Articles

Zooming In On You: Texas Library Snapshot Day Spring 2010
This spring, hundreds of libraries in Texas joined libraries across the country in participating in Library Snapshot Day. This event was created to let all types of libraries record information about what happens in a day in the life of libraries. From statistics about visitors and circulations to keeping track of why people come into the library, information gathered on library snapshot day is intended to help libraries promote their services and advocate their value to the public and decision makers at all levels.The American Library Association (ALA) encouraged all states to participate with a snapshot day in April. Given the tight scheduling in Texas due to the end of the school year and TAKS testing, a range of dates was provided. Libraries could select any day between April 26 and May 7 for Texas Library Snapshot Day. This information will used to support national advocacy efforts this summer. READ MORE
Teens turn to libraries for "Books with Beat"
As the popularity of young adult literature continues to soar and teen musical artists dominate the airwaves, thousands of teens will participate in Teen Read Week, October 17 – 23, 2010, celebrated this year with a theme of “Books with Beat @ your library®.”Teen Read Week, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), is an annual literacy initiative celebrated in libraries and bookstores that provides parents, caregivers and teens with resources to encourage recreational reading habits. The “Books with Beat @ your library®” theme encourages teens to listen to audiobooks and read poetry, books about music, and more, just for the fun of it.  READ MORE
Birdhouse depicts classic, Carnegie library, proceeds to benefit ALA Cultural Communities Fund
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of a functional birdhouse modeled after a classic Carnegie library in Osage, Iowa, will support the ALA Cultural Communities Fund, according to the ALA Public Programs Office. Priced at $150, the birdhouse is available ALA members for a special price of $99.  READ MORE
International Games Day
On Saturday, November 19, people all over the planet will join together to celebrate the mutually-reinforcing power of play and learning at libraries around the world. International Games Day is now in its 9th year and has visited every continent on the planet. READ MORE
Young readers get boost with home libraries on Saturday
East Palo Alto nonprofit 10 Books a Home to host bookshelf painting, distribution event for 40 early readers and families.A few years ago, Paul Thiebaut came up with a simple mantra: Success starts at home. These days, he wants to make that happen.On Saturday (Aug. 6), his two-year-old literacy nonprofit 10 Books a Home (10BH) will host its first event, A Bookcase in Every Home, at a private residence in Redwood City. Approximately 40 East Palo Alto preschoolers and kindergartners will attend, along with their families and 22 volunteers. READ MORE
Harry Potter READs
"Anything that gets kids into reading is fantastic,” says Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, who recently posed for an ALA Celebrity READ poster along with his Potter costars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. ALA Graphics released the three posters just in time for the premiere of the first part of the last film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, on November 19. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) talked to American Libraries in August, shortly after the photo shoot for the poster.  Radcliffe’s upcoming roles include a film adaptation of Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, a British ghost story, and a Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. READ MORE
Mark your calendars for Money Smart Week @ your library, April 2-9, 2011
The American Library Association (ALA) has joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make “Money Smart Week @ your library,” held April 2-9, 2011, a national initiative.Celebrating its 10th year in 2011, Money Smart Week’s mission is to promote personal financial literacy. Libraries of all types in the Midwest have participated in Money Smart Week, partnering with community groups, financial institutions, government agencies, educational organizations and other financial experts to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances. READ MORE
Zombies for Libraries: Save NYC Libraries
Over the Halloween weekend Zombies were spotted walking across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall in support of New York City Public libraries. With mid-year budget adjustments looming and potential additional cuts, reduced hours and more further layoffs the librarians were left with their creative energy to fight back. Our library budgets have already been cut to the bone, and these further reductions in funding will just degrade library service further. We’ve already lost Saturday Service in most of the city.  It’s likely these cuts will be the end of what we have left.  So those working parents taking their kids to the library on the weekend? Tough, not open. Can’t return your books during the week because you work 60 hours just to live? Tough, closed on the weekend. READ MORE
Under The Boardwalk Empire: The Public Library
Gangsters, gambling, graft, guns, booze, broads, burlesque, bootlegging, cops, corruption, crime, casinos... and a librarian?!? That's right. If you're enjoying HBO's new mobster epic set in the Roaring 20's, Boardwalk Empire then raise a glass of bathtub gin to Heather Halpin Perez and the Atlantic City Free Public Library. Without them, the show might not exist.Perez is the archivist for the Alfred M. Heston Collection of local history materials at the New Jersey library, which has extensive collections of papers, scrapbooks, photographs, postcards, music, memorabilia, maps, and books about Atlantic City. Using these rare materials, she helped legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese (who directed the premiere episode, and is also an executive producer for the series) and his crew of production designers, set designers, property masters, and costume designers, accurately recreate New Jersey's original Sin City, circa 1920. Perez's help with the series even earned her billing as a "historical consultant" in the credits READ MORE
Book Blogger Profile: Steph the Bookworm
College student, aspiring librarian and “nerd extraordinaire” (or so she says!), Stephanie Territo loves books.  So much so, in fact, that she launched a blog (http://stephthebookworm.blogspot.com/)  to showcase her clear skill for reviewing them. Since Stephanie’s favorite genres are “Contemporary fiction, literary fiction, women's fiction, suspense, chick-lit, memoir, YA, and horror,” there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy in her delightful blog.We spotted her post “I Love Library”, a movie reference – not a typo! -  and knew we’d found a perfect match for our I Love Libraries readers and fans.  Stephanie graciously agreed to answer a few questions for us; about her life-long love of books and libraries, and her future as a librarian. Now, without any further ado, please enjoy getting to know Stephanie here – but don’t forget to check out her blog! READ MORE

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