and titles to help World as We Know It,” and “Family than quadrupled in a single month, sate patrons’ binge-watching needs. Movie Night.” jumping from 125 in June to 528 “We were just going to do it for [a] BVMPL started with around in July, according to MPL Library summer and put it on display down- 30 boxes but later increased Supervisor Janet Norton. stairs, but there was such a great the collection to about 80 with response, we’ve kept it and we’re funding from the Bismarck Library restocking them,” Norton says. Foundation. The library promoted Binge boxes are not only attract- the collection with a giveaway of ing patrons, they’re giving libraries popcorn and candy to the first an opportunity to recirculate dupli- 30 patrons checking them out. “It cate DVDs. “It is great because we was really popular, and the public Bismarck were able to use an existing product responded positively to it,” Kujawa (N.Dak.) we had [and] market it in a whole says. “We started on a Friday, and Veterans Memorial new way,” Norton says. by Sunday all of the binge boxes Public Quincy (Ill.) Public Library (QPL) were checked out.” Library Director Kathleen Helsabeck says Rachel Hoover, adult services includes her library embraced binge boxes librarian at Thomas Ford Memorial four to six movies in to make use of surplus DVDs. When Library in Western Springs, Illinois, its binge patrons donated them to QPL’s says the library promoted its

boxes. collection, the library often had a collection by holding a contest that Memorial Public Library (N.Dak.) Veterans Beach, Florida; Bismarck Palm in West Mandel Public Library Photos:

24 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org T ENDS

allowed patrons to vote online or at the library for the next binge box theme. The winner: A fairy-tale adaptation box titled “Once Upon a Time.” “It was amazing to get feedback from patrons on what they wanted to see in the collection,” Hoover says. Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the library’s Pixar binge boxes have been among the most popular, she says. When it comes to managing check- outs, Hoover recommends coordinating with technical services or whoever The interior of the Vatican Apostolic Archive catalogs material at the library on how to package the materials. Some libraries catalog the entire binge box Vatican Name Change as one item—which also lets some binging patrons surpass DVD checkout VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has given the Vatican Secret limits. Smaller libraries, however, may Archive an image makeover by changing the name of the ven- not need to catalog the sets to get a col- erable collection to something less mysterious. Francis declared lection started. Norton says BVMPL’s that the repository, which contains archives of papal letters and program still has its DVDs cataloged as documents going back to the 8th century, will now be called the separate items so as not to burden its Vatican Apostolic Archive. The pontiff lamented that the Latin cataloging staff. Library staffers cre- name Archivium Secretum, originally meant to convey that the ated a spreadsheet that allows them to archive was private, had come to connote something more sinister. flag and locate the DVDs used in binge Scholars have long had access to the archives for pontiffs up to boxes to determine whether they’re 1939, but Pope Francis has announced he will open up the records checked out. for Pope Pius XII (1939–1958) eight years early, in March 2020. —National Public Radio, Oct. 29.

Binge boxes are not ISRAEL The National Library of Israel is working with Google to digitize 120,000 books from its extensive collection of Jewish only attracting patrons, texts and put them online for public use. The collaboration will they’re giving libraries an signiﬁcantly increase the percentage of Hebrew texts available on Google Books. The library has begun transporting 50,000 opportunity to recirculate books to Google’s digitization center in Germany using climate- controlled shipping containers. Another 20,000 rare or fragile duplicate DVDs. titles will be scanned in-house in Jerusalem. The whole process is expected to take around two years, after which all out-of- copyright Hebrew books will be available online and free to the public.—Washington Post, Nov. 13. Unlike other media, binge boxes are quick and easy to create—and in many FRANCE The Louvre in Paris has partnered with HTC VIVE cases librarians can start a collection Arts to create its ﬁrst virtual reality experience called “Mona Lisa: with little to no money, according to Beyond the Glass” (bit.ly/Mona3d). The exhibit allows visitors to QPL’s Helsabeck: “If you have dona- use VR headsets that interpret infrared, X-ray, and refractive data tions and duplicates, tape some boxes to render the iconic portrait in 3D and deduce what Mona Lisa together and you’ve got yourself a might have looked like in motion. VR artists worked with special- binge box.” ists from the museum to launch the experience in conjunction with the museum’s “Leonardo da Vinci,” the largest exhibition of TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER is a writer living the master’s works ever assembled. The museum says it aims to in Chicago. — Oct. 28. Screenshot: Vatican Television Center Television Vatican Screenshot: democratize access to art experiences. Designboom, •

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 25 TRENDS

You put playlists for each book on Rainbow Rowell Spotify. How would you describe the Wayward Son and Pumpkin- Building worlds with Spotify and specificityty heads playlists? The Pumpkinheads playlist is full of good-time jams, one party song after another. And the estselling YA author Rainbow Rowell released two highly anticipated books in Wayward Son playlist is tense and late 2019: Her debut graphic novel Pumpkinheads (First Second), illustrated sad, with a few moments where love Bby Faith Erin Hicks, is set in a pumpkin patch wonderland in Omaha, Nebraska, and sunlight break through. Music where two best friends have worked every fall throughout high school. Wayward Son helps me moderate tone when I’m (St. Martin’s), the sequel to 2015’s Carry On, explores what happens after the hero writing, and it works as an emotional saves the day and is supposed to be living happily ever after. American Libraries spoke bookmark. I listen to the same song with Rowell about playlists, passionate fans, and upcoming projects. over and over for a scene so that when I come back to that scene— and that song—I know where I am BY Alison What role have libraries played in She could see I was hard up for books emotionally. Marcotte your life? My family was broke. We and gave me so much access. didn’t have a car, and we moved a You’ve mentioned how in Nebraska, lot. So public libraries came and The Carry On fandom is so passion- pumpkin patches aren’t just fields— went for me—my mom would take ate and dedicated. What was it like they’re more like theme parks. me to the library, I’d have a stack of writing Wayward Son? There was October is Nebraska’s finest hour. books, and then we might not ever more pressure! I’ve never written a Our winters are cold and dreary, go back. School libraries were really book that people were waiting for. and our summers are increasingly important, especially in grade school. I tried not to think about readers’ unbearable. But October is just My school librarian let me check out expectations. I tend to be contrary, lovely. And we more than one book at a time, which and I didn’t want to start purposely MORE ONLINE don’t take it for was a very special privilege. I think driving the story away from their For the extended granted. People I may have even gotten to volunteer expectations to feel like I was still in interview, visit hang out at in the mornings control. But mostly people were just bit.ly/al-Rowell. the pumpkin behind the excited that I was writing another patch here. desk. one, and I was excited that I was We buy annual passes. We have writing another one. pumpkin patch culture. That’s what I was trying to put into the book. Your characters are relatable, Faith Erin Hicks—my Pumpkinheads realistic, and multidimensional. Can collaborator—was such a good you speak about the importance sport. She flew to Nebraska, and we of diverse representation? I think spent an ideal day at the pumpkin about representation in the frame- patch. For research. work of honesty and authenticity. Our world is diverse. We are different What are you working on now? I’m colors and different sizes and differ- still writing the Runaways monthly ent religions. We come from different comic for Marvel. I really love that places. Each of us is so specific, that’s job and hope the book keeps going the thing. If you want your books to for a while. And I’m writing the third feel real and honest, of course they book in the Simon Snow trilogy— will be diverse. And if you want Any Way the Wind Blows. Simon, your characters to feel alive, Baz, and Penny are headed back to you hope you can make them England to figure out where they fit feel specific—so they read in the post-Mage World of Mages. I like themselves and not never ever thought I’d want to write just like representatives a trilogy, but I’m still so caught up in

of a larger category. these characters. Burroughs Augusten Photo:

26 Photo: Alexandria (Va.) Library October 2019. SHANNON MATTERN, in thehallsofpowerand privilege.” ‘libraries ofthefuture’that arehappening would improvethediscussions about conditions thathave ledto theiremergence, practices ofthesefugitivelibraries,andthe oppression. Understandingthepoliticsand which respondto conditions ofexclusion and independent, itinerant, communities have establishedtheirown “By choiceorbynecessity, manymarginalized PETE HAMILL, WHERE ILIVEDHEREINBROOKLYN.” WORLD BEYOND THELIMITS OF ME ASENSETHAT THEREWAS A LEARNED INTHISPLACE. ITGAVE IT WASN’T FOR THELESSONS I “I WOULDN’T BEALIVETODAY IF Beat Reporters,” “Pete HamillonJimmy Breslin andtheHeralded World of ontheBrooklyn (N.Y.) PublicLibrary,in CBS News Sunday Morning, “Fugitive Libraries,” Places Journal, fugitive libraries, October 6. The Atlantic, ALIA WONG, or navigate scholarlyjournaldatabases.” to helpthemtrack down hard-to-findtexts students say they like relying onlibrarians papers, andaccess to books. Notably, many group project, theabilityto printresearch a quietplace to study orcollaborate ona most for theirsimple, traditional offerings: students generally appreciate libraries “Survey dataandexperts suggest that LEIGH BARDUGO, worlds.’ new AndGod,Iwanted to.”‘Discover put outatableofspeculativefictionthatsaid, librarianhad at myschool,andsomewonderful not have feltmorealone.Iwalked into thelibrary neighborhood. Istarted school,andIcould anew Weremarried. to acompletely moved different mymom junior highschool.Andthatwaswhen Istarted fictionwhen writing fantasyandscience fictionand “I started readingfantasyandscience NPR, Weekend Edition Sunday, October 4. “College StudentsJust Want NormalLibraries,” CCh ALEXANDRIAAAL [VA.] LIVINGMAGAZINE or likelyoor to causeactsofviolence.’” books …wasnotinanyfashiondisorderly bo peacefully in alibraryreading that ‘sitting th segregation atthetimeoftheirarrest,’and s altera ofsanctioned theestablishedpolicy speech, andtosp petitionthegovernmentto constitutional rightstoco freeassembly, they were‘lawfullyth exercising their conduct, thecourthasnowfoundthat co r residents werechargedwithdisorderly “Although“A the fiveAfrican-American Charges Against 1939 LibrarySit-InParticipants,” October 20. “Leigh Bardugo on e e l t a E americanlibraries.org| October 6. Ninth House, ” January/February 2020 STAFF, “City Dismisses T R ENDS 27 A LOOK BACK AT THE STORIES YEAR IN REVIEW THAT AFFECTED LIBRARIES

SONIAONIA SOTOMAYORSOTOMAYOR APPEARSPPEARS AT ANNUALANNUAL Thee US Supreme Court associate jus-jus- ticee anandd autauthorhor spospokeke aaboutbout hherer lloveove for libraries,libraries, the transition fromfrom private to ppublicublic life, and her new children’s book,ok, Just AsAsk!k! (published(published in Spanishanish as ¡¡SoloSolo pregunta!pregunta!)),, at the 2019 Annual Conference andd Exhibition in WaWWashing-shing- Stock © Adobe all illustrations: Cognotes; Photo: ton,, D.C.D.C. MACMILLAN EBOOK POLICY DRAWS FIRE Macmillan Publishers announced a policy preventing libraries from purchasing more than one copy of a new ebook title for the first eight weeks after a book’s release. In protest, American Library Association (ALA) launched the #eBooksForAll petition, which by November 27 had garnered more than 216,000 signatures. Said ALA President Wanda Kay Brown: NET NEUTRALITY SETBACKS “Macmillan Publishers’ new model Net neutrality suffered two major blows: The Save the Internet Act for library ebook lending will make of 2019 passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, and the D.C. it difficult for libraries to fulfill our Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Mozilla v. FCC that the Federal Com- central mission: ensuring access to munications Commission can repeal Obama-era net neutrality rules. information for all.”

28 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org 75 YEARS FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION In October, the Public Library Association (PLA) celebrated three-quarters of a century by raising $7,500 to sponsor 15 scholarships for public library staffers and library school students to attend the PLA 2020 Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Febru- ary 25–29, as well as by collecting member stories of PLA’s impact at 75years.pla.org.

Librarians march against apartheid during ALA’s 1985 Midwinter Meeting.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES ROUND TABLE TURNS 50 Since its founding in 1969, ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) has promoted progressive values in the library profession. SRRT celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. Kenny A. Garcia, member-at-large of SRRT’s Action Council, praises SRRT for its “commitment to ensuring that our libraries, our society, our profession, continue to think about and act on social justice issues.” Photos: ALA Archives (march); © freshidea/Adobe Stock (Capitol) Stock © freshidea/Adobe (march); ALA Archives Photos:

LIBRARIANSLIBRARIANS GO WITHOUTWITHOUT PAYPAY CHICAGO PUBLIC The longest government shutdown in US hhistory—istory— LIBRARY GOES 35 days,35 days, startinstartingg December 22, 2012018—saw8—saw librarialibrariansns FINE-FREE dippingdipping into retirement savings and filing for unemploymentunemployment after weeks without papay.y. Some On October 1, Chicago Public furloughedfurloughed librarialibrariansns were ppaidaid when the shutshut-- Library became the largest library downdown ended JanuaryJanuary 25, but manymany contract system in the US to stop collect- workers did not expectexpect comcompensa-pensa- ing overdue fines. The new policy tiontion fforor ththee llostost timtime.e. is expected to remove barriers to basic library access, especially for youth and low- income patrons.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 29 HALF A CENTURY OF THE CSK BOOK AWARDS The Coretta Scott King Book Awards observed their 50th anniversary at the 2019 Annual Conference with commemorations featuring past winners and honorees. Since their founding in 1969, CSK Awards have been bestowed on illustrious children’s book creators such as Walter Dean Myers, Christopher Paul Curtis, Mildred D. Taylor, and Virginia Hamilton, Actor and author among many others. Ossie Davis accepts the 1979 award for Escape to Freedom.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS CENSUS CITIZENSHIP QUESTION In June, the US Supreme Court ruled 5–4 to block the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. ALA and other groups had argued the question would suppress responses and reduce data quality. On July 11, the White House abandoned efforts to include the question.

DEWEY MEDAL “DEAR NAME TO CHANGE APPROPRIATOR” ALA Council voted at the 2019 Annualal LETTERS Conference to remove the name of ALAALA cofounder Melvil Dewey from the Deweywey CAMPAIGN Medal (which recognizes librarians foror recentrecent ALA’s annual campaign to creative leadership of high order), citingting his secure funding for the federal well documented history of racism, anti-nti- Library Services and Technology Semitism, and sexual harassment. Thehe move Act and Innovative Approaches follows a year after the Association foror to Literacy program was a suc- Library Service to Children’s 2018 cess, with outreach to more than decision to change the name of the 100 newly elected members of Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Congress and an increase in sig- Children’s Literature Legacy Award, natures and bipartisan support pointing to Wilder’s “dated cultural in the House. attitudes toward indigenous people aandndd people of color.” Photos: ALA Archives (CSK); Wikipedia (Dewey) Wikipedia (CSK); ALA Archives Photos:

30 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org NO RIGHT TO LIBRARIAN WINS BE FORGOTTEN BIG ON JEOPARDY! (OUTSIDE Emma Boettcher, user EUROPE) experience resident librarian at University of Chicago, was The European Court of nicknamed the “Giant Killer” Justice ruled in September by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek that sensitive personal data after she ended longtime champ must be removed on demand James Holzhauer’s 32-game from Google search results winning streak during a game in Europe,p , but not outside thethe continent.continneennt.. broadcast in June. Two more wins earned her $97,002.

BIG CHANGES AT ALA The Association embraced many changes in 2019, including the potential sale of its headquarters buildings, the formation and recommendations of the Steering Committee on Organizational Effec- tiveness, the proposed restructuring of the Mid- winter Meeting & Exhibits, and the addition of sustainability as a core value.

