LibWorm.com provides a librarian RSS filtering service. Data from over 1500 librarian RSS feeds is collected and output via different categories. This feed contains the latest headlines from the user generated query: +(ALA "american library association") +President +("2008-2009" Rettig Davenport) Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:34:50 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.cla-net.org/weblog/2010/02/ala_corner_2.php AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MIDWINTER MEETING - Boston, Massachusetts. January 14-19, 2010. Abridged version by Les Kong (ALA Chapter Councilor, California Library Association), based upon Notes by ALA Councilor James Casey. According to ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels on January 19, 2010, the total registration was higher than expected, reaching 11,095 by Monday, January 18. By comparison, registration for ALA's Midwinter Meeting in 2009 (Denver) was 10,220 by Monday, January 26. ALAWO (ALA Washington Office) UPDATE: The ALAWO presented a review of issues facing the Library community. ALAWO Executive Director Emily Sheketoff and Lynne Bradley, Director of the Office of Government Relations (OGR), described several emerging opportunities and cautioned that the need for active advocacy is more important now than ever. Bradley discussed how efforts to modify the USA Patriot Act - especially Section 215 - are reaching the point during the next few days where steps will be needed by library advocates to call members of the House-Senate Conference Committee. Senators Feingold and Durbin were noted as firm supporters of ALA positions on this issue. OGR Associate Director Corey Williams reported that the settlement between Google and authors/publishers concluded in September 2008 has been amended and an ALA Task Force headed by Jim Rettig is investigating the implications for libraries. A final "fairness hearing" is scheduled to be concluded by the courts on February 18, 2010. OGR Assistant Director Jessica McGilvray reported that the Obama Administration has taken productive steps to make government information more accessible to the public. ... Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:55:00 +0100 819516 http://plablog.org/2009/11/barbara-a-macikas-named-pla-executive-director.html Barbara A. Macikas has been named executive director of the Public Library Association (PLA). Macikas, who was chosen from a nationwide pool of candidates, will assume her responsibilities at PLA on Nov. 23, 2009. Macikas brings extensive association management experience to the position. She served as executive director of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), divisions of the ALA, from May 2007 to May 2009. In that position, she worked with the boards of directors of two divisions, managed two budgets, directed all day-to-day operations, and facilitated the work of volunteers in both divisions. She also managed a grant-funded project and served on several internal task forces. She left this position in May 2009 to focus on association management projects and consulting. Prior to assuming leadership of ASCLA and RUSA, Macikas served as deputy executive director of PLA from 2000-2007. In that position, she directed major programs such as the national conference and membership marketing and new initiatives in such diverse areas as pre-school literacy, public library advocacy and recruitment to the profession. She also was responsible for fundraising via the PLA Partners Program and oversaw collaborations with several external organizations. Before assuming the deputy executive director position, she served as Conference Manager for PLA from 1997-2000. “The pace of change and the economy we face today present public libraries and associations with serious challenges but also with opportunities for meaningful change. PLA has a rich tradition of leadership, innovation and responsiveness and I am absolutely delighted and very honored to be re-joining my colleagues at PLA and ALA to continue that tradition, and to once again have the opportunity to work together for public libraries,” said Macikas. ... Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:23:38 +0100 791443 http://plablog.org/2009/09/in-down-economy-libraries-are-on-frontline-of-connecting-americans-with-online-government-job-resources.html Sustained funding, broadband improvements needed to meet increased demand With national unemployment topping 9 percent and many Americans seeking online information and new technology skills that can help keep them and their families afloat in hard times, U.S. public libraries are first responders in a time of economic uncertainty. “Libraries Connect Communities 3: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2008-2009,” a new report released today by the American Library Association (ALA), says libraries are serving as crucial technology hubs for people in need of free Web access, computer training, and assistance finding and using E-Government and job resources. The study finds that more than 71 percent of all libraries (and 79 percent of rural libraries) report they are the only source of free access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Sixty-six percent of public libraries rank job-seeking services, including resume writing and Internet job searches, among the most crucial online services they offer – up from 44 percent two years ago. In a separate survey, 80 percent of New York libraries indicated they helped someone search for a job in late 2008. When county workforce development agency DavidsonWorks (N.C.) was investigating ways to better serve displaced workers, they looked to the Davidson County Library System for support. “The numbers of people that need services are larger than our capacity,” said Executive Director Nancy Borrell. “The library is a natural partner – they are located in all corners of the county and have the space, computers and trained library staff we need. We’re reaching areas of the county we’ve never been able to reach before.” More people also are turning to libraries to file unemployment forms, apply for Food Stamps or find other government information or services. Eighty percent of libraries report helping patrons connect with government information and services online. ... Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:22:38 +0100 773313 http://information-literacy.blogspot.com/2009/09/national-forum-of-information-literacy.html The (US) National Forum of Information Literacy 20th Anniversary Celebration takes place on 15th October (a celebratory dinner) and 16th October, and is entitled Empowering Future Generations: Information Literacy. The location is Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Conference Center, Washington, D.C., USA. The annual meeting event on the 16th includes Empowering Future Generations: Information Literacy – A National Strategic Plan with guest presenters Guadalupe Pachecho, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Milli Pierce, Public Education Network, Washington, D.C. and Jim Rettig, President, American Library Association. For more info http://www.infolit.org/20th_anniversary/20th_anniversary.html Photo by Sheila Webber: Balbianello, Lake Como, August 2009 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog) Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0100 769230 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=notes_on_annual_conference_2009_by_james&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE—Chicago, Illinois. July 10-15, 2009. Notes by James B. Casey Despite extremely difficult economic conditions facing libraries, the attendance at this Annual Conference in Chicago reached what could be a record high at 28,941. The prior three Annual Conference final attendance reports were 22,047 for Anaheim (2008), 28,499 for Washington (2007) and 16,784 New Orleans (2006). Future Mid-Winter Meetings (January) will be held in Boston (2010), San Diego (2011), Dallas (2012), Seattle (2013) and Philadelphia (2014). Future Annual Conferences (June) will be held in Washington, D.C. (2010), New Orleans (2011), Anaheim (2012), Washington (2013) and Las Vegas (2014). Oak Lawn Public Library Trustees Richard Gast and Marian Sullivan attended this Annual Conference. My wife Diane Dates Casey completed her fourth year as Division Councilor for the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS). I continued my fourth term (twelfth year) as a member at-large of ALA Council, and completed my second and final year as a member of the ALA Committee on Organization (COO). GODORT (Government Documents Round Table) sponsored an excellent program of small group discussions and re-evaluation of issues facing government documents access in libraries. Several different types of libraries were represented. The concerns ranged from shifting of records to electronic from print format, the lack of interest by government entities in the preservation and accessibility of their own records – especially prior to and after they are out of office – and the vast types of government records ranging from minutes of local government meetings to important documents concerning the founding of our Republic. It was an interesting discussion, but plagued by poor acoustics (five small group breakout sessions in one room simultaneously). ... Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:05:16 +0100 755978 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/05/21/public-libraries-challenged-to-meet-patron-needs-for-high-speed-internet-access/ From the Summary: With growing demand for public Internet services and Wi-fi access, nearly 60 percent of U.S. public libraries report Internet connection speeds are insufficient to meet patron demand at some point in the day, according to the 2008-2009 “As more and more people turn to their public libraries for critical access to online information and services, the bandwidth needed to provide these services increases rapidly,” said American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Rettig. “Just over 70 percent of libraries report they are the only source of free access to computers and the Internet in their communities. As the nation begins to invest in high-speed broadband build-out, it is crucial that that investment include public libraries.” Nationally one in five libraries report connection speeds less than 1.5 Mbps (T1), and the disparity between urban libraries and their rural counterparts is pronounced. About one-third of rural libraries have connection speeds less than 1.5 Mbps, compared with 7.1 percent of urban libraries, and 16 percent of suburban public libraries. The complete study will be released in September 2009. The study is funded by the ALA and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Direct To: Related resources for the forthcoming Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2008–2009 Report Source: ALA (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 21 May 2009 20:26:25 +0100 738391 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=ala_president_jim_rettig_s_report_to_the&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 American Library Association Spring 2009 Executive Board Meeting, Chicago, Illinois Report of James Rettig, President This has proved to be a fascinating time to serve ALA’s members as their association’s president. The nation’s economic crisis has provided opportunities and challenges for libraries that in turn has focused public attention on libraries and the services they deliver. I have had the to privilege in numerous interviews with reporters to make the case that America’s librarians are helping to put the nation back to work and that librarians have been first responders to the economic crisis. Librarians understand their communities and the needs of the people in those communities. They adapt existing programs and create new ones to meet changing needs. We can only hope that when state and local governments recover from their current fiscal hardships that citizens will retain their newfound appreciation for the contributions their libraries make to their communities and will demonstrate that appreciation by restoring and expanding funding for library services. Representing and Speaking for ALA Each month I send an informal report to the Council and Member Forum lists. These reports provide details about the events at which I have represented ALA and the interviews I have given on behalf of ALA. Noteworthy among recent opportunities, on March 4, in Washington, D.C., I spoke to members of the Washington Office’s Library Business Alliance and thanked them for their support before they dispersed to Congressional offices to lobby their senators and representatives on behalf of ALA and libraries. Jessica McGilvray, Assistant Director, of the Office of Government Relations (OGR) at the Washington Office, and I met with Rep. Rob Wittman (1st district Virginia) and one of his aides for twenty minutes. We also met with a legislative aide to Sen. Jim Webb, a member of the Joint Economic Committee. ... Thu, 14 May 2009 17:09:53 +0100 735991 http://digital-scholarship.com/digitalkoans/2009/05/04/acrl-ala-and-arl-file-comments-about-google-book-search-settlement/ The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries have filed comments with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York regarding the Google Book Search Copyright Class Action Settlement. Here's an excerpt from the press release: Representing over 139,000 libraries and 350,000 librarians, the associations filed the brief as members of the plaintiff class because they are both authors and publishers of books. The associations asserted that although the settlement has the potential to provide public access to millions of books, many of the features of the settlement, including the absence of competition for the new services, could compromise fundamental library values including equity of access to information, patron privacy, and intellectual freedom. The court can mitigate these possible negative effects by regulating the conduct of Google and the Book Rights Registry the settlement establishes. "While this settlement agreement could provide unprecedented access to a digital library of millions of books, we are concerned that the cost of an institutional subscription may skyrocket, as academic journal subscriptions have over the past two decades," Erika Linke, President of ACRL, said. . . . Jim Rettig, President of ALA, said the proposed settlement "offers no assurances that the privacy of what the public accessed will be protected, which is in stark contrast to the long-standing patron privacy rights libraries champion on behalf of the public." (Source: DigitalKoans) Tue, 05 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 732952 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DigitalKoans/~3/3MddoPhDkSg/ The American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries have filed comments with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York regarding the Google Book Search Copyright Class Action Settlement. Here's an excerpt from the press release: Representing over 139,000 libraries and 350,000 librarians, the associations filed the brief as members of the plaintiff class because they are both authors and publishers of books. The associations asserted that although the settlement has the potential to provide public access to millions of books, many of the features of the settlement, including the absence of competition for the new services, could compromise fundamental library values including equity of access to information, patron privacy, and intellectual freedom. The court can mitigate these possible negative effects by regulating the conduct of Google and the Book Rights Registry the settlement establishes. "While this settlement agreement could provide unprecedented access to a digital library of millions of books, we are concerned that the cost of an institutional subscription may skyrocket, as academic journal subscriptions have over the past two decades," Erika Linke, President of ACRL, said. . . . Jim Rettig, President of ALA, said the proposed settlement "offers no assurances that the privacy of what the public accessed will be protected, which is in stark contrast to the long-standing patron privacy rights libraries champion on behalf of the public." (Source: DigitalKoans) Tue, 05 May 2009 03:21:54 +0100 732768 http://stephenslighthouse.sirsidynix.com/archives/2009/04/ala_gets_social.html From an ALA Press Release: CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) is now providing members a common virtual space to engage in ALA business and network with other members around issues and interests relevant to the profession. ALA Connect (http://connect.ala.org) has launched its first phase of operation, in which every ALA group will have the ability to utilize the following tools: • Posts (which are like blog posts) • Online docs (which are like collaborative, wiki-like pages or Google Docs) • Group calendar (for listing meetings, deadlines, etc.) • Surveys (for asking multiple questions at once) • Polls (for asking a single question) • Chat room (text-based, including the ability to save a transcript of the discussion) • Discussion forums (also known as “bulletin boards”) “Phase one offers new features that are unavailable via other ALA Web-based services,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “Members can view all of their current ALA affiliations in one place. They can search for other members and add them to their online network. And they can work together on a document online, rather than passing it around from one e-mail address to another. I look forward to seeing the new communities members create and the issues and interests they address.” ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels said, “ALA Connect has a unique value for members. It enables members to collaborate within a vibrant and dynamic online community, facilitating their professional growth and extending their contacts within the Association. Members can now easily form new groups around shared interests, respond to emerging issues or create and manage shared projects.” Congratulations to the ALA team (Yo, Jenny!). This is a big start. Stephen (Source: Stephen's Lighthouse) Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:19:34 +0100 724487 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TameTheWeb/~3/SBheuaIEPos/ From an ALA Press Release: CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) is now providing members a common virtual space to engage in ALA business and network with other members around issues and interests relevant to the profession. ALA Connect (http://connect.ala.org) has launched its first phase of operation, in which every ALA group will have the ability to utilize the following tools: • Posts (which are like blog posts) • Online docs (which are like collaborative, wiki-like pages or Google Docs) • Group calendar (for listing meetings, deadlines, etc.) • Surveys (for asking multiple questions at once) • Polls (for asking a single question) • Chat room (text-based, including the ability to save a transcript of the discussion) • Discussion forums (also known as “bulletin boards”) “Phase one offers new features that are unavailable via other ALA Web-based services,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “Members can view all of their current ALA affiliations in one place.  They can search for other members and add them to their online network. And they can work together on a document online, rather than passing it around from one e-mail address to another. I look forward to seeing the new communities members create and the issues and interests they address.” ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels said, “ALA Connect has a unique value for members. It enables members to collaborate within a vibrant and dynamic online community, facilitating their professional growth and extending their contacts within the Association. Members can now easily form new groups around shared interests, respond to emerging issues or create and manage shared projects.” (Source: Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology) Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:12:49 +0100 723654 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/04/08/american-library-association-sends-letter-to-president-obama/ From the Announcement: American Library Association President Jim Rettig recently submitted a letter to President Obama to address library issues the ALA membership determined it would like to share with the administration during a membership town hall meeting held during the 2009 ALA Midwinter Conference in Denver. “Libraries are perfectly positioned to disseminate information relevant to the issues and challenges that face us as a nation, the same key issues which your [Obama’s] administration is seeking to address,” Rettig states in the letter. Direct to Full Text of Letter (3 pages; PDF) Source: ALA (Source: ResourceShelf) Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:16:00 +0100 723575 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/04/07/new-virtual-workspace-from-ala-ala-connect/ From the News Release: The American Library Association (ALA) is now providing members a common virtual space to engage in ALA business and network with other members around issues and interests relevant to the profession. ALA Connect (http://connect.ala.org) has launched its first phase of operation, in which every ALA group will have the ability to utilize the following tools: • Posts (which are like blog posts) • Online docs (which are like collaborative, wiki-like pages or Google Docs) • Group calendar (for listing meetings, deadlines, etc.) • Surveys (for asking multiple questions at once) • Polls (for asking a single question) • Chat room (text-based, including the ability to save a transcript of the discussion) • Discussion forums (also known as “bulletin boards”) “Phase one offers new features that are unavailable via other ALA Web-based services,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “Members can view all of their current ALA affiliations in one place. They can search for other members and add them to their online network. And they can work together on a document online, rather than passing it around from one e-mail address to another. I look forward to seeing the new communities members create and the issues and interests they address.” Source: American Libraries Association (Source: ResourceShelf) Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:04:52 +0100 723165 http://librarian.lishost.org/?p=2299 “This is the kind of compromise we’re forced to make when we decide we hate taxes more than we love democracy.”