Welcome to the SJSU ALASC!

In February of this year, the Thomas Memorial Library in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, opened the doors of its newly renovated building. What is not new, however, is their partnership with Family Place Libraries, a network of libraries promoting early literacy and play-based engagement with families of young children. The initiative operates nation-wide with a training institute based in Centereach, New…

If you take a moment to ponder the concept of community, you begin to realize that it is a truly multi-faceted notion. There are numerous ways to define it, from the town in which you live to a group of individuals who congregate and share their love of knitting. People find and define community in many aspects of their lives.…

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…