New York Public Library commemorated Stonewall’s legacy with historic photos such as this 1973 image from noted photojournalist Diana Davies. UNDER CONTRACT A PROUD ANNIVERSARY June marked the 50th anniversary of the police raids and riots at New York City’s Stonewall Inn, a momentous turning point for LGBT activism. Libraries across the country celebrated with exhibits and events; New York Public Library alone planned

Photos: Jeopardy Productions (Boettcher); New York Public Library, Manuscripts and Archives Division (demonstration) Manuscripts and Archives Public Library, York New (Boettcher); Productions Jeopardy Photos: more than 50 public programs around the anniversary.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 31 ROUNDUP

How states performed on library measures in 2019

BY Anne Ford Illustration: Tom Deja Tom Illustration:

32 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org n the 2019 election year, American Libraries, in partnership with Garfield County Public Library District will receive approximately the Public Library Association, tracked more than 100 library $4 million in annual revenue, thanks referenda across 24 states (for an extended online version, see to the passage of a 1.5-mill levy. The I money will be used to restore services bit.ly/2019Referenda). While this year’s referenda crop appears and operating hours to the six-branch less bountiful than last (in 2018, we featured 146 across 33 states), system. Preliminary results showed the levy passing by a narrow margin: the success rate is higher: Nearly 90% of this year’s votes ended in the 51.5% in favor, 48.5% opposed. library’s favor (as compared with last year’s rate of nearly 80%). A proposal to increase property In terms of the number of referenda approved, Ohio and New York taxes by 1.9 mills on behalf of the Gunnison County Library District were the front-runners; each boasted more than 20 victories. Colorado, passed by a vote of 3,304 to 2,552. too, had a big year, with at least eight measures passed. Southwest La Plata County will have a new library district, thanks ALABAMA COLORADO to an approved tax increase of 1.5 mills to fund operations and services, with 52.1% of voters in favor and 47.9% In Leeds, voters rejected a pro- A proposal to increase property in opposition. posed property tax increase of 9 mills taxes from 2.5 mills to 4 mills in by 1,506 to 971 in January. The Bayfield’s Pine River Library District Loveland voters rejected a pro- funds generated would have gone passed; unofficial results showed 59% posed three-tenths of a cent sales tax toward the construction of a new in favor, 41% opposed. that would have raised funds for several projects, including a new $18.6 million library as well as a new high school In Brighton, a ballot issue that athletics complex and other projects. branch library. Preliminary results would have increased a mill levy for showed 53.1% of voters in opposition. residents of the Anythink/Rangeview Manitou Springs, ARIZONA Library District failed by about 3,700 In voters approved by three votes the proposed votes. If passed, the increase would Manitou Arts, Culture, and Heritage In Phoenix, Proposition 106— have represented a cost of $1.32 every 0.3% sales tax, which will generate which would have capped budgets for month for each $100,000 of a home’s about $400,000 annually for projects some city programs if pensions weren’t assessed value. funded—failed in August. Opponents that include the expansion and remod- of the proposition argued that it would Taxpayers voted to legalize rec- eling of the Pikes Peak Library District’s have resulted in decreased funding for reational cannabis and to levy a 4% historic Carnegie Library. variable tax on its sales to support the libraries and other city services. Pueblo City-County Library Dis- Moffat County Library in Craig (as trict saw the renewal of its 20-year-old well as the town’s Museum of North- CALIFORNIA mill levy and will supply $1.1 million west Colorado) for five years. annually for library programs, materi- Long Beach residents approved In Delta County, a measure that als, and equipment. Early ballot counts Long Beach Public Library’s $3.6 mil- would have generated funds for the saw the renewal passing by a vote of lion budget in May. public library district in a 2.7-mill 21,278 in favor to 14,932 opposed. levy increase failed with about 56% of The Los Angeles Unified School In Telluride, Wilkinson County voters in opposition. District in June saw the defeat of a Public Library’s proposal for a 0.75-mill parcel tax that would have raised Eagle County voters approved an increase in property taxes passed by $500 million annually for 12 years. If operating levy adjustment to maintain 73%, according to unofficial results. approved, the tax would have sup- the amount of revenue generated by ported counseling, nursing, library ser- the Eagle Valley Library District’s exist- CONNECTICUT vices, and other offerings. The measure ing 2.75-mill levy, which was approved needed a two-thirds majority to pass in 1993. Voters were 64% in favor, In Cromwell, voters in May but received only 46% of the vote. 36% opposed. approved by 234 to 77 a general

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 33 REFERENDA ROUNDUP

government budget of nearly $17 mil- ILLINOIS A one-cent sales tax increase in lion, which includes funds to support Des Moines (and five neighboring Cromwell Belden Public Library. By a narrow vote of 3,853 to 3,690, cities) expected to generate $48.4 mil- By 1,387 to 691, Madison voters Barrington Area Unit District 220’s lion annually was approved by voters approved in May a $150,000 addi- referendum—which would have raised in March. Part of the funds will be tion to the operating budget of the property taxes to pay for $185 million used to expand Des Moines Public E. C. Scranton Memorial Library in in building projects, including the Library hours. renovation of Barrington High School’s anticipation of a new building opening In Oxford, voters authorized library—failed in April. in 2020. the indefinite levying of 27 cents per Stafford Public Library will receive Huntley Area Public Library will $1,000 valuation for the purpose of renovate and expand its facility, thanks about $571,000, thanks to an approved increasing the annual operating budget to a $12.9 million bond issuance that town budget of $41.3 million. The of Oxford Public Library. Sixty-eight was approved by a 2-to-1 margin in budget was approved in May by a vote percent voted in favor. April. of 538 to 396. Palatine Public Library District’s LOUISIANA GEORGIA request to increase the annual property tax levy by 29%—from 27 cents Lafayette City-Parish Council per $100 of assessed valuation to A 1% special-purpose, local-option voted 7 to 1 in June to approve the 35 cents—was approved in April by a sales tax was approved in Athens– use of $12 million in library reserve vote of 4,434 to 2,429. Over six years, Clarke County with 78.4% of the funds to build a new regional library $5.8 million will go to fix the library’s vote. The tax will fund 37 construction and to expand an existing facility in roof; install energy-efficient lighting; and infrastructure projects, including Carencro. and upgrade the heating, ventilation, a new public library building on the and air conditioning system. Voters approved on October 12 a county’s east side. In April, River Grove voters resolution to rededicate $10 million of IDAHO rejected—with 1,043 against and 471 Lafayette Parish Public Library’s sur- in favor—a plan to issue $9 million in plus fund to roads and drainage. The bonds for the purchase and renovation measure passed with a vote of 59%. With a vote of 35,545 to 15,878, of a new library building. Library Director Teresa Elberson said Boise voters approved a proposition she was disappointed but not surprised In Rockton, Talcott Free Library to require a citywide election on will be able to carry out renovations that the resolution passed but added any library project of $25 million or and expansions after voters approved that library patrons would not be more. The measure was in response (by 895 to 398) in April a referendum immediately affected. to plans by Mayor David Bieter to increase residents’ tax rate from and the city council to build a new 0.21 to 0.28 mills. MAINE main library designed by architect Moshe Safdie at a cost of more than IOWA In Kittery, Rice Public Library $100 million. In the works for several will receive a $5 million renovation years, the fate of the new library is Voters in Butler, Franklin, and expansion, thanks to voters who now uncertain. Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, approved a bond referendum 1,719 Thanks to the voters who favored a Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek, to 582. plant facilities levy in May by 3,354 to and Tama counties have approved Paris residents voted in June to 1,640, Meridian’s library system will a $32 million general obligation add $4,500 to the budget of the Paris see significant renovations, expan- bond referendum for the Iowa Valley Public and Hamlin Memorial Libraries. sions, and additions. The levy will cost Community College District. The funds $1.4 million annually for a period of will support several projects including Voters in Skowhegan approved 10 years. It is the first Meridian Library improvements to Marshalltown Com- a $12 million budget in June that District funding measure to be passed munity College’s library. Voters were included $120,294 for Skowhegan Free since 1995. 62.4% in favor, 37.6% against. Public Library.

34 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org REFERENDA ROUNDUP

MASSACHUSETTS Voters in Portage public library funding, have approved a pro- with 1,058 in favor and Greenfield will receive a new posed tax rate increase 184 against. $19.5 million public library, thanks to of 0.5 mill for 10 years In Chester, a prop- a vote of 3,294 to 2,108 that upheld a to support Portage osition to increase the previous city council decision. District Library. The town’s annual contri- first such increase in In May in Littleton, 538 voted for bution to the public 27 years, the proposal and 117 against a plan to borrow funds library from $633,992 to passed with 59% of to renovate Reuben Hoar Library. $671,971 passed with a voters in favor. Estimated costs for the project are vote of 1,457 to 1,022. $13.1 million. With a vote of 269 to Fair Haven voters 78, Wakefield renewed Sandwich taxpayers voted Octo- approved an increase ber 28 to approve a bond of $3.5 mil- a five-year, 1-mill levy of $15,000 to $45,000 lion for the interior renovation of that will provide funds for for Fair Haven Public Sandwich Public Library. Wakefield Public Library. Library with 291 in favor and 115 against. A measure that would borrow MISSOURI $10.5 million for a new Sharon Public In Garden City, voters in May Library building passed in May, with approved the use of $1.8 million in De Soto Public Library will benefit 541 voters in favor and 118 against. capital reserve funds to reconfigure the from a 16-cent property tax increase high school library. approved by 62.3% of the voters in Garrison residents voted 264 to MICHIGAN April—its first in 28 years. 162 in May to increase annual funding In Flint, a $12.6 million bond will NEW JERSEY for Desmond-Fish Public Library by fund a complete renovation of Flint 300%, from $75,000 to $300,000. Public Library, thanks to a vote that This represents an annual tax increase Mahwah voters approved the found 68% in favor. In addition, the from 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed increase of the tax rate that supports library’s 2-mill operating budget has home value to 64 cents per $1,000 of the Free Public Library from 3.33 cents been renewed, with 75% of voters assessed home value. to 3.75 cents per $100 of assessed in favor. equalized value of real property. The The Great Neck Library’s proposed In Madison Heights, a proposal ballot question was passed with 73% of $9.6 million budget was approved in to amend the city charter to increase the vote. May, with 1,199 voters in favor and its general operating millage passed 323 against. with 51% of the vote. The amendment NEW MEXICO Guilderland will see $8.4 million changes the maximum authorized levy in improvements and expansions to on property from 10 mills to 16 mills Albuquerque taxpayers autho- its public library, thanks to a vote of and allows increased spending on rized, with 72% of the vote, $8.8 mil- 2,612 to 1,502 in May. Among those several city services, including the lion in general obligation bonds for improvements will be an expansion of public library. constructing, renovating, and modern- the children’s section. A proposed 15-year, 1.25-mill levy izing public libraries. Lindenhurst voters approved in to fund building renovations for a com- October, by a vote of 474 to 399, a munity center that abuts Memphis NEW YORK 15-year, $9.4 million bond to renovate Public Library and that hosts many of and expand the public library. It is the its programs failed by 84 to 72. Auburn voters approved a tax levy library’s first bond since its construc- Pleasant Ridge voters approved, for Seymour Library of $830,000, an tion in 1969. by a 91% margin, the renewal of a increase of about $18,000. It passed by In Lockport in May, Barker Public 0.5- mill, five-year levy for library a vote of 103 to 9. Library’s request for a $1,500 tax levy services. It is expected to raise about In Ballston Spa, voters approved increase to $76,500 was approved by a $80,106 in 2020. in May the collection of $57,750 for vote of 112 in favor, 39 against.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 35 REFERENDA ROUNDUP

With a vote of 245 in favor levy for current expenses and 81 against, Montauk passed by a vote of 2,116 agreed in May to authorize to 802. its library to issue bonds for The Forest-Jackson $7.5 million for renovation OHIO Public Library in Forest and expansion. will benefit from a 0.7- In May, Newburgh resi- Statewide, 29 of 30 library levies mill, five-year levy for dents voted to levy $5.2 million operating expenses, which passed, including two new levies. in taxes for Newburgh Free was passed 891 to 298. Library. The measure passed The average approval rating In Granville, voters 1,802 to 662. was 66%, according to the Ohio have approved a five- Ogdensburg voters rejected Library Council. A year ago, year renewal of the public in May, by a vote of 340 to 226, voters approved 35 library library’s existing 1-mill levy. a proposed levy that would About 80% of voters favored have benefited Ogdensburg levies statewide. the renewal. Public Library. The library had requested a tax increase In Lake County, a 1-mill levy to of $75,000. benefit Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library was renewed with a 1-mill Funding to Field Library in increase, thanks to a vote of 65% Peekskill will increase by $75,000. in favor. The increase will yield an Phoenicia Library will receive its additional $1.5 million per year for first tax levy increase in three years, seven years. thanks to a vote of 635 to 402 that approved a $10,000 hike to $172,000. The levy was approved 666 to 244 in London Public Library’s renewal Sandusky County. It was approved by levy passed with 76% of the vote; the In Victor, voters approved in June, similar margins in the other counties— $480,000 a year it is expected to gen- with a vote of 228 in favor, 47 against, erate represents 45% of the library’s a 1.5-cent tax increase per $1,000 Erie, Huron, and Seneca. budget. The levy will cost residents in assessed property value to benefit Canton saw the approval of a about $41 a year per $100,000 of Victor Farmington Library. 2-mill, eight-year property tax levy in property value. May that will generate an additional OHIO $3.2 million annually for Stark County In May, voters approved the renewal District Library, allowing it to provide of a five-year, 1.91-mill levy for the Ada voters approved a five-year, extra services and materials, as well as North Ridgeville branch of Lorain Public Library. The vote saw 2,938 in 1-mill levy for Ada Public Library, pass- maintain and upgrade buildings. ing it with 62.7% of the vote. favor, 976 opposing. Champaign County and Madi- Ashtabula County voters son County saw a levy for Mechanics- Oberlin Public Library will benefit from a five-year, 1.5-mill levy, thanks approved by two votes a 0.25-mill con- burg Public Library approved, with 65% to a May vote of 1,074 to 401. tinuous levy that will help fund technol- of voters in favor. The money generated ogy and improvements for Ashtabula by the levy represents about a quarter Voters moved to increase by County District Library. The vote found of the library’s operating funds. 0.6 mills Orrville Public Library’s 4,436 in favor, 4,434 in opposition. In eight-year, 0.75-mill levy. The levy In Delaware County, a five-year, the same county, a vote to renew a five- passed 1,050 to 388. year, 1.5-mill levy for current expenses 1-mill renewal levy to generate about of Rock Creek Public Library passed $820,000 annually for the Community In Portsmouth, a 1-mill renewal with a vote of 467 to 157. Library of Sunbury was approved with levy for the public library system 70% of the vote. passed 6,922 to 3,194. Bellevue Public Library had its 1-mill tax levy renewed by a large Harris-Elmore Library in Elmore A tax levy of 1.75 mills was renewed margin in four different counties. saw the renewal of a five-year, 1.1-mill in Richland County to support

