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Thursday, December 27, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Historic Philadelphia Trolley-Loop Video
For those of you going to Midwinter Conference in Philadelphia, here's a link describing the various attractions via the trolley.
Historic Philadelphia Trolley-Loop Video
Historic Philadelphia Trolley-Loop Video
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Congress Directs EPA to Re-Open its Libraries
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Congress Directs EPA to Re-Open its Libraries
For Immediate Release: Friday, December 21, 2007
Contact: Jeff Ruch (202) 265-7337 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Earmarks Money for Restoration of Library Services
Buried within the omnibus appropriations bill Congress sent this week to President Bush is a Christmas present for the beleaguered library network of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Congress ordered EPA to restore library services across the country and earmarked $3 million for that purpose, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
Beginning in early 2006, without public announcement or congressional approval, EPA began dismantling its network of technical and research libraries. Altogether EPA has closed regional libraries serving 23 states and its headquarters library in Washington, D.C. It has also reduced services and hours in libraries covering another 14 states. In addition, EPA has shuttered several of its specialized, technical libraries, such as its unique library dedicated to the effects of pesticides and new chemicals.
The report language attached to the omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of the 2008 fiscal year directs EPA to use $3 million to "restore the network of EPA libraries recently closed or consolidated by the Administration…" and to report within 90 days on its plans to "restore publicly available libraries to provide environmental information and data to each EPA region…"
"The EPA libraries are not only important to the public but are invaluable tools for the agency's own scientists and specialists," stated PEER Associate Director Carol Goldberg, pointing to a petition signed by the representatives for more than half of all EPA scientists protesting the closures. "While the intervention of Congress is most welcome, it comes after several closures and much disruption, leaving the remaining EPA librarians with the task of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again."
Prior to the closures, the budget for the EPA library network was $2.5 million. By earmarking $3 million, Congress increased the total library budget, allowing the agency to absorb the expense of collecting dispersed collections and replacing jettisoned facilities. For example, EPA closed its largest regional library in Chicago and sold all of its fixtures, valued at more than $40,000, for less than $350.
The rationale for the library closures was never clearly spelled out by the agency, which maintained that it wanted to digitize all of its holdings. Its original claim of cost savings did not bear up under scrutiny and clashed with the enormous expense of digitizing hundreds of thousands of documents. In addition, the agency did not anticipated copyright restrictions, which barred many of its holdings from being digitized.
"We have already been contacted by EPA librarians who are concerned that the same officials who destroyed the libraries will be in charge of their restoration," added Goldberg. "We hope that Congress continues to closely oversee whether EPA fully restores the full range of library services it had provided."
While many congressional earmarks have drawn negative attention for funding what are called "pork" projects, other earmarks act as congressional checks on executive abuses. "This is one earmark that all Americans should applaud," Goldberg concluded.
Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Congress Directs EPA to Re-Open its Libraries
For Immediate Release: Friday, December 21, 2007
Contact: Jeff Ruch (202) 265-7337 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Earmarks Money for Restoration of Library Services
Buried within the omnibus appropriations bill Congress sent this week to President Bush is a Christmas present for the beleaguered library network of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Congress ordered EPA to restore library services across the country and earmarked $3 million for that purpose, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
Beginning in early 2006, without public announcement or congressional approval, EPA began dismantling its network of technical and research libraries. Altogether EPA has closed regional libraries serving 23 states and its headquarters library in Washington, D.C. It has also reduced services and hours in libraries covering another 14 states. In addition, EPA has shuttered several of its specialized, technical libraries, such as its unique library dedicated to the effects of pesticides and new chemicals.
The report language attached to the omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of the 2008 fiscal year directs EPA to use $3 million to "restore the network of EPA libraries recently closed or consolidated by the Administration…" and to report within 90 days on its plans to "restore publicly available libraries to provide environmental information and data to each EPA region…"
"The EPA libraries are not only important to the public but are invaluable tools for the agency's own scientists and specialists," stated PEER Associate Director Carol Goldberg, pointing to a petition signed by the representatives for more than half of all EPA scientists protesting the closures. "While the intervention of Congress is most welcome, it comes after several closures and much disruption, leaving the remaining EPA librarians with the task of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again."
Prior to the closures, the budget for the EPA library network was $2.5 million. By earmarking $3 million, Congress increased the total library budget, allowing the agency to absorb the expense of collecting dispersed collections and replacing jettisoned facilities. For example, EPA closed its largest regional library in Chicago and sold all of its fixtures, valued at more than $40,000, for less than $350.
The rationale for the library closures was never clearly spelled out by the agency, which maintained that it wanted to digitize all of its holdings. Its original claim of cost savings did not bear up under scrutiny and clashed with the enormous expense of digitizing hundreds of thousands of documents. In addition, the agency did not anticipated copyright restrictions, which barred many of its holdings from being digitized.
"We have already been contacted by EPA librarians who are concerned that the same officials who destroyed the libraries will be in charge of their restoration," added Goldberg. "We hope that Congress continues to closely oversee whether EPA fully restores the full range of library services it had provided."
While many congressional earmarks have drawn negative attention for funding what are called "pork" projects, other earmarks act as congressional checks on executive abuses. "This is one earmark that all Americans should applaud," Goldberg concluded.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Alamosa Needled by Golden Compass
The debate raging in some Canadian school dioceses over the presence of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass on media center shelves has expanded from Canada to the United States, where a public school in Alamosa, Colorado, briefly removed the book in November and a Catholic school in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is in the process of reconsidering it.
It was Alamosa’s Ortega Middle School librarian Mindy Wandling who pulled the book over concerns about its age-appropriateness in November, after consulting with principal Neil Seneff. Alamosa High School librarian Mark Skinner soon found out about the removal and protested to district Superintendent Henry Herrera, who convened a meeting with school principals and librarians on December 3. Within two days, The Golden Compass was back in the Ortega collection, according to the December 11 Alamosa Valley Courier.
“I have a hard time with anyone who wants to pull a book when they haven’t read it,” Skinner said at a December 10 Adams State College public forum prompted by the incident. Forum panelist Ed Wandling, husband of the Ortega school librarian, explained that Mindy became concerned after her research on Pullman turned up an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald December 13, 2003, in which Pullman—an avowed atheist—said, “My books are about killing God.” Ed Wandling (who said he was representing his wife because she was recovering from the shock of two area shootings December 8 and 9 targeting the New Life Church where the Wandlings are staff members) added that he was not challenging the book’s literary merit but its message because it conflicts with community standards. “The American Library Association thinks I, as a parent, am the only one who can restrict what my children read. I don’t agree with that.” (From AL Direct)
It was Alamosa’s Ortega Middle School librarian Mindy Wandling who pulled the book over concerns about its age-appropriateness in November, after consulting with principal Neil Seneff. Alamosa High School librarian Mark Skinner soon found out about the removal and protested to district Superintendent Henry Herrera, who convened a meeting with school principals and librarians on December 3. Within two days, The Golden Compass was back in the Ortega collection, according to the December 11 Alamosa Valley Courier.
“I have a hard time with anyone who wants to pull a book when they haven’t read it,” Skinner said at a December 10 Adams State College public forum prompted by the incident. Forum panelist Ed Wandling, husband of the Ortega school librarian, explained that Mindy became concerned after her research on Pullman turned up an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald December 13, 2003, in which Pullman—an avowed atheist—said, “My books are about killing God.” Ed Wandling (who said he was representing his wife because she was recovering from the shock of two area shootings December 8 and 9 targeting the New Life Church where the Wandlings are staff members) added that he was not challenging the book’s literary merit but its message because it conflicts with community standards. “The American Library Association thinks I, as a parent, am the only one who can restrict what my children read. I don’t agree with that.” (From AL Direct)
Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act Passes
In a victory for libraries and the cause of literacy, President Bush December 12 signed the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive child-development services to millions of low-income children and their families to promote school readiness. The bill, which reauthorizes Head Start for another five years, had passed the House by a vote of 381–36 and the Senate by 95–0 November 14.
The American Library Association advocated for language to be included in the bill that provides opportunities for libraries to play a greater role in Head Start programs. That language was included. By recognizing the important role that public and school libraries play in improving literacy and school readiness, the new law authorizes libraries to aid Head Start in “conducting reading readiness programs; developing innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, including providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom; assisting in literacy training for Head Start teachers; [and] supporting parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts.” (From AL Direct)
The American Library Association advocated for language to be included in the bill that provides opportunities for libraries to play a greater role in Head Start programs. That language was included. By recognizing the important role that public and school libraries play in improving literacy and school readiness, the new law authorizes libraries to aid Head Start in “conducting reading readiness programs; developing innovative programs to excite children about the world of books, including providing fresh books in the Head Start classroom; assisting in literacy training for Head Start teachers; [and] supporting parents and other caregivers in literacy efforts.” (From AL Direct)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
ALA Midwinter is Coming Soon!
Midwinter conference is in Philadelphia this year from Jan. 11 - 14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Lots of great events are being planned including the keynote speaker at the ALA President’s Program who will be Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a prolific author. Here's a direct link to the ALA site, which will give you a lot more information:
http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2008/home.htm
http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2008/home.htm
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
LSTA Money Request
The following letter was sent to every conferee of the Labor-HHS-Education House and Senate Appropriations Committee. The conference report did have $171.5 million for LSTA's state plans. We are currently awaiting the President's veto of this legislation.
October 25, 2007
The Honorable Lamar Alexander
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Dear Senator Alexander :
On behalf of the 67,000 members of the American Library Association (ALA), I request that you include $171,500,000 for the Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
LSTA, the only federal program solely devoted to aiding libraries, consolidates federal library programs, while expanding services for learning and access to information resources in all types of libraries (public, school, academic, research, etc.) for individuals of all ages. It is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and is distributed through state library agencies to individual libraries via formula grants. There is a requirement for a state match, which helps stimulate approximately $3 to $4 for every federal dollar invested.
LSTA funds are used to offer training on résumé development; help on web searches of job banks; workshops on career information; links to essential educational and community services; assistive devices for people with disabilities; family literacy classes; homework help and mentoring programs; access to government information; a forum for enhanced civic engagement, and so much more.
LSTA funds also help libraries encourage business development. Libraries serve as important links to the business community, assisting with job creation and training programs, as well as assisting with business development initiatives. For many small businesses the library provides research resources and staff they could not otherwise afford.
The President requested and the Senate recommended $171,500,000 for Grants to State Library Agencies. This funding level will allow full implementation of a 2003 law to provide a more equitable distribution of state formula grants. At this funding level, TN would receive $3,376,532 in FY 2008. If Grants to State Library Agencies is funded at this level, Congress will provide library users nationwide with improved patron access to information and library services that can be targeted to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited literacy skills.
As conferees meet to reconcile the difference between the Senate and House bills, we ask that you please support $171,500,000 for Grants to State Library Agencies.
Please do not hesitate to contact the American Library Association or me should you need any additional assistance as the appropriations process moves forward.
Sincerely,
Emily Sheketoff
Executive Director
American Library Association Washington Office
October 25, 2007
The Honorable Lamar Alexander
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Dear Senator Alexander :
On behalf of the 67,000 members of the American Library Association (ALA), I request that you include $171,500,000 for the Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
LSTA, the only federal program solely devoted to aiding libraries, consolidates federal library programs, while expanding services for learning and access to information resources in all types of libraries (public, school, academic, research, etc.) for individuals of all ages. It is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and is distributed through state library agencies to individual libraries via formula grants. There is a requirement for a state match, which helps stimulate approximately $3 to $4 for every federal dollar invested.
LSTA funds are used to offer training on résumé development; help on web searches of job banks; workshops on career information; links to essential educational and community services; assistive devices for people with disabilities; family literacy classes; homework help and mentoring programs; access to government information; a forum for enhanced civic engagement, and so much more.
LSTA funds also help libraries encourage business development. Libraries serve as important links to the business community, assisting with job creation and training programs, as well as assisting with business development initiatives. For many small businesses the library provides research resources and staff they could not otherwise afford.
The President requested and the Senate recommended $171,500,000 for Grants to State Library Agencies. This funding level will allow full implementation of a 2003 law to provide a more equitable distribution of state formula grants. At this funding level, TN would receive $3,376,532 in FY 2008. If Grants to State Library Agencies is funded at this level, Congress will provide library users nationwide with improved patron access to information and library services that can be targeted to people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to individuals with disabilities, and to people with limited literacy skills.
As conferees meet to reconcile the difference between the Senate and House bills, we ask that you please support $171,500,000 for Grants to State Library Agencies.
Please do not hesitate to contact the American Library Association or me should you need any additional assistance as the appropriations process moves forward.
Sincerely,
Emily Sheketoff
Executive Director
American Library Association Washington Office
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Senate Okays Public Access to Medical Research
The U.S. Senate approved October 23 a measure that mandates the deposit of peer-reviewed articles researched with the support of the National Institutes of Health to be deposited into the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central database for public availability within 12 months of publication.
The provision is part of the Senate’s $605.5-billion version of H.R. 3043, the FY2008 appropriation for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The American Library Association’s Washington Office reports that the Senate has recommended $171.5 million of that amount for grants under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is $5 million more than the House approved in July. The two chambers must reconcile the versions, along with six other spending bills passed by both houses, before sending them to the White House.
According to the October 24 CongressDaily online news, President Bush has threatened to veto H.R. 3043 because the discretionary spending portion is some 5% more than appropriated for FY2007, compared to the 2.5% cut proposed by the administration.
The passage by the Senate was hailed by Heather Joseph of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) as “a milestone victory [that] sets the stage for researchers, patients, and the general public to benefit in new and important ways from our collective investment in the critical biomedical research conducted by the National Institutes of Health.” First proposed in 2004 by a House subcommittee, unfettered public access to peer-reviewed research has been opposed by the publishing industry. The initial compromise struck was the 2005 establishment of a voluntary deposit program, which has yielded open access to less than 5% of the eligible medical literature, according to the Alliance for Taxpayer Access.
SPARC and ALA are among 41 groups of educators and patient and health-policy advocates that formed the Alliance in 2004.
The provision is part of the Senate’s $605.5-billion version of H.R. 3043, the FY2008 appropriation for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The American Library Association’s Washington Office reports that the Senate has recommended $171.5 million of that amount for grants under the Library Services and Technology Act, which is $5 million more than the House approved in July. The two chambers must reconcile the versions, along with six other spending bills passed by both houses, before sending them to the White House.
According to the October 24 CongressDaily online news, President Bush has threatened to veto H.R. 3043 because the discretionary spending portion is some 5% more than appropriated for FY2007, compared to the 2.5% cut proposed by the administration.
