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Kwame Alexander speaks at the 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition. Photo: EPNAC San Diego’s dreamy weather and landscape were no match for the sunny disposition of library workers and advocates reuniting under a shared mission at the American Library Association’s (ALA) 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition. A total of 13,532 people registered for the event, […]
The Library Marketplace at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego. Photo: EPNAC The American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition (June 27–July 2) brought 13,532 registrants to sunny San Diego for educational programs, featured speakers, business meetings, and celebrations. Though attendance was slightly down from the past two […]
Connie Chung speaks at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego on June 29. Photo: EPANC Connie Chung has been bringing you the headlines since the late 1960s. As the first Asian American to anchor any news program in the US and the first woman to coanchor the CBS Evening […]
By Megan Bennett | July 24, 2024 Photos: EPANC The weather report at the American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition, held June 27–July 2 in San Diego, was all smiles. Here are some of the week’s picture-perfect moments. Clockwise from top: Haley White, reference department manager at Springfield-Greene County (Mo.) Library District, takes […]
What an amazing Annual Conference experience in San Diego! It was great to see strong attendance numbers of nearly 13,600, reflecting a continued desire for learning and engagement. As we look ahead to meet the information needs of our membership, it is important that we stand united to remember why we work in this trusted […]
San Diego’s famously sunny reputation may rest on its Mediterranean climate, but “America’s Finest City” has more to offer than beaches and breezes. As the former stomping ground of Theodor Geisel (also known as Dr. Seuss; see our By the Numbers) and Raymond Chandler—and the place where speculative-fiction stars Kim Stanley Robinson and Cindy Pon […]
Seasonal fare from Mabel’s Gone Fishing. Photo: Kimberly Motos Did you pack your sunscreen and hat? Ready to check out San Diego’s famed surf and sand? You’ve come to the right place. The convention center resembles a huge sailboat docked beside the deep blue San Diego Bay, where luxurious yachts fill the marina. Restaurants both […]
Illustration: Shane Tolentino Last year, when states were introducing a raft of legislation that would effectively take books off the shelves, librarians at Harris County (Tex.) Public Library (HCPL) knew they wanted to take a stand. Texas House Bill 900, which would have restricted materials in school libraries and required vendors to assign book ratings […]
Photo: ©SewcreamStudio/Adobe Stock Social workers who connect patrons to needed physical and emotional care. Quiet rooms for rest and relaxation. Robotic pets that purr away patrons’ anxieties. And grief groups to support patrons over the holidays. Over the past decade, mental health support in libraries has grown more inventive, specific, and widespread. Institutions continue to […]
At Roanoke (Va.) Public Libraries’ 2023 Flip the Fair event, elementary school students discuss a research presentation on microbiology with a graduate student from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Photo: Amber Lowery On a school morning last September, small groups of 5th-graders crowded around tools connected to scientific research—a microscope, a robotic camera, and even a […]
Staff members from Collier County (Fla.) Public Library dressed for a Bridgerton-themed high tea. Photo: Collier County (Fla.) Public Library On a leisurely Saturday afternoon, guests draped in Regency-era fashion—lightweight muslin and chiffon, adorned with delicate lace and ribbons—converge in an airy hall to indulge in a spread of tea, elaborate pastries, cakes crowned with […]
Summer reading program participants at Montgomery County (Md.) Public Libraries choose brand-new books to take home, courtesy of Friends of the Library, Montgomery County. Photo: Jason Turner/Montgomery County (Md.) Public Libraries Summer reading program prizes are a fun way to spark children’s participation. But those prizes often consist of nonrecyclable plastic items that—once the fun has […]
Photo: Mark Davis Dave Eggers, a dynamic literary force, is also a passionate, innovative, and generous advocate. The cofounder of 826 National, a network of youth writing and tutoring centers around the country, he also established nonprofit independent publishing company McSweeney’s and is an exceptionally creative and prolific writer. His many books for adults include […]
The Dr. Seuss and Cat in the Hat statue outside Geisel Library, the main library of University of California San Diego Photo: Felix Lipov The American Library Association’s 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held June 27–July 2 in San Diego. 4Number of crown-shaped chandeliers designed by author L. Frank Baum for the Hotel del […]
Photo: Brett Alan Photography Kelley Woolley remembers visiting San Diego Zoo and its Safari Park as a kid. The big cats, giraffes, and koalas were often her first stops. She recalls watching elephants do tricks and riding the now-closed monorail, which offered great views of the tiger habitat. “I’ve been a huge animal person my […]
Photo: Rachel Bright Artist and activist Kathleen Hanna is most known as the lead singer of punk bands Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and the Julie Ruin. Hanna’s new memoir Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk (Ecco, May) chronicles the challenges and triumphs of her life before, during, and after navigating the male-dominated […]
Illustration: Jacob Stead The library technology industry had a quiet year in 2023. But in the absence of major business moves and acquisitions, companies set their sights on executing strategies to strengthen their market position. Previous cycles of business consolidation have yielded a layered landscape with distinct levels of competition. At the top, a handful […]
Illustration: Rudzhan/Adobe Stock As school librarians, we are always rethinking how to convey who we are and what we do. To compete and remain viable, we need to work on our brand identity. You might be thinking, “Our school library has a brand?” Most of us associate the word with a name, logo, tagline, and […]
In February, Maynard (Mass.) Public Library featured fenugreek as its spice of the month. The library started its spice club in January 2022. Photo: Maynard (Mass.) Public Library Once a month, the aromas of unique herbs and spices waft through Maynard (Mass.) Public Library (MPL). These spices accent dishes like sweet and spicy tahini noodles, […]
Sister Stella, a resident of Queen of Peace, a retirement community for nuns, plays with Henry. The robotic dog belongs to Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich, Illinois.Photo: Liz Kristan Liz Kristan wanted to bring four-legged friends to patrons who needed them the most. Kristan, outreach services coordinator at Ela Area Public Library (EAPL) […]