36 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org REFERENDA ROUNDUP

Marvin Memorial Library, thanks to a OREGON District levy from 39 cents to 48 cents vote of 1,806 in favor, 576 against. per $1,000 of assessed value was approved with 68.7% of the vote. Just over half (51%) of Stark Lincoln County voters passed the County voters failed to approve a renewal of a five-year, $1.98 million Pend Oreille County Library Dis- 1-mill renewal to benefit Louisville levy that will allow unincorporated restrict saw the restoration of the property Public Library, 2,774 to 2,671. idents to retain their access to libraries tax levy that funds its operations and in nearby Lincoln City, Newport, and maintenance, from 37 cents to 50 cents The Public Library of Steubenville Toledo without paying additional fees. and Jefferson County has seen the per $1,000 assessed value. The levy Union Gap taxpayers voted 236 renewal of a five-year, 1-mill levy via was restored via a vote of 2,293 in to 139 to annex a new library into the a vote of 9,727 to 4,028. The levy is favor, 1,286 against. Yakima County Library District. Doing expected to generate about $1.4 mil- so will increase property taxes by about Seattle Public Library will receive lion a year (about a third of the 43 cents per $1,000 property value. $219 million over seven years thanks library’s budget). to a levy renewal in August that saw Tuscarawas County voters have PENNSYLVANIA 73% of voters in favor. The funds will renewed a 1-mill levy for Gnadenhut- support the library’s operations, e-ma- ten Public Library, with 71% in favor. Voters overwhelmingly approved terials, early learning programs, and in May a 0.55-mill tax for upkeep and seismic upgrades, as well as expand In Warren, Warren–Trumbull programming at the Union Library of its operating hours; the vote also elim- County Public Library will receive Hatboro. The initiative passed by a inated fines for overdue materials. $985,172 annually for materials, tech- vote of 724 in favor, 287 against. nology, and infrastructure updates, A property tax levy that funds and expanded space for children and Lower Macungie Library will ben- Spokane County Library District’s teen programming and community efit from a 0.25-mill property tax that operations was restored in August to meetings, thanks to the passage of the was passed with 54% of the vote. The 50 cents per $1,000 assessed value library’s 0.4-mill continuing tax levy. tax, which is expected to raise $600,000 (up from 43 cents per $1,000 assessed for the library, represents a 13% The levy passed by a vote of 59% to value). Approximately 53% of resi- increase in the library’s annual funding. 41%, per unofficial results. dents voted in favor. In West Jefferson, Hurt-Battelle SOUTH CAROLINA Memorial Library will benefit from a WISCONSIN levy that will cost residents about $38 Dorchester County voters annually per $100,000 of assessed approved a property tax referendum Jack Young Middle School in property value and generate about that will provide $30 million in library Baraboo will receive $42 million 44% of the library’s budget revenue. funding. Preliminary results found in renovations—including updates The levy passed with 72% of the vote. 11,289 in favor, 6,122 opposed. to the school library—thanks to an In West Milton, voters renewed April vote that saw 2,322 in favor and a 0.7-mill levy that provides nearly a VERMONT 2,100 against. third of Milton-Union Public Library’s Kaukauna voters have rejected a annual budget. The levy passed with In Charlotte, voters in March $32.9 million referendum that would 75% of the vote. approved 629 to 236 the issuance of up to $700,000 in bonds to build an addi- have funded school renovations In Williams County, a five-year, tion to the public library. For taxpayers, including library upgrades. The refer- 1-mill levy for the public library passed that represents an annual increase of $5 endum failed with 3,007 votes against with 77% of the vote. per $100,000 of property for 20 years. and 2,690 in favor. A five-year, 2.4-mill renewal levy to ANNE FORD is American benefit Public Library of Youngstown WASHINGTON Libraries’ editor-at-large. and Mahoning County has passed In Lopez Island, a proposition with 66% of the vote. The levy provides more than half of the library’s budget. to increase the Lopez Island Library

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 37 LIBRARY CHAMPIONS MAKE IT POSSIBLE…

…to increase awareness and advocate for the importance of libraries across the country and around the world.

LEAD SPONSOR $50,000 AND ABOVE

overdrive.com

SUSTAINERS $25,000 AND ABOVE

capitalone.com dollargeneral.com

INVESTORS PATRON $10,000 AND ABOVE $7,500 AND ABOVE

finra.org norarobertsfoundation.org sagepub.com btsb.com BECAUSE CHAMPIONS MAKE IT HAPPEN

Library Champions make the Libraries Transform campaign possible. This campaign educates and advocates to raise awareness of the value of libraries in the 21st century. In 2019, Libraries Transform grew to more than 15,000 participants, all committed to fostering public support for libraries and the ways they beneﬁt their communities. Library Champions ensure that libraries across the country continue to thrive and grow.

MEMBERS $5,000

baker-taylor.combrodart.com candlewick.com demco.com

ebsco.com elsevier.com gale.com ingramcontent.com/libraries

midwesttape.com morningstar.com/goto/mirc oclc.org proquest.com

ReferenceUSA.com scholastic.com/librarypublishing sirsidynix.com sistersincrime.org

springernature.com tandf.co.uk/libsite Uncovering the Past

With digitization, libraries bring treasures to light

BY Lauren Emily Whalen

young Congolese immigrant waves excitedly at the camera before playing the piano at her elementary school Christmas concert. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer steps outside a church with his new bride. A Khmer-Krom baby sleeps swaddled in his carrier, oblivious to his own one-month birthday celebration. Caught on old home movies, each image offers an intrigu- ing glimpse of a specific community. But if those movies stay trapped on dusty VHS tapes or forgotten reels of 8-millimeter film, their stories—and those of the populations they belong to—stay hidden. That’s why some libraries in the

United States and Canada are Stock ©Adobe Photos:

40 offering patrons the opportunity to digitize, and some- to the community “as a way to democratize cultural times publicly archive, personal history items such as heritage,” Im says. On “scanning days,” community photographs, VHS tapes, and other ephemera. Whether members are invited to bring photographs, letters, they’re turned into MP3s, MP4s, or some other file type and other keepsakes to be digitized and archived in entirely, precious relics of the past are coming into their LAPL’s digital collections portal, Tessa, as well as the full glory. Along the way, they’re adding to the histori- Digital Public Library of America (a free, large-scale cal record stories that have too often been overlooked digital library that aggregates metadata and thumb- or dismissed. nail images from libraries, archives, and museums “I feel it’s empowering, because in the past there throughout the country). were only select people who were involved in what “We will add anything that’s related to a person or is represented and preserved as part of history,” says family’s experience living in Los Angeles,” says Im. Suzanne Im, an archivist and metadata librarian who Participants also receive their digitized items on a works in digitization and special collections at Los flash drive to keep. Angeles Public Library (LAPL). “And in the past, that Funded by a mini-grant from the Los has not been very diverse.” Angeles Library Foundation, the Mobile Memory Lab travels to LAPL branches and SEEKING COMMUNITY STORIES does not require participants to have a Thanks to an Institute for Museum and Library Services grant, LAPL’s DIY Memory Lab allows patrons to convert the contents of legacy media such as slides, reel-to-reel audio tape, and floppy disks into digital files to take home. But not everyone in the community, of course, is aware of this opportunity or even has a library card. That’s why LAPL offers the Mobile Memory Lab, a

Screenshot: Home Made Visible; Photo: Los Angeles Public Library Los Photo: Home Made Visible; Screenshot: pop-up program that brings digitization equipment

Above, a Congolese immigrant waves to the camera in a screenshot from a home movie archived by Home Made Visible. Right, metadata is collected for a photo submitted to Los Angeles Public Library's Mobile Memory Lab.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 41 library card. “We try to target specific demographics,” “PERSONAL and Charles Street Video, YUL Im says. For example, “the Jefferson Park branch solicited and digitized home library held its [scanning day during] African-American ITEMS LIKE movies at no cost to partici- Heritage Month, while Echo Park had more Latinx pants, who were asked to donate people attending.” The Mobile Memory Lab also has an PHOTOGRAPHS, a minimum of five minutes’ foot- oral history component, with staffers interviewing up age from their home movies to to four members of the specific community who have LETTERS, AND the YUL archives. Building the interesting stories or are active politically. Those oral trust that the project required histories are also given to participants and archived. DIARIES ARE entailed what media archivist Im sees the DIY Memory Lab as a response to a Katrina Cohen-Palacios calls national need for information on preserving the NOT ONLY “a lot of talks.” past, as well as public access to the necessary tools. “Two years isn’t really “The average person is not necessarily knowledge- IMPORTANT enough time to build the grad- able about how to care for … heirlooms of varying ual relationships” that projects formats,” she says. “Personal items like photo- TO FUTURE like this often require, points graphs, letters, and diaries are not only important out Cohen-Palacios, who spear- to future generations but might also become GENERATIONS headed YUL’s part of the project national treasures.” with colleague Michael Moir, As for the Mobile Memory Lab pop-up BUT MIGHT archivist at the libraries’ Clara program, Im says, the goal is to “democratize Thomas Archives and Special the archive” and illuminate the history of Los ALSO BECOME Collections (which houses the Angeles’ diverse populations. “What makes this Home Made Visible archive). program powerful is that Angelenos of every NATIONAL Since many participants stripe can help determine what should be pre- were already familiar with the served and made accessible as part of our city’s TREASURES.” film festival and YUL, “they cultural heritage.” felt comfortable donating their SUZANNE IM, archivist home movies,” Cohen-Palacios and metadata librarian at BUILDING TRUST says. Others, while enthusias- Los Angeles Public Library For many people, particularly those from tic about participating at first, underrepresented communities, the idea of became less so once questions of accessibility and transpar- putting invaluable family keepsakes into ency emerged. someone else’s hands can be disconcerting. “Families were like, ‘Oh, I want everyone to see [our home York University Libraries (YUL) in Toronto movie],’ and then, ‘Wait—I can Google my family name and knows this well. it comes up?’” says Anna St. Onge, YUL director of digital Between 2017 and 2019, YUL, by scholarship infrastructure. She and her colleagues learned to offering free home-movie digitization, address those concerns through clear and open explanations: helped preserve the memories of Canada’s “This is what we mean when we say ‘open,’ and this is what indigenous and visible minority families. we mean when we say ‘access.’” (“Visible minority” is a common Canadian Each family found its own comfort level. “Some family term for “persons, other than aboriginal members decided only to donate clips that did not feature peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race their families, to maintain privacy,” says Cohen-Palacios. or nonwhite in color,” per government “There were others who wanted to show weddings, birth- definition.) days, or Christmas gifts being unwrapped. Some chose to Through Home Made Visible, a part- donate an entire two-hour VHS tape.” nership with Regent Park Film Festival Footage is still being uploaded to YUL’s digital archives; in the meantime, clips are available on the Home Made Visible website. Cohen-Palacios considers the project a resounding Stills from a home movie of the wedding of success. “Everyone saw the importance of the project to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer

archived on Home Made Visible. amplify self-representation,” she says. Home Made Visible Screenshots:

42 Visitors to the California African American Museum used Los Angeles Public Library’s Mobile Memory Lab to digitize family photos and documents at an August 2019 event at the museum.

YUL’s next digital archiving endeavor is a partnership with what they have and setting up equipment correctly.” He and the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation and the History of Indige- Rondinella provide individual instruction and oversight so nous Peoples Network. Led by St. Onge, YUL will build a sus- patrons can safely and accurately do their own digitizing. tainable digital preservation infrastructure, with modes of The chief challenge, Peek and Rondinella agree, is time— access for specific community members and groups to ensure both theirs and that of patrons. Though individual appoint- cultural protocol and accuracy. “We want to give access ments can be made for Monday through Thursday, the studio that can be mediated by authorities within the community, is open for walk-ins only on Wednesday and Thursday after- as opposed to content that got deposited with the archives noons, so that Peek and Rondinella can ensure they devote [with] the archivist as the gatekeeper,” St. Onge says. the time each person needs. When patrons bring in large “What we’re learning is that it’s not always our story to boxes of items, Rondinella says, “we panic a little bit.” tell,” says YUL Dean of Libraries Joy Kirchner. “In the case of slides, each one has to be photographed, digitized, saved, and transferred,” she says. “When we see THE CHALLENGES OF DIGITIZATION [something] that will potentially take eight hours to convert, Even when libraries focus their digitization efforts in-house, they’re so excited, and we have to say, ‘Are you ready to sit?’ rather than in the community, the challenges of turning, say, We’ve had a couple [of projects] that were six hours long.” a battered shoebox full of photographs into files on a sleek, Peek can recall only one flat-out failure, when he was slim flash drive can be considerable. unable to extract a tape from a patron’s camcorder, but he is Patrons of Stark County (Ohio) District Library in Canton always willing to troubleshoot. “We’ve had to order cables so have been able to scan photographs on their own for many we can connect to their media, or ask them if they have the years. But in 2018, the library expanded its offerings by cable at home,” he says. opening a full digitization lab. In addition to video, film, and Still, the gratified reactions of patrons make all the chal- audio conversion, Technology and Literacy Trainer Jesse Peek lenges worthwhile, he and Rondinella say. “Just this week, and Technology Training Coordinator Dee Rondinella offer a man who played in a football game many years ago was quarterly digitization workshops and hands-on assistance. sitting there watching himself play,” says Rondinella. “I’ve Patrons can call or walk in to set up an appointment; had people bring themselves to tears seeing themselves act in

Photos: Los Angeles Public Library Los Photos: from there, says Peek, “it’s a matter of figuring out exactly a play when they were 9 years old.”

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 43 missed in the scanning process. During the second level, a librarian reviews digital files to make sure the scanning is up to specific standards including resolution, scale, and file format. (A rundown of specs is available on the portal’s website.) “We make sure the images meet our standards as far as pixels per inch and dimensions,” Mangum says. “We also try to do limited processing [making sure colors are precisely depicted] because we want to create a faithful representation.” When the lab team scans a black- and-white image, for example, “we want A late-1800s ledger containing handwritten copies of letters sent by to make sure the blacks are black and H. Kempner in English and Yiddish, from University of North Texas in the whitest part of the image is a true white,” he says. In the Denton’s Portal to Texas History. name of accuracy, however, the lab does not digitally repair an item. “[I]f there is a rip, we will show it,” Mangum says. To her surprise, the digitization lab has drawn interest The process is conducted “with the goal of creating a faithful from an unexpected quarter: young people. “With older representation of the actual item, a digital surrogate.” adults it’s about the ability to preserve,” she says. “But with The image is then uploaded to the portal as a hidden file so teens, there’s a curiosity that this even exists. I’ve had them metadata can be created. Once the image is visible, the staff tour the space and say, ‘I’m going to go home and see if we does a file inventory and provides the partner with its own have something [to digitize].” personal drive. The drive itself depends on file size, Mangum says, and ranges from a flash drive for a smaller project to a THE STEPS BEHIND THE SCENES multiterabyte external hard drive for the larger projects. As at Stark County District Library, time and labor are the How long does it all take? Depends on the item’s size and major digitization challenges of the University of North Texas place in the digitization queue. “I usually tell people that in Denton’s Portal to Texas History, a digital gateway to with around 300 photographs, we’re looking about a year historic materials from private collectors and partners such and a half,” he says. “Because of our desire to be as thorough as libraries and museums. Conceived in 2002, the portal and equitable as possible, it isn’t just slapping something on focuses on the history of small Texas communities. a scanner.” First made available online in 2004 with material from Mangum says the wait is worth it. One of his favorite items 13 partners, the portal now features 1.3 million visible is a ledger from Galveston’s Kempner family, who owned items from 412 partners and adds an average of 16,000 the well-known Imperial Sugar Company. One side of each items per month, says Project Development Librarian Jacob rice-paper sheet contains a standard business letter; the Mangum, who sees letters, photographs, journals, and “just other, a personal letter in phonetic Yiddish. “They created about anything you can imagine” come through the portal’s carbon copies in the 1870s and found a rabbi in Boston [a digital doors. few years ago] who translated and transcribed [them],” he After a partner submits an item for inclusion along with says. “The meaning of words changes over time, and I like to an inventory form, a staff member cross-checks the form and think how the rabbi had to consider the Yiddish words they makes notes about the item’s condition. Staff then create a were reading in current context, as well as what the words wiki page for the item and enter it on a whiteboard, des- might have meant nearly 150 years ago.” ignating the student workers and digitizing steps that will be involved. Once the item reaches the top of the scanning LAUREN EMILY WHALEN is a writer living in queue, it undergoes two levels of quality control. The first Chicago. level, Mangum says, involves a student worker comparing

the physical items with the scans to make sure nothing was Libraries of North Texas History/University Texas Portal to The Photo:

