LJ's ninth Design Institute in Minneapolis took a look at the evolving role of library as a community center.
Providing equal access to your historic building can spur other crucial updates.
In New Jersey, a SWAT Team of library transformers were sent in to four libraries in dire need of affordable makeovers.
In the past few months?since December 25, 2010, to be specific?ebook circulation and the number of ebook users has been skyrocketing in many libraries. Chicago Public Library doubled its ebook circulation, as did Siouxland Libraries, More...
How Ohio public libraries have counteracted state funding cuts provides insight into the power of independent governance for libraries across the country.
When the economy faltered, people turned to libraries for guidance. For many of the newly laid off, library staff were the first responders to their anxiety and confusion.
Librarians aren?t all on the same page when it comes to ebooks, nor are publishers, writes Francine Fialkoff. But it?s worth remembering that they are natural allies in the book world.
Support for our profession has to come from all of us.
When 500 gamers gathered at the New York Public Library for an all-night scavenger hunt designed by Jane McGonigal, they connected to the future through the riches of the past via the tools of today.
Shake the view that service to the poor is a gift from above...
People living with substandard housing are in need of innovative library service, and these libraries are stretching to bridge the gap.
In a banner year, King County Library System (KCLS) circulated some 22.4 million items to its eager patrons, pulling off rapid growth with creative management of resources and ongoing innovation in services and technology, while
Would you recommend The Brothers Karamazov? How about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? The ?Twilight? series? Love them or hate them, you?re not alone. There are likely millions of other people out there who More...
Over 3600 respondents show that library workers are braced to meet the tension of the times and struggling to keep up with increased workloads, but still largely happy to work in libraries.
LJ's John Berry picks the sessions to hit, for librarians at all levels, at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 23-28. The robust program may even be enough to keep
I may finally be over my scandinavian/ European/Singapore library envy. For years, librarians who traveled to these places touted them for being far ahead of U.S. libraries in service. They were there first with self-check, More...
LJ explores how the library that once set the bar for innovation nationwide is moving forward, cautiously envisioning its own recovery.
The ten New Landmark Libraries set the bar for ideas to build on.
What does the 21st century public library look like? How does its design best serve your community? To see the face of the future, in communities across America, start with LJ's New Landmark Libraries: the
Amid a bitter political climate, punctuated by the rise of a virulent antitax group, last year voters overwhelmingly entrusted their libraries with their tax dollars in referenda.
At LJ , we may never have had so many budget-focused news stories as in this past year. We?ve chronicled cuts to individual libraries in funding, hours, services, staff, and buildings around the country. The More...
In tough times or good, libraries need librarians at the helm.
Exciting developments even as budgets stay at rock bottom.
The economic climate may give libraries their biggest opportunity yet to get into the broadband debate and avoid being passed over in an increasingly mobile connected world, as well as to make the case for
We have a responsibility to make carbon reduction part of our mutual mission, says Louise Schaper, former Executive Director of the Fayettevile Public Library, AR.
Thirty years ago, the only person in a library looking for an electrical outlet was a blue-smocked cleaning person who had to plug in a vacuum cleaner with a very long cord. Now, hordes of More...
Open 57 hours a week over six days, the Naturita Community Library, CO, continually creates a vibrant and responsive community center for Naturita and the surrounding small towns. There patrons tap into technology, distance education,
The overall trend in FY10: a brutal grasping by money-starved government officials for the low-hanging fruit of library budgets?72 percent of survey respondents said their budget had been cut, and 43 percent had staff cuts.
In Dean Marney?s curious article ?The Internet Is Not All or Nothing? (BackTalk, LJ 11/1/10, p. 32) regarding the Internet, filters, yoga, and the North Central Regional Library (NCRL) court case in Washington State, he More...
Top public relations prize highlights innovations in branding and outreach, comes with $5000 cash award
FOUR BRANCHES MAY STAY OPEN IN BOSTON The Boston Public Library is still facing unprecedented challenges, as the country?s oldest municipally funded library struggles to avoid the closure of four branches. Amy Ryan, the library?s More...
