Public Library News Roundup

Alabama
The New $10.2 Million, 25,000-Square-Foot Madison Public Library Prepares to Open (via AL.com) ||| Direct to Library Website
Alaska

A Downtown Anchorage Library is Moving Closer to Reality (via Alaska Dispatch-News)

Alberta

Calgary’s First Express Library Opens in New YMCA

Arizona
Phoenix: Burton Barr Central Library Will Open a 35,000-Square-Foot Temporary Location in Basement of Park Central Mall (via KJZZ)

Phoenix Punishes 5 More Employees Over Burton Barr Library Flood (via KJZZ)

California
Escondido, “Library Saga Continues With Eliminating Director of Library (via The Coast News Group)
Governor Brown’s Budget Proposal Provides $9.5 Million for Public Libraries (via California State Library)

Oakland’s Main Library Without Power for 4th Day After Breaker Blows (via Bay City News/NBCBayArea.com) ||| Oakland Public Library Website

Colorado

“Boulder Public Library ‘Stretched to Our Capacity,’ Facing Uncertain Future” (via Daily Camera)

Libraries Sue Elbert County Commissioner Over Censorship Fears (via 9News.com/KUSA)

Connecticut
Connecticut’s Public Libraries: A Statistical Profile, July 2016 – June 2017

• New Chart and Report Creators – create suites of charts in seconds
• Statewide Statistical Trends in Public Libraries – see changes in important statistics since 2001

Milford: Library Gets Grant to Expand, Create More Public Space (via Milford Mirror)

Three Hartford Library Branches Close Their Doors For Last Time (via Hartford Courant)
Delaware

A New Pilot Project Puts Social Workers in Some Delaware Public Libraries (via Delaware Public Media)

District of Columbia

A Look at Perkins & Will’s Design For New Southwest D.C. Library (via WBJ)

Georgia
Athens Regional Library Awarded Georgia’s Public Library of the Year for 2017 (via RedandBlack.com)
Idaho
Idaho’s State Librarian Reports Increased Use of Public Libraries, Program Attendance Up 30% Since 2012 (via Spokesman-Review)
Illinois
Suburban Chicago Public Libraries Working to be More Accommodating to the Homeless (via Chicago Tribune/Aurora Beacon-News)On a Related Note…Australia: How Canberra Libraries are Helping the City’s Homeless
Indiana
Allen County Public Library to Maintain Resources For Nonprofits At Main Library In Downtown Fort Wayne (via News-Sentinel)
Fort Wayne: Loss of Funding Forces Allen County Public Library’s Non-Profit Resource Center to Close (via The Journal Gazette)
Kentucky
Governor’s Proposed Cuts Could Close Some Rural Kentucky Libraries (via WKMS)
Maryland
Anne Arundel County Public Library Plans to Open Branch Inside an Annapolis Mall
Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Public Library Announces Extended Operating Hours

Starting January 8, all neighborhood branches will move to a universal schedule opening at 10am six days a week, rather than the staggered schedule currently in place.
The Southeast Anchor and Pennsylvania Avenue libraries will serve as community anchors on the East and West sides of the city, with added evening hours.  The Central Library, open 7 days a week, will also increase evening hours.
he Pratt Bookmobile, Book Buggy and Mobile Job Center will spend more time on the roads serving the community.
The state has committed $3 million each year for five years to increase library operating hours.  The city has pledged $750,000 annually over that time period to help the library hire additional staff.

Massachusetts

Lowell: Pollard Memorial Library “Seriously Damaged When Water Pipe Bursts” (via WHDH) & Lowell Library Under Water (via Lowell Sun)

New Hampshire

$5M Exeter Public Library Expansion Heads to Voters (via Seacoastonline.com) ||| Video and Additional Materials via Exeter Public Library

New Jersey
East Brunswick Public Library Cuts Operating Hours, Service Cuts Also Possible (via MyCentralJersey.com)
Nutley Public Library About to Begin Lending Turntables, Vinyl Record Collection is Also Expanding (via  TAPinto)
New York

Broome County Public Library “Hits Back After ‘Drag Queen Story Time’ for Children Is Labeled ‘Depraved'” (via NBC New York)

Harvard Endowment’s Geetanjali Gupta Appointed Chief Investment Officer of New York Public Library

Libraries Across the State Call For More Funding (via Hudson Valley 360)

Proposed $38.5M Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library Project Draws Support, Criticism (via Long Island Advance
Nova Scotia

“Dartmouth ‘Blazing a Trail’ with New Outdoor Library (via CBC)
“First outdoor library space in Canada”

Ohio
Cleveland Public Library Announces Launch of a Multi-Year Branch Revitalization Project

Cleveland Public Library: Retirement of Deputy Director and COO Cindy Lombardo

New Library Levy Would Double What Hamilton County (Cincinnati) Taxpayers Pay for Library (via Cininnati.com)

Ontario
A Culture Change at the Midland Public Library Has Led to ‘Mind-Blowing’ Success (via Simcoe.com)
Tiny Toronto Library is Getting a Big Upgrade, Facility Will Triple in Size as Part of New Mixed Use Building (via BlogTo)
Oregon
Commissioners Vote To Provide Building For Library Services to City Of Roseburg (via KCBY)

Corvallis-Benton County Public Library : Library offers timeline to address space issues (via Albany Democrat-Herald)

Saskatchewan

Free Walk-In Counselling Thrives at Regina Libraries  (via CBC)

Texas

Alton’s First Public Library Opens (via The Monitor)

Texas Library Evaluates Policy After Criticism of LGBT-Themed Display (via National Coalition Against Censorship)
Note: Post includes letter signed by Jamie LaRue, Executive Director, ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom ||| Background: Residents Divided Over LGBT Display at Temple Public Library (via Temple Daily Telegram; October 17, 2017)

Washington

College Place Exhausts Library Card Budget on First Day (via Union-Bulletin)

Oculus Donates 50 Headsets to State Washington State Library
Seattle Public Library Retiring SPL Mobile App in Favor of Newer Responsive Website (via GeekWire) ||| Official SPL Announcement
West Virginia

New Policy: Kanawha County Public Library Plans to Limit the Number of Personal Items a User Can Bring Into the Building (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

Wisconsin

Chippewa Falls Library Mostly Unaffected in Data Breach (via The Chippewa Herald)
Background: Library Patrons in 10 Western Wisconsin Counties Affected in Data Breach (October 17, 2017 via WQOW)

MORE TO COME

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