cognotes 2015 annual

highlights Edition

San Francisco, CA use the tag #alaac15 American Library Association Closing Session: Grand Ending to a Great Conference By Steve Zalusky presidents. Feldman announced “Libraries Trans- he American Library Association held form,” a new, multiyear public awareness the “last waltz” for its 2015 Annual campaign. The campaign’s ultimate goal TConference & Exhibition in San is to increase funding support for libraries Francisco, with a Closing General Session and advance information policy issues in on June 30 that featured Rock and Roll Hall alignment with ALA’s strategic advocacy of Famer Robbie Robertson and Caldecott goals. She also announced the website, www. Medal Honor winner David Shannon (No, librariestransform.org. David!). Feldman then interviewed Robertson and Prior to their appearance, 2014-2015 Shannon about their new book, Hiawatha ALA President Courtney L. Young passed and the Peacemaker. Sarah Lewis the gavel to 2015-2016 ALA President Sari The book tells the story of the strong and Feldman and introduced the new division » see page 15 Sarah Lewis Explores Creativity, Inspiration, Mastery in President’s Program

By Brad Martin, LAC Group examples of artists, inventors, and writers to illustrate the importance of “private domains arah Lewis began her remarks on June and the function they serve for thought, cre- 28 by saying that it was “an honor to ativity, and justice.” Sbe in this room” and ended by stat- Lewis said her grandfather, Shadrach Em- ing that addressing the ALA audience was an manuel Lee, was the inspiration for the book even greater privilege than writing her book she would later write. Being told at a young The Rise. age by a teacher that black people were not in Lewis has served on President Obama’s Arts history books because they had not contrib- Policy Committee and is a Du Bois Fellow at uted anything, Lee was not frightened by the Harvard University. She has also been selected prospect of failure and went on to become a for O, The Oprah Magazine’s Power List. painter and jazz musician. Lewis recalled visits In her talk, Lewis explored themes in The to his house as a child, where she would see The Band’s Robbie Robertson (left) and illustrator David Shannon share a Rise, which she said is about “the unlikely his art – and the small room that provided the laugh while discussing their book Hiawatha and the Peacemaker during the foundations of creative behavior,” and used » see page 12 Closing Session.

2015 annual conference HIGHLIGHTS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi recognizes the efforts of Roberta A. Kaplan after the Opening General Session June 26. (See story and video on page 4). •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE

Looking Forward to Seeing You in Boston Next January I hope you enjoyed the energetic Annual Conference in beautiful San Francisco as much as I did, and came away with new ideas, strategies, and tools for helping our libraries stay future-focused. The number of inspiring events, sessions, programs, exhibit- floor activities, and networking opportunities seems to grow every year, and I was impressed by the many ideas and resources that we can readily implement when we return home. Thank you all for your hard work, creativity, and active participation.

A personal highlight for me was being inaugurated as the 2015-16 ALA President at the brunch event on Tuesday. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on what I hope to accomplish during my presidential year and to introduce “Libraries Transform,” a new, multi-year public awareness campaign (see video on page 5). The campaign’s ultimate goal is to increase funding support for libraries and advance information policy issues in alignment with ALA’s strategic advocacy goals. Our profession needs to share a consistent message about libraries today – that they are less about what they have for people, more about what they do for and with people. This campaign is designed to shift general perceptions of libraries from “obsolete” or “nice to have” to essential. You can find out more about the campaign and share your

ALA President Sari Feldman perspective about the ways in which libraries transform at www.librariestransform.org.

ALA’s success is dependent upon your active engagement, so we are already looking forward to building on that engagement at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston. Keep an eye out for announcements about exciting speakers, authors, and thought leaders who will join us there. We will also offer 18 new format “deep dive” workshops in addition to the hundreds of discussions and sessions on timely topics, pre-Midwinter Institutes, exciting book award announcements, and exceptional networking opportunities. The Exhibit Floor will again be buzzing with events, authors, and more than 450 exhibitors showing off the latest technologies, titles, and more.

Save the date for the 2016 Midwinter Meeting, January 8 – 12, 2016, in Boston (note the earlier-than-usual dates!), and then for the Annual Conference June 23 – 28, 2016, in Orlando, where you will find a renovated, tight conference “campus,” plentiful new transportation options, and affordable room rates. Book early to be sure you get the discounted early-bird registration rates for both events. (Bundle registration opens September 9, Midwinter-only registration October 1, and Annual-only registration January 19).

I look forward to seeing you there, and, in the meantime, here’s to our ongoing shared work in helping libraries transform.

Manzano Stresses Reading, Empathy, Understanding

By Kacee Anderson, Harmony Science Academy writing about my life’s issues as they happened in the South Bronx. Becoming Maria is a result ations. “I didn’t become Maria on “Sesame to me on ‘Sesame Street.’” Sadly, Manzano’s of Manzano’s examination of her journey to Street” in spite of my childhood, I became onia Manzano, writer and Emmy time with the show has come to an end – she “Sesame Street.” It is the story of her life as Maria on “Sesame Street” because of my child- Award-winning actress best known for announced during her presentation that she is a young Puerto Rican girl who was born in hood.” Maria was not just a fictitious char- Sher years on “Sesame Street,” wrapped retiring from the show – but she will undoubt- Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. Her par- acter, as Manzano simply had to be herself. up the Auditorium Speaker series June 29. edly continue to have a strong influence on ents struggled with the system, with speaking While portraying Maria, Manzano imagined Manzano opened her session with a montage young learners for years to come. English, and with each other. The struggle, a little girl in a destructive household watching of “Sesame Street” clips from throughout Manzano focused her discussion on her or “la lucha,” was an everyday occurrence in her on television in the same way she watched her 45 years with the show. “I really enjoyed latest book Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos her household. Due to this struggle and her characters on television as a child. “My charac- father’s violence, Man- ter Maria has mirrored my experience. I think

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• zano said, “I looked to of it as the first reality show.” ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• television to find sanc- One of Manzano’s areas of focus in writing tuary, to find order, to and acting on “Sesame Street” was to help find comfort.” children to reflect on other people’s lives. With true children’s Manzano stressed that, “Young people who storyteller enthusiasm, grow up to be empathetic adults will create a Manzano read an ex- more passionate world,” noting that the only cerpt from her mem- frontier where that’s possible is in books. Man- oir describing the time zano referenced Katherine Applegate’s The when her 4th grade One and Only Ivan. We’re afraid of showing teacher took her to see kids a sad book, but that’s a way of connect- West Side Story. “I could ing with people in other situations. “Telling separate myself from kids repeatedly to be nice is nothing, unless the turmoil. There was it’s coupled with empathy.” more to life than this During the question-and-answer segment, struggle.” Manzano praised librarians and teachers who Manzano’s success are able to offer books to children for the with the show helped simple pleasure of reading. In today’s data- her to understand her obsessed world, Manzano stated, “Reading past and reach out to books is the only time when right answers •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• children in similar situ- are not required.” 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 3 Danticat’s Book Reveals Hard Truths in Plain Ways By Barbara Flohr, Student to ALA books, and then the librarians informed her “We want them back.” dwidge Danticat was thrilled to be In Mama’s Nightingale, Danticat set holding the hard copy of her latest out to “tell hard truths in plain ways.” She Ebook, Mama’s Nightingale: A Story has known many families who have gone of Immigration and Separation, for the first through arduous journeys when on the path time on Monday, June 29, during the Au- to immigration and wanted to tell a story ditorium Speakers Series. of hope, but also the true despair that these This book has brought about a rebirth families felt as well. Her hopes in writing for her as an author and was shaped by her the book are to allow for: realization that own experiences with immigration. Dan- people have a voice and can make a differ- ticat grew up in Haiti under a dictatorship ence even when the situation is bigger than where people were so afraid of the effects of they are; comprehension of the power of being caught with books that many would words; and encouragement to share a story bury their libraries in their backyards. Her over sitting silent. parents moved to the United States on Danticat told attendees that the illustra- tourist visas in the 1970’s; however they tor of her book was inspired by Haitian had to leave Danticat and her brother at art, allowing for the creation of beauti- home. Fortunately, her parents were able fully crafted pages showing a child who to provide documentation for her and her Edwidge Danticat gives her Auditorium Speaker Series presentation. shares her story, resulting in liberation brother to move to the U.S. 12, when she spoke no English. She entered was able to check out 10 books. She could and freedom. Her love for books began at the age of the public library in Brooklyn where she not believe she was able to take that many From Cover to Screen : Evolving Books to Movies of adapting a true story to screen is having to Further, he feels today’s films largely suc- make the choice of where to stay true to the cumb to the whims of technology in hopes original story and when to make departures of appealing to a more youthful audience. in order amplify the narrative – all within “Underdog films such as Spare Parts may be 90 minutes. nearing an end – along with the business of Film critic David Thompson contextual- movie theaters all together,” he said, adding ized the current state of America’s mainstream it’s not all grim. “It’s not about whether film film industry, expressing that the film industry can change the world; it’s about keeping hope has generally given up on making good films. alive and a part of the conversation.”

Joshua Davis (from left), author of Spare Parts, is joined by producer Rick Jacobs and film critic David Thomson to talk about writing the book, creating the movie, and how movies are judged and reviewed.

