AL Direct, August 3, 2011 Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Division News Awards Seen Online Tech Talk E-Content Books and Reading The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | August 3, 2011 Actions & Answers New This Week Calendar American Libraries Online Third time is the charm for Troy “This is one of the best days I’ve had in two years!” exulted Cathleen Russ, director of Troy (Mich.) Public Library, the morning after some 58% of voters saved the library from closing permanently by approving a five-year operating millage. The August 2 special election was the third library referendum held there in the past few years; voters had rejected the previous measures, albeit by narrower margins the second time around. The outcome had remained uncertain until the final returns late in the day.... American Libraries news, Aug. 3; Detroit News, Aug. 3; Troy (Mich.) Patch, Aug. 2 Missouri high school bans Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and Sarah Ockler’s YA novel Twenty Boy Summer have been banned from a Missouri high school curriculum and library after a local resident complained that they teach principles contrary to the Bible. The Republic High School board voted 4–0 July 26 to remove the books, although they chose to retain Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, which had also been challenged by Wesley Scroggins, an associate professor at Missouri State University. Ockler responded to the decision in a blog post.... AL: Censorship Watch, Aug. 3; Sarah Ockler, Author, July 26 The case for graphic novels in education Jesse Karp writes: “Perhaps we’re past the point of having to explain that graphic novels, with their knack for attracting reluctant readers and hitting developmental sweet spots, have a legitimate place on library shelves. Perhaps. But what about the idea that graphic novels encompass such a wide range of themes and create such layered experiences through word and art that they http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/august/080311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:07:28 PM] AL Direct, August 3, 2011 actually belong in classrooms? I contend that the format offers great opportunities to teach as well as to entertain.”... American Libraries feature Next Steps: A pioneer evolves Brian Mathews writes: “Andrew Carnegie had a radical idea. In 1895 when he developed the public library complex in Pittsburgh, it included swimming pools, music halls, art galleries, and a natural history museum. He wanted to ensure that his mill workers and their families had easy access to excellent cultural assets. The original building still stands today. However, what’s pioneering in one century is not necessarily compatible with the next. As libraries have evolved, these legacy spaces do not always promote the free flow of information.”... American Libraries column, July/Aug. Cleaning up after water damage Q. Recent thunderstorms have caused flash floods and some of our library regulars are asking about salvage of wet books. What can I tell them? A. I’m going to address your question from two perspectives. First, what should an individual be doing? And second, what should a library be doing? The information in Tips for Salvaging Water- Damaged Valuables by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and Heritage Preservation is designed for individuals.... AL: Ask the ALA Librarian, Aug. 3 Currents On June 1, Scott Mandernack (right) was appointed associate dean for scholarly resources and collections at Marquette University Libraries in Milwaukee. Nancy Bennett retired May 19 as manager of the South County Regional Branch of the Camden County (N.J.) Library System. John Kallenberg, 69, died July 4 after battling cancer for several months; he was head of the Fresno County (Calif.) Public Library from 1976 to 2003.... American Libraries column Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn: It’s difficult enough to keep abreast of social media websites, let ALA News alone understand how they fit into today’s library. Laura Why we need free public libraries more than ever Solomon’s new Doing ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels writes: “As a former head Social Media So It of the state library agency in Massachusetts and a taxpayer myself, I Matters: A read with interest the recent Atlantic editorial in which an elected Librarian’s Guide official from Swampscott, Massachusetts, proposed public library user brings together current fees as a reasonable and ‘modern’ solution to some perceived information on the imbalance. Under this proposal, a 50-cent user fee would be added to topic in a concise each book circulated by the library. The fact is: This would be the format that’s easy to costliest additional revenue ever generated. The reasons for this are digest. NEW! From twofold.”... http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/august/080311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:07:28 PM] AL Direct, August 3, 2011 ALA Editions. The Atlantic, July 21, 27 Top 10 reasons to contact your legislators in August It’s almost time for District Days, the weeks when congressional New this week representatives are on recess and are able to return to their home in American districts. This year, the break is from August 8 to September 5. Libraries During this time, representatives often hold town hall meetings, office hours, and meet with a variety of constituents to get their perspectives on current issues. Here are the top 10 reasons librarians should reach out to them during District Days. (And the Washington Office has some advice for town halls.)... YALSA Blog, Aug. 3; District Dispatch, Aug. 3 Summer vacation @ your library As August hits and the temperature rises, the place to spend quality family time and cool off is @ your library. Encourage parents in your community to check out ALA’s new Connect with your kids @ your library Family Activity Guide. The guide offers additional ideas on how The Case for parents can spend quality time with their kids this summer using the Graphic Novels in resources at your library. Here are a few examples of what libraries Education are doing to create cost-effective and entertaining family programs for library users this summer.... Next Steps Public Information Office, Aug. 2 Censorship Watch ARSL conference on rural and small libraries Join library staff, trustees, and volunteers from small and rural Currents libraries across the country as they gather for the 2011 Association for Rural and Small Libraries annual conference in Frisco, Texas. The Perpetual Beta conference will be held September 8–11 at the Dallas-Frisco Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center.... Inside Scoop Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, Aug. 2 Ask the ALA Educate your staff on copyright Librarian ALA Editions has announced a new facilitated eCourse, “Demystifying Copyright: How to Educate Your Staff Solutions and and Community.” Lesley Ellen Harris (right), a Services copyright, licensing, and digital-property lawyer who works with the information industry, will serve as AL Focus instructor for this four-week course, which begins on September 12. She will guide you step by step through developing a copyright education program for your staff and community.... Great Libraries ALA Editions, Aug. 2 of the World Small businesses and public libraries as partners Aligning with current difficult economic times, Small Business and the Public Library: Strategies for a Successful Partnership, published by ALA Editions, helps libraries assist users entering or already involved in the small-business community. Authors Luise Weiss, Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, and Elizabeth Malafi are public librarians who have incorporated Monastery of San small business services within their library. In their Francisco Library, book they point the way to addressing the needs of job seekers, and Lima, Peru. The library those starting or operating their own businesses.... of this 17th-century ALA Editions, Aug. 2 Franciscan monastery houses more than First RDA vocabularies published 20,000 books and http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2011/august/080311-2.htm[7/17/2014 3:07:28 PM] AL Direct, August 3, 2011 The Joint Steering Committee for Development of RDA, the DCMI/RDA manuscripts from the Task Group, and ALA Publishing (on behalf of the copublishers of 15th–18th centuries RDA) have announced that the first group of RDA controlled resting on beautiful vocabularies have been reviewed, approved, and their status in the hardwood shelves. Open Metadata Registry changed to “published.”... RDA Toolkit blog, Aug. 1 Featured review: Movies and television Admont Abbey Library, Admont, Orlean, Susan. Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Austria. The ornate Legend. Oct. 2011. 288p. Simon & Schuster, library hall of this hardcover (978-1-4391-9013-5). 11th-century Rin Tin Tin, the smart, athletic German Benedictine abbey was shepherd who became “the archetypal dog built in 1776 by hero,” was born on a battlefield in France in architect Josef Hueber. 1918 and rescued by Lee Duncan, an It is the largest American soldier. Duncan, whose love for monastery library in animals was rooted in a childhood of the world. Its white- abandonment, brought Rin Tin Tin to California, where diligent and-gold bookcases training, talent, and luck turned “Rinty” into a universally are filled with 70,000 beloved movie star. The Rin Tin Tin character lived on after the rare printed works. original dog’s death in 1932 (the world mourned) as Duncan, More than 7,000 utterly devoted to his creation, worked with a series of diamond-shaped German shepherds to keep Rin Tin Tin in the movies and on flagstones of white, television for nearly four more decades. In her first from- red, and gray marble scratch investigative book since The Orchid Thief (1999), New are cleverly arranged Yorker staff writer Orlean incisively chronicles every facet of in geometric patterns the never-before-told, surprisingly consequential, and roller- so that they can be coaster–like Rin Tin Tin saga...