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4626610-977265EBD #12.412019-202000EBD #12.412019-2020Report to Council and Executive Board?March 26, 2020Tracie D. Hall, Executive DirectorALA Response to COVID-19 Pandemic As the Corona Virus pandemic has taken hold, ALA’s member leaders and staff have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and vision through proactive crisis planning response. Here is a roundup of just some highlights of association activity since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic:Executive Board’s statement recommending closing libraries to the public: On Tuesday. March 17, ALA’s Executive Board released the following statement in support of libraries and library workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you haven’t yet, please share with your member groups and other audiences. The following day, ALA signed this letter on March 18, with other leading nonprofits, asking Congress to support the nonprofit sector impacted by COVID-19. The letter asks for expanded disaster loans for nonprofits, relief from payroll taxes for nonprofit employers, and incentives to encourage charitable giving – all of which were subsequently included in the draft Senate coronavirus bill, which we are monitoring. In addition, an action alert sent to ALA advocates included a request for associations impacted by reduced event revenue (which references the ASAE letter): “We echo the recommendation of the American Society of Association Executives to include tax-exempt associations suffering from event cancellations and reduced meetings attendance in any federal aid package, alongside other sectors of the events and travel industry affected by COVID-19.”ALA staff created this COVID-19 web press kit currently available at .? The kit is intended to help press members find statements, press releases and provides examples of how libraries are responding to COVID-19. ?The kit also features YouTube news coverage and information video reel - .American Libraries Live produced a webinar concerning libraries and COVID-19, see: that attracted over 1,100 people. The digital workshop offered attendees strategies for coping with the current crisis. One question that came up multiple times in the discussion was for guidance on how to approach physical materials that have been recently returned to the library. ALA is currently working on responding to this request.As of this writing, ALA staff remains on an enterprise wide remote work schedule at its Chicago, DC, Middletown (CT), and Philadelphia sites. Only staff performing essential duties may report to their respective offices and must observe prescribed social distance protocols.Cancellation of 2020 ALA Annual Conference Efforts to mitigate wider COVID-19 contagion, including bans on travel and large convenings as well as social distancing directives had a significant influence on decision-making related to ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference scheduled for Chicago. Ultimately, Illinois’ institution of a shelter-in-place decree through April with the possibility of that being extended; flagging registration as a result of widespread moratoriums on travel, and the expense to ALA if Annual Conference attendance underperformed at or less than 33% of usual registrants versus the lesser cost of cancellation led a decision to forgo Annual for only the second time in the association’s history since World War II (no conferences were held in the years 1943-1945 for this reason). Though comparative budget scenarios supported the decision, the sacrifice of ALA’s Annual meeting will have considerable sector and budget impact. To this end, upon confirmation of this decision, the association immediately reached out to inform the publishers and vendors with whom ALA has the longest standing partnerships and to gain their support in the planning of Midwinter 2021, which may receive some Annual Conference event rollover. Because a conference of this size has so many other revenue-generating events centered around it, such as ACRL’s Rare Books and Manuscripts Conference—which was also cancelled, staff will need to work exhaustively to identify new alliances, sources of funding and aid to minimize the loss of revenue. Budget adjustments and containment strategies will also be considered and brought to the Executive Board for consultation.ALA Office Move Currently, ALA is still working to meet its end of April (24-27) timeline to move out of the Huron building and into the 225/205 North Michigan Building. Though the first critical deadlines regarding the installation of IT infrastructure in the new office suite has been met, the state’s shelter-in-place decree presents possible obstacles as vendor personnel living out of state are facing similar restrictions on movement and travel as well as varying definitions of what work functions constitute “essential duties.” Though contingency plans are in place, the association is also in discussions with the new owners of the Huron building about waiving any penalties regarding possible move delays.Nashville Hosts 8,700 for PLA 2020 Conference The?PLA 2020 Conference took place February 25-29, 2020, in?Nashville, TN.? General session and “Big Ideas” speakers included Stacey Abrams, Dr. Bettina Love, Haben Girma, Soledad O'Brien, and?Samantha Bee. Over 110 sessions challenged, engaged, and inspired attendees, along with special events such as the Book Buzz, Career Center, Spark Talks, How-To Festival, and the interactive Anybubbler Town Square. For the first time, PLA integrated its Professional Development Theory of Change into conference programming, helping attendees chart paths to becoming data-driven leaders, community advocates, stewards of the public library and its values, and networked innovators. Leading up to the Nashville event, PLA made a strong statement on core values and conference sites, recognizing that no conference site is immune to political actions or legislation contrary to library values. PLA is proud to say this challenge was turned into an opportunity. The commitment of PLA and public libraries to equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice (EDISJ) was integrated throughout the event. Not only did dozens of sessions promote strategies for libraries to increase access and challenge oppression, but PLA helped attendees advance EDISJ principles by promoting more than a dozen local organizations that are fighting oppression and leading community inclusion; inviting attendees to experience social justice work firsthand through a new “Day in the Community” program; and uniting attendees to pack nearly 2,000 snack packs for teens served by the Oasis Center, which provides crisis intervention, leadership, college and career access, and other programs for youth in middle Tennessee. As of mid-March, over 2,500 conference evaluations had been received, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. The next PLA Conference will be held March 22-26, 2020 in Portland, OR. After the conference, PLA rallied to express concern and encourage support for the residents of Nashville and Tennessee due to the deadly tornados immediately following the conference.ALA OFFICESCenter for the Future of LibrariesSymposium on the Future of Libraries?Recordings from the 2020 Symposium on the Future of Libraries (and other 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting sessions) are now available. Recorded sessions are available for FREE via the?Midwinter Meeting scheduler? – using the "Login" link in the upper right of a session listing, visitors can login with an ALA username and password (free to create for members and non-members). The Center for the Future of Libraries'?Symposium page includes listings for sessions from the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Symposia with easy links to the session listings and recordings.?Presentations and TrainingsSince February 2020, the Center has provided seven presentations and workshops for libraries – in Burbank (CA) Public Library; Polk County (FL) Library System; Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS); Recharge (IL) Continuing Education for Library Leaders; and the Alaska State Library.?Communications and Marketing Office(CMO)Public Awareness ActivitiesLibraries TransformTo date more than 15,000 libraries and library advocates have signed up to use ALA’s free Libraries Transform public awareness program. At the Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, CMO staff presented the session Using Libraries Transform for Awareness and Advocacy to show how libraries of all types and sizes can use the program’s tools and resources for their marketing, advocacy, fundraising and outreach efforts. Also, during Midwinter, CMO conducted a scavenger hunt with mini lighthouses to promote this year’s National Library Week (NLW) theme: Find Your Place at the Library. Conference attendees who found the lighthouses won NLW posters for their libraries.New Video PSA from Harrison Ford“Call of the Wild” star Harrison Ford recorded a video PSA highlighting how libraries are full of adventure and epic stories. CMO created webpages to encourage libraries and library supporters to share the PSA with their communities through social media and websites. The video PSA is available in different formats to download and sample social media posts were also provided. The PSA had 12,200 views on our YouTube channel, 42,787 organic views on Facebook and 42,420 thruplay views from our Facebook ads. Facebook post impressions for the video were 123,000 with more than 11,000 engagements and almost 1300 shares.Relaunching I Love LibrariesThis winter, CMO relaunched , ALA’s public-facing site about the value of libraries. The aim is to publish original, engaging content that gets the public excited about supporting libraries locally and nationwide. The CMO team is publishing 3 to 4 original articles per week, which are shared on the I Love Libraries Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as in the twice-monthly newsletter. Content highlights thus far include a list of Coretta Scott King Book Award winners to read during Black History Month, a whimsical set of library-themed Valentines, and a call to action about Tennessee HB 2721/SB 2896 (which prompted more than 1000 readers to contact state officials about the bill).Other Notable Social Media Statistics The I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony Facebook livestream had 8,000 views. Facebook post impressions for the stream were more than 22,000 with 2170 engagements. The #ALAyma hashtag was a trending topic throughout the morning of January 27, along with the names of the major awards, winning book titles, and Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, chosen to deliver the 2021 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture. The Facebook livestream had 24,474 Views. The post impressions were over 100,000, and there were more than 13,000 engagements.National Library WeekCMO announced