–Dan DeWitt, SP Times Columnist. Tuesday, March 31, 2009. Hernando County is exploring outsourcing library services to LSSI. The American Library Association opposes privitization: 52.7 Privatization of Publicly Funded Libraries ALA affirms that publicly funded libraries should remain directly accountable to the publics they serve. Therefore, the American Library Association opposes the shifting of policy making and management oversight of library services from the public to the private for-profit sector. Hernando County is a much beloved and well-run public library. Take a look at the freely available annual report and clear, user-friendly website. The Hernando County Public Library System advocates the right of the individual to free and convenient access to information and ideas. Trained personnel develop and organize collections and programs, assist the individual in using these resources effectively and seek resources outside the library, when necessary. Information and services will be provided in a timely, accurate and cost-effective manner. In 2008 600,000 people entered the doors to obtain library services this year. Over 720,000 items were checked out, 135,000 patrons utilized public Internet access, 11,100 hour equivalency of in-house wireless connection activity, 325,000 research & info. requests were responded to, and 388 programs were offered to an audience count exceeding 13,200.– The Library System is under the very capable and efficient leadership of Library Services Director Barbara Shiflett whose vision has kept the flow of library operations well maintained and balanced. She has kept the Committee informed and briefed on important budgetary and operational news, providing updates, relaying information, and giving follow-up that is orderly, complete, and concise. ... Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:22:17 +0100 721623 http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/2009/03/importance-of-school-libraries.html American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may come to rescue of struggling school libraries March 10th, 2009 Category: Funding, OGRState officials should use stimulus funding opportunities for schools, librariesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 10, 2009Contact: Jenni Terry, jterry@alawash.orgWASHINGTON, D.C. – With state funding for schools on the decline, the American Library Association (ALA) says the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) could not have come at a more critical time for school libraries.The ARRA includes $100 billion for education that can help school libraries ensure that our nation’s students are prepared to enter a 21st century workforce. The funding from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Educational Technology State Grant program will help prevent cutbacks, prevent layoffs, and modernize our nation’s school libraries.As state funding to schools has declined, dropping 2.8 percent from 2001 to 2006 according to the National Center for Education Statistics, many schools are choosing to close their library doors or reduce funding – actions that Ann Martin, president of the ALA’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL), said greatly impair our nation’s educational system.“Saving funds by eliminating certified school library media specialists or closing school libraries denies equal access for all students to the shared resources and information skills instruction crucial for students to learn and thrive in the 21st century,” Martin said.“Across the United States, research has shown that students in schools with good school libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized test scores than their peers in schools without libraries. The correlation between school librarians and student achievement is tied to a robust collection, a licensed school library media specialist, and a strong program. ... Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 713523 http://information-literacy.blogspot.com/2009/03/librarians-guide-to-gaming.html On Monday the American Library Association launched the Librarian’s Guide to Gaming: An Online Toolkit for Building Gaming @ your library . "The toolkit includes a wide range of resources to help librarians create, fund and evaluate gaming experiences in the library." It refers to traditional games, board games, and not just computer ones. "Games of every type play an important role in developing fundamental competencies for life,” said ALA President Jim Rettig. “They require players to learn and follow complex sets of rules, make strategic and tactical decisions, and, collaborate with teammates and others, –all things they will have to do in college and in the workforce." There is an FAQ, resources, examples etc. The home page is at http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/ and there is a section about the connection between gaming and literacy at http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/literacy.htmlPhoto by Sheila Webber: Not sure if it's authorised, Sheffield University, February 2009. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog) Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 710768 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2009/02/#000423 Editorial Ocean City Sentinel Published in the February 5, 2009 issue With all the comparisons of the national financial crisis to the Great Depression, it is easy to conjure images of crowds of desperate people waiting in long lines at soup kitchens. When the economy is in the tank, soup kitchens, just like food pantries and emergency assistance, have to expand to nourish the bodies of the people most in need. It would take the most hard-hearted of bureaucrats to consider cutting back on help for people who can’t afford to feed themselves. Personal financial crises can provoke spiritual crises. Families look to their religion to help carry them through tough economic times. Not coincidentally, houses of worship are often the organizations behind the soup kitchens. Imagine churches and synagogues as soup kitchens for the soul. Of all places, these religious institutions know there is a need to nourish the soul as well as the body. It would be hard to see them stopping people at the door, limiting entry, just as the need for soul support grows. As it is for the body and soul, there must be nourishment for the mind – the third part of this triptych. Libraries provide that. In the best of times and, in the worst of times, libraries are where people turn to enrich their intellects. Increasingly, that is where they must turn when they can’t afford any other options. As statistics show throughout the nation, library usage is soaring across the U.S. Some of that is interest. A lot of that is need. And as libraries have increased what they offer to the public – computers and internet access, children’s programs, CDs and DVDs, along with their wealth of books and magazines and newspapers – they have become more integral to the well-being of the public. ... Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 705664 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=notes_on_mid_winter_2009_from_james_b_ca&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MID WINTER MEETING – Denver,Colorado. January 23-28, 2009. Notes by James B. Casey Despite cold, snowy weather, the pleasant surroundings of downtown Denver provided an excellent setting for an eventful Mid Winter Meeting. Remnants of the Democratic National Convention back in July 2008 still lingered with signs, souvenirs and tee shirts hailing the Democratic candidates. The term “Denvercrat” was seen in some shop windows. However, most ALA Members seemed to be focused less on the election of 2008 than on the realities of 2009. According to announcements made by Keith Fiels on January 28, 2009, the total attendance reached 10,220 by Monday, January, 26 2009. That was well behind the 13,601 for the same day at Philadelphia Mid Winter 2008, and that for the same day at Seattle in 2007 of 12,230. The lower attendance was ascribed to a combination of the sparse population in the Denver vicinity (compared to that of Philadelphia and Seattle metro areas) and the difficult economic outlook. Even before we assembled in Denver for this Mid Winter meeting, some discussion had begun about the possibility of reducing the scope of Mid Winter meetings or eliminating them altogether due to economic conditions. Oak Lawn Public Library Trustee Marian Sullivan enjoyed a productive session involving Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) committees and programs. However, ALTA has been merged with FOLUSA (Friends of the Library USA) to become ALTAFF (Association for Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations). My wife Diane Dates Casey began her fourth year as Division Councilor for the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS). ... Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:19:12 +0100 700419 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=jonathan_betz_zall_washington_chapter_co&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 From Jonathan Betz-Zall, Washington Chapter Councilor, Concerning the ALA Midwinter 2009 Meeting --- Washington Library Association ALA Chapter Councilor's Report Midwinter Meeting, January 2009, Denver, Colorado Jonathan Betz-Zall with some text from Councilor James Casey of Illinois The American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting, focusing primarily on business, produced some noticeable changes in organizational practices even as the old guard struggled to maintain the organization's basic values. Newer librarians, particularly members of the organization's governing Council, advocated for more electronic participation and free internet access, while more experienced members tweaked various organizational structures and worried about slow-growing revenue streams and potential program reductions. Meanwhile, ALA worked to advocate for library interests in legal, financial and intellectual arenas. Specific Areas of Concern- Intellectual Freedom: The Freedom to Read Foundation reported some notable victories: The Child Online Protection Act was overturned after 10 years of effort, a National Security Letters case on gag orders without judicial review put burden of proof on government before enforcing them, and a Harmful to Minors literature sellers registration requirement in Indiana was struck down as too vague, not narrowly tailored to achieve its goal Another harmful to minors case--Powell's books in Oregon—is still underway. FTRF says that the state law makes no provision for judging value of content, as federal law does. FTRF has joined the Valerie Plame Wilson case challenging redaction, saying that the government must demonstrate harm of information that is already in the public domain FTRF is monitoring two other important cases: the Miami_Dade School Board case on removing a book from classrooms and the North Central Regional Library District case on mandatory, non removable filtering. ... Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:15:35 +0100 700420 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2009/02/#000401 By Annie Gowen Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, February 2, 2009; Page A01 Nearly every study table is full with patrons sipping lattes and surfing the Web. Teens are curled up in easy chairs. In a worried knot by the doorway, job seekers gather around a sign-up station for the Internet, waiting for their turn. This Story Business Brisk at Area Libraries More Checkouts at the Library In Cutting Sports Funding, Everyone Loses Before the Germantown library opened in 2007, there was hardly any "downtown" to speak of in the Montgomery County community, where houses and strip malls grew before anything else. Now it's an important civic anchor, a main street where none existed, and the busiest library in the county. In the past few months, it has become even busier. The library, like most in the Washington area, has had a rising tide of users as patrons look for free computer access, DVD loans and activities for children during the recession. Circulation in the last six months of the year rose as much as 23 percent in libraries around the region, records show. The influx comes just as county managers are preparing budgets for the coming fiscal year in a time of huge shortfalls. Libraries, like other services, face drastic cuts that could mean reducing staff and hours or even shuttering branches. "It's a cruel irony that use is going up and budget cuts are occurring simultaneously," said Jim Rettig, president of the American Library Association and a librarian at the University of Richmond. "What I think doesn't get enough recognition is the role libraries play in the economic vitality and development of a community." Cultural soothsayers once thought libraries would become obsolete in the Internet age. Not so. They have modernized, digitized, virtualized. Patrons can bring their own beverages; Arlington County hopes to add a cafe in one of its branches. ... Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 701185 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/iRcS/~3/527169534/ala-leaders-release-statement-regarding.html The following is a statement released by American Library Association (ALA) President Jim Rettig and Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) President Pat Scales regarding the deaths of ALSC Vice President Kate McClelland and Notable Children's Videos Committee Chair Kathleen Apuzzo Krasniewicz, who were killed in a hit-and-run accident as they traveled to the Denver Airport from ALA's Midwinter Meeting on Wednesday."American Library Association members would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families, co-workers and communities served by Kate and Kathy," said ALA President Jim Rettig. "This is a tragic loss for the library community, and the thousands of people who they touched and helped in their work in libraries for so many years."The depth of their contributions in supporting literacy efforts for our nation's children left a meaningful mark on their community and they will be sorely missed."The American Library Association has lost two committed, dedicated members, who gave freely of their time to support and advance the mission of librarians everywhere."ALSC President Pat Scales said, "It's difficult to express the grief that children's librarians across the country are feeling at this time. Kate and Kathy contributed so much to our association, and even more to the thousands of children whose lives they touched."I'm quite certain that Kate and Kathy would urge us to seek comfort through story: it is story that gave their lives meaning, and it is story by which they will be remembered. This is, indeed, a sad day in the children’s book world."McClelland served on the ALSC Board and chaired the 2002 Caldecott Award Selection Committee. She was a member of the ALSC Notable Children's Books Committee, Newbery Award Selection Committee and the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) Michael L. Printz Committee. ... Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:22:37 +0100 699345 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2009/01/#000392 by Lawrence Ragonese/The Star-Ledger Wednesday January 21, 2009, 7:57 PM Just as libraries are seeing an increase in use by people searching for jobs or simply taking advantage of free services, the state's weakened economy is forcing some branches to cut hours and programs, or shut down altogether. Though the full impact of the fiscal downturn won't be known until cities and towns, which finance public libraries, put together their 2009 municipal budgets, many libraries have already been told they'll have to continue serving the public with less money and fewer resources. "We've got to fight to keep libraries open," said Patricia Tumulty, executive director of the New Jersey Library Association. "People who have lost jobs and had to give up internet service at home are using library computers for jobs and resumes. Families who have cut back spending are sending children to story hours at libraries, taking out library books instead of buying them at stores. They really need libraries now." In Newark, the library system may lose $1.2 million of the $12 million its gets from the city. As a result, the Roseville branch may close while the Branch Brook and Clinton branches face cuts in operation. In Madison, officials have "begun the difficult process of re-examining all aspects" of the library's operation. Library closings are being considered in Bridgeton and Bayonne. In Trenton, financial help from the state prevented four neighborhood branches from closing. However, those branches agreed to cut hours, lay off workers and trim their budgets by 10 percent. Across the Delaware, in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter sought to close 11 library branches to save $8 million a year. Library advocates went to court and won a temporary reprieve, though a lack of funding forced several branches to shut down in recent days. ... Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 696442 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2009/01/#000389 Wall Street Journal By JIM CARLTON TRACY, Calif. -- The financial crisis has caused a lot of withdrawals at the public library. A few years ago, public libraries were being written off as goners. The Internet had made them irrelevant, the argument went. But libraries across the country are reporting jumps in attendance of as much as 65% over the past year, as newly unemployed people flock to branches to fill out résumés and scan ads for job listings. Other recession-weary patrons are turning to libraries for cheap entertainment -- killing time with the free computers, video rentals and, of course, books. Last Friday, there was a particularly long waiting list of 157 to check out the popular vampire novel "Twilight," by Stephenie Meyer, from a branch of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Library here in Tracy. This central California town has been ravaged by mortgage foreclosures, and area libraries report a surge of traffic. Shamika Miller huddled over a laptop at the Tracy branch. Laid off from her job as a bookkeeper at Home Depot more than a year ago, Ms. Miller, 29 years old, says she has visited the library "if not every day, every other day" since October to check job listings with her computer. View Full Image Jim Carlton/The Wall Street Journal Shamika Miller works on a computer at the Stockton-San Joaquin County Library in Tracy, Calif., a town that has been ravaged by mortgage foreclosures. "I come here, first of all, because it's a free Wi-Fi spot," says Ms. Miller, who supports a 10-year-old daughter on her unemployment compensation. And, she says, "there's something about the library that helps you think, at least for me." At the Ferguson Library in Stamford, Conn., "it's not unusual for us to have 40 or 50 reserves on a popular book," says spokeswoman Linda Avellar. At the Randolph County Public Library in Asheboro, N.C. ... Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 694937 http://wlaweb.blogspot.com/2009/01/libraries-continued-to-be-hot-news.html Public libraries continue to get media attention for their booming business during tough economic times, in part because of efforts by the American Library Association and President Jim Rettig to promote their value. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal as well as several in Wisconsin newspapers (for example, see the Wisconsin State Journal, a blogged testimonial on using Hedberg Public Library to save money, and a Fond du Lac Reporter story) touts increased use of computers, Wi-Fi, as well as movies and books, as people search for jobs and try to save money. (Source: The WLA Blog) Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 694947 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=ala_president_jim_rettig_aamp_past_presi&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 The Role of Libraries in Economic Hard Times Libraries today have become multimedia centers, offering not only books but DVDs, e-books and Internet access. They can also be an especially important community resource during times of economic hardship. A look at the future of libraries in a slowing economy. Click here to download a transcript or listen to the broadcast. Guests Carla Hayden, executive director, Enoch Pratt Free Library and past president of the American Library Association Jim Rettig, President of the American Library Association. He is also the University Librarian at the Boatwright Memorial Library at the University of Richmond, Virginia. Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library. She is the Former Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library. (Source: ALA Weblog Service) Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:08:57 +0100 691599 http://library.ppld.org/blogs/ppld/?p=779 The Diane Rehm Show, distributed by National Public Radio, recently did a segment entitled The Role of Libraries in Economic Hard Times. Featured guests included Carla Hayden, executive director, Enoch Pratt Free Library; Jim Rettig, president of the American Library Association; and Ginnie Cooper, chief librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library. You can listen to the show, which has been archived on Rehm’s webpage. (Source: The Blog @ ppld.org) Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:07:14 +0100 691985 http://community.livejournal.com/libraries/901880.html You can listen live to the The Diane Rehm Show today at 11AM eastern (10AM central) through the show's website or through your local NPR station. "Libraries today have become multimedia centers, offering not only books but DVDs, e-books and Internet access. They can also be an especially important community resource during times of economic hardship. A look at the future of libraries in a slowing economy.GuestsCarla Hayden, executive director, Enoch Pratt Free Library and president of the American Library AssociationJim Rettig, President of the American Library Association. He is also the University Librarian at the Boatwright Memorial Library at the University of Richmond, Virginia.Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library. She is the Former Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library."I do not know anything about her show but the subject matter of course interests me. If you miss it live there is probably an archive version available later, check the show's website for more information. (Source: Library Lovers' LiveJournal) Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:27:37 +0100 691853 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Superpatron/~3/a7p2rqr8ZUc/the-role-of-libraries-in-economic-hard-times-recorded-on-wamu-diane-rehm-show.html On the Diane Rehm show on WAMU this morning: 11:00 The Role of Libraries in Economic Hard TimesThere's a recording there too.Libraries today have become multimedia centers, offering not only books but DVDs, e-books and Internet access. They can also be an especially important community resource during times of economic hardship. A look at the future of libraries in a slowing economy. GuestsCarla Hayden, executive director, Enoch Pratt Free Library and past president of the American Library Association Jim Rettig, President of the American Library Association. He is also the University Librarian at the Boatwright Memorial Library at the University of Richmond, Virginia. Ginnie Cooper, Chief Librarian for the District of Columbia Public Library. She is the Former Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library. (Source: Superpatron - Friends of the Library, for the net) Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 690709 http://www.hcplonline.info/weblog/2009/01/role-of-libraries-in-economic-hard.html On January 7th “The Diane Rehm Show”, which airs on WAMU radio and is syndicated on many NPR stations, focused on the increased use of public libraries during the economic downturn. Guests included Carla Hayden, executive director, Enoch Pratt Free Library and past president of the American Library Association, Jim Rettig, President of the American Library Association, and Ginnie Cooper, Chief (Source: Harford County Public Library News) Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 691982 http://blog.njla.org/archives/2008/12/#000368 By KATHY MATHESON Associated Press Writer Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 PHILADELPHIA Some of the loudest protests over proposed city budget cuts in Philadelphia are being voiced for places that are usually ghostly quiet - city libraries. Mayor Michael Nutter was repeatedly booed during a news conference Monday over his decision to shutter 20 percent of the city's 54 library branches in an effort to help close an estimated $1 billion spending gap over the next five years. The mayor, who estimated the 11 library closings will save the city $8 million a year, said the shuttered facilities may reopen as public-private partnerships dubbed "knowledge centers" if the city can find enough financial partners. That didn't go over well with Zachary Hershman, one of a few dozen protesters at the mayor's news conference. Hershman, 23, said the closing of the library in his Kingsessing neighborhood will lead to more dropouts, unemployment and crime in an already poor and violent area. The next nearest branch is overcrowded, he said, with long waits for Internet use that many residents need to access online job applications. Library advocates have been extremely vocal since the mayor announced the budget cuts in November. Seven residents and a municipal union sued last week to stop the library closures, contending they are illegal and endanger poorer communities that don't have the luxuries of big chain bookstores and home Internet access. The mayor is making other cuts, including lowering limits on curbside trash collection, consolidating fire companies, closing 68 of 81 swimming pools, cutting back on snow removal and cutting funding to the city's annual New Year's Day Mummers Parade. In response to the library cuts, Nutter said he expected books, computers and other materials to stay at the "knowledge centers." But he could not say if the facilities would be staffed by librarians. ... Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 689123 http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=ala_president_jim_rettig_releases_statem&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 American Library Association President Jim Rettig released the following statement regarding a federal appeals court ruling made Monday in New York that upheld portions of a decision striking down provisions of the Patriot Act preventing National Security Letter (NSL) recipients from speaking out about the secret demands for individuals' records. Rettig said, “The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has issued its opinion in John Doe, et al. v. Mukasey, the lawsuit challenging the FBI's use of National Security Letters (NSLs) on constitutional grounds. “The American Library Association (ALA) welcomes the court's decision to protect our First Amendment freedoms by placing reasonable limitations on the FBI's ability to impose a gag order when issuing National Security Letters. We also welcome the court's decision requiring meaningful judicial review when an NSL gag order is challenged. “The court's order, however, does not address the constitutionality of the FBI's use of NSLs to obtain an individual's personal data, and we remain concerned about the FBI's use and abuse of NSLs, as documented by the Department of Justice's Inspector General." The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Library Association participated in the litigation as amicus curiae, filing briefs urging the Second Circuit to uphold the District Court's decision and preserve First Amendment rights. The full court opinion is available online at the website maintained by the Second Circuit at http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov. If you would like more information, here is the link to the ACLU's statement: http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/38113prs20081215.html Also, here are links to the ALA's NSL resolution and the accompanying press release: http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/nationalsecurityletters.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2007/july2007/nsl07. ... Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:38:36 +0100 684508 http://blogs.ala.org/coswlcause.php?title=ala_joins_nwhm_national_coalition&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 NEWS For Immediate Release, November 25, 2008 ALA joins NWHM National Coalition The American Library Association (ALA) has added its name to the list of national organizations supporting the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) project. The NWHM raises public awareness and access to the historical contributions women have made in the United States and is advocating for the creation of a permanent national museum in Washington D.C. To date, more than 33 other national women’s organizations with a reach of more than 8.5 million members have officially expressed their support of the NWHM. Based in Alexandria, Va., the museum researches, collects and exhibits the contributions of women to the social, cultural, economic and political life of the United States. It communicates the breadth of women’s experiences and accomplishments to the widest possible audience through innovative and engaging means, including its CyberMuseum, educational programs and outreach efforts. In 1999, The President’s Commission on the Celebration of Women in American History called for a women’s history museum on the Mall in Washington, DC, and specifically cited the NWHM in that role. A site bordering the National Mall has been proposed, and a bill, HR 6548, was introduced in July by Rep. Carolyn Maloney. In June of 2008, the ALA’s Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) received a request by the NWHM project to support the NWHM and its goal to create a permanent museum in Washington D.C. The NWHM sought COSWL’s endorsement through then ALA President Loriene Roy in June because of COSWL’s mission to represent women’s issues in the library profession. COSWL presented a formal proposal to ALA's Executive Board, which voted unanimously in support of the NWHM project and made COSWL the official point of contact within ALA. ... Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:10:35 +0100 677999 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=ala_connections_salon_kids_connect_oct_1_2008&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htmFrom Tom Peters, OPAL Coordinator and convener of the ALA Connections Salon. The ALA Connections Salon series of free online programs, an initiative of ALA President Jim Rettig, continues this Friday (Oct. 17th) with an interview and discussion with Pat Scales, the President of ALSC, the Association of Library Services to Children. The interview will last approximately one hour, with a salon-like discussion following. Details are below. To access this and all upcoming free OPAL online programs, please visit the following URL: http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm Friday, October 17, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 Central, noon Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, and 7:00 p.m. GMT/UTC/Zulu: ALA Connections Salon: Kid Connections with Guest Pat Scales The October installment in the series of ALA President Jim Rettig's ALA Connections Salons will be an online discussion with Pat Scales, President of the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC). Throughout her 36 years as a middle school librarian and advocate for students' right to read, Scales has been passionate about helping young people find books that are just right for them. Following the interview participants will be free to ask questions and engage with Scales and with one another to discuss the joys and challenges of bringing books and kids together. Like European discussion salons, the ALA Connections Salon provides a relaxed environment (online, of course) where ALA members can participate in formal and informal discussions centered around a timely topic. Host: American Library Association Location: ALA OPAL Large Online Room Future dates and topics of ALA Connections Salons are: • Nov. 21, 2008: Political Connections • Dec. 19, 2008: Gaming Connections • Feb. ... Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:20:52 +0100 661504 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=ala_s_501_c_3_status_and_political_speec&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 http://lists.ala-apa.org/sympa/info/apaforumFrom James Rettig, ALA President ---------------- Dear Colleagues: Over the last several weeks, there has been considerable discussion and many questions raised about the constraints imposed by federal law on ALA as a nonprofit charitable organization. On the other hand, there has also been considerable interest in having a forum available where ALA members could freely discuss political topics and the current election in relation to library issues. ALA, because of its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, is expressly and absolutely prohibited by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code from engaging in “political speech.” This means that ALA resources, including electronic discussion lists, blogs and wikis, cannot be used for “the support of, or opposition to, a candidate for public office”. Political speech is different from “lobbying,” which seeks to influence legislation or regulation (ALA continues to lobby aggressively for libraries within federal guidelines). The consequence of violating this legal prohibition is the revocation of tax exempt status. No warnings are required, and the IRS has repeatedly revoked the 501(c)(3) status of organizations considered in violation of these regulations. The absolute prohibition on political speech by associations like ALA is serious — and the “zero tolerance” enforcement policy of the IRS has been upheld by the courts, including the Supreme Court. We - ALA officers, staff and members - are required to comply with these laws until such time as Congress changes them. In doing so, we protect the interests of the Association and its members - present and future - and preserve ALA’s ability to advocate aggressively on behalf of libraries and the public. Simply put, the loss of our 501(c)(3) status would have a catastrophic impact on the Association. ... Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:03:58 +0100 645526 http://www.resourceshelf.com/2008/09/04/ala-president-jim-rettig-releases-statement-on-censorship/ From the news release: The American Library Association (ALA) opposes book banning and censorship in any form, and supports librarians whenever they resist censorship in their libraries. Since our society is so diverse, libraries have a responsibility to provide materials that reflect the interests of all of their patrons. Each year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of reports on books and other materials that were “challenged” (their removal from school or library shelves was requested). The ALA estimates the number reported represents only about a quarter of the actual challenges Source: ALA . (Source: ResourceShelf) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:12:37 +0100 644014 http://bhplnjbookgroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/library-cards-open-doors.html Basketball legend and author Kareem Abdul-Jabar is honorary chairman of the American Library Association's Library Card Sign-Up Month which takes place annually in September. Most people know Mr. Abdul-Jabar for his basketball prowess, but he is also an accomplished author of books on African American history.The American Library Association website states,"The master of the sky hook, the 7-foot-2-inch Abdul-Jabbar led UCLA to three consecutive NCAA titles and the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers to six NBA championships. But Abdul-Jabbar’s achievements go far beyond the court. He has written several books, including “On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance; “Giant Steps”; “Black Profiles in Courage”; “A Season on a Reservation”; and “Brothers in Arms.” Four of his books reached bestseller lists.It's often said that library cards open doors to a whole world of knowledge and human accomplishment. Just yesterday, ALA President Jim Rettig released a statement about the importance of libraries to provide free access to a wide range of materials for all Americans. Click here to see his statement in which he "reminds Americans not to take the precious democratic freedom to read for granted. "So exercise your right to read, sign up for a library card today. (Source: Berkeley Heights Public Library Book Blog and Buzz) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 644064 http://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/forum/2008/08/2008-08-26b-forum.mp3 Just stumbled across this episode of KQED’s Forum (a call-in talk show): Tue, Aug 26, 2008 — 10:00 AM The Future of Libraries Traditional libraries have been caught between declining budgets and the explosive growth of online research. We talk with experts in the field about how the institutions are evolving to meet the changing needs of patrons. Host: Michael Krasny Guests: • Al Escoffier, city librarian for the Burlingame Public Library • Jane Light, director of the San Jose Library • Jim Rettig, president of the American Library Association • Martin Gomez, president of the Urban Libraries Council Embedded player: [Direct link to mp3 file] (Yes, I remember what T. Scott said about discussing the future of libraries.) Download audio file (2008-08-26b-forum.mp3) (Source: davidrothman.net) Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:02:56 +0100 641602 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LibraryCloud/~3/369978619/love-librarian.html It seems almost redundant to post this to a librarian-run blog, but hey, we all know other librarians who might be deserving of this award - - -CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK/NEW YORK TIMESI LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD ANNOUNCEDNominations for public librarians open August 15Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded the American Library Association $489,000 to support the new Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.Administered by the ALA’s Public Information Office and Campaign for America’s Libraries, the award will launch this year and will continue annually through 2013. The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community.Nominations for public librarians run from August 15 through October 1. Nominations for school and academic librarians begin September 2 and continue through October 15. “In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York."We’re thrilled to be working with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the American Library Association to honor librarians who play such a vital role in our communities,” said Scott Heekin-Canedy, president of The New York Times. “What began as a local Times initiative in New York City seven years ago has grown to a national awards program and now we are proud to be co-presenting the award with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the ALA. ... Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:26:00 +0100 638438 http://www.cla-net.org/weblog/2008/08/carnegie_corpor.php Nominations for public librarians open August 15 Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded the American Library Association $489,000 to support the new Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. Administered by the ALA's Public Information Office and Campaign for America's Libraries, the award will launch this year and will continue annually through 2013. The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations for public librarians run from August 15 through October 1. Nominations for school and academic librarians begin September 2 and continue through October 15. "In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself," said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. "We're thrilled to be working with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the American Library Association to honor librarians who play such a vital role in our communities," said Scott Heekin-Canedy, president of The New York Times. "What began as a local Times initiative in New York City seven years ago has grown to a national awards program and now we are proud to be co-presenting the award with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the ALA." "This award will continue to raise awareness of the valuable contributions of today's librarians and the ways they make a difference in people's lives and their communities, schools and campuses," said ALA President Jim Rettig. ... Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:20:50 +0100 636596 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=jim_casey_s_report_from_annual&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE Anaheim, California. June 26-July 2, 2008. Notes by James B. Casey Located within a Disney theme park district, ALA Annual for 2008 in Anaheim was an environment similar to the 2004 Annual Conference in Orlando. While much important business was transacted and learning accomplished by those in attendance, it must be said that the cultural surroundings within which the Orlando and Anaheim conferences were set were somewhat less than edifying. The weather was, however, remarkably mild and pleasant and the overall attendance was far better than Orlando and New Orleans (2006) annuals. The final attendance for Anaheim was reported on July 2 at Council III to be 22,047. The past two Annual Conference final attendance reports were 28,228 for Washington (2007) and16,784 New Orleans (2006). Future Mid-Winter Meetings (January) will be held in Denver (2009), Boston (2010), San Diego (2011), Dallas (2012), Seattle (2013) and Philadelphia (2014). Future Annual Conferences (June) will be held in Chicago (2009), Washington, D.C. (2010), New Orleans (2011), Anaheim (2012), Washington (2013) and Las Vegas (2014). My wife, Diane Dates Casey, finished the final year of her three-year term as Division Councilor for the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) and participated actively in Council Sessions as well as presenting reports on her service with the important LC Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control. As Division Councilor, Diane sits on the ALCTS Board of Directors and its Executive Committee. I completed the first year of my fourth term (and eleventh year) as a Member At-Large of ALA Council and first year of my service on the TFOEMP (Task Force on Electronic Member Participation) and on COO (Committee on Organization). ... Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:58:39 +0100 620416 http://lorieneroy.blogspot.com/2008/07/hello-council-heres-my-last-brief.html Hello, Council,Here’s my -last brief update, listing selected activities over the past week. Thank you for the honor of serving as your President.Cheers,Loriene Roy, 2007-2008 ALA President+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I. PresentationsA. 25 June: “Greetings,” Spectrum Leadership Institute, Garden Grove, CA. B. 26 June: “Professional Pathways to Celebrating Community, Collaboration, and Culture,” Diversity Leadership Institute 2008, “Fundamentals of Diversity,” Anaheim, California. C. 26 June: “Librarian Offers Reading Tips for Gay Pride Month,” NPR: Tell Me More. D. 26 June: “Greetings and Advice,” Incoming ALA Committee Chair Orientation. E. 27 June: “Greetings,” International Relations Round Table Preconference. F. 27 June: “Greetings,” Oral History Workshop (“Capturing Our Stories”) G. 27 June: “Greetings,” Emerging Leaders. H. 27 June: “Greetings,” Education Forum. I. 27 June: “Greetings,” Literacy Committee. J. 27 June: “Greetings,” International Relations Round Table Librarians Orientation K. 27 June: “Greetings,” Many Voices, Many Nations L. 27 June: “Greetings and Awarding of Presidential Citations for Innovation in Gaming,” Open Gaming Night. M. 28 June: “Greetings,” NMRT Orientation. N. 28 June: “Script Reading,” Exhibits Ribbon Cutting. O. 28 June: “Greetings,” Council Orientation for New and Re-Elected Councilors. P. 28 June: “Script Reading: Introduction,” Vernon Jordan, Jr., Auditorium Speaker Q.28 June: “Greetings,” LAMA Mentoring Committee Kick-Off Event. R. 28 June: “Summary of ALA Presidential Year,” Chapter Relations Committee. S. 28 June: “Script Reading,” Opening General Session. T. 29 June: “Greetings,” Pura Belpre Award Ceremony. U. 29 June: Co-Presenter, ALA President’s Program (We Shall Remain segment) V. ... Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:15:00 +0100 619957 http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=intellectual_freedom_programs_at_2008_al&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 For those attending this month's ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, we hope you'll be able to attend some or all of these exciting programs! IF 101 Friday, June 27 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 304 A/B, Anaheim Convention Center Perfect for new ALA members, new conference attendees, and new Intellectual Freedom fanatics, this session - part of ALA's "Conference 101" series of programs - will discuss the history and ongoing work of OIF, IFC, IFRT, FTRF, the Merritt Fund, and more! Curious to know what those acronyms mean? Want to get more involved in this critical aspect of librarianship? This is the session for you! Freedom of Expression®: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property Saturday, June 28 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 304 A/B, Anaheim Convention Center Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Round Table and the Intellectual Freedom Committee This screening of Freedom of Expression®: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property will be followed by a panel discussion about fair use and free speech with co-producers Kembrew McLeod and Jeremy Smith, and others. Based on McLeod's award-winning book of the same title, Freedom of Expression® explores the battles being waged in courts, classrooms, museums, film studios, and the Internet over control of our cultural commons. Politics of Differences: Cultural Sensitivities and Global Ethics for Libraries and Librarians Saturday, June 28 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 204A Anaheim Convention Center Sponsored by the Committee on Professional Ethics How can we build a global ethical framework for the library and information profession based a common ground of values while also respecting the diversity of historically and culturally based ethical values that provide the foundation for library and information services throughout the world? Dr. Nancy P. ... Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:28:04 +0100 609064 http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6540787.html?rssid=191 In Congressional testimony yesterday, Jim Rettig, president-elect, American Library Association, continued criticism regarding the closures of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) libraries. An EPA official stressed that the agency was taking steps to respond. (Source: Book News) Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:40:45 +0100 570432 http://blogs.ala.org/yalsa.php?title=the_yalsa_update_valentines_aamp_deadlin&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Tell Your Librarian You Love Them This Valentine’s Day, have your teens, parents, children and library supporters flood federal elected officials’ district offices with Valentines that express love for your library and its staff and ask for support for important legislation. The ALA Youth Divisions - AASL, ALSC and YALSA - are sending out a call to action to library workers to have teens, children, parents and library supporters in their community send “I Love My Teen Services Librarian” or “I Love My School Librarian” Valentine cards to their U.S. Senators and Representatives, and to ask their elected officials to co-sponsor the SKILLS Act &/or support LSTA funding for libraries. Learn more on how to participate at the I Love My Librarian Campaign Wiki. Great Stories Club Applications Due Next Week! Apply by February 15 for a Great Stories Club program grant! The Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved teens, and Books) is organized by the American Library Association Public Programs Office (PPO), in cooperation with YALSA. Major funding for the Great Stories CLUB has been provided by Oprah's Angel Network. Connect with hard-to-reach, underserved teens by conducting a Great Stories Club reading and discussion program in your library. All libraries located within or working in partnership with facilities serving troubled teens are eligible to apply. For a list of the titles included, guidelines and the online application, visit www.ala.org/greatstories. You may also wish to review the Great Stories Club Resource Guide posted on this site as you plan your library’s application. With questions, please contact the ALA Public Programs Office, publicprograms@ala.org. Be A 2008-2009 Spectrum Scholar! Starting in fiscal year 2008, YALSA will support one Spectrum Scholar! Applications for 2008-2009 scholars are due at ALA by March 1. ... Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:43:44 +0100 552626 http://michaelgolrick.blogspot.com/2007/12/camila-alire-for-ala-president.html Here is why I am supporting Camila for ALA President, her most recent post called UPS and ALA. Given that the current President-Elect, Jim Rettig, has expressed similar thoughts about the need to change the profession.Now, this is not to say anything bad about J. Linda Williams (the other candidate) with whom I have worked in ALA.In any case, if you are an ALA member, please vote. (Source: Thoughts from a Library Administrator) Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:41:00 +0100 533328 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/familymanlibrarian/dwVA/~3/178858251/1381 Surely the news from last week about some Congressmen unfavorably comparing the Library of Congress to the likes of Wal-Mart and UPS was one of the stupidest things I have ever read. I was genuinely shocked by the level of ignorance and, well, stupidity…shown by Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) and Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), when they made statements like the following: “You might be well advised to consult with Wal-Mart or Target who track inventory every day.” and “If UPS can track millions of items a day and not have a 10 percent loss, why can’t you?” I mean, are these people for real???? Here is a link to an excellent post by Matt Raymond at the Library of Congress that thoroughly and completely exposes the whole tempest-in-a-teapot for the farce that it was: http://www.loc.gov/blog/?p=207. In that same blog post there is discussion about the current ALA president, James Rettig, and his comments to Congress about what he sees as major deficiencies with recent changes in cataloging and so forth. Here is part of what he stated that the Library of Congress needed to do: “…require the Library of Congress to consult broadly and meaningfully with the library community, including organizations central to bibliographic control, regarding all future decisions to substantively modify the character and quantity of bibliographic records” Good grief. What on earth does he think LC has been doing? And has always done?! I can (barely) grasp that Congressmen might be ignorant but for someone at the highest levels of librarianship in this country to make such dumb statements is, in my opinion, inexcusable. Even worse to my mind was that many of my librarian colleagues cheered him on. It’s yet another reason I am so thankful that I no longer belong to the American Library Association (as if I needed any more reasons). (Source: Family Man Librarian) Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:28:56 +0100 506925 http://blogs.ala.org/districtdispatch.php?title=ala_president_elect_jim_rettig_testifies&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 As reported earlier in the District Dispatch, yesterday, October 24, ALA President-elect Jim Rettig testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on House Administration. This oversight hearing for the Library of Congress was called "Issues in Library Management." Rettig's full testimony is available below as a PDF file. Others who testified included Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress, and Ann Fessenden, President, American Association of Law Libraries. Jim Rettig Library of Congress Testimony -- October 24, 2007 (PDF) (Source: ALA Weblog Service) Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:09:20 +0100 502353 http://blogs.ala.org/districtdispatch.php?title=ala_president_elect_jim_rettig_to_call_f&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, October 24, American Library Association (ALA) President-elect Jim Rettig will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives' House Administration Committee at an oversight hearing on the Library of Congress. Traditionally, the Library of Congress has served as a de facto national library, upon which thousands of libraries