Do You Want to Present at ALA Annual?

Do you have a great idea for an Annual Conference program but don’t belong to a committee or other group that can plan and produce a program? As part of ALA President Jim Rettig’s “Creating Connections” initiatives, you are invited to submit a proposal for a program to take place at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference July 9-15 in Chicago.
The purpose of a Grassroots Program is:
· To expand opportunity for participation in ALA by giving members who do not belong to committees or boards within ALA an opportunity to plan and produce a program at the Annual Conference
· To provide programs at the Annual Conference that address very current issues by compressing to the greatest degree possible the program planning schedule
· To enrich the variety and quality of programs at the Annual Conference.
Proposals can be submitted by a single ALA personal member or by any group of ALA members who do not serve together on a committee or board within ALA. Proposals can address any topic of interest to ALA members. Proposals must be original; they cannot replicate a program previously presented at an ALA Annual Conference, Midwinter Meeting or national divisional conference. Proposals previously submitted to a committee, board or task force in ALA, one of its divisions or one of its round tables, cannot be resubmitted
Proposals will be judged on:
Relevance of the program’s topic to ALA members and the profession at large
Timelines
Knowledge of proposed speaker(s) on the topic
Originality – i.e., the degree to which the proposed program looks at a topic in a new and fresh way or treats a topic that has not received as much attention as it deserves, either because it is very new or due to some other factor
Proposals can address ALA’s key action areas:
Diversity
Equitable Access to Information and Library Services
Education and Lifelong Learning
Intellectual Freedom
Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession
Literacy
Organizational Excellence or other areas.
A jury will select up to 10 programs to take place during the conference. The jury will be made up of members of the student ALA chapters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UCLA as well as several members of Jim Rettig’s presidential initiatives advisory committee.
Each selected program will be listed in the program book for the 2009 ALA Annual Conference and will be noted as being part of the Grassroots Program Track as a juried program. You are also welcome to publicize your program by whatever means you would like, but please indicate that it is part of the “Grassroots Program Track.”
Each program will be allotted a $500 budget to cover speaker costs or other expenditures.
Additional information and a submission form can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/6ntadq
Deadline for submission is Feb. 6, 2009.

Don Wood
Program Officer
Chapter Relations Office
American Libraries Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60466
dwood@ala.org
1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429

Nominate A Colleague or Library for a PLA Award

Submit an Award Application online by December 15!

PLA Awards honor excellence in public library service by recognizing libraries and individuals whose service to the community is extraordinary. Don't wait until the last minute to apply for a PLA Award! Many awards include cash prizes and are highly competitive.
The deadline for applications is Monday, December 15. All applications must be submitted online prior to the deadline in order to be considered. Apply Online: http://tinyurl.com/5mz8eg

PLA Service Awards:
Advancement of Literacy Award honors a publisher, bookseller, hardware and/or software dealer, foundation, or similar group for a significant contribution to the advancement of literacy. Sponsored by Library Journal.
Allie Beth Martin Award of $3,000 honors a public librarian who has extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books and library materials and the distinguished ability to share that knowledge. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.
Charlie Robinson Award of $1,000 honors a public library director who, over a period of seven years, was a risk-taker, innovator, and change agent in a public library. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.
Ebsco Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award of $1,000 recognizes a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less that demonstrates excellence of service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services.
Gordon M. Conable Award of $1,500 honors a public library staff member, library trustee, or public library that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. Sponsored by LSSI.
Highsmith Library Innovation Award of $2,000 recognizes a public library for achievement in planning and implementing a creative community service program. Sponsored by Highsmith.
Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award of $1,000 and a bouquet of roses for the workplace recognizes the contributions of a library worker, librarian, or library that has used technology and innovative thinking as a tool to improve services to public library users. Sponsored by Polaris.

PLA Grant Opportunities:
Baker & Taylor Entertatinment Audio Music/Video Product Award Grant of $2,500 in audio/music-video products for a proposal that outlines the purpose, benefits, and plan for initiating or expanding a circulating audio music/video collection. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.