at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting, that Olympic ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani are 2020 Honorary Chairs of National Library Week. CMO offered free?promotional tools?featuring the theme for National Library Week, April 19-25, 2020: Find Your Place at the Library. The suite of tools includes social media graphics, a sample press release, and PSA scripts. The theme highlights how everyone is welcome at the library and that it’s a place where you can explore new passions and discover who you are through the library’s free materials, programs, and services.Media Relations ReportThe following is a snapshot of Communications and Marketing Office (CMO) publicity activities that took place from January 1 – February 29, 2020. During this timeframe more than 6,400 articles mentioning the American Library Association (ALA) were captured by the Association’s monitoring service Cision, resulting in a circulation rate of more than 3.3 billion and a publicity value of more than $8.2 million. (Please note that circulation rate is calculated using the number of articles/mentions multiplied by the monthly unique visitors for each media outlet’s website.) During this reporting period roughly 82 percent (5,271 clips) of coverage was positive and focused on ALA Youth Media Awards; the announcements of the Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction winners, and the announcement of ALA’s new Executive Director, Tracie Hall. Approximately 17.2 percent (1,103 clips) recovered clips were neutral and consisted of brief ALA mentions, initiative event calendar notices, or mentions within author references. Only .8 percent (54 clips) recovered, positioned ALA negatively and were fueled by the association’s position on intellectual freedom, Midwinter Protest Zone and Drag Queen Story Hour events. Per the News Media Alliance (formally the Newspaper Association of America), there are more than 1,300 daily newspapers and 5,700 weekly newspapers in the United States, so the following placements should be viewed as a snapshot of coverage. New ALA Executive Director Announced, January 15, 2020The reporting period began with the announcement of ALA’s appointment of Tracie D. Hall as its executive director. Following a nationwide search, Hall was selected to succeed Mary W. Ghikas, who has worked for ALA since 1995 and served as executive director since January 2018. Hall is the first female African American executive director in ALA’s history. CMO worked with the Governance Office to craft and distribute the announcement. Local and national education and library trade publications picked up the announcement including NPR, Daily Herald, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, The Washington Informer, American Libraries, InfoDocket, WIA Report and a podcast interview with Capitol District Libraries. ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, January 24 – 28, 2020 Thousands of library professionals and supporters from coast-to-coast gathered at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits from January 24-28, 2020. CMO staff managed the onsite press room which accommodated a flurry of press members who picked up media credentials and press releases, reserved interview space, and arranged onsite interviews. Amenities included snacks and charging stations, interview room, as well as computer space and a printer.Media Outreach efforts were fueled by the creation of publicity materials including press releases, web press kit, pitch letters, emails and follow up phone calls in the weeks and months leading up to the conference.CMO pitched ALA issues and awards to more than 130 local media contacts in the Philadelphia market, as well as more than 90 library trade press members. Nearly 40 press members registered for media credentials. Several local press members, including WHYY radio, also registered onsite.In the days leading up to Midwinter, the CMO coordinated media interviews involving ALA leadership. During the Midwinter Meeting. CBS Sunday Morning interviewed Miguel Figueroa, director of the Center of the Future of Libraries. The CBS crew attended several Future of Libraries Symposium sessions. Larra Clark, deputy director of PLA, and Siobhan A. Reardon, president and director, Free Library of Philadelphia, took part in an in-studio interview on NBC10 Philadelphia on January 24. Other conference coverage included a Publishers Weekly article on the keynote speech of Wes Moore, an opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer, a San Diego Union-Tribune article on the William C. Morris Award. Midwinter previews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Against the Grain, a Sentinel Tribune article on a mock Caldecott election, a post on the ACRL Insider blog about the PLA and ACRL boards responding to SCOE recommendations and a Fox Nebraska article on the winner of an “I Love My Librarian” Award.Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction Winner Announcement The 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were announced at the RUSA Book and Media Awards event on January 28, sponsored by?Novelist during the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits. The awards committee selected “Lost Children Archive,” by Valeria Luiselli, published by Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, as the winner of the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and "Midnight in Chernobyl," by?Adam Higginbotham, published by Simon & Schuster, as the winner of the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The medals, recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers. CMO secured coverage with Publishers Weekly, American Libraries, USA Today, Associated Press and many others, and worked to secure placement with a variety of media. The ALA Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits now offers all ALA book and media award announcements in the same 24 hours, with the Book & Media Awards (BMA) preceding the ALA Youth Media Award (YMA) announcements. Carnegie Medal winners will each receive?$5,000. All the finalists were to be honored during a celebratory event at ALA's 2020 Annual Conference in?Chicago. An alternative date and time has yet to be determined as of the submission of this report.ALA Youth Media Awards, January 27, 2020The Youth Media Awards ceremony began on Monday with the opening of the doors to the convention center at 5:30 a.m., as the committees began congratulating the winners. At 6:30 a.m., the crowd, lining up in front of the ballroom doors, began to grow to more than 150 eager fans waiting to enter the event room at 7:30 a.m.The announcements were the culmination of a long and arduous vetting process of checking details from copyright pages, creating more than 178 PowerPoint slides, handing materials to committee members and scripts to leadership, and combing the script for any errors that might crop up.CMO led intense planning efforts in advance of the Youth Media Awards – setting the stage for the webcast, arranging the work of the committees, communicating with division and ALA leadership, preparing a script and templates for press releases, and envisioning the layout of a room where hundreds of eager attendees would gather.? ?The morning of the event the press room was a lively place, with award committees gathering for photographs prior to making phone calls to the winners. The calls were private, but there was no hiding the feeling of joy that erupted from the walls of the press room.The event, YMA Pajama Party and title selections trended throughout the morning over various social media platforms. The YMA announcements ignited a social media explosion on Twitter. Particular attention was drawn to history in the making, as Jerry Craft’s “New Kid” became the first graphic novel to win the coveted Newbery Medal. Twitter abounded with viewing parties not only around the country, but throughout the world. Tweets about the Youth Media Awards could be seen in such languages as Chinese. Videos of viewing parties, including students watching enthusiastically from their classrooms, as well as mock Newbery and Caldecott elections, flew across the Twittersphere. In one school, students filled the gym to watch the event. Librarians also posted photos in their libraries with the winning books.As the ceremony unfolded, the CMO team posted about two dozen YMA press releases onto the ALA website, ready for publication as soon as the winners were announced. After the ceremony, the CMO distributed releases to mainstream, library trade, comic trade, GLBTQ, African American, disability and Spanish language media, gaining in many cases an instant response for interviews and artwork. The YMA announcements received enthusiastic national and international press attention. The awards garnered coverage from the Associated Press, New York Times, NPR, MSN UK, Boston Globe, American Libraries, School Library Journal, Comics Beat, WBAL TV and St. Louis Post-Dispatch,Future Publicity Efforts CMO is currently working on publicity efforts to support the following initiatives: National Library Week, April 19 – 25, 2020 State of America's Libraries Report, April 20, 2020 National Library Workers Day, April 21National Bookmobile Day, April 22Take Action for Libraries Day, April 23 Preservation Week, April 26 – May 2, 2020 Dia, April 30 Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services(ODLOS) PLA Conference (Nashville)Kristin Lahurd (Interim Director of ODLOS), Briana Jarnagin (Program Coordinator, Community Engagement), and Monica Chapman (Coretta Scott King Book Awards Coordinator) attended the Public Library Association Conference in Nashville to represent ODLOS. On Thursday, February 27, ODLOS hosted a small networking event at Martin’s BBQ for our member groups and interested library workers. Nashville Public Library TrainingOn February 28, Kristin Lahurd and Briana Jarnagin facilitated a training for the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee at the Nashville Public Library. The training, “EDI in Action: A Framework for Library Action Plans,” included tools for defining equity, diversity, and inclusion, asset-based assessment, and strategic planning. ODLOS Affiliates Webinar Series – Census 2020 Outreach to Communities of ColorOn February 18, ODLOS held the first of a series of webinars with the affiliate organizations with which the office liaises, including National Associations of Librarians of Color (NALCo), the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, and the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services. NALCo is the recommended term approved in March 2020 by the Joint Council of Librarians of Color Inc. Board of Directors to specify AILA, APALA, BCALA, CALA, REFORMA, and JCLC Inc. This first webinar, “Census 2020 Outreach to Communities of Color,” gave participants key tools and recommendations for census outreach geared toward communities of color. The webinar was a collaboration among BCALA, REFORMA, and