44 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org TRANSFORM THE FUTURE Leave a Legacy ALA Would you like to leave a legacy of your values and vision? Contact the LEGACY American Library Association’s Development Ofﬁce to learn more about SOCIETY joining the Legacy Society or our planned giving circle for people under 50, the 1876 Club. We are happy to work with you to design the right planned gift for you, whether you are interested in an estate gift or in naming ALA as a beneﬁciary of your life insurance or retirement plan. Email us at 1876 CLUB [email protected] or call 312-280-3259 and start your legacy today. Grow the Future of ALA

ALA LEGACY SOCIETY HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 1876 CLUB CHARTER Anonymous (3) Shirley Fitzgibbons Suellen Hoy Robert Newlen Roberta & MEMBERS Leo Albert~ Barbara J. Ford* Alexia Hudson-Ward** Sylvia K. Norton George Stevens** William G. Asp** Ruth Frame~ Richard L. Huffine** Margaret “Peg” Peggy Sullivan* Anonymous Susan D. and Eleanore Futas~ Dr. Em Claire Oettinger*~ Teri Switzer Peter Daniel Coyl Roger Ballard** Florence Gambino~ Knowles** Joyce L. Ogburn Ann & John Symons* Ann Dutton Ewbank & Steven A. Robert E. Banks** Nancy Kranich Ruth~ & Jay Toor Maryanne Flynn Charles Garris Eichner** Peggy Barber*~ Reiza Gaunt~ Charles E. Kratz, William L. Turner, John “Mack” Freeman Jr. and William Kimberly Patton** Jr.** Anne K. Beaubien** Julia Gelfand & Edward Andrew Garcia Varady, Jr. Mildred Othmer Betty Turock* John W. and David Lang** Peterson~ Loida Garcia-Febo Alice M. Berry** John A. Lehner Beatriz Pascual Carolyn Giambra** Mary Jane Peter Hepburn Katharina Sarah Ann Long** Wallace** Dr. Joan R. Giesecke~ Petrowski** Andrew M. Medlar Blackstead** Shirley Loo* Patricia A. Wand** Lori Goetsch & Molly & Ted Sheila O’Donnell Irene L. Briggs** Martin Courtois Geri Hansen Mann** Marina Welmers Raphael** Andrew K. Pace Francis J. Buckley, Jr. Ruth I. Gordon*~ Mike Marlin Lee Wheeler~ Jim & Monica Rettig Lessa Kanani’opua Michele V. Cloonan & Stephen L. Matthews J. Linda Williams** William R. Gordon* Larry Romans~ & Pelayo-Lozada Sidney E. Berger** Carse McDaniel* Patricia “Patty” Wong Ellin Greene*~ Mike Morgan Gina Persichini Emily Cloyd~ Regina Minudri Dr. Ken Haycock** Frances R. Roscello Nicole L. Powell Arthur Curley~ John N. Mitchell* Anne Heanue Robert F. Rose Steven D. Yates Trevor A. Dawes** Sara Elizabeth Rodney M. & April Roy Courtney L. Young Carol Pitts Diedrichs** Susan C. Mitchell~ Patricia Glass Mary Ruth Y. Duncan~ Hersberger Virginia B. Moore** Schuman * Charter Member ~ Deceased Lenore England Helga Herz~ William C. Morris~ Helen H. Spalding & ** ALA Legacy Ellen Fader** Nann Blaine Hilyard* David Mowery** Karl F. Johnson** Member/15x15 planned giving Janice Feye-Stukas** Gerald Hodges*~ Jim & Fran Neal** David & Cindy campaign Carole & Stan Fiore* Pam Spencer Holley Jeraline N. Nerney~ Steinhoff

Development Ofﬁce, American Library Association 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795 • (312) 280-3259 • [email protected] • www.ala.org/plannedgiving How Know Your libraries prepare Rights— for possible ICE activity

Claire Zulkey and Theirs BY

S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Uarrests rose 11% in fiscal year 2018 over the previous year (bit.ly/ICE-Stats), and the agency has detained or arrested undocumented immigrants in homes, parking lots, courthouses, places of work, and even hospitals. But no raids have been reported to date in libraries. Will that change? No one is certain. Though ICE’s official policy states it will avoid carrying out enforcement actions at “sensitive locations” (bit.ly/ICE-SensLoc) such

as daycares and places of worship, libraries are not spe- American Libraries cifically named among those locations. In this politically tense climate when immigration has been a major focus, some libraries wonder how they should respond if ICE agents show up. Fortunately, the American Library Association (ALA) has established official guidelines for libraries if an ICE raid occurs (bit.ly/ALA-ICE). And several libraries, hoping to empower and protect their communities, have gone a

step further by educating staff on their rights and respon- Lomax/ and Rebecca Stock ©ellagrin/Adobe Illustration: sibilities during a potential raid, patrons on their own rights, and supporters on protecting the rights of others.

46 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 47 The 5 Ds of Help for immigrant communities Since 2016, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library (BPL)—many Bystander branches of which serve a largely Caribbean immigrant community—has displayed plain-English posters and handed Intervention out palm cards giving information about who to contact if a family member is detained, where to find emergency legal arassment of any type can occur inside a assistance, and what to do in case of an outstanding deporta- Hlibrary as well as at professional events and tion order. on the street. Hollaback!, which has provided Eva Raison, director of outreach services, says BPL has also intervention training for the ALA, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public conducted several trainings to inform staffers of high-quality Library, and others, recommends five resources and “what information we could make available to methods of bystander intervention. the public.” Janel Peterson, who coordinates immigrant services at Distract: Take an indirect the library, wanted to come up with a know-your-rights 1 approach to deescalate the curriculum that would be helpful to people who attend BPL’s situation. Start a conversation with English-language, literacy, and citizenship classes. Because the target or find another way to just one of those classes can contain people from “15 different draw attention away from them. Ask countries,” she says, it was crucial to provide information in them for directions or the time, or drop something. a way that can be understood at a beginning English speaker’s level. The courses were provided in the form of weekly Delegate: Get help from someone workshops, she says, so that “people are able to feel a little bit 2 else. Find someone in a position more comfortable talking about such a sensitive topic” with a of authority—like a security guard or familiar instructor and in a familiar setting. supervisor—and ask them for help. Check Peterson recommends that if other libraries step up services in with the person being harassed. You can for their own immigrant communities, they should be judi- ask if they want you to call the police. cious with the content—and timing—of the information they disseminate. “Make sure you’re providing consistent, accurate Delay: After the incident is over, check in with the information and not just responding to the next thing that’s 3 person who was harassed. You can say: “Can I sit coming out in the news,” with you? Can I accompany you somewhere? What do she says. you need?” BPL’s programs were cocreated with other Direct: After assessing your safety, speak up about community-based organi- 4 the harassment. Be firm and clear. If the harasser zations, and engagement tries to escalate the situation into a back-and-forth, has been robust: In the don’t engage. Afterward, ask the person past year, more than 300 being harassed how you can assist: participants attended more “Are you okay? Should I get help? than 20 workshops held at Should we get out of here?” several BPL branches. In July 2019, when ICE Document: It can be helpful officials made multi- 5 for the target to have a video ple attempts to arrest of the incident. Laws about record- undocumented residents ing in public vary, so check local laws of Brooklyn’s Sunset Park first. Keep a safe distance. Film street signs or other neighborhood, Raison was landmarks that help identify the location. Say the day delighted that residents Poster with emergency numbers and time. designed for Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public knew to thwart those Always ask the person targeted what they want to do Library branches attempts by refusing to with the footage. Never post it online or use it without open their doors, knowing their permission. Keep your attention on the person their rights, and asking for judicial warrants. “I was so proud to being harassed—make sure anything you do is focused see how a coordinated effort of sharing people’s rights across on supporting them. • an entire community really made an impact,” she says.

48 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org Public versus private space programming from the Alameda County Immigration Legal and While exploring its internal policy around potential ICE action Education Partnership and Anti Police-Terror Project, which in the library, BPL connected its legal team with New York gave a 2018 workshop about documenting police brutality. Lawyers for the Public Interest, which provides legal support “I was impressed,” says Weak. “When I think about library to community organizations. “We really wanted to make sure programs, I think of them being two hours [long] and most we were clear on what we had the right to do and what we people getting punchy at the didn’t have the right to do,” Raison says. end. They had five hours, and One of the things she’s learned is that to some degree, an “It’s never 60 people stayed.” organization’s options for responding to ICE activity hinge on BPL, too, has hosted bystander whether that activity takes place in a defined public space: easy to say intervention training. It has “The level of response differs if you’re in a public park versus paired with groups like Holla- if you’re in your own home or a car, and libraries are public no when back!—a grassroots initiative space.” In other words, public libraries are not sanctuaries. someone to combat harassment in public “It’s never easy to say no when someone asks us ‘Are you spaces, including harassment a sanctuary space?’” she adds. “I think staff are sometimes asks us regarding perceived immigration surprised by that.” status—to train patrons in skills On the flip side, staff areas, as well as areas of the library ‘Are you a such as deescalating a situation that require registration (such as ESL classes), are not consid- in which a patron appears to be ered public spaces, meaning that “we can require that some- sanctuary the target of bigotry and harass- one show us a judicial warrant before they enter those spaces,” ment. Hollaback! also partnered says Raison. She notes that according to New York law, while space?’ ” with ALA to create a bystander staffers cannot instruct patrons to escape, they can document EVA RAISON, director of intervention curriculum specifi- and film ICE activity. outreach services, Brooklyn cally for members of ALA and the (N.Y.) Public Library Association for Library Service to Engaging bystanders Children (bit.ly/ALSC-Hollaback). A 2018 brush with police left Oakland (Calif.) Public Library “Because libraries are public (OPL) staff eager for clarity on their rights around potential spaces, they aren’t always as safe interactions with law enforcement, including ICE. During that as you may want them to be,” says Hollaback! cofounder and incident, police detained an OPL patron in the library “because executive director Emily May. “Like in any institution, bias, dis- he fit a vague description,” says senior librarian Emily Weak. crimination, harassment occur inside their doors. That’s where After proving he was not the suspect they were after, the bystander interventions start to come into play.” patron was released. Still, Weak says, “staff didn’t intervene, and [the patron] felt that they—or someone in the library— The library’s mission should have.” Why should public libraries concern themselves with immigra- OPL patrons and staffers agreed that they needed more tion matters? BPL’s mission is to respond to the communities it training in this area, especially in a city where more than 65% serves, and that means “not just immigrant communities but of its residents do not identify themselves as white, according also folks who want to stand by their neighbors,” Raison says. to the 2010 Census. “We’re a sanctuary city, and we have some “Libraries are the foundation of democratic society.” Dreamers on staff, plus some patrons who are documented Weak adds that the relationship between immigrant com- and undocumented immigrants,” Weak says. munities and their local libraries is a longstanding one. Initially, some staffers wanted to bar ICE from the library “It’s the only place you can go that’s free and nonjudgmen- completely and were disappointed to learn that they couldn’t tal, and we’re going to give you the information you need (though, Weak says, they can make an announcement saying, to make your life better,” she says. “That’s the basic ethical “Will the ICE officer who just entered please come to the circu- underpinning behind libraries: We are committed to providing lation desk?”). education and information. That translates to wanting to make Instead, OPL’s main library has begun offering trainings sure people have good lives. You get to know people in your aimed at potential bystanders to harassment or ICE actions. In community, and you don’t want them to be hurt.” bystander training, attendees are taught to interrupt harassment via techniques known as distraction, delegation, delayed CLAIRE ZULKEY is a freelance writer and author in Evanston, Illinois. response, direct response, and documentation (see sidebar). OPL has hosted bystander intervention training from the Council on American-Islamic Relations as well as joint

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 49 2020 Midwinter PREVIEW Photos: John Sterling Ruth/Visit Philadelphia (bell); ©Sergey Borisov/Adobe Stock (skyline) Stock Borisov/Adobe Philadelphia (bell); ©Sergey Ruth/Visit John Sterling Photos: Prepareforaknockout meetinginthe CityofBrotherlyLove EDITED BY Greg Landgraf

50 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org ECHO BROWN ike Rocky Balboa, one of Phila- delphia’s most famous characters, Llibraries are championed for their guts and determination. They provide services to all, no matter how fierce the opposi- WES MOORE tion. So it’s only appropriate that the American Library Association’s (ALA) Midwinter FEATUREDSPEAKERS

Meeting & Exhibits returns to Opening Session MAIA AND ALEX SHIBUTANI the Pennsylvania Convention Friday, January 24, 4–5:15 p.m. Author and social entrepreneur Wes Center January 24–28, to give Moore will open ALA’s Midwinter Not for Hipsters was named one of librarians a chance to make Meeting. Raised by a single mom in the 10 best shows of 2015 by the San Baltimore and the Bronx, Moore over- Francisco Chronicle, seeks to inspire and connections, discuss ideas, came childhood challenges to become a provoke with her words. Her first book, and discover new research to Rhodes Scholar, decorated captain and Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable paratrooper with the US Army’s 82nd Story of a Teenage Wizard (January), help build a strong future for Airborne Division, and White House explores the intersections of poverty, libraries, even in the face of Fellow to Secretary of State Condoleezza sexual violence, depression, racism, and Rice. He is a regular contributor to NBC sexism in a coming-of-age story that is overwhelming odds. News and CEO at Robin Hood, an anti- heavily autobiographical but infused poverty organization. with magical realism. His forthcoming book, Five Days: The Fiery Reckoning of an American City Sunday, January 26, 9:30–10:30 a.m. (coauthored with Pulitzer Prize–winning Two-time Olympic medalists Maia and journalist Erica L. Green, and available in Alex Shibutani—the first ice danc- spring), traces the experiences of seven ers of Asian descent to medal at the characters in Baltimore in the week Olympics—will speak about their family following Freddie Gray’s death in police bond, world travels, social media success, custody in 2015. and forthcoming book Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist (May). Auditorium Speaker Series The novel, featuring a fictionalized duo Saturday, January 25, 9:30–10:30 a.m. of ice dancers, is the first in a mystery Visionary storyteller Echo Brown, series for middle-grade readers set at the whose solo show Black Virgins Are 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 51 Arthur Curley Memorial Lecture Saturday, January 25, 1–2 p.m. Poet, novelist, and essayist Julia Alvarez will speak to the challenge of learning American English upon coming to the US from the Dominican Republic at age 10. Alvarez has taught and mentored writers JULIA ALVAREZ in schools and communities across the country, and was writer-in-residence at Middlebury (Vt.) College until her 2016 retirement. Alvarez is the author of six novels (including Afterlife, forthcoming in April), three books of nonfiction, three CHANEL MILLER poetry collections, and 11 books for children and young adults.

