American Library Association Journals
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Gender Nonconforming Boys in Picture Books: Using Protagonists to Examine Social Roles and Stereotypes
No full textAs I was exploring the children’s literature section at my community library, I spotted the picture book Williams’ Doll by Charlotte Zolotow (1972) standing upright on a bookshelf. I picked it up and reminisced about reading it to my students when I taught second grade in the early nineties. At that time, I noticed a pattern in some of my students’ conversations that caused me concern because of some of their comments
Editor’s Note: In Full Blume
No full textAs I walked into an unassuming hotel restaurant in Chicago during the ALA Annual Conference in June, I had my eyes peeled for a colleague I was meeting. Instead, I spotted an icon.Quickly glancing to the right, I spot a woman who looks just like Judy Blume, enjoying coffee at a quiet table. Upon finding my tablemates around the corner, I silently squealed, “Is that Judy Blume?
Editor's Note: Awards Energy!
No full textFive years ago, I penned an editor’s note that started: “I’m an awards show junkie.” I love all awards shows—the suspense . . . the pomp . . . the circumstance.That’s still true, as I sit here on Grammys night, half-watching, half-writing this note.And just last week—although I wasn’t there in person—I watched the Youth Media Awards livestream with great anticipation (darn, though, my predictions were wrong!)
Conversations around Social Justice and Intellectual Freedom
No full textDuring the summer of 2022, the Freedom to Read Foundation (ftrf.org) hosted a successful and groundbreaking virtual symposium. “Where Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice Meet: A Call to Action” focused on topics around the intersection of social justice and intellectual freedom. The board invited educators, authors, journalists, publishers, First Amendment advocates, and all areas of librarians to come together and share their thoughts and ideas. The board also invited them to think about action plans, steps, and tools that could be taken from the symposium to move the discussion beyond the walls and place of thoughts regarding the current challenges
You Don’t Want a Book Challenge, Do You?
No full textThis article includes a compilation of three personal stories from the author’s time as an elementary librarian at a K-12 private school in Atlanta, Georgia. While struggling with classroom management during her first year as a school librarian, she was surprised by anatomical language in a read-aloud that she had forgotten about after pre-reading the book. She had a split second to decide whether to read what was actually written. During her second year, she went through my library’s reconsideration process when a parent challenged a book of scary stories. The worst part? She had used that book in a lesson with the entire third grade. And finally, throughout her time with this school, she fought for a book that was not being officially challenged, but voluntarily censored by her colleague. The author shares these stories with honesty about how sh handled each situation, and with a little advice added
The Libraries of Llano County, Texas: The End of Civility, Legality, the Rights of the Young to Learn and Mature, and the Public Itself
No full textHistorically, Texas often claims its greatness by size. Over several centuries, that has been a mixed bag. But the state’s radical political shift to the right threatens whatever is good in that legacy. In small but extreme right wing–dominated counties like Llano (eighty miles northwest of Austin in the Hill Country), when it comes to basic public facilities like libraries, the presence of books on the shelves, full access to both print and online materials, and professional staffing are under attack. The censorship and stripping of resources underway flouts the civil and legal rights of tax-paying residents, especially young readers. Constituting an illegal right-wing takeover of a public good, actions undermining the public library services in the county are an active danger to the local and the larger community
A Conversation with the Authors of Open Access Literature in Libraries: Principles and Practices
No full textIn lieu of a traditional editorial or book review, in this issue I offer a conversation with Karen Brunsting and Caitlin Harrington, my co-authors for the recently published monograph Open Access Literature in Libraries: Principles and Practices (ALA Editions Core, 2022; 978-0-8389-3954-3). Over the past year, Michael Fernandez and I have documented some of the work we have undertaken to make Library Resources Technical Services open access. These efforts have, of course, been informed by our grappling with the complex topic over a much longer period of time. For several years, I have been pondering what librarians, and especially those of us at smaller or less robustly funded institutions, can reasonably do to assist in making scholarly literature freely available to all to read. Like many of you, I share my questions, concerns, and ideas with professional colleagues and friends. Sometimes these discussions lead to research projects. What follows is an example of an ongoing conversation among technical services colleagues leading to research projects, changes in our practices, and, finally, a practical guide to getting started with open access in your library
Book Review: The Weeding Handbook: A Shelf-by-Shelf Guide, Second Edition
No full textRebecca Vnuk’s new and updated edition of The Weeding Handbook is a thoughtfully written book that can spark a lot of creative thinking as well as assist with careful planning of weeding projects, large and small. Weeding a library’s collection can often cause tension and sometimes high anxiety for many who work in and manage libraries. Vnuk’s experience managing public library collections and extensive background in book reviewing, consulting, and training makes her a librarian with considerable understanding of the difficult issues that surround weeding of collections. Vnuk’s second edition of The Weeding Handbook is a very useful book to read for building confidence around the decision-making involved in weeding collections. Vnuk writes, “A library is an ever-changing organism. Weeding helps a library thrive” (XV). This statement drives the narrative of the book, and it is something that is always important to remember when one is stuck in the weeding trenches and feeling indecisive and anxious on the decision processes. While Vnuk’s new edition of the handbook may in part resemble her first edition, published in 2015, this book feels refreshed, with recently authored suggested readings. Many sections of the book include short and original weeding thoughts and ruminations from librarians across many parts of the country from an assortment of library types and sizes
Finding What’s Right: Readers’ Advisory for Middle Grades
No full textAs children’s librarians continue to support the development of literacy skills to children before and after they begin reading, there is also an ongoing need for librarians and support staff to be properly trained in providing readers’ advisory (RA) service.While storytime and other children’s programs may take priority within most children’s departments, RA continues to be an integral part of library service. Unfortunately, many RA tools and associated research are focused on adult readers, creating a distinct scarcity of RA material for children. This article will discuss the developmental considerations and interests for school-aged readers (aged 8–12) and give recommendations for providing RA services
Editor’s Note: The Many Emotions of Change
No full textLate last year, I left my twelve-year position as a part-time children’s librarian to become full-time Youth Services Manager in another city.It was a bittersweet move. On one hand, I looked forward to advancing in my career, taking on more duties, leading a team, learning a new community, and, possibly, ending my library career as a manager