From the ACRL blog comes "The Paperless Dorm Room"
"Joseph Storch has an idea... to deal with textbook piracy - have all publishers put their books on a common electronic platform and let the colleges negotiate a subscription on behalf of students and dole out royalties to publishers based on use. Students will be fine with it because online is where students are at, and if a few students insist on printing content, well, even so “the system could save considerable paper.” And publishers might even start creating some digital content to supplement textbooks. What a concept!
Evidently Mr. Storch, an assistant counsel in the State University of New York’s Office of University Counsel, knows something about intellectual property law, but hasn’t paid much attention to the textbook industry and the masses of expensive online content they bundle with books, or to how students prefer to read...."
Barbara Fister goes on to point out that students will print out articles they want to read in depth, mark up, and bring to class... so paper cost moves from the publisher to the student. Libraries supply lots of additional online digital content. It still costs a lot - I spend as much on digital content as I do on physical, paper content each year. Our online use went up nearly 10%; our physical circulation rose only 1%. So yes, there is preference there.
But I can't get a subscription based on use - it's always based on the old model of charging for 5000+ (Full-time Equivalency)students at the college. So even for very limited databases, such as "Theater in Video" or "Safari" (technology books), I have to pay for the potential use, not the probable use. Would that I could.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Followup to the Newbery Medal winner - the Kansas connection
When I asked Julie Tomlianivich if I could post her recent email about being on the selection committee for the Newbery Medal, she wrote back:
Micaela--
Absolutely! Post away. Thank you for thinking enough of the message
to do so. I love the Graveyard Book. It won the SCKLS Mock Newbery in
December, so my opinion is we are ahead of the curve. :) If you visit
Gaiman's website you can see and hear him read the book.
Posted Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009
As one of fifteen national Newbery Medal Committee Members, I have had an extraordinary year of reading and working with thoughtful and insightful people who care deeply about literature for children. From the moment I was asked to place my name on the Newbery selection committee ballot the anticipation began. When the phone call came with the good news that I had been elected to the 2009 Newbery committee I was overwhelmed. Little did I realize what it truly meant.
Boxes of books from publishers began to arrive as well as many self-published materials. Newbery committee rules stipulate that all the children’s books published during the year were to be considered. I was surprised at the number of authors who had no national publisher but consider their work to be “distinguished.” I did not remember receiving books from individual authors when I was on the Caldecott Committee but perhaps there are fewer artists than authors. Each box and package was a surprise and there was always the thought that maybe this box of books might contain the future medal or honor title. Then the reading began: reading, more reading and still more reading of nearly 600 titles.
As part of the Newbery selection process, committee members like me submitted up to three titles for consideration. Members of American Library Association’s (ALA) Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) were also asked to submit titles. With fifteen members of the committee and a wide variety of backgrounds, tastes and opinions, the list began to grow. And the reading continued…
The Newbery Award Committee met for the first time at the 2008 ALA Mid-Winter Conference in Philadelphia, again at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA and finally last week at the 2009 ALA Mid-Winter Conference in Denver, CO. The hours of reading and note taking came down to a weekend of discussion, questioning, persuasion and passion. The final process included hours of debate among the committee members who shared the responsibility and knowledge that what we decided would be the “most distinguished children’s book of the year.” We also knew our choice would be second- guessed, criticized and hopefully cheered.
Finally, we arrived at our choice, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman. After so much work, the emotion of our decision was stunning and everyone on the committee caught our breath. Four Honor books were also chosen: THE UNDERNEATH by Kathi Appelt; THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM by Margarita Engle; SAVVY by Ingrid Law; AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson. While many librarians and authors wondered which book and author the committee would chose, that night and most of the next day we knew something that no one else did.
On Monday, January 26, 2009 at 6:00 in the morning, our committee gathered at the Denver Convention Center. Our committee chair had previously placed a telephone call to inform Neil Gaiman that he was the 2009 Newbery recipient. He seemed stunned at news at that early hour of the day, but he was very humorous and charming once he was wide awake. What a fabulous way for a children’s author to be awakened!
At the convention center, the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Geisel and other children’s award committees had selected their winners and the anticipation of their announcements was palpable. Each committee sat together in a massive ballroom as their selections were announced and the covers of the books and videos flashed on large screens. The official announcement of the awards seemed to take forever. The last award to be announced was the Newbery.
It was my fear that whatever book our committee chose would leave the crowd speechless with only a smattering of applause. It soon became clear that my fear was pointless because as the author’s name, “Neil Gaiman” was announced and the cheers and applause seemed to roll from the back of the room toward us with an unbelievable force. And just like that the thousands of hours of reading, note taking and pressure to make a decision was over. Our choice for 2009 Newbery Award Medal recipient was official: THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman.
