The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s $4 billion Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) has helped about 20 percent of U.S. libraries make improvements to publicly available technology resources and digital literacy within their communities, according to a report released on Monday by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP).
ALA Highlights Benefits of Federal Broadband Funding, Argues that E-Rate Must Be Enhanced to Sustain Progress
By on May 7, 2013
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction Shortlist Announced
By on April 22, 2013
ALA announced its shortlist for the second annual Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction on Monday, April 23rd, naming three nominees in both fiction and nonfiction.
Why I stick with ALA | Blatant Berry
By on April 17, 2013 8 Comments
Despite my frustrations with The American Library Association (ALA) Council, I voted in its election. The ALA Council’s email list (ALACOUN) has been endlessly repetitious for weeks. It was spurred by an array of fatuous messages from a chapter councilor fixated on cutting the number of at-large councilors in that august body.
FCC Chairman Thanks Libraries For Role in Digital Literacy
By on February 12, 2013
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski recently released a YouTube video thanking the nation’s librarians for their service, and describing libraries as “a vital partner to the FCC in one of our central missions: closing the digital divide and making sure every American can access the opportunities of broadband Internet.”
AAP Responds to ALA Criticism of Big Six Ebook Policies
By on September 25, 2012
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) today issued a response to American Library Association (ALA) President Maureen Sullivan’s open letter, which on Monday sharply criticized the ongoing refusal of several major publishers to sell ebooks to libraries. The AAP’s response counters that “publishers support the concept of e-lending but must solve a breadth of complex technological, operational, financial and other challenges to make it a reality.” Individual publishers are working to address these challenges, and antitrust laws prohibit publishers from convening to find common solutions to these emerging issues, the statement argues. It goes on to question the timing of the open letter, noting that the AAP had scheduled a meeting between ALA and more than 100 representatives from the publishing community in a few days.
ALA, LaRue Respond to Hachette Price Increase
By on September 14, 2012
The American Library Association (ALA) on Friday denounced Hachette Book Group’s decision to implement steep price increases on its back-catalog of ebooks sold to the library market. OverDrive broke the news to its customers in an email on September 13, stating that “Hachette will be raising its eBook prices on October 1, 2012 on their currently available eBook catalog (~3,500 eBook titles with release dates of April 2010 and earlier). On average prices will increase 220 percent.” ALA President Maureen Sullivan expressed disappointment at Hachette’s choice, noting that ALA had believed that the publisher was moving toward more favorable terms for libraries.
The post ALA, LaRue Respond to Hachette Price Increase appeared first on The Digital Shift.
PLA Gets Grant to Build Digital Literacy Resource for Libraries
By on September 14, 2012
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $291,178 grant to the Public Library Association (PLA) to develop an online collection of digital literacy resources. The two year grant, which was given via the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, will help PLA partner with the American Library Association (ALA)’s Office for Information [...]
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Too Many Ebook Cooks: Ineffectual Committees Aren’t Fast Enough To Ensure Robust Access | Editorial
By on August 13, 2012 2 Comments
Photo Gallery: A Look at the ALA Annual Conference, Day 4 | ALA Annual 2012
By on June 26, 2012 Leave a Comment
ALA wrapped up on Monday with appearances from Dan Rather, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, as well as a concert from Bettye LaVette. See below for some of the highlights, and and stay tuned for more live reports from #ala12.
Librarians Remain Concerned About Privacy Rights
By on May 10, 2012
More than 95 percent of librarians who responded to a recent survey said that “government agencies and businesses shouldn’t share personal information with third parties without authorization and should only be used for a specific purpose,” according to the preliminary findings of a study released by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom
