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Research Strategies: Finding Hispanic Heritage Materials at the ALA Archives

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

From September 15 to October 15, it is Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States and we at the ALA Archives want to help you optimize your research into Hispanic American heritage and history. In this month’s blog post, we’ll take a tour through ALA Archives holdings and we’ll use multiple strategies for finding information.

Read on to learn more about locating Hispanic American history materials at an archives!

Continue reading “Research Strategies: Finding Hispanic Heritage Materials at the ALA Archives” →

Publications: Newsletters of the Office of Federal Relations and Washington Office

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

Since 1946, Federal Relation News (1946-1949), Washington Newsletter, and Washington News have provided information resources about libraries and legislation across the nation. In fact, older issues are still information rich for current and future readers.

Read on to learn more about the art and history of Federal Relations News and Washington Newsletters!

Continue reading “Publications: Newsletters of the Office of Federal Relations and Washington Office” →

Just for Fun: 22 Steps to Build Your Own Public Library

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

Although a significant amount of an archivist’s work is spent communicating with donors and researchers, in addition to arranging and conserving or preserving a continuous influx of documents, there is always time for a little fun too.

Archives are not exclusively repositories for records of historic value; but, they are also home to a great variety of documented human wisdom! Don’t believe us? Then read on about starting your own library in the A.L.A. Archives!

Continue reading “Just for Fun: 22 Steps to Build Your Own Public Library” →

Library Life: The Arthur Plotnik Photographs

Posted on by Cara Bertram
Arthur Plotnik (second to the left) and other members of American Libraries editorial staff.

This spring, the American Library Association Archives acquired a generous donation of photographs from Arthur Plotnik, a photographer, journalist, writer, and librarian. Plotnik is the former editor of ALA’s flagship magazine, American Libraries, and his career with the American Library Association spanned over twenty years. Before coming to ALA, Plotnik worked at the H.W. Wilson Company, the Library of Congress, was a staff writer and reviewer at Albany’s Times-Union, and served in the US Army reserve. He is married to artist, Mary Phelan, who has claim to University of Illinois Library fame for her portraits of University Librarians Hugh Atkinson and Robert Downs. Continue reading “Library Life: The Arthur Plotnik Photographs” →

Out of the Closet & Onto the Shelves: Librarians and the Oldest Gay Professional Organization in the U.S.

Posted on by Sarah Brewer

June is pride month, which means that our exhibit Out of the Closet & Onto the Shelves: Librarians and the Oldest Gay Professional Organization in the U.S. is up in the Marshall Gallery at the University of Illinois Library. This exhibit documents the early history and development of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association. This organization has a rich history documented in the archives, and we are excited to display these materials to library patrons this month. However, we couldn’t fit everything in the exhibit and we know that not everyone can make it to campus, so here we will share some highlights of GLBT Round Table history. Be sure to stop by the Marshall Gallery June 1-30 to view the exhibit, and visit the American Library Association Archives to see more of this exciting collection. Continue reading “Out of the Closet & Onto the Shelves: Librarians and the Oldest Gay Professional Organization in the U.S.” →

Publications: Jewish Caucus Newsletter

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

Forty two years ago, at the 1976 Midwinter Convention, the recently established Jewish Librarians Caucus (now Jewish Information Committee) also founded a publication which would serve as an information rich resource on world issues from a Jewish perspective and issues affecting Jewish librarians and their communities. Other archival holdings also document a history of Jewish librarian leadership.

Read on to learn more about the Jewish Caucus Newsletter!

Continue reading “Publications: Jewish Caucus Newsletter” →

Publications: The Art and Literature of the 1938 Science Booklist for Boys and Girls

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

Eighty years ago, in 1938, a Booklist series was produced to support interest in science among children. Published and prepared by the Section for Library Work with Children (later Division of Libraries for Children and Young People; now Association for Library Service to Children), the series highlighted recent publications about science while including delightful images and literary quotes to inspire readers.

All fourteen issues can be found in Record Series 24/3/2. In fact, with a little archives and library research, some readers might be delighted to know about the artists who were involved with this series too.

Read on to learn about the 1938 Science Booklist for Boys and Girls!
Continue reading “Publications: The Art and Literature of the 1938 Science Booklist for Boys and Girls” →

Lotsee Patterson: Advocate for Library Services for Native Americans

Posted on by Cara Bertram
Dr. Lotsee Patterson accepting a Beta Phi Mu Award in 2001. Image ALA0003570.

In 2005, the American Library Association announced that it was naming Dr. Lotsee Patterson as one of its honorary members, the Association’s highest honor. It is little wonder that the ALA gave this honor to Dr. Patterson given her lifelong passionate advocacy for quality library services and programs for Native Americans. Continue reading “Lotsee Patterson: Advocate for Library Services for Native Americans” →

Just for Fun: Finding Love in the A.L.A. Archives and Conceptual Keyword Research Strategies

Posted on by Salvatore De Sando

Although a significant amount of an archivist’s work is spent communicating with donors and researchers, in addition to arranging and conserving or preserving a continuous influx of documents, there is always time for a little fun too.

Archives are not exclusively repositories for records of historic value; but, they are also home to a great variety of documented human experience! Don’t believe us? Then read on about finding love in the A.L.A. Archives!
Continue reading “Just for Fun: Finding Love in the A.L.A. Archives and Conceptual Keyword Research Strategies” →