ALA Director's Report-Very Long
EBD # 12.61 |
June 19, 2007
Keith Michael Fiels
Executive Director
Library Day on the Hill at the Annual Conference
The Washington Office-sponsored Library Day on the Hill event promises to be a huge success. Over 900 ALA Annual Conference attendees registered for the event, and several dozen Members of Congress signed up to have READ posters made of themselves. At the center of the event is the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building, which has been reserved for the sole purpose of letting legislators know all about 21st century library services. There will be displays from every discipline to show legislators just what libraries mean to America; from public libraries to school libraries, research libraries to special libraries. A “Parade of Bookmobiles” will also be in DC as part of this event (see the OLOS report for more detail on this).
Usability/Redesign of ALA Website
Work continues on the process begun in August of 2006 to assess the usability of the ALA website and move forward with a redesigned site. Since Midwinter 2007 in Seattle, UserWorks, ALA’s usability consultants, have conducted a card sort and prioritization exercise and an extensive content inventory on three sections of the site (the ALA home page and the sections currently behind the Education & Careers and Awards & Scholarships buttons). They have also drafted information architectures (IAs) for the Education & Careers and Awards sections, and have produced draft wireframes for preview at Annual Conference. There will be two computer kiosks in the registration area of the Washington Convention Center available for people to view – and provide feedback on - the wireframes. UserWorks will also be conducting 18 sessions with Conference attendees to walk through the wireframes and observe their reactions. Comments received will be used to produce draft organizational and graphic redesign possibilities. The progress of the redesign effort can be followed via the Web Editorial blog at http://blogs.ala.org/webplanning and the web planning wiki at http://wikis.ala.org/webplanning/index.php/Current_events.
ilovelibraries.org
Ilovelibraries.org is ALA's new website for the general public, a place where people can learn more about the excitement and vitality of today's libraries, and in the process, become more active library supporters. The website will include:- feature stories on the great things happening in today’s libraries;
- book reviews;
- ways for viewers to share their story about their library or nominate their favorite librarian for “librarian of the year;”
- links to advocacy programs and sites that will allow users to voice their support for libraries.
American Libraries Focus
American Libraries has launched American Libraries Focus, a video component of American Libraries Online, the magazine’s website. Created in conjunction with AL's 100th anniversary this year, AL Focus is designed to add audiovisual coverage to American Libraries print and American Libraries Direct, the weekly membership e-newsletter. First up on the site: Play “Wheel of Confusion,” a lighthearted look at those confounding ALA acronyms. In this game, various staff members spin a wheel that lands on an ALA acronym. The person then tries to guess the meaning of the acronym. If correct, he/she provides the explanation. If incorrect, the video cuts away to ALA’s Librarian, Karen Muller, explaining what it means. This series attempts to show that while ALA can be confusing, we can all learn something even as we poke a little fun at ourselves. AL Focus also offers a series of meet-the-ALA-staff interviews called “ALA in Focus" and short video news reports, including a look at Egypt’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina as it celebrates its fifth anniversary. A satirical introduction to AL's editorial staff titled Magnum, A.L. also is posted. AL Focus is the creation of Associate Editor Daniel Kraus and ALA Internet Development Specialist Jenny Levine. Kraus will be in charge of producing and editing video and audio for the new site.Check out the offerings directly at alfocus.ala.org. Visit www.ala.org/alonline for a look at the American Libraries general website, recently redesigned to reflect the magazine’s new look.
ALCTS Forum on Future of Bibliographic Control
The third in an ongoing series of ALCTS Forums on Bibliographic Control will take place at Annual Conference. The forum is sponsored by the Cataloging and Classification Section (CCS) and will be held in the Renaissance Hotel, Congressional A/B Room. The theme of this forum is the work-to-date of the Library of Congress Working Group on Bibliographic Control, with a particular focus on the public meetings held in March (Mountain View, Calif.) and May (Chicago). Moderated by David Miller (Curry College), CCS Chair, speakers include Dr. José-Marie Griffiths (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Chair of the LC Working Group, Sally Smith (King County Library System), Diane Dates Casey (Governors State University), Greta de Groat (Stanford University) and Michael Norman (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign).Membership
Overall ALA membership in April 2007 stood at 65,673 – down 896 members, or -1.35% from April 2006 (66,569). Based on past experience at the time of the last dues increase, the original projection for Year I of the dues increase was a loss of 6% of the membership, so the loss of only 1.35% indicates that the long-term prospects for member retention during the dues increase are healthy.
A number of initiatives are underway to increase retention and to recruit new members. For example, this spring, membership campaigns associated with attendance at Annual Conference were launched. “Join and Save” programs have proven to be an effective recruitment technique. New ways to promote retention, such as recognizing members at their membership anniversary dates, are also being implemented.
ALA OFFICES
ALA Editions
ALA Editions has had a bumper month of new releases, and looks forward to showing them off along with other recent titles and a bestselling backlist at the ALA Store at Annual Conference.New releases are:
A Good Match, Watson-Boone
http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2335
Managing Library Construction, McCarthy
http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2254
Preschool Favorites, Briggs
http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2338
Analyzing Library Collection Use with Excel, Greiner
http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2251
Whole Digital Library Handbook, Kresh
http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog2&_pn=product_detail&_op=2249
ALA Publishing
AL Direct Selected as Award FinalistAL Direct, the weekly e-newsletter from American Libraries, has been selected as a finalist for an award in “General Excellence in an E-newsletter” from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. At the August 2 awards ceremony in New York AL staff will learn whether they have won first, second, or third place.
ALA TechSource
ALA TechSource, in collaboration with the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), is proud to announce the first annual Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium will be held in Chicago at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel on July 22 - 24.