The passage by the Senate was hailed by Heather Joseph of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC) as “a milestone victory [that] sets the stage for researchers, patients, and the general public to benefit in new and important ways from our collective investment in the critical biomedical research conducted by the National Institutes of Health.” First proposed in 2004 by a House subcommittee, unfettered public access to peer-reviewed research has been opposed by the publishing industry. The initial compromise struck was the 2005 establishment of a voluntary deposit program, which has yielded open access to less than 5% of the eligible medical literature, according to the Alliance for Taxpayer Access.
SPARC and ALA are among 41 groups of educators and patient and health-policy advocates that formed the Alliance in 2004.
ALA 2008 Scholarship Online Application Now Available
Scholarship money is available for future librarians! The American Library Association (ALA) has more than $300,000 for students who are studying library science or school library media at the master's degree level. Scholarships typically range from $2,500 to $6,500 per student per year. The application and instructions are available on-line at www.ala.org/scholarships. The application deadline is March 1.There are many types of scholarships available for the study of librarianship. These include scholarships for students who are interested in Children's Librarianship, School Librarianship, Youth Librarianship, Federal Librarianship, and Library Automation. In addition, there are also scholarships available for minorities, persons with disabilities and for people who are already employed in libraries but do not have an MLS.To be considered for one of these scholarships, applicants must attend a masters program in library and information science that has been accredited by the ALA. Applicants interested in school library media must attend a program that meets ALA curriculum guidelines for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).The scholarship process is open annually from October through March. For more information, visit www.ala.org/scholarships or call the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse at 800-545-2433, ext. 4279.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Colorado Emerging Leaders
Congratulations to Colorado's two new ALA Emerging Leaders, Bethany Sewell from the University of Denver, and Reese Evenson, from Jefferson County Public Library. An initiative of ALA Immediate Past President Leslie Burger, the EL program will enable 124 librarians from across the country to participate in problem-solving workgroups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity.
Burger said, "I am delighted that ALA is continuing the Emerging Leaders program in 2008. Last year's experience demonstrated the need for an ongoing program of this type to ensure that the next generation of association leaders has the skills and confidence it needs to lead ALA and its chapters in the coming years."
Burger said, "I am delighted that ALA is continuing the Emerging Leaders program in 2008. Last year's experience demonstrated the need for an ongoing program of this type to ensure that the next generation of association leaders has the skills and confidence it needs to lead ALA and its chapters in the coming years."
Saturday, September 29, 2007
PLA Awards Applications Now Available Online
PLA is now accepting applications for the 2008 PLA Awards. Members can nominate their colleagues and libraries for PLA Awards through the PLA Web site, www.pla.org. The deadline for submitting an application is December 3, 2007. Only electronic applications will be accepted.
The PLA Awards are designed to highlight the best in public library service by honoring those whose vision and accomplishments are extraordinary and deserve recognition by their peers.
PLA Awards include:
Advancement of Literacy Award, honoring a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group (i.e. not an individual) that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy;
Allie Beth Martin Award, honoring a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has distinguished ability to share that knowledge;
Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award, promotes the development of a circulating Audio Music/Video collection in a public library;
Charlie Robinson Award, honors a public library director who, over a period of seven years, has been a risk taker, an innovator and/or a change agent in a public library;
DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant, serves to enhance the professional development of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities;
EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Library Service Award, honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community;
Gordon M. Conable Award, recognizes a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights;
Grow Your Own @ your library Institutional Scholarship, reimburses nine public libraries' employees' course tuition costs at the undergraduate or graduate level;
Highsmith Library Innovation Award, recognizes a library's innovative and creative service program to the community.
An award jury appointed by the PLA President will review each nomination. The award juries will review the applications and select a recipient at the ALA 2008 Midwinter Meeting. Award winners will be announced in February 2008, and each award will be presented at the PLA President's Reception and Awards Presentation held during the ALA 2008 Annual Conference. For more information, visit the PLA Awards Web page.
The PLA Awards are designed to highlight the best in public library service by honoring those whose vision and accomplishments are extraordinary and deserve recognition by their peers.
PLA Awards include:
Advancement of Literacy Award, honoring a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation or similar group (i.e. not an individual) that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of adult literacy;
Allie Beth Martin Award, honoring a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has distinguished ability to share that knowledge;
Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award, promotes the development of a circulating Audio Music/Video collection in a public library;
Charlie Robinson Award, honors a public library director who, over a period of seven years, has been a risk taker, an innovator and/or a change agent in a public library;
DEMCO New Leaders Travel Grant, serves to enhance the professional development of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities;
EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Library Service Award, honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community;
Gordon M. Conable Award, recognizes a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights;
Grow Your Own @ your library Institutional Scholarship, reimburses nine public libraries' employees' course tuition costs at the undergraduate or graduate level;
Highsmith Library Innovation Award, recognizes a library's innovative and creative service program to the community.
An award jury appointed by the PLA President will review each nomination. The award juries will review the applications and select a recipient at the ALA 2008 Midwinter Meeting. Award winners will be announced in February 2008, and each award will be presented at the PLA President's Reception and Awards Presentation held during the ALA 2008 Annual Conference. For more information, visit the PLA Awards Web page.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Last Call for PLA Results Book Camp 3 Applications
Applications are still being accepted now for PLA's intensive library management training, Results Boot Camp 3, to be held October 29-November 2, 2007, in Salt Lake City. This weeklong, interactive workshop will include both individual and group activities, and will focus on current library issues using case studies describing real library situations. By the end of the week, participants will have the skills necessary to develop and implement a strategic plan in their libraries.
Boot Camp 3 will be presented by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia, both of whom have written books in the PLA Results series of publications. Participation is limited to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. Acceptance to the Results Boot Camp 3 is competitive. Applications must be mailed or faxed to the PLA office by October 1, and applicants will be notified of their status within two weeks of submitting an application. Questions about the application process can be directed to Linda Bostrom, PLA's manager of professional development, at lbostrom@ala.org.
Boot Camp 3 will be presented by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia, both of whom have written books in the PLA Results series of publications. Participation is limited to ensure an environment that fosters group interaction and active participation. Acceptance to the Results Boot Camp 3 is competitive. Applications must be mailed or faxed to the PLA office by October 1, and applicants will be notified of their status within two weeks of submitting an application. Questions about the application process can be directed to Linda Bostrom, PLA's manager of professional development, at lbostrom@ala.org.
PLA and 3M to Hold Leadership Institute at 2008 Conference
PLA and 3M, a PLA Partner, will be offering a special daylong preconference focused on developing leaders and creating transformational change agents within the library profession. Participants will learn how to set a change strategy, how to handle various challenges, and what innovations can be most productive in implementing, driving and defining change. The preconference will be held on Tuesday, March 25, preceding PLA 2008, PLA's 12th National Conference in Minneapolis.
Costs to attend the Leadership Institute are covered by 3M, including registration fees for the day, conference supplies, transportation from the Minneapolis Convention Center to 3M's "Innovation Center," lunch, snacks, and an evening reception. PLA 2008 registration costs and travel expenses, such as airfare and hotel rooms, will not be covered by 3M and are the responsibility of the participant.
A limited number of participants will be selected to attend the Leadership Institute. Applicants must be PLA members registered for the 2008 National Conference, and have at least five years of experience at a supervisory and decision-making level within their organization. Participants must submit a 250-words-or-less essay on a substantial change to be made, their role as change agent, and the effect that this change would produce for their library. An online application form is available at www.pla.org.
The deadline for applications is November 1, 2007. Candidates will be selected by PLA leadership and are not the responsibility of the sponsor, 3M. Applicants will be notified by the end of November. For more information on PLA 2008, visit www.placonference.org.
Costs to attend the Leadership Institute are covered by 3M, including registration fees for the day, conference supplies, transportation from the Minneapolis Convention Center to 3M's "Innovation Center," lunch, snacks, and an evening reception. PLA 2008 registration costs and travel expenses, such as airfare and hotel rooms, will not be covered by 3M and are the responsibility of the participant.
A limited number of participants will be selected to attend the Leadership Institute. Applicants must be PLA members registered for the 2008 National Conference, and have at least five years of experience at a supervisory and decision-making level within their organization. Participants must submit a 250-words-or-less essay on a substantial change to be made, their role as change agent, and the effect that this change would produce for their library. An online application form is available at www.pla.org.
The deadline for applications is November 1, 2007. Candidates will be selected by PLA leadership and are not the responsibility of the sponsor, 3M. Applicants will be notified by the end of November. For more information on PLA 2008, visit www.placonference.org.
Friday, September 21, 2007
ACRL White Paper released
ACRL has released a white paper on “Achieving Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Academic and Research Librarians”. Here’s the link:
www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/whitepapersreports.cfm
According to the ALA Web site, "The white paper recommends specific goals for recruitment, retention and advancement of diverse populations; focusing on collaborative recruitment planning, encouraging a positive work environment and support system for minority hires and increased mentoring opportunities to promote advancement. Working to enact and assess these goals will help academic libraries more effectively serve their diverse communities and overcome the historical lack of recruitment, retention and advancement of people of color in academic librarianship."
www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/whitepapersreports.cfm
According to the ALA Web site, "The white paper recommends specific goals for recruitment, retention and advancement of diverse populations; focusing on collaborative recruitment planning, encouraging a positive work environment and support system for minority hires and increased mentoring opportunities to promote advancement. Working to enact and assess these goals will help academic libraries more effectively serve their diverse communities and overcome the historical lack of recruitment, retention and advancement of people of color in academic librarianship."
Research Report on Public Library Funding and Technology Access
ALA has published a free report entitled, “Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007.” This study is part of a “sustained effort to provide current information that describes access to computers and the Internet in U.S. public libraries.” Here’s the link to the over 200 page report (which is also broken down into smaller sections including an executive summary.)
http://tinyurl.com/yv9boz
or
http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/publiclibraryfundingtechnologyaccessstudy/0607report.htm
http://tinyurl.com/yv9boz
or
http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/publiclibraryfundingtechnologyaccessstudy/0607report.htm
Banned Books Week - Freedom to Read
From ALA Direct:
"According to the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), more than a book a day faces removal from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries. During Banned Books Week, September 29 - October 6, 2007, thousands of libraries and bookstores throughout the nation will celebrate a democratic society's most basic freedom -- the freedom to read.In Chicago, the ALA will co-sponsor a national kickoff Read-Out! event, on September 29, with numerous authors performing readings from their banned or "challenged" books. Joining such authors as Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, authors of "And Tango Makes Three," the most challenged book of 2006, will be local Chicago celebrities such as Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press, and Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. "
For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom's Banned Books Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks
"According to the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), more than a book a day faces removal from free and open public access in U.S. schools and libraries. During Banned Books Week, September 29 - October 6, 2007, thousands of libraries and bookstores throughout the nation will celebrate a democratic society's most basic freedom -- the freedom to read.In Chicago, the ALA will co-sponsor a national kickoff Read-Out! event, on September 29, with numerous authors performing readings from their banned or "challenged" books. Joining such authors as Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, authors of "And Tango Makes Three," the most challenged book of 2006, will be local Chicago celebrities such as Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press, and Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. "
For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom's Banned Books Web site at www.ala.org/bbooks
Friday, September 14, 2007
Special Bundled Registration for the 2008 Midwinter and 2008 Annual ALA Conferences
Special Bundled Registration for the 2008 Midwinter Meeting and 2008 Annual ConferenceThis year ALA is offering a special bundled price on the Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference if you register for BOTH during the month of September. You can save 20% over the advance registration price you would pay if you bought each event separately! This bundled price will be available from September 1 - September 30, 2007 through a link available on the Midwinter Meeting Registration page .
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
AASL Conference in Reno
AASL is sponsoring four Spectrum scholars at National Conference AASL will sponsor the attendance of up to four Spectrum scholars at its 13th National Conference & Exhibition. AASL will provide each of the four selected Spectrum Scholars with a full National Conference registration and a $750 travel stipend. Spectrum Scholars will be paired with a mentor for the duration of the conference and will receive special recognition at key events.
Read more at
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/aaslss.htm
Read more at
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/aaslss.htm
Teen Week at Your Library
Laugh Out Loud @your library!!
Teen Read Week is October 14-20, 2007. The Teen Read Week theme "LOL @your library" encourages teens to use the resources at their library to find entertaining or humorous books, magazines, comics and other media. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and ALA Graphics have partnered together to bring you official Teen Read Week products designed to help raise awareness of this event. Browse all Teen Read Week products Please submit your order by September 28th to receive your materials in time for Teen Read Week using standard shipping.
Teen Read Week is October 14-20, 2007. The Teen Read Week theme "LOL @your library" encourages teens to use the resources at their library to find entertaining or humorous books, magazines, comics and other media. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and ALA Graphics have partnered together to bring you official Teen Read Week products designed to help raise awareness of this event. Browse all Teen Read Week products Please submit your order by September 28th to receive your materials in time for Teen Read Week using standard shipping.
SKILLS ACT - We need to support our School Librarians
The SKILLS Act is a very important piece of legislation that is critical to the future of school librarians. Here are the positive outcomes if you ask your legislator to support it:
* Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in each school library;
* Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor's degree and have obtained full state certification as a school library media specialist or passed the state teacher licensing examination, with state certification in library media in such state;
* Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school no later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;
* Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;
* Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students;
* Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.
ALA has made it very easy to contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act.
Please go to this link. You can put in your zip code and they already have email messages ready to be sent to your legislator. All you have to do is write a few sentences asking your legislator to support this legislation.
http://www.capwiz.com/ala/home/
* Requires school districts, to the extent feasible, to ensure that every school within the district employs at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in each school library;
* Defines highly qualified school library media specialists as those who have a bachelor's degree and have obtained full state certification as a school library media specialist or passed the state teacher licensing examination, with state certification in library media in such state;
* Establishes as a state goal that there be at least one highly qualified school library media specialist in every public school no later than the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year;
* Broadens the focus of training, professional development, and recruitment activities to include school library media specialists;
* Ensures that funds will serve elementary, middle, and high school students;
* Requires books and materials to be appropriate for and engage the interest of students in all grade levels and students with special learning needs, including English language learners.
ALA has made it very easy to contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the SKILLs Act.
Please go to this link. You can put in your zip code and they already have email messages ready to be sent to your legislator. All you have to do is write a few sentences asking your legislator to support this legislation.
http://www.capwiz.com/ala/home/
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Last Call for Councilor-at-Large Nominees
The ALA 2008 Nominating Committee has extended the deadline for nominees to run for Councilor-at-Large on the 2008 spring ALA ballot through September 21, 2008. After that date, those persons seeking to run may file by petition. Just to clarify, my appointment is as a Chapter Councilor for Colorado. Chapter Councilors and Councilors-at-Large all have equal standing on Council. A Chapter Councilor gets voted in by the Chapter (CAL) members. A Councilor-at-Large gets voted in by all ALA members who vote.If you are at all interested, please contact me for further information at swalchak@clicweb.org or use the contact supplied below.