Demco New Leaders Travel Grant of up to $1,500, serves to enhance the professional development and improve the expertise of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities. Sponsored by DEMCO.
Visit the Awards Section of the PLA website http://tinyurl.com/6q9daj for full descriptions, application information, and to apply.
Deadline for applications is December 15!

Need Help with Going to ALA Annual - Read on!

Are you looking for funds to help pay for your trip to ALA Annual
2009 in Chicago? Apply by December 15, 2008 for the Shirley Olofson Memorial Award and you may receive a $1000 check to help defray the cost of attendance!
Applicants must:
1. Be a member of ALA and NMRT
2. Be active in the library profession
3. Show promise or activity in the area of professional development 4. Have valid financial need 5. Have attended no more than five ALA annual conferences
To apply, please visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/awolofson/Shirley_Olofson_Award.cfm
***************************************************
Sara
Sara Holder
Education Liaison Librarian
McGill University
(514)398-2763

YALSA's MAE Award for Best Literature Programs for Teens

This award honors a YALSA member for developing an outstanding reading or literature program for young adults. Winners receive $500 and an additional $500 for their libraries. Applications for the MAE Award, along with all of YALSA’s grants and awards, are due to the YALSA office by Dec. 1.
The MAE Award for Best Literature Program for Teens is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust.
Edwards was a well-known and innovative young adult services librarian at Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Md., for more than 30 years. Her trust has supported many initiatives from YALSA, including the Alex Awards for adult books with teen appeal and all five rounds of the Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults project.
Criteria
-The purpose of the reading or literature program must be to bring young adults and books together and to encourage the development of life-long reading habits.
-The program must be specifically designed for and targeted at reaching young adults.
-All or part of the program must have taken place in the twelve months preceding the award deadline date of December 1.
- The applicant must work directly with young adults and be a personal member of the Young Adult Library Services Association.
-Nonwinning entries may be resubmitted in subsequent years if the program is current and ongoing and if a new application that updates the documentation is submitted.
Guidelines
1. All entries must include the application form (PDF) provided by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
2. All applicants must be current personal members of ALA/YALSA at the time the application is submitted.
3. Entries should be models of clarity and completeness.
4. The application should be e-mailed to Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org. Questions can be directed to Nichole at 1.800.545.2433 x 4387.
5. Applications must be received no later than December 1 of the current year.

Contact:
Monique A. le Conge
Director of Library & Cultural Services
and 2008 California Library Association President
Richmond Public Library
325 Civic Center Plaza
Richmond, CA 94804
ph (510) 620-6555
fx (510) 620-6850
monique_leconge@ci.richmond.ca.us

National Medal for Museum and Library Service Award

Nominate your favorite museum or library for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service (formerly the National Award) for their significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The medal includes a $10,000 award to each recipient and an awards ceremony in Washington, DC. Deadline for 2009: February 15, 2009. Read more

The Value of Libraries

ALA is putting together an effort to publicize the value of libraries during these hard times, including national op-eds, requests for additional federal funding, and resources for libraries to help get attention of the media, public, and local government.

Here are some links to some good articles.

http://tinyurl.com/56py9v
http://tinyurl.com/6nwnts
http://tinyurl.com/6owz4p

Links are all working as of today!

American Libraries Online Current Issue Now Available to ALL

Our weekly e-newsletter, American Libraries Direct, is now available to anyone who wants to sign up for it, not just ALA members. The sign-up form, as well as the FAQ, is at http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirect/aldirect.cfm and login is no longer required to view the current issue of the American Libraries print magazine online (in PDF format), or to view the archives, which date back to the January 2003 issue. Go directly to http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/alonlineebrary/alonlineebrary.cfm . First-time viewers will need to install the ebrary reader to view issues. To download, go to http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ala/Download . Firefox 3 users installing the reader for the first time will need a workaround, http://www.ebrary.com/kb/users/ff3install.jsp , to make the ebrary reader work with their browser.