Gaming and literacy experts James Paul Gee and Henry Jenkins will keynote the event by exploring how libraries fit into the intersection of gaming and the digital learning landscape, while guest speakers Eli Neiburger (author of the 2007 title "Gamers…in the Library?! The Why, What, and How of Videogame Tournaments for All Ages") and Syracuse University Game Lab Director Scott Nicholson will kick off the discussions about why libraries game. Gregory Trefry, a game designer from GameLab, will explore libraries and the concept of "big games," while social computing expert and gamer Liz Lawley will provide context and a broad view.
More than 25 sessions in three tracks will cover such wide-ranging topics as creating games for information literacy, implementing gaming programs, teaching kids how to make their own games, gaming for adults, digital downloads for gamers, online fiction games, and more. In addition, a track dedicated to Second Life will highlight how libraries are creating a presence in this virtual world and what they are gaining from it.
For more information, visit http://gaming.techsource.ala.org/.
ALA Library and Knowledge Management
”Ask ALA” Unveiled at SLA ConferenceALA Librarian Karen Muller unveiled plans for "Ask ALA" as part of the Strategic Technology Demonstration Series at the recent SLA Conference in Denver. "AskALA" will be a means for members and others to send questions to the ALA Library or other ALA staff from the ALA website. The system will ensure that questions will be routed to the best ALA staff person to respond, utilize a growing knowledge base to provide consistent and complete answers, and track the numbers and timeliness of the responses. It is anticipated that "Ask ALA" will begin to be rolled out on a limited, test basis during the summer, with full implementation to be phased in over the coming year.
Chapter Relations Office
(CRO)
ALA and Chapters Join Together to Advocate
ALA and the Chapters are joining together to enhance federal, state, and local advocacy through the creation of a Capwiz XC Affiliates package of online legislative tools. ALA is providing support for two years for this start-up effort which will integrate ALA and 15 Chapters into a unified system to alert supporters of legislative initiatives, and enable them to easily connect with legislators. Until now, ALA and the three Chapters that use online advocacy tools had stand-alone systems. The Chapter Relations Office, the Washington Office, and the new Advocacy Office will be coordinating this effort with the Chapters. The package has been funded as an ALA Ahead to 2010 initiative.
Information Technology(ITTS)
ALA 2.0 and Social Networking
ITTS is now hosting more than 33 blogs using b2evolution software, as well as more than 60 wikis using Mediawiki. With regard to the wikis, special customizations have been added to allow for the integration of Flash videos (such as those from YouTube and instructional screencasts), RSS feeds, and MeeboMe chat widgets.To facilitate communication with the membership, ITTS has purchased two iPods (with microphones), a video camera, and a Mac laptop for editing multimedia files. So far, the video camera and laptop have been used primarily by American Libraries staff, which has resulted in the successful implementation of “AL Focus.”
ALA continues to build its presence in Second Life, led primarily by the Washington Office and RUSA. The internal Second Life Users Group has met intermittently this spring and hopes to refocus after Annual. A mailing list for communication has been created, and a couple of staff members are currently taking the Second Life course from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
ITTS has also begun exploring social network options for the organization. An experimental sandbox has been set up at http://alamembers.ning.com/ in order to get feedback and interact with members in this type of setting. More than 220 users, both ALA members and non-members, have registered.
Technology in the FY 2008 Budget
ALA’s proposed FY 2008 budget includes funding for several important technological enhancements:A social network for ALA. ALA has already begun experimenting with Ning, and 2008 funds will be used to expand on this effort and to implement an ongoing social network.
My ALA. 2008 funds will be used to develop a comprehensive application that will help members manage their interaction with the association.
Website redesign. The FY 2007 work to assess the usability of the ALA website and embark on a redesign will continue into FY 2008. In FY 2008, the information architecture of the site will be established, a new graphic design will be created, the new design for usability will be tested, and the new design will be implemented. Style guidelines that will enhance and assure usability in future iterations of the ALA website will also be developed.
New Usability Officer. As recommended in the usability assessment, ALA has approved the creation of a Chief Usability Officer position for September, 2008. This person will advocate for a culture of user-centered design throughout the organization; participate in product design processes; create usability test plans; develop and administer usability tests; promote usability standards and protocols throughout the organization; champion changes and enhancements that have a direct positive impact on the user experience; assist with quality assurance testing; and co-chair the in-house Web Editorial Board.
Web Enhancements
The in-house Web Editorial Board (WEB), comprised of representatives from a broad range of ALA units, continues to be involved in a number of projects intended to improve the usability of the ALA website. Prior to the 2007 Midwinter Meeting, a wiki called "Read Write Connect" was created to provide a single access point for information about, and links to, ALA's growing number of blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, podcasts, Flickr sites and Second Life avatars. During February, a task group used feedback from the usability study to pull together, realign, and increase the visibility of information on library education and careers. Another task group explored possibilities for making the rich information about ALA's awards more readily accessible to all who seek information on award winners, award criteria, and award procedures. The WEB also planned for a week of focused staff clean up of web pages, the "Extreme Makeover: ALA Edition." Beginning with a kick-off breakfast, web content developers sought out and fixed typos and broken links, deleted obsolete content, updated pages, and completed similar web housekeeping chores.Other work underway as a result of the usability study includes a member "landing page" that will draw together sites and content of interest to members only; a revamped home page to provide better visibility for the changing and current content; and continued development of a “get involved” page with a year-round volunteer form. When "AskALA" is fully developed, the "Frequently Asked Questions" page will be replaced with a dynamic subset from the knowledge base.
The ongoing work of the WEB is reported in a blog, http://blogs.ala.org/webplanning.php, and through a wiki, http://wikis.ala.org/webplanning/index.php/Current_events
International Relations Office
(IRO)
International Librarians Travel to Annual
Over 450 international librarians from 74 countries are expected to attend the Annual Conference this year in Washington, D.C. Twenty programs will focus on how international libraries and librarians are meeting the challenges of today’s changing world.
