July 16, 2009

ALA Annual Conference a magnet for media coverage

The American Library Association’s (ALA) 2009 Annual Conference, held in July 9-15 in Chicago, received extensive media attention.

For a full roundup of coverage, visit Visibility @ your library (http://pio.ala.org/visibility), the ALA Public Information Office’s (PIO) blog. It includes links to and descriptions of interviews with ALA leadership and audio and video clips of coverage.

ALA Annual Conference focuses on economy’s impact on libraries, intellectual freedom, privacy

ALA Nearly 29,000 librarians, library supporters and exhibitors attended the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference July 9-15, held at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The total of 28,941 included 22,762 attendees and 6,179 exhibitors. It amounted to an increase from last year’s figures from the conference in Anaheim, Calif., which attracted 16,295 attendees and 5,752 exhibitors. The attendance total also marked an increase over the 2007 conference in Washington, D.C., which drew 28,499 people.

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AASL announces inaugural best Web sites for teaching and learning

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announces a new resource for school library media specialists and their teacher colleagues. The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning, a list honoring the top 25 Internet sites for enhancing learning and curriculum development, is considered the "best of the best" by AASL.

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July 10, 2009

Weekly Poll

Be sure to check out our new survey below, or on our home page.

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

July 08, 2009

Op-ed carries important message about the value of libraries

On July 6, an important op-ed, “In Web age, libraries as important as ever,” by Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, and ALA President Jim Rettig, appeared in the online edition of the Chicago Sun Times. To learn more, visit the American Library Association (ALA) Public Information Office blog, Visibility @ your library (http://pio.ala.org/visibility).

Don’t miss these public awareness, media relations programs featuring top experts

Some of the nation’s top experts will participate in a series of public awareness and media relations programs at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago (July 9-15).

Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience. On Saturday, July 11, a panel discussion hosted by the ALA’s Campaign for America’s Libraries and Public Programs Office (PPO) will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon at McCormick Place, room W-192B.

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Chicago plays host to nation’s library leaders as library use soars

ALA_Chicago_09_Logo_sm As job-seekers, families and students rely on free library resources, more than 25,000 library leaders and library supporters will gather July 9 – 15 at McCormick Place West to discuss the   challenges facing U.S. libraries caused by increased usage during tough economic times. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference is  the largest library gathering of its kind in the world.

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July 07, 2009

Nominations Now Being Accepted for Downs Intellectual Freedom Award

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2009.

Given annually, the award acknowledges individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it impacts libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or a long-term interest in and dedication to the cause of intellectual freedom.

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Presentations on Chinese Libraries

A series of programs showcasing China's Academic Libraries will be presented by visiting Chinese librarians from several of China's key universities, including Peking University, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University and others.  All programs are open to the public.

Here is the schedule:
July 6 2:-5: pm Library Room 66, University of Illinois Main Library Basement
July 9 9:-12 am Library Room 66, University of Illinois Main Library Basement
July 16 6:30 -9:30 pm Mckinley Foundation building's Geneva conference room, 809 S 5th St. Please use the entrance on Daniel Street.

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Booklist Online rolls out lively and informative reference blog

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Booklist Online announces the addition of Points of Reference to its growing family of blogs. Mary Ellen Quinn and a team of front-line experts from academic, public and school libraries post about reference sources and trends in reference publishing and services.

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