Pictures From The Past: WWI Soldiers Reading

The 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War will soon be upon us. Newly digitized images of the day-to-day lives of WWI servicemen has been made available by the American Library Association's Archives, housed at the University of Illinois. Some of the images document the ALA War Service Campaign:

"Within a few weeks of America’s entrance into World War I, the American Library Association undertook an enormous campaign to send books and other reading materials to American forces at home and abroad.

The ALA collected $5 million in donations, amassed a collection of ten million books and magazines, and set up thirty-six camp libraries with the help of the Carnegie Corporation.  “A book for every man” was the initial aim."

                                                                                                           - Angela Jordan, Archivist

The following images from the Library War Service slide collection the are reprinted here with permission from the American Library Association Archive:

For access to more historic images from this collection, as well as access to image resources from other institutions, visit the Middle/Upper School Library's online research guide to databases and digital resources.

"It’s Complicated: the Social Lives of Networked Teens"

This book may be the "must read" of the year for anyone who lives with, cares/worries about, and/or works with adolescents.  The reviews of "It's Complicated" are stellar:

“Students, parents, and educators will find this a comprehensive study of how technology impacts teens’ lives and how adults can help balance rather than vilify its inevitable use.”—Publishers Weekly

“boyd’s extensive research illuminates the oft-misunderstood world of teens today, where social media is an extension of life . . . Thorough information interwoven with common-sense advice from teens and the author enable readers, particularly parents, to relax a bit regarding this new media age . . . Comprehensive new research that illuminates why and how social media is important to teens.”—Kirkus Reviews

Author Danah Boyd has some serious cred: a Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research, and Research Assistant Professor in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University. She is so committed to getting the word out about this book and the information it imparts, that it's available as a no cost pdf download from her website. (Scroll down the opening page.)  For a longer explanation about her decision to increase access to the book in this way, read Danah Boyd's blog. 

Women's History Month Resources

Though in reality every month is Women's History Month, as well as Black History Month, etc., here's some information and resources from the American Library Association:

"National Women’s History Month traces its origins back to March 8, 1857, when women from New York City factories staged a protest over working conditions. International Women’s Day was later observed in 1909.  In 1981, the U.S. Congress designated the second week of March National Women's History Week, and in 1987 Congress expanded it to a month-long observance."

Visit the digital resources of the Library of Congress, and/or the yet-to-be-built National Women's History Museum. 

Though The Smithsonian is usually a fabulous resource, in person and digitally, I was dismayed during a recent visit to the National Museum of American History First Ladies exhibit, which consisted of headless mannequins in dresses, and a bunch of tableware. Call it an exhibit of clothing and china used by the spouses of former presidents. In any event, the work of consciousness raising about women's history is not done.