(OA)
Committee on Accreditation 4th Open Meeting on Standards Update at Annual
The Committee on Accreditation (COA) will hold its 4th open meeting at the Annual Conference in Washington to discuss the proposed update to the 1992 Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies that was released for comment November 17, 2006. The session is being held on Monday, June 25th from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Office for Government Relations
(OGR)
Appropriations
On June 7, the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, with jurisdiction over many library programs, voted to fund in FY 2008 $253,517,000 for IMLS, which was an increase over last year. The bill included $167.5 million for the State Programs, $3.638 million for Native American and Hawaiians, $12.375 million for national leadership grants, $23.76 for Laura Bush recruitment and education programs and $2 million for research and analysis.
Improving Literacy Through School Libraries is level funded at $19.486 million again this year.
On June 12, the Appropriations Committee met and amended the subcommittee
bill to give the Library of Congress’ NLS $12.5 million of the $19.1 million requested for the new technology for Talking Books. The full House is expected to pass the bill very soon.
No Child Left Behind
With No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization underway, the Washington Office (WO) is working to include school librarians in two ways: 1) in an amendment calling for a school library in every school headed by a state-certified school library media specialist, and 2) as part of the “highly qualified” section of NCLB; as well as strengthening the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program.
OGR continues to meet with Congressional staff to ensure ALA’s proposed language is included as part of reauthorization. The WO has been meeting with other education groups in Washington to discuss support for our language. In April, testimony was drafted for a Michigan school librarian to handdeliver to Rep. Dale Kildee at a field hearing for NCLB. In May, during National Library Legislative Day (NLLD), the WO along with all of the youth divisions’ presidents, met with key Congressional staff about the “highly qualified” language. The WO has been providing assistance to Senator Reed’s staff, who are drafting the amendment that will introduce the ALA language.
Federal Libraries Website/WikiThe library community has been concerned with various issues concerning Federal Libraries, but especially threats of closure and adequate funding. A new section on the Washington Office website has been developed along with a wiki to track and share information across a broad coalition of organizations and individuals on threatened federal libraries and strategies to address this issue. The website address is: http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/woissues/governmentinfo/fedlibs/fedlibs.cfm
The wiki address is: http://wikis.ala.org/fedlib/index.php/Main_Page
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment(HRDR)
2008 Emerging Leaders Program Information
The first 2008 Emerging Leaders program will be held on Friday, January 11, 2008 at the 2008 Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia and the second on Friday, June 27, 2008 at the 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim, with Virtual workgroups between the two sessions.
To enable 120 new librarians to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership, the two workshop days include participation in projects, networking with 119 library peers, getting an inside look into ALA structure, and having an opportunity to serve the profession. Regular conference fees apply. There is no additional cost to attend the Friday programs.
Up to 120 participants may attend (60 sponsored and 60 open). They must meet the following requirements:
1) ALA member
2) Under 35 years of age or a new librarian of any age with fewer than 5 years post-MLS experience
3) Recent MLS degree from an ALA or NCATE accredited program or enrolled in an MLS program currently
4) Able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between
5) Ready to commit to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter, or Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program.
Applications will be available online July 1, 2007 at: wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders. Deadline for submission will be August 15, 2007.
Sixty open application candidates will be chosen. Every effort will be made to achieve representation by type of library, geography, and diversity. Sixty sponsored candidates will be chosen by the following formula:
- Divisions and Round tables: 26
- Ethnic affiliates: 10
- Chapters and AASL Affiliates: 24
Each sponsor will contribute $1000 for expenses ($500 each conference) and will choose whether to participate and how much support to offer. A full list of sponsoring units will be included as part of the online application.
Program information will be available and updated at: wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders. For additional questions regarding the program, contact: Lorelle Swader at: lswader@ala.org.
Office for Information Technology Policy
(OITP)
Future of Information Technology and Libraries
OITP hosted a group of 35 experts and library leaders for a daylong conversation about the future of libraries’ use of technology. Panels responded to presentations on a number of topics, including hardware issues, key software applications, the future of library education, information policy, and the wealth of networks. Discussions are currently underway regarding the best way to make the papers, presentations, and discussion available to a wider community.Office for Intellectual Freedom
(OIF)
Banned Books Week
ALA’s annual celebration of the freedom to read‑‑Banned Books Week (BBW),beginning September 29 and continuing through October 6, 2007, marks BBW’s 26th year. BBW once again will emhasize that intellectual freedom is a personal and common responsibility in a democratic society.BBW posters, bookmarks, t-shirts, and other related products—such as the new “I Read Banned Books” tote bag—are being marketed by ALA Graphics (http://tinyurl.com/qrqb4), and will be in the ALA Store during the annual conference. This year’s theme involves pirates; posters use such tag lines as “Treasure Your Freedom to Read” and “Get Hooked on a Banned Book.” To see the BBW posters and OIF’s real live pirate up close at this conference, visit ALA’s booth #2525.
More information on Banned Books Week can be found at http://www.ala.org/bbooks.
Banned Books Week 2007 Read‑Out!
Members are invited to come and celebrate the freedom to read during the 26th annual celebration of Banned Books Week. Join the Office for Intellectual Freedom, McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library in Chicago’s Pioneer Plazaat Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Riveron Saturday, September 29, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, for the Banned Books Week Read‑Out! Several acclaimed authors join local Chicago celebrities to read passages from their favorite banned and "challenged" books. Among those authors currently scheduled to appear are Chris Crutcher, author of Whale Talk; Robie Harris, author of It's Perfectly Normal; Carolyn Mackler, author of The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things; Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, authors of And Tango Makes Three; Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of the Alice Series; and Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn't Know.
