Beta Phi Mu chapter forming at UCM

One item of interest at our SOLIS meeting on Sept. 19, 2023, was news of a Beta Phi Mu chapter being established at the University of Central Missouri.

Beta Phi Mu is an honor society for librarians. Eligibility for membership is “by invitation of the faculty from institutions where the American Library Association, or other recognized accrediting agency approved by the Beta Phi Mu Executive Board, has accredited or recognized a professional degree program.”

April is School Library Month

Did you know? April is School Library Month, the American Association of School Librarians’ annual celebration of school librarians, library workers, and school libraries.

SOLIS presentation for ‘One Campus, One Book’

UCM’s Student Organization of Library and Information Services held its first meeting of the Fall 2022 semester on Oct. 12, 2022. The meeting featured a conversation led by Dr. Amanda Harrison, assistant professor of library science at UCM; and Angie Wiegers, director of district libraries, North Kansas City; with advice for new school librarians.

Professional library associations

My studies this week for LIS 5100, “Foundations of Librarianship,” included an exploration of professional library associations. I shared the benefits I’ve derived from two association memberships, the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.

SOLIS hosts latest in ‘Conversations’ series

UCM’s Student Organization of Library and Information Services (SOLIS) held the latest in its “Conversations” series on March 3, 2022, featuring Sarah Craig, UCM director of sponsored programs and research integrity.

Cuvaison 50th anniversary: Napa Valley Wine Library Association letter

Fifty years ago, my father, Thomas R. Parkhill, co-founded Cuvaison winery in Napa Valley, California along with Thomas Cottrell. Recently, I found an interesting piece of realia from that bit of family history, a letter from the Napa Valley Wine Library Association inviting Dad to be a member. (For those not familiar with the wine library, it’s in the Saint Helena Public Library.) The letter also mentions an article about Cuvaison in the St. Helena Star; wouldn’t that be neat to track down!

(The Saint Helena Public Library has digitized issues of the St. Helena Star from 1874-2014; view them at https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/serial?id=sthelenastar)

‘Ninja Librarians: Sword in the Stacks’

It was such a delight to read The Accidental Keyhand, first book in The Ninja Librarians, that I eagerly accepted an invitation by series author Jen Swann Downey to read the second book.

As Sword in the Stacks opens (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016), young protagonists Dorrie and Marcus begin their training as official apprentices to the Lybrariad, a secret society that aids people who were persecuted throughout history for expressing their ideas.

This fantasy series builds upon the image of the library professional as a defender of intellectual freedom and endows its characters with swashbuckling derring-do.

ALA elections: Todaro and Feldman

I may have changed my designation in American Library Association membership from “Student” to “Library Support Staff.” But I retain the same interest in shaping ALA policy by voting in annual elections.

New chapter in ALA membership

I’m embarking on a new chapter in my American Library Association (ALA) membership. Each year, starting in May 2011, I purchased an ALA membership. This ongoing affiliation is as much a gift to myself as it is a professional investment.

Library support staff highlighted in OLA Quarterly

In its quarterly journal, the Oregon Library Association gives special attention to library support staff. In a Dec. 15 blog post, the OLA's Support Staff Division summarizes and higlights articles to be found in the December 2014 edition.

Teens’ Top 10: Voting now open

With an emphasis on Teen Read Week (Oct. 12 to 18), voting is open for the Young Adult Library Services Association’s “Teens’ Top Ten.” Young people aged 12 to 18 can vote for up to three of their favorite titles among 25 nominated books.

Posted to the Southern Oregon Education Services District listserv for school library/media center personnel

‘Ninja Librarians: The Accidental Keyhand’

In The Ninja Librarians: The Accidental Keyhand (Sourcebook Jabberwocky, 2014), author Jen Swann Downey introduces readers to the Lybrariad, a secret society of “Ninja Librarians.”

The mission of the Lybrariad is to aid people at points in history who were persecuted for expressing their ideas.