By Rachael Wettenstein, Student to ALA President’s Program was held June 29. Davis spent 10 years covering the story oshua Davis, author of Spare Parts: of four undocumented Mexican teenagers Four Undocumented Teenagers, One overcoming all odds to win a high-tech un- JUgly Robot, and The Battle for the derwater robot competition against teams American Dream was joined by film producer from elite universities. He told the audience Rick Jacobs and film critic David Thomson what makes a good story is whether or not for a wide-ranging discussion that touched it passes “the campfire test. If you can tell a on everything from the challenges of creating story around a campfire and it holds people’s movies based on books to the meaningless- attention, then it’s worth writing down,” ness of mankind. The combination Audi- said Davis. torium Speaker Series/United for Libraries Producer Rick Jacobs said the challenge

Snoopy, honorary GALE RESEARCHER chair of Library Card Sign-up Month COMING SOON: 2015, gets a kiss The most direct path to student success. from Lorna Dawes (left), Lincoln, Neb., Students will spend less time searching for credible and Sena Dawes sources and more time thinking critically about (right), Seattle, their papers and projects. Wash., while promoting library cards outside the Find out how Gale Researcher ALA Store. is revitalizing research at www.galeresearcher.com 4 . COGNOTES 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Auditorium Speaker Haifaa al-Mansour Embraces Life By Rachael Wettenstein, Student to ALA – and where cinemas are outlawed. “Wadjda” seeks to spark The audience was treated to clips during a dialogue about the ward-winning Saudi film the making of “Wadjda,” which captured the director and screenwriter innumerable restrictions the production crew balance of modernity AHaifaa al-Mansour took had to navigate, such as, men and women in the face of an ultra- the stage on June 27 welcomed by being unable to work together in public, of- conservative society. great applause. Her film, “Wadjda,” ten resulting in al-Mansour having to direct was screened earlier in the day as her actors and crew from remote locations. society. She spoke poignantly about how we part of the Now Showing @ ALA The short sequences also touched upon the often need to step away from tradition in Film Program. She emphasized the initial culture clashes between the Saudi and order to move forward, stressing the urgent importance of bringing as much German production crews. necessity to provide girls with opportunities authenticity to the film as possible, Ultimately, al-Mansour said “Wadjda” to rise to their full potential. i.e., shooting in Saudi Arabia – seeks to spark a dialogue about the balance of The film has become the basis for her which no one had ever done before modernity in the face of an ultra-conservative » see page 10 Steinem: Libraries Important to Community and Conversation

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• that journalism could only do so By Talea Anderson, ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Washington State University much to support her vision for social justice and gender equality. peaking to a full audito- Steinem has recently com- rium on June 27, writer pleted a memoir, Diary of a No- Sand activist Gloria Steinem mad: My Life on the Road, which praised libraries for helping to de- recounts her peripatetic childhood mocratize knowledge. “Librarians as well as the past 20 years of her saved my life,” she said, “They saved career in activism. She encour- my internal life … and I’m here to aged others to take up her work say thank you.” in public speaking, noting that Steinem emphasized that free something special – empathy – access to knowledge profoundly happens when people meet in impacted her childhood and in- the real world rather than on spired her career in writing and the page. “We understand each activism. In particular she noted other in physical space,” she said, that librarians encouraged her to remarking on the importance of read widely – not just Nancy Drew, libraries as places for community but also the Hardy Boys; not just and conversation. books for children, but grown-up Concluding on a hopeful note, novels as well. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Steinem urged the audience to Pointing to tragedies like the regard today as the “first day of a Charleston shootings, Steinem suggested of forgotten histories – how the Second best to democratize the knowledge we have,” new era” – a post-racist, post-monotheistic, that librarians have a pivotal role to play in Amendment had ties to white supremacists, she said, reflecting on her own reluctant post-nationalist era of peace and under- combatting patriarchal power structures. how transgender identity once held honored transition into the public sphere. Steinem standing. Libraries, she suggested, would be Libraries, she noted, could remind people status in indigenous societies. “We do our only took up public activism after finding crucial to bringing about this new world. Kaplan Opens Conference with DOMA Case Insight

By Brad Martin, LAC Group years before when looking for help in deal- have told you that you were going to far too decided two years ago, said that these cases ing with her own issues of being gay and the many Grateful Dead concerts.” can be seen as an “antidote to cynicism” that n the same day the United States complications of coming out. She added that if anyone had told her is all too common today. Supreme Court declared gay mar- When she met Windsor, Kaplan said, “All back in the ‘80s that the Supreme Court “What these cases mean is that the courts Oriage legal in all 50 states, attorney I could think of was that I would do this for would make the ruling they did this week, matter,” she said. “What these cases mean is Roberta Kaplan was full of pride on June 26 Thea.... I honestly felt at the time as if God striking down state bans on gay marriage, “I that the Constitution matters, and what these as she celebrated the victory. She told of how had dropped the case in my lap as a way to pay would have told you that you were certifi- cases mean is that what we do as lawyers every her personal struggles as a gay person led to Thea back for helping me so much through ably insane.” Kaplan, referring to both the single day, as a part of what I still believe is a her successful litigation of another important some of the darkest days of my life.” most recent Supreme Court case and the one noble profession, really, really matters a lot.” gay rights case involving the Defense of Mar- The early ‘90s was a riage Act (DOMA). much less enlightened •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Kaplan is a lecturer in law at Columbia time concerning gay Law School and a partner at Paul, Weiss, rights, and when Kaplan Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. According came out as a lesbian, to ALA Immediate Past President Courtney L. her mother reacted “by Young in her introduction, Kaplan is a “litiga- literally banging her head tion superstar,” and earned the 2014 Litigator against the wall.” of the Year award. In her forthcoming book, Kaplan said, “As a clos- Then Comes Marriage: United States V. Wind- eted lesbian high school sor and the Defeat of DOMA, Kaplan tells the student in Cleveland, as story of how she successfully argued the case a closeted lesbian college before the Supreme Court that resulted in the student at Harvard, and DOMA defeat. as a slightly less-closeted Kaplan described her first meeting with lesbian law school stu- defendant Edie Windsor in an apartment dent at Columbia, if you near Washington Square Park in New York had told me that I would City. Thea Spyer, Windsor’s longtime partner, marry a woman, have had passed away, and the federal government a child, and then win a refused to recognize their marriage, which landmark civil rights case left Windsor with a huge estate tax problem. before the United States Kaplan said she realized she had met Spyer Supreme Court, I would •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 5