The Nominating Committee will select no fewer than 53 candidates for the 35 at large Council seats to be filled in the 2008 spring election.
The first 34 candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the 2008 ALA election will serve three-year terms (2008-2011), which begins at the close of the 2008 ALA Annual Conference and ends at the close of the 2011 ALA Annual Conference. The 35th candidate receiving the greatest number of votes will serve a one-year term (2008-2009) to begin immediately upon election and end at the close of the 2009 ALA Annual Conference.
Members who wish to stand for election must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates/. Nomination deadline is Friday, September 21, 2007.
If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Lee Hisle (wlhis@conncoll.edu), chair, 2008 ALA Nominating Committee.
To encourage diversity and leadership development, the Committee will refrain from nominating any current Councilors for election to another term. However, the Committee encourages all Councilors who wish to continue their service to the Association to file as petition candidates. Petitions will be available from Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, Council Secretariat, ALA, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, Email: lgregory@ala.org, or at the 2008 Midwinter Meeting. Petitions require 25 signatures for names to be included on the 2008 ballot.
The Nominating Committee will select no fewer than 53 candidates for the 35 at large Council seats to be filled in the 2008 spring election.
The first 34 candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the 2008 ALA election will serve three-year terms (2008-2011), which begins at the close of the 2008 ALA Annual Conference and ends at the close of the 2011 ALA Annual Conference. The 35th candidate receiving the greatest number of votes will serve a one-year term (2008-2009) to begin immediately upon election and end at the close of the 2009 ALA Annual Conference.
Members who wish to stand for election must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates/. Nomination deadline is Friday, September 21, 2007.
If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact Lee Hisle (wlhis@conncoll.edu), chair, 2008 ALA Nominating Committee.
To encourage diversity and leadership development, the Committee will refrain from nominating any current Councilors for election to another term. However, the Committee encourages all Councilors who wish to continue their service to the Association to file as petition candidates. Petitions will be available from Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, Council Secretariat, ALA, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, Email: lgregory@ala.org, or at the 2008 Midwinter Meeting. Petitions require 25 signatures for names to be included on the 2008 ballot.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy
The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy is pleased to announce the 2008 national grant competition. The Foundation's grant-making program seeks to develop or expand projects that are designed to support the development of literacy skills for adult primary care givers and their children. A total of approximately $650,000 will be awarded; no grant request should exceed $65,000. To download the application, please click here.
Should you have questions, please call Kiev Richardson at (202) 955-6183 between the hours of 1:00-5:00 p.m. EDT or e-mail your questions to krichardson@cfncr.org. Please include your telephone number. We look forward to receiving your application and learning about your proposed family literacy project.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Benita Somerfield202.955.6183
Should you have questions, please call Kiev Richardson at (202) 955-6183 between the hours of 1:00-5:00 p.m. EDT or e-mail your questions to krichardson@cfncr.org. Please include your telephone number. We look forward to receiving your application and learning about your proposed family literacy project.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Benita Somerfield202.955.6183
John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award competition open for 2008
Competition is open now for the 2008 John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award contest, sponsored by the H. W. Wilson Company, the H. W. Wilson Foundation and the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The deadline for entries is December 6, 2007. Inaugurated in 1946, the John Cotton Dana Award honors effective strategic communication: the art and craft of getting the right message to the right audience at the right time and getting the right results. Entries may represent any library public relations program that supports a specific project, goal, activity or a sustained ongoing program (e.g. the promotion of a summer reading program, a year-long centennial celebration, fundraising for a new college library, an awareness campaign or an innovative partnership in the community). Entries are judged on the quality of their strategic communication campaign as presented in a clear, concise visual display and narrative. Details, tips, evaluation guidelines, downloadable entry forms, entry checklists and examples of previous winning entries are available online at www.hwwilson.com/jcdawards/nw_jcd.htm. The contest is open to all libraries and agencies that promote library service. Entries can be for calendar year 2007 (January-December), school year 2006-2007 (Fall-Spring) or any special project that ends in 2007. A committee of the LAMA Public Relations and Marketing Section judges the completed entries at the 2008 American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting. The awards and $3,000 cash grants will be presented during the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. For more information, visit www.ala.org/lama and click on navigation item "Awards,” or contact Fred Reuland, LAMA marketing specialist, at 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; phone 1-800-545-2433 x5032; e-mail freuland@ala.org; fax:(312)280-2169. The mission of the Library Administration and Management Association (www.ala.org/lama) is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association. An icon in the library community for 108 years, H.W. Wilson (www.hwwilson.com) is dedicated to providing the highest-quality web and print resources in the world. H.W. Wilson products are familiar to generations of library users as standard tools in college, public and professional libraries worldwide.
Library Card Sign-up Month
The American Library Association (ALA) announces the release of five new radio public service announcements (PSAs) that are now available to help libraries promote Library Card Sign-up Month in September and the library card as the “smartest card in your wallet.”
The PSAs can be downloaded for free at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup and are available in 10, 15 and 30-second MP3 formats. Libraries are encouraged to share the PSAs with local radio stations.
Other free tools include sample press materials, a list of “52 Ways to Use Your Library Card” and “Smartest Card” logos. Press materials and “Smartest Card” logos are available in both English and Spanish. Examples from libraries that have used giant “Smartest Cards” in photo opportunities also appear on the Web page.
Libraries are encouraged to let the ALA Public Information Office know how they are celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month. Visit www.ala.org/librarycardsignup and click on “Share your story.” The strongest examples will be shared with the press as part of ALA’s national media relations efforts.
Observed in the month of September since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when ALA and libraries across the county remind parents and kids that a library card is the most important school supply of all.
The PSAs can be downloaded for free at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup and are available in 10, 15 and 30-second MP3 formats. Libraries are encouraged to share the PSAs with local radio stations.
Other free tools include sample press materials, a list of “52 Ways to Use Your Library Card” and “Smartest Card” logos. Press materials and “Smartest Card” logos are available in both English and Spanish. Examples from libraries that have used giant “Smartest Cards” in photo opportunities also appear on the Web page.
Libraries are encouraged to let the ALA Public Information Office know how they are celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month. Visit www.ala.org/librarycardsignup and click on “Share your story.” The strongest examples will be shared with the press as part of ALA’s national media relations efforts.
Observed in the month of September since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when ALA and libraries across the county remind parents and kids that a library card is the most important school supply of all.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
National Security Letters Act Introduced
Council passed a resolution on National Security Letters (NSLs) during Annual Conference in June. The Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Board voted to endorse the resolution on July 26th. Many other state organizations have done the same. I wanted to pass on some additional information that was highlighted in the latest weekly American Libraries Direct.
Designed to counter Justice Department abuse of National Security Letters (NSLs) as reported in an internal FBI audit in March, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 3189) was introduced July 26 by a bipartisan group that included Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), William Delahunt (D-Mass.), and Ron Paul (R-Tex.).
The Justice Department’s handling of NSLs in libraries has been controversial, most notably in the case of the Connecticut “John Does”. The proposed legislation would give an NSL recipient the right to challenge the letter and its nondisclosure requirement, place a time limit on NSL gag orders, give notice to an NSL recipient if the records obtained are to be used in a subsequent proceeding, and grant an NSL recipient the right to legal counsel and to challenge the use of obtained records.
“We need to bring the NSL authority in line with the Constitution, enhance checks and balances, and, in doing so, better protect our national security,” Rep. Nadler said at the bill’s introduction.
“The American Library Association applauds Congress’s effort to reform National Security Letters to minimize this unconstitutional intrusion into library patrons’ records,” said Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA Washington Office. “On June 27, ALA’s governing body unanimously passed a resolution condemning the use of NSLs to obtain library records.”
Nine days after the NSL bill was referred to several committees, Pres. Bush signed into law a revision to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that enables the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on foreign communications, including e-mail exchanges and phone calls between someone “reasonably believed to be outside the United States” and a person on U.S. soil, whether or not the latter is a U.S. citizen. The revision will be due for reconsideration in six months. “Congress needs to take its time before it implements another piece of antiterrorism legislation it will regret, like the Patriot Act,” Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, had cautioned in the August 1 New York Times. “The Bush administration clearly has abused the FISA powers it already has and clearly wants to go back to the good old days of warrantless wiretapping and domestic spying. Congress must stop this bill in its tracks.”
Designed to counter Justice Department abuse of National Security Letters (NSLs) as reported in an internal FBI audit in March, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 3189) was introduced July 26 by a bipartisan group that included Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), William Delahunt (D-Mass.), and Ron Paul (R-Tex.).
The Justice Department’s handling of NSLs in libraries has been controversial, most notably in the case of the Connecticut “John Does”. The proposed legislation would give an NSL recipient the right to challenge the letter and its nondisclosure requirement, place a time limit on NSL gag orders, give notice to an NSL recipient if the records obtained are to be used in a subsequent proceeding, and grant an NSL recipient the right to legal counsel and to challenge the use of obtained records.
“We need to bring the NSL authority in line with the Constitution, enhance checks and balances, and, in doing so, better protect our national security,” Rep. Nadler said at the bill’s introduction.
“The American Library Association applauds Congress’s effort to reform National Security Letters to minimize this unconstitutional intrusion into library patrons’ records,” said Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA Washington Office. “On June 27, ALA’s governing body unanimously passed a resolution condemning the use of NSLs to obtain library records.”
Nine days after the NSL bill was referred to several committees, Pres. Bush signed into law a revision to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that enables the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on foreign communications, including e-mail exchanges and phone calls between someone “reasonably believed to be outside the United States” and a person on U.S. soil, whether or not the latter is a U.S. citizen. The revision will be due for reconsideration in six months. “Congress needs to take its time before it implements another piece of antiterrorism legislation it will regret, like the Patriot Act,” Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, had cautioned in the August 1 New York Times. “The Bush administration clearly has abused the FISA powers it already has and clearly wants to go back to the good old days of warrantless wiretapping and domestic spying. Congress must stop this bill in its tracks.”
Friday, July 20, 2007
Did You Miss ALA?
If you didn't make it to ALA, here's a great 3 1/2 minute video from American Libraries that gives a nice overview of the conference. If you have a slow connection, give it time to load and then come back to it!
http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/5-days-3-1-2-minutes-annual-2007-wrap
http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/5-days-3-1-2-minutes-annual-2007-wrap
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
ALA Speaks Out on National Security Letters
American Library Association urges Congress to reform laws governing the FBI's use of National Security Letters http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/july2007/nsl07.htm
Contact: Macey Morales
Media Relations, ALA
312-280-4303
For Immediate Release
July 11, 2007
American Library Association urges Congress to reform laws governing the FBI's use of National Security Letters
CHICAGO - The American Library Association's governing body has unanimously
passed a resolution condemning the use of National Security Letters (NSLs)
to obtain library records and urging Congress to pursue immediate reforms of NSL procedures.
The resolution, adopted at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., arose out of the ALA's concerns over the misuse and abuse of National Security Letters detailed in the March, 2007 report submitted to Congress by the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General. The report describes how the FBI engaged in widespread and serious abuses of its authority to use NSLs, including significantly understating the number of NSLs used by the FBI in the classified reports given to Congress; using NSLs to collect consumer information, a practice prohibited by statute; and circumventing the requirements of the NSL statute to obtain information in the absence of any duly authorized investigation.
The resolution also supports George Christian's appeal to Congress to reconsider the NSL authorities that allow the FBI to subject innocent people to fishing expeditions of their personal information with no judicial review. Christian, executive director of the Library Connection in Windsor, Connecticut, testified before Congress on behalf of himself and his colleagues, librarians Janet Nocek, Barbara Bailey, and Peter Chase, about their experience in being served with an NSL to obtain library users'
records and being gagged from discussing it. In his testimony, Christian asked the Senators "to take special note of the uses and abuses of NSLs in libraries and bookstores and other places where higher First Amendment
standards should be considered." The four - known as the "Connecticut
John Does"- were presented with the ALA Paul Howard Award for Courage at the conference.
Among the legislative reforms ALA urges are:
Judicial oversight of National Security Letters (NSLs) requiring a showing of individualized suspicion and demonstrating a factual connection between the individual whose records are sought by the FBI and an actual investigation;
Elimination of the automatic and permanent imposition of a nondisclosure or "gag" order whenever an NSL is served on an individual or institution;
Allowing recipients of NSLs to receive meaningful judicial review of a challenge to their NSL without deferring to the government's claims;
Increased oversight by Congress and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice over NSLs and FBI activities that implicate the First Amendment; and
Providing for the management, handling, dissemination and destruction of personally identifiable information obtained through NSLs ALA has sent letters communicating the resolution to the Offices of the President and Vice President as well as to every member of Congress. ALA further asked its members, state chapters, and all library advocates to ask Congress to restore civil liberties and correct the abuse and misuse of National Security Letters.
"Resolution on the Use and Abuse of National Security Letters" can be found online at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/nationalsecuritylett
ers.htm
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 65,000 members.
Contact: Macey Morales
Media Relations, ALA
312-280-4303
For Immediate Release
July 11, 2007
American Library Association urges Congress to reform laws governing the FBI's use of National Security Letters
CHICAGO - The American Library Association's governing body has unanimously
passed a resolution condemning the use of National Security Letters (NSLs)
to obtain library records and urging Congress to pursue immediate reforms of NSL procedures.
The resolution, adopted at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., arose out of the ALA's concerns over the misuse and abuse of National Security Letters detailed in the March, 2007 report submitted to Congress by the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General. The report describes how the FBI engaged in widespread and serious abuses of its authority to use NSLs, including significantly understating the number of NSLs used by the FBI in the classified reports given to Congress; using NSLs to collect consumer information, a practice prohibited by statute; and circumventing the requirements of the NSL statute to obtain information in the absence of any duly authorized investigation.
The resolution also supports George Christian's appeal to Congress to reconsider the NSL authorities that allow the FBI to subject innocent people to fishing expeditions of their personal information with no judicial review. Christian, executive director of the Library Connection in Windsor, Connecticut, testified before Congress on behalf of himself and his colleagues, librarians Janet Nocek, Barbara Bailey, and Peter Chase, about their experience in being served with an NSL to obtain library users'
records and being gagged from discussing it. In his testimony, Christian asked the Senators "to take special note of the uses and abuses of NSLs in libraries and bookstores and other places where higher First Amendment
standards should be considered." The four - known as the "Connecticut
John Does"- were presented with the ALA Paul Howard Award for Courage at the conference.