National Conversation on Privacy
Progress continues on organizing "The Many Faces of Privacy: A Conversation," the national conversation on privacy, requested by the resolution adopted by ALA Council at the 2006 Annual Conference, "Resolution on National Discussion on Privacy." The resolution asked the Intellectual Freedom Committee to collaborate with other ALA units to hold a national conversation about privacy as an American value. A preliminary planning meeting is scheduled to take place by the end of the fiscal year that will bring together other parties with a demonstrated interest in promoting privacy to invite their participation in the conversation. The planning meeting has been funded as an ALA Ahead to 2010 strategic plan initiative.
FTRF Roll of Honor Award
Lucille C. Thomas, immediate past President of the Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library’s Board of Trustees and former Assistant Director of the New York City Board of Education, Office of Library, Media & Telecommunications, is the recipient of the 2007 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Roll of Honor Award. The award will be presented at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference during its Opening General Session on Saturday, June 23. The Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor was established in 1987 to recognize and honor those individuals who have contributed substantially to the FTRF through adherence to its principles and/or substantial monetary support. For more information, visit http://www.tinyurl.com/yq4t5h.Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
(OLOS)
Bookmobiles at 2007 Annual Conference
Thanks to the vision of the new OLOS Subcommittee on Bookmobiles and support from staff in ALA Conference Services, the Washington Office and OLOS, there will be three events advocating for bookmobile services in libraries across the country:
The Cleveland Public Library bookmobile, hosted by Andrew Venable, Director, will welcome Congressional staff on Tuesday, June 26.
Ten bookmobiles will parade, on Tuesday, June 26, from the Washington Convention Center to Franklin Square were they will welcome the public, hosted by bookmobile staff from:
A Cultural Exchange, Cleveland, OH
Adams County Library, Gettysburg, PA
Harford County Public Library, Bel Air, MD
Maryland Correctional Education Libraries, Baltimore, MD
Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA
Burlington County Library System, Westhampton, NJ
Bibliotheca Inc RFID Library System, Yardley, PA
District of Columbia Public Library, Washington, DC
Wicomico Public Library, Salisbury, MD
Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, MD
Public Information Office
(PIO)
Media Partnership Promoting Libraries to the Hispanic Community
PIO continues to obtain preliminary commitments from libraries in the top 20 markets to participate in a media partnership to promote library services to the Hispanic community through radio and outdoor billboards. To date, 13 libraries in the top 20 markets have indicated interest. The libraries reach five million Spanish-speaking people. The ALA Development Office will be working to find corporate partners to help fund the project.
Libraries that have indicated interest in participating include Albuquerque Public Library, County of Los Angeles, Brownsville (Texas) Public Library, El Paso Public Library, Free Library of Philadelphia, Fresno County Free Library, Greenwich (Conn.) Public Library, Houston Public Library, Maricopa County Library District (Phoenix), Miami Dade Public Library, Sacramento Public Library, San Antonio Public Library and San Diego Public Library.
Advocacy Institute
An Advocacy Institute will be held on Friday, June 22. Appropriate for both beginners and those wishing to brush up on their skills, this workshop will feature sessions on message development, coalition-building, and budgetary issues, as well as an extensive lobbying session. Attendees can network with other library advocates, and will leave with an action plan that they can implement in their communities or campuses. To register, please visit www.ala.org/annual.
The Institute is sponsored by the Advocacy Institute Task Force of the Public Awareness Committee in cooperation with the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA), the Chapter Relations Committee, the Committee on Legislation, and Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA). It is made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
Public Programs Office
(PPO)
2,000 Libraries Selected for We the People Bookshelf on the “Pursuit of Happiness”
The ALA Public Programs Office and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced that they have selected 2,000 school and public libraries throughout the country to receive a collection of 15 classic books from the We the People Bookshelf project. The theme of this year’s Bookshelf is the “Pursuit of Happiness.”
A record 3,150 applications were received for the “Pursuit of Happiness” Bookshelf, and a total of 2,000 libraries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands were selected to receive the grant. The awards were given to public and school libraries, including those in private schools, community colleges, tribal schools and home school consortia. Since 2003, ALA and NEH have awarded We the People Bookshelves to 6,000 public and school libraries.
Please visit www.ala.org/wethepeople for a list of titles included on the “Pursuit of Happiness” Bookshelf, a listing of Bookshelf recipients by state, and further details about the program.
Over 1,500 Libraries Selected for We the People Picturing America™ Pilot Grant Program
The ALA Public Programs Office, in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), is pleased to announce that more than 1,500 schools have been selected to receive Picturing America™, a new grant opportunity for schools and school libraries. For a list of participating schools, visit http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica. A pilot project of the NEH’s We the People program, Picturing America™ was created to promote the teaching, study and understanding of American history and culture in K-12 schools through examples of the nation’s most significant works of art and architecture, and to facilitate interdisciplinary partnerships between school library media specialists, art teachers, classroom instructors and other educators. Picturing America™ will provide a collection of 40 large-scale reproductions of American art on 20 double-sided, laminated posters; related reading lists; and a 125-page resource booklet with information about the paintings, sculpture, architecture, and crafts reproduced. A complete list of Picturing America™ images is available online at http://publicprograms.ala.org/picturingamerica.
In collaboration with ALA, NEH plans to issue a second round of Picturing America™ grants in 2008. Applications will be accepted online from January 7 through March 17, 2008. Further details will be available at http://www.wethepeople.gov in fall 2007.
23 Libraries Selected to Receive “Lewis and Clark” Traveling Exhibit
The ALA Public Programs Office, in cooperation with the Newberry Library, is pleased to announce that 23 public and academic libraries have been selected to host the traveling exhibition, “Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country.” The NEH has provided major funding for the traveling exhibition, with additional support from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“Lewis and Clark and the Indian Country” is based on a major exhibition of the same title, which was on display at the Newberry Library from September 28, 2005 through January 14, 2006. Support for the exhibition at the Newberry Library was provided by the NEH, the Sara Lee Foundation, the National Park Service, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Libraries selected for the tour will host the 1,000 square foot exhibit for a six-week period between October 2007 and November 2011. All showings of the exhibition and related programs will be free and open to the public. To view a list of participating libraries and the exhibit itinerary, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.