The Library and Information libraries transform

Technology Association •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Presents Awards ITA members received awards and Information Architecture were treated to an informative speaker Summit and Enterprise Lduring the LITA Awards Presentation UX conferences; was a and President’s Program on Sunday. former columnist for During the event: Internet World, CIO and The Library Hi Tech Award was presented Web Review magazines; to David Walker for outstanding communica- and has aided many large tion in library and information technology. enterprises in making EX Libris Student Writing Award was their information more presented to Heather Terrell for “Reference is visible through indepen- dead, long live reference; electronic collections dent consulting. in the digital age.” Rosenfeld answered The Frederick G. Kilgour Award was pre- numerous questions dur- sented to Ed Summers for research in library ing the Q&A session fa- and information technology. cilitated by Rachel Vacek, Following the awards, the President’s LITA president, about Program featured Lou Rosenfeld, founder of user experience. He start- Rosenfeld Media, which publishes materi- ed the session by stating •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• als and produces events on user experience that UX librarians require (UX) and coaches and trains user experience many skills, but they can’t do everything. All of the library seamless. what librarians are doing well or doing not- teams. Rosenfeld has also co-authored many librarians have a basic understanding of user Rosenfeld suggested that all libraries can so-well and answering hesitantly, he suggested books including Information Architecture experience through cataloging and reference improve their user experience and gave ex- that librarians need to promote themselves for the World Wide Web; co-founded the interviews, but UX librarians have the respon- amples of “simple ways to get started.” He more; that they need to tell stories about Information Architecture Institute and the sibility to make the physical and digital spaces suggested starting small; that a librarian can themselves and the libraries in which they purchase a book and start reading, although work. Rosenfeld said that technology “should he indicated that “learning from a book is never drive what a library is doing. It is a Robots ‘Vincent’ and ‘Nancy’ not ideal, but it’s a place to start” and that means to a goal” and suggested that technol- all libraries should have more than one user ogy shouldn’t be front and center in the library Interact with Humans experience librarian. – librarians need to create good experiences Vacek asked Rosenfeld his opinion about through technology. By Robert Manzo, Student to ALA Attendees of the session went up to the stage and he audience at the Graphic Novel asked him questions, & Gaming Stage on June 28 found that robots are the not the “next” big to which he responded. T The Aldebaran robots disruptive technology; they are the “now” big disruptive technology. That is how Bill cannot answer just any Derry, director of innovation, Westport Pub- question, since they lic Library, Connecticut, described robots have only a limited before he introduced Vincent and Nancy, number of programmed two toddler-size robots recently acquired by responses. But they his library. Unique user groups such as home- will almost always say schoolers, autistic adults, and teenage girls something if asked, have engaged eagerly with the two robots. though what they say They have proved a successful way to reach out to these ordinarily hard-to-reach groups. may not be wholly Vincent and Nancy are human in form, relevant. with arms, feet, legs, torso, and head, and are manufactured by Aldebaran, a robotics 2014. They held a contest in which patrons design and manufacturing company based programed a dance, song, or poem in one of in Paris, France. Alex Giannini, manager the robots, which was won by an elementary- of digital experience at Westport Library, school girl. From October to December helped name the robots. Giannini and Derry 2014, more than 700 people came to West- explained that Vincent and Nancy are from port Library to see Vincent and Nancy. So a proprietary line of Aldebaran robots called far in 2015, there have been more than 1,000 “Nao” robots, built about two feet tall, made visitors to see the robots. Thanks to an Insti- to be interactive with humans and responsive tute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to questions. grant, monthly residencies have been made Once purchased, the robots can be pro- possible, enabling everyone from technicians grammed to move and talk however the to schoolchildren to visit Westport Library owner desires. Although the underlying and experience the robots. programming is written in Python program- Vincent performed a dance and recited ming code, Aldebaran provides a simple a talk about what he was designed to do. software interface that allows users to cre- Attendees of the session went up to the ate new speech and movement patterns by stage and asked him questions, to which he manipulating a graphic model of the robot responded. The Aldebaran robots cannot an- on a computer screen. Motion sequences swer just any question, since they have only and speech can be saved on a desktop com- a limited number of programmed responses. puter, then uploaded to the robot. Therefore, But they will almost always say something anyone from infants to adults can program if asked, though what they say may not be the robots. wholly relevant. The Nao line of robots costs Giannini and Derry unveiled Vincent in the thousands of dollars to the consumer, and Nancy to their community at an event a price worth it for the forward-thinking called Star Wars Reads Day on October 11, Westport Public Library. 6 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE All the Light We Cannot See and Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption Win 2015 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence he American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce this Tyear’s recipients of the Andrew Carn- egie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, funded, in part, by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr won the medal for fiction and Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Steven- son received the medal for nonfiction. The selections were unveiled during the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Ceremony and Reception. The event took place June 27 and is a highlight of the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition. The medals, established in 2012, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for 2015 Andrew Carnegie 2015 Andrew Carnegie adult readers published in the U.S. during Medal for Excellence in Medal for Excellence in the previous year and serve as a guide to help Fiction Nonfiction adults select quality reading material. They are Bryan Stevenson and Anthony Doerr with their medals. Each medal is accompanied by a $5,000 check. the first single-book awards for adult books Medals announcement ceremony, Nancy given by the ALA and reflect the expert judg- Pearl, former selection committee chair, reading public continues to grow. a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New ment and insight of library professionals who greeted the audience members by saying, “The selection committee members derive York in recognition of Andrew Carnegie’s deep work closely with adult readers. Brad Hooper, ‘We are going to make publishing history great pleasure from reading lots of wonderful belief in the power of books and learning to adult books editor, Booklist, and winner of the tonight,’” explained Hooper. “And as the books and arriving at a short list of three fic- change the world, and are co-sponsored by 2015 Louis Shores Award for excellence in current chair of the selection committee, I tion titles and three nonfiction titles and then ALA’s Booklist publications and the Reference reviewing, serves as chair of the 2015 awards say that we are still making publishing history. from that list choosing the two medal winners. and User Services Association (RUSA). selection committee. The esteem in which the Carnegie medals are It’s an unforgettable experience.” Annotations and more information regard- “Three years ago, at the first Carnegie held by librarians, publishers, authors, and the Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See, pub- ing 2015 winners, finalists and the awards are lished by Scribner, a division of Simon & available at http://www.ala.org/carnegieadult. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Schuster, Inc., tells intertwined stories of a Book cover artwork and event photos are sightless French girl and a German soldier. available for download at http://tinyurl.com/ Doerr masterfully and imaginatively re-creates cm15artwork. the harsh conditions in WWII-torn France Carnegie Corporation of New York was es- and the strictly controlled lives of the military tablished in 1911 by Andrew Carnegie to pro- occupiers. mote the advancement and diffusion of knowl- Stevenson’s Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, published by Spiegel & Grau, an The medals, established imprint of Random House, is a passionate in 2012, recognize account of ways our nation thwarts justice the best fiction and and inhumanely punishes the poor and dis- nonfiction books for advantaged. adult readers published Before a crowd of more than 300, includ- in the U.S. during the ing ALA leadership and event featured speaker previous year and serve Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Doerr and Stevenson shared remarks and accepted their medals and as a guide to help adults •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• $5,000 prizes. select quality reading Anthony Doerr discusses the Carnegie Medal and the richness of libraries. Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in material. They are the Fiction and Nonfiction finalists each received first single-book awards $1,500. Fiction finalists included Nora Web- for adult books given by ster by Colm Tóibín, published by Scribner, the ALA. Cognotes a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.; and On ISSN: 0738-4319 . Volume 2015 . Issue X Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee, published edge and understanding. In keeping with this by Riverhead Books, a member of Penguin mandate, the corporation’s work focuses on Group, USA. the issues that Andrew Carnegie considered of Senior Reporter Sara Zettervall Photography Nonfiction finalists included The Sixth paramount importance: international peace, Brad Martin Hennepin County Curtis Compton Extinction: An Unnatural History by Eliza- the advancement of education and knowl- Library Nick de la Torre LAC Group beth Kolbert, published by Henry Holt; and edge, and the strength of our democracy. Minneapolis – St. Paul, Michael Buxbaum New York, NY Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Booklist is the book review magazine of the MN Sadat at Camp David by Lawrence Wright, American Library Association, considered an Reporters Production published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of essential collection development and readers’ Kacee Anderson Students Tim Mercer Random House, LLC. advisory tool by thousands of librarians for Barbara Flohr Harmony Science CustomNews, Inc. Members of the 2015 Andrew Carnegie more than 100 years. Booklist Online includes Robert Manzo Academy Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfic- a growing archive of 160,000+ reviews avail- Rachael Wettenstein Media Manager Fort Worth, TX tion selection committee included: Chair Brad able to subscribers as well as a wealth of free Fiona Soltes Hooper, Booklist, Chicago; Betsy Burton, content offering the latest news and views on Talea Anderson Publisher/ owner, The King’s English, Salt Lake City; books and media. Managing Editor Video Editors Washington State Keir Graff, Booklist, Chicago; Kathleen De La The Reference and User Services Associa- Deb Nerud Vernon Olaf Anderson University Peña McCook, University of South Florida, tion is responsible for stimulating and sup- Phil Bowen Pullman, WA Tampa, Florida; Elizabeth Olesh, Baldwin porting excellence in the delivery of general ALA Liaison Guido Ronge (New York) Public Library; Katharine J. library services and materials, and the provi- Michelle Kowalsky Paul Graller Phenix, Rangeview Library District (Anythink sion of reference and information services, Rowan University Libraries), Thornton, Colorado; and Donna collection development, readers’ advisory, Glassboro, NJ Seaman, Booklist, Chicago. and resource sharing for adults, in every type The awards are made possible, in part, by of library. 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 7 Create Flexible Learning Spaces for the Future

By Michelle Kowalsky, Rowan University, NJ places for animated group work. Purposeful lounge postures also indicated the need for a consider spaces that are flexible enough to design will ensure that spaces for opposite footrest and multiple power outlets, which be moved or repurposed in order to support “ f we move too much toward social learn- types of activities are not too close together. continue to provide challenges to designers. multiple learning behaviors which may arise ing environments, we lose the quiet “Deep thinking requires blocking out distrac- Nevertheless, various institutions have suc- at different times of day. Over time, features Icontemplative spaces,” said Mark Walters, tions,” he explained, “which takes energy away cessfully implemented and assessed designs for of many modern library spaces will also start category-product manager, Steelcase Educa- from the task at hand. Instead, we want to flexible multi-purpose spaces, such as Grand to mimic some of the dynamic environments tion, in a session sponsored by ALA’s Center help people be more effective by providing a Valley State University (GVSU) Libraries in which students may encounter when entering for the Future of Libraries. Walters and his variety of spaces which support specific think- Allendale, Michigan. the corporate world. team observed and photographed thousands ing and learning behaviors.” Tips for designing library learning spaces White papers, case studies, and examples of library users in a variety of environments On the ALA Exhibit Floor, Steelcase in- for the future also included providing tools arising from Steelcase’s extensive library over a period of several years. Researchers troduced the Brody WorkLounge, a laptop in social spaces, such as whiteboard walls observations, along with ongoing analyses noted university students’ thinking and work- pod seating unit that provides opaque pri- and markers, digital displays like monitors of current facility design issues in their ing processes, in addition to their physical vacy screens which extend above the head in and projectors, and tables for teamwork. 360 Magazine, are available at http://www. postures, and then performed contextual order to help users focus. Students’ observed Librarians and administrations should also steelcase.com/ under the Insights tab. interviews to determine their unmet needs. Library furniture and interiors were then designed and rapidly prototyped to alleviate All the any disconnects between natural library user Library of behaviors and available spaces for learning. socializing the Future Walters suggested that librarians intention- you’re up for! sessions including ally plan for zones with realistic adjacencies, so that quiet individual spaces are distinguished futuring and from “alone together” spaces, and also from innovation Unlimited techniques The Show Must Go On: connections Books, Inviting Neurodiverse with colleagues from media, and all types of libraries, Informal Students into Your 100s of doing all kinds of authors learning, Library library jobs, at all “News You formal levels Can Use,” learning By Robert Manzo, Student to ALA updates, policy lthough technically the program priorities, strategies “Everyone’s REALLY Welcome: for engaging AInviting Neurodiverse Students into decision-makers Your Library” had been cancelled, public and Innovation-spurring and infl uencers school librarians that came to the session did what only librarians would…they decided deep dives (piloting at 2016 to organize their own discussion group on the topic. Midwinter), pre- Attendees talked about their experiences conferences, and 2016 ALA with autistic, dyslexic, and ADHD children. institutes A common difficulty encountered by all was not with the children, but rather with other adults’ and librarians’ reactions to these Award Midwinter unique, neurodiverse patrons. The discussion announcements became emotional, as several attendees were and celebrations either parents or close relatives of autistic, MeetiJanuary ng 8–12, & 2016Exhibit s dyslexic, or ADHD children. Especially problematic are library co-work- ers who make insensitive comments to parents of neurodiverse children. School librarians in New products, the audience recommended that public librar- technologies, Annual ians partner with education specialists to plan and services with staff training sessions on neurodiversity and expert vendors mental health-friendly etiquette. Concerned in the ConferenceJune 23–28, & 2016Exhibiti on parents may also be willing to talk to library staff about how to approach an ADHD or exhibits autistic child who is being disruptive. Librar- ians sometimes mistake disruptive actions as behavioral rather than, for example, the result of sensory processing difficulties that stress autistic children. Other suggestions discussed included: cut BUNDLE—best value registration for a narrow slit in a piece of cardboard, then MIDWINTER MEETING both conferences plus priority access for The conversation paste a piece of colored plastic over one side, & EXHIBITION starts here... housing—opens September 9, 2015 and a dyslexic child can use it to focus on one line of text at a time as she reads; have MIDWINTER MEETING Early Bird a designated time or space in the library and make available Lego bricks or books opens October 1, 2015 catering to specific interests; have a focused, enjoyable task to do in a quiet and visually ANNUAL CONFERENCE Early Bird unbusy corner. opens January 19, 2016 Although the planned session was can- celled, the resulting discussion group was alamidwinter.org | alaannual.org All registrations open at noon (Central) honest, productive, and educational. 8 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE

Librarians crowd the exhibit floor during the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition’s Exhibits Opening Reception June 26. More than 900 companies offered librarians the latest in technologies, products, and services.

Illustrator Christian Robinson and author Patricia Hruby Powell, who worked on the book Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker, show off their dance moves after Robinson received a Coretta Scott King Book Award for illustrating the book.

Teen librarian Andrea Mullarkey, Berkeley Public Library, Berkeley, Calif., participates in a game of Word Winder puzzle play by David L. Hoyt, using clues to help find ALA-related words on a grid at ALAplay.

Annual Conference & Exhibition attendees pass by a display for the book Furiously Happy on the Exhibits floor.

Antonia Ruiz Koffman, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, adds her thoughts to the Idea Exchange Board in the Networking Uncommons. A young girl participates in the SF Pride Parade June 28 and smiles as she makes her way past the cheering crowd on Market Street, just a few blocks from Moscone Center. This year’s theme was “Equality Without Exception.” Librarians participated in the parade, other Pride events, and programs that covered a wide range of diversity and equality issues, and celebrations during the Annual Conference. 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 9 Vowell Explores History, American Identity with Fresh Eye

take over the role of in- •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• By Robert Manzo, Student to ALA ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• terviewer for her session. arah Vowell introduced herself and He broached questions her latest book, Lafayette in the Some- about the themes within Swhat United States (October 2015 Vowell’s book and her Riverhead, a division of Penguin) as she took writing process. the stage at one of the June 27 Auditorium Vowell described Speaker programs. This was her first event traveling to Brandywine promoting the book and she admitted she (Pennsylvania), the site of had finished writing it only a few weeks a major battle and defeat before. In her hour-long presentation, she for Washington’s Conti- discussed Lafayette, the Revolutionary War, nental Army on Septem- and American culture, and answered ques- ber 11, 1777. Ironically, tions from guest interviewer Nick Offerman. when she visited, a battle Marquis de Lafayette, the subject of her re-enactment was taking book, was a hero of the American Revolu- place on Quaker-owned tionary War, a French soldier who sought land. Quaker orthodoxy battlefield glory by fighting in the colonists’ is pacifist, anti-war. These war against Britain, and an enemy to both subtle historical ironies America and France. thrill Vowell and fill her Vowell talked about her book’s larger books. She also described •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• theme of American identity, showing that her travels to Monticello, from the beginning, America was a nation Mt. Vernon, Yorktown, Gettysburg, France, hero status in American culture at the time, Offerman and Vowell spoke about of factions and competing groups. The role and Thailand. Vowell investigated him further, leading to America and the value of public discourse of France in the war was divisive, with some Her interest in Lafayette came about the book. and argument, and how these freedoms are colonists supportive of France’s involvement, because one of her favorite novels is Moby Vowell told Offerman that she often unavailable to many people in countries some not, and opinions that differed on the Dick by Herman Melville. Melville’s wife, skipped school and took refuge in the local around the world. She said that Americans merits of independence from Britain. as a two-year-old child, had met Lafayette public library, and that at age 10, she received are often frustrated by the open expression A surprise appearance by Nick Offer- during the hero’s post-war visit to America. The Diary of Anne Frankas a Christmas pres- of sometimes hateful opinions, but should man became a full interview with Vowell. Some 80,000 people greeted Lafayette when ent. The book spoke to her in a profound way. value the fact that we are not persecuted or Offerman, also an Auditorium Speaker on his ship docked in New York City in 1824. For the first time she realized literature was a censored as citizens in many other coun- June 27 and a friend of Vowell, decided to Intrigued by the fuss made over this man’s socially acceptable place to speak one’s mind. tries are. ALSC Closes on a “Sweet” Note with President’s Program

By Sara Zettervall, Hennepin County Library ence, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) when a Kentucky librarian he Association of Library Service to invited her to design a training session. Her Children (ALSC) Charlemae Rollins response: “I can’t drive in traffic, and I can’t TPresident’s Program livened up Mon- use my phone, but I can do stuff around day afternoon with two different but equally reading.” Eventually, in her work with RIF, engaging keynote presentations on “More to she put carefully selected “best books” into the Core: From the Craft of Nonfiction to the hands of teachers whose schools often the Expertise in the Stacks.” hadn’t been able to buy new materials for 20 Author and illustrator Melissa Sweet years or more. Her research assessed the im- captivated a packed audience with a visu- pact reading those books aloud and sending ally rich presentation about her unique them home with children over the summer. approach to the craft of illustration. Dr. The results have been strikingly positive. Judy Cheatham, vice president of literacy In schools where teachers read aloud once a services at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), week for 10 weeks, and children were sent followed with powerful data on how nonfic- home with eight books to read over the tion picture books like Sweet’s can improve summer, literacy improved rather than slid- literacy for children at the bottom of the ing during the summer break. Reports on achievement gap. this work are available on the RIF website Sweet, along with her frequent author- Award-winning children’s book illustrator Melissa Sweet speaks at the (www.readingisfundamental.org). “If you collaborator Jen Bryant, received the 2015 Charlemae Rollins ALSC President’s Program on June 29. want to write a grant with it, you should,” Robert F. Sibert Medal from ALSC earlier Cheatham said. “I’m giving you all my data.” this year for The Right Word: Roget and His of everyone from African American painter traying the person: a particular color, word, Significantly, she tied that data back to the Thesaurus. Using examples of the paintings Horace Pippin to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day or thought can get her started. The truth of artistry of Sweet. She explained how impor- and collages in her books, images of her Parade balloon inventor Tony Sarg. each story is important to her, but she strives tant context can be for learning technical visual mock-ups and studio materials, and Inspired to become an artist when she to provide interpretation of each person, terms, or what Common Core would call videos of herself at work, she brought her saw a modernist exhibition at the age of rather than mimicry of their art or writing. “level three” literacy. Beautiful, visually audience on a journey through her creative seven, Sweet always begins her process by “That’s the sweet spot,” she said. “The story is rich nonfiction books for children aren’t process. Whether working on her own asking, “Who were these people as children? still true, but the joy of my making it comes only engaging – they create a scaffolding or with a collaborator, Sweet follows her What did they do to lead to the people through.” For example, she first thought to for children’s minds to climb toward full inspiration to research historical figures. they became?” She works on sketching and use collage in book illustration while visiting comprehension. Firefly July, a book of po- The resulting books have covered the lives storyboarding until she finds a way into por- the childhood home of John James Audubon. ems illustrated by Sweet, is one of 140 “best Audubon’s taxidermy collection was a visual books” on the RIF website with free, high- In schools where teachers read aloud once a representation of his thought processes, and quality, downloadable classroom activities week for 10 weeks, and children were sent home Sweet wanted to convey that same informa- that can be tied directly to Common Core with eight books to read over the summer, tion on the page. and STEAM outcomes. literacy improved rather than sliding during the Leaving the audience with a teaser that The lucky librarians at this session walked summer break. her next book would focus on E. B. White, away with a treasure trove of swag, including Sweet turned things over to Cheatham. their own copy of a “best book” and a post- Cheatham, a longtime educator and literacy card of Sweet’s art. But their most important advocate, began to work on literacy as a takeaway will be a renewed enthusiasm for tool for teaching Common Core and Sci- great children’s nonfiction. 10 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Offerman Entertains with History and Giggles •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• By Sara Zettervall, Hennepin County Library (Minn.) Michael Pollan. But his ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• favorite author seemed to ick Offerman would like to make be Wendell Berry, whom sure everyone knows he does not he described as a “well of Nhate librarians. His character on common sense.” Be sure “Parks and Rec,” Ron Swanson, is still col- to check out the audio- lecting YouTube hits on clips that creatively book version of Gump- insult the public library. “That’s just comedy,” tion, which includes Of- he told a standing-room-only crowd of librar- ferman’s recording of a ians on June 27. “Librarians were chosen as Berry poem that Saunders the most unassailable group of professionals.” set to music. He needn’t have worried, though. Before Following a reading he even had a chance to speak, he was greeted that was punctuated by by a standing ovation. Still, he took the time his infamous giggle, Of- to explain that his sister runs the library in ferman was joined on his home town of Minooka, Illinois, and his stage by fellow comedian- sister-in-law also works there. His family, he author Sarah Vowell. She explained, are “great lovers of librarians – teased him for being too both figuratively and literally.” much like Theodore Roo- Like librarians, Offerman is a shameless sevelt, who is featured in fan of his favorite writers. His new book, the book, calling him “an- •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with noyingly well-rounded.” America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers, highlights 21 Offerman admitted that Roosevelt was “kind their careers and comedic self-esteem a boost. Offerman agreed, saying, “I want to live Americans who have inspired him. Several of a freak” who hired men to wrestle with On a more serious note, Vowell sug- somewhere where we can disagree and then of those are authors who are alive today, and him in the Oval Office, but he wanted to gested there was a tension in Offerman’s shake hands afterward.” He admired each Offerman was clearly thrilled to be able to highlight that kind of gumption in the book. book between each figure’s “niceness” and figure for “making the Robert Frost choice” use the excuse of writing his book to spend They also swapped stories of admiration for their simultaneous ability to blow off the to take the road less traveled and hoped to time with the likes of George Saunders and Conan O’Brien, credited by both for giving opinions of people who opposed them. inspire others to do so, too. Deep Reading in the Digital Age

By Robert Manzo, Student to ALA that no media, new or old, is perfect; each has less time in deep reading and are distracted, to another. In fact, her most recent project its own pros and cons. Socrates scorned writ- or move attention between texts or media is an initiative to deliver tablet computers he Association for Library Col- ing, believing its practice clouded memory objects, 27 times per hour on average. to poorer parts of the world. These tablets, lections and Technical Services and true contemplation. Similarly, in the 21st Research by Baron and others show that she hopes, will help the 57 million children T(ALCTS) invited Maryanne Wolf to century, we as a society must ask what are the materiality of paper books and the fixed worldwide who have no access to school or speak at this year’s ALCTS President’s Pro- the pros and cons, for example of the ebb of position of text on printed pages encourages teachers learn to read. So far Wolf’s initiative gram on Monday, June 29. Wolf is director handwriting as a cultural practice and the slower, more focused reading and results in has delivered tablets loaded with literacy ap- of the Center for Reading and Language advent of digital new media to replace analog easier reading. If distracted while reading a plications to Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa, Research at Tufts University, Massachusetts. (particularly print) media. print text, for example, the ease of going back and, in the U.S., rural Alabama, and Georgia. Her talk, “Three Short Stories about Deep Wolf’s research explores the effect of to a fixed place on the page is greater. Human In Ethiopia, within one month children had Reading in the Digital Age,” centered on digital media on literacy development, the memory has a more difficult time navigat- gained facility with the tablets and were read- the concept of “deep reading” or focused, connections between reading and writing, ing digital media that zooms in and out, or ing English words on sight, although not yet contemplative reading. and the influence of how we read on how we text that scrolls on and off screen. However, sentences or paragraphs. She contrasted deep reading with dis- think (and vice versa). She stated that we are Wolf believes that digital reading devices will In closing, Wolf called on librarians as tracted reading, which readers using digital not only what we read but also how we read. fix these problems as technology improves. the “informed curators of knowledge” to devices often experience. Distracted reading In the era of digital devices, “skimming is the Wolf’s professional stance, to be clear, understand how different media influence happens because digital devices support ap- new normal.” Studies by reading researcher is not against any type of media, including human literacy development and to facilitate plications other than ebooks or have access to Naomi Baron, whom Wolf frequently cites, digital. She embraces any means by which a positive relationship for users between a hypertext-based internet. Wolf pointed out show that people aged 30 or younger spend knowledge is transferred from one person media they use and literacy.

Relationships with Social Services Build Library Presence ozens of librarians gathered on models work. Much of the conversation, San Francisco Public al-Mansour Monday morning for the con- » from page 4 though, turned on how smaller libraries that Library was the first versation starter, “…And Social don’t have the capacity to hire a full-time upcoming debut middle-grade nov- D library in the nation to Justice for All: How Can Librarians and social worker can get involved. el The Green Bicycle. She told the au- Social Workers Collaborate?” Librarian hire a full-time social Some tips and takeaways that are scalable worker. dience that writing the book granted Sara Zettervall (Hennepin County Li- to all library systems are: her the opportunity to introduce brary, Minnesota) and social work PhD Invite social work interns into your library. Take advantage of free or low-cost information that was not addressed candidate Mary Nienow (University of Social work students are all required to com- training sessions for staff. The National in the film. For al-Mansour, the Minnesota) led the discussion. Their focus plete an extensive internship. Contact your lo- Alliance on Mental Illness (http://www. ability to fight against a restrictive was on the experiences and questions that cal college or university’s school of social work nami.org), for example, has a presence environment comes with having participants brought to the session. and ask to speak to the internship director to throughout the United States and can an unwavering resilience and desire San Francisco Public Library was the get started. One participant gave the example connect libraries with resources. Many to “embrace the love of life,” much first library in the nation to hire a full- that Stony Brook University (New York) has local nonprofits can also provide trainings like the female characters have in time social worker. In recent years, many been consistently placing MSW interns in the as part of their missions for outreach and her narratives. urban library systems have followed its local public library system. advocacy. The Green Bicycle will be released model, including Washington, D.C., Contact local social service agencies. What In addition, the presenters encourage by Dial Books for Young Readers in Denver, Dallas, and Edmonton (Canada). do you do when one of your patrons is clearly continued conversation on their blog, September 2015. Her next film, “A These large-scale models are blazing the in crisis, and you don’t know how to help? Call Whole Person Librarianship (http:// Storm in the Stars,” is about Mary trail into this new realm of collaboration, up a social service agency and ask them. This mlismsw.wordpress.com). This session Wollstonecraft Shelley and stars Elle and staff from the Washington, D.C., kind of relationship-building helps library was truly a conversation starter, and the Fanning. Public Library were present and con- staff gain new skills and teaches social service discussion should continue far beyond tributed to the discussion of how those providers about the work of librarians. the conference. 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 11