Among the legislative reforms ALA urges are:
Judicial oversight of National Security Letters (NSLs) requiring a showing of individualized suspicion and demonstrating a factual connection between the individual whose records are sought by the FBI and an actual investigation;
Elimination of the automatic and permanent imposition of a nondisclosure or "gag" order whenever an NSL is served on an individual or institution;
Allowing recipients of NSLs to receive meaningful judicial review of a challenge to their NSL without deferring to the government's claims;
Increased oversight by Congress and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice over NSLs and FBI activities that implicate the First Amendment; and
Providing for the management, handling, dissemination and destruction of personally identifiable information obtained through NSLs ALA has sent letters communicating the resolution to the Offices of the President and Vice President as well as to every member of Congress. ALA further asked its members, state chapters, and all library advocates to ask Congress to restore civil liberties and correct the abuse and misuse of National Security Letters.
"Resolution on the Use and Abuse of National Security Letters" can be found online at http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/nationalsecuritylett
ers.htm
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 65,000 members.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Latest on EPA Libraries
From American Libraries Direct...
Senate Committee asks EPA to reopen its librariesAfter nearly a year of controversy over Environmental Protection Agency library closings and consolidations, the Senate Appropriations Committee June 26 recommended that the agency restore the network of libraries to its former capacity. The committee report on the FY2008 Interior Appropriations Bill (S. 1696) directs the EPA to submit by December 31 a plan on how to use $2 million—the same amount cut from the agency’s FY2007 budget—to accomplish the restoration and “maintain a robust collection of environmental data and resources in each region.”...
Senate Committee asks EPA to reopen its librariesAfter nearly a year of controversy over Environmental Protection Agency library closings and consolidations, the Senate Appropriations Committee June 26 recommended that the agency restore the network of libraries to its former capacity. The committee report on the FY2008 Interior Appropriations Bill (S. 1696) directs the EPA to submit by December 31 a plan on how to use $2 million—the same amount cut from the agency’s FY2007 budget—to accomplish the restoration and “maintain a robust collection of environmental data and resources in each region.”...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
AASL Conference in Reno
Register by July 6 to save $100 off AASL National Conference registration !
July 6, 2007 is the last day to register at low early bird registration rates for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) 13th National Conference in Reno, Nevada. Attendees who take advantage of the early bird rates can save $100 off the regular registration prices. The AASL 13th National Conference, to be held October 25-28, 2007, will feature more than 100 concurrent sessions, over 200 exhibiting companies, school and educational tours, and special appearances by award-winning authors. The conference details are available on the AASL Web site at http://www.ala.org/aasl/reno. The AASL National Conference also will provide eight preconference workshops, each giving attendees the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the topic under the guidance of nationally-renowned presenter.
July 6, 2007 is the last day to register at low early bird registration rates for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) 13th National Conference in Reno, Nevada. Attendees who take advantage of the early bird rates can save $100 off the regular registration prices. The AASL 13th National Conference, to be held October 25-28, 2007, will feature more than 100 concurrent sessions, over 200 exhibiting companies, school and educational tours, and special appearances by award-winning authors. The conference details are available on the AASL Web site at http://www.ala.org/aasl/reno. The AASL National Conference also will provide eight preconference workshops, each giving attendees the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the topic under the guidance of nationally-renowned presenter.
More Information on Annual Conference
Martin Garnar, incoming CAL President, and I attended several meetings together on Chapter Relations. Our own Joel Robinson, from Marmot in Grand Junction, has been working with Flo Brown for over 20 years on the orientation session for Chapter Leaders like our present Beth Wrenn-Estes and our incoming Martin Garnar. Martin and I came away with a lot of ideas of how CAL can partner effectively with ALA and take advantage of all the work they are focusing on Chapters. First couple things to remember is the Advocacy Institute coming as a pre-conference to CAL and the Lawyers for Libraries, which Martin organized. More information will be forthcoming.
Here's some additional information posted on the ALA Council listserv by Jim Casey, fellow ALA Councilor.
Among the many legislative initiatives highlighted at the conference were "two bi-partisan bills that would enhance important open government laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidential Records Act and whistleblower protections. --- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments of 2007 HR 1309 introduced by Rep. Clay (D-MO) with two co-sponsors, includes reforms to reduce backlogs and delays in responding to FOIA requests; provides incentives for agency compliance; and in general, strengthens FOIA. (Passed 308-117). The OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S. 849), introduced by Sen. Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) with nine co-sponsors, is similar to HR 1309 and was reported out of the Judiciary Committee in April 2007.
Librarians wishing to keep up to date on the latest issues before Congress should note the following sites: http://www.ala.org/washoff for ALA Washington Office. http://www.ala.org/ogr ALA Office of Government Relations. http://www.ala.org/oitp. For the Legislative Action Center updates and to learn how to help ALAWO http://www.capwiz.com/ala For copyright updates: http://www.ala.org/copyright
ALA MEMBERSHIP MEETING I: ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their respective positions in a discussion of “Should ALA take stands on ‘non-library’ issues.” Both the featured speakers and those who addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful. The issue wasn’t resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by all parties concerned. -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present. The Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting remained quiet and uneventful. The attendance was 235 and by any measures a very successful venture. Councilor Larry Romans and his Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this Conference."
There were several thought-provoking speakers at conference including former Senator Bill Bradley, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Closing session of conference featured Garrison Keillor. "Despite its early time at 8 AM to 9 PM on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, hundreds of Conference attendees waited in long lines to hear a 45 minute talk by author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor. Mr. Keillor reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the Library as a refuge from a world that he sometimes found to be alternately ridiculous and oppressive. His admiration for the work of libraries and librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions. Our huge audience seemed to enjoy every morsel of his remarkable monologue. A portion of his remarks was published
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/06/27/keillor/ ."
I want to thank the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) for giving me the opportunity to represent Colorado at ALA. It is a privilege and honor.
Here's some additional information posted on the ALA Council listserv by Jim Casey, fellow ALA Councilor.
Among the many legislative initiatives highlighted at the conference were "two bi-partisan bills that would enhance important open government laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidential Records Act and whistleblower protections. --- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments of 2007 HR 1309 introduced by Rep. Clay (D-MO) with two co-sponsors, includes reforms to reduce backlogs and delays in responding to FOIA requests; provides incentives for agency compliance; and in general, strengthens FOIA. (Passed 308-117). The OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S. 849), introduced by Sen. Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) with nine co-sponsors, is similar to HR 1309 and was reported out of the Judiciary Committee in April 2007.
Librarians wishing to keep up to date on the latest issues before Congress should note the following sites: http://www.ala.org/washoff for ALA Washington Office. http://www.ala.org/ogr ALA Office of Government Relations. http://www.ala.org/oitp. For the Legislative Action Center updates and to learn how to help ALAWO http://www.capwiz.com/ala For copyright updates: http://www.ala.org/copyright
ALA MEMBERSHIP MEETING I: ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their respective positions in a discussion of “Should ALA take stands on ‘non-library’ issues.” Both the featured speakers and those who addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful. The issue wasn’t resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by all parties concerned. -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present. The Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting remained quiet and uneventful. The attendance was 235 and by any measures a very successful venture. Councilor Larry Romans and his Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this Conference."
There were several thought-provoking speakers at conference including former Senator Bill Bradley, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Closing session of conference featured Garrison Keillor. "Despite its early time at 8 AM to 9 PM on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, hundreds of Conference attendees waited in long lines to hear a 45 minute talk by author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor. Mr. Keillor reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the Library as a refuge from a world that he sometimes found to be alternately ridiculous and oppressive. His admiration for the work of libraries and librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions. Our huge audience seemed to enjoy every morsel of his remarkable monologue. A portion of his remarks was published
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/06/27/keillor/ ."
I want to thank the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) for giving me the opportunity to represent Colorado at ALA. It is a privilege and honor.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Council III
The last meeting of ALA Council during 2007 Annual was called to order at 8:00 a.m. on June 27th.
The Committee on Organization made its report to Council and had two action items:
(1) To revise the composition of the Chapter Relations Committee by requiring someone to be an ALA member who is also a member of an ALA Chapter or Division affiliate
(2) To recommend that Council adopt a report on e-participation, which asks for a formal task force charged with examining existing documents and developing recommendations to adapt association policy so as to help ALAmove forward with effective e-participation practices.
The Committee on Constitution & Bylaws made its report to Council with 4 action items.
(1) The Catholic Library Associate applied for ALA affiliate status, and this was granted.
(2) At Council III, the second item of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee was solely with regard to the order of the names on the ballot. It was to change the words "by lot" to "randomized", and to make it apply to all names on the ballot, not just the names of ALA Councilors. The preparation of the ballot was, is and remains under the oversight of the elections committee. This was passed.
(3) A change in wording to clarify the committee listings in the bylaws - this was passed.
(4) A request for councilors to comment on bylaws changes. Councilors have the responsibility to ask their constituents about the changes as well. Much discussion followed, and some even discussed whether or not a "Constitutional Convention" is necessary. Others felt that this is not necessary.
International Relations committee.
450 people from 87 countries were at ALA this year. The committee supports ALA having a full time person supporting international relations.
Intellectual Freedom Committee
There is a new toolkit on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. It is mounted on the OIF website. http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?Section=oif A resolution on the use and abuse of National Security Letters on the need for legislative reforms to assure the right to read free of government surveillance. This resolution passed unanimously.
Policy Monitoring Committee
Two action items: The first is an addition to the policy manual recommending a statement that supports Immigrant rights. This was passed. The 2nd item addressed the committee's recommendation that a policy on the role of libraries in providing e-government and emergency services be added to the policy manual. This was passed.
A resolution came forward from the ALA Division, ASCLA, on accessible digitization projects. This recommended that ALA encourage libraries engaged in digitization projects adopt Section 508 regulations to ensure that they are creating versions of materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies. This was passed.
A resolution on Representation came forward from AASL Division Councilor, Sylvia Norton. It asks the Committee on Committees to clarify the processes of selecting committee members. This was passed.
Final announcements: For ALA D.C. figures are 21,466 registrants, 7, 169 vendors, for a grand total of 28,635, which is the largest conference ever in ALA history.
Emily Sheketoff from the Washington Office spoke on Legislative Day on the Hill. There were almost 2000 library supporters. There was tremendous attendance by Congressional staff and members of Congress. The most important thing was the introduction of school library legislation by a bipartisan House and Senate group that introduced the SKILLS acts, which will amend NCLB calling for a school library in every school headed by a state-certified Media Specialist.
The Committee on Organization made its report to Council and had two action items:
(1) To revise the composition of the Chapter Relations Committee by requiring someone to be an ALA member who is also a member of an ALA Chapter or Division affiliate
(2) To recommend that Council adopt a report on e-participation, which asks for a formal task force charged with examining existing documents and developing recommendations to adapt association policy so as to help ALAmove forward with effective e-participation practices.
The Committee on Constitution & Bylaws made its report to Council with 4 action items.
(1) The Catholic Library Associate applied for ALA affiliate status, and this was granted.
(2) At Council III, the second item of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee was solely with regard to the order of the names on the ballot. It was to change the words "by lot" to "randomized", and to make it apply to all names on the ballot, not just the names of ALA Councilors. The preparation of the ballot was, is and remains under the oversight of the elections committee. This was passed.
(3) A change in wording to clarify the committee listings in the bylaws - this was passed.
(4) A request for councilors to comment on bylaws changes. Councilors have the responsibility to ask their constituents about the changes as well. Much discussion followed, and some even discussed whether or not a "Constitutional Convention" is necessary. Others felt that this is not necessary.
International Relations committee.
450 people from 87 countries were at ALA this year. The committee supports ALA having a full time person supporting international relations.
Intellectual Freedom Committee
There is a new toolkit on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people. It is mounted on the OIF website. http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?Section=oif A resolution on the use and abuse of National Security Letters on the need for legislative reforms to assure the right to read free of government surveillance. This resolution passed unanimously.
Policy Monitoring Committee
Two action items: The first is an addition to the policy manual recommending a statement that supports Immigrant rights. This was passed. The 2nd item addressed the committee's recommendation that a policy on the role of libraries in providing e-government and emergency services be added to the policy manual. This was passed.
A resolution came forward from the ALA Division, ASCLA, on accessible digitization projects. This recommended that ALA encourage libraries engaged in digitization projects adopt Section 508 regulations to ensure that they are creating versions of materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies. This was passed.
A resolution on Representation came forward from AASL Division Councilor, Sylvia Norton. It asks the Committee on Committees to clarify the processes of selecting committee members. This was passed.
Final announcements: For ALA D.C. figures are 21,466 registrants, 7, 169 vendors, for a grand total of 28,635, which is the largest conference ever in ALA history.
Emily Sheketoff from the Washington Office spoke on Legislative Day on the Hill. There were almost 2000 library supporters. There was tremendous attendance by Congressional staff and members of Congress. The most important thing was the introduction of school library legislation by a bipartisan House and Senate group that introduced the SKILLS acts, which will amend NCLB calling for a school library in every school headed by a state-certified Media Specialist.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Council II
The Committee on Legislation presented the following resolutions, which were passed with some discussion. These include
(1)a Resolution on Funding for the National Library Service (the resolution calls upon Congress to fund the $19.1)
(2)a Resolution on Principals for Digital Content (the resolution adopts a declaration, Principles for Digital Content, which deals with values, intellectual property rights, sustainable collections, collaboration, advocacy, international scope, continuous learning, preservation and importance of standards.)
(3)a Resolution on Government Printing Office FY 2008 Appropriations (this resolution reaffirms its commitment to Government Printing Office and Federal Depository Library Program services anad collections and urges full funding at $182M)
(4)a Resolution on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (this resolution urges the passage of the SKILLS Act, which would include school library media specialists who meet the criteria established by the state educational agency as highly qualified in NCLB, require school districts to employ at least one highly qualified school library media specialist, allow state and local Title II funds to be used to assist in recruiting and training highly qualified school library media specialists)
(5) Resolution on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program FY 2008 Funding (this resolution urges Congress to restore full funding of $47M to enable the program to complete its activities)
I have copies of all the resolutions if anyone is interested in seeing them in more detail.
The Committee on Membership reported that there were 2 membership meetings with a total of over 400 members attending. There was discussion on whether or not ALA should discuss and vote on non-library issues, although very few people were willing to speak up on this issue. There was some discussion on a recommendation to reorganize the meetings.
The Freedom to Read Foundation Report. (ftrp.org) This foundation is ALA's First Amendment legal defense arm. John Berry informed Council on the current activities including Youth and the First Amendment, Freedom to Read Freely, Protecting Privacy and Anonymity, Religion and the Public Library, and State Legislation.