I would like to thank SCKLS staff and system members who were so very helpful and supportive during this exciting year. //jt
Julie Tomlianovich
South Central KS Library System
Youth Services Consultant
321A N Main ST
South Hutchinson, KS 67505
1-800-234-0529 ext. 144
1-620-663-3211 ext. 144
FAX 1-620-663-9797
"Without a doubt, there is such a thing as too much order." Fables--Arnold Lobel
Micaela--
Absolutely! Post away. Thank you for thinking enough of the message
to do so. I love the Graveyard Book. It won the SCKLS Mock Newbery in
December, so my opinion is we are ahead of the curve. :) If you visit
Gaiman's website you can see and hear him read the book.
Posted Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009
As one of fifteen national Newbery Medal Committee Members, I have had an extraordinary year of reading and working with thoughtful and insightful people who care deeply about literature for children. From the moment I was asked to place my name on the Newbery selection committee ballot the anticipation began. When the phone call came with the good news that I had been elected to the 2009 Newbery committee I was overwhelmed. Little did I realize what it truly meant.
Boxes of books from publishers began to arrive as well as many self-published materials. Newbery committee rules stipulate that all the children’s books published during the year were to be considered. I was surprised at the number of authors who had no national publisher but consider their work to be “distinguished.” I did not remember receiving books from individual authors when I was on the Caldecott Committee but perhaps there are fewer artists than authors. Each box and package was a surprise and there was always the thought that maybe this box of books might contain the future medal or honor title. Then the reading began: reading, more reading and still more reading of nearly 600 titles.
As part of the Newbery selection process, committee members like me submitted up to three titles for consideration. Members of American Library Association’s (ALA) Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) were also asked to submit titles. With fifteen members of the committee and a wide variety of backgrounds, tastes and opinions, the list began to grow. And the reading continued…
The Newbery Award Committee met for the first time at the 2008 ALA Mid-Winter Conference in Philadelphia, again at the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA and finally last week at the 2009 ALA Mid-Winter Conference in Denver, CO. The hours of reading and note taking came down to a weekend of discussion, questioning, persuasion and passion. The final process included hours of debate among the committee members who shared the responsibility and knowledge that what we decided would be the “most distinguished children’s book of the year.” We also knew our choice would be second- guessed, criticized and hopefully cheered.
Finally, we arrived at our choice, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman. After so much work, the emotion of our decision was stunning and everyone on the committee caught our breath. Four Honor books were also chosen: THE UNDERNEATH by Kathi Appelt; THE SURRENDER TREE: POEMS OF CUBA’S STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM by Margarita Engle; SAVVY by Ingrid Law; AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson. While many librarians and authors wondered which book and author the committee would chose, that night and most of the next day we knew something that no one else did.
On Monday, January 26, 2009 at 6:00 in the morning, our committee gathered at the Denver Convention Center. Our committee chair had previously placed a telephone call to inform Neil Gaiman that he was the 2009 Newbery recipient. He seemed stunned at news at that early hour of the day, but he was very humorous and charming once he was wide awake. What a fabulous way for a children’s author to be awakened!
At the convention center, the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Geisel and other children’s award committees had selected their winners and the anticipation of their announcements was palpable. Each committee sat together in a massive ballroom as their selections were announced and the covers of the books and videos flashed on large screens. The official announcement of the awards seemed to take forever. The last award to be announced was the Newbery.
It was my fear that whatever book our committee chose would leave the crowd speechless with only a smattering of applause. It soon became clear that my fear was pointless because as the author’s name, “Neil Gaiman” was announced and the cheers and applause seemed to roll from the back of the room toward us with an unbelievable force. And just like that the thousands of hours of reading, note taking and pressure to make a decision was over. Our choice for 2009 Newbery Award Medal recipient was official: THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman.
I would like to thank SCKLS staff and system members who were so very helpful and supportive during this exciting year. //jt
Julie Tomlianovich
South Central KS Library System
Youth Services Consultant
321A N Main ST
South Hutchinson, KS 67505
1-800-234-0529 ext. 144
1-620-663-3211 ext. 144
FAX 1-620-663-9797
"Without a doubt, there is such a thing as too much order." Fables--Arnold Lobel
Monday, February 02, 2009
February e-book of the month, 2009
In celebration of African-American History month, NYU Press and NetLibrary are pleased to announce that Raising Freedom's Child: Black Children and Visions of the Future After Slavery will be available as the February eBook of the Month.
Drawing on previously untapped resources, author Mary Niall Mitchell demonstrates how the black child became a figure upon which people projected their hopes and fears about slavery's abolition. From the 1850s and the Civil War to emancipation and the official end of Reconstruction in 1877, Raising Freedom's Child examines slave emancipation and opposition to it as a far-reaching, national event with profound social, political, and cultural consequences. Mitchell analyzes multiple views of the black child—in letters, photographs, newspapers, novels, and court cases—to demonstrate how Americans contested and defended slavery and abolition.
