Librarians work all over the world, from big cities and suburbs to the furthest reaches of the planet. Case in point: Edgardo Civallero is a librarian stationed in the Galápagos, an archipelago off the coast of Ecuador known for influencing Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Civallero is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), a …
What It’s Like to Be a Librarian in the Galápagos Read More »
September is in full swing, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this back-to-school season is brand new territory: many students are staying home and learning online, while others are spending part of the week on campuses that have transformed to meet safety guidelines. School libraries may not be the busy hubs of activity they are …
Librarians Are the MVPs of This Back-To-School Season Read More »
Has a librarian made a difference in your life? Now is your chance to say thank you: nominations for the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award are open through November 9. Each year, the I Love My Librarian Award recognizes 10 outstanding librarians with a $5000 prize and the honor of a lifetime. Leaders from …
Librarians have teamed up with Netflix to provide resources connected to the new series Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. Bookmarks is a collection of 12 episodes featuring different Black celebrities—including Tiffany Haddish, Common, and Jill Scott—reading children’s books from Black authors. The videos are designed to showcase the Black experience and spark broader conversations about identity, …
Librarians Partner with Netflix to Support “Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices” Read More »
Looking for great kids’ and YA reads about gender equality and justice? Librarians from the Feminist Task Force of the American Library Association’s Social Responsibilities Round Table have compiled a powerful list entitled “Rise: A Feminist Book Project for ages 0-18.” Selections include fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels and highlight the work of diverse authors and illustrators. Here …
Librarians Share Their Top Ten Feminist Books for Youth Read More »
We asked the American Library Association’s social media followers and newsletter subscribers for their stories about deciding to become a librarian. Here are a few of our favorites: “My mother was a school librarian and I can remember the countless days we spent as kids in her school library after school and during the summer, …
by Twanna Hodge Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of librarianship, but we’re still a long way from library staff reflecting the demographics of their communities: more than three quarters of librarians are white, and just 6.8% are Black. The American Library Association’s Spectrum Scholarship program is one program working to change this, offering …
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, people everywhere are living through historic, challenging times. With that in mind, Virginia’s Arlington Public Library (APL) launched a “quaranzine” to provide a creative outlet for local residents. Since early April, APL has published weekly online issues of the Quaranzine, spotlighting multidisciplinary contributions from community members of all ages; submissions …
Library “Quaranzine” Finds Beauty in Social Distancing Read More »
Libraries are hubs for their communities—while most libraries have had to close to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are working hard to keep people connected while maintaining social distancing. Park Ridge Public Library (PRPL) in Illinois has found a creative way to engage and entertain locals: the Library Line, a phone number anyone …
For centuries, librarians have served as keepers of knowledge, helping people access the information they need to learn and create. Some of history’s greatest thinkers also served as librarians themselves, from award-winning authors to the inventor of calculus. Here are a few famous people you might not know were librarians: Audre Lorde The legendary poet, …
