News from the ALASC student newsletter, The Descriptor. The Descriptor was discontinued in 2017 but we thank all contributing students for their efforts.
When the idea for a community-focused themed newsletter was presented, I associated community with the people that make up my city, and knew I had nothing to contribute, as I am an elementary school librarian, and not a city library employee. But it was pointed out to me, that my community…is my school. As the elementary librarian at a small,…
The description for the Community Partnerships class that I teach for the iSchool reads: Public libraries are no longer your mother’s public libraries. Facing cuts in funding yet increasing use, the landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Public libraries have expanded focus to include more programming and extending reach beyond the four walls of a physical space. Partners benefit…
Building Community Everywhere--A Letter from the Editor What is a community? Some of us think of the neighborhood in which we live as our community, but a community can be any group of people who gather together. Here at the iSchool we are a community of students. But the community is even larger than that—faculty, staff, and course instructors are…
As one can imagine, the tenor of the conference was both somber in light of the recent shootings at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, but hopeful in terms of the future and the roles we can and should take part in providing a better world for our communities. The victims and the families were acknowledged in a memorial tribute. One…
When I first received the phone call from Gwendolyn Prellwitz of the American Library Association Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services about my Spectrum scholarship, I was so excited I want to jump and shout. Working in a quiet office doesn't lend itself to doing that, even if you're locked in the supply room, so I settled with many…