Monthly Archives: March 2014

Next Library 2014 – Accelerate Learning

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This year’s Next Library Conference will take place for the first time in North America at the beautiful Harold Washington Public Library in Chicago, IL on June 20-25. Join conference partners, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Public Library Foundation, Aarhus Public Libraries, and the Urban Libraries Council as they present Next Library 2014 – Accelerate Learning.

Throughout the world, libraries are pushing boundaries, leading and accelerating changes to support learning in the 21st century. Accelerate Learning, reflects the rapid pace of change in today’s world as well as the reality that learning in the 21st century is a means of individual empowerment, community well-being and social change. As the experience of learning continues to evolve, libraries everywhere have a vital role to play – as partners in the community learning ecosystem and leaders in advancing strong learning outcomes that improve people’s lives.

This international gathering of forward-thinking library professionals, innovators and decision-makers who are pushing boundaries and making changes that support learning in the 21st century will participate in high-energy and interactive conference sessions, in addition to hearing from inspiring keynote presenters. The following four topic areas will offer sessions that mirror the overall theme:

• PATRON AS THE CENTER OF DESIGN: Explore how Human Centered Design principals can be applied to program and service development. Discover how libraries are involving patrons and communities in their service and program design efforts. These sessions will highlight the critical importance of co-creation in supporting a community of learners.

• LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS FOR ENHANCED LEARNING OUTCOMES: Explore libraries’
role in building more effective and comprehensive learning ecosystems within communities. Participants will share ideas, experiences and best practices that help their libraries create collaborative relationships that best support learning for diverse patron groups.

• LEARNING THROUGH CREATION:
Share the experiences, ideas, opportunities and challenges of engaging users in creative activities. These sessions will invite conference participants to connect with and explore emerging practices in connected learning, makerspaces, arts and STEM learning initiatives within libraries and other institutions.

• LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR LEARNING: Identify, explore and discuss technology trends or breakthroughs that are leading to new models of learning, training and connecting – from simulations to gaming or interactive learning to virtual schools. Explore how libraries are using technology to accelerate 21st century learning.
To register for Next Library 2014, and book your hotel, visit:
www.nextlibrary.net. An early bird conference registration rate of $425 USD is available until March 31st.
Questions and comments can be directed to Colleen Bragiel, Urban Libraries Council, at mcbragiel@urbanlibraries.org .

2011 U.S. Public Libraries Survey Available

Virginia's Chesterfield County Public Library

Virginia’s Chesterfield County Public Library

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has made available a preview of the Fiscal Year 2011 Public Libraries in the United States Survey. Now in its twenty-fourth year, the Public Library Survey gathers data from more than 98 percent of public libraries across the country.
In FY 2011, there were 8,956 public libraries in the United States, which served 299.9 million people or 95.3 percent of the U.S. population. Additional highlights are:
Visits and Program Attendance
There were 1.53 billion in-person visits to public libraries, the equivalent to more than 4.2 million visits each day (not including virtual visits).
Attendance at public library programs increased for the eighth year with 89 million people attending 3.81 million programs.

Books and Collections
Public libraries circulated 2.44 billion materials, or 8.1 items circulated per person.
While books continue to comprise the majority of the nation’s public library collection holdings, collections are shifting from print books to non-print and digital materials.

Public Access Computers
There were 261,413 public access Internet computers available at U.S. public libraries
There were 341.5 million usage sessions on public access Internet computers at public libraries.

Financial Health
More than $11.4 billion was invested in public libraries.
Public libraries spent $10.7 billion in operating expenditures.

A high-level overview of the FY 2011 data, supplementary tables, and information by state are available on IMLS website.

Is yours an award winning library?

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The Online Entry Form for the 2014 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Awards is now available.  This biennial competition is co-sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).  The awards honor excellence in library interior design. Award winners demonstrate excellence in aesthetics, design, creativity, function and satisfaction of the client’s objectives. Continue reading

The ‘right to E-read’ campaign

Right to Read

 

EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations) is inviting libraries to join the right to E-read Campaign.

The right to E-read Campaign is seeking to raise awareness about the obstacles faced by libraries in the digital environment. Access to digital content has become a sensitive issue in which libraries, their staff and users have a core role to play. In the recent Public consultation on EU Copyright rules,  EBLIDA calls for copyright legislation to keep up with changes brought about by the digital age and to open up new opportunities rather than limit innovation and access to information.

Under copyright issues lie fundamental questions about democracy, access to information and completion of a true knowledge society. The right to e-read campaign aims at raising awareness among librarians, politicians and users and advocating for rights in claiming that:

• Libraries want to provide users with the latest e-books as we do with printed books!

• Libraries want to buy e-books at fair prices and on reasonable terms!

• Libraries want authors to receive fair payment for the lending of e-books as they do for printed books by extending Public Lending Right to include the loan of e-books by public libraries!

• Libraries want all citizens – not just those who can afford it – to benefit from free access to e-books in public libraries!

The campaign sees European library associations and institutions united in demanding the provision of e-books by libraries all over Europe and calls on the EU Commission for a clear copyright law that enables libraries to fulfill their enduring mission into the 21st century of providing all EU citizens with access to the riches of human knowledge and imagination whether in the library, offsite or online.

A campaign poster with a logo and slogans have been developed and  translated into 18 languages (and counting). The campaign will be launched on 23rd of  April, the World Book and Copyright Day.