2015 LITA Forum, Registration Now Open lan now to join the Library and In- efforts for more than 20 years. Block has been Accessible Gaming Helps formation Technology Association called “a geek who speaks English.” P(LITA) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lisa Welchman Libraries Fulfill Social Mission at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, November Welchman is president of digital gov- 12 – 15, 2015, for the 2015 LITA Forum, a ernance solutions at ActiveStandards. In “Gaming ... provides By Michelle Kowalsky, Rowan University, NJ three-day educational event that includes two a 20-year career, she has paved the way in an opportunity for panel of experts discussed the so- preconferences, three keynote sessions, more the discipline of digital governance, helping a person with a than 55 concurrent sessions, and 15 plus organizations stabilize their complex, and cial justice implications of gam- disability to master ing in libraries at the ASCLA poster presentations. Full details at the 2015 multi-stakeholder digital operations. Her A the skills of the Forum website: http://litaforum.org. book, Managing Chaos: Digital Governance program on June 27. Librarians from the Brooklyn and District of Columbia martial arts or be a The 2015 LITA Forum is the 18th annual by Design, was published in February 2015 Public Libraries have implemented pro- superhero.” gathering of technology-minded information by Rosenfeld Media. grams which adapt popular video game ment with multiple data projectors and professionals and is a highly regarded annual Preconference Workshops consoles for people with various physical stations operating simultaneously to re- event for those involved in new and leading “So You Want to Make a Makerspace: disabilities. Mark Barlet, director of the duce wait time for participants, or rooms edge technologies in the library and informa- Strategic Leadership to support the Integra- AbleGamers Charity, explained that “a which can accommodate several gamers tion technology field. Registration is limited tion of New and Disruptive Technologies into video game is one of the only places on moving about simultaneously, such as in order to preserve the important networking Libraries: Practical Tips, Tricks, Strategies, and earth where your disability does not have when playing virtual bowling. Nick Hig- advantages of a smaller conference. Com- Solutions for Bringing Making, Fabrication, to define you. When playing a fairy or gins, Brooklyn Public Library, explained ments from past attendees: and Content Creation to Your Library.” an orc or a knight in a game online, you that he uses games to teach turn taking, • “Best conference I’ve been to in terms of Presenters include: don’t have to identify yourself as disabled, and often participates in modeling and practical, usable ideas that I can implement Leah Kraus and no one expects you to.” parallel play with students who have in- at my library.” Director of community engagement and Assistive technologies for gaming tellectual disabilities. “Gaming is a shared • “I get so inspired by the presentations Experience at the Fayetteville (New York) include adapted game controllers, such social achievement,” Higgins stated, “and and conversations with colleagues who are Free Library dealing with the same sorts of issues that I am.” as the LP Pad, a controller with large but- it provides an opportunity for a person Michael Cimino • “After LITA I return to my institution tons, or the Adroit Switchblade™, which with a disability to master the skills of the Technology innovation and integration excited to implement solutions I find here.” allows users to remap buttons and switches martial arts or be a superhero.” Specialist at the Fayetteville Free Library in order to manipulate the controls in The session emphasized that librar- Keynote Sessions alternate ways. Users who have a limited ians must always find a way to include Mx A. Matienzo “Beyond Web Page Analytics: Using range of motion, or who have visual or everyone in gaming activities, since these Google Tools to Assess Searcher Behavior Director of technology for the Digital auditory disabilities, are able to have the are important intergenerational and multi- Across Web Properties.” Public Library of America, he focuses on same experience of certain games on Xbox cultural programs for people of all abilities. Robert L. Nunez promoting and establishing digital library One™ PlayStation4™, for example, with Librarians who engage gamers are able to Head of collection services, Kenosha Pub- interoperability at an international scale. Prior adjustments to game settings or control- help all members of their communities lic Library, Kenosha, Wisconsin to joining DPLA, Matienzo worked as an lers which are not traditionally hand-held. become lifelong learners, meet new people, Keven Riggle archivist and technologist specializing in born- Most libraries already have equipment and experience being part of a team, while Systems librarian and webmaster, Mar- digital materials and metadata management. available to create an “arcade” environ- promoting library services in the process. Carson Block quette University Carson Block Consulting Inc. has led, Visit http://litaforum.org for registration managed, and supported library technology and additional information. Generate Noise to Find the Love for School Libraries By Kacee Anderson, Harmony Science Academy School librarians do not need to worry li Neiburger, deputy director of the about those avid fiction Ann Arbor District Library, gave a readers; they need charismatic and subtly funny pre- E to work to reach the sentation at the AASL President’s Program on June 27, asking attendees, “Where is the other 80 percent of the love for school libraries?” Funding issues are students. widespread and Neiburger noted that, “All those avid fiction readers; they need to work libraries are in a pickle, but school libraries to reach the other 80 percent of the students. are at the pinch point of this problem.” According to Neiburger, “This is a golden age Many challenges facing school libraries of reading and writing. This is the highest are perceptual. Part of the problem are the literacy rate our society has ever achieved.” mistaken assumptions people make about In terms of education, Neiburger discred- libraries, such as the belief that everything is ited the assumptions that schools are in the on the cloud, so we don’t need libraries. In education business and that education can be reality, there is no cloud; it is just someone measured. In reality, the product of schools else’s computer. Other mistaken assumptions in not education, it’s accreditation. Educa- are that businesses care about you, when they tion is immeasurable. Summer slump is a care about maximizing shareholder value; test-taking slump, not a knowledge slump. and that publishing is philanthropy, when Kids’ leisure pursuits are more challenging it’s the publisher’s job to restrict access and and relevant to them than the tests. Librar- the library’s job to get it out there. ians should find ways to bring those outside Neiburger provided insight into the mis- interests into school libraries. Neiburger has Eli Neiburger said school libraries need some love during the AASL President’s Program on Saturday. taken assumption that ebooks will replace set up video game tournaments in his own paper books. He stated, “Because we’ve seen public library to draw in and serve those libraries are all about books. Libraries are reflected in libraries. Quiet is not a resource other formats eat each other, we assume the patrons who might not otherwise utilize not really about books anymore. The book of the library, especially in schools. Rules same is going to happen to books. The reality the library. is actually just one of the many ways to such as no food or drink hinder students is that ebook sales have cratered.” The book School librarians need to remember that serve users. and ignore their biological needs. Kids need market is actually remaining rather strong generating noise is what moves the needle. One of the biggest keys to fostering love in a space where they are free to discover, learn, in print. It has to get to the point where cuts to the the library is for librarians to ditch as many and be themselves. Librarians who work to So, how to foster love in the school library result in hundreds of people showing rules as possible. The rules are a big part of create a less restrictive space for students library? First, do not worry about reading. up to the school board meetings. Librarians the problem. The archaic idea that the library are far more likely to receive the love that School librarians do not need to worry about also should discard the assumption that needs to be a quiet space should no longer be they seek. 12 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Keeping Graphic Novels in the Collection

By Kacee Anderson, Harmony Science Academy Volin, “My job is to have something for every child in the community in the collection.” panel spoke June 28 on the Graphic The panel also discussed issues that often Novel Stage about the challenges arise when parents get involved. Offering Athat libraries and authors face his own experiences as a parent, Yang stated, in relation to graphic novels all over the “Being a parent is just constantly having your world. The panel included Mariko Tamaki, source of authority undermined… for 18 co-author of This One Summer, one of the years. As a parent you do your best, but you most frequently challenged and banned also have to be a little bit humble about your books of the year; Gene Luen Yang, best experience.” The CBLDF’s position is that known for his work American Born Chinese; if you’re a parent and you don’t want your and Eva Volin, supervising children’s librar- kid reading something in your home, that ian at Alameda Free Library in California. is your right, but you don’t have the right to Charles Brownstein, executive director of take that choice away from another parent. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), According to Yang, “Parents should attempt moderated the session. to try and scaffold information in a way that The panel kicked off with panelists shar- builds kids up.” ing their own experiences with and reactions Only a fraction of book challenges are to graphic novel challenges. Yang talked reported. Volin noted that challenges in the Gene Luen Yang (left), Eva Volin, Mariko Tamaki, and Charles Brownstein briefly about his often-criticized character in library typically begin with a parent expressing participate in a discussion about Graphic Novel challenges. American Born Chinese, Cousin Chin-kee, a unhappiness. Librarians should try to start a representation of all stereotypes about Chinese dialog right there at the desk as this can often reader in a profound way. “There are realities kindergarten. Suddenly when you hit fourth Americans that he could think of, put into one squash problems before they even begin. Too that touch on kids’ lives that we wouldn’t grade, you are no longer expected to be a visual character. “I wanted to talk about stereotypes often, books are challenged and removed think to relate to them,” noted Mariko. learner.” Pictures are often used to help learn- in an explicit way, but when you bring up from a local library without going through Yang added, “As a parent, it’s a tempta- ers understand concepts that might otherwise stereotypes, you might be perpetuating them.” the proper channels. Schools and libraries will tion to try and raise my kids in a sort of be above their current level. She continued, Tamaki stated that writers do not focus on simply pull a book rather than worry about los- Disneyland, which is impossible. One of the “To disregard graphic novels in a school cur- what’s appropriate, only what feels authentic. ing funding or support. Brownstein noted that, jobs of stories is to try and help us as readers riculum is doing students a disservice, because “Literature is literature. It’s an experience. A “Other times people don’t want to deal with the understand those bad things that come along.” students are still expected to understand and book is there to reflect an experience in a way legal process. But you are doing your commu- The entire panel seemed eager to move interpret visual cues.” that’s safe for readers. I also don’t believe that nity a disservice by removing something that toward a point when graphic novels are used For more information on challenges to you’re going to read about something and might help kids deal with the realities of life.” more in the school curriculum. Volin stated, graphic novels, lesson plans, and other re- then go and do it.” It’s also not the role of the The same books that are being challenged “Sixty percent of people in the world are sources, visit http://www.CBLDF.org or stop librarian to police the collection. According to are the books that can change or touch a visual learners. We encourage this starting in by booth 211.

Geek Out! The •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Importance of Pop Culture in Libraries

By Robert Manzo, Student to ALA

he average comic book reader is 18 to 30 years old and equally likely to be female or male, said Ivy Weir, TKennett Public Library, Pennsylvania, during her June 27 presentation on teens and geek culture in public libraries. There are simple ways librarians can make libraries welcoming for teens interested in things traditionally labelled ‘geeky.’ One way is for libraries to partner with comic book shops, to share expenses for author visits, movie showings, costume parties, and other events. Some comic book shops celebrate Free Comic Book Day every year and libraries can provide space to hold a formal celebration or give out publisher- provided materials. Another way is to organize regular group get-togethers. Weir has ‘Geek Gang’ meetings once a month during the •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• school year (once a week in summer) for anyone in grades bullseye again and again. 8 – 10. Attendees read together, read aloud, write fan fiction, Lewis Lewis noted that Paul Cezanne did not sign 90 per- » from page 1 illustrate, and discuss their favorite books, comics, games, and cent of his paintings, because he did not consider them shows. Other library-hosted groups include a video game club private space for her grandfather to pursue his passions. finished; he quoted Michelangelo, who said, “Lord, and Magic: The Gathering club. Game systems or card decks Fascinated by how her grandfather had overcome any grant that I always desire more than I can accomplish.” can be costly, but crowdfunding and donations have helped fears of failure placed upon him by society, Lewis de- Private domains, according to Lewis, “allow for Weir offset costs for her groups’ materials. cided to study the lives of the masters of various fields the space and time to be a deliberate amateur.” She Librarians can make connections with authors or comic to see if there were traits they all might share. added that private domains are not just about a space creators through social media or by emailing publishers, Lewis said that very often, the great ones aim is for for creativity, but that they allow for “transformation agents, authors, or creators directly. The key, said Weir, is “not mastery and not success. She said that Thomas Edison that we can have no other way.” to harass or harangue authors incessantly, but to send short, was asked at one point about his failure at creating the Lewis also pointed out that private spaces do not carefully worded letters and invitations.” electric light, and replied that he had not failed, but always refer to physical spaces, but can happen at any Skype is a no-cost way that authors can, and often are had found 10,000 ways that do not work. This qual- time. One example she cited was attorney Charles willing to, connect with geek groups at libraries, if in-person ity has been called “grit,” and Lewis said it shows up Black Jr., who had a transformational experience after visits are not possible. Weir also recommended holding again and again in the work of the masters. Observing listening to Louis Armstrong. Black would be so moved annual Library ComicCons, which can draw fans from a archers at Columbia University, Lewis said she could that he would later become one of the lawyers for the larger regional area than regular groups. In these ways, public see the difference between success – hitting the bullseye case of Brown v. Board of Education and would go on librarians can make their libraries welcoming for fans of pop once in a while – and mastery – being able to hit the to teach constitutional law. and geek culture. 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 13 Charlene Li Graces ASCLA President’s Program Stage

