That is the title of a web initiative being undertaken by the American Library Association (ALA). It will be a portal for library advocacy and be available through the ALA website and I believe will be able to be accessed through all member websites.I sat in on a focus group held during the mid-winter meeting. Though in its early stages the concept is a good one and if executed successfully will be an asset to our libraries.The highlight: listening to the feedback from a few members of the ALA emerging leaders program who were in the focus group. They were...
The Top Writers of the Pacific Northwest Hit the Newspaper
Talk about a sense of place.Here are the first inhabitants of the new Seattle P-I Writers in Residence project:Sherman AlexieRebecca BrownCharles CrossPete DexterIvan DoigTimothy EganEllen ForneyDavid GutersonCharles JohnsonJonathan RabanTom RobbinsAnn RuleTell me one publisher that wouldn't want that lineup. A healthy dozen. The Northwest 12.Here's the plan:-One writer will be spotlighted in the PI each month.-The material can only be "new work, unpublished past work or work excerpted from upcoming books"Kudos to PI managing editor David McCumber for getting it going. He created the prototype for this when at the San Francisco Examiner but here the writers are strictly regional....
Libraries Need Computers – Libraries Need the Gates Foundation
The first shower of news from the ALA Mid-winter Meetings here is in Seattle was the Gates Foundation pledging another 5 years of support so "public libraries serving low-income communities continue to provide free, high-quality computer and Internet services and training to their communities".Some interesting numbers from the release:-14 million people rely on library computers to further their education, look for work and to get health and government information.-almost 40 percent of Americans are still lacking Internet access at home.-the Gates Foundations has contributed over $325 million to date to library technology initiatives to overcome the "digital divide"Our hats go...
The Model Librarian
Talk about special collections.I am not sure if they have any fashion shows scheduled for the American Library Association mid-winter meetings which kick off here in Seattle today.But here is one we came across featuring the Librarians from Sweden.What a cool looking library.Thanks to blog of the Kenyon Review lead
Don’t Believe the Hype: The Book Shop Remains Endangered
You would think the world of independent bookshops was flourishing.The New York Sun recently ran a piece titled ""Booksellers Fight Back As 5 New Stores Open" and the American Booksellers Association (ABA) started the year off with this headline "A Plethora of New Indies Open in 2006" touting the arrival of 97 new bookshops that opened for business in 2006 (and were members of the ABA).Unfortunately, if you look a little closer you can still see some trouble spots.2 of the 5 bookstores that have opened in New York were opened by publishers not booksellers. I am a big fan...