More Midwinter Miscellany

January 22, 2009

American Libraries Associate Editor Greg Landgraf and I will be blogging the daylights out of the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver, beginning tomorrow, January 23. In addition, Senior Editor George Eberhart will be producing next week's issue of American Libraries Direct during the conference, to bring you a roundup next Wednesday of the latest happenings in Denver and everywhere in Libraryland. Associate Editor Pam Goodes will be covering the ALA Executive Board and Council meetings. Stop and see us or leave messages for us in the ALA Offices. Although more of a business meeting than a conference, Midwinter still offers a wide array of events and discussions.

I'll be working with Greg to film ALA Presidential Candidates Forum on Saturday and post the entire event on AL Focus that evening. The candidates are Roberta Stevens of the Library of Congress and Kent Oliver of the Stark County District Library in Ohio.
Also, you'll see new American Libraries Associate Editor Sean Fitzpatrick learning the ropes. Sean comes to ALA from Amigos Library Services in Texas; his MS in library science is from the University of North Texas in Denton.
Of the many meetings at Midwinter, the one most directly related to American Libraries is the Advisory Committee meeting on Saturday at 1:30 (check your program for locations), where Chair Laurel Minott will preside over discussions with the group whose primary function is to serve as a conduit for member feedback regarding editorial policy. "Hectic Pace" columnist Andrew Pace, who moved the column from AL to OCLC when he took a job there last year, is now a member of the Advisory Committee.
Some of the meetings and events where you should be able to find me madly blogging:

Friday 1:30-3: RMG Consultants' "View from the Top" seminar 5:30-7:30: Exhibit Opening and Reception

Saturday 8-10 Washington Update 11:30-12:30: Presidential Candidates Forum 1:30-3:30: American Libraries Advisory Committee Meeting 3-4:30: Membership Town Hall Meeting: What We Want President Obama to Know

Sunday 8-9:30 AAP Trade Libraries Committee Breakfast 10-12:30: ALA Council I 1-2:30 Planning and Budget Assembly 3:30-6:30 ALA President's Program featuring Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh, followed by a reception hosted by President Jim Rettig

Monday 7:45-9:00 Youth Media Awards Press Conference 10-3 Exhibits Technology Showcase and Exhibit Hall

Tuesday 9:00-1:00 ALA Council II Wednesday 8:00-12:00 ALA Council III

Lastly, I'll be stopping frequently at the Press Office to talk with Macey Morales, ALA press officer who can be counted on to answer all your (and my) media relations questions. And don't forget to pick up American Libraries for your Denver restaurant guide, as well as Cognotes for daily news from the show floor.

Midwinter Friday: Orientation

Latest Library Links

17m

Jackie Edwards writes: “As spring rolls around, seasonal allergies can flare up among library workers, resulting in symptoms like sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, ears, and nose, coughing, and asthma. Not only are these symptoms detrimental to well-being and productivity, but they can also mean you’re less able to provide excellent customer service to library users. Fortunately, by purifying the air, preventing mold, and keeping your work area clean, you can improve indoor air quality and combat allergies in your library.

Library Worklife, Apr.
4h

In Episode 94, Call Number celebrates Preservation Week, to be held this year April 28–May 4. The week’s events aim to raise awareness of the role libraries and cultural institutions play in protecting historic and culturally significant collections. Segments include Traci Sorell, honorary chair of this year’s Preservation Week, discussing the role of preservation in telling stories; Kathleen Monahan, special collections public services supervisor at Boston Public Library, addressing the importance of security in preservation; and Rosie Grayburn and Melissa Tedone, cofounders of the Poison Book Project, talking about research on potentially toxic bookbinding materials from the 19th century.

AL: The Scoop, Apr. 15
23h

Leigh Kunkel writes: “The legalization of marijuana in many states and municipalities in recent years has created a newly legal industry and budding entrepreneurs who can benefit from the expertise of business librarians. As soon as Washington state introduced an initiative to legalize recreational cannabis use in 2012, Seattle Public Library librarian Jay Lyman started fielding questions from potential entrepreneurs. Since then, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational cannabis use, and 14 more have legalized medical use of cannabis. This cultural shift brings a new opportunity for libraries to step in with support services.”

American Libraries Trend, Mar./Apr.
1d

ALA launched its “Reader. Voter. Ready.” campaign, calling on advocates to sign a pledge to be registered, informed, and ready to vote in all local, state, and federal elections in 2024. Available resources include a 2024 voter engagement guide for libraries, a tip sheet to share with community leaders and partners, highlighting the ways libraries support voter participation and education, and a one-pager, “Voters Count on Libraries: The Numbers,” illustrating libraries as centers of civic lift and patron engagement with library services. ALA is collaborating with partners to provide nonpartisan resources and learning opportunities for librarians.

ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office, Apr. 10
4d

Joyce McIntosh writes: “Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants to organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during Banned Books Weeks. Grants are awarded for $1,000 and applications are accepted through April 30. FRTF also offers the annual Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship for library school students and new professionals to attend ALA’s Annual Conference. The scholarship provides conference registration, transportation, six nights of housing, and a $300 stipend for meals and other expenses. The application deadline is April 26.”

Freedom to Read Foundation, Mar. 28, 29
4d

Bobbi L. Newman writes: “Psychological safety, a term coined to describe an environment where individuals feel free to express their thoughts without fear of repercussion, is not just a nice-to-have; it’s essential for workplace wellbeing. It fosters innovation, encourages the sharing of ideas, and supports mental health. Librarians can struggle with psychological safety because we prefer the veneer of niceness over almost all else. We often conflate niceness with kindness. It is hard to have psychological safety when teammates are afraid to express thoughts and be their authentic selves because any type of nonconformity is perceived as not nice.”

Librarian by Day, Apr. 5
4d

Joy DuBose writes: “Many people remember playing the original Oregon Trail in school to learn about the historical Oregon Trail and the tribulations of those who traveled it. But, unless you are familiar with games or know what to look for, you may not know what is currently available or how games have changed. Many games were created with education in mind, and there are a great deal more entertainment games that can also be used for education.” Examples include Super Algebrawl, Turing Complete, Kerbal Space Program, and even Stardew Valley.

Choice 360 LibTech Insights, Apr. 8

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Midwinter Miscellany

Midwinter Friday: Orientation