The San Diego setting of the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting is just one draw of a conference trending toward being more member friendly.
Outside Denver, a small system speeds transformation?dropping Dewey, calling librarians ?Guides??and becomes a lab for rethinking.
Just over two years into her role as Global Libraries director for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jacobs reflects on the global library landscape.
Greg Heid, veteran librarian with more than 30 years experience, gets post.
Steven Bell thinks the path to reaching the students may be through their parents.
Those who need it least get conference subsidies, but John Berry has a proposal.
More Libraries Rated; 63 New Stars Identified! The LJ Index of Public Library Service 2010, Library Journal's national rating of public libraries, identifies 258 "star" libraries. Created by Ray More...
In Colorado, and elsewhere, saving on taxes trumps saving services.
From LJ's September 15 issue: John Berry describes public officials, from Fayetteville, AR, to Boise, ID, who've gone to bat for their libraries.
Are you a Woo? An Activator? An Acheiver, Analytical? Strengths training can reinvigorate team spirit and foster a healthy atmosphere in tough times.
News highlights from LibraryJournal.com Anti-tax Ballot Measures Alarming Coloradans Public services in Colorado, including library services, could be devastated if three seemingly simple-and, to critics, complex and deceptive-tax rollback measures pass in the November 2 More...
Ginnie Cooper describes a new approach to short-term spaces that helps connect the District of Columbia Public Library to the community and move the library forward.
When the 2010 annual conference of the American Library Association (ALA) was assigned to Washington, DC, no one could have predicted that libraries (and the country) would be facing a collective budget crisis. So the More...
Sometimes we have to know what is at risk before we can engage in saving it. The website www.losinglibraries.org was designed to capture stories from across the nation to create a snapshot of library cuts
Five years of raises mandated in contractUnion did not set up meeting on concessions42 employees laid offThe Las Vegas/Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), NV, faced with a $5.5 million shortfall over the next fiscal year, More...
Now 24 locations, it could be 20, or eightTermination costs could hit $4 millionWaiting to see if county, municipalities respondThe Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, faced with a recommended $17.7 million county contribution for FY 011-a nearly More...
Six locations too many for 63,000 people compared to peer librariesFlat budget for three yearsBeyond the bookmobile to mobile services andnew spacesFaced with three years of flat funding and the closure of two of five More...
Salary freeze; part-timers lose hoursOverdue fines go up30 positions lost over two yearsFacing flat revenue and $838,000 in increasing costs, the Lexington Public Library, KY, Board of Trustees has passed a $13.9 million budget for More...
Making a building agreen building is just the start of library leadership of sustainability, says Louise Schaper.The recently retired director of the Fayetteville Public Library, AR (LJ's Library of the Year 2005),instilled green practicesthroughout the More...
Severe cutbacks for upcoming fiscal yearAward-winning library in relatively affluent cityFriends to plan for another millage in NovemberThe Troy Public Library, MI, which serves a city of 80,000, will close its doors on June 30, More...
On December 11, 2009, the same weekend that the UN Climate Change Conference was taking place in Copenhagen, approximately 90 librarians, library board members, architects, and vendors from 12 states convened for their own ecominded More...
You've heard the buzz about building green libraries, but what about green library operations? You know, the things we do every day to give our customers a great library experience, like cleaning the floors, registering More...
Having received the largest grant in the history of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, $10.7 million, the Cambridge Public Library restored its 27,200 square foot landmark main building and expanded it with a striking More...
William T. Cozby Public Library Coppell, TXARCHITECT PSA-DewberryTHE CHALLENGE The William T. Cozby Public Library, Coppell, TX, has been at its current two-story, 28,000 square foot location since 1995 and was last renovated in 2005. More...
When Louise Schaper opened the new Fayetteville Public Library (FPL) in Arkansas in 2004, she brought the state's second LEED Silver-certified building to completion. The green building fulfilled a community expectation for sustainable innovation established More...
The Ritter Public Library in Vermilion, OH, didn't start out aiming to be the greenest library in the state, but, this summer, it's new addition will achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold More...