ALA President’s Program Sunday, January 26, 3:30–5 p.m. SYMPOSIUMONTHE Award-winning chef and author FUTUREOFLIBRARIES Jeff Henderson will address his journey from prison to the culinary The Center for the Future of Libraries arts in ALA President Wanda Kay JEFF HENDERSON will once again sponsor the Symposium Brown’s program. Henderson dis- on the Future of Libraries, three days of covered his love for cooking while sessions exploring current trends inspir- serving 10 years for drug traffick- faculty associate in Gender and Sexual- ing library innovation and longer-term ing and was told his conviction would ity Studies and the Program in Law and trends shaping patrons’ evolving needs. prevent him from ever getting a job. With Public Affairs at Princeton (N.J.) Uni- Symposium entry is included with full help from the library and fellow inmates, versity, and author of Breathe: A Letter conference registration. he gained skills and eventually rose to My Sons (2019). ALA Past President Each day opens with a plenary session to become the first African-American Loida Garcia-Febo will deliver the call featuring civic, social, and education chef de cuisine at Caesars Palace and to action. Coffee, tea, and light refresh- innovators, 8:30–10 a.m. Saturday– executive chef at Café Bellagio. He also ments will be served. Monday. The full schedule is available leads initiatives to eradicate workplace at bit.ly/MWsymposiumschedule. High- bias and to connect marginalized youth Closing Session lights include: to opportunity. His bestseller Cooked: Monday, January 27, 2–3 p.m. My Journey from the Streets to the Stove Known only as Emily Doe at the time of Sustainability Is Now a Core (2009) will be adapted into a film by Will a widely publicized sexual assault trial, Value. So … Now What? Chanel Miller Saturday, January 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. read a victim impact state- Elgin (Henderson) (Miller); Rance Mariah Tiffany (Alvarez); ment that instantly went viral, resonat- ALA Council voted in 2019 to make sus- Martin Luther King Jr. ing with survivors around the world. It tainability a core value of librarianship. Holiday Observance and has been translated globally and read on In this session, Rebekkah Smith Sunrise Celebration the floor of Congress, inspired changes Aldrich, executive director of Mid- Monday, January 27, 6:30–7:30 a.m. in California law, and led to the recall of Hudson Library System in Poughkeep- The 21st annual Martin Luther King the judge in her case. In Know My Name: sie, New York, and cochair of the ALA Rico de Puerto El Vocero Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Cel- A Memoir (2019), Miller reclaims her Special Task Force on Sustainability, ebration commemorates King’s legacy identity to tell her story of trauma and joins Matthew Bollerman, CEO of and recognizes the connection between healing, from her sexual assault on the Hauppauge (N.Y.) Public Library and his life’s work and the library world. campus of Stanford University, through SustainRT’s first ALA Councilor, to dis- The event will feature a keynote address the trial and its aftermath, amid shifting cuss how librarians can embed sustain- from Imani Perry, Hughes-Rogers Pro- cultural conversations around sexual ability into their work, their spaces, and

fessor of African-American Studies and violence and the experiences of women. their Association. Cruz González/ Brandon Photos:

52 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org Sustainability at Midwinter n 2019 ALA adopted sustainability as a core value of librarianship. ALA IConference Services will help fight global warming with a carbon offset Disrupting Tech While in partnership with Native Energy, Being Pro-Tech an organization that helps to build Saturday, January 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m. indigenous-owned and community- Library workers who seek to imple- based projects. This year’s carbon ment new technologies must vet tools offset will support the Jagers Ranch Grasslands Conservation project in to ensure they meet patron needs and southeastern Colorado. Attendees will have the option to purchase a $4 protect patron privacy. Elisa Rodrigues, carbon offset credit at registration. systems library assistant, and Anders Midwinter will incorporate a “Reduce, Repurpose, Recycle” initiative Lyon, user experience/web design to promote sustainable business practices. In support of this initiative, librarian, both at University of San Fran- the ALA Midwinter mobile app, slide presentations, and other resources cisco Gleeson Library’s Geschke Center, will replace paper-based materials. (A limited supply of printed program will lead a discussion on how library books will be available for $2 each.) All Midwinter facilities offer onsite staff can think critically about reviewing recycling, and leftover event items will be donated to charitable organiza- and integrating technology into services. tions. Learn more at alamidwinter.org/sustainability. •

Making Real Change: Moving Beyond the Interpersonal to Create Actual Diverse, University in Glassboro, New Jersey— of short, inspiring ideas that could have Inclusive, and Equitable will share their experiences as the teach- a big impact on library communities. Environments for Both Library ing team of a research methods course Judges and the audience will choose a Users and Employees and lead a discussion on the barriers to presenter’s idea to fund with $1,000. Saturday, January 25, 1–2 p.m. and benefits of similar partnerships. Librarianship has traditionally focused Navigating Queer Realities on individual expressions of anti- Young Changemakers in in School Libraries oppressive practices (AOP) that seek to 21st Century Libraries Sunday, January 26, 1–2 p.m. thwart power imbalances and structural Saturday, January 25, 3–4 p.m. This session, presented by Rae-Anne forces like racism and sexism. More In January 2019, the Massachusetts Montague of Chicago State University’s challenging, however, are institutional Library System and Harvard Univer- Department of Information Studies, will and ideological expressions of AOP. Uni- sity’s Democratic Knowledge Project explore effective practices for school versity of Denver’s Erin N. Elzi, design (DKP) assembled a cohort of school and librarians in collection development, and discovery librarian, and Elia Trucks, public librarians to design professional instruction, online resources, programs, user experience and student outreach development resources. The goal was and events to recognize the contribu- librarian, will lead a discussion of the implementation of DKP’s Ten Questions tions of LGBTQ individuals and groups. AOP framework and give participants for Young Changemakers, a framework tools for starting larger conversations at that seeks to help youth develop into Libraries at the Nexus their own institutions. successful civic agents. State cohort of Migration members Luke Kirkland (teen specialist Sunday, January 26, 2:30–3:30 p.m. Tomorrow’s Scholars Today: at Waltham Public Library), Alexandra Libraries are increasingly at the center Collaborating to Empower Remy (branch supervisor of Forest Park of shifting migration patterns and pol- Undergraduate Students to Branch Library in Springfield), and icies. A panel of speakers will highlight Become Knowledge Creators Melissa Bennett (young adult and assis- projects at public, government, and Saturday, January 25, 1–2 p.m. tant children’s librarian at Turner Free academic libraries that provide infor- Opportunities for college students to Library in Randolph) will present the mation access and services to migrant pursue their own innovative research training materials and learning modules and detained migrant populations and and contribute to scholarly knowledge they produced. confront the social impact of migra- are always expanding. Such endeavors tion and detention. Speakers include require academic librarians and faculty An Awesome Ideas Julie Botnick (education and outreach to share their expertise as equal instruc- Pitch for Libraries librarian at the National Network of tion partners. Ashley R. Lierman, Saturday, January 25, 5–6 p.m. Libraries of Medicine [NNLM], Pacific instruction and education librarian, and The libraries chapter of the Awesome Southwest Region, at University of Whitney Cox, lecturer of philosophy Foundation, an international network California at Los Angeles Biomedical and world religions—both at Rowan of philanthropists, will host a program Library), Derek Johnson (health

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 53 professionals outreach specialist for Youth Media Awards NNLM, Greater Midwest Region, at the Monday, January 27, 8–9 a.m. University of Iowa Hardin Library for the Support Local The Philadelphia Convention Center Health Sciences in Iowa City), Alex Gil Businesses will be the center of the youth literature (digital scholarship librarian at Colum- world Monday morning as the year’s bia University Libraries in New York LA’s Office for Diversity, most outstanding books, videos, and City), and Ady Huertas (supervising ALiteracy, and Outreach other materials for children and teens librarian, youth and family services, San Services has compiled a selec- are named. More than 20 awards will Diego Public Library). tion of minority-, women-, be announced, including the Newbery, and LGBTQ-owned businesses Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Measuring the Library’s in Philadelphia, with a focus Schneider Family, Pura Belpré, and Impact on Your Community’s on those closest to the Penn- Stonewall awards. This year marks the Social Infrastructure sylvania Convention Center. 25th anniversary of the John Steptoe Monday, January 27, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Explore the map of locations New Talent Award and the 10th anni- A growing body of evidence supports the at bit.ly/MWODLOSmap. • versary of the Virginia Hamilton Award idea that social infrastructure is criti- for Lifetime Achievement. Follow the cal to a better future for society. In this results via live webcast on Facebook or workshop, participants will learn how by following #alayma on Twitter. economists, urban planners, and other hands. Honor some of the best works professionals are incorporating outcome and notable librarians of the year and <Ĕğğýģ×ďé=Ĕď̏ãĩýĔď measurement techniques to quantify rub shoulders with favorite authors and Award Presentation health and well-being and applying out- illustrators at the following events. Monday, January 27, 10:30 a.m.–noon come measurement in their own work. The winners and finalists for the Young The workshop will be led by Margaret United for Libraries Adult Library Services Association’s Sullivan, principal of Margaret Sullivan Gala Author Tea (YALSA) 2020 William C. Morris Studio in New York City, Lyna Vuong, Sunday, January 26, 2–4 p.m. Award and Young Adult Nonfiction senior design strategist for Margaret Sul- Bestselling authors Judy Batalion, Award will speak about their honored livan Studio, and Alexandra Sutherland- Janelle Brown, Amy Engel, Lily King, titles at the award presentation. After Brown, urban planning strategist for Sam Lansky, and David Nicholls will the speeches, mingle with the authors Karp Strategies in New York City. discuss their writing lives and forthcom- and pick up free copies of their books. ing books. Tea and light refreshments Coffee, tea, and pastries will also be Making the News: Library will be served, and a book signing will served. Tickets are $25. Advocacy and Local Media follow. Tickets are $55 in advance for Monday, January 27, 10:30–11:30 a.m. United for Libraries members, $60 for Understanding and working with the nonmembers, or $65 onsite; advance local press is vital to demonstrating a purchase is recommended. library’s impact on its community. Penn- sylvania Library Association Executive RUSA Book and Media Awards Director Christi Buker and ALA Public Sunday, January 26, 5–7 p.m. Policy and Advocacy Office (PPAO) Assis- The Reference and User Services I Love My Librarian tant Director of Public Policy and Strate- Association (RUSA) will announce the Award Ceremony gic Initiatives Megan Ortegon will lead winners of awards recognizing some of Saturday, January 25, 3–4:30 p.m. a session that discusses how news outlets the best books for adults. Announce- For the first time in the award’s curate news and how libraries can be a ments include the Andrew Carnegie history, Midwinter will host the productive part of the discussion. Medals for Excellence in Fiction and ceremony to honor winners of the Nonfiction, the Dartmouth Medal for national I Love My Librarian Award, BOOKSANDAWARDS outstanding reference work, and the which recognizes outstanding ser- Sophie Brody Medal for Jewish liter- vice contributions of librarians who ature. RUSA will also unveil this year’s transform libraries and improve com- Midwinter is one of the premier events Notable Books List, Reading List, munities. Winners will share their of the year for books, book lovers, and Listen List, and Outstanding Refer- inspiring stories at the ceremony. the librarians who put books in their ence Sources selections.

54 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org In the Exhibit Hall ith more than 400 exhibitors Woffering the latest in products, titles, and services for every type of library, multiple stages featuring the hottest names in publishing, and plenty of special events, the exhibit hall at Midwinter is essential to learning and networking. The floor will include specialty pavilions dedicated to mobile applications, small presses, and university presses. Live stages include the Book Buzz Theater, for the latest on new titles, and the PopTop Stage, which features readings, discussions, presentations, and signings from authors in trending genres. EXHIBIT HALL HOURS Friday, January 24, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, January 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. achieve an accurate and inclusive count NEWSYOUCANUSE in the 2020 Census.

The News You Can Use series offers Introducing the ALA/AASL/ ALA Store updates from experts on policy, CAEP School Librarian xtended store hours and easy research, statistics, technology, and Preparation Standards Eaccess near Registration make Saturday, January 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m. more, all based on new surveys, reports, it convenient to shop and browse at legislation, regulations, and projects. Members of the American Association the ALA Store in the Pennsylvania Highlights are reviewed below, but see of School Librarians (AASL) Coun- Convention Center Grand Hall. The the full schedule at alamidwinter.org/ cil for the Accreditation of Educator ALA Store offers products that meet news-you-can-use. Preparation (CAEP) Coordinating the widest range of your promo- Committee will present the revised tional, continuing education, and 2020 Census: How Libraries School Librarian Preparation Stan- professional development needs— Can Support a Complete Count dards, which replace 2010’s Standards as well as fun gift items. Saturday, January 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m. for the Initial Preparation of School STORE HOURS Larra Clark, deputy director of the Librarians. Presenters are Elizabeth Friday, January 24, Public Library Association and PPAO, A. Burns (assistant professor, Old 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. will moderate a discussion among Dominion University), April Daw- Saturday, January 25, Burton Reist (assistant director for kins (assistant professor, University 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. communications for the US Census of North Carolina–Greensboro), Sunday, January 26, Bureau), Ana Ndumu (assistant pro- Gail Dickinson (associate dean, Old 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. fessor at the University of Maryland Dominion University), Audrey Church Monday, January 27, College of Information Studies), and (professor, Longwood University), 8:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Kelvin Watson (director of libraries Mona Kerby (professor, McDaniel • for Broward County [Fla.] Libraries College), and Sherry Crow (professor, Division) about how libraries can help to University of Nebraska).

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 55

Business and learning opportunities. The event is free Financial equipped with Wi-Fi and a webcam but registration is required. where you can gather in small Meetings groups to have a quick meeting, hold OTHERHIGHLIGHTS Friday, January 24 impromptu sessions, polish your pre- ■ 8:30 a.m.–noon, ALA sentation, record summaries of sessions Executive Board Meeting I to stream or post, or just recharge YALSA Trends Impacting ■ 12:30–4 p.m., Budget yourself and your devices. Sign up for a YA Services: Civic Analysis and Review time slot (8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily except for Literacy for Teens Committee (BARC) and Friday, when it closes at 4 p.m.) or just Saturday, January 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Finance and Audit Joint show up. Liz Allen, youth services librarian Meeting Just next door to the Networking at Middle Country Public Library in Uncommons, relax and regroup at the Saturday, January 25 Centereach, New York, will present a ALA Lounge. You’ll be surrounded ■ paper that explores the importance of 8–11 a.m., Council by information and have the chance civic literacy to adolescent development Orientation Session to pick up plenty of swag—including ■ and teen services in public libraries, as 3:30–5 p.m., ALA Council/ special ribbons not available anywhere well as public librarians’ practices and Executive Board/Member- else. Hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Friday, perceptions of civic literacy instruction. ship Information Session 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, ■ 5–6 p.m., ALA Presidential and 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday. Wellness in the Library Candidates’ Forum Stop by the video booth in the ALA Workplace for Administrators Sunday, January 26 Lounge on Sunday, January 26, 9 a.m.– and Managers ■ 8:30–9 a.m., ALA-APA 5 p.m. to participate in Finding Your Sunday, January 26, 8:30–10 a.m. Council Session ALA—an invitation to discover what This Library Leadership and Manage- ■ 9–11 a.m., ALA Council I ALA can do for you or what ALA has ment Association session will provide ■ 1–3 p.m., Planning and done for you. Member stories about methods for library managers and Budget Assembly, BARC, finding a place or path within ALA will administrators to ensure that work envi- and Division Joint Meeting be recorded for a yearlong campaign. ronments are happy, healthy, and safe. Advance sign-up is encouraged at Monday, January 27 The session will be presented by Bobbi bit. ly/FindingALA-MW. ■ Newman, community engagement 10 a.m.–noon, ALA’s JobLIST Placement and and outreach specialist for the NNLM ALA Council II Career Development Center is open ■ Greater Midwest Region at the Univer- 2–4 p.m., ALA Executive Saturday, January 25, and Sunday, sity of Iowa’s Hardin Library for the Board Meeting II January 26, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The center ■ Health Sciences, and Christina Pryor, 4–4:30 p.m., ALA-APA offers free workshops, résumé review, a library engagement and Missouri coor- Board of Directors Meeting photography service, mock interviews, dinator for the NNLM Midcontinental Tuesday, January 28 and confidential 20-minute Career Region at J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences ■ 8:30–11:30 a.m., Counseling sessions. Advance regis- Library at the University of Missouri. ALA Council III tration for counseling sessions at bit. ■ 12:15–1:15 p.m., ly/MWcounseling is strongly recom- PUTTINGITALL Executive Board mended, as time slots are limited. Workshops TOGETHER Candidates’ Forum include “Personal ■ 12:30–4:30 p.m., Branding for a Virtual World,” “Job ALA Executive Board Search Strategies for Today’s Market,” One of the most powerful parts of Meeting III • and “Mindful Librarianship.” Also, Midwinter is the range of informal stop by the Orientation on Saturday, opportunities to ask questions, make January 25, 8:30 a.m., and the Open recommendations, explore ideas, and House and Job Fair Sunday, January 26, reflect on the implications of updates, organized sessions on broad and timely 9–10:30 a.m. conversations, and lessons learned. topics, each sponsored by an ALA divi-

