ALA News

CHICAGO — With texts covering everything from online instruction and school librarianship to collection management and cataloging, the Fall 2020/Winter 2021 Textbooks and Course Resources Catalog from ALA Editions | ALA Neal-Schuman includes dozens of key titles for LIS instructors and academic libraries. Among the many books featured:

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) and Capital One announced 20 public libraries selected to participate in Community Connect: Digital Access at Home, a program supporting digital access and financial capabil

CHICAGO- Register today for the upcoming six-week course Reference Interview 101 beginning on October 26, 2020.

CHICAGO – Mesquite Independent School District (MISD), located in Mesquite, Texas, is the recipient of the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) 2020 National School Library of the Year (NSLY) Award.

CHICAGO - The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library.

Funded projects have ranged from “A Resource Guide about Disabilities, Disability Theory, and Assistive Technologies” to “A Bibliography for Queer Teens” to “Graphic Novels & the Humanity of Mental Illness” to “Web Accessibility Resources for Libraries”. 

ATHENS, Ga. - In 1990, R.E.M. posed for the American Library Association's READ campaign to promote the pleasure and importance of reading—and it became an instant collector's item. The READ poster campaign gave indie rock artists Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe a chance to promote their love of reading and to share some of their favorite books and authors with the public. This iconic image, taken over 30 years ago, will now be available in puzzle form to R.E.M. fans and a new generation of readers.   
 

CHICAGO — In the midst of crisis, when organizations of all kinds have been forced to rethink their most basic operations and functions, libraries continue to demonstrate their resilience. Quickly pivoting to innovative ways of connecting their users to the information and services they need and enjoy, library workers are fully embracing the challenges of serving their communities in challenging times.

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, and Futures, a new division of ALA, will present the webinar “Don't click that link! Cybersecurity best practices for your institution and staff,” on Wednesday, October 28, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Central Time.

CHICAGO — Your library is your classroom, and you are responsible for it no matter what’s happening there. Ineffective classroom management can hamper or completely negate your efforts at creating a strong library program, and that’s true whether you’re a new school librarian just starting out or one with many years under your belt. Hilda K. Weisburg, a past recipient of AASL’s Distinguished Service Award, presents a powerful new resource that will show you how to prevent, deal with, and overcome discipline problems you may face when communicating with and teaching K-12 students.

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of “Reflections on Practitioner Research: A Practical Guide for Information Professionals,” edited by Lee Ann Fullington, Brandon K. West, and Frans Albarillo, which can help information professionals build an understanding of the research process as applied to librarianship and address the challenges of undertaking research as a practitioner.

CHICAGO — The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), has selected Sara Beth Coffman, who is currently studying at the School of Information Sciences at The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, as the new member manager of its collection development and content curation blog, The Hub. Prior to returning to school, Coffman taught English and Composition and was the Director of Learning Commons at an independent pre-K–12 school.

CHICAGO- Register today for the upcoming three-week Business Reference 101 eCourse beginning on Monday, October 19, 2020. 

CHICAGO — When you’re a solo librarian or only have a few volunteers to rely on (with a tiny budget to match) you’ve got to make the most of everything. With creativity, flexibility, and heart, you can offer programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds. “209 Big Programming Ideas for Small Budgets,” published by ALA Editions in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL), shares ideas and guidance for being the anchor your community needs.

CHICAGO - On August 10, a weather storm known as a derecho sent intense winds across the Midwest. The Marion Public Library in Iowa suffered significant interior and exterior damage rendering it unusable to patrons. Through its Library Disaster Relief Fund, The American Library Association (ALA) has sent $10,000 for the Marion Public Library to purchase laptops, tablets, a printer, and wi-fi hotspots, as they serve their community from temporary locations in the aftermath of the disaster.

CHICAGO - Booklist, the review publication of the American Library Association, is proud to announce a new Booklist Publications Advisory Board. The board is comprised of national leaders in readers’ advisory and collection development, as well as content and business experts who represent the widely diverse audiences that Booklist and ALA serve.

CHICAGO - The Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Board of Directors announced today that the face-to-face portion of the ACRL 2021 Conference scheduled for April 14-17, 2021, in Seattle, Washington, has been canceled because of the serious health risks posed by COVID-19 but will continue as a virtual-only event.

CHICAGO  —  The Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) of ALA and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are pleased to announce the opening of the 2021 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries grant cycle. These grants recognizes libraries for their role in the growth of graphic literature and awards funds and resources for graphic novel collection development and programming.

Learn the latest techniques for planning and implementing a contactless hold, pickup service to keep you and your library safe. The Loyola University Chicago staff developed a successful model over this summer with very limited time. The presenters will share examples of the related services that other libraries have implemented and what methods worked for their library space. Even when contactless pickup may no longer be necessary, these are techniques that libraries can apply to create similar services and adapt to new realities.

EXTON, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries will designate Joseph Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor, New York, as a Literary Landmark™ in honor of Jupiter Hammon, the first published African-American poet. The designation will take place at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 17, which recognizes Hammon's 309th birthday as well as Black Poetry Day. This will mark the first Literary Landmark dedication to be livestreamed.