Convention-goers have seen the greening of library shows-think online-only preconference guides, totes constructed of recycled materials, fewer water bottles. Now they can start to expect the same sustainability savvy from some of their library vendors More...
Celebrating its 101st Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO in New Orleans, June 13–16, SLA (Special Libraries Association) is taking inspiration from this iconic and challenged city. Knowledge professionals must embrace the future despite disintermediation and competition.SLA's More...
Does Tonight Show host Jay Leno think libraries are worth much? Apparently not. In his monologue May 11 (at about the three-minute mark), Leno cracked, "People here in Los Angeles are upset that the mayor's More...
$3 million loss must be made upBacklash against spending on arenaCommenters support library,butshow ignorance about operationsIn April, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) Board of Trustees said it was considering closing four to six branches More...
State aid was cut last yearMost first-time levies succeedLosers must reduce servicesOhio citizens demonstrated their support of libraries yesterday, as 86 percent of library levies passed. Out of the 29 initiatives, 25 were successful; 18 More...
Seven-day servicealready reduced in AprilUnion, advocates, library leaders argue against cutsCap on retirements would mean young librarians get laid offLos Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has proposed what seems to be a stable budget for the More...
Regional reference center libraries will endCut in continuing ed, advisory servicesDelivery remains, but changes in ILLThe Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC), in response to "draconian budget cuts," will consolidate its six regional offices and More...
Library aid almost axed last year60,000 messages in six weeksAlliance with counties also helped Riding a legislative roller-coaster similar to that in 2009, Florida library advocates have successfully staved off proposals to eliminate Florida's State More...
Criteria include SLA and professional serviceVaried group of corporate, nonprofit, academic, and government info prosOne is an LJ Mover & ShakerSLA has announced five recipients of the 2010 SLA Rising Star award, which recognizes outstanding More...
The board of the Boston Public Library, as LJ reported earlier this month, has decided to close four branches to cope with budget deficits largely caused by a decline in state aid. Now, however, some More...
The New York Public Library (NYPL) today debuts what it calls "the world's largest automated sorter of library materials, a 238 foot, room-sized system of conveyors, lasers, computers and book bins," at the new Library More...
$82 million over two yearsHours could be cut nearly in halfPotential closingsHundreds of layoffsBudget endgame hasn't yet arrivedFor libraries in New York City, it's waiting time, as potentially devastating cuts in Mayor Mike Bloomberg's proposed More...
No silver bulletGive elected officials opportunities to shineFoundations may helpWhat's the best way to ensure public support for a library? Consistent advocacy, in good times and bad, according to Tom Galante, CEO of the Queens More...
Library commission reopens searchTimeline unclearNeed for the "right fit"Though the Tulsa City-County Library, OK, has been looking for a new CEO since November, the process is going slowly, with the search reopened after three finalists More...
Part of $193 million via USDA$2.6 million for library in North Carolina$1.5 million for library in TennesseeLibrary services in rural communities will receive more than $7.2 million in loans and grants, thanks to stimulus funding More...
Library recently absorbed mid-year cutThree scenarios for FY11Budget will be decided in JuneNext year may be much, much tougher for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC, which could see its budget cut by more than half, More...
What a split personality of a PLA! Those of us from LJ who attended the Public Library Association conference in late March in Portland, OR, ricocheted from news about budget cuts, layoffs, and shortened hours More...
Materials cut six percent42 positions to remain unfilledWeekend hours especially affectedNext year could be much worseHouston Public Library (HPL) will implement substantial service cuts beginning April 17, as it must reduce its current Fiscal Year More...
Reversal of 2006 voteSeniority and "bumping" an issueOnly librarians involvedAfter librarians of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County faced staff reductions in 2005, they agreed in early 2006 to join the Service Employees More...
Save Ohio Libraries acts as levy clearinghouseSophisticated advocacy effortsMore first-time levies emergeSince state support for Ohio's public libraries was cut 30 percent this last summer, many library systems have launched local levy efforts for operational More...