20 Libraries Selected to Receive “Benjamin Franklin” Traveling Exhibit
The ALA Public Programs Office, in collaboration with the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, PA, is pleased to announce that 20 public and academic libraries have been selected to host the traveling exhibition, “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.”
The NEH has provided major funding for this traveling exhibition for libraries. “Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World” is based on a major exhibition of the same title, which was on display at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia until April 30, 2006.
Libraries selected for the tour will host the 1,000 square foot exhibit for a six-week period between December 2007 and June 2011. All showings of the exhibition and related programs will be free and open to the public. To view a list of participating libraries and the exhibit itinerary, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.
Support the Cultural Communities Fund by July 31, 2007
The Cultural Communities Fund (CCF) is the first-ever endowment created to support cultural programming for public audiences in all types of libraries nationally. CCF will finance training and continuing education for librarians; programming support for libraries; and national model programs like "Let's Talk About It" - a scholar-led thematic book discussion program, traveling exhibitions on topics from Duke Ellington to Frankenstein, documentary film discussion, poetry programming, music performance and appreciation, and powerful citizen dialogue forums on current issues.Funds raised for CCF will be matched by the terms of a Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The Public Programs Office is asking the ALA Board, Council and general membership to consider donating to CCF at any level, to help reach the annual Challenge Grant goal of raising $277,000 by July 31. Gifts will be matched on a 1-to-3 basis by NEH and acknowledged on the CCF Web site.
To make your donation to the Cultural Communities Fund, or to find out more, please visit http://www.ala.org/ccf. Donations will also be gratefully accepted at the PPO exhibit booth, #2659 in the exhibition hall of the Washington Convention Center. Donors will receive a CCF ribbon for their conference badges.
ALA DIVISIONS
American Association of School Librarians(AASL)
Early Bird Registration for Reno
Early Bird Registration deadline for the AASL 13th National Conference & Exhibition is July 6, 2007. The National Conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 25-28, 2007, and will feature eight preconferences, over 100 concurrent sessions, more than 200 exhibiting companies, educational and school tours and special appearances by award-winning authors and illustrators. AASL will once again team up with customNEWS to publish The AASL Advocate, its National Conference newspaper, which will be available on-site in Reno. AASL will also be mailing the preview issue of The AASL Advocate, focusing on conference highlights, to its members at the end of June. For more information about AASL’s 13th National Conference & Exhibition in Reno, visit http://www.ala.org/aasl/reno.AASL Affiliate Assembly 30th Anniversary
The AASL Affiliate Assembly, a group of state leaders and delegates from all around the country, has been the incubator for AASL leadership since 1977. State association officials, who join the Assembly as representatives to bring grassroots ideas to the national forum, often become elected leaders of the Affiliate Assembly, and then move on to the AASL Board of Directors. This year, 2007, marks the 30th anniversary of this important governance body within AASL and a celebration will be hosted during the Affiliate Assembly I meeting in Washington, D.C. Delegates from around the nation will celebrate Friday evening, June 22, at the Washington Convention Center.
Association of College and Research Libraries
(ACRL)
ACRL Publishes User Surveys in College Libraries: CLIP Note 38
ACRL is proud to announce the publication of User Surveys in College Libraries: CLIP Note 38, compiled by Doreen Kopycinski of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Kimberley Sando of DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. It is part of ACRL’s College Libraries Section’s College Library Information Packet Committee series. The first edition of the CLIP Note “User Surveys in College Libraries” in 1995 proved to be a popular publication, as libraries strive to improve their services to their user communities by attempting to discover their needs and expectations. In the past ten years, the use of surveys in libraries has evolved with the development of online tools and services, so it was deemed appropriate to provide a second edition of this publication. Using the CLIP Notes guidelines, the compilers developed a survey based on the one found in the 1995 “User Surveys in College Libraries” to allow for an historical comparison.
Ordering information can be found on the ACRL Web site, www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications / Books & Monographs / CLIP Notes). ACRL members receive a 10 percent discount on any purchase.
ACRL Offers Annotated Bibliography as Both Online and Print Publication
ACRL is proud to offer Global Evolution: A Chronological Annotated Bibliography of International Students in U.S. Academic Libraries by Kaetrena D. Davis, as both a print publication and an online, downloadable publication. This slim booklet is a chronological, annotated bibliography that shows the evolution of the issues concerning undergraduate and graduate international students in American academic libraries and contains many possible guidelines and ideas for meeting the basic and advanced information needs of an increasingly diverse patron group. From library orientation and information literacy to programming and outreach, the gathered information covers over forty years of articles, dissertations, theses, book chapters, books, other bibliographies, and even multimedia.
Information can be found on the ACRL Web site at http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/downloadables/downloads.htm . ACRL members receive a 10 percent discount on any purchase.
Institute on Scholarly Communication Coming to Washington D.C.
ACRL and ARL continue their collaboration in jointly sponsoring the third Institute on Scholarly Communication in Washington, DC, July 18-20, 2007. Teams from dozens of campuses will immerse themselves and prepare to become local experts within their libraries and to develop campus outreach strategies. Participants will work with experts in the field to understand how to better engage faculty at their institutions around the crisis in the systems of scholarly communication. They will also learn about the emergence of new models for scholarly communication as well as strategies for creating systemic change.ACRL, EDUCAUSE, and NACS-Sponsored Forum Report Coming Soon
In early March 2007, ACRL, in conjunction with EDUCAUSE and the National Association of College Stores, sponsored a forum in Denver to explore new areas of collaboration between libraries, information technology, and college stores in the new information environment. Approximately 40 invited participants gathered for an intensive two days of discussion and brainstorming on the ways in which the associations and their memberships can “help ensure the continued success of the nation’s colleges and universities by addressing opportunities presented by the emergence of new modes of information delivery.” A news article on the forum appears in the June issue of C&RL News and a report from the forum organizers is forthcoming.Two New ACRL Discussion Groups to Meet at Conference
Two new discussion groups will meet for the first time at Annual Conference. Librarianship in For‑Profit Educational Institutions and the Senior Administrators Discussion Group will meet Saturday, June 23, 2007, in the Washington Convention Center from 4-5:30 pm.