Take advantage of these opportunities sion, round table, or office. For an up-to-date list of dates and times, at more than 200 Discussion Groups Make connections at the Network- see the Midwinter Conference Scheduler at meeting at Midwinter. These are loosely ing Uncommons space, an area alamidwinter.org/scheduler.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 57 Fried THE cauliﬂower Philly at Zahav FOOD SCENE Photo: Jason Varney/Zahav Photo:

Wheretodine duringMidwinter

BY Reid Bramblett

58 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org rowing up, my friends and family never thought much about the food in Phila- delphia beyond heated arguments over who makes the best cheesesteak (sorry, Gbut it’s Pudge’s Steaks and Hoagies, and it’s way out in the suburbs). When I returned to Philly to raise my children—and especially once I started writing Frommer’s Philadelphia Day by Day—I discovered that the stalwarts of South Philly trat- torias and Rittenhouse steakhouses were now part Salt-baked shrimp, of a booming culinary scene, complete with local scallops, and squid celebrity chefs and showers of accolades. at Lee How Fook Here are the best of the best, from faux-colonial taverns to historic food-hall cornucopias, whiskey NEARTHE this colorful modern Mexican bars to funky vegan eateries, and Pennsylvania CONVENTION spot in Center City busy night Dutch smorgasbords to Zahav, named the top CENTERCENTER after night. L, D daily $$ CITYAND restaurant in the country in 2019 by the James CHINATOWN Good Dog Beard Foundation. 224 S. 15th St. Conventioneers are doubly fortunate to have 215-985-9600 Dim Sum Garden gooddogbar.com 1020 Race St. the three dozen food stands of 125-year-old Read- At Center City’s go-to spot 215-873-0258 for pub grub, wooden booths, ing Terminal Market right across the street from dimsumgardenphilly.com great microbrews, and an the convention center—plus great dim sum on the The undisputed king of China- impressive jukebox are just streets of nearby Chinatown. town’s dim sum parlors since 2013, with delicious dump- background noise to the One note: Due to the stratospheric cost of local lings and braised pork noodle Roquefort cheese–stuffed liquor licenses, a number of Philadelphia eateries dishes. Get the signature xiao burger. You’ll find happy hour long bao, steamed pork soup food and drink specials week- are BYOB, don’t take credit cards, or both. I’ll let $$ dumplings with the broth actu- days 3–6 p.m. L, D daily you know if you should stop by an ATM and a state ally inside the dumpling (put it store (where many Pennsylvanians get their beer, on a spoon and bite off the top Jamonera before eating). Don’t despair 105 S. 13th St. Photo: Lee How Fook How Lee Photo: liquor, and wine) on the way to your reservation. at the long line to get in; the 215-922-6061 fast and furious Shanghai- jamonerarestaurant.com style service (no Cantonese This trendy Spanish wine bar pushcarts here; you order, and serves both classic and nueva it is brought to you) helps get tapas and their larger cousins, PRICE GUIDE customers seated and satiated raciones—plus three different quickly. L, D daily $ takes on paella. D daily $$–$$$ Average price per person for entrée without appetizers, El Vez Lee How Fook drinks, tax, or tip. 121 S. 13th St. 219 N. 11th St. $ under $10 215-928-9800 215-925-7266 $$ $11–$20 elvezrestaurant.com newleehowfook.com $$$ $21–$30 Made-to-order guac, marga- Garlicky good-for-you greens, $$$$ $31 and up ritas that rock, and a lounge-y hearty duck noodle soup, and Mexi-Vegas atmosphere keep salt-baked squid have kept this

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 59 family Chinatown BYOB packed the historic heart of town. night after night for more than Don’t miss the Spanish cheeses 30 years. L, D daily $–$$ and meats or the spinach, manchego, and artichoke Lolita empanadas—oh, or the 106 S. 13th St. scrumptious sangria. Brunch 215-546-7100 (Sat, Sun), L (M–F), D daily $$ lolitaphilly.com Classic Mexican dishes get Buddakan dressed up for a night on the Burmese 325 Chestnut St. town at this funky little Mid- tofu salad 215-574-9440 at Rangoon town Village eatery. Try a fish, buddakan.com pork belly, or roasted mush- This eternally trendy Old City room taco or the famous carne Asian fusion spot serves up and served over several hours, asada. A new liquor license Valanni lobster fried rice, edamame 1229 Spruce St. along with a small but per- means you don’t have to bring dumplings, five-spice duck 215-790-9494 fectly crafted wine list. L (F), your own tequila for the fresh- breast, and kung pao monkfish valanni.com D daily $$$$ fruit margaritas. L (M–Sat), at a communal table beneath a Enjoy the modern lounge vibe, D daily $$ giant golden Buddha. L (M–F), lobster mac and cheese, grilled Vietnam Restaurant D daily $$$–$$$$ octopus, shiitake polenta, Rangoon 221 N. 11th St. mezze (small plate dishes), 215-592-1163 112 N. 9th St. Café Ole and paella meant for sharing 215-829-8939 eatatvietnam.com 147 N. 3rd St. at this modern Mediterranean- rangoonphilly.com Peanut-dusted rice vermi- 215-627-2140 Latin Center City tapas joint. If you’ve never had the celli, crispy duck, lime-glazed facebook.com/phillycafeole Half-price mezze and cocktails pleasure of digging into tea chicken, and handsome sur- If you haven’t yet realized how 4:30–7:30 p.m. Brunch (Sun), leaf salad, coconut rice, or roundings make this gently Old City earned its nickname— D daily $$ thousand-layer bread (a grilled exotic Chinatown spot popular. the “hipstoric” district—you L, D daily $$ will once you set foot in this flatbread), do it at this casual, Vetri Cucina laid-back café. Stand in line Burmese restaurant in China- 1312 Spruce St. $$ for fresh-mint iced tea, sand- town. L, D daily 215-732-3478 OLDCITYAND vetricucina.com INDEPENDENCE wiches, yummy hummus Saint Honore Pastries Chef Marc Vetri’s elegant MALL plates, and Mediterranean 935 Race St. brownstone eatery consis- salads that won’t break the 215-925-5298 $ tently ranks among the best Amada bank. B, L, D daily bit.ly/AL-SaintHonore Italian restaurants in the US. 217–219 Chestnut St. Don’t let the name fool you; City Tavern It’s chef’s choice here—no à la 215-398-6968 this is not a spot for crois- 138 S. 2nd St. carte, only a tasting menu (at amadarestaurant.comamadarestaurant.com sants but a Chinatown bakeryery 215-413-1443215-413-1443 a steepsteep $165).$165). But,But, boy,boy, what a AmadaAmada offers contemporary citytavern.com churning out hot Hong Kongg menu: Two dozen (mercifully)(mercifully) tapastapas both chic and rustic in A faithful reconstruction of buns stamped with lucky reded tapas-sizedtapas-sized ddishes,ishes, sosolicitouslylicitously

tthehe originaloriginal pupubb wwherehere tthehe Rangoon; HipCityVeg Photos: characters and stuffed withh craftedcrafted to your preferencespreferences sweet sesame or red bean ffill-ill- ings. Other specialties of thishis Chocolate walk-up shop include mangogo milkshake, shakes, tiny cakes, and pastry-try- Ziggy burger, wrapped hot dogs. B, L, D and sweet daily $ potato fries at HipCityVeg

ONLINE MAP Find these restaurants and more at bit.ly/MW20DiningGuideMap

60 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org Historic Food Halls

o visit to Philly is complete without a visit to one Nof its all-American, historic food halls, in which all kinds of cuisines crowd together to create a melting pot of smells and flavors.

The Bourse 111 S. Independence Mall E., thebourse philly.com: Right at the crux of Independence Mall’s L-shaped corridor of historic sites, the Bourse (built in 1895) was converted into a food hall in late 2018. Twenty-six vendors, restaurants, and stalls serve everything from Indian to Italian, Korean to Hawaiian, sandwiches to raw bar, breakfast to ice cream. B, L, D (M–Sat), B, L (Sun) $

Reading Terminal Market 12th and Arch streets, 215-922-2317, readingterminalmarket.org: This 125-year-old farmers market and eatery emporium in the old train station just south of the convention Founding Fathers hashed out Farmicia center offers three dozen food stalls, restaurants, and details of the Declaration of 15 S. 3rd St. bakeries serving Amish, Indian, soul food, kebabs, Cajun, 215-627-6274 Independence and Consti- cheesesteaks, and more. And don’t forget Bassetts farmiciarestaurant.com tution over tankards of ale, famous ice cream. Seating can get tight at lunchtime as City Tavern still serves many This bakery-owned restaurant Center City workers, tourists, and conventioneers pack 18th-century dishes, from has super fresh, sustainably the place. Some vendors accept credit cards. B, L, D West Indies pepper pot soup grown American fare like (M–Sat) $–$$ • and cornmeal-fried oysters roasted chicken, pork chops, to turkey potpie and Thomas and pan-crisped fish fillets. Jefferson’s home brew, all Vegetarian and vegan options brought by servers in colonial are available. Brunch (Sat, mint chip, peach) and quaint Jones garb. It’s a bit touristy, yes, Sun), L (Tue–F), D (Tue–Sun) (teaberry gum) are served by 700 Chestnut St. but it adds a tasty dimension $$–$$$ the scoop in parfaits, banana 215-223-5663 to a day steeped in Revolu- Fork splits, floats, milkshakes, and jones-restaurant.com tionary history at the historic 306 Market St. more at this old-fashioned-on- Comfort food alert! Jones is just sites and museums that sur- 215-625-9425 purpose Old City soda foun- what the family ordered: mac round it. L, D daily $$$ forkrestaurant.com tain. L, D daily $ and cheese, glazed carrots, Fresh ingredients—king meatloaf, and chicken nachos Continental salmon, house-made sausage, in a retro sunken dining room. 138 Market St. High Street on Market burrata—shine at restaurateur Brunch (Sat, Sun), L, D daily $$ 215-923-6069 308 Market St. Ellen Yin’s award-winning, continentalmartinibar.com 215-625-0988 softly lit Old City neighbor- Morimoto This eclectic chrome-heavy highstreetonmarket.com hood brasserie, a date-night 723 Chestnut St. Old City corner diner has Come for breakfast, lunch, or favorite. Brunch (Sun), D daily 215-413-9070 something for everyone— dinner to this all-day gourmet morimotorestaurant.com $$$$ é from steak frites to crab pad caf , which boasts “the best Witness Iron Chef Masaharu thai to sugary martinis. Franklin Fountain grilled cheese ever” (made Morimoto’s signature flash in Vegetarians will love the 116 Market St. with cheddar on roasted an aptly futuristic showplace— “cheesesteak” made from 215-627-1899 potato bread). For a longer his first branded restau- thick-cut portobello mush- franklinfountain.com meal, try its more-formal sister rant. (He has since opened rooms. Brunch (Sat, Sun), Homemade ice cream in flavors restaurant, Fork, next door. B, many locations.) Splurge on

Photo: Visit Philadelphia Visit Photo: L, D daily $$ both familiar (vanilla bean, L daily, D (Tue–Sun) $$ tableside-made tofu, luscious

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 61 toro tartare, and a selection of soups, and salads—largely So Many ’Steaks sake. L (M–F), D daily $$–$$$ locally sourced. Try the sweet potato fries and a signature Zahav BFG (blended fruit and greens) 237 St. James Place smoothie. L, D daily $ o food says “Philly” more than the cheesesteak—a 215-625-8800 mound of shaved meat piled high on a hot bun, N zahavrestaurant.com Le Bus Bakery topped with onions and melted cheese. There’s no In 2019, the James Beard 129 S. 18th St. consensus on who makes the best ’steak, so you’ll probably Foundation christened Philly’s 215-569-8299 have to try them all. favorite Israeli/Middle Eastern lebusbakery.com restaurant the best restaurant Grab a cold drink, a sandwich Geno’s 1219 S. 9th St., 215-389-0659, genosteaks.com: in the country—the first time a (try the tuna or roast beef), a This player in this corner’s famous cheesesteak shack rivalry Philly dining room has snagged chocolate chip cookie to go, (Pat’s is right across the street) is bigger and brighter than and a bench in the square, and its competitors. Few Philadelphians actually believe either the top honors. (Chef Michael you’re all set. Just don’t pro- Geno’s or Pat’s serves the best steak in town, but taste- Solomonov had already won nounce it “le boos.” This Philly testing both is a rite of passage. Open 24 hours. No credit outstanding chef honors in classic began life in 1978 as a cards. B, L, D daily $ 2017.) Even before all the accolades, fans were swearing bakery in an old school bus, so the name is literal—and pro- Jim’s South St. 400 South St., 215-928-1911, by the rich hummus and grilled nounced American-style. jimssouthstreet.com: If it’s past 11 a.m., you can expect a lamb, chicken, and eggplant. B (M–Sat), L daily $ line at this friendlier cousin to South Philly’s famous Pat’s D daily $$ and Geno’s (which was started by the son of Jim’s founder). The Oyster House Bonus: Unlike its competitors, Jim’s has indoor seating and RITTENHOUSE 1516 Sansom St. serves beer. No credit cards. L, D daily $ SQUARE 215-567-7683 oysterhousephilly.com 1237 E. Passyunk Ave., Pat’s King of Steaks Alma de Cuba Just about everything that 215-468-1546, patskingofsteaks.com: Pat’s (arguably) 1623 Walnut St. swims comes in classic prepa- invented the famous Philly cheesesteak in 1930, back when 215-988-1799 rations like crab cakes, grilled it was just a hot dog cart. Now a roadside outdoor eatery, it almadecubarestaurant.com halibut, and smoked fish chow- features service that’s a little nicer than its glitzier rival across Nuevo Latin cuisine—lobster der; the latter includes oysters the street, Geno’s—though don’t worry, it’s still famously ceviche, smoked wahoo tacos, opened by resident shuckers South Philly brusque and impatient. Order one “Whiz wit” sugarcane tuna—served in who’ve been at it for decades. (with Cheez Whiz and onions). Open 24 hours. No credit Rockwell Group–designed L, D (M–Sat) $$–$$$ cards. B, L, D daily $ decor makes for a glamorous night on the town. D daily Tinto $$–$$$ 114 S. 20th St. 215-665-9150 Devil’s Alley tintorestaurant.com 1907 Chestnut St. James Beard Award–winner 215-751-0707 Chef Jose Garces’s cozy devilsalleybarandgrill.com lounge offers delicious This is a casual, popular Rit- Basque-inspired tapas like tenhouse spot for barbecue lamb brochettes and serrano- pulled-pork sliders, ribs, wrapped trout. D daily $$–$$$ smoked Cobb salad, creative burgers, and cold beers. Vernick Food Brunch (Sat, Sun), L, D daily $$ and Drink 2031 Walnut St. Tony Luke’s 39 E. Oregon Ave., 215-892-1010, HipCityVeg 267-639-6644 tonylukes.com: This is neon-lit, no-nonsense, two-handed 127 S. 18th St. vernickphilly.com dining on cheesesteaks and classic Italian sandwiches. Try the 215-278-7605 Greg Vernick opened this nou- roast pork with garlicky broccoli rabe and sharp provolone. hipcityveg.com veau American bistro—leaning B (M–Sat), L, D daily $ • The excellent Asian-inflected surf, but with plenty of turf as vegan fast-food café serves well—in 2012. By 2017, the

meatless burgers, wraps, James Beard Foundation was Philadelphia Visit Photos:

