American Libraries Magazine | The magazine of the American Library Association

Using Other Sources

Posted: Jan. 18, 2012.

Cover image for ALA Editions book on instructional literacy

Q. Today's been tough. Kids are coming in with left-to-the-last-minute homework assignments for which they normally turn to Wikipedia. We're getting them to print resources and our online databases, but do you have suggestions for teaching research skills?

Recommended Listening and Audiobooks

Posted: Nov. 16, 2011.

1980s-era tape cassette player, a box booming with sound!

Q. I got to explain to an older patron today that audiobooks can be downloaded! She last listened to an audiobook when they were still on cassette tapes. Now that she knows, she would love to give her 13-year-old granddaughter something else to listen to on her tiny music player. I told her about the Odyssey Award. Does ALA have any lists of audiobooks for children?

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Happy 135th, ALA!

Posted: Oct. 5, 2011.

Engraving of the room in the Pennsylvania State Historical Society where the fir

Call to attend the 1876 Librarians’ Conference

Q. What were the forces behind the founding conference of the American Library Association?

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Reading Levels

Posted: Sep. 21, 2011.

Cover of forthcoming title Booklist's 1000 Best Young Adult Books, 2000-2010

Q. Is there a reliable source for the suggested reading level of a novel? I'm a teacher who requires independent reading, but the novels my students bring me sometimes look "too young" for the grade I teach. I cannot always find information on what reading level the novel was intended to entertain.

Librarians in Government

Posted: Sep. 14, 2011.

The question came in with the subject line "Reference question that only ALA can answer" but it really is a question that only all of ALA, not just the ALA Librarian, can answer: Are there librarians who have been elected officials, or who have run for office?