ACRL Task Force to Begin Review of Information Literacy Standards
ACRL President Pamela Snelson has appointed the Information Literacy Competency Standards Review Task Force with the following charge: Review the standards that were last approved and reviewed in 2000 and recommend to the ACRL Board of Directors whether the standards need any revisions or updating. As part of fulfilling that charge, the task force is asked to solicit input from ACRL leaders and members on the need for revising the standards, the pros and cons of such a revision, and specific areas within the standards that may need attention if a recommendation to revise goes forward.The task force intends to use several approaches to collecting input, the first being several "drop-in" sessions at the ACRL President's suite during the annual conference in Washington, DC. The suite, located in the Washington Hilton, Room 0174 (10th floor), will be open the following dates/times: Saturday, June 23, 1:30–4 pm; Sunday, June 24, 10 am–noon, 2–4 pm; Monday, June 25, 9-10:30 am.
Members of the task force will be present to receive ideas and opinions about the standards. Section and committee leaders are encouraged to promote these drop-in sessions via listservs and at annual conference meetings and to participate in the sessions as schedules permit. Input is very important! If there are questions about the task force or thoughts to share electronically, please send them to Lori Goetsch, Task Force Chair, at lgoetsch@ksu.edu
CUPA-HR hearings
A presentation on the work of the ACRL Task Force on Academic Library Positions listed by the College & University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) will be held at the ALA Annual Conference on Monday, June 25, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon in the Thoroughbred Room of the Hilton Washington. This ACRL Task Force has been working for over a year to collect data and feedback with which to update CUPA-HR's listing of academic library position descriptions and welcomes comments on its work. Ultimately, this project will make the CUPA-HR consistent with today's libraries and technologies, as well as establish an ongoing process between ACRL and CUPA-HR to maintain the currency of the lists. Please review Task Force documents at: http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/issuesadvocacy.htm
ACRL Legislative Advocates Appointed, Strive for Change in NIH Public Access Policy
This spring ACRL reviewed applications and appointed 40 new ACRL Legislative Advocates, per the Board-approved recommendations of the ACRL Task Force on National Advocacy. These positions supplement the existing Legislative Network through ACRL Chapters. Their first charge is advocating for change of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy from voluntary to mandatory as part of the NIH appropriations process. Public access to federally funded research is a key priority on ACRL’s legislative agenda. All kinds of libraries and all kinds of users would benefit from public access to NIH funded research—from scientists to health clinic workers to parents of children with genetic diseases. A mandatory NIH policy would mean public access to the results of billions (annually) of dollars of NIH-funded scientific research, within 12 months of publication in peer-reviewed journals. ACRL supported its committed grassroots advocates by partnering with SPARC to offer an invitation-only webcast on this topic. The webcast armed advocates with the information and tools they need to effectively convey to legislators the importance of making the NIH policy mandatory in a visit to the district office. It also touched on ways to work locally to engage faculty senate and government relations offices to obtain institutional support.Association for Library Collections & Technical Services
(ALCTS)
ALCTS 50th Anniversary President’s Program at the Annual Conference
Peter Morville, author of “Ambient Findability,” will speak at the 2007 Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) President’s Program, “Ambient Findability: Librarians, Libraries and the Internet of Things.” The President’s Program is the final event in the ALCTS 50th Anniversary Celebration. Peter Morville is President and founder of Semantic Studios, a leading information architecture, user experience, and findability consultancy. He is widely recognized as a father of the information architecture field, and he serves as a passionate advocate for the critical role that findability plays in defining the userexperience.
A forum immediately preceding the ALCTS President’s Program featuring Peter Morville will focus on “Digital Curation,” the subject of a recent conference at the University of North Carolina. Learn what “Digital Curation” is and its impact on libraries.
RDA Update Forum
The next installment of the ongoing informational sessions regarding the new cataloging rules: Resource Description and Access will be Saturday, June 23 at 4:00 pm, Room 206 of the Washington Convention Center. For more on forums, programs and pre-conferences, go to Current News at www.ala.org/alctsUpcoming ALCTS Continuing Education
A Supervisor's Academy:Essentials of Supervision for the Professional Librarian
June 7-8, 2007 in Richmond, VA
Basic Collection Development
July 12-13, 2007 in Fairfax, VA
Metadata and Digital Library Development
July 26-27, 2007 in New York City, NY
Fundamentals of Acquisitions Web Course, July 23- August 17 and October 8-November 2.
More information is available on the ALCTS web site: www.ala.org/alcts, click Continuing Education.
New ALCTS Publications Available at the Annual Conference
"SALSA de Topicos/Subjects in SALSA: Spanish and Latin American Subject Access"edited by David Miller and Filberto Felipe Martinez Arellano. This is ALCTS’ first bilingual publication. Each contributed article will be printed in English and Spanish side-by-side in the volume.
Perspectives on Serials in the Hybrid Environment, edited by Harriet Lightman and John Blosser.Commemorating our Past, Celebrating our Present, Creating our Future: Papers in the Observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, edited by Pamela Bluh.
Association for Library Service to Children
(ALSC)Emerging Leaders
ALSC was pleased to participate in ALA President Leslie Burger’s Emerging Leaders program this year. Our Leader, Roberto Zapata of the Houston Public Library, is spearheading a team that is analyzing the usability of the ALSC Web site, in parallel with a similar process on the ALA level; he is also serving on the 2008 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee. ALSC plans to sponsor two Leaders in 2007-2008.
