Index
- Voice assistants and libraries
- Member/Staff News
- Carla Hayden has an audacious plan to make Library of Congress available to you online
- Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month 2019 with Special Toy Story 4 tie-in
- Apply for the 2019 YALSA/DGLF Digital Equipment Grant
- Continuing Education Calendar
Voice assistants and libraries
Voice assistants (Amazon Echo, Google Home, etc.) seem to be everywhere these days. What are libraries doing with them?
Some libraries are loaning them to patrons or educating their users about them...
- Skeptical of Smart Speakers?
https://dppl.org/blog/post/skeptical-of-smart-speakers - Framingham Public Library is pleased to offer Google Home...
https://framinghamlibrary.org/google-home
Some library staff are just starting to think about and experiment with how they might be used in libraries...
- Library and academic related services on Google Assistant and Alexa - a preliminary survey
http://musingsaboutlibrarianship.blogspot.com/2018/06/library-and-academic-related-services.html - Conversational Systems and Libraries
http://www.davidleeking.com/conversational-systems-and-libraries/ - ALA: Voice Control
http://www.ala.org/tools/future/trends/voicecontrol - Alexa provides a new resource tool to the Missouri Valley Public Library
http://www.enterprisepub.com/movalley/news/alexa-provides-a-new-resource-tool-to-the-missouri-valley/article_fc739dd0-7a82-11e6-b694-3b99d28d9504.html
Some libraries are developing skills/actions for the devices* to make their libraries' information more accessible to patrons using the devices...
- Designing an Alexa Skill for the Public Library
https://medium.com/@alexcollier/designing-an-alexa-skill-for-the-public-library-6ec43604062a - Worthington Libraries: Voice Assistants
https://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/visit/services/voice-assistants - Online Searcher - "Serving Patrons Using Voice Assistants at Worthington"
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=133216866&site=ehost-live(available through BadgerLink) - New Alexa Skill debuts this week at DCDL
https://www.delgazette.com/news/59607/new-alexa-skill-debuts-this-week-at-dcdl
And some libraries are promoting library services that can work with the devices.
- Hoopla now suports Amazon Alexa devices!
https://www.lapl.org/alexa-meet-hoopla
Some takeaways:
- Voice Assistants are designed to be personal/home devices and may have some challenges being integrated into a library environment
- library networks are designed to keep users' data private, where voice assistants would like to communicate with other devices in the area
- how comfortable would patrons be interacting with a voice assistant in a public space?
- This is a technology that will likely become more and more popular over time
(Remember how the crew on StarTrek would ask the ship's computer something and it would answer?** It sure seems like that's where we're headed.) - Libraries' best option may be to make their content more easily accessible to these devices and to promote content and services that work with the devices at patrons' homes
* Check out libraries with Alexa skills and with Google Actions
**Amazon now allows users to change the "wake word" for its Alexa voice-enabled assistant and allows "Computer" as a wake word, to the delight ofStar Trekfans: http://time.com/4645187/amazon-echo-star-trek-computer-voice/
--by Kerri Hilbelink for TechBits
Cindy Fesemyer has accepted a newly created position with DPI: Adult and Community Services Consultant. After seven years as the Columbus Public Library director, her last day will be May 31. The library kicks off its Summer Library Program with Friday Night Out on May 31, from 4-6 pm. Anyone who wants free ice cream, family entertainment, and/or a chance to wish Cindy the best for the future is welcomed to attend. If you are interested in leading this vibrant and welcoming library, please keep an eye out for the hire announcement.
Carla Hayden has an audacious plan to make Library of Congress available to you online
Ambitious doesn't begin to describe Carla Hayden's plan to make the Library of Congress' collection available to the world. Audacious may be closer to it.
Hayden, the 14th person to steward the Library, wants to "throw open the treasure chest" by digitizing its vast collection and making it accessible online. The five-year plan's understated name -- Enriching the Library Experience -- doesn't capture its scope. Hayden wants people to engage with everything from the letters of Abraham Lincoln to early-edition Batman comics.
Established in 1800, the Library of Congress is the oldest cultural institution in the country. It houses the largest collection of photographs, maps, comic books and Bibles in the world. The shelving alone runs 826 miles, and that stores just some of its 170 million items, including 68 million manuscripts, 6.5 million pieces of music and more than 3.4 million recordings.
Hayden is both the first woman and the first African American to oversee the institution. She's also one of just three Librarians of Congress to have a professional background in the field of library sciences. (Other people to hold the post have been scholars, historians, lawyers and authors.)
She began her career as a children's librarian in 1973 at the Chicago Public Library. She also served as the head of the American Library Association and executive director of Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Free Library. She was appointed as the Librarian of Congress in 2016 by President Barack Obama.
CNET sat down with Hayden just ahead of National Library Week to discuss the Library of Congress' digitization efforts and the role of libraries in the digital age.
Read the full article on the Cnet website.
Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month 2019 with Special Toy Story 4 tie-in
This September Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 4” characters Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep and friends are joining the American Library Association on an adventure to promote the value of a library card as Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chairs.
In their new role, they will remind the public that signing up for a library card opens a world of infinite possibilities: libraries offer resources and services that help people pursue their passions and give students the tools to succeed in school and beyond.
The Toy Story crew knows library cards help bring great stories to life. From borrowing books, movies, or museum passes, to enjoying story time or group play, there’s no end to the exciting activities you can access with a library card.
A variety of “Toy Story 4” posters, stickers and bookmarks are available now for purchase through the ALA Store at alastore.ala.org.
Next month, free library card artwork as well as other print and digital graphics featuring “Toy Story 4” characters will be available for libraries to use. Sample tools, including a proclamation, press release, radio PSA scripts and social media posts will also be provided.
In “Toy Story 4,” coming to theaters nationwide on June 21, Woody has always felt confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy.
Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the ALA and libraries unite in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card. For more information please visit ala.org/librarycardsignup.
Apply for the 2019 YALSA/DGLF Digital Equipment Grant
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has opened the application for its YALSA/DGLF Digital Equipment Grant.
The grant is made possible through generous funding from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The purpose of the grants is to provide libraries in need with funds to purchase digital equipment (video cameras, filming equipment, iPads, etc) for teens to use at the library.
Ten grants, worth $1,000 each, will be awarded to libraries to purchase digital equipment that will help them engage and attract teens to the library.
Interested applicants are invited to apply if they meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a YALSA member at the time the application is submitted and throughout the grant implementation process (not a member? Join here)
- Library must be within 20 miles of a Dollar General store
- The digital equipment purchased must be made available for use by all teens in their community
Eligible applicants can apply now through May 15. Recipients will be notified during the week of June 17. For information about joining YALSA, visit www.ala.org/yalsa/join. YALSA/ALA membership starts at $65 per year.
For years, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has provided Youth Literacy Grants to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations in hopes to provide assistance in implementing and expanding literacy programs for youth. For more information about Dollar General and its Youth Literacy Grants, visit www.dollargeneral.com.
The mission of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is to support library staff in alleviating the challenges teens face, and in putting all teens ‒ especially those with the greatest needs ‒ on the path to successful and fulfilling lives. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: [email protected].