By Talea Anderson Washington State University technologies for their own sake. Technologies are tools – to be chosen selectively as a means t the ASCLA President’s Program to an end rather than the end itself. on June 28, Charlene Li, bestselling For Li, listening to users is key to achieving Aauthor and founder of Altimeter an organization’s mission. She suggested that Group, spoke about engaged leadership in the libraries seek out their core audience and take digital era. Li encouraged libraries to focus less the opportunity to listen to them online – by on technologies and more on relationships as observing social media “likes” or asking their they build their strategic plans. “What kind users questions about their needs and values. of relationship do you want with your com- To engage this audience, Li advised telling munity?” she asked, explaining that the choice stories about the library, creating a sense of of technologies always comes second after community by sharing others’ content, or settling on a mission, a strategy, and goals for developing a voice that is both honest and community engagement. authoritative. She suggested that libraries look Li explained that social media communica- to active social media communities such as tion always emerges naturally from organiza- the one surrounding Seattle Public Library tional strategy. Once the library has defined to see how others have managed to engage its goals, listened to users, identified metrics with their users. Charlene Li for measuring impact, and drawn up a road Li encouraged library leaders not to fear map for reaching those goals, the choice and engagement via social media. She noted that use of digital technologies will follow. “Stop active listening – for instance, perusing Twitter culture of trust, in which the library dem- she suggested, is the best thing that an effec- trying to be all things to all people,” Li said, feeds – can happen if the leader invests only onstrates its ability to remain present on the tive, engaged organization can do – use digital referring to the library’s tendency to adopt 15 minutes per day. She advised building a media that its community values most. This, technologies as a tool to build community. Library School Accreditation Standards are Streamlined By Michelle Kowalsky, Rowan University, NJ or previous ALA standards. Library school programs must show LA’s Committee on Accreditation documentation regarding achievement of (COA) discussed updates on June their identified graduate student learning A28 to the Standards for Accredita- outcomes, as well as describe how decision- tion of Master’s Programs in Library and In- making about educational programs for formation Studies (LIS) which were adopted pre-service librarians is driven by ongoing at the 2015 Midwinter Meeting. Changes data collection and analysis. Panels of experts to the standards include required public including library school faculty and practic- disclosure of a program’s accreditation status; ing librarians are formally trained to provide more flexibility in determining the size of comprehensive reviews of the documentation the panel for on-site visits, due to expense of and data provided by universities in their ac- travel and the number of university faculty creditation applications. participating; and a small increase in the fees The standards continue to stress innova- in applying for accreditation to keep pace tion, espouse diversity, and recognize indi- with expenses. The number of standards was vidual programmatic differences between Sarah Pekkanen (from left), Adriana Trigiani, John Katzenbach, Paula reduced from six to five in order to collapse universities. They evaluate a LIS program’s McLain, Matthew Pearl, and Barbara Shapiro headline the Gala Author similar thematic components and to remove effectiveness on five areas including system- Tea. redundancy in language which had caused atic planning, curriculum, faculty, students, confusion for previous applicants. administration, finances, and resources. Accreditation standards are meant as qual- For librarians, a master’s degree from a pro- ACRL/STS Scholarly ity-control measures which are implemented gram accredited by ALA is still considered the via peer and self-assessments. An updated first professional degree. For school librarian Communications Committee version of the standards will apply to library preparation programs in particular, these revi- Conducts Survey school master’s degree programs seeking the sions affect master’s programs with a specialty “ALA-accredited” designation as of Spring in school librarianship from a program in an of Washington), Brian Quinn (Texas Tech By Talea Anderson, Washington State University 2017. LIS programs which are scheduled for educational unit recognized by AASL and University), Lutishoor Salisbury (University review prior to this date may choose to provide accredited by Council for the Accreditation t the ACRL/STS Scholarly Com- of Arkansas), and Julie Speer (Virginia Tech) their program review based on either the new of Educator Preparation (CAEP). munications Committee Forum summarized preliminary findings at the fo- Aon June 28, committee members rum session. They noted in particular that presented findings from a survey recently most survey respondents identified them- distributed to scholarly communication selves as subject-area liaisons who dedicate practitioners about their needs and current relatively little time to scholarly communi- practices. Conducted in April 2015, the sur- cation issues. Still, survey respondents re- vey brought in 217 responses from the ACRL quested further training from STS and other The ALA Science and Technology Section (STS), the divisions so as to better understand issues Council Education and Behavioral Sciences Section and practices like researcher IDs, subject-area poses (EBSS), and the Engineering Libraries Di- depositories, and data management. for a vision (ELD). Committee members from Reflecting on their findings, survey or- group photo ganizers remarked that responses may have each of these sections commented on early in the findings from the survey, noting that more been colored by individual perceptions of Moscone subject-specific training material may be scholarly communication – what it consti- Center. required for those who provide scholarly tutes and how it looks in practice. Relevant communication services in subject areas such ACRL units will begin to analyze survey as the sciences. results and provide recommendations on As organizers of the scholarly commu- training and support for scholarly commu- nication survey, Mel DeSart (University nication practitioners in the sciences. 14 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Spectrum Scholars Celebrate New Connections at ProQuest Events and the Spectrum Institute he 2014-2015 Spectrum Scholars Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach and alumni of the Spectrum Schol- Services to increase the level of engagement Tarship Program gathered together at and interaction with Spectrum Scholars. In this year’s Spectrum Leadership Institute on addition to meeting the scholars at a June June 26. The 2015 Institute included educa- 26 luncheon, ProQuest extended an invita- tion programs developed and presented by tion to all current and alumni scholars to Spectrum alumni, networking opportuni- attend two educational sessions it hosted ties with alumni and leaders from across the the following day. association, and opportunities for Spectrum “The talent and passion for librarian- Scholars to experience the full scope of the ship across many career paths was evident ALA Annual Conference. in talking to the scholars,” said Christine Since 2001, ProQuest funded 150 Goetz, public relations manager, ProQuest. Spectrum Scholars through direct contri- “ProQuest is committed to supporting bution and sponsorship of the Scholarship diversity of future leaders in the profes- Bash (which ended in 2014). sion of library and information science to ProQuest continues to support the best position libraries and institutions at Spectrum Scholarship Program with a the core of today’s culturally diverse com- $52,000 donation to fund seven scholar- munities.” ships, plus one dedicated in memory of To learn more about the 2014-15 ProQuest 2014-2015 Spectrum Scholars John Edward Martin (from left); Karen Ron Clowney, a former ProQuest executive. ProQuest Spectrum Scholars, visit the Pro- Chen, Jessica Humphries; Olivia Dorsey; Christine Goetz, ProQuest public The company has worked closely with the Quest blog to read their stories. relations manager); Kiyoko Shiosaki; and Ben Rodriguez, Spectrum staff. Learning Spaces in Libraries Include More than Books

By Barbara Flohr, Student to ALA Early Literacy Traveling Teams (ELTT) were the overarching goal being school readiness. Bradberry Architects to design Storyville, a created which consisted of library staff who Connor included play nooks in each branch children’s area of 2,500 square feet located he Public Library Association (PLA) traveled to other branches to learn about the complete with colorful rugs, bin units, at the Rosedale Public Library in Rosedale, hosted “The Fusion of Play – and All patrons, create a purchase list, and sched- magnetic boards, and adult-child seating Maryland. This $1.75 million venture in- TFive Early Literacy Practices – into ule a date for installation. The ELTT also created by TMCKids. Conner also worked cluded separate areas developed to foster Library Environments” on June 27. Dur- provided play training for all staff members with designer James Bradberry of James early literacy and school readiness skills. ing this session, librarians and designers and mentoring for the head librarian. The described how they successfully incorporated materials purchased for the learning spaces early learning designs into their libraries with included light tables, doll houses, science ALA Black Caucus Unveils Reading different-sized budgets. and engineering materials, and reading and Dorothy Stoltz, Carroll County Public Li- writing materials to provoke imaginative Is Grand! Celebrating Grand-Families brary, Maryland, used the Every Child Ready and creative play, social skills, and letter and evin Watson, president of the Black originality of program criteria, action plans, to Read and Zero to Three programs and number recognition. Caucus of the American Library As- level of involvement of grandparents in the Kindergarten Assessments in order to design Two of the presenters worked with Ksociation (BCALA), announced that activities, and impact of the program on the early literacy play and learn centers. She was designers to create early literacy spaces. four libraries will receive the 2015 Reading Is community. able to renovate two branches: the Westmin- Christy Estrovitz, San Francisco Public Li- Grand! Celebrating Grand-Families Telling Each grant-winning library will receive ster Branch for $100,000 and the Mt. Airy brary, embedded early literacy centers in the Our Stories @ Your Library grant. Reading Is $500, which will be used to supplement their Branch for $86,000. In each of these reno- public libraries over 10 years. She worked Grand! is a celebration of the important role Reading Is Grand! Program. Funds may be vations, the play and learn centers include with Kim van der Veen of Burgeon Group, African-American grandparents and older used to purchase books, and/or activities for bright colors; incorporate a puppet theater, which is committed to creating interactive adults play in the lives of children. their programs. play materials, and adult seating; and lend learning spaces for public libraries. The two The grant-winning libraries – Wayne The Reading Is Grand! Project is supported themselves to being a creative space. have created cozy nooks, colorful interactive County Public Library, Goldsboro, North by the Black Caucus of the American Library Dana Bjerke, Hennepin County Library, spaces, and active learning areas for children Carolina; Allen Parish Libraries, Oberlin Association (BCALA). It was developed as Minnesota, did not have a substantial budget and parents. Branch, Oberlin, Louisiana; Durham part of 2009 – 2010 American Library Associ- – somewhere between $500 and $1,500 – Marisa Conner, Baltimore County Pub- County Library, Main Branch, Durham, ation President Camila Alire’s Family Literacy but she was able to work with other librarians lic Library, worked with Blake Ratcliffe, North Carolina; and Boston Public Library, Focus Initiative, an initiative to encourage to create play areas to prepare children for founder and co-owner of TMCKids, to cre- Dudley Branch, Boston, Massachusetts were families in ethnically diverse communities to kindergarten. In order to create these spaces, ate play areas that produced learning with selected based on the level of creativity and read and learn together.