After falling through a hole in a janitor’s closet at the Passaic Public Library, Dorrie and her brother Marcus find themselves in Petrarch’s Library, a structure that is anchored to various points and places in time. Their arrival sparks concern for a new threat by the library’s enemies.

Teens’ Top Ten: Winning titles

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is the No. 1 title in the Young Adult Library Services Association’s Teens’ Top Ten. Between Aug. 15 through Teen Read Week, Oct. 13 to 19, more than 32,000 votes were cast among 28 nominees.

The nominees were chosen by Teens’ Top Ten book discussion groups in libraries. All of the books were published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012. The remaining winners are:

2. The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
3. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
4. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
5. Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
6. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
7. Crewel by Gennifer Albin
8. Every Day by David Levithan
9. Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross and
10. Butter by Erin Jode Lange

At CNN, brief history of Young Adult literature

“Monday marked the start of 2013’s Teen Read Week, but with young adult literature regularly burning up the bestseller lists, it’s clear many young adults don’t need an excuse to seek out the written word.”

At CNN.com, Ashley Strickland traces the evolution of young adult literature. Its roots, according to Strickland, go back to World War II, when “teenagers” were given their own distinction as a social demographic. The Young Adult Library Services Association coined the term “Young Adult” during the 1960s to represent the 12 to 18 age range.

Social sharing credit goes to Epic Reads on Facebook.

Voting now open for YALSA Teens’ Top Ten

Voting opened today for the Young Adult Library Services Association’s Teens’ Top Ten. Teen readers can cast as many as three votes among 28 nominees, books that were published between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.

Voting will be open through Teen Read Week, Oct. 13 to 19. The winners will be announced on Oct. 22.

The nominees were chosen by Teens’ Top Ten book discussion groups in libraries. Part of the appeal for this YA fiction reader is to see books I’ve read and enjoyed among 2013 nominees and the 2012 list of winners.

New year of ALA student membership

Just renewed @alalibrary dues: beginning my third year of student membership.
— Cynthia Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) March 15, 2013

YALSA launches 2013 Teen Summer Reading Program website

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has launched the 2013 Teen Summer Reading Programs website at http://summerreading.ning.com/. Area libraries: What are your plans for teen summer reading programs? The site offers a venue to share information and ideas; see more details at ALANews.

Gift bags for sale at Lakeport Library

From Jo Bennett: Friends of Lake County Library will have gift bags for sale at the Lakeport Library, 1425 High St. Selections include mysteries, fiction, historical novels, romance, health and animal nature books.

Gift bags can also be designed to a recipient's specific taste. Friends of Lake County Library will need one week to complete the order.

Each purchase will be gift wrapped in a book bag with clear cellophane and decorated. Each gift bag costs $25. Proceeds support the Lake County Library. For more information, contact the Lakeport Library at 263-8817.

‘We Are United for Libraries’

At the ALA Membership blog, contributor Sally Gardner Reed asks, “when libraries cost so little and deliver so much,” why aren’t all politicians running on pro-library platforms?

United for Libraries

According to Reed, for more than 100 years, libraries have ensured that “all people in the community have access to the resources they need and want to be self actualized and self governing people.”

This has certainly been the case for me.

Whether it was ensuring my early access to Internet technology or pursuing information I needed, I consistently turned to the library.

Learning to weave? I went to the library. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome? Again, I went to the library.

The problem, as identified by Reed, is that community leaders simply do not understand the core roles played by libraries. “The all too prevalent belief that libraries have been obviated by the internet lends testimony to their ignorance.”

Reed emphasizes the importance of constituents making the case for libraries. “That’s where friends of the library groups, trustees, foundation members and active library patrons come in.”

Reed is executive director of United for Libraries, formerly known as the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. She invites library supporters to make use of toolkits, webinars, practical guides and networking opportunities.

Libraries have their own PAC

EveryLibrary, the first and only national political action committee (PAC) for libraries, launched this week. Its objective: ballot initiatives and measures for local libraries.