The PLA Blog | Official Blog of the Public Library Association
Teton County Library hooked us up
When I set out for this cross-country trip, my plan was to visit a bunch of libraries along the way (tag: road trip), admire and promote their unique community-centered practices, and share photos as I go. It has been interesting. I haven’t blogged about even a third of the libraries I’ve dropped by, mostly because [...]
Deadwood Public Library, SD
Let me ask you a question. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon after a card game in 1876. The Deadwood Public Library was established in 1895. Had the Deadwood Public Library been open in 1876, do you think that Wild Bill’s assasin, Jack McCall, would have been hanging around reading a [...]
I’m a Leader, I’m a Follower: Middle Management Theory and Practice
Beverly Lynch (UCLA) moderated this panel discussion of managing up and down. The panelists discussed shared leadership and the fact that top level managers need leaders at all levels of their organizations. It is possible (and desirable) to manage up, down and across the organization. This may mean that you facilitate, coax, and/or cajole. As [...]
Leadership Development in Transition: Steering the Ship from Helm and Deck
This program offered specific, realistic suggestions about how people at all levels of the organization can be leaders in an appropriate, constructive way. Jill Canono, Leadership Consultant at State Library and Archives of Florida, began by stating that shared leadership means shared vision, values, responsibilities, and accountability. It also means asking a lot of questions [...]
Tech Competency
Rather than post my redundant notes from the PLA program “Thingamabobs and Doodads: Why Tech Support IS Reference” from Monday July 13 (already seems so long ago), I’ll link you to the presentation slides from the Salem-South Lyon Library District librarians here. (It’s funny…I used my new Dell Mini netbook at the conference and now [...]
From the Book and Beyond: Interdisciplinary Readers’ Advisory
This year’s RUSA President’s Program at the American Library Association Annual Conference stretched the definition of readers’ advisory to include identifying and suggesting music and art. Three subject experts showed how different disciplines organize and distribute their collections. Central to all these efforts is identifying appeal factors. Nathan Altice, adjunct professor of sound communications at [...]
Civil Rights Hero at ALA
“Every morning was getting up and going to war” – Melba Pattillo Beals on integrating Little Rock Central High School Monday at the American Library Association began with song and dance. Before Melba Pattillo Beals spoke about her books Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock High School and [...]
Visit the Skokie Public Library, IL
I am writing right now from my laptop by a sunny window in the Albert Lea Public Library in southern Minnesota, but for now I want to share some images and thoughts from my visit to the Skokie Public Library back in Illinois. I’ve been following the great work of Toby Greenwalt, Richard Kong and [...]
Provocative Printz
Hi, this is Lisa Goldstein, another guest blogger. I work as a young adult librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library. The Michael L. Printz Award is given to a book that “exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature,” and I heard some terrific speeches at the Printz Awards ceremony on Monday night. M.T. Anderson, who [...]
Rethinking Reference Collections
What did I take away from Rethinking Reference Collections, a Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin program at the 2009 American Library Association Conference in Chicago? This question and answer program moderated by Sue Polanka of Wright State University featured Barbara Bibel of Oakland Public Library, Sara Johns of Lake Placid Middle/High School, and Dave Tyckoson of California [...]
