ACRL Explores the Future of Academic Libraries

ACRL's 2007 environmental scan explores the current atmosphere in the world of academic and research libraries, along with trends that will define the future of the profession and the research environment. The report is available online (PDF file).

Newbery and Caldecott

In case you missed it!
Newbery and Caldecott winners Laura Amy Schlitz, librarian at the Park School in Baltimore and author of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village, and Brian Selznick, illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, are the 2008 winners of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Medals.

Post Conference Info From Midwinter 2008

From ALA Direct...
"Now that we’re all recovering from Midwinter 2008, hopefully we’re also building an archive of materials from the event. We’ve started a page on the wiki for Handouts, Podcasts, and other Post Midwinter Information where you can post handouts, presentations, notes, minutes, and whatever else your committee, unit, group, etc. distributed during your meetings."
For More information:
http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2008/01/16/post-conference-info-from-midwinter-2008/

Congrats to Joan Light-Kraft at Montrose Library!

YALSA named the winners of BWI/YALSA Collection Development Grant including Joan Light-Kraft of the Montrose Regional Library District of Montrose, Colo. This grant is administered by the Young Adult Library Services Association, the fastest-growing division of the American Library Association (ALA). Joan receives a grant of $1,000, donated by BWI, for collection development. The grant is awarded to YALSA members who represent a public library and work directly with young adults ages 12-18.

Grassroots Effort in Spokane to Support School Libraries

There is a story in American Libraries about a grassroots effort in Washington State to support school libraries. It's a"grassroots movement launched last spring by three Spokane women whose determination to strengthen school libraries statewide began by combating their school board's decision to close part of a $10.8-million deficit by halving the hours of the 10 full-time K-8 teacher-librarians still employed by Washington's second-largest district." The women contacted the AASL staff who have been assisting them with information. This is the kind of vital support from parents that needs to happen. These parents get it! They understand that libraries are important and that our children need school libraries and library media specialists. I urge all of you to read the article.
http://tinyurl.com/ysshmb