across the country rely for bibliographic records and services to the blind and physically handicapped, among other things. Countless users rely on the Library's records every day to find the books and materials they need. “The diminution of the quality and quantity of Library of Congress cataloging has had an enormous financial impact on the nation's libraries,” Rettig states. “Cataloging that the Library previously provided must now be performed by multiple libraries, often doing duplicative work, thereby wasting tax dollars.” “ALA strongly recommends that the Library of Congress return to its former practice of broad and meaningful consultation prior to making significant changes to cataloging policy.” The Library of Congress' communication efforts are a theme that runs through each aspect of Rettig's testimony. Rettig also expressed concerns about the need for more funding for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), which serves more than 750,000 people, and surely more in the near future, as the baby boomer generation ages. “[The NLS also serves] thousands more Americans - our military veterans who have returned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with new access needs - who need and deserve fully funded NLS services.” # Jim Rettig currently serves as University Library at the University of Richmond, Virginia. During 2007-8, he is President-elect of the American Library Association, the world's oldest and largest library association. (Source: ALA Weblog Service) Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:47:48 +0100 501107 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=involving_and_evolving_as_a_student_memb&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Adapted from an email sent to a student member from Gwendolyn Prellwitz, Program Officer, Office for Diversity & Spectrum. http:www.ala.org/spectrum ALA Committee Appointment Form - how existing members get involved; see http://jimrettig.org/content/volunteer/volunteer.htm Members of certain key committees of the American Library Association (ALA) are appointed by the incoming ALA President during a window of time, between now and January. Our President-Elect Jim Rettig will be making these appointments. In order to be considered, you must complete the volunteer form linked on his website above, the deadline for volunteering is December 3, 2007. It also helps sometimes to connect with the ALA Unit or Office that liaisons to a particular committee you're interested in and express your desire to be an intern. This helps us in making recommendations to the new President regarding his appointments. New Members Round Table - an organization specially designed for new members to connect and get involved; see http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/getinvolved/joinnmrt.htm The New Members Round Table (NMRT) provides a place for those members of the American Library Association (ALA) who are new to the library profession, new to ALA, or new to both. Dues are only $10 on top of your ALA membership. NMRT is a gateway for new members entering the library profession, a pathfinder through the maze of ALA, and a stepping-stone to higher places. The Round Table has its very own committees working on its mission, so getting a membership to NMRT and getting involved in one of its committees provides insight and a great first opportunity to see how committees work. Emerging Leaders - a special program to help new librarians and members get involved in leadership roles in ALA; see http://wikis.ala. ... Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:31:35 +0100 500557 http://blogs.ala.org/lamaleads.php?title=ala_committee_appointments&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 As president-elect of LAMA, I am a member of the ALA Committee on Appointments. Below is a list of the committees that the division presidents-elect will be advising ALA President-Elect Jim Rettig on. If you are interested on serving on any of these committees, please complete the volunteer form at https://cs.ala.org/rettig/volunteer.html and then also send me an email at mollyr@multcolib.org so that I can advocate for your appointment. Please note that some of the committees that are of high interest (IFC, Leg. Comm., IRC, and others) are not on this list because those appoinments are made by the Council Committee on Committees, also chaired by Jim Rettig. I encourage you to volunteer and include 2nd and 3rd choices in case your first choice is a popular committee. I have learned a great deal and received a lot of professional satisfaction by working on several of these committees over the 33 years I have belonged to ALA. If you are active in LAMA but haven't ventured "outside" to the larger ALA, encourage you to do so. Just be sure to let me know so that I can help you get an appointment--and please include a short note about your experience/interest in the areas of you choice. ALA COMMITTEES 1. Accreditation, Karen O'Brien 2. American Libraries Advisory 3. Awards 4. Chapter Relations 5. Conference 6. Constitution and Bylaws 7. Election, Al Companio 8. Human Resource Development and Recruitment Advisory (Office for) 9. Information Technology Policy Advisory (Office for) 10. Literacy 11. Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory (Office for) 12. Membership 13. Membership Meetings 14. Nominating 15. Orientation, Training and Leadership Development 16. Public and Cultural Programs Advisory 17. Research and Statistics 18. Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds Committe 19. Scholarships and Study Grants Committee 20. Website Advisory 21. ALA-Association of American Publishers Joint Committee 22. ALA-Children's Book Council Joint 23. ... Sun, 09 Sep 2007 02:12:23 +0100 478164 http://blogs.ala.org/lamaleads.php?title=ala_call_for_committee_members&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 ALA President-Elect Jim Rettig is seeking applications and nominations for appointments to 2008-2009 ALA and Council committees. He will fill slots on the following committees: Accreditation; American Libraries Advisory; Awards; Budget Analysis and Review; Chapter Relations; Conference; Constitution and Bylaws; Council Orientation; Diversity; Education; Election; Human Resource Development and Recruitment Advisory; Information Technology Policy Advisory; Intellectual Freedom; International Relations; Legislation; Literacy; Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory; Membership; Membership Meetings; Nominating (Deadline for Nominating Committee applications is September 1, 2007); Organization; Orientation, Training, and Leadership Development; Policy Monitoring (current Council members only); Professional Ethics; Public and Cultural Programs Advisory; Public Awareness; Publishing; Research and Statistics; Resolutions; Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds; Scholarships and Study Grants; Status of Women in Librarianship; Website Advisory; ALA-Children's Book Council (Joint); ALA-Association of American Publishers (Joint) and ALA-Society of American Archivists-American Association of Museums (Joint). Committee charges can be found in the ALA Handbook of Organization. All applicants must complete and submit the electronic 2008-2009 ALA Committee Volunteer Form. The form is available at: https://cs.ala.org/rettig/volunteer.html. The deadline for submission of committee volunteer applications and nominations is Monday, December 3, 2007, which the exception of the Nominating Committee, with is September 1, 2007. Geographical location, type of library, gender, ethnicity, previous committee work (not necessarily with ALA), ALA and related experience, and other factors are considered when the committee slates are compiled in order to ensure broad representation and diversity on all committees. ... Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:06:28 +0100 467216 http://librarycareers.blogspot.com/2007/08/call-for-committee-volunteers.html CALL FOR COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERSALA President-Elect Jim Rettig is seeking applications and nominations for appointments to 2008-2009 ALA and Council committees. He will fill slots on the following committees: Accreditation; American Libraries Advisory; Awards; Budget Analysis and Review; Chapter Relations; Conference; Constitution and Bylaws; Council Orientation; Diversity; Education; Election; Human Resource Development and Recruitment Advisory; Information Technology Policy Advisory; Intellectual Freedom; International Relations; Legislation; Literacy; Literacy and Outreach Services Advisory; Membership; Membership Meetings; Nominating (Deadline for Nominating Committee applications is September 1, 2007); Organization; Orientation, Training, and Leadership Development; Policy Monitoring (current Council members only); Professional Ethics; Public and Cultural Programs Advisory; Public Awareness; Publishing; Research and Statistics; Resolutions; Rural, Native and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds; Scholarships and Study Grants; Status of Women in Librarianship; Website Advisory; ALA-Children's Book Council (Joint); ALA-Association of American Publishers (Joint) and ALA-Society of American Archivists-American Association of Museums (Joint). Committee charges can be found in the ALA Handbook of Organization.All applicants must complete and submit the electronic 2008-2009 ALA Committee Volunteer Form. The form is available at: https://cs.ala.org/rettig/volunteer.html. The deadline for submission of committee volunteer applications and nominations is Monday, December 3, 2007, which the exception of the Nominating Committee, with is September 1, 2007.Geographical location, type of library, gender, ethnicity, previous committee work (not necessarily with ALA), ALA and related experience, and other factors are considered when the committee slates are compiled in order to ensure broad representation and diversity on all committees. ... Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:42:00 +0100 466711 http://michaelgolrick.blogspot.com/2007/08/alas-call-for-committee-volunteers.html Have you ever wanted to serve on an ALA Committee? Well, now is the time to get your name in for committee appointments which begin after ALA Annual in Anaheim. Most member are appointments for two years, and chairs are appointed for one year as chair (and may or may not already be members of that committee).So....what committees are included? Well ALA has a page listing all the association-wide committees. There are two kinds of committees: Council and Association. The only difference is who decides. The Committee on Committees (elected by Council from its membership) appoints to the Council committees. The Committee on Appointments appoints the other committees. The Committee on Appointments is made up of the President-Elect of each division. You can fill out one form for both committees at once, and