HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Monday, October 20
- Fundamentals of Cataloging (FOC) begins at 9am CT. A 6-week course. Limited seats are still available.
- Core Member Engagement Coordination Committee will meet from 10am – 11am CT
- Core Executive Committee will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
- Core Nominating Committee will meet from 2pm – 3pm CT
Tuesday, October 21
- SOS for Library Professionals will be held from 1pm – 2pm CT
- Technology Section Leadership Team will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
Wednesday, October 22
- Data Storytelling for Library Consortia will be held from 11am – 12pm CT
- Core Project Management Interest Group will hold a brown bag session from 12pm – 1pm CT
Thursday, October 23
- Core Publications Coordination Committee will meet from 11am – 12pm CT
- Core Collection Management in Public Libraries Interest Group will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
- Core Board of Directors will meet from 2pm – 4pm CT
Friday, October 24
- Core Buildings for College and University Libraries Committee will meet from 10am – 11am CT
- Core Emerging Technology Trends Committee will hold “Tech Talks! What’s New & Cool with AI?” from 12pm – 1pm CT
- Core Project Management Interest Group will hold a Brown Bag Meeting from 1pm – 2pm CT
- Core Continuing Education Coordination Committee will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
HAPPENING NEXT WEEK
Monday, October 27
- Core Executive Committee will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
Tuesday, October 28
- Core Circulation and Access Services Committee will meet from 12pm – 1pm CT
- From Thin to Thick Library Description will be held from 1pm – 2pm CT
This talk explores how libraries can apply Kwame Anthony Appiah’s “thick translation” theory to enhance library description practices. Descriptive practices often still engage in “thin translation” that may strip away essential cultural context. This presentation demonstrates how thick translation principles can be implemented using MARC fields for cultural context notes. It walks through a specific implementation of thick cataloging practices, whose intent is to preserve the integrity and context of diverse knowledge traditions.
- Core Technology Section Leadership Team will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT
Wednesday, October 29
Thursday, October 30
- ALA Executive Board will meet from 2pm – 4pm CT
Friday, October 31
MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Core Forum Scholarship Announcement – Core’s newest scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to attend Core Forum 2025 on November 13-14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. The scholarship covers the cost of registration for the 2-day event, which includes 48 sessions, 2 keynotes, networking opportunities, and more. The Core Forum Scholarship is open to all library personnel. To apply for the Core Forum Scholarship, please use the online form. Applications will be accepted until Thursday, October 16, 2025. Please send any questions to the Core Office at core@ala.org.
- Register Now for Core Forum! See the full conference schedule online.
- Deadline approaching for Carnegie-Whitney Award Applications for Guides to Library Resources. CHICAGO – The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Funded projects have ranged from “A Resource Guide about Disabilities, Disability Theory, and Assistive Technologies” to “A Bibliography for Queer Teens” to “Graphic Novels & the Humanity of Mental Illness” to “Web Accessibility Resources for Libraries”. Applications must be received by November 7, 2025. Recipients will be notified by the end of February 2026. For more information and guidelines, visit http://www.ala.org/offices/publishing/sundry/alapubawrds/carnegiewhitney or contact Mary Jo Bolduc, Grant Administrator, American Library Association at mbolduc@ala.org.
- New Issue of Library Resources & Technical Services. The editors of Library Resources & Technical Services are pleased to announce the publication of the newest issue. No paywalls here, free people read freely!
- Core is seeking proposals for in-person preconferences at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The deadline to submit a preconference proposal is Friday, December 12, 2025. Please submit preconference proposals here.
- Core is seeking online course instructors for Fundamentals of Cataloging and Fundamentals of Institutional Repositories. If interested in teaching, please submit an Online Course Instructor Application – Core Handbook. The deadline to submit an application is Sunday, November 30.
- Members of the Freedom to Read Foundation’s Education Committee are conducting anonymous surveys to learn more about the amount of First Amendment education and knowledge that library workers, patrons, and community members have. Please participate in this survey.
- Present a webinar or moderate an e-Forum Discussion for Core! Send your e-forum discussion idea to core-eforum+help@groups.io. Complete the webinar proposal form to submit your webinar idea.
HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
Check out these three new titles which are available in the Core/ALA Store.
- A Complete Guide to Creative Technology Spaces in Academic Libraries: Media Labs, Makerspaces, and More. Beyond the loaning of laptops and phone chargers, libraries are branching out into supporting patrons by providing spaces and services that encourage art, communication, and innovation. Perhaps you’ve been tasked with building such a space in your academic library. It might be a media studio, a virtual reality lab, or even a combination space that has a podcasting suite, equipment circulation, 3D printing, and a computer lab. Or maybe you’ve been doing this for a while; you know it’s time to expand, but you’re not quite sure which direction to take or what equipment you need.
- Generative AI and Libraries: Claiming Our Place in the Center of a Shared Future. Addressing a topic of great concern with both urgency and clarity, this book offers a compelling vision for libraries to claim their central role as trusted stewards of knowledge and architects of a responsible and equitable AI-driven world.
- The Digital Accessibility Handbook for Libraries. Providing concrete guidance on integrating accessibility into all aspects of a library’s digital work, this book will serve as your one-stop guide to accessibility standards, processes, and best practices.
To have your committee meeting, Core event, or Core member opportunity listed in a future issue of This Week in Core (TWIC), contact the Core Office at core@ala.org a few weeks ahead of time and title your message “TWIC Post Request.”
