News

American Library Association Annual Conference 2008
We came, we saw, we reported! Check out LJ ’s live coverage of ALA’s Annual conference in Anaheim for an on-the-ground view of panels, events, parties, awards, and more via news reports, blogs, hundreds of pix, and exclusive video interviews. For those of you who didn’t make it—and even those who did couldn’t be everywhere —this is the next best thing to being there! Be sure to view our entire gallery of Flickr pix and YouTube vids. » » »

Future of Libraries Panel Urges Faster Change
Panelists at the ALA annual conference session sponsored by the Office of Information Technology Policy of the ALA Washington Office on the future of libraries and librarians offered both positive and negative takes on what might be in store. Speakers included consultant Joan Frye Williams, SirsiDynix’s Stephen Abrams, and library educator José-Marie Griffiths. Williams believes “we’re going to be in the ideas business,” rather than the “objects” business, and thinks there’s a huge untapped potential to serve baby boomers, “as a way to keep your brain alive.” » » »

Librarians Looking for Flexibility in LSTA Reauthorization in 2009
Librarians take comfort in the Library Services and Technology Act, nonetheless, but they’d appreciate more flexibility in using the funds for broader challenges like training and marketing when the law goes through reauthorization beginning in 2009. That was the message at the hearing on LSTA funding at the American Library Association Annual Conference. IMLS Deputy Director for Libraries Mary Chute says that’s very unlikely to happen. » » »

Section 108 Copyright Group Stymied
Section 108 Study Group member Jim Neal told attendees at the American Library Association Annual Conference that when trying to agree on updates for library exemptions, real progress was hampered as content providers dug in. “We had a lot of stumbling blocks. I think we lacked consensus on guiding principles: What is copyright? What is an exception and limitation to copyright? It’s pretty hard to reach change…when you don’t have an agreement on guiding principles.” » » »

Blogs

Wyatt's World

Summer Suggestions—Western Reading

• Shavetail by Thomas Cobb (Scribner)
• The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss (Houghton Mifflin)
• Many a River by Elmer Kelton (Forge Books)
• Resolution by Robert B. Parker (Putnam)
• Sun Going Down by Jack Todd (Touchstone)

For more on Collection Development, click here

Street Lit

Relentless Aaron. Single with Benefits

Griffin: St. Martin’s. Nov. 2008. 288p. ISBN 978-0-312-35937-9. pap. $14.95 F

Verdict: For an incisive look at a man’s inner thoughts and feelings as he juggles multiple sexual encounters, look no further than Relentless Aaron’s (Extra Marital Affairs) new novel. In capturing the emotions of pure sexual release and introspective debates on being true to women, this author is unparalleled. As a bonus, the sexual scenes are a matchless combination of sensuality and naughtiness.» » »

—Rollie Welch, Collection Manager, Cleveland PL, from "The Word on Street Lit No. 5

Highlights

Endangered Species: The Black Male Librarian
ALA’s diversity report revealed the shocking statistic that only .5 percent of all U.S. librarians (572 people) are African American males out of a total of 110,000 librarians. A panel of seasoned African American library professionals offered their opinions about how to improve recruitment efforts at the American Library Association Annual Conference’s session Endangered Species: The Black Male Librarian. » » »

University of California Desires Open Access Journals Policy
Harvard University Faculty of Arts & Sciences was the first to adopt an open access policy for its journals, but the University of California also attempted a similar approach but couldn’t bring it to fruition. John Ober of the California Digital Library told attendees at the American Library Association Annual Conference, “We hit a long fly ball to the warning track, but Harvard hit a home run.” » » »

Our Vids: Jessamyn West on Privacy
In a video interview shot live at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, Librarian.net’s Jessamyn West discusses the sensitive issue of patron privacy in libraries and has a suggestion on how PLs can maintain records that are safe from government scrutiny. » » »

Our Vids: Laramie County Commissioner Jack Knudson
Commissioner Jack Knudson speaks proudly of the Laramie County Library System, winner of the 2008 Library of the Year Award, and the impact the library has on its community in this exclusive video interview shot live at the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim. » » »

See You July 15!
The editors of LJXpress are taking a much-needed break next week. Subscribers will receive your next issue on July 15. » » »