62 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org no-nonsense eatery—opened by Salvatore Marra in the 1920s—and you’ll never eat at Pizza Hut again. The pastas and homemade escarole soup are good, too. L (Tue–Sat), D (Tue–Sun) $$

Ralph’s 760 S. 9th St. 215-627-6011 ralphsrestaurant.com Meatballs and red “gravy” (marinara), chicken Sorrento, Tapas at and unpretentious service are Amada staples at this fifth-generation family trattoria that’s been serving Italian-American food calling him the best chef in and escargot, and romantic of Prosecco and house-made since 1900. L, D daily $$$ the mid-Atlantic. The menu ambience. Brunch (Sat, Sun), gelato. L, D daily $$ changes frequently, but be on L, D (Tue–Sun) $$ Sabrina’s Café the lookout for Atlantic halibut, Xochitl 910 Christian St. savory pear custard, and baked Brauhaus Schmitz 408 S. 2nd St. 215-574-1599 boar lasagna. D (Tue–Sun) 718 South St. 215-238-7280 sabrinascafe.com $$–$$$$ 267-909-8814 xochitlphilly.com The reason folks wait hours for brauhausschmitz.com Distinctive, refined, under- a seat in this pink-and-blue- Village Whiskey Schnitzel, wieners, brats, stated, and cool, the contem- hued BYOB? Must be some- 118 S. 20th St. spätzle, strudel, and 110 kinds porary Mexican fare—shareable thing in the humongous french 215-665-1088 of hearty Belgian and German small-plate dishes, ceviche, toast. They also do good sand- villagewhiskey.com brews make this convivial tacos—and the sleek vibe are wiches and vegan fare. There’s One of Philly’s longest whis- bierhalle the best wurst place refreshingly sophisticated. another branch in the under- key lists is the claim to fame in town. L, D daily $$$ D daily $$ served Fairmount/Art Museum of this popular Rittenhouse area at 1804 Callowhill Street. gastropub from Jose Garces. Famous Fourth SOUTHPHILLY Brunch, B, L daily $$ Come for the spirits, stay for Street Delicatessen ANDBELLAVISTA the Whiskey King burger and 700 S. 4th St. Victor Café duck fat fries that’ll knock you 1303 Dickinson St. 215-922-3274 Dimitri’s off that hard-won barstool. 215-468-3040 famous4thstreetdelicatessen 795 S. 3rd St. They serve until 1 a.m. on Fri- victorcafe.com .com 215-625-0556 days and Saturdays. Brunch Giant veal chops and home- Philly’s most celebrated Jewish dmitrisrestaurant.com (Sat, Sun), L (M–F), D daily $$ made pastas compete for deli since 1923 offers pastrami Seated elbow-to-elbow at fame with this 1933 trattoria’s sandwiches thick as phone this Queen Village BYOB spot, classically trained, opera- SOUTHSTREET books, matzo balls as big as locals dig into Greek delica- ANDSOCIETYHILL singing servers. The Victor is grapefruits, and cannoli cake cies like grilled squid, fried such a classic example of a to die for. Still hungry? B, L, D flounder, and rice pudding. South Philly Italian trattoria it Beau Monde daily $$ No credit cards and no reser- served as the set for Adrian’s, 624 S. 6th St. vations, but worth the wait. 215-592-0656 Pizzeria Stella $$ the retired champ’s restau- D (W–Sun) Rocky Balboa. creperie-beaumonde.com 420 S. 2nd St. rant in 2006’s $$$ Known for its crepes—and the 215-320-8000 Marra’s D daily burlesque and cabaret stage pizzeriastella.net 1734 E. Passyunk Ave. REID BRAMBLETT This cozy spot offers thin-crust upstairs—this pretty, bustling 215-463-9249 is author of From- Bretagne-inspired brasserie pizzas with clever toppings like marrasone.com mer’s Philadel- also serves up lovely salads, black truffle, egg, pesto, and One taste of the sublimely phia Day by Day. French staples like ratatouille pine nuts, plus juice glasses simple brick-oven pizzas at this

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 63 PERSPECTIVES in practice

Story toolkit (bit.ly/AL-Story4), Your Library’s Story produced by the State Library of Pennsylvania and Altoona Area Taking control of the narrative BY Meredith Farkas Public Library, while designed for public libraries, provide valuable tips and tools that any library ike many in our profession, I was dismayed to hear the admin- worker can use to better articulate istration of St. Cloud (Minn.) State University has laid off four their library’s narrative. L tenured faculty librarians as part of its cost-cutting retrenchment Library Snapshot Days can efforts (bit.ly/AL-Story1). Beyond the terrible loss to the library also provide opportunities to tell and university community, what struck me was how the administration stories about your library’s value. selectively used library data to justify its decision—data the library fac- Since the project was started in ulty argued was taken out of context (bit.ly/AL-Story2). Circulation and 2009 to demonstrate the collec- MEREDITH reference transaction data was reported from different time periods and tive value of New Jersey libraries, FARKAS is fac- didn’t reflect the fact that academic librarians have increasingly focused public, academic, and school ulty librarian at on teaching within the curriculum, for example. libraries across the country have Portland (Oreg.) Community The idea that the library data we all collect and share could be used participated in the annual event, College. Follow against us is troubling, and it has left me thinking about how important collecting photos, data, and stories her on Twitter it is that library workers find ways to control the narrative about our own about how patrons use and benefit @librarianmer. value. In an era of shrinking budgets, libraries must find ways to tell our from the library in a single day. stories, which often require us to go beyond simply reporting data. Not This report from Chicago’s DePaul only have the ways that libraries serve their communities changed and University Library in 2016 (bit. ly/ expanded, but it’s become clear that the outputs we usually report are AL-Story5) illustrates some of far less significant than the outcomes—the impact of our collections and the ways a library can capture services on our communities. the richness of what happens At my place of work, we frequently discuss how our statistics don’t during a typical 24-hour period. capture everything we do. While we collect information on how many Library Snapshot Day lets us show classes and individual students we reach with face-to- stakeholders the face instruction, we don’t record or report the online breadth of the research guides we create to support classes, the online Sharing the number of library’s services classes in which librarians are embedded to support and programming and instruct students, the research assignments we reference transactions and how the com- have collaboratively developed with faculty, and the munity benefits librarian-created learning objects that faculty use to we provide each from the library. teach information literacy. If we only gather and report year will never If libraries data that is easy to collect, we leave out so much of the simply report out- valuable work we do. have the emotional puts as we always Beyond numbers, we also need to consider how resonance that real have, we run the to gather and tell stories about how patrons use the risk of someone library and its effect on their lives. We have many ways anecdotes about else dictating our to capture these stories, from surveys, to collecting valuable reference worth. Telling or recording testimonials, to simply taking time to compelling sto- write down meaningful interactions we’ve had with interactions do. ries about what patrons. Sharing the number of reference transactions we do and the we provide each year will never have the emotional impact we have resonance that real anecdotes about valuable reference interactions do. on our communities can bring new It’s through storytelling that library workers can engage their stakehold- patrons into the library and secure ers and help them connect with the library’s message. The State Library funding to ensure we can continue of Iowa’s Telling the Library Story (bit.ly/AL-Story3) and the Library our important work.

64 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org dispatches PERSPECTIVES

contracts or 3D models) to be Understanding Blockchain recorded in the blockchain.

Opportunities for libraries BY Michael Meth Why should libraries care? Some initiatives in libraries are already underway, such as the hether through the news, from excited computer-savvy work being done at the iSchool friends, or over a family dinner, you may have heard of at San José (Calif.) State Univer- Wsuch cryptocurrencies as Bitcoin or Ethereum. These elec- sity, which is looking into how tronic financial currencies have rapidly risen from specula- blockchain can help libraries. As tive digital tokens (once considered untraceable by regulators and with acceptance grows, the library little intrinsic value) to tokens with quasicurrency status community will be and an air of legitimacy. Blockchain is the underlying tech- presented with apps MICHAEL nology that supports cryptocurrencies. One of the reasons based on blockchain METH It is not farfetched is asso- for Bitcoin’s success is its use of the distributed ledger— technology. Some ciate dean for shared, synchronized data spread across multiple nodes. will be developed research and to imagine apps learning ser- Blockchain bears a resemblance to a concept that that will run some by libraries for vices at Florida many librarians are familiar with: LOCKSS (lockss.org). libraries, and others State University LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) is a digital pres- background will come from com- Libraries in ervation initiative started by Stanford University Libraries mercial vendors. Tallahassee. in 1999. Both LOCKSS and blockchain are decentralized, library processes. It is not farfetched distributed computing protocols that are designed to pro- to imagine apps vide access to digital content and ensure its integrity. that will run some background library processes, as What exactly is blockchain? well as forward-facing services. Blockchain technology links blocks of data sequentially in a distributed Perhaps blockchain will be used ledger. Each block holds a wide variety of content, including its own to secure user records in libraries, unique identifier, or “hash,” that identifies and links it to all blocks document library acquisitions, and preceding and following it. In a traditional ledger, one might record improve collections maintenance. amounts, parties involved, time of transaction, and other pertinent infor- Applications for special collections mation. The distributed ledger takes this information, places it online, could allow for identification and and distributes identical copies of the ledger to all the computers in the discovery of unique holdings. The system, thereby ensuring that validated copies exist in multiple places. scholarly record is another use Once the blocks are created, they ensure that a time-stamped, immutable case that lends itself to blockchain record of the content exists. by allowing researchers to record An important component of blockchain is the use of private and public and timestamp their ideas and keys, an encrypted authentication mechanism that ensures the privacy of disseminate knowledge. participants. Users can authenticate by making use of a private key that Libraries have a major oppor- is known only to them. The verified authentication creates a public key, tunity to use blockchain technol- which is then associated with a transaction. The public key cannot be ogy to advance privacy for users, reverse engineered to the private key, thus ensuring privacy. increase collaboration, and trans- In practice, the data in the blocks can be queried and analyzed form the way they work with each because only the public key is recorded along with each block. The other and their communities. By amount that can be encoded in a block is limited for now. As the tech- keeping up to date, libraries can nology evolves, it will be possible to attach more complex data and such evaluate opportunities and make file formats as PDF, image, audio, video, or other file types that have not the best use of this technology. been previously associated with blockchain. This will be an important Adapted from “Blockchain in component for libraries, allowing for the preservation and authenti- Libraries,” Library Technology cation of digital artifacts and surrogates of physical objects (such as Reports vol. 55, no. 8 (Nov. 2019).

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 65 PERSPECTIVES youth matters

and stick props. Additionally, try Making Room for Inclusion using sensory integration equipment such as a tactile balance Create an accommodating environment when beam, sensory stepping stones, sensory programs may not be possible BY Tricia Bohanon sensory beanbags, TheraBands, and textured balls. Other sensory- friendly items that may provide or a decade, I have led sensory storytime programs at libraries accommodations include weighted in North Carolina and Ohio and trained many staffers across the snakes and blankets, fidget toys, Fcountry in this specialized service. But one theme recurs: Atten- or noise-dampening headphones. dance at these programs is hit or miss. Adaptive technology, such as Despite interest from the communities I have served, numbers have the speech-generating device been consistently low. Usually one to two families attend the monthly BIGmack, can allow a nonverbal program. Recently, Akron–Summit County (Ohio) Public Library, where person to participate. TRICIA I work, made the decision to discontinue these storytimes. Adding a social period or BOHANON When sensory programming may not be feasible— playtime directly is librarian at Akron–Summit whether because of low attendance, inadequate staffing, after your program County (Ohio) or lack of administrative support—we can take steps in We can practice has value for all Public Library. all programming to create a welcoming environment for involved. This time She received those with different abilities. In doing so, we are practicing inclusion despite allows parents to the Autism inclusion despite an absence of dedicated programs for connect with one Society of an absence of North Caro- these families. another, children to lina’s Autism The first step, I tell staffers, is simply to be aware of programs for practice their social Professional of and respond to differently abled individuals. At storytime, differently abled skills, and staffers to the Year Award that may mean not insisting everyone sit down during act as a resource for in 2010. Email: reading or stand up during dancing, instead allowing individuals. families and put a btricia_@ individuals to take in the event however they choose. It friendly face on the hotmail.com. may also require recognizing that some participants might library. not return eye contact or give verbal responses or cues, Finally, marketing as some peers would in the same situation. It’s critical to respect these and networking are important differences and understand that individuals absorb information in a parts of assuring the families variety of ways. we are trying to attract that we We can also take measures to ensure that our programming meets are working to create an inclu- many different needs. Using a visual schedule board helps participants sive atmosphere. Libraries have know what is happening next, reducing anxiety and providing comfort been historically viewed as quiet as it displays which activities are upcoming and how long the program places, so let your users know that will last. Making efforts to reduce distractions in the programming room attitudes have changed and that can improve focus, as can offering adaptive seating—sitting wedges, stigma is not representative of Educube chairs, or at minimum, an area defined by carpet squares. Read- today’s libraries. The responsibility ing a book while sharing the story on a flannel board, or doing a second falls on us to show our community reading to repeat the story, can enrich the literacy experience. that all abilities are welcome and Another way to be more inclusive is to relax programming age served and that we are proactively restrictions to “family” or “all ages” so that individuals who are develop- adding elements to foster an easy mentally outside their physical age can attend and enjoy. Also consider and pleasant experience for every- limiting registration numbers. Having smaller, more manageable one who enters our doors. program sizes welcomes those for whom a large number of noisy, active Adapted from “Bringing Elements participants would be overwhelming. of Sensory Programming into All Many of us may already incorporate motor-skills exercises in programs Programs” (ALSC Blog, Oct. 2, via hands-on activities with objects such as beanbags, felt pieces, scarves, 2019).

