Thursday, September 18, 2014

1:00 pm ET/12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT/10:00 am PT

Featuring:

Crosby Kemper, Executive Director, Kansas City Public Library

Nate Hill, Assistant Director, Chattanooga Public Library

Community-wide high-speed connectivity is the next frontier in digital access and equity.  In cities where this revolutionary capacity is emerging, leaders and civic institutions are working together to test innovations that will expand opportunity for people of all ages, particular in the domains of learning, economic and workforce development.

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The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) held its annual World Library and Information Congress in Lyon, France last month. A major outcome of this global gathering was the Lyon Declaration on Access to Information which calls for the urgent need to include "access to information" in the United Nations post-2015 world development framework. Specific aspects of the Declaration call for: "acknowledging the public's right to access information and data, while respecting the right to individual privacy and recognizing the important role of local authorities, information intermediaries and infrastructure such as ICTs and an open Internet as a means of implementation." Read more. 

And recently, IFLA selected Columbus, OH as the World Library and Information Congress site for 2016. 

WGBH Boston Launches Plum

ULC is working with a new learning resource through PBS Kids called PLUM Landing. PLUM is a trans-media initiative that includes animated webisodes, online games, hands-on science activities, and live-action videos to engage 6 to 9 year olds in earth sciences. PLUM's mission is "Exploring Your World, One Mission at a Time."  

U.S. Mayors Tackle Income Inequality

At the 82^nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) meeting, held earlier this summer, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and USCM President and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced the   Cities of Opportunity Task Force. Chaired by Mayor de Blasio, the task force will bring together mayors from across the nation to leverage the power of municipal governments to advance a national, common equity agenda. At the first meeting in New York City in early August, more than 30 mayors representing cities of all sizes gathered; the second meeting takes place in Sacramento, September 27-29, 2014.  A full report appears in the current issue of U.S. Mayors.

Realigning for Greater Access, Learning and Community

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Georgia Lomax is the new Pierce County Library System (WA) executive director. Ms. Lomax has served as the library's deputy director since 2006 and will succeed Neel Parkih, the current executive director who retires on November 1 after 20 years at the helm. Prior to joining Pierce County Library, Ms.Lomax worked for the King County Library System (WA) and the Flathead County Library System in Montana.