16h
HathiTrust released its new strategic vision March 25. The new strategic directions prioritize expanding access to HathiTrust’s collection, including lawful access to copyrighted materials; diversifying the collection’s subject matter and sources; investing in current and emerging technologies to improve metadata, content, and user experience, and developing a flexible and resilient technical and organizational infrastructure. The vision was informed by participation of representatives of more than 140 member libraries and peer institutions.
HathiTrust, Mar. 25
19h
Phil Morehart writes: “We’re gearing up for a very exciting National Library Week, April 7–13. On April 8, also known as Right to Read Day, The New Republic is presenting a discussion on banned and challenged books with authors Lauren Groff, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ellen Hopkins, George M. Johnson, David Levithan, Ashley Hope Pérez, Jodi Picoult, and Jacqueline Woodson, hosted by MSNBC’s Katie Phang.” Register for free tickets to attend the event in Pinecrest, Florida, or stream online. ALA also offers posters, proclamations, graphics, and more tools for libraries to use in planning their own National Library Week celebrations.
I Love Libraries, Mar. 20
23h
The deadline to vote in ALA’s annual election is April 3 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. ALA members are voting for 2025–26 president and 12 councilors-at-large who will serve from 2024–27. Read the candidate statements for presidential candidates Sam Helmick, community and access services coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, and Raymond Pun, academic and research librarian at the Alder Graduate School of Education in Redwood City, California. Both candidates also participated in the virtual ALA Presidential Candidates’ Forum. Biographical information for the presidential and councilor-at-large candidates is available on the ALA election website.
ALA Governance Office, Mar. 12; American Libraries, Mar./Apr.
2d
Nathalie op de Beeck writes: “Floyd County (Va.) Public Schools have suspended a One Division, One Book community reading of Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree following complaints that the middle-grade novel depicts a monoecious red oak, a tree with reproductive parts that can pollinate and flower simultaneously. In the book, originally published in 2017, the tree claims an identity that is ‘both’ female and male.” The program was suspended after a Facebook post by Jodi Farmer, “whose children attend a private Christian academy in neighboring Carroll County.”
Publishers Weekly, Mar. 20; Roanoke Times, Mar. 13
3d
American Libraries offers some surprising and inspiring statistics about how libraries are encouraging creative reuse. Learn the number of volunteers that make the used book sale hosted by Friends of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City—one of the largest library book sales in the country—possible, the size of the shipping container that Meridian (Idaho) Library District adapted into its Tiny Library, and the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library anniversary commemorated by a massive sculpture made of recycled denim and electronics.
American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
3d
Rosie Newmark writes: “When Courtney Waters saw young patrons taking an interest in fantasy and medieval history, she decided to introduce sword fighting at her library. ‘I’m always looking to do programs that are a little bit off the beaten path,’ says Waters, youth services manager at Missouri River Regional Library in Jefferson City, Missouri. Enter centuries-old combat and training techniques, which have seen a boom in recent years, thanks in part to the emergence of historical European martial arts communities, mainly in the US, Australia, and Europe.”
American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
6d
Joshua Smith writes: “In early 2024, there are over 100 million songs on Spotify. That is an amazing number of choices. But how many artists are getting lost in the crowd? In 2021, we at the New Orleans Public Library set out to close that gap by supporting artists with our Crescent City Sounds streaming service. Libraries entering the streaming music field provide real benefits to the library, patrons, and music community. From paychecks to gigs and programming to at-home offerings, everyone reaps the rewards of an all-local, curated, and free music streaming service.”
Information Technology and Libraries, Mar. 18