66 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org on my mind PERSPECTIVES

which I was an advisor) noted a Get with the Programming distinct lack of training for professionals who develop programs. How can library training evolve to The assessment, funded by a grant prepare programming librarians? BY Terrilyn Chun from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, collected data from libraries across the country houghts of libraries tend to bring to mind images of books and and identified core competencies reading, but the trends tell another story: Circulation in public required for professionals working Tlibraries is decreasing while public programs are growing in prom- with library programming, such inence, according to the 2017 Public Library Data Service report. as event planning, marketing, and I’ve witnessed the long arc of this trend in action over 20 years spent devel- financial skills. oping public programs—an expertise I gained prior to earning my MLS. It didn’t surprise me to learn My first job at Multnomah County (Oreg.) Library (MCL) was in public that only half of degreed librarians TERRILYN CHUN relations, which involved writing and editing news releases, brochures, were formally trained on pro- is deputy direc- and fliers and, increasingly, planning programs and events. An oper- gramming competencies in their tor of Multnomah ating levy, passed when I was a few years into the job, brought a wave master’s programs; others learned County (Oreg.) Library, and of construction, renovations, and expanded public program offerings. from colleagues, by trial and error, served as an New programming and event responsibilities fell to public relations staff or through outside work. advisor to the rather than credentialed librarians. After all, public programming skills Like most of the libraries that National Impact are among the least taught in MLS programs. were part of the project, which of Library These predegree experiences opened my eyes to the value of library also encompassed small, rural, and Public Programs Assessment with programming. Public programs help fulfill fundamental human needs for academic libraries, MCL prioritizes the American community, connection, and entertainment, and they can often mitigate programming as a core library ser- Library Associa- barriers like language or reading ability. They offer a chance to take a vice. We book an average of 1,000 tion’s Public break and do something fun, like try a hobby or craft or gain a techno- programs per month throughout Programs Office. logical skill. Like other library services, programs are free and open to our system, and programs drew all—an especially important fact for lower-income patrons who rely on more than 214,000 attendees in the library for information and educational and job-seeking resources. fiscal year 2019. We maintain a The scope of the practicalities surrounding programming is immense, database with more than 3,000 and I faced a steep learning curve on the job. I learned how to source and presenters and 3,600 programs. vet performers and presenters, negotiate fees, and create Leaders in library professional services contracts. I also figured out where education must give to rent tables and chairs, how to set up and troubleshoot Only half of serious attention to sound systems, and when to apply for city permits for street determining which closures. I created and managed budgets and timelines. degreed librarians of the competencies I also applied softer skills as I designed programs that gain programming identified in the would resonate with my community. I leaned on my com- NILPPA report are munications background as I wrote program descriptions, experience in their best taught as part marketing materials, grant applications, and funding master’s programs. of a degree program proposals. When creating partnership agreements for and which are more joint programs, such as preview performances with the suited to on-the-job Portland Opera, I exercised diplomacy and balanced the training or continu- interests of multiple stakeholders. ing education. As libraries become These positive experiences and professional growth opportunities more dynamic centers of com- eventually led me to library school, where formal training in program- munity and activity, LIS curricula ming competencies was limited to students in a youth services track. must evolve to prepare library My experience isn’t unique. The American Library Association’s professionals to lead these efforts National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment (NILPPA, of through public programming.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 67 PERSPECTIVES librarian’s library

Digital Strategies for Librarians Guides for managing patrons’ evolving tech needs

ANNA GOODING- CALL is reference and technology librarian at Your Technology Outreach Information Literacy Power Searching Nevins Memo- Adventure: Tools for and Libraries in the the Internet: The rial Library in Methuen, Human-Centered Age of Fake News Librarian’s Quick Guide Massachusetts. Problem Solving By Denise E. Agosto, editor By Nicole Hennig By Erin Berman This collection of essays does Centered firmly on the practical, This title will guide professionals an outstanding job presenting Power Searching compresses in exploring computer-focused multiple philosophies, strategies, valuable information into a slim library programming. While it and viewpoints on the problem volume on the use of popular provides good examples of tech of digital disinformation. Unlike platforms like Twitter and espe- programs that benefit from out- the titular fake news, these short cially Google as search resources. reach, the bulk of the book deals pieces are uniformly researched, A particularly good resource for with group planning and design. well sourced, and invested with librarians who educate patrons These are often applicable to any extensive bibliographies. Several about search habits, it reveals program series or project where stand in stark contrast to their new sides to services that many planning happens in commit- subject as pieces that argue a people already know about. Its tee. Conference planners and point well without skirting facts. weakness is that it’s a physical professionals staging library- Topics range from strategies to book in a digital world. Some wide events may find its insights help patrons develop critical- of its advice, such as that about particularly useful. In addition thinking skills to the history of Google+, is already out of to well-outlined brainstorming yellow journalism. The bibliog- date. Even so, its pointers are strategies, Berman details meth- raphies for each essay contain professionally valuable, clearly ods for transforming plans into a wealth of further reading and conveyed, and worth its price. effective programs while main- possible foundations for thesis Libraries Unlimited, 2018. 103 p. $35. PBK. taining a spirit of cooperation and research papers. Libraries 978-1-4408-6697-5. (Also available as among organizers. ALA Editions, Unlimited, 2018. 184 p. $65. PBK. an ebook.) 2019. 208 p. $54.99. PBK. 978-0-8389- 978- 1-4408-6418-6. (Also available as 1778-7. (Also available as an ebook.) an ebook.)

68 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org PERSPECTIVES

BY Anna Gooding-Call

New Top Technologies Power Up Your Read- Tech-Savvy Reading Every Librarian Needs Alouds: Building Promotion: A Toolbox to Know: A LITA Guide Reading Excitement for Librarians and By Kenneth J. Varnum through Technology Other Educators Varnum’s 2014 Top Technologies By Andrea Paganelli By Nancy J. Keane Every Librarian Needs to Know It’s safe to say that many Stuffed with helpful advice on gets a follow-up in this collec- librarians still aren’t completely online tools, this title focuses on tion of essays about emerging aware of transmedia, the digitally empowering librarians to locate technologies. While professionals integrated storytelling strategy and create digital media. The comfortable with the “internet of that makes books and storytimes plethora of (mostly free or free- things” and HTML5 will feel right interactive. This book rep- mium) resources encompasses at home, the book is a worth- resents a valuable self-education every format from infograph- while look into the near future. It opportunity for any program- ics to virtual reality. Bulleted is solutions-oriented and positive ming librarian, regardless of sublists help break down usage when it addresses problems specialty. It even provides sample instructions into comprehensible like privacy and link rot. Each program-ready storytime plans. chunks. Divided by category, well-cited essay includes a Despite its tech focus, much of the book explains each media bibliography, and a thorough this book’s advice for tailoring type’s definition and potential index completes the entire work. storytimes to specific audiences usage. However, handholding is Like its predecessor, this book could apply to a traditional, minimal; it’s meant for librarians is likely to be relevant for about nondigital storytime. All in all, who are already social-media five years, during which time it a strong choice for a brand-new aware. Any title about web pages will be extremely useful. Highly children’s librarian or LIS stu- is vulnerable to link death, and recommended. ALA Editions, 2019. dent. Libraries Unlimited, 2019. 150 p. this one is no exception. For now, 304 p. $70. PBK. 978-0-8389-1782-4. $45. PBK. 978-1-4408-6520-6. (Also enjoy this indispensable work, (Also available as an ebook.) available as an ebook.) and look for future updates. Libraries Unlimited, 2019. 166 p. $50. PBK. 978-1-4408-6850-4. (Also available as an ebook.)

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 69 Michigan State Univer- ON THE MOVE sity in East Lansing promoted Joseph Salem Mark Coulbourne began as preservation to dean of university librarian at University of Maryland, Col- In September, the Chicago libraries September 10. lege Park, October 14. Botanic Garden’s Lenhardt Library in Glencoe, Illinois, Clarkson University in Potsdam, New September 1 Stephanie York, promoted Michelle Young to dean received the American Institute of De Leon became digital of libraries September 18. Conservation’s 2019 Ross Merrill resource professional Award for Outstanding Commit- at Lone Star College– ment to the Preservation and Care University Park Digital RETIREMENTS Library in Houston. of Collections. Nancy E. Gwinn, The Geoscience Information director of the Smith- In July Diane Dias De Fazio was sonian Libraries in Washington, D.C., Society recognized Clara McLeod, appointed curator of rare books and retired in December. earth and planetary sciences book arts in Special Collections at Uni- versity of Iowa Libraries in Iowa City. librarian at Washington University Christine Lind Hage, director of Roch- in St. Louis, with its Mary B. Ansari ester Hills (Mich.) Public Library and Joni Floyd became curator for Maryland Distinguished Service Award at its former president of the Public Library and Historical Collections at University annual meeting September 24. • Association (PLA) and United for of Maryland, College Park, Libraries Libraries, retired December 1. September 16. October 31 Stephen M. Hayes retired as October 7 Brock J. Hutchison started as Kim Olson-Charles Entrepreneurial Spirit Endowed Busi- director of Louisville (Ky.) Public Library. became head of library ness Librarian at University of Notre public services at Univer- Dame (Ind.) Hesburgh Libraries. Kana Jenkins joined University of sity of Western States in Robin Nesbitt, manager of Columbus Maryland, College Park, as curator of Portland, Oregon, Octo- (Ohio) Metropolitan Library’s Hilliard the Gordon W. Prange Collection and ber 7. branch, retired August 30. librarian for East Asian Studies Septem- Margarita Shawcross ber 15. In August became health sciences librarian at University of Janet Tapper retired as dean of library services Yan “Grace” Liu was named business Northern Colorado in Greeley. at University of West- librarian at West Chester (Pa.) Univer- ern States in Portland, sity August 26. Oregon, October 31. PROMOTIONS Ron McColl became special collections Mary Augusta Thomas, deputy director August 15 Idaho Com- librarian at West Chester (Pa.) Univer- at the Smithsonian Libraries in Wash- mission for Libraries in sity August 26. ington, D.C., and a member of the ALA Boise promoted Steph- Publishing Committee for five years, anie Bailey-White to Juliane Morian was retired in September. named director state librarian. of Rochester Hills July 12 Tanner Wray retired as director University of Western States in Portland, (Mich.) Public Library of library and information services at Oregon, promoted Stephanie Debner to in December. Montgomery College in Germantown, university librarian October 1. Rockville, and Takoma Park, Maryland. November 15 Elaina Washington-Centerville (Ohio) Public Norlin joined the Asso- Library promoted Elizabeth Fultz to ciation of Southeastern director October 7. AT ALA Research Libraries in Atlanta as program coor- Columbus (Ohio) Metropolitan Library Nick Aleck joined the Information Tech- dinator for professional promoted Amy McLanahan to manager nology department as user experience development. of its Hilliard branch September 1. manager October 28.

70 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org SUBMISSIONS Send notices and photographs to Amy Carlton, [email protected].

MORE ONLINE americanlibrariesmagazine.org/currents

Helen Cline, 87, managing editor for the American Library books and more than 40 professional articles, and he pre- Association’s (ALA) Books and Publishing Services from sented his research at many international conferences. After 1968 until her 1991 retirement, died October 9. After retir- retirement, he volunteered as an archivist at Metropolitan ing, she lived in Hennessey, Oklahoma, where she founded Community Church in Austin. the Friends of the Hennessey Library. Rose E. Mosley, 80, a member of the Maywood (Ill.) Public Emily England Clyburn, 80, a longtime school and Veterans Library Board for 36 years, died September 10. Mosley was Administration librarian in South Carolina until her 1994 a member of the Illinois Library Trustee Forum starting in retirement, died September 19. She served as a librarian 1990 and held at various times the offices of secretary, vice at W. G. Sanders Middle School in Columbia, Charleston president, and president. The Illinois Library Association Naval Academy, Simonton Elementary School and Burke awarded her its Outstanding Trustee Award and Citation in High School in Charleston, and at the Veterans Administra- 1998. Mosley was a longtime ALA member and was one of tion Hospital in Columbia. She was married to US Rep. Jim the advocates for the merger of the Association for Library Clyburn and used that position to raise tens of thousands of Trustees and Advocates with Friends of Libraries USA. In dollars to help students afford college. South Carolina State 2009, she became the 2009–2010 president of the merged University awarded her an honorary doctorate in 2010. organization, now known as United for Libraries. Sylvia Darlene Kuhlmeier, 60, died June 28. She worked as Bill Ptacek, 69, Calgary (Alberta) Public Library a librarian at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and CEO since 2014, died October 15. During as library director at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, and his tenure, the library built 12 early learning Missouri State University in West Plains. centers across the city and opened two new Willis Bernard “Bill” Lukenbill, 80, professor emeritus at locations and a new Central Library. Calgary University of Texas (UT) at Austin School of Information, named him as its 2018 Citizen of the Year, and died August 29. He taught library and information science the Urban Libraries Council awarded him the 2019 Executive at University of Maryland, College Park, 1972–1975 before Board Award. Prior to joining Calgary Public Library, Ptacek joining UT in 1976; he retired in 2010. Lukenbill wrote eight was director of King County (Wash.) Library System. •

The Public Policy and Advocacy Office Megan Dougherty, program officer for Hannah Murphy joined ALA Publishing (PPAO) promoted Gavin Baker to continuing education for the Association as administrative assistant for eLearning deputy director, public policy and gov- for Library Collections and Technical Ser- Solutions October 28. ernment relations, September 13. vices (ALCTS), left ALA September 13. PPAO promoted Megan Ortegon to Booklist Heather Booth joined as audio The Association for Library Service assistant director of public policy and editor October 28. to Children named Jordan Dubin as strategic initiatives September 13. awards coordinator October 21. Deborah Caldwell-Stone was pro- Kathy Rosa, director of the ALA Library moted to director of the Office for Tom Ferren was promoted to program and Research Center, retired October 1. Intellectual Freedom and executive officer for continuing education with director for the Freedom to Read Foun- Chrishelle Thomas joined the Library dation October 24. ALCTS October 25. and Information Technology Association Will Clifft, PPAO public policy associ- Ryan LaFollette, assistant director of as membership and marketing manager ate, left ALA September 13. major gifts in the Development Office, September 9. left ALA September 13. Megan Cusick was promoted to assis- September 13 PPAO promoted Emily tant director for state advocacy in October 28 Mark Leon, chief financial Wagner to deputy director of advocacy PPAO September 13. officer, left ALA. communications.

americanlibraries.org|January/February 2020 71 the BOOKEND

Medical Marvels nexpectedly finding a skeleton lounging in her office General Hospital in 1869. For unknown reasons, a physician doesn’t rattle Beth M. Lander, college librarian at the removed skin from Lynch’s thigh during her autopsy and UHistorical Medical Library of the College of Physi- used it to bind rare books on women’s health and repro- cians of Philadelphia. duction printed between 1601 and 1797. Lander says these “That’s an excellent example of what it is like to work are her favorite books in the collection. here,” she says. “You never know what might happen next.” “I’m very protective of Mary,” Lander says. “She lacked The college shares its library with the Mütter Museum, an agency in her life. Her immigrant status and gender would institution known for its macabre medical materials, which have placed her near the lowest rung of society at that time.” span centuries. Sometimes those artifacts find their way Lander does not consider the books morbid curiosities. into the hands of playful coworkers, so keeping an upbeat “As with the other specimens in the museum, the Lynch attitude is essential, Lander says. books are not freakish,” she explains. “They represent The library holds more than 146,000 journals, mono- a point in time in the history of medicine, as well as a graphs, photos, manuscripts, and other medical ephemera perspective that physicians had toward the human body. documenting more than 1,000 years of medical history. It Those perspectives continue to inform us today.” also has five books bound in human skin—the largest such collection in the US. Three are bound in the skin of 28-year- THE BOOKEND showcases librarians, their work, and their work old Irish immigrant Mary Lynch, who died at Philadelphia spaces. For consideration, email [email protected]. Photos: Kriston Bethel Kriston Photos:

72 January/February 2020|americanlibraries.org Connectrac In-Carpet Wireway FREEDOM TO MOVE YOUR PROJECT FORWARD

The Connectrac® In-Carpet Wireway delivers power and data with an elegant and flexible, floor-based cable management solution unlike complicated and expensive methods such as core drilling, trenching or power poles. Our ultra-low profile wireway integrates with any furniture and can be moved or reconfigured as environments evolve.

1.877.357.7183 PowerUpLibrary4U.com #TheLibraryLife’s Next Stop…

#PLA2020 IN

Home of Country Music, Hot Chicken, & Ingram. We Are Ready to Welcome Y’all to Music City!

Two-step to Booth 1123 to lasso library swag, #social opp, support, & solutions.

Your Mission. Our Purpose. #TheLibraryLife

Meet Your Reclaim Build Your Best Patrons’ Needs. Your Time. Collection. Our Reliable Service. Our Flexible Tools. Our Complimentary Curation.

ingramcontent.com/pla