View through your Butler Pipeline "Library" tab, once you've signed in.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Dreams of Hope
Today, Kansas Day, is the anniversary of the day Barack Obama visited us here in El Dorado, Kansas -- in fact, next door to my library. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius joined us that day as well to endorse him for the Democratic candidacy.
Thanks to Shelf Awareness for this bookstore news item: McNally Jackson Booksellers in New York City is focusing not on books written by or about Obama but mostly on the books the President read in his 20s, which the store has collected in a display titled "How History Was Made: Books that Inspired a President." "There is an incredible range of books and writers," said McNally Jackson's John McGregor, who came up with the idea for the display shortly after Obama won the election in November.
McGregor conducted extensive research to compile the list of more than 50 featured titles....
McNally Jackson's List of Titles Read by Obama
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
Benito Cereno by Herman Melville
The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam
The Bible
The Birth of Tragedy by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Book of Daniel by E.L. Doctorow
Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
The Collected Writings of Thomas Jefferson
The Confessions of St. Augustine
The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
Dynamics of Faith by Paul Tillich
Exodus by Leon Uris
The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
Gandhi: An Autobiography
Gandhi's Truth by Erik H. Erikson
The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth
Gilead by by Marilynne Robinson
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
Hamlet by Shakespeare
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Irony of American History by Reinhold Niebuhr
King Lear by Shakespeare
Loon Lake by E.L. Doctorow
Mila 18 by Leon Uris
Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr
My Life as a Man by Philip Roth
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
The Outsider by Richard Wright
Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth
The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky
Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Working by Studs Terkel
World's Fair by E.L. Doctorow
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
Thanks to Shelf Awareness for this bookstore news item: McNally Jackson Booksellers in New York City is focusing not on books written by or about Obama but mostly on the books the President read in his 20s, which the store has collected in a display titled "How History Was Made: Books that Inspired a President." "There is an incredible range of books and writers," said McNally Jackson's John McGregor, who came up with the idea for the display shortly after Obama won the election in November.
McGregor conducted extensive research to compile the list of more than 50 featured titles....
McNally Jackson's List of Titles Read by Obama
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville
Benito Cereno by Herman Melville
The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam
The Bible
The Birth of Tragedy by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Book of Daniel by E.L. Doctorow
Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
The Collected Writings of Thomas Jefferson
The Confessions of St. Augustine
The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich
Dynamics of Faith by Paul Tillich
Exodus by Leon Uris
The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay
Gandhi: An Autobiography
Gandhi's Truth by Erik H. Erikson
The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth
Gilead by by Marilynne Robinson
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
Hamlet by Shakespeare
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
In Dubious Battle by John Steinbeck
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Irony of American History by Reinhold Niebuhr
King Lear by Shakespeare
Loon Lake by E.L. Doctorow
Mila 18 by Leon Uris
Moral Man and Immoral Society by Reinhold Niebuhr
My Life as a Man by Philip Roth
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin
The Outsider by Richard Wright
Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch
Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth
The Power Broker by Robert A. Caro
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky
Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith
Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Working by Studs Terkel
World's Fair by E.L. Doctorow
The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
It's been a month or more...
since I wrote about Rachel's new webcomic, Near and Far.
Ir's deligtful to have an author in the house who takes what happens in daily life and puts it in a form for the world to see. Oh, wait, that still happens when my husband preaches... Anyway, this is more about her and the online world that is out there for us all. Go take a look and raise her statistics. Comment. Subscribe. Encourage the artist and the writer both.
And thank you from the bottom of a mom's heart.
Lincoln's Birthday Celebration
Hello all....
Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday is coming and the U.S. has been
celebrating for months.
The Reference folks at the State Library of Kansas are offering up a
"birthday gift" of resources on our 16th president at:
http://ksdocs.blogspot.com/
Enjoy!
Bill Sowers, State Library of Kansas
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book just won the Newbery Award, the most prestigious award granted by librarians for children's literature each year. It so happens that I bought it recently, so you can check it out from this library as soon as we get the Newbery Medal sticker placed on its front cover. I have tried to get a complete collection of Newbery and Caldecott( children's book illustration) winners - one for reference, one for checkout - for our collection each year. This year I tuned in to the first ever live streaming broadcast of the events in Denver, at ALA's mid-winter conference. I have never before been reading the winner at home - I'm on page 79 - when the Newbery was announced! (So far there's been a triple murder, and a wandering baby, and a girl named Scarlett, and ghosts, and the Sleer...)
You can hear Gaiman himself reading the book, chapter by chapter, one per city on his recent book promotion tour. Check out his journal, revealing most of his reaction to the phone call announcing his win. Interestingly enough, the movie of his book Coraline is being released February 6th, next week as I write this.
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