Response to controversy that began in November 2008More measured and transparent approach"Club good" versus "public good"OCLC today released a new draft policy on record use for the WorldCat bibliographic database, titled "WorldCat Rights and Responsibilities More...
Scenarios summarizedBump of one percent in city fundingDecision now goes to MayorUpdated April 9: The Boston Public Library Board of Trustees hasendorsed the plan to close four branches. Updated April 12: Sam Allis, columnist for More...
One guard needed in each branchSeveral unannounced closures dailyFull staff may be achieved mid-AprilA civil service snafu causing a delay in hiring security guards has led to periodic branch closures at the Free Library of More...
The municipal budget proposed for the fiscal year starting July 1 recommends the closure of three branches among six locations (five branches plus main library) of the Portland Public Library, ME, according to the Portland More...
Audit requested by funding agencyWill be considered by task forceStill, major funding needs for capital projects remainThe Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP) may be in better shape than it professes, according to an audit report More...
Panel draws small crowdFrom outsourcing to private managementNo rebuttal from critics of LSSI methodsIt can be a hugely controversial local issue when officials consider contracting with Library Systems & Services, LLC (LSSI), the only company More...
Programs on reading and classicsLincoln at the librariesDigitization and preservationLibraries are getting a small slice of the recently announced $16 million in grant awardsfrom the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which is funding 286 More...
Library-A-Go-Go vending machinesFlexible operational models keep buildings openSmall gateway facilities whet users' appetitesA group of California librarians (and architect Christopher Noll) yesterday demonstrated to a standing-room-only crowd how they are creating new outlets to extend More...
How to update strategic planningHow to avoid 'planning fatigue';Looking beyond circulationKeeping libraries relevantMost public library strategic plans consistently fail to offer the 'clarity'; library leaders and library boards need to develop pragmatic 'now centered'; service More...
Cuts expected in next three to five yearsSavings on resources key, but not easy to implementOpen access offers no short-term savingsNeed to emphasize ROIA new guide from the Research Information Network-established by the higher education More...
All branches open eight hours a day for five daysFewer job lossesRemaining staffers face 5-20% pay cutA week after announcing that they had no choice but close branches in the wake of a $2 million More...
Special meeting tomorrowMajor service cuts no matter whatThe Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC), NC, is reconsidering its announced plan to eliminate 148 jobs and close 12 of its 24 branches-a response to More...
Library was to cost $37 million$2.1 million gap in assessment of valueRenovation could cost $27 millionLast November, LJ reported thatthe city of Madison, WI, was moving ahead on a $37 million new Central Library for More...
Library gets five cents out of $100 in property taxesProposed $342,000 cut would be disproportionateLibrary has already made cutsOver the years, library advocates have often advised that, to ensure a dedicated funding stream, libraries should More...
In absence of RFID standard, vendor transparency is importantBe prepared for push-back fromstaff and patrons that are resistant to changeA/V materials continue to be a challenge, but there is hope'Radio frequency identification (RFID) can be More...
Major planned cuts in state funding for libraries in New Jersey and Florida, and a closure of half the branches in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC, are being met with spirited resistance. After the Public More...
State funding cut by one-third since 2001Branches would closePossibility for funding to be restored in committeeIn big red letters on its web site, the Florida Library Association (FLA) warns, "We Have Another State Aid to More...
Database initiative would be axedCuts hit libraries disproportionatelyBroadband funds jeopardized For FY 2011, the state of New Jerseyhas proposed a drastic cut of74% in library program funding from the FY 2010 appropriation, which State Librarian More...
Worst situation since the Great DepressionFour criteria for closingsNext year's cut may be even greaterFaced with cutting $2 million from its budget within the last three months of the current fiscal year, the Public Library More...
Despite the grim economic circumstances in 2009, voters delivered an overwhelming vote of confidence to their local libraries. In fact, 84 percent of all operating referenda passed nationwide.Just a few of the successes: in Michigan, More...
SFPL says services won't be affected by shortened staff hoursProposed budget cuts may be reworkedUnions still in negotiations, could affect budget outcomeUnion steward confident measure will be overruledJust when you've heard it all, here's another More...
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