Teri Switzer presented her report. ALA programmatic priorities include diversity, literacy, intellectual freedom, equity of access to information and library services, education and life-long learning, and organizational excellence. The budget proposal addresses first the 2010 strategic plan. Goals in the plan include:
(1) Advocacy/Value of the Profession
(2)Education
(3)Public Policy and Standards
(4)Building the Profession
(5) Membership
(6) Organization Excellence
The key internal developments for this year include the completion of Joblist Online; completion of online database project - Choice and Booklist; Year 3 of publishing department "Content Centric" business plan; complete the business plan of a magazine promoting library usage to the public; better utilization of the Association Management System as a tool to exploit cross marketing opportunities. There has been little change in ALA's total revenues. Last year they made $47M from dues, publishing and meeting and conferences. Teri recommended that additional scholarships be offered from the Spectrum fund, which would help in increasing the diversity in our profession.
(1)a Resolution on Funding for the National Library Service (the resolution calls upon Congress to fund the $19.1)
(2)a Resolution on Principals for Digital Content (the resolution adopts a declaration, Principles for Digital Content, which deals with values, intellectual property rights, sustainable collections, collaboration, advocacy, international scope, continuous learning, preservation and importance of standards.)
(3)a Resolution on Government Printing Office FY 2008 Appropriations (this resolution reaffirms its commitment to Government Printing Office and Federal Depository Library Program services anad collections and urges full funding at $182M)
(4)a Resolution on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (this resolution urges the passage of the SKILLS Act, which would include school library media specialists who meet the criteria established by the state educational agency as highly qualified in NCLB, require school districts to employ at least one highly qualified school library media specialist, allow state and local Title II funds to be used to assist in recruiting and training highly qualified school library media specialists)
(5) Resolution on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program FY 2008 Funding (this resolution urges Congress to restore full funding of $47M to enable the program to complete its activities)
I have copies of all the resolutions if anyone is interested in seeing them in more detail.
The Committee on Membership reported that there were 2 membership meetings with a total of over 400 members attending. There was discussion on whether or not ALA should discuss and vote on non-library issues, although very few people were willing to speak up on this issue. There was some discussion on a recommendation to reorganize the meetings.
The Freedom to Read Foundation Report. (ftrp.org) This foundation is ALA's First Amendment legal defense arm. John Berry informed Council on the current activities including Youth and the First Amendment, Freedom to Read Freely, Protecting Privacy and Anonymity, Religion and the Public Library, and State Legislation.
Teri Switzer presented her report. ALA programmatic priorities include diversity, literacy, intellectual freedom, equity of access to information and library services, education and life-long learning, and organizational excellence. The budget proposal addresses first the 2010 strategic plan. Goals in the plan include:
(1) Advocacy/Value of the Profession
(2)Education
(3)Public Policy and Standards
(4)Building the Profession
(5) Membership
(6) Organization Excellence
The key internal developments for this year include the completion of Joblist Online; completion of online database project - Choice and Booklist; Year 3 of publishing department "Content Centric" business plan; complete the business plan of a magazine promoting library usage to the public; better utilization of the Association Management System as a tool to exploit cross marketing opportunities. There has been little change in ALA's total revenues. Last year they made $47M from dues, publishing and meeting and conferences. Teri recommended that additional scholarships be offered from the Spectrum fund, which would help in increasing the diversity in our profession.
Monday, June 25, 2007
ALA-APA Meeting
Terri Switzer, ALA Treasurer (and fellow Coloradoan!) gave the financial report for ALA-APA. She discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the 4-year old organization. The organization needs to be marketed more extensively in order to get more voluntary contributions. Council passed the budgetary ceiling for the APA organization. The Committee on Organization made a report to ALA-APA Council and two votes were taken on some changes in wording and reporting. The Certified Public Library Administrator Certification Review Committee gave their report. There are currently 33 courses offered by 8 providers. There are 76 candidates actively enrolled in the program. Total course enrollment is 161 students.The ALA-APA (Allied Professional Association) Standing Committee on the salaries and Status of Library Workers also reported on the salary surveys that the organization has produced. (Referred to in another posting.)
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Council I
This is the first of three official meetings of ALA Council. The ALA Executive Director, Keith Michael Fiels, made his report to Council. Included in his report are the following:
(1) The launching of http://ilovelibraries.org/ Please check out this new website where people can learn more about the excitement anad vitality of today's libraries. The website includes feature stories on the great things happening in today's libraries, book reviews, links for viewers to share their story about their library, and much more!
(2)The usability and redesign of the ALA website. This process began in August 2006. The consultants designing the site, UserWorks, will be conducting 18 meetings with 2007 Annual Conference attendees to walk through the "wire frames" and observe their reactions. No date has been announced as to its launch.
(3)Membership. Membership has remained relatively stable - down 1.35% from April 2006. We currently have 66,569 members.
(4) ALA Tech Sources along with ACRL (Assoc. of College and Research Libraries) will hold its first annual Gaming, LEarning and Libraries Symposium in Chicago at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel on July 22 - 23. http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/
(5) ALA Chapters (the State organizations, like CAL - Colorado Association of Libraries) and ALA have joined together to advocate for libraries. The effort will enhance federal, state, and local advocacy through the creation of an online package of legislative tools. In addition, ALA will sponsor workshops at chapter annual conferences. They will be coming to CAL in November to do a half-day workshop on Advocacy. Stay tuned for details!
(6)Office of Government Relations (OGR). IMLS was funded at $253.5M, which was an increase over last year. ($167.5M for State Programs, $3.6M for Native American and Hawaiians, $12.3M fo national leadership grants, $23.7M for Laura Bush recruitment and education programs and $2 for research and analysis.) Improving Literacy Through School Libraries is level funded at $19.1M. With No Child Left Behind(NCLB) reauthorization underway, the Washington Office (WO) is working to include school libraries in these ways: (a) an amendment calling for a school library in every school library in every school headed by a state-certified school library media specialist, (b) as part of a "highly qualified" section of NCLB.
(7) Office of Intellectual Freedom. Banned Book Week will be 9/29 - 10/6/07. You can go to ALA Graphics for resources. http://tinyurl.com/qrqb4
(8) The Emerging Leaders Program. This program takes promising young leaders and works with them to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications for the second round of emerging leaders will be available July 1, 2007, at http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders .Deadline is August 15, 2007. CAL has supported two candidates this year - Nikki Van Thiel and Dianna Fricke. Both of these exciting young librarians attended the Colorado get-together at the Council suite on Saturday night.
(9) Public Information Office. The 2000 libraries selected for the "Pursuit of Happiness Bookshelf" were announced. 23 libraries were selected to receive the "Lewis and Clark" traveling exhibit. Get more information at www.ala.org/publicprograms
(10) American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Early registration deadline for the AASL National Conference is July 6, 2007. This conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 25 - 28.
(11) Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). ACRL has published User Surveys in College Libraries. Ordering information: www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications/books & Monographs / CLIP Notes. ACRL and ARL (Association of Research Libraries) are sponsoring the third Institute on Scholarly Communication in Washington, DC, July 18-20. An ACRL Task Force has begun review of information literacy standards. If there are any questions about the task force or thoughts to share electronically, please send them to Lori Goetsch, Task Force Chair at lgoetsch@ksu.edu
(12) Association for Library Service to Children. (ALSC). A one-time grant has been announced for library doing exceptional outreach to underserved populations. The "Light the Way" grant will be funded by Candlewick Press. The application for this will be available during ALA Midwinter Meeting 2008 in Philadelphia.
(13) Library and Information Technology Association. LITA's tenth National Forum is scheduled for October 4 - 7, 2007 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Denver. Registration has opened. It includes two pre-conferences, 30 concurrent sessions, three general sessions +! Please see: http://www.lita.org/forum07
(14) Public Library Association (PLA). PLA is now accepting applications for its Results Boot Camp 3, a weeklong interactive workshop designed to teach participants practical library management skills. Results Boot Camp 3 is scheduled for October 29 - November 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Early registration ends July 1. Please see http://www.pla.org/ . Registration is now open for the PLA-sponsored Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses. These courses support both the learning outcomes defined in CPLA standards and the principles and practices of the "Results" series. To satisfy CPLA requirements, candidates must complete seven of the nine courses offered including four core courses (Budget and Finance, Management of Technology, Strategic HR, and Planning and Management of Buildings.) You can view the current course schedule and register online at http://www.pla.org/
(15) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA has published Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens. This is available for purchase on Neal-Schuman's website: http://www.neal-schuman.com/ .
(1) The launching of http://ilovelibraries.org/ Please check out this new website where people can learn more about the excitement anad vitality of today's libraries. The website includes feature stories on the great things happening in today's libraries, book reviews, links for viewers to share their story about their library, and much more!
(2)The usability and redesign of the ALA website. This process began in August 2006. The consultants designing the site, UserWorks, will be conducting 18 meetings with 2007 Annual Conference attendees to walk through the "wire frames" and observe their reactions. No date has been announced as to its launch.
(3)Membership. Membership has remained relatively stable - down 1.35% from April 2006. We currently have 66,569 members.
(4) ALA Tech Sources along with ACRL (Assoc. of College and Research Libraries) will hold its first annual Gaming, LEarning and Libraries Symposium in Chicago at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel on July 22 - 23. http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/
(5) ALA Chapters (the State organizations, like CAL - Colorado Association of Libraries) and ALA have joined together to advocate for libraries. The effort will enhance federal, state, and local advocacy through the creation of an online package of legislative tools. In addition, ALA will sponsor workshops at chapter annual conferences. They will be coming to CAL in November to do a half-day workshop on Advocacy. Stay tuned for details!
(6)Office of Government Relations (OGR). IMLS was funded at $253.5M, which was an increase over last year. ($167.5M for State Programs, $3.6M for Native American and Hawaiians, $12.3M fo national leadership grants, $23.7M for Laura Bush recruitment and education programs and $2 for research and analysis.) Improving Literacy Through School Libraries is level funded at $19.1M. With No Child Left Behind(NCLB) reauthorization underway, the Washington Office (WO) is working to include school libraries in these ways: (a) an amendment calling for a school library in every school library in every school headed by a state-certified school library media specialist, (b) as part of a "highly qualified" section of NCLB.
(7) Office of Intellectual Freedom. Banned Book Week will be 9/29 - 10/6/07. You can go to ALA Graphics for resources. http://tinyurl.com/qrqb4
(8) The Emerging Leaders Program. This program takes promising young leaders and works with them to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications for the second round of emerging leaders will be available July 1, 2007, at http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders .Deadline is August 15, 2007. CAL has supported two candidates this year - Nikki Van Thiel and Dianna Fricke. Both of these exciting young librarians attended the Colorado get-together at the Council suite on Saturday night.
(9) Public Information Office. The 2000 libraries selected for the "Pursuit of Happiness Bookshelf" were announced. 23 libraries were selected to receive the "Lewis and Clark" traveling exhibit. Get more information at www.ala.org/publicprograms
(10) American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Early registration deadline for the AASL National Conference is July 6, 2007. This conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 25 - 28.
(11) Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). ACRL has published User Surveys in College Libraries. Ordering information: www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications/books & Monographs / CLIP Notes. ACRL and ARL (Association of Research Libraries) are sponsoring the third Institute on Scholarly Communication in Washington, DC, July 18-20. An ACRL Task Force has begun review of information literacy standards. If there are any questions about the task force or thoughts to share electronically, please send them to Lori Goetsch, Task Force Chair at lgoetsch@ksu.edu
(12) Association for Library Service to Children. (ALSC). A one-time grant has been announced for library doing exceptional outreach to underserved populations. The "Light the Way" grant will be funded by Candlewick Press. The application for this will be available during ALA Midwinter Meeting 2008 in Philadelphia.
(13) Library and Information Technology Association. LITA's tenth National Forum is scheduled for October 4 - 7, 2007 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Denver. Registration has opened. It includes two pre-conferences, 30 concurrent sessions, three general sessions +! Please see: http://www.lita.org/forum07
(14) Public Library Association (PLA). PLA is now accepting applications for its Results Boot Camp 3, a weeklong interactive workshop designed to teach participants practical library management skills. Results Boot Camp 3 is scheduled for October 29 - November 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Early registration ends July 1. Please see http://www.pla.org/ . Registration is now open for the PLA-sponsored Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses. These courses support both the learning outcomes defined in CPLA standards and the principles and practices of the "Results" series. To satisfy CPLA requirements, candidates must complete seven of the nine courses offered including four core courses (Budget and Finance, Management of Technology, Strategic HR, and Planning and Management of Buildings.) You can view the current course schedule and register online at http://www.pla.org/
(15) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA has published Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens. This is available for purchase on Neal-Schuman's website: http://www.neal-schuman.com/ .
ALA Annual 2007
ALA-APA Informational Meeting June 24, 2007
This organization provides information on salaries and benefits in our libraries and is the official body that can certify individuals (ALA is a 501C3 and cannot do this.) There is a salary tooklit on the ALA-APA website http://www.ala-apa.org/ . You can use this to help your library administration make the case for increasing salaries for librarians and library workers. You can support this organization by purchasing their salary surveys available at http://cs.ala.org/websurvey/salarysalary/salarysurveyform/form.cfm for $30. Every councilor is expected to support this organization via a personal donation. If you're interested in joining an open forum for ALA members who want to discuss salary issues, please go to http://moneytalks-subscribe@ala-apa.org .
This organization provides information on salaries and benefits in our libraries and is the official body that can certify individuals (ALA is a 501C3 and cannot do this.) There is a salary tooklit on the ALA-APA website http://www.ala-apa.org/ . You can use this to help your library administration make the case for increasing salaries for librarians and library workers. You can support this organization by purchasing their salary surveys available at http://cs.ala.org/websurvey/salarysalary/salarysurveyform/form.cfm for $30. Every councilor is expected to support this organization via a personal donation. If you're interested in joining an open forum for ALA members who want to discuss salary issues, please go to http://moneytalks-subscribe@ala-apa.org .
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
IMLS Grant Announcements
ALA has received three IMLS grants. They are for:
(1) additional Spectrum Scholarships,
(2)development of the support staff certification program, and
(3)the creation of an online resource center for library cultural programming.
Here is the URL for the IMLS site and some additional details: http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/061907_list.shtmAmerican
(1) Project Title: "Reach 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century Library Leadership"Building on the success of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for ethnically and racially underrepresented students attending graduate library and information science programs,the American Library Association will initiate *REACH 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century LibraryLeadership.* The project will foster the recruitment, matriculation, and early career development of 150 minority students in master*s-level library and information science programs; provide mentoring and coaching of sixty additional students from underrepresented backgrounds; establish a formal, year-long mentoring program that will leverage community and support networks and aide ducational and early career retention; and create an outreach services component.
(2)Contact: Ms. Nancy Bolt, Project Director - Congratulations, Nancy!