Pride in San Francisco

(left) Megan McFarlane, Chicago, Ill., waves her Pride flag on June 28, coinciding with the San Francisco Pride Parade. (above) A bookmobile and techmobile from the ALA Exhibits were part of the parade festivities. 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE Cognotes . 15

articulate Mohawk story (of Hiawatha) has •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Closing chosen to translate nothing to do with the » from page 1 his spiritual guide real story of Hiawatha.” the Peacemaker’s The internationally message of unity for the five warring Iro- acclaimed illustrator quois nations during the 14th century. This of numerous bestsell- message not only united the tribes, but also ing books for children, forever changed how the Iroquois governed whose illustrations have themselves – a blueprint for democracy that appeared in a wide va- would later inspire the authors of the U.S. riety of publications in- Constitution. cluding The New York Robertson is perhaps best known as the Times, Time, and Rolling lead guitarist and primary songwriter of the Stone, Shannon called legendary musical group The Band. Born of the partnership “a true Mohawk and Cayuga descent, Robertson collaboration,” pointing said he first heard the story of Hiawatha out that it is more com- when he was nine years old, at the Six Na- mon for the illustrator tions reserve, where his mother was born and the author to work and raised. separately, with the editor “I heard an elder tell this story, and it ran serving as a conduit. right through me,” he said. “I have never “I wasn’t going to have •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• been able to shake the effect of what that any of that,” he said. storytelling had on me.” Shannon said he once wrote a story about Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” and Robertson told his He told his mother, “When I grow up, I a magic fish named Jangles, who tells stories seeking a different perspective, he sat at a mother, “When I grow want to tell stories like that.” from the beginning of time. library to do his research. up, I want to tell stories He said that it was at the urging of his “At one point, he tells a young boy, ‘I’m “Here I was, back doing rock and roll like that.” son Sebastian that the book project began, he a storyteller and a story.’” Shannon said, and had to go to the library to get it right,” credited his son with conducting the research. “Robbie is kind of like that fish. Not as cold he said. When the time arrived to choose an illus- and clammy.” trator, Robertson said he asked his publisher, Robertson and Shannon also spoke about Abrams Books for Young Readers, “Who is the impact of libraries on their lives. the best in the world to do the illustrations Robertson said that when he was grow- for this? I didn’t say, ‘Who is the best in ing up, “There was two sides to the coin on town?’” libraries. There was the side of it where this He was led to Shannon, seeing his cover is where you could find out everything that for The Rough Face Girl. you know, everything you need to know. “It just tore my heart out just looking at But there was a side of it where cool kids and this illustration,” he said. tough kids . . . you go to the library, you’re Shannon was “a goner” after Robertson going to get a knuckle sandwich. There was played a song he wrote about Hiawatha and an edginess to it.” the Peacemaker. Years later, when he began playing music The story of Hiawatha is commonly professionally, he said he became a book- known in this country through a poem by worm, “trying to make up for something that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Song I felt was missing by reading a lot.” of Hiawatha.” But Robertson said, “His Eventually, when he was writing “The Creator of Award for Excellence In Military Fiction Passes Away illiam Young Boyd II, who cre- Honor at the French Embassy in Panama. ated the W. Y. Boyd Literary Boyd was the author of five published ALA outgoing President Courtney L. Young turns the gavel over to incoming WAward for Excellence in Military novels, including three on World War II: ALA President Sari Feldman Fiction passed away on December 31, 2014, The Gentle Infantryman, A Fight for Love and at the age of 88. He was born March 5, 1926, Glory, and A Rendezvous with Death, as well as ,in Panama City, Republic of Panama. Bolivar: Liberator of a Continent and Panama Boyd graduated from Phillips Academy and the Canal, which have been translated Andover in 1944 and was drafted into the into Spanish. He has also written pieces for U.S. Army as an infantry replacement. He the Wall Street Journal (principally about the was in combat in Europe from January necessity for a sea-level canal in Panama). 1945 through the end of the war in May. The W. Y. Boyd Award for Excellence As part of the distinguished 242nd Infantry in Military Fiction was created in 1995 Regiment of the Rainbow Division, he par- and for two years was administrated by the ticipated in the Battle of the Bulge and the American Publishing Association. In 1997 liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp, Boyd moved it to the American Library and saw action in the Alsace, the Ardennes, Association. In 2005 Boyd endowed the the Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was award. Boyd attended many ALA Annual awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Conferences to present the award in person. the Bronze Star Medal for exemplary conduct He was extremely proud of the ALA award under enemy fire and three campaign stars and its ability to shine a spotlight on history on his E.T.O. (European Theater of Opera- and war-related fiction. tions) medal. His Antitank Division earned A list of the authors who have won the a Presidential Unit Citation for its heroic award can be found at http://en.wikipedia. and successful stand against overwhelming org/wiki/W.Y._Boyd_Literary_Award_ odds during the German winter offensive in for_Excellence_in_Military_Fiction. This OCLC research scientist Constance Malpas talks about the emerging January 1945. Boyd received a Purple Heart year’s winner of the W. Y. Boyd Award higher education landscape and learning to embrace its challenges for wounds sustained in battle. On June 6, for Excellence in Military Fiction is Phil during the ACRL President’s Program: “The Power of Mindset: Fostering 2014 (the 70th anniversary of D-Day), Mr. Klay, author of Redeployment, published by Grit on the Way to New Roles.” Boyd was awarded the French Legion of Penguin Press. 16 . Cognotes 2015 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE

Forecasting the Climate in the exhibits of Intellectual Privacy •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• By Rachael Wettenstein, Student to ALA He pointed to Google analytics, which revealed wo celebrated defenders of civil liber- after Edward Snowden’s ties discussed the current climate of documents leaked that Tintellectual privacy and surveillance people began searching on June 29. Neil Richards, professor of less for things which law at Washington University, and David may be socially disfa- Greene, senior staff attorney and civil Lib- vored – i.e., topics of erties director at the Electronic Frontier terrorism, homosexual- Foundation, came together at the session, ity, and eating disorders. “Principles & Politics: Intellectual Privacy Greene stressed that and Surveillance in the Digital Age.” what is most important, Richards began by introducing the defi- especially for informa- nition of intellectual privacy: the protection tion professionals, is to from surveillance or interference when en- make sure researchers gaged in the processes of generating ideas. do not have to make a He explained how behavior changes when trade-off between the re- people are aware that they are being moni- search and the resources tored. For example, in some cases having available that have pri- •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• a video camera in front of a cash register vacy options. “We want may reduce the number of employees steal- to make sure that when Thomas ing money. While this may seem like good people are using tools that they make con- MacNamara of news for surveillance, Richards argues it scious decisions about whether or not they Index Data shows may also stifle people’s intellectual curiosity. want to share their information.” Darrell Davis of Berkeley, Calif., how to use Neil Richards and David Greene’s the virtual reality Recommended Intellectual Privacy Resources catalog in the Exhibits. Mozilla Firefox Organizations that can help educate on (approved privacy browser) issues of privacy and surveillance: DuckDuckGo https://www.eff.org (approved privacy browser) https://ssd.eff.org HTTPS Everywhere (for encryption) http://www.ala.org/advocacy/ Privacy Badger (prevents third-party privacyconfidentiality/toolkitsprivacy/ tracking) privacy https://libraryfreedomproject.org ALA Midwinter Deep Dives he inaugural ALA Midwinter Meet- sessions at the 2016 Midwinter Meeting in ing Deep Dive half-day education Boston will be accepted online. Contact Tsessions are for active, participatory Alee Navarro at [email protected] for more learning in an intimate, interactive work- information. shop-style setting. The maximum attendance for each session will be 25. Advance registra- Focused proposals are specifically re- tion is required. quested within the following broad areas: Participants may be required to do some • Learning in libraries (e.g. connected advance work. To receive CEUs, a participant learning, gamification, making) must attend the entire course. • Data management and use ALA Midwinter Deep Dive sessions will • Digitization and preservation be scheduled either 8:15 – 11:30 a.m. or • Diversity and inclusion 1:00 – 4:15 p.m. (each session includes a • Futuring/trend-watching 15-minute snack break – provided). All • The library in the community Deep Dive sessions will be in rooms set with round tables. The standard AV set will These broad areas are selected based on include a projector, laptop, and screen. Deep post-conference survey responses indicating Dive sessions will not be recorded. All Deep that ALA attendees seek “skill-building” Dive sessions will be scheduled during the opportunities, particularly in these areas, to Midwinter Meeting, i.e. Saturday – Monday. provide leadership in a transforming library environment and to manage complex ser- Call for Proposals: vices. They are also informed by the work of Proposals for ALA Midwinter Deep Dive the ALA Center for the Future of Libraries. Save the Dates ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibition January 8–12, Boston ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

2016 June 23–28, Orlando