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This Week in Core – Dec 15

This Week in Core – Dec 15

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Monday, December 15

Tuesday, December 16

Wednesday, December 17

Thursday, December 18

Friday, December 19

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK

Monday, December 22

  • Core Executive Committee will meet from 1pm – 2pm CT

The ALA offices will be closed from December 24 – January 1.

We wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday season.

 MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Fundamentals Web Courses focus on the following areas: fundamentals of acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, collection assessment, collection development and management, digital library projects, electronic resources acquisitions, preservation, management, universal design for learning, and institutional repositories.

  • Core: Infrastructure, Leadership and Futures, a division of the American Library Association, is now accepting applications for the Online Course Scholarship for Library Professionals from Developing Countries to participate in our online Fundamentals courses held between February 24, 2025, and August 7, 2025. One free seat per session is available to librarians and information professionals from developing countries.  For full information about the scholarship, including eligibility criteria and a link to the application form, please see: http://www.ala.org/core/awards-scholarships/online-course-scholarship . Applications may be submitted between January 17, 2025, and February 16, 2025. The Core Online Courses are available to any students who want to register at a cost.You can view the link below regarding course registration fees.
    http://www.ala.org/core/continuing-education/courses
  • Core is seeking online course instructors for Fundamentals of Acquisitions. If interested in teaching, please submit an Online Course Instructor Application – Core Handbook The deadline to apply is Sunday, December 21. 
  • 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 new titles which are available in the Core/ALA Store.

  • The High-Impact Digital Library: Innovative Approaches for Outreach and Instruction. Digital library terminology like “accessible,” “discoverable,” and “searchable” usually presumes passive collections waiting to be found by motivated information seekers. Rarely do we envision collection managers initiating outreach with those most likely to benefit from the collections. 
  • 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.”