ALA and was presented by Ana Ndumu, Assistant Professor at the UMD iSchool; Gavin Baker, Deputy Director of Public Policy & Government Relations in ALA’s Washington Office; Kelvin Watson, Director of Broward County Libraries Division. Spectrum Twitter ChatThe Spectrum Advisory Committee (SAC) hosted a Twitter Chat on February 25, 2020 on the topic of volunteering for professional committees and groups. The chat featured participation by five Spectrum alumni across a variety of career stages who are members and leaders of various ALA committees, communities, and affiliate/external related groups. SAC and staff are also working on creating curricula for the 2020 Spectrum Leadership Institute, which includes a call to the broader Spectrum community for panelists for certain sessions, as well as multiple ways for alumni to get involved formally and informally.Spectrum Scholarship Fundraiser Launched on March 12, 2020 and extended through April 16, 2020, the Spectrum merchandise fundraiser aims to engage Scholars and Spectrum supporters in donating to the program while also increasing promotional reach with branded apparel. As of the writing of this report, the fundraiser is being marketed through social media, targeted donor outreach, listservs, and a member news release.Spectrum BINGOStaff is partnering with several Spectrum alumni to host a Jitsi Virtual Hangout on April 1, 2020 for Spectrum Scholars on self-care amid COVID-19. Leading up to the hangout, Scholars and friends will have the opportunity to participate in a community-wide virtual self-care bingo game and tag photos of themselves on social media. The first two to complete their bingo board and tag #alaspectrum will receive a raglan T-shirt from the Spectrum merchandise fundraiser. Staff and alumni are postponing a webinar on local and regional event organizing until summer 2020. Libraries Respond PageIn response to the xenophobia and “infodemic” that have accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, ODLOS created a Libraries Respond page on “Combating Xenophobia and Fake News in light of COVID-19.” The page includes resources from ALA; our affiliates – specifically a statement by APALA condemning the rise in xenophobia and racism; the profession at large; and the media. In recognition of the impact a public health crisis can have on all library workers, the page also includes resources on how libraries are caring for staff and managing or suspending operations. The page will continue to be updated as information and new resources emerge.Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) OIF at PLA National ConferenceOIF Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone attended the PLA National Conference in February. While there, she worked with Megan Cusick, Assistant Director of State Advocacy, to support the Tennessee Library Association’s advocacy to prevent passage of TN HB 2721/SB 2896, the “Parental Control of Public Libraries Act.” Caldwell-Stone also was one of four presenters for “What Would You Do? Ethical Issues in Public Libraries,” a panel addressing how ALA's Code of Ethics encompasses and supports two core principles of the library profession – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Intellectual Freedom.Preparation for Release of the 2019 Top 10 Most Challenged BooksOIF Program Officer Eleanor Diaz and OIF Assistant Director Kristin Pekoll are collaborating with several ALA offices and units to prepare for the release of the 2019 Top 10 Most Challenged Books list, published annually in the State of America’s Libraries report during National Library Week. The list calls attention to recent attempts to ban books in libraries, schools, and universities; spotlights censorship trends; and highlights the work of the office in tracking and defending access to materials. Among the resources that will be available are infographics and the 2020 Banned Books Week theme. Banned Books WeekBanned Books Week will take place September 27 through October 3, 2020. OIF and ALA Graphics will offer a range of products to celebrate Banned Books Week in the upcoming catalog, including posters, bookmarks, and bracelets.Online Learning OpportunitiesOIF co-sponsored two multi-week online learning opportunities with ALA's eLearning unit in January and February 2020 that offered instruction on First Amendment law and privacy law. The first course, "The First Amendment and Library Services," was taught by Freedom to Read Foundation general counsel, Theresa Chmara. The second course, "Privacy, Libraries, Patrons and the Law" was taught by OIF Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone.2020 John Phillip Immroth Memorial AwardThe Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) Immroth Award Committee is pleased to announce Rebecca Ginsburg as the recipient of the 2020 John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award which honors significant contributions defending intellectual freedom. Ginsburg is the Director of the Education Justice Project (EJP), which is based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2019, more than 200 books were moved from the EJP library at the Danville Correctional Center, as part of the Illinois Department of Corrections’ growing practice of restricting access to reading materials focusing on issues of race and prisons. Ginsburg fought to restore access to the books and raise awareness of prison censorship by creating the Freedom to Learn Campaign, a coalition of 67 organizations and hundreds of individuals. Thanks to Ginsburg’s advocacy, the books were returned to the EJP library, and the Illinois Department of Corrections developed new guidelines for prison libraries. The award was to be presented at the 2020 ALA Annual Conference.Public Policy and Advocacy Office (PPAO)ALA Advocates for Library Support in Federal COVID-19 Relief SpendingAs the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic come to light, PPA continues to work around the clock to make sure Congress knows how to support libraries, emphasizing that libraries are helping with the current situation and are poised to lead communities in their recovery. Libraries are ideal locations for the distribution of community relief resources, materials, and information. ALA sent a letter to every member of Congress urging them to provide funding to support libraries, delivered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The proposal included a request for funds to be used for a variety of purposes, from access to digital content and assistive technology to the unplanned-for costs of cleaning facilities. Based on the content of the letter, ALA issued an action alert to ALA members and created a template letter for libraries and library associations advocating for emergency funding. ALA also joined dozens of national coalition partners to urge quick action by Congress to support libraries, communities and the services libraries provide, including Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expedite broadband solutions for unconnected Americans. National Council of Nonprofits coalition letter urging a funding stimulus to help the nonprofit sector serve the American people, including funds to benefit library nonprofits such as ALA, state library associations, friends, foundations, and other library organizations.A public statement written by ALA and copyright librarians acknowledging the strength of Fair Use for Emergency Remote Teaching and Research. ALA Launches FY 2021 #FundLibraries Campaign In February, ALA launched a grassroots campaign to urge ALA members to contact their Representatives and Senators to ask them to sign the annual “Dear Appropriator” letters supporting Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. The campaign in the House, which ended on March 10, exceeded support from the previous year. Signatures on the bipartisan Grijalva-Young LSTA letter for FY 2021 increased from 150 to 163, while the bipartisan Johnson-Young-McGovern IAL letter increased from 128 to 134 signatures. The Senate letter campaign is still open.Macmillan Cancels Embargo on eBook Sales to Libraries; Advocacy Efforts Continue On Monday, March 16, Macmillan Publishers announced that it would return to the library eBook pricing model that was in effect on October?31, 2019, effectively canceling the embargo on sales of new titles to libraries, a policy which went into effect on November?1, 2019. ALA closed the #eBooksForAll petition, which had amassed more than 250,000 signatures, and welcomed the decision as a new starting point for all publishers to consider how they can work with libraries to ensure – and expand -- access for all readers. (One week prior to its reversal, Macmillan CEO John Sargent had sought feedback on?three proposals?outlining potential eBook license terms for public libraries.? As all three proposals included price increases for new titles in the first weeks of publication, ALA did not favorably recommend any of the models.) On Tuesday, March 17, Penguin Random House announced new?temporary pricing?options?for?digital content purchased by school and public libraries. Intended as a relief effort for libraries to meet surging demand, the new licensing options do not decrease prices. Meanwhile, the conversation around eBook pricing and access continues to?unfold. On March 3, library advocates in New York?sent?10,000 letters to state lawmakers?in support of legislation that would require publishers who offer eBooks to the?consumer?market to extend licenses to libraries within the state without discrimination. On the same day, the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA), ALA, local library workers, patrons, and elected officials gathered at Cranston Public Library’s Central branch to?speak against “Big Publishing’s” practices that limit libraries’ ability to provide full access to new publications. This press event built on RILA’s?February roundtable discussion?with US Rep. David?Cicilline?(D-R.I.)?on?eBook?availability and pricing. ALA has also been engaging members of the?House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law?on equitable access to information and expects developments on this front within the next month. ALA Continues to Provide Library Support for 2020 Census ProgramsDuring the week of March 15, the Census Bureau announced changes for the 2020 census, including the suspension of field operations until April and a delay launching its in-person Mobile Questionnaire Assistance program until April 13. ALA staff and member leaders, along with staff from the U.S. Census Bureau, had completed face-to-face and online programs in the lead up to self-response starting March 12. More than 1,500 people participated in six programs and webinars January through March 2020. All online programs/webinars and new resources are archived and available online. With support from philanthropists, ALA created the Library Census Equity Grants and awarded $2,000 grants to more than 90 libraries across the country. The ALA Census Task Force will hold a webinar on Monday, March 23, to hear from recipients how they are adjusting their community outreach plans considering the COVID-19 pandemic.ALA?Hosts?2020?Congressional?Fly-in?On?February 10-11,?the ALA welcomed?around 75 attendees?to Washington, D.C., for the?second Congressional Fly-In.? A small strategic event, the Fly-In was held at the onset of the FY2021?appropriations cycle?to raise awareness and garner support amongst members of Congress and their staff?for federal?library?funding priorities.? Attendees were chosen based on?residence in targeted congressional districts,?advocacy experience, and established relationships with elected officials, among other criteria.??ALA Cancels National Library Legislative Day?ALA’s?45th?Annual?National Library Legislative Day?