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Nationwide, libraries are losing funding, information is streamed into private homes, and increasingly, libraries are becoming static places. Chattanooga, however, is at the forefront of overcoming those challenges. In mid-November, more than 100 library directors and administrators from all over the U.S. kicked off an annual two-day summit hosted by the Library Journal—a gathering whose … Read more
Librarians Without Borders (LWB) originated as a student project of Founder and Co-Executive Director Melanie Sellar, who attended library school at the University of Western Ontario. The organization’s tagline is Putting information in the hands of the world. Now nearly 10 years old, LWB’s mission is to “improve access to information resources regardless of language, geography, or … Read more
Walmart stores are literally everywhere—within easy driving distance for many Americans. But what happens when a Walmart closes? Officials in McAllen, Texas faced this situation and decided to transform the huge empty space into the largest single-floor public library in the U.S. Designers and developers removed walls and ceilings, creating an open and dramatic modern … Read more
Libraries in New York State—like their counterparts across the country—are experimenting with new ways to draw patrons in and engage them in reading, creating, and strengthening their ties to the community. In short, they are working to become more relevant. The Pittsford Public Library, for example, hosts drop-in sessions on mastering the Kindle, the iPad, … Read more
To meet Oklahoma’s demand for services to non-native English speakers, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) recently launched a citizenship and immigration pilot project that enables libraries to provide useful information about immigration and citizenship benefits. In collaboration with library-based literacy programs, the project promotes awareness and understanding of citizenship while reinforcing English language skills. … Read more
According to a recent article by Brad Lukanic, executive director of CannonDesign’s global education practice, “For academic institutions seeking to thrive amidst the constantly shifting world of higher education, libraries have become the heart of the spirit of collaboration and innovation–going beyond being places to merely access knowledge to become hubs to truly explore and … Read more
College libraries have increasingly defined themselves as all-purpose information technology resource centers. Georgia Tech lends computers, cameras, and other electronics to students and professors—and provides a briefing by its instructional technology associate on how to use the devices. Colgate University lends drones to serious researchers, after carefully vetting their credentials. North Carolina State University’s website … Read more
School librarians can make the case for library funding by showing how they help students learn and proving how they build vital collaborative relationships with teachers. During a Connected Educator Month edWeb webinar about making the case for school libraries, Michelle Luhtala, head librarian at New Canaan High School in Connecticut, discussed four key ways … Read more
Three leading education groups—AASA, the School Superintendents Association; the National School Boards Association (NSBA); and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) —are partnering to help school systems make the “digital leap.” According to CoSN, the “Leading the Digital Leap” initiative is designed to empower K-12 superintendents, district technology leaders and other stakeholder to strengthen educational … Read more
In early October, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear was the state’s first signer of the Declaration for the Right to Libraries. This declaration asserts America’s right to all libraries – public, school, academic, and special. He was joined by First Lady Jane Beshear, Lt. Governor Jerry Abramson, and Madeline Abramson. Kentucky residents are encouraged to sign … Read more