Project Title: "Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP)"The American Library Association, in partnership with the Western Council of State Librarians, will develop a national voluntary certification program for support staff in rural or small town public and academic libraries. Needs assessments for the last fifteen years have called for a national, standardized certification program for library support staff. The three-year project will result in a set of
core competencies and policies and procedures. It will provide alternative options for assessing current knowledge of the field and experience for non-traditionally trained library staff. The resulting plan will be tested in five sites and will be sustained by ALA.
(3) Project Title: "The Online Resource Center for Library CulturalProgramming: A Web-Based Professional Development Space for Librarians"The American Library Association*s Public Programs Office will create and administer the Online Resource Center for Library Cultural Programming (ORC), a professional development Web site to help librarians find authoritative resources for cultural programming, and will train librarians in cultural programming techniques. The ORC will organize and make accessible through links and online documents a wide array of national cultural program information and training tools, and provide access to successful "turnkey" programs developed by cultural organizations such as state humanities councils, thus extending the value of the original investment in the programs. The ORC will be particularly useful for librarians in small rural libraries who rarely can attend conferences and have little professional development funding. The three-year project includes a major evaluation of the Web site by librarians, educators, and students.
Another project of interest is the following:
Denver Public Library – Denver, CO Amount: $988,518 Building upon an earlier IMLS-funded project, the Denver Public Library will partner with REFORMA-Colorado and the University of Denver (DU) to further develop and refine the Future LEADers of America scholarship program in order to increase community access to libraries. The project will provide full scholarships for eighteen racially and linguistically diverse students to earn master’s degrees in library science at DU. Participants will sign an agreement stating their willingness to work in the public library field for at least three years beyond the program. By increasing the number of minority and bilingual public librarians, the LEADers II project will improve library services to underserved populations.
(1) additional Spectrum Scholarships,
(2)development of the support staff certification program, and
(3)the creation of an online resource center for library cultural programming.
Here is the URL for the IMLS site and some additional details: http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/061907_list.shtmAmerican
(1) Project Title: "Reach 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century Library Leadership"Building on the success of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships for ethnically and racially underrepresented students attending graduate library and information science programs,the American Library Association will initiate *REACH 21: Preparing the Next Generation of Librarians for 21st Century LibraryLeadership.* The project will foster the recruitment, matriculation, and early career development of 150 minority students in master*s-level library and information science programs; provide mentoring and coaching of sixty additional students from underrepresented backgrounds; establish a formal, year-long mentoring program that will leverage community and support networks and aide ducational and early career retention; and create an outreach services component.
(2)Contact: Ms. Nancy Bolt, Project Director - Congratulations, Nancy!
Project Title: "Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP)"The American Library Association, in partnership with the Western Council of State Librarians, will develop a national voluntary certification program for support staff in rural or small town public and academic libraries. Needs assessments for the last fifteen years have called for a national, standardized certification program for library support staff. The three-year project will result in a set of
core competencies and policies and procedures. It will provide alternative options for assessing current knowledge of the field and experience for non-traditionally trained library staff. The resulting plan will be tested in five sites and will be sustained by ALA.
(3) Project Title: "The Online Resource Center for Library CulturalProgramming: A Web-Based Professional Development Space for Librarians"The American Library Association*s Public Programs Office will create and administer the Online Resource Center for Library Cultural Programming (ORC), a professional development Web site to help librarians find authoritative resources for cultural programming, and will train librarians in cultural programming techniques. The ORC will organize and make accessible through links and online documents a wide array of national cultural program information and training tools, and provide access to successful "turnkey" programs developed by cultural organizations such as state humanities councils, thus extending the value of the original investment in the programs. The ORC will be particularly useful for librarians in small rural libraries who rarely can attend conferences and have little professional development funding. The three-year project includes a major evaluation of the Web site by librarians, educators, and students.
Another project of interest is the following:
Denver Public Library – Denver, CO Amount: $988,518 Building upon an earlier IMLS-funded project, the Denver Public Library will partner with REFORMA-Colorado and the University of Denver (DU) to further develop and refine the Future LEADers of America scholarship program in order to increase community access to libraries. The project will provide full scholarships for eighteen racially and linguistically diverse students to earn master’s degrees in library science at DU. Participants will sign an agreement stating their willingness to work in the public library field for at least three years beyond the program. By increasing the number of minority and bilingual public librarians, the LEADers II project will improve library services to underserved populations.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Upcoming Council Business
There is always a flurry of activity on the listservs and blogs about ALA governance before the conferences. Although this is only my second conference as ALA Chapter Councilor, it is obvious that there has been an ongoing discussion about whether Council should take up "social issues" business. I have only heard from about 5 folks from Colorado libraries on their opinions on this - 4 did not want me to vote on non-library issues, and 1 person did. As I am also a representative of CAL, their stand on this is important to me too. I see my role as a representative of library staff in Colorado and will tend to use other venues besides Council to work on social issues of importance to me (and libraries). If a social issue arises that is clearly involved with libraries, I will take a stand on it, if not I will abstain from voting. There is still a lot of dissatisfaction with how ALA is governed. Here is some discussion on the freerangelibrarian blog.
http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/05/29/ala-what-is-to-be-done/
As of today, there are only a few resolutions that have been proposed. One calls for Congress to fully fund the National Library Service's digitization project, and the other calls for support for school libraries by passing a resolution that urges the inclusion of school library media specialists in the "highly qualified" category of "No Child Left Behind." Discussion has also started on another resolution of end the war in Iraq, but no formal resolution has been introduced.
One other bit of news - ALA will be showcasing representative possibilities for a new website design during the annual conference. There will be kiosks that will display wireframes (rough sketches) that are intended to gain feedback on the information architecture, navigation approach, and basic layout. So redesign is moving forward. Hope to see you at the Council suite on Saturday night between 6 - 7:30 (See previous post.)
http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/05/29/ala-what-is-to-be-done/
As of today, there are only a few resolutions that have been proposed. One calls for Congress to fully fund the National Library Service's digitization project, and the other calls for support for school libraries by passing a resolution that urges the inclusion of school library media specialists in the "highly qualified" category of "No Child Left Behind." Discussion has also started on another resolution of end the war in Iraq, but no formal resolution has been introduced.
One other bit of news - ALA will be showcasing representative possibilities for a new website design during the annual conference. There will be kiosks that will display wireframes (rough sketches) that are intended to gain feedback on the information architecture, navigation approach, and basic layout. So redesign is moving forward. Hope to see you at the Council suite on Saturday night between 6 - 7:30 (See previous post.)
Sunday, June 3, 2007
National Library Legislative Day
This blurb is taken from District Dispatch News for Librarians and Friends of Libraries from the ALA Washington Office. Think about getting involved next year!
"May 1 and 2, 2007, marked the 33rd Annual National Library Legislative Day events. This year, over 420 participants from 47 states came to Washington, DC, to speak with their Members of Congress about the needs of libraries in the areas of funding, telecommunications, copyright, privacy and government information."..." The two-day event concluded with a Congressional reception on the evening of May 2 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, during which Friends of Libraries U.S.A. presented an award to Sen. Susan Collins (ME) for her work in support of libraries.
Pictures from National Library Legislative Day can be found on the ALA Washington Office’s Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alawash
National Library Legislative Day 2008 will be on May 13 and 14.
National Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, the District of Columbia Library Association, the Special Libraries Association and the American Library Association.
"May 1 and 2, 2007, marked the 33rd Annual National Library Legislative Day events. This year, over 420 participants from 47 states came to Washington, DC, to speak with their Members of Congress about the needs of libraries in the areas of funding, telecommunications, copyright, privacy and government information."..." The two-day event concluded with a Congressional reception on the evening of May 2 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, during which Friends of Libraries U.S.A. presented an award to Sen. Susan Collins (ME) for her work in support of libraries.
Pictures from National Library Legislative Day can be found on the ALA Washington Office’s Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alawash
National Library Legislative Day 2008 will be on May 13 and 14.
National Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, the District of Columbia Library Association, the Special Libraries Association and the American Library Association.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
ALA Annual in Washington, D.C. Coming Soon!
ALA Annual is June 23-26 with lots of pre-conferences on the 22nd. I have been able to reserve the Council Suite on Saturday, June 23 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. for anyone from Colorado who would like to get together. We will also celebrate with Diana Reese for winning ASCLA's Exceptional Service award. Here's the address:
Presidential Suite/ Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-393-1000
Please let me know (swalchak@clicweb.org or 719-650-1090)if you're able to join us at the Council suite on Saturday night.
Council's three meetings at Annual are all located in the Washington Convention Center Ballroom at these times.
Council I - Sunday - 10:45 - 12:15
Council II - Tuesday - 9:15 - 12:45
Council III - Wednesday - 8 - 12:30.
ALA-APA Meeting is Monday from 10:15 - 11:15.
Please let me know about any communications you would like me to convey to Council.
Thanks!
Shelley
Presidential Suite/ Capital Hilton
1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-393-1000
Please let me know (swalchak@clicweb.org or 719-650-1090)if you're able to join us at the Council suite on Saturday night.
Council's three meetings at Annual are all located in the Washington Convention Center Ballroom at these times.
Council I - Sunday - 10:45 - 12:15
Council II - Tuesday - 9:15 - 12:45
Council III - Wednesday - 8 - 12:30.
ALA-APA Meeting is Monday from 10:15 - 11:15.
Please let me know about any communications you would like me to convey to Council.
Thanks!
Shelley
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Nominate a Colleague for ALA
The ALA 2008 Nominating Committee is soliciting nominees to run on the
2008 spring ballot for the offices of ALA President-elect and Councilor-at-large.
The Nominating Committee will select two candidates to run for President-elect and no fewer than 51 candidates for the 34 at-large Council seats to be filled in the 2008 spring election.
The President-elect will serve a three-year term: as President-elect in 2008-2009, as President in 2009-2010, and as Immediate Past President in 2010-2011.
The Councilors-at-large will serve three-year terms, beginning after the 2008 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2011 Annual Conference.
The ALA President and Councilors also serve in corresponding roles in the ALA-Allied Professional Association [ALA-APA]. Individuals considering ALA-APA office are encouraged to consult with their employer regarding any restrictions regarding lobbying activities or service on the governing body of a 501(c)6 organization.
Members who wish to make nominations should submit the following
information: nominee name; present position; institution; address; telephone; fax; and e-mail address. Self-nominations are encouraged.
All potential nominees must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates/
Nominations and forms must be received no later than September 1, 2007.
Nominations may be sent to any member of the 2008 Nominating Committee.
One of the Committee members is Nancy Bolt. She can be contacted at: nancybolt@earthlink.net.
2008 spring ballot for the offices of ALA President-elect and Councilor-at-large.
The Nominating Committee will select two candidates to run for President-elect and no fewer than 51 candidates for the 34 at-large Council seats to be filled in the 2008 spring election.
The President-elect will serve a three-year term: as President-elect in 2008-2009, as President in 2009-2010, and as Immediate Past President in 2010-2011.
The Councilors-at-large will serve three-year terms, beginning after the 2008 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2011 Annual Conference.
The ALA President and Councilors also serve in corresponding roles in the ALA-Allied Professional Association [ALA-APA]. Individuals considering ALA-APA office are encouraged to consult with their employer regarding any restrictions regarding lobbying activities or service on the governing body of a 501(c)6 organization.
Members who wish to make nominations should submit the following
information: nominee name; present position; institution; address; telephone; fax; and e-mail address. Self-nominations are encouraged.
All potential nominees must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates/
Nominations and forms must be received no later than September 1, 2007.
Nominations may be sent to any member of the 2008 Nominating Committee.
One of the Committee members is Nancy Bolt. She can be contacted at: nancybolt@earthlink.net.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
ALA Election Results
Election results are in! Jim Rettig will be ALA President for 2008 - 9.
Full election results can also be found on the ALA web site at: http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/electioninfo/election2007.htm
or by clicking on the 2007 ALA Election Results icon at the bottom right of the ALA home page.
Congratulations to the following Coloradoans elected:
Janet Swan Hill, ALA Councilor-at-Large
Catherine Murray-Rust, ALA Councilor-at-Large
Valerie Horton, ASCLA Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking Section, Member-at-Large
Teri Switzer, LAMA Human Resources Section, Member-at-Large
If I neglected to highlight any other Coloradoans, please let me know or add to the comments section of this post.
Full election results can also be found on the ALA web site at: http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/electioninfo/election2007.htm
or by clicking on the 2007 ALA Election Results icon at the bottom right of the ALA home page.
Congratulations to the following Coloradoans elected:
Janet Swan Hill, ALA Councilor-at-Large
Catherine Murray-Rust, ALA Councilor-at-Large
Valerie Horton, ASCLA Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking Section, Member-at-Large
Teri Switzer, LAMA Human Resources Section, Member-at-Large
If I neglected to highlight any other Coloradoans, please let me know or add to the comments section of this post.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Voting Ends April 24th; Check out the ALA Annual Report
Don't forget that April 24th is the last day to vote in the ALA Election!
Also, check out ALA's Annual Report. This is the seventh year the annual report has been available on the Web. It may be found at www.ala.org/annualreport.
Also, check out ALA's Annual Report. This is the seventh year the annual report has been available on the Web. It may be found at www.ala.org/annualreport.
National Library Week (April 15 - 21)
It's National Library Week (April 15 - 21)!
This year's theme is "Come together @ your library," and libraries are looking more like social hotspots. Unlike bookstores and cyber cafés, libraries offer free access to technologies including wireless Internet access, laptops for in-library use, 24/7 online reference help, e-books, blogs, Wikis and downloadable MP3s.
Some events going on during National Library Week include:
"Step Up to the Plate @ your library" national launch, April 15. America's favorite pastimes - baseball and libraries - team up for literacy. Kids and young adults between the ages 9 to 18 years of age are invited to go to their library from April 15 to September 1, 2007, pick out a baseball book and submit an essay on how their favorite character inspired them. One grand-prize winner will receive a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in October 2007. More information on "Step Up to the Plate @ your library," developed by ALA and the Hall of Fame, can be found at www.ala.org/baseball.
The release of ALA's State of America's Libraries Report, April 16. The report details both the positive impact libraries and librarians have on the millions of people who use them and the various challenges libraries face.
National Library Workers Day (NLWD), April 17. The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA), an organization that advocates for improving the salaries and status of librarians and support staff, also is sponsoring its third annual National Library Workers Day (NLWD). This national observance is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers - including librarians, support staff and others.
If you need some ideas to celebrate National Library Week, check out this link at ALA:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/campaignamericas.htm
This year's theme is "Come together @ your library," and libraries are looking more like social hotspots. Unlike bookstores and cyber cafés, libraries offer free access to technologies including wireless Internet access, laptops for in-library use, 24/7 online reference help, e-books, blogs, Wikis and downloadable MP3s.