(NLLD), scheduled to take place May 4-5, was cancelled, as the event venue, the Georgetown University and Conference Center, is a high-risk area for COVID-19. ALA Holds First Training for Pilot National Network Advocacy ProgramOn February 24, PPA staff joined National Network members in Albany, New York, for their first in-person training. The training was held the day before their Legislative Day in the New York State House. ALA Deputy Director, Advocacy Communications, Emily Wagner and ALA advocacy consultant David Lusk of Key Advocates reviewed the various types of legislators an advocate can encounter, led an interactive discussion about message framing to make library stories appealing to lawmakers’ interests, and discussed the importance of digital advocacy with lawmakers using social media to connect with their constituents. ALA Relaunches State Advocacy Training: Advocacy AcademyPPA is working to redesign ALA’s state-level advocacy training program. Typically held as a pre-conference at state and regional conferences, ALA’s new Advocacy Academy trains advocates to explore their assets and offers practical tips to build the support that library communities need. The training offers an advocacy framework that can be used by libraries of all kinds and sizes and at every level of government, providing a mechanism for mentoring new advocates and creating a succession plan for advocacy. The first two fully redesigned Advocacy Academy events, scheduled for early April with the Maryland Library Association and the D.C. Library Association, have been cancelled to protect attendees against the spread of COVID-19.?ALA Awards Grants to Develop Library Programming With support from Google, ALA has awarded grants to support libraries in creating and enhancing programs for digital literacy, job skills training, and small business development. The Libraries Lead with Digital Skills initiative kicked off 2020 with microfunding applications in five more states, bringing the total number of states up to 40 with over 250 libraries receiving $1,000 to support workforce development programming for job seekers and small businesses. In recognition of Digital Learning Day 2020, Libraries Ready to Code awarded 120 libraries mini-grants of $700 to support creative programming to develop patrons’ digital skills. After reviewing more than 100 applications for the Libraries Build Business initiative, PPA will announce a final cohort of 10-14 libraries at the end of March to receive up to $150,000 and work together over 18 months to enhance their existing entrepreneurship programs. Public Programs Office (PPO) PPO Coronavirus UpdatesAs with all parts of ALA and the larger library community, the coronavirus is impacting PPO’s daily work. PPO staff has contacted the hundreds of library workers participating in current PPO national initiatives and encouraged them to follow local health guidelines and cancel or postpone programming as needed, despite their grant requirements. Project directors Mary Davis Fournier, Lainie Castle, and Melanie Welch will work with participating libraries and funders to ensure that grant requirements are eventually met under terms that work for everyone. Meanwhile, PPO staff have been sharing coronavirus-related information on the Programming Librarian website, including resources for fighting fake news in the pandemic, serving homeless patrons, an interview with two Italian librarians working through the lockdown, and a list of COVID-19 resources. While many libraries are closed to the public, PPO is working to prepare libraries with resources to push out to their communities virtually. Along with other ALA resources, these items are being added to ALA’s Pandemic Preparedness page.New ALA Program Will Help Libraries Address Climate CrisisPPO announced the rollout of?Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change, a pilot program that will help public and academic libraries engage their communities in programs and conversations that address the climate crisis. The program has been funded by a generous grant from Andrew and Carol Phelps, the parents of two library master’s students. (Read “Can Libraries Help Solve Climate Change? This Wisconsin Couple Says Yes.”) To expand the scope of the program, ALA invites additional contributions of any size. All donations made to ALA’s Cultural Communities Fund (CCF) through Earth Day (April 22)?will be used to expand the program to additional libraries. ?Donate online.New Capital One Partnership to Provide Financial Literacy, Hotspots to Rural LibrariesPPO will launch the Connect & Grow: Hotspots & Financial Literacy Tools for Rural Libraries project this spring. The three-year project, supported by Capital One, will provide 20 selected rural libraries with a resource package to support financial literacy and internet access during a two-year library program implementation period. ?PPO Publishes Free Facilitation Skills Training Materials for Small and Rural Library WorkersPPO has released a set of free professional development materials to help library workers in small and rural communities develop the facilitation skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century library. Offered through?Libraries Transforming Communities: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries, the?materials are?designed to help library workers prepare for and lead discussions and overcome common challenges that arise when people gather to speak in groups. Available materials include “Leading Conversations in Small and Rural Libraries,” a practical 30-page guide that covers the basics of leading discussions in the library, including roles and responsibilities, setting ground rules and managing group dynamics; and “Libraries Transforming Communities: Facilitation Training for Small and Rural Libraries,” a five-part e-course available on ALA’s eLearning platform. The initiative is funded by IMLS.PPO, ALA Editions Publish Guide to Financial Literacy Programs and ToolsEmpowering people with the knowledge to make sound financial decisions is an important way to make a difference in the community, and many libraries across the country are doing just that. Drawing from the expertise of business librarians, “Rainy Day Ready: Financial Literacy Programs and Tools,” published by ALA Editions, is a ready-to-use guide for offering financial literacy initiatives at your own library. The book, co-edited by PPO’s Melanie Welch and ALA Editions’ Patrick Hogan, shares 16 model programs from a variety of institutions, complete with budgets and funding sources.PPO Staff, Advisors Prepare to Launch STEAM Project for Rural and Latinx CommunitiesWork is underway for the NSF-funded project, Enhancing STEAM Equity and Learning Opportunities in Libraries and Their Rural Communities (STEAM Equity). The project will help public libraries engage their rural communities through three STEAM Learning Pathways: STEAM Learning Spaces, STEAM Outreach Kits, and active learning programs. Twelve selected Partner Libraries will receive three exhibitions related to STEAM themes, three STEAM outreach kits, access to virtual and in-person professional development opportunities, and $15,000 to support project implementation and programming expenses. Public libraries in rural areas with service areas that include Latinx communities will be invited to apply. In December 2019, PPO and ODLOS reviewed applications submitted through an open call and selected three librarian advisors for the project. Advisors were selected for their experience advancing gender equity and racially diverse audience engagement with STEAM learning and programming, particularly rural libraries serving Latinx communities. In March 2020, advisors and ALA staff traveled to Boulder, CO, for a STEAM Equity project team meeting convened by the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute (NCIL SSI). ALA DIVISIONSAmerican Association of School Librarians (AASL)AASL Hosts Town Hall to Build Community During PandemicOn Tuesday, March 24, AASL will host a town hall to give school library professionals the opportunity to gather as a community?and?discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on schools, educators,?and learners.? All are welcome to?participate?in the?AASL Town Hall: The Show Must Go On(line)?beginning?at 11:00 a.m. (Central). Visit?aasl/townhall?at the time of the meeting to?join the discussion.? Registration is not required.Help Build the 2021 AASL National ConferenceAASL invites school library professionals to help plan programming for the 2021 AASL National Conference. Professionals are asked to submit topics needed for professional development during the conference, taking place in October 2021 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Learning?at the conference will be?organized around?the Shared Foundations of the?National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries,?and topics can be shared?in these categories at national.crowdsourcing.?AASL to Host Webinars for School Library Preparation Faculty and InstructorsThe? AASL?Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)?Coordinating Committee?will?host a six-part?webinar series?to?assist college and university?faculty as they begin to align their programs, individual courses, and assessments to the?2019?ALA/AASL/CAEP School Librarian Preparation Standards.? School library professionals?teaching?as faculty, instructor, or adjunct in a school library preparation program?are invited to?attend. Registration is now open at?aasl/caep/webinars.?AASL President Holds Office Hours to Discuss EDI in School LibrariesAASL President Mary Keeling will hold online office hours at 6:00 p.m. (Central) on Thursday, May 14, to field questions regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in school libraries. The EDI office hours are a part of Keeling’s presidential initiative to expand efforts in AASL to provide a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for diverse voices and perspectives. For more information including the link for the meeting room, visit?aasl/about/officehours.?AASL Affiliates Turn a New ChapterDuring the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, the AASL Affiliate Assembly voted to adopt the term Chapters for state and regional school library associations. The change in name better reflects the relationship of AASL to state and regional school library associations and aligns with other similar entities within ALA. It also reflects recommendations made by the Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) in their reimagined ALA governance model.Pre-Service School Librarians’ Perceptions Explored in New School Library ResearchNew research published in AASL’s peer-reviewed online journal,?School Library Research?