ALSC/Candlewick “Light the Way” GrantALSC and Candlewick Press will announce at the Annual Conference a one-time grant for a library doing exceptional outreach to underserved populations. The “Light the Way” grant will be funded by Candlewick in honor of Newbery Medalist and Honoree Kate Di Camillo (The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, the Mercy Watson series), with grant money to be raised at a series of ticketed events featuring Ms. Di Camillo in fall 2007. The ALSC Library Service to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers Committee will develop an application and select the winning library, to be announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting 2008 in Philadelphia.
ALA/CBC Home Library BibliographiesThe ALA-CBC Joint Committee and the ALSC Quicklists Consulting Committee are ready to release an update of the Home Library Bibliographies project, with support from a Carnegie-Whitney grant from ALA Publishing. This series of four bibliographies, organized by age level, is aimed at parents, grandparents, and others who wish to build a collection of favorite children’s books at home. They will be available in PDF format on the ALSC and Children’s Book Council websites; it is hoped that librarians will want to download and print them as a giveaway and reader’s advisory tool for patrons.
Born to ReadALA Graphics has redesigned the Born to Read logo and is offering a new set of T-shirts and bibs for sale. ALSC’s Early Literacy Task Force is currently at work updating copy for a brochure, for sale through ALSC, intended to educate parents on how and why to read to and with their babies.
Belpré DonationsALSC’s Belpré Endowment, which supports the administration of this award co-sponsored by REFORMA, benefited this year from sales of a DVD about the history of the award produced by Scholastic/Weston Woods in honor of the award’s tenth anniversary in 2006. In addition, ALSC will receive the third and final installment of a $15,000 pledge from Scholastic at the ALSC membership meeting at the 2007Annual Conference. Royalties from a forthcoming book by ALSC member and past Belpré Award winner Lucía González, The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos (Children’s Book Press, 2008); have been pledged to the Endowment, which will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of these awards.
Día 2007El día de los ninos/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), celebrated annually on April 30, had a banner year in 2007, thanks in large part to Target, the first official national sponsor of Día. Eight libraries with model Día celebrations received mini-grants of $5000 plus a suite of materials; nearly 500 other libraries registered on ALSC’s Día Web site, and 368 of those received materials, until the supply was exhausted. Día was celebrated this year for the first time in the U.S. Senate, with Senators Reed (D-RI) and Menendez (D-NJ) reading bilingual books to DC-area schoolchildren and speaking about the importance of literacy. In addition, ALSC has been actively working to help California become the third “Día State,” after Texas and Florida. Plans are underway for the 2008 celebrations; stay tuned!
Library and Information Technology Association(LITA)
LITA 2007 National Forum
During the ALA Annual Conference, registration will open for the Tenth LITA National Forum, scheduled for October 4-7, 2007 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Denver. The Forum includes two preconferences, 30 concurrent sessions over two days, poster sessions, three general sessions, and many opportunities to network with colleagues and vendors in a relatively informal and welcoming venue. For more details, see http://www.lita.org/forum07
Public Library Association
(PLA)2007 PLDS Statistical Report
The Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report is designed to provide public library administrators and others with timely and library-specific data that illuminates and supports a wide variety of management decisions. This year, PLA is pleased to offer access to the PLDS Online Database, featuring the same information as the Statistical Report, now in a user-friendly, dynamic web-based format. In addition, the 2007 PLDS Statistical Report will include a special survey on Young Adult Services. For more information, or to order an advance copy, visit www.pla.org and click on “Publications and Reports.” The 2007 PLDS Report will be available for purchase at the ALA Store during the 2007 ALA Annual Conference.
PLA Presents Results Boot Camp 3
PLA is now accepting applications for 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, 2007 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Participants will be encouraged to apply what they learn to real-life problems and issues in their libraries. PLA Boot Camp also reviews all the publications in the “Results” series, explains how they interconnect, and how they can help librarians forge an effective management style. Early bird registration ends July 1. Visit www.pla.org for more information. CPLA Certification Courses Scheduled
Registration is now open for the PLA-sponsored Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses. The courses, developed by nationally known trainers, support both the learning outcomes defined in the CPLA standards and the principles and practices of the “Results” series. Each course will be presented at least twice in sites around the country, beginning in August 2007 through 2008. 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) and three electives. View the current course schedule and register online at www.pla.org. New from the Results Series
Managing Facilities for Results: Optimizing Space for Services, by Cheryl Bryan for PLA, guides library directors, staff, and boards through the process of prioritizing new services that need space, making plans and identifying an appropriate location, presenting the case to funding authorities, conducting a “gap analysis,” finding resources, and identifying building professionals. Managing Facilities for Results will be available in the ALA Store at the Annual Conference and is also available online at www.alastore.ala.org for $50 ($45 with ALA member discount).
Human Resources for Results: The Right Person for the Right Job, by Jeanne Goodrich and Paula M. Singer for PLA, offers a strategic approach to the human resources (HR) function in the library. Packed with practical tools, this hands-on guide includes a familiar case study that illustrates how the information can be applied, along with twelve workforms to help collect and organize the data needed to make informed HR decisions. Using this project-based approach, library directors, administrators and human resource managers can identify and motivate the right team members to achieve the library’s goals and service priorities as identified in the planning process. Human Resources for Results will be available in August 2007 for $55 ($45 with ALA member discount). Advance orders are being accepted online at www.alastore.ala.org.