Some events going on during National Library Week include:
"Step Up to the Plate @ your library" national launch, April 15. America's favorite pastimes - baseball and libraries - team up for literacy. Kids and young adults between the ages 9 to 18 years of age are invited to go to their library from April 15 to September 1, 2007, pick out a baseball book and submit an essay on how their favorite character inspired them. One grand-prize winner will receive a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in October 2007. More information on "Step Up to the Plate @ your library," developed by ALA and the Hall of Fame, can be found at www.ala.org/baseball.
The release of ALA's State of America's Libraries Report, April 16. The report details both the positive impact libraries and librarians have on the millions of people who use them and the various challenges libraries face.
National Library Workers Day (NLWD), April 17. The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA), an organization that advocates for improving the salaries and status of librarians and support staff, also is sponsoring its third annual National Library Workers Day (NLWD). This national observance is a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers - including librarians, support staff and others.
If you need some ideas to celebrate National Library Week, check out this link at ALA:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/campaign/campaignamericas.htm
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
It's Time to Vote! Check out the Colorado Candidates.
ATTENTION! All ALA Members! Voting is Important! Please consider one or all of the Colorado candidates running for office (please see below for their names and a link to biographical information.)
The last day to vote in the ALA election is April 24th. You should have received an email with information on how to vote online. Here are some telephone numbers if you are having any trouble:
For technical support call 866-909-3549 or mailto:2007electionhelp@alavote.org
For other questions, call 800-545-2433 press 5 or mailto:membership@ala.org
Larry Grieco, Library Director
Gilpin County Public Library District
Black Hawk, CO
Janet Swan Hill, Assoc Dir., Technical Services
Univ Colorado Libraries
Boulder, CO
Catherine L. Murray-Rust, Dean of Libraries
Colorado State University Libraries
Morgan LibraryFort Collins, CO
Clara Sitter, Associate Clinical Professor
University of Denver
Denver, CO
Here’s a link to the biographical information on the candidates.
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/electioninfo/2007CandidateBiograhicalInfo.pdf
Shelley, ALA Chapter Councilor
The last day to vote in the ALA election is April 24th. You should have received an email with information on how to vote online. Here are some telephone numbers if you are having any trouble:
For technical support call 866-909-3549 or mailto:2007electionhelp@alavote.org
For other questions, call 800-545-2433 press 5 or mailto:membership@ala.org
Larry Grieco, Library Director
Gilpin County Public Library District
Black Hawk, CO
Janet Swan Hill, Assoc Dir., Technical Services
Univ Colorado Libraries
Boulder, CO
Catherine L. Murray-Rust, Dean of Libraries
Colorado State University Libraries
Morgan LibraryFort Collins, CO
Clara Sitter, Associate Clinical Professor
University of Denver
Denver, CO
Here’s a link to the biographical information on the candidates.
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceb/electioninfo/2007CandidateBiograhicalInfo.pdf
Shelley, ALA Chapter Councilor
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Diana Reese, Colorado State Library, Receives ASCLA Exceptional Service Award
For Immediate Release Contact: Eileen Hardy
March 13, 2007 Marketing Specialist
312-280-4398
ehardy@ala.org
Diana Reese receives ASCLA Exceptional Service Award
CHICAGO — Diana Reese, institutional library services coordinator, Colorado State Library, Salida (Colo.), is the 2007 recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Exceptional Service Award.
The ASCLA Exceptional Service Award is a citation to recognize exceptional service to patients and inmates; the homebound; medical, nursing and other professional staff in hospitals; and inmates, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity and significant research. The award is presented by ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
“As a state library consultant to libraries serving incarcerated persons, Diana Reese has helped develop some of the best institutional library facilities in the country,” said Ruth O’Donnell, ASCLA awards committee chair. “Working through periods of financial cutbacks as well as better times, she has kept a positive attitude and worked very hard to assure continuing access to libraries for offenders because she believes in the importance of library services in educating and encouraging them to improve their lives.”
“Diana’s 2005 study of the impact of correctional libraries on academic pursuits confirms her belief and provides strong support for this service around the nation.”
The award will be presented during the ASCLA President’s Program, “Is Your Information Technology Accessible? Section 508 and Libraries,” on June 25, 2007, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
Don't forget to check out the ASLCA homepage: www.ala.org/ascla
March 13, 2007 Marketing Specialist
312-280-4398
ehardy@ala.org
Diana Reese receives ASCLA Exceptional Service Award
CHICAGO — Diana Reese, institutional library services coordinator, Colorado State Library, Salida (Colo.), is the 2007 recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Exceptional Service Award.
The ASCLA Exceptional Service Award is a citation to recognize exceptional service to patients and inmates; the homebound; medical, nursing and other professional staff in hospitals; and inmates, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity and significant research. The award is presented by ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
“As a state library consultant to libraries serving incarcerated persons, Diana Reese has helped develop some of the best institutional library facilities in the country,” said Ruth O’Donnell, ASCLA awards committee chair. “Working through periods of financial cutbacks as well as better times, she has kept a positive attitude and worked very hard to assure continuing access to libraries for offenders because she believes in the importance of library services in educating and encouraging them to improve their lives.”
“Diana’s 2005 study of the impact of correctional libraries on academic pursuits confirms her belief and provides strong support for this service around the nation.”
The award will be presented during the ASCLA President’s Program, “Is Your Information Technology Accessible? Section 508 and Libraries,” on June 25, 2007, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC.
Don't forget to check out the ASLCA homepage: www.ala.org/ascla
Bookapalooza Program from ALSC
ALSC announces Bookapalooza Program to give away books!! http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/bookapaloozaprogram.htm
CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that applications now are being accepted for its new Bookapalooza Program. The program will offer select libraries a collection of materials that will help transform their collection and provide the opportunity for these materials to be used in their community in creative and innovative ways. The program aligns with ALSCs core purpose of creating a better future for all children through libraries.The deadline for receipt of applications is April 15, 2007.Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly published books, videos, audiobooks, and recordings from childrens trade publishers. The materials are primarily for children age birth through 14 and are submitted to ALSC award and media evaluation selection committees for award and notables consideration. The Bookapalooza Program was created to find new homes for these materials once the award and notables selection process is completed for the year.ALSC will select three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of materials, published in 2006, to be used in a way that creatively enhances each librarys service to children and families. For the pilot year, libraries must be located in the United States and the applicant must be a personal member of ALSC.Details and applications are available on the ALSC Web site at http://www.ala.org/alsc click on "Awards and Scholarships." The ALSC Executive Committee will review applications. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2007.The Association for Library Service to Children is a network of more than 4,000 children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members, and other adults committed to improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families, and others who work with children.
CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce that applications now are being accepted for its new Bookapalooza Program. The program will offer select libraries a collection of materials that will help transform their collection and provide the opportunity for these materials to be used in their community in creative and innovative ways. The program aligns with ALSCs core purpose of creating a better future for all children through libraries.The deadline for receipt of applications is April 15, 2007.Each year the ALSC office receives almost 3,000 newly published books, videos, audiobooks, and recordings from childrens trade publishers. The materials are primarily for children age birth through 14 and are submitted to ALSC award and media evaluation selection committees for award and notables consideration. The Bookapalooza Program was created to find new homes for these materials once the award and notables selection process is completed for the year.ALSC will select three libraries to receive a Bookapalooza collection of materials, published in 2006, to be used in a way that creatively enhances each librarys service to children and families. For the pilot year, libraries must be located in the United States and the applicant must be a personal member of ALSC.Details and applications are available on the ALSC Web site at http://www.ala.org/alsc click on "Awards and Scholarships." The ALSC Executive Committee will review applications. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2007.The Association for Library Service to Children is a network of more than 4,000 children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members, and other adults committed to improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families, and others who work with children.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
ALA Elections Open this Week!
Here's the calendar for ALA elections. I have not found out who in Colorado is running, but I'll put out an announcement ASAP.
March 15, 2007
Ballot mailing begins; election polls are open. (Complies with Article III, Sec. 4(b), wherein ballots must be mailed at least six weeks prior to the Annual Conference.)
April 24, 2006
Polls close at 11:59 p.m. CST.
May 1, 2007
Certification of election results by Election Committee.
Candidates notified and elections results report distributed.
March 15, 2007
Ballot mailing begins; election polls are open. (Complies with Article III, Sec. 4(b), wherein ballots must be mailed at least six weeks prior to the Annual Conference.)
April 24, 2006
Polls close at 11:59 p.m. CST.
May 1, 2007
Certification of election results by Election Committee.
Candidates notified and elections results report distributed.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
John Cotton Dana Award to Douglas County
Congratulations to Douglas County Libraries on winning the John Cotton Dana Award!
SEATTLE – Seven libraries are winners of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations. This award, jointly sponsored by the H.W. Wilson Company and the H.W. Wilson Foundation, Bronx, N.Y., with the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has been awarded continuously since 1946.
One of the 2007 awards will be presented to:
Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock, Colo. for “Page to Stage Productions.” The library used the unique power of live theater connected with children’s literature as an outreach tool. A professional production based on James Marshall’s popular book, “Miss Nelson is Missing,” reached over 10,000 children in schools and libraries throughout the county, driving up summer reading participation by 10 percent and doing it all for a cost of less than $1 per audience member.
SEATTLE – Seven libraries are winners of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations. This award, jointly sponsored by the H.W. Wilson Company and the H.W. Wilson Foundation, Bronx, N.Y., with the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has been awarded continuously since 1946.
One of the 2007 awards will be presented to:
Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock, Colo. for “Page to Stage Productions.” The library used the unique power of live theater connected with children’s literature as an outreach tool. A professional production based on James Marshall’s popular book, “Miss Nelson is Missing,” reached over 10,000 children in schools and libraries throughout the county, driving up summer reading participation by 10 percent and doing it all for a cost of less than $1 per audience member.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
The Higher Power of Lucky - Part 3
There is still lots of discussion about the Higher Power of Lucky. Here is a link to an interview done on NPR with author, Susan Patron.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7644587
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7644587
Friday, February 23, 2007
The Higher Power of Lucky - Part 2
Here is some really good writing by Susie Bright on the controversy over the Newbery Award book, The Higher Power of Lucky, on her blog:
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/48320/
Squeamish school librarians, screaming at a single word they deemed "offensive," have put the screws to a scrumptious award-winning children's book called, of all things, The Higher Power of Lucky.
Have our public-knowledge custodians lost their scruples?
With One Word, Children's Book Sets Off Uproar
by Julie Bosman
The word "scrotum" does not often appear in polite conversation. Or children's literature, for that matter ...
Yet there it is on the first page of The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, this year's winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children's literature. The book's heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.
"'Scrotum' sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much," the book continues. "It sounded medical and secret, but also important."
The inclusion of the word has shocked some school librarians, who have pledged to ban the book from elementary schools, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in children's books ...
"This book included what I call a Howard-Stern-type shock treatment just to see how far they could push the envelope, but they didn't have the children in mind," Dana Nilsson, a teacher and librarian in Durango, Colo., wrote on LM_Net, a mailing list that reaches more than 16,000 school librarians. "How very sad."...
Andrea Koch, the librarian at French Road Elementary School in Brighton, N.Y., said she anticipated angry calls from parents if she ordered it. "I don't think our teachers, or myself, want to do that vocabulary lesson," she said in an interview ...
Ms. Nilsson, reached at Sunnyside Elementary School in Durango, Colo., said she had heard from dozens of librarians who agreed with her stance. "I don't want to start an issue about censorship," she said. "But you won't find men's genitalia in quality literature."
Let's uncover the anatomy of a literary sex panic, shall we?
A couple dozen prudes got squicked-out, starting with the strangely un-investigated Ms. Nilsson, who is leading the tiny parade of shocked citizens. Reporter Bosman and the Times kicked up the rest of the shocking-pink dust, without diligent reporting.
Ms. Nilsson isn't just a "teacher," she's a leader from the Durango Christian Science Church. When the media reports on issues of language or sexual attitudes and customs, it's incumbent on them to inquire about their informant's religious background and how it affects their decision-making. Who cares what Dana Nilsson thinks about librarianship, if her first priority is her Scriptural views of morality?
This story has pushed the Flying Spaghetti Monster envelope. Ever since Kansas ruled against evolution, and our current President encouraged a world-view that was created in seven days, there is a sense among scientific and empirically-minded Americans that our educational system has lost its marbles. These people, including myself, are the majority, not the Sunday School of the Week Club. We're easily alarmed by any evidence that we've have been swallowed into a Jonah's Whale of a fairy tale that never stops spouting off.
The Times' sample of quotes reveal a group of obvious religious conservatives who betray more about their own ignorance, phobias, and lack of library professionalism than they do about the state of the English vocabulary -- in literature or social life.
Anyone who says that "male genitalia are not in quality literature" needs to have their resumé examined. What's more, this is hardly the first time that the word "scrotum" has appeared in children's books. Think again, Ms. Bosman!
Children's libraries, librarians, and authors are being smeared in stories like these. Children's Lit is a field that includes the greatest writers of all time, speaking on every topic, with every nuance of language. I'm sure E.B. White is turning over in his grave to contemplate this canard, one that Templeton the Rat wouldn't scratch his testes with.
The story ran on the Times front page. At my last view, about 500 people had written into the paper's web site to protest the stink of pre-emptive censorship:
... Most school librarians do not possess a Master of Library Studies -- most are teachers who wound up working in the school library. And doubtless the "librarians" quoted in this article are of a certain political persuasion. Extremely few bona fide (MLS) librarians (e.g. those in public libraries) would ever consider banning this book. -- Posted by Larry McCallum
Librarian Frederick Muller's comment is an example of the selfishness of the opposition: "If I were a third- or fourth-grade teacher, I wouldn't want to have to explain that." If there is one teacher out there who cannot put this book in context for a third-grader because of their own squeamishness over the word "scrotum", then our entire education system has been left behind. What is the right grade for Mr. Muller to teach this book to so he won't be embarrassed of his own human condition? -- Posted by Tom
Back in the 70's when my daughter was in second grade she raised her hand for permission to go to the bathroom. The young first-year teacher asked her if she needed to go "number one or number two." My daughter replied, "Neither, my vagina itches and I need to scratch it, then wash my hands." I received a call from the teacher to discuss my daughter's language in class. I, of course, imagined the worst, as I had often heard some pretty foul language in the schoolyard when I dropped her at school in the mornings. When the teacher told me what my daughter had said I almost laughed out loud; but I very politely asked her what the problem was, as my daughter had answered her question honestly and with the correct anatomical word. She informed me that a lot of parents didn't want their children knowing words like these, and didn't I have some "cute little family name for it." I told her, no, we didn't, and that I thought the whole thing ridiculous. She was not happy with me, and apparently spoke to the school principal who called me the next day to apologize. It was silly then and it is silly now.-- Posted by Constance Ledlow
Most librarians are not tight-lipped prudes, they're courageous front-liners on First Amendment issues. Most families are nonchalant about the daily-observed behavior of their dogs and cats. Parents- who are not in the grips of fundamentalist fever- believe it's helpful for young people to know the correct terms for their own body parts, be they a nose, elbow, vulva, or scrotum.