(SLR), explores graduate-level instruction on research designs and methods for pre-service school librarians.? SLR promotes and publishes high-quality original research concerning the management, implementation, and evaluation of school libraries. Articles can be accessed for free at?aasl/slr.AASL Member Published in Accessibility, Compliance & EquityAn article written by AASL member Kathy Lester has been published in the January/February 2020 issue of?AC&E?as part of AASL President Mary Keeling’s presidential initiative to expand efforts in AASL to provide a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for diverse voices and perspectives. Lester’s article, “School Libraries for All Students,” can be read online at?ace-.Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)Mary Ellen K. Davis Announces Retirement as ACRL Executive DirectorMary Ellen K. Davis, executive director of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), has announced her retirement, effective April 24, 2020.“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the academic and research library community through my various roles at ACRL,” Davis reflected. “I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish working together with passionate members and a dedicated staff.”Davis has led ACRL since 2001, the longest serving executive director in ACRL’s more than 75-year history. She first came to ALA in 1984 as assistant director for the NEH-funded “Let’s Talk About it” Program, and from there held a variety of positions with increasing responsibility in ACRL, including editor and publisher of C&RL News, manager of professional development, and associate director, culminating with her appointment as executive director. More information on Davis’ career is available on ACRL Insider.Pandemic Resources for Academic Libraries LibGuideACRL has launched a new Pandemic Resources for Academic Libraries LibGuide, featuring updated information, free professional development, open access publications, and other resources to support academic and research library personnel during a pandemic. The guide includes resources for distance education and engagement, free webcasts and publications, best practices, information on self-care and working from home, up-to-date information from public health officials, and collections of ALA and community-sourced resources to assist in navigating a pandemic.ACRL Presents Series - Academic Librarianship in the Wake of the CoronovirusACRL held a series of free ACRL Presents webcasts the week of March 16 covering topics directly related to online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Information Literacy Instruction at a (Social) Distance: Strategies for Moving Online” was held Tuesday, March 17; “Pandemic Pedagogy: Resources for Library Instruction at a Distance” was held Wednesday, March 18; and “Copyright for Campus Closures: Exploring the Copyright Issues around Moving Instruction and Reference Online” on March 20. Recordings of all webcasts are freely available on the ACRL website.ACRL, PLA Boards Respond to SCOE RecommendationsThe Boards of Directors of ACRL and the Public Library Association (PLA) recently submitted a joint letter (PDF) to ALA President Wanda Brown in response to recommendations contained in the ALA Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness (SCOE) Forward Together report (PDF). In the letter, the Boards thank and commend SCOE for its thoughtful work on long-standing and complex issues, agreeing that change is needed in ALA. Additionally, the Boards agree that ALA’s serious financial challenges demand strategic thinking, a willingness to make difficult decisions, and an on-going commitment to transparency as modeled by SCOE. Complete information on the Boards’ recommendations to SCOE is available on ACRL Insider. ACRL Board of Directors Responds to ALA Budget UpdateAt the 2020 ALA Midwinter Meeting, members received an update from ALA Executive Board on the financial standing of the association. More information about this update is available in the ALA Executive Board Document 12.39, “Budget Update – Financial Planning 2020 and beyond,” which notes that while ALA has substantial total assets, unplanned overspending has reduced its liquid assets to the point that it appears that Divisions’ net asset balances are being used to meet ALA’s operating needs. In response, the ACRL Board of Directors is working diligently on behalf of ACRL members to build understanding of this situation as it develops. As a first step, the Board is writing to the ALA Executive Board to express its concerns and to request more information. The Board is committed to providing members with the high-quality programs and services for which ACRL is known, and to being good stewards of ACRL’s resources. Read the full Board of Directors statement on ACRL Insider.John E. Ulmschneider Named 2020 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the YearJohn E. Ulmschneider, dean of libraries and university librarian at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is the 2020 ACRL Academic/Research Librarian of the Year. The award, sponsored by GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO, recognizes an outstanding member of the library profession who has made a significant national or international contribution to academic/research librarianship and library development. Ulmschneider was to receive a $5,000 award on Saturday, June 27, during the ACRL President’s Program at the 2020 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. Learn more about Ulmschneider on ACRL Insider.2020 ACRL Excellence in Academic Libraries Award Recipients AnnouncedACRL announces the recipients of the 2020 Excellence in Academic Libraries Award – Nevada State College Marydean Martin Library, Henderson, Nevada; Santa Rosa Junior College Libraries, Santa Rosa, California; and the University of Maryland Libraries, College Park, Maryland. Sponsored by ACRL and GOBI Library Solutions from EBSCO, the award recognizes the staff of a college, community college, and university library for programs that deliver exemplary services and resources to further the educational mission of the institution. Learn more on ACRL Insider.2020 ACRL Section Award Recipients AnnouncedACRL is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2020 section awards. Made possible by generous corporate support, the annual presentation of ACRL’s awards and grants enables ACRL to honor the very best in academic and research librarianship. A listing of the 2020 award recipients is available on ACRL Insider. For more information on each award and recipient, please visit the Award Recipients page on ACRL’s website.ACRL Sponsors 2020 ALA Emerging LeadersACRL and its sections are sponsoring nine members to participate in the 2020 class of ALA Emerging Leaders. The program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers. Since 2008, ACRL has supported 63 Emerging Leaders and helped defray the cost of attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference. Complete details on ACRL’s current class of Emerging Leaders are available on ACRL Insider.ACRL Announces Recipients of Sponsored Scholarships to DHSIThe ACRL Digital Scholarship Section (DSS) announced the selection of the following as sponsored scholarship recipients to receive registration to a one-week course at the Digital Humanities Summer Institute (DHSI), at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in June 2020. Details are on ACRL Insider.ACRL 2021 Proposal Tips WebcastThe ACRL 2021 Conference Committee held a free webcast on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, covering ways to get information on how to put forward your best ACRL Conference proposal. During this live webcast, committee members who are also seasoned proposal submitters and/or reviewers provide tips on the overall process and show examples of successful proposals. A recording of the session is available on the ACRL 2021 website.Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week 2020The 2020 Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week was held February 24-28, 2020. Commissioned by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week is “an annual celebration of the important doctrines of fair use and fair dealing. It is designed to highlight and promote the opportunities presented by fair use and fair dealing, celebrate successful stories, and explain these doctrines.” ACRL provided a number of resources, publications, and events to help prepare for and participate in Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week, including a free ACRL Presents webcast on “Understanding Fair Use Through Case Law,” our Scholarly Communication Toolkit, and a variety of publications. Complete details are on ACRL Insider.ACRL Endorses Protocols for Native American MaterialsACRL, at the request of its Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS), has endorsed the Protocols for Native American Materials. In April 2006 a group of nineteen Native American and non-Native American archivists, librarians, museum curators, historians, and anthropologists gathered at Northern Arizona University Cline Library in Flagstaff, Arizona. The participants included representatives from fifteen Native American, First Nation, and Aboriginal communities. The group met to identify best professional practices for culturally responsive care and use of American Indian archival material held by non-tribal organizations. The resulting Protocols build upon numerous professional ethical codes; a number of significant international declarations recognizing Indigenous rights, including several now issued by the United Nations; and the ground-breaking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for Libraries, Archives, and Information Services.New Scholarship of Teaching and Learning RoadShowACRL has selected a team of three curriculum designers/presenters to develop a new RoadShow workshop to support librarians in engaging in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) and discovering how their teaching impacts student learning. This workshop will be intended for any librarian who interacts with students and faculty, as well as teaching center staff and faculty interested in collaborating on SoTL projects and will be available for host institutions worldwide to bring to their campuses beginning in Fall 2020. The curriculum design and presentation team includes Lauren