Armistead Maupin to keynote PLA President’s Program
Acclaimed author Armistead Maupin will present the keynote address at the PLA President’s Program and Awards Presentation at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The program will take place Monday, June 25, 2007 from 5 to 6:30 pm in the Washington Convention Center Ballroom. Due to a campaign-related scheduling conflict, Elizabeth Edwards will not be attending the PLA President’s Program. Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City," "More Tales of the City," and "Further Tales of the City" have been the basis of three highly acclaimed TV miniseries. He also is the author of "Babycakes," "Significant Others," "Sure of You," "Maybe the Moon," and "The Night Listener," which was released as a major motion picture by Miramax starring Robin Williams and Toni Collete. His new novel, "Michael Tolliver Lives," goes on sale June 12, 2007.
PLA is pleased to present Armistead Maupin through the generous support of HarperCollins, as part of the ALA Auditorium Speakers Series. Following his talk and the awards presentation, attendees are welcome to join PLA President Susan Hildreth for a gala, music-filled reception. For more information on the PLA President’s Program, visit www.pla.org.
Young Adult Library Services Association
(YALSA)
YALSA Continues 50th Anniversary Celebration
YALSA turns 50 in 2007. Special events at the ALA Annual Conference include:An Anniversary Party Friday Evening June 22. Immediately following the Booklist Books for Youth Forum, come join YALSA for a fabulous party! It's free for all registered conference attendees and includes an open bar and light refreshments. This event is being co-hosted by more than 14 publishers. Please note that the Forum will feature the original winner and honorees from the 2000 Printz Award.
A sold out YA Authors’ Breakfast that will feature YALSA award winning authors and give attendees an opportunity to mingle with favorite YA authors.
A Day of YA Authors on the Live @ your library® stage: Monday, noon - 4:00 pm in the Exhibit Hall. Pam Spencer Holley will emcee an afternoon featuring contemporary YA authors, including Cecil Castellucci, Nick Hornby, Patrick Jones, Barry Lyga, Carolyn Mackler, Catherine Murdock, Tiffany Trent and 2007 Printz Award winner, Gene Luen Yang. For a schedule of times for each author presentation, visit the ALA Annual Conference Wiki.
An Anniversary Bash in the Booth: Sunday, 3:30 - 4:30 pm in the Exhibit Hall at YALSA's Member Booth in the ALA Member Pavilion (#2525). Join YALSA for some light refreshments, YALSA freebies and a book signing by author Simone Elkeles. The first 125 attendees will also get a free Elkeles book.
YALSA Receives 2007 World Book Goal Award
YALSA will receive $10,000 to improve teen library services in three key states: Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Using Teen Read Week™ as its focal point, the grant will fund training for library workers in the targeted states in an effort to boost teen library use and ultimately teen reading and literacy. YALSA will host two licensed institutes in each state — A Beginner’s Guide to Teens in Libraries and Power Up with Print — and give free Teen Read Week™ resources to library workers who attend the training sessions.YALSA Launches 2007 Teen Read Weekä with Support Teen Literature Day
On April 19 YALSA officially launched its 2007 Teen Read Week™ initiative with a media event at Juarez Community High School in Chicago. Author Tiffany Trent read from her upcoming book, In the Serpent’s Coils, and The High Strung played a set. YALSA also announced that Mirrorstone Books, an imprint of Wizards of the Coast is the 2007 National Corporate Sponsor for Teen Read Week™. To read more about this launch, read "Teen Books Move up to the Top Shelf" by Michelle S. Keller, Chicago Tribune, 20 April 2007. Learn more about Teen Read Week™ or register to participate at www.ala.org/teenread.YALSA Publishes Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens
Get Connected, edited by RoseMary Honnold, offers tried-and-true, practical tips for young adult library workers seeking to incorporate technology into their programs and services. Topics include recreation- and education-based programs, working with special teen populations, drawing young readers in the social networking scene, tips for working with teen advisory groups and YALSA’s innovative ideas for celebrating Teen Tech Week™.
Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens, by RoseMary Honnold for YALSA (ISBN: 1-55570-613-4, ISBN-13: 978-1-55570-613-5), costs $45.00 and is available for purchase on Neal-Schuman’s Web site, www.neal-schuman.com or by calling 1-866-NS-BOOKS. Discounts are available for YALSA members. For review copies, please contact Janice Bevilacqua, Marketing Associate, at janice@neal-schuman.com.
Upcoming Events & New Initiatives
- The summer ‘07 session of YALSA e-courses runs from July 1 through August 10.
- Best Books for Young Adults, 3rd ed. will be published in August 2007.
- 10th annual Teen Read Weekä, October 14-20, 2007. The theme is “LOL @ your library.”
- At Midwinter 2008 the first winners of the new Odysessy Award and Greenwood Publishing Group Service to Young Adults Achievement Award will be announced.
- 2nd annual Teen Tech Weekä, March 2-8, 2008
- 2nd annual Support Young Adult Literature Day, April 17 2008
ALA-APA
“Best of ALA-APA Library Worklife” Newsletter Sent to ALA Members
ALA-APA is sending out a free special issue of its electronic newsletter, Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today’s Leaders. Twenty-six of the most popular articles from the past 3 ½ years are being emailed to ALA individual and institutional members. Articles cover topics as diverse as successful pay raises in libraries, determining transferable skills, whether library degrees matter for directors, how to fire someone the right way, recruiting diverse candidates and avoiding job burnout.
Everyone is invited to peruse the Special Issue by visiting http://www.ala-apa.org/newsletter/4nspecial.html. The newsletter is a benefit for ALA institutional members and $35/year for individual members. Students can subscribe for just $15. Institutions that are not receiving the newsletter should contact ALA Member and Customer Service by phone at 800-545-2433, ext. 5, to give an email address for the monthly alerts.
Programs at the Annual Conference
Come to the ALA-APA Programs for the People at ALA Annual in Washington, DC. For more details, see - http://www.ala-apa.org/salaries/confprograms.html.
Library Salary Database
Subscribe to the Library Salary Database for only $30 - http://cs.ala.org/websurvey/salarysurvey/salarysurveyform/form.cfm
Contributions to ALA-APA
Contributions to ALA-APA are welcome. To contribute, see