Yes, some parents are shy. My own mother was too timid to say "vagina" out loud, but she was even more disgusted with the damage done to her as a young girl- "the devil makes you bleed down there because you've sinned," etc.
So she went to the LIBRARY, and got a children's book for me about "how babies are born," one that used perfect English anatomical vocabulary. That was 1968- I wonder if you could find that book at Sunnyside Elementary today.
It's difficult to discuss bodies, sex, and reproduction with anyone, if you fear your own - or believe that an almighty power will strike you down with a word. If Howard Stern is Ms. Nilsson's only exposure to public sexual discussion, she might indeed be distorted. A book like Lucky, that would quietly and kindly inform a young person's point of view, is a nothing less than a Godsend! ...If you'll excuse my French.
The religious right needs to stop breaking everyone's balls -- but the fact that they have, so impressively, in every school system and public forum in the country, has made reasonable thinkers everywhere shake in their boots. Lucky's snakebite is nothing to worry about -- but it is one more venomous nail in the coffin of enlightenment.
http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/48320/
Squeamish school librarians, screaming at a single word they deemed "offensive," have put the screws to a scrumptious award-winning children's book called, of all things, The Higher Power of Lucky.
Have our public-knowledge custodians lost their scruples?
With One Word, Children's Book Sets Off Uproar
by Julie Bosman
The word "scrotum" does not often appear in polite conversation. Or children's literature, for that matter ...
Yet there it is on the first page of The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron, this year's winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children's literature. The book's heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.
"'Scrotum' sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much," the book continues. "It sounded medical and secret, but also important."
The inclusion of the word has shocked some school librarians, who have pledged to ban the book from elementary schools, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in children's books ...
"This book included what I call a Howard-Stern-type shock treatment just to see how far they could push the envelope, but they didn't have the children in mind," Dana Nilsson, a teacher and librarian in Durango, Colo., wrote on LM_Net, a mailing list that reaches more than 16,000 school librarians. "How very sad."...
Andrea Koch, the librarian at French Road Elementary School in Brighton, N.Y., said she anticipated angry calls from parents if she ordered it. "I don't think our teachers, or myself, want to do that vocabulary lesson," she said in an interview ...
Ms. Nilsson, reached at Sunnyside Elementary School in Durango, Colo., said she had heard from dozens of librarians who agreed with her stance. "I don't want to start an issue about censorship," she said. "But you won't find men's genitalia in quality literature."
Let's uncover the anatomy of a literary sex panic, shall we?
A couple dozen prudes got squicked-out, starting with the strangely un-investigated Ms. Nilsson, who is leading the tiny parade of shocked citizens. Reporter Bosman and the Times kicked up the rest of the shocking-pink dust, without diligent reporting.
Ms. Nilsson isn't just a "teacher," she's a leader from the Durango Christian Science Church. When the media reports on issues of language or sexual attitudes and customs, it's incumbent on them to inquire about their informant's religious background and how it affects their decision-making. Who cares what Dana Nilsson thinks about librarianship, if her first priority is her Scriptural views of morality?
This story has pushed the Flying Spaghetti Monster envelope. Ever since Kansas ruled against evolution, and our current President encouraged a world-view that was created in seven days, there is a sense among scientific and empirically-minded Americans that our educational system has lost its marbles. These people, including myself, are the majority, not the Sunday School of the Week Club. We're easily alarmed by any evidence that we've have been swallowed into a Jonah's Whale of a fairy tale that never stops spouting off.
The Times' sample of quotes reveal a group of obvious religious conservatives who betray more about their own ignorance, phobias, and lack of library professionalism than they do about the state of the English vocabulary -- in literature or social life.
Anyone who says that "male genitalia are not in quality literature" needs to have their resumé examined. What's more, this is hardly the first time that the word "scrotum" has appeared in children's books. Think again, Ms. Bosman!
Children's libraries, librarians, and authors are being smeared in stories like these. Children's Lit is a field that includes the greatest writers of all time, speaking on every topic, with every nuance of language. I'm sure E.B. White is turning over in his grave to contemplate this canard, one that Templeton the Rat wouldn't scratch his testes with.
The story ran on the Times front page. At my last view, about 500 people had written into the paper's web site to protest the stink of pre-emptive censorship:
... Most school librarians do not possess a Master of Library Studies -- most are teachers who wound up working in the school library. And doubtless the "librarians" quoted in this article are of a certain political persuasion. Extremely few bona fide (MLS) librarians (e.g. those in public libraries) would ever consider banning this book. -- Posted by Larry McCallum
Librarian Frederick Muller's comment is an example of the selfishness of the opposition: "If I were a third- or fourth-grade teacher, I wouldn't want to have to explain that." If there is one teacher out there who cannot put this book in context for a third-grader because of their own squeamishness over the word "scrotum", then our entire education system has been left behind. What is the right grade for Mr. Muller to teach this book to so he won't be embarrassed of his own human condition? -- Posted by Tom
Back in the 70's when my daughter was in second grade she raised her hand for permission to go to the bathroom. The young first-year teacher asked her if she needed to go "number one or number two." My daughter replied, "Neither, my vagina itches and I need to scratch it, then wash my hands." I received a call from the teacher to discuss my daughter's language in class. I, of course, imagined the worst, as I had often heard some pretty foul language in the schoolyard when I dropped her at school in the mornings. When the teacher told me what my daughter had said I almost laughed out loud; but I very politely asked her what the problem was, as my daughter had answered her question honestly and with the correct anatomical word. She informed me that a lot of parents didn't want their children knowing words like these, and didn't I have some "cute little family name for it." I told her, no, we didn't, and that I thought the whole thing ridiculous. She was not happy with me, and apparently spoke to the school principal who called me the next day to apologize. It was silly then and it is silly now.-- Posted by Constance Ledlow
Most librarians are not tight-lipped prudes, they're courageous front-liners on First Amendment issues. Most families are nonchalant about the daily-observed behavior of their dogs and cats. Parents- who are not in the grips of fundamentalist fever- believe it's helpful for young people to know the correct terms for their own body parts, be they a nose, elbow, vulva, or scrotum.
Yes, some parents are shy. My own mother was too timid to say "vagina" out loud, but she was even more disgusted with the damage done to her as a young girl- "the devil makes you bleed down there because you've sinned," etc.
So she went to the LIBRARY, and got a children's book for me about "how babies are born," one that used perfect English anatomical vocabulary. That was 1968- I wonder if you could find that book at Sunnyside Elementary today.
It's difficult to discuss bodies, sex, and reproduction with anyone, if you fear your own - or believe that an almighty power will strike you down with a word. If Howard Stern is Ms. Nilsson's only exposure to public sexual discussion, she might indeed be distorted. A book like Lucky, that would quietly and kindly inform a young person's point of view, is a nothing less than a Godsend! ...If you'll excuse my French.
The religious right needs to stop breaking everyone's balls -- but the fact that they have, so impressively, in every school system and public forum in the country, has made reasonable thinkers everywhere shake in their boots. Lucky's snakebite is nothing to worry about -- but it is one more venomous nail in the coffin of enlightenment.
The Higher Power of Lucky
By now, most librarians have probably read about the hoopla surrounding the Newbery Award book, The Higher Power of Lucky. The ALA Council listserv has been busy with many councilors voicing their opinions on the absurdity of the fact that this even has become an issue. The New York Times has written quite a bit on this topic, but I have cited below the news release from AP, which seems to have covered the story a bit more objectively. Shelley
Librarians debate use of 'scrotum' in award-winning novel
AP Photos NYET178-179
By HILLEL ITALIEAP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) Yes, controversy sells. Criticism of an award-winning children'sbook over the word "scrotum" has brought Susan Patron's "The Higher Power of Lucky" into the top 40 on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, a member of the judging committee that in January awarded the prestigious Newbery prize to "The Higher Power of Lucky" defended the book against complaints by some children's librarians. "We were impressed by the richness of her language and how clearly she portrayed the environment of her characters. We found it a very distinguished book," Edith Ching, a librarian at the lowerschool of the St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., told The Associated Press during a recent interview."The Higher Power of Lucky" is the story of a 10-year-old girl in rural California and her quest for "Higher Power." The opening chapter includes a passage about a man "who had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked '62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattlesnake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy, on the scrotum."Librarians have been debating whether "scrotum" was an appropriate word for young readers, especially from a book with the Newbery seal. Patron herself is a children's librarian based in Los Angeles and the Newbery was voted on by a 15-member panel that included booksellers, teachers and librarians. Atheneum Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, published "Higher Power' last fall with a modest first printing of 10,000. Early reviews from such library publications as School Library Journal and Booklist did not mention "scrotum", the sac holding a man's testicles, or any other possible problems. Ching said that Newbery judges "were aware the word was there, but were not troubled by it." The controversy took off after a librarian from Durango, Colo., Dana Nilsson, posted a complaint on LM‹Net, a listserv "dedicated to school library media specialists worldwide," and later claimed that she had received some two dozen messages of support. Her remarks were first reported on Feb. 15 by Children's Bookshelf, a newsletter from Publishers Weekly. The book was in the high 600s on Amazon before Nilsson's comments were publicized, but soon jumped into the top 40. Simon & Schuster had already ordered an extra 100,000 copies after the Newbery was announced."I don't know of any booksellers who had an issue with that word, or wouldn't carry it," says Kristen McLean, executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children. "I do feel there's been some frustration that recent Newbery picks have kind of come from out of the blue and haven't had tremendous popular appeal. There's a sense that we're putting too much weight on this award and that Newbery books aren't necessarily the ones customers will love."While "Higher Power" has been defended everywhere from ABC-TV's "The View" to The New York Times' editorial page, finding an actual librarian‹at least one by name ‹ who has banned it can be a challenge.The AP contacted several librarians who had criticized "Higher Power" on LM‹Net. All said they either have it or were still deciding. Even Nilsson, who complained of the book's "Howard Stern-type shock treatment," told the AP that she is carrying it, although she questions whether it was worthy of a Newbery. Nilsson also said that she didn't know of anyone who had refused to stock it.The Newbery guarantees nationwide attention, but few children's books, Newbery or not, receive universal access. Books eligible for the Newbery are those appropriate for "persons of ages up to and including 14," making it highly unlikely that a single book would appeal, or be right for, all potential readers. Michelle Fadlala, director of marketing for education and libraries at Simon &Schuster, noted that some libraries did not purchase the 2005 Newbery winner, Cynthia Kadohata's "Kira-Kira," because they felt that its subject matter -a Japanese family's struggles in the 1950s- was too mature for some readers."Librarians have these discussions all the time about books and ask each other, 'How are you handling this situation,'" says Kathleen Horning, presidentof the Association for Library Service to Children, a division ofthe American Library Association that administers the Newberys. "Even with the Newbery, I wouldn't say that every single library is going to buy every single winner. It mostly has to do with age level. An elementary school library might think the book is too old for its readers, while a middle school library might think it's too young."
Librarians debate use of 'scrotum' in award-winning novel
AP Photos NYET178-179
By HILLEL ITALIEAP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) Yes, controversy sells. Criticism of an award-winning children'sbook over the word "scrotum" has brought Susan Patron's "The Higher Power of Lucky" into the top 40 on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, a member of the judging committee that in January awarded the prestigious Newbery prize to "The Higher Power of Lucky" defended the book against complaints by some children's librarians. "We were impressed by the richness of her language and how clearly she portrayed the environment of her characters. We found it a very distinguished book," Edith Ching, a librarian at the lowerschool of the St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., told The Associated Press during a recent interview."The Higher Power of Lucky" is the story of a 10-year-old girl in rural California and her quest for "Higher Power." The opening chapter includes a passage about a man "who had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked '62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattlesnake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy, on the scrotum."Librarians have been debating whether "scrotum" was an appropriate word for young readers, especially from a book with the Newbery seal. Patron herself is a children's librarian based in Los Angeles and the Newbery was voted on by a 15-member panel that included booksellers, teachers and librarians. Atheneum Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, published "Higher Power' last fall with a modest first printing of 10,000. Early reviews from such library publications as School Library Journal and Booklist did not mention "scrotum", the sac holding a man's testicles, or any other possible problems. Ching said that Newbery judges "were aware the word was there, but were not troubled by it." The controversy took off after a librarian from Durango, Colo., Dana Nilsson, posted a complaint on LM‹Net, a listserv "dedicated to school library media specialists worldwide," and later claimed that she had received some two dozen messages of support. Her remarks were first reported on Feb. 15 by Children's Bookshelf, a newsletter from Publishers Weekly. The book was in the high 600s on Amazon before Nilsson's comments were publicized, but soon jumped into the top 40. Simon & Schuster had already ordered an extra 100,000 copies after the Newbery was announced."I don't know of any booksellers who had an issue with that word, or wouldn't carry it," says Kristen McLean, executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children. "I do feel there's been some frustration that recent Newbery picks have kind of come from out of the blue and haven't had tremendous popular appeal. There's a sense that we're putting too much weight on this award and that Newbery books aren't necessarily the ones customers will love."While "Higher Power" has been defended everywhere from ABC-TV's "The View" to The New York Times' editorial page, finding an actual librarian‹at least one by name ‹ who has banned it can be a challenge.The AP contacted several librarians who had criticized "Higher Power" on LM‹Net. All said they either have it or were still deciding. Even Nilsson, who complained of the book's "Howard Stern-type shock treatment," told the AP that she is carrying it, although she questions whether it was worthy of a Newbery. Nilsson also said that she didn't know of anyone who had refused to stock it.The Newbery guarantees nationwide attention, but few children's books, Newbery or not, receive universal access. Books eligible for the Newbery are those appropriate for "persons of ages up to and including 14," making it highly unlikely that a single book would appeal, or be right for, all potential readers. Michelle Fadlala, director of marketing for education and libraries at Simon &Schuster, noted that some libraries did not purchase the 2005 Newbery winner, Cynthia Kadohata's "Kira-Kira," because they felt that its subject matter -a Japanese family's struggles in the 1950s- was too mature for some readers."Librarians have these discussions all the time about books and ask each other, 'How are you handling this situation,'" says Kathleen Horning, presidentof the Association for Library Service to Children, a division ofthe American Library Association that administers the Newberys. "Even with the Newbery, I wouldn't say that every single library is going to buy every single winner. It mostly has to do with age level. An elementary school library might think the book is too old for its readers, while a middle school library might think it's too young."
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