Hays, Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology, University of Central Missouri; Rhonda Huisman, Dean of University Library, St. Cloud State University; and Melissa Mallon, Director of the Peabody Library and Director of Teaching & Learning, Vanderbilt University. More details are available on ACRL Insider.The Critical Thinking about Sources CookbookACRL published The Critical Thinking about Sources Cookbook, edited by Sarah E. Morris, in March. The book is a collection of lesson plans and activities designed to help students become savvy consumers, producers, and distributors of information. The Critical Thinking about Sources Cookbook provides lesson plans, resources, ideas, and inspiration to empower librarians in helping students develop the crucial critical thinking and information and media literacy skills they need. Learning Beyond the ClassroomACRL published Learning Beyond the Classroom: Engaging Students in Information Literacy through Co-Curricular Activities, edited by Silvia Vong and Manda Vrkljan, this February. In four sections, this book contains approaches and activities to help instructors incorporate information literacy concepts into co-curricular learning and aid students in applying these concepts throughout their lives. Learning Beyond the Classroom explores activities that can help develop students’ information literacy knowledge, stimulate them academically and creatively, and help them develop new skills. New Ideas in Library LeadershipACRL released three new books this January full of exercises, effective practices, innovative ideas, and detailed case studies that can help you develop your unique leadership potential, lead change within your library, and cultivate the skills of new library leaders. Packed with learning activities, case studies, personal stories, and self-reflective exercises, along with a discussion of library leadership styles, theories, and models for academic libraries, Becoming a Library Leader: Seven Stages of Leadership Development for Academic Librarians by Shin Freedman and James M. Freedman can help you both understand leadership and develop it within yourself.Developing the Next Generation of Library Leaders (ACRL Publications in Librarianship No. 75) by Lori Birrell examines how the library profession can foster skill development for new leaders through the leadership development stories of twenty-two assistant/associate deans, exploring ways the profession can systematically cultivate leadership skill development in new leaders and help them meet the evolving challenges of higher education. In five sections—strategic planning, reorganization, culture change, new roles, and technological change—Leading Change in Academic Libraries, edited by Colleen Boff and Catherine Cardwell, uses Kotter’s Eight-Stage Process of Creating Major Change as a framework for examining common types of changes across a variety of institutions, offering effective practices and tips for navigating specific challenges that can help you establish flexible, nimble, and collaborative decision-making processes. Publications in Librarianship Monograph Series Announces First Open Peer ReviewACRL’s Publications in Librarianship (PIL) series—a peer-reviewed collection of books that examine emerging theories and research—launched its first open peer review, for Stories of Open: Opening Peer Review through Narrative Inquiry by Emily Ford. The manuscript was open for comment through Monday, March 23, 2020. Keeping Up With… MicroaggressionsThe latest edition of Keeping Up With…, ACRL’s online current awareness publication featuring concise briefs on trends in academic librarianship and higher education, is now available. The March 2020 edition features a discussion of Microaggressions by Tarica LaBossiere and Abby Deese.ACRL-SPARC Forum at ALA Midwinter Meeting on Negotiating Journal PackagesACRL and SPARC once again offered their popular forum on scholarly communications as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, focusing on negotiating journal packages. Speakers focused on the work and strategic planning that needs to happen before a big deal or journal package negotiation, in order to negotiate more aggressively or consider walking away altogether. Featuring organizations at various stages of experience—from those that have completed a cancellation to those that are preparing to begin negotiations—the discussion also addressed how to align negotiation strategy with the broader goal of supporting a transition to a system for research communication that is open by default.ACRL e-LearningACRL's e-Learning program offered five live webcasts and one online course during this report period. 152 individuals and 34 groups participated in e-learning focusing on signature pedagogies, sustainability and libraries, and copyright and course reserves. Upcoming topics for the ACRL e-Learning program include leadership and gamification in information literacy. Full details and registration information are available on the ACRL website.Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS)Update on Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, a Proposed New Division of ALAALCTS, LITA and LLAMA each held Town Hall meetings on Core in February, and the recordings of these events are available on the?Core site.? Special postcards were mailed to the ALCTS, LITA, and LLAMA division members in the month of February, informing members about the Core vote and the changes it will have on this year’s ballot. ?The only question on all three division ballots is whether to replace each division’s bylaws with those of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures.??The election ballots opened March 9, and determining the results is currently underway.? The results of the vote will be known on April 8. Division leaders, staff, and the Core Steering Committee are developing a plan for communicating the results of the vote and informing members how we will move forward.?Early Impact of COVID-19ALA staff began working remotely on Monday, March 16.? ALCTS has had to reschedule two webinars this month at the presenters’ request due to the impact of COVID-19.? ALCTS web courses and e-forum discussions are going on as planned.? Registration for the Exchange virtual conference scheduled for May 4, 6, and 8 has been strong, up through mid-March.? Planning for the event continues, however, it is unclear how the event will be impacted if this current crisis continues to escalate through April.?Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)ALSC Open Access ResourcesTo support the library community in this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, ALSC is providing free access to select recorded webinars and all issues of Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children. ALSC’s hope is that these digital resources help?keep the professional development and the work?of?librarians and library workers moving?forward?in this time of social distancing and remote work.?ALSC Professional AwardsThe winners of the 2020 Penguin Random House Young Readers Group Award were announced in 2019. In 2020, four professional awards have been announced. The Algonquin Area Public Library received the Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award, Homewood Public Library received the Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Grant, and Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library received the ALSC/Candlewick Press “Light The Way: Outreach to the Underserved” Grant. Finally, Dr. Claudette McLinn received ALSC’s Distinguished Service Award for her decades of contributions to ALSC and to children’s librarianship and literature. Applications for the?Bookapalooza program closed in February, and the winners will be announced in a forthcoming press release. Spring Online Education Courses and Upcoming WebinarsALSC will offer three courses for the 2020 Spring session: Full STREAM Ahead: How to Take Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to the next level with maker kits, Storytelling with Puppets, and a new course: Homeschoolers and the Public Library. Courses begin the week of April 6 and run 5 weeks. ALSC also has six scheduled upcoming webinars between March 19 and September 9, 2020. Courses include: Advocacy A to Z; Dispatches from the Field, Advocacy Best Practice with Jeremy Johannesen and Megan Cusick, 25 Ways to Build the Bridge between your School and Library and a 3-part series, on Honoring Infancy beginning with Growing the Garden – Nurturing a Play and Early Learning Space.Continuing Education ProposalsThe ALSC Education Committee is always considering new courses and webinars to add to ALSC’s growing online education offerings. Members interested in teaching need to fill out an online application and provide a copy of their resume, teaching references, and a course syllabus (not needed for webinars). The Education Committee will be selecting proposals on a rolling basis to allow for courses to be added multiple times throughout the year.ALSC National InstituteThe 2020 ALSC National Institute, will take place October 1-3, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. Registration opened the first week of October for the 2020 Institute, Dive In: Engage, Amplify, Activate. General program selections have been finalized. The 2020 Institute will include Breakfast for Bill – “Family Matters: Sharing Generational Love in Children’s Literature” with Bao Phi, Minh Lê, Cheryl Minnema, and Kao Kalia Yang. Additional general sessions and speakers will be announced shortly.Charlemae Rollins President’s ProgramThe 2020 Charlemae Rollins President’s Program will be, “Telling Our Authentic Story: Connecting, Sharing and Bridging Divides Through Children’s Literature”. The program will ask what is it about authentic stories, drawn from experience, culture, fears, and joys that draw us in and touch our hearts? The ALSC President, members and guests in the 2020 ALSC Charlemae Rollins President’s program will explore the ways?stories help young people preserve?and?learn from the past.? Through storytelling, we share our traditions, folkways, language, hopes and fears for the future.? The program includes a moderated discussion with three noted children’s authors/illustrators who will?explore?how stories help children prepare, celebrate and connect with our diverse world.??ALSC Book and Media AwardsAfter deliberation at ALA Midwinter 2020, the recipients of ALSC's book and media awards were announced on January 27th. The Newbery, Caldecott, Geisel, Sibert, Batchelder, Belpré, and Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award were all announced then.? The announcement of ALSC's three Notable Lists came soon after: Notable Children's Books, Notable Children's Recordings, and Notable Children's Digital Media. ALSC award committees continue to work hard evaluating the newest and best in children's literature.Association of Specialized, Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA)Deaf?Culture ForumWith former ALA President Molly Raphael as moderator, the Deaf Culture Forum on Friday January 24 at Midwinter was a success. Despite illness and injury necessitating substitute presenters for two major speakers (including Alice Hagemeyer), the event encouraged dialog among members of the library community and deaf community. Follow up for the event included a press release and the creation of a web page with the presentations, handouts, and the caption transcripts -? Group on eBooks and Digital Content Pricing in LibrariesThe Working Group met at Midwinter for discussion of current Macmillan issues, as well as strategies for gathering and sharing data on use and value of libraries in promotion of digital materials.? The Working Group will meet virtually on April 1, 2020 and was to meet in-person at the ALA Annual Conference.?Financial InitiativesASGCLA Fundraising Trip – The planned trip to Scotland and Northern Ireland was promoted via multiple avenues, including a press release, INFORMZ mailings, listserv messages,? social media and paid advertisements in the December 10 issue of American Libraries Online and the January/February issue of American Libraries. The minimum number of travelers for the May trip was achieved, however due to the COVID 19 situation, the trip is being postponed until September, 2020.FY20 Budget adjustments?– To compensate for new expenses, ASGCLA modified the orientation for the President-Elect from a two day CEO Symposium to a 4-part webinar series on effective Board leadership. The ASGCLA Board agreed to suspend the Mentoring Program for FY20-21 to allow the Membership committee to examine ways to use creative virtual mentoring.?Select Activities to Improve Member EngagementALA’s Annual Conference 2020, will include 10 programs, including the President’s program and two half-day preconferences.ASGCLA’s spring and summer Online learning includes two courses and one webinar. The Online Learning Committee is also reviewing submissions for fall learning.At Midwinter, the Board approved the resolution for the Federal Libraries Interest Group and Armed Forces Libraries Interest Group merge into one Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Interest Group, similar to the structure in the former FAFLRT. The membership of the two listservs have been merged into the?ASGCLA-FAFLIG@lists.?listserv. The two Interest Groups and their Connect groups will be merged on September 1.The Membership Committee will issue a membership survey this spring in order to present the survey results to the Board of Directors at the Annual Conference.The ASGCLA Staff are updating the Recommended Resources on ASGCLADIrect, on a review done by the Web Presence Committee. The update work will be ongoing through the spring.Because of a customer observation that one ASCLA standard was out of date and included a negative group stereotype in the title, ASGCLA staff, with the advice of authors, content experts, and Board members are requesting 10 titles be made out-of-print?and removed from the ALA Store. The ASCLA name on the imprint is no longer accurate and current print publications cannot be updated to ASGCLA. The titles recommended for removal are 10 – 28 years old and are no longer timely and accurate. Until ASGCLA authors submit new titles, ASGCLA will work with members and Interest Groups to keep updated information on the Resources page.?Library and Information Technology Association (LITA)Vote for Core!Members still have time to vote on #TheCoreQuestion in the ALA election. Core is our best path forward, and we believe the future means working together to become sustainable and expand services for members. Learn more on?the Core website, and be an informed voter.?New Excellence in Children's and YA Science Fiction Notable ListsThese annotated lists, published annually, are designed to assist children, their parents, and librarians in selecting books that use (future) science and technology rather than fantasy or magic. The selections focus on three age groups: picture books, middle grade books, and young adult books. View the full 2020 lists on the?SF Notables website.?Congratulations to Alison Macrina, winner of the 2020 LITA/Library Hi Tech AwardLITA is pleased to announce Alison Macrina as the 2020 recipient of the LITA/Library Hi-Tech Award. Macrina led the Tor Relay Initiative in New Hampshire, is the founder and executive director of the Library Freedom Project, and has written and taught extensively in the areas of digital privacy, surveillance, and user anonymity in the context of libraries and librarianship. In this role, Macrina was instrumental in creating the Library Freedom Institute, which trained its first cohort in 2018 and will train its third cohort in 2020. Macrina’s work embodies the purpose of this Award, which is intended to recognize outstanding achievement in educating the profession about cutting edge technology within the field of library and information technology.?Meet Hebah Emara, our 2019-20 LITA/OCLC Spectrum ScholarHebah Emara is a second year distance student at the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Information Science and Learning Technologies MLIS program. She is interested in the ways libraries and technology intersect. Her background in IT and love of learning about technology, computers, and programming drew her to working in library technology. Libraries’ ability to bridge the digital divide and to use technology to provide opportunities to their communities and solve problems are also of particular interest to Emara. Her decision to apply for a Spectrum Scholarship was fueled by a desire to learn from a community of peers and mentors. Emara is a Raspberry Pi Certified Educator and has a passion for developing and teaching technology and coding programs for all ages and abilities. Her previous efforts have included leading a Girls Who Code club for elementary schoolers, leading an hour of code activities for kids and teens, and developing instructional technology programs for adults. This scholarship is sponsored by OCLC.?March ITAL IssueA sampling of articles from?the latest issue?(all open access PDFs):“A Framework for Member Success,” a message from LITA President Emily Morton-Owens“User Experience Methods and Maturity in Academic Libraries,” Scott W. H. Young, Zoe Chao, and Adam Chandler“Virtual Reality,” by Megan Frost, Michael Goates, Sarah Cheng, and Jed Johnston“Using Augmented and Virtual Reality in Information Literacy Instruction to Reduce Library Anxiety in Nontraditional and International Students,” by Angela Sample“Bento Box User Experience Study at Franklin University,” by Marc Jaffy“User Experience with a New Public Interface for an Integrated Library System,” by Kelly Blessinger and David Comeaux“Creating and Managing a Repository of Past Exam Papers,” by Mariya Maistrovskaya and Rachel Wang“Meeting Users Where They Are” by Graham Sherriff, Dan DeSanto, Daisy Benson, and Gary S. Atwood?Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA)WebinarsDue to disruptions caused by the coronavirus, LLAMA webinars scheduled through April are being rescheduled for later dates. LLAMA would like to thank all the participants and presenters for their understanding, flexibility and continued support.Public Library Association (PLA)Nashville Hosts 8,700 for PLA 2020 Conference (please see the “Spotlight on page 2 of this report)OCLC, PLA Publish Opioid Crisis ReportOn February 26, 2020, OCLC and PLA issued?Call to Action: Public Libraries and the Opioid Crisis, a report that offers tested strategies to consider as libraries determine local responses to the nationwide public health emergency. The call to action encourages public libraries to evaluate local health data, seek community partners, educate staff and community members on the issue, consider the need for staff care, and offer programs and services that support local needs. The joint OCLC/PLA project, which was supported by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS, project number LG-00-18-0298-18), previously released case studies and a summary report that feature opioid responses from libraries serving populations from 16,000 to more than 800,000 people. OCLC and PLA are promoting the project’s resources via webinars and conference presentations.PLA Launches Advancing Family Engagement Professional Development ProgramBased on the PLA’s?Family Engagement?framework, Advancing Family Engagement in Public Libraries is a new professional development activity to help public library professionals expand and refine their family engagement programming and strategies. The program is a subscription series with 8 highly interactive virtual classroom sessions, exercises and evaluation tools to assess and improve library services, and an online community of practice. Topics to be addressed include reaching out to families, raising up the parent’s voice in library programs, reinforcing family actions to support learning, promoting the library’s family engagement vision, and leading the library through resource allocation, using data to improve family engagement, and staff training. Thirty diverse public libraries joined the first cohort, which will kick off in April 2020 (a March kick-off was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis).PLA’s Website GrowsIn February 2020, PLA released a new online tutorial to help patrons learn the basics of using the popular online video site, YouTube. The 21-minute online tutorial, Intro to Searching Videos on YouTube, covers the basics of searching for videos for entertainment, instruction, “do it yourself,” and more. The new tutorial joins 24 other learning modules on , PLA’s digital literacy training resource. modules are video-based with narration and interactivity, written in plain language in both English and Spanish, with captioning. The lessons are taken independently and used by libraries and other community groups for one-on-one instruction and classroom teaching. In addition to the growing set of courses, offers tools for library staff to develop classroom instruction, including customizable planning documents, handouts, slides and activity sheets. In addition, PLA added two more library systems to those who are working with us to develop custom, branded versions of DigitalLearn, which offer personalization and data collection opportunities. PLA is excited to welcome the Cleveland Foundation and York County (SC) Library as new DigitalLearn sites.PLA’s Response to COVID-19 CrisisIn response to COVID-19, PLA is providing members with updates on the PLA web site and social media, which direct them to resources from ALA, health authorities, their library colleagues, and more. These resources include a spreadsheet where public libraries can list closures. PLA will also field a survey to assess library actions during the crisis including closures, transitioning to remote work and programming, and other issues, so we learn from this experience and use that information to guide future actions. Finally, PLA will launch a webinar series in late March starting with a COVID-19 update and then covering topics, including how to work remotely, managing stress and anxiety, and innovative programming. Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)Book & Media Awards Ceremony at the ALA Midwinter MeetingRUSA had a very successful Book & Media Awards ceremony at the recent ALA Midwinter Meeting. Over 200 attendees witnessed the awarding of the year’s best fiction, nonfiction, poetry, audiobook narration and reference materials. Featured awards included Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, Notable Books List, Reading List, Listen List: Outstanding Audiobook Narration, Sophie Brody Medal, Dartmouth Medal, and Outstanding Reference Sources. New Podcast Series on Gender EquityRUSA is proudly supporting a new podcast series on Gender Equity featuring RUSA and BRASS members. Timed to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, this new podcast series, Setting the Playlist, focuses on gender equity and how women are setting the playlist in their communities, business and libraries. In the first podcast, BRASS leaders Julia Martin and Louise Feldmann talk about mentoring. Additional podcasts in the series will become available over the coming months.Upcoming Educational OfferingsUpcoming contracted educational offerings include3 courses: 4/13/20 “Addressing Challenging and Disruptive Patron Behaviors”, 5/4/20 “Business Reference 101” and 5/11/20 “Inside Interlibrary Loan: Basics for a New Millennium” and 3 webinars: 3/25/20 “Data in Libraries: Data Processing and Visualization”, 4/15/20 “Data in Libraries: Understanding and Working with APIs” and 4/21/20 “Unlocking the Library of Congress: Enhancing your OER Initiatives via the Library’s Collections”. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)2020 YALSA’s YA Services Symposium Registration Registration for YALSA’s 2020 YA Services Symposium, which will take place November 6-8 in Reno, NV, will open in late April. Members can apply for a travel stipend to help offset costs to the symposium. Two stipends are available: one for library staff and one for library students. Each stipend is worth $1,000. Apply by June 1. If you’d like to stay up-to-date with information about the symposium, sign up to receive updates here.2020 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees AnnouncementThe official 2020 Teens’ Top Ten nominees will be announced April 23, the Thursday of National Library Week. The list of 25 nominees, along with annotations will be posted on the Teens’ Top Ten web page. Library staff are encouraged to share the nominees with their teen patrons and encourage them to vote for their favorite titles starting August 15. Learn more about the Teens’ Top Ten. YALSA Highlights Initially Planned for the 2020 ALA Annual ConferenceThe 2020 Michael L. Printz Awards, Monday, June?29, 2020, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m.Listen to the 2020 Michael L. Printz award-winning author and honor book authors speak about their writing, followed by a reception. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by Booklist magazine.YA Author Coffee Klatch, Sunday, June 28, 2020, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.This informal coffee klatch will give you an opportunity to meet authors who have appeared on one of YALSA's six annual selected lists or have received one of YALSA's five literary awards. Librarians will sit at a table and every 4 to 5 minutes, a new author will arrive at your table to talk about upcoming projects. ?Each attendee will meet 10-15 of the participating authors.Learn more about all activities, including YALSA’s, that were planned for ALA Annual. YALSA Board of Directors Ex-Officio Advocacy PositionYALSA seeks an individual to fill an advocacy board position for a one-year term starting July 2020. The ideal candidate advocates for teens, in their role—working for an institution, a non-profit, a for-profit venture, or as a volunteer, among other capacities. Employment in a library or as a YALSA member is not required; however, the intent is to recruit a person with a perspective outside the library realm who wants to advocate for teens. Apply by March 31. Learn more by reading the blog post by YALSA President Todd Krueger.Upcoming YALSA Activities & Events April 9: Teen Hackathon: Creativity, Collaboration, and Competition Webinar; 2pm (Eastern)April 23: 2020 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees AnnouncementJune 1: 2020 YALSA Symposium Travel Stipend DeadlineAugust 15: 2020 Teens’ Top Ten Voting BeginsOctober: TeenToberNovember 6-8: YALSA’s 2020 YA Services Symposium in Reno, NVALA PUBLISHINGALA EditionsNew Books from ALA Editions and ALA Neal-Schuman?New professional development books published include The fourth edition of Copyright Law for Librarians and Educators: Creative Strategies and Practical Solutions,?by Kenneth D. Crews (winner of the L. Ray Patterson Copyright Award), which provides timely insights and succinct guidance for LIS students, librarians, and educators alike;The Library’s Guide to Graphic Novels, edited by John Ballestro for the Association of Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), which explores the unique challenges of developing and managing a graphic novels collection;100+ Ideas to Inspire Smart Spaces and Creative Places, by Elisabeth Doucett, offering inspiration and examples from companies and non-profits outside the library world;?Linked Data for the Perplexed Librarian, by Scott Carlson, Cory Lampert, Darnelle Melvin, and Anne Washington and published in collaboration with ALCTS, which enables readers at any level of experience to get quickly up to speed on this important subject;Meeting the Challenge of Teaching Information Literacy, by Michelle Reale, a springboard for reflection that will help academic librarians understand the complexity of the challenges they face and then forge a path forward;?Cultivating Civility: Practical Ways to Improve a Dysfunctional Library, by Jo Henry, Joe Eshleman, and Richard Moniz, in which the authors share proactive solutions and guidance culled from their own research;?Gather ‘Round the Table: Food Literacy Programs, Resources, and Ideas for Libraries, by Hillary Dodge, which outlines a multi-pronged approach to incorporating food literacy in public, school, and special libraries (all ALA Editions); and The fourth edition of?Enhancing Teaching and Learning: A Leadership Guide for School Librarians, by Jean Donham and Chelsea Sims, which equips readers to be leaders at their schools and in their communities (ALA Neal-Schuman).?In early March, the?Spring/Summer 2020 New & Noteworthy Titles catalog?was mailed to more than 65,000 ALA Members, customers, and potential customers.?For a full listing of titles including books, online workshops, and eCourses, visit the ALA Store.alastore.?ALA GraphicsNew Gift Shop Offerings Celebrate BCALA Anniversary and ConferenceIn collaboration with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), ALA Graphics has created shirts, drinkware, and more, featuring logos that celebrate BCALA’s 50th?anniversary and its 11th?National Conference of African American Librarians (NCAAL). These new designs join ALA-APA’s “Libraries Work”, the ALA logo, READ, GNCRT, and more in Graphics’ ancillary gift shop offerings. Shop and support BCALA and ALA at?bit.ly/GraphicsGiftShop.American LibrariesMarch/April 2020 IssueThe cover story for American Libraries magazine’s March/April 2020 issue is a special report titled “2020 Census: Your Community Counts,” which examines the implications of the US Census Bureau’s decennial survey and features libraries that are working to ensure a complete count. Articles in the report include “Reaching the Hard to Count,” a story about libraries hiring census specialists with the goal of improving self-response rates among hard-to-count demographics in their communities; “Plug Into the Census,” a roundup of technology tools and networks libraries are using to conduct census outreach and boost participation; “State-by-State Snapshots,” a look at how state libraries and library associations are raising awareness of the 2020 Census—with and without financial support; “Fact Versus Fear,” an overview of libraries trying to dispel misinformation and alleviate anxiety around the form; “Tips for Your 2020 Census Team,” advice on how to run a census campaign at the library; and “After the Census,” a look at how libraries can use census data. The issue also includes a feature on BCALA’s 50th anniversary and stories about libraries hosting robot battles, educating their communities about the dangers of vaping, and the proactive and growing practice of loaning family kits at academic libraries.American Libraries Online and Social MediaWe had 71 original online stories since January 10, including coverage of Midwinter and PLA; very popular articles on Punxsutawney Phil, a Q&A with the librarian at the Fred Rogers Center, and book bikes in Afghanistan; and breaking news pieces on COVID-19 and library advocacy. Top stories since January 10:2020 Youth Media Award WinnersLibraries and Pandemic PreparednessFree Speech—or Free-for-All?Our website had record traffic in January and February, including our record single-day traffic on January 27 (thanks to our Youth Media Awards summary). We have 16,000 Facebook followers and just under 83,000 Twitter followers.AL DirectTop three stories since January 10:First Amendment audits push privacy limits (1,641)How to clean your laptop and phone (1,580)How to prepare for coronavirus in the US (1,363)Number of links published in Latest Library Links: 551Dewey Decibel PodcastThe American Libraries Dewey Decibel podcast released three episodes at the start of 2020. January’s episode was Philadelphia-themed, providing dining and entertainment tips for attendees at ALA’s Midwinter Meeting. Guests included a research librarian from the Library Company of Philadelphia and the marketing director of the Reading Terminal Market. To coincide with Presidents’ Day, the February episode featured interviews with the director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and the deputy director of the all-digital Barack Obama Presidential Library—the first and most recent presidential libraries in the US, respectively. In March, Dewey Decibel commemorated Women’s History Month with interviews with Mikki Kendall, author of Hood Feminism; writer and cultural critic, Roxane Gay, who will serve as honorary chair of ALCTS Preservation Week this year; and a professor of library science from Clarion (PA) University who was awarded a 2018 ALA Carnegie Whitney Grant to compile a bibliography of resources on the 19th Amendment.Dewey Decibel also released a special bonus episode in February featuring an interview with ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall, where she answered questions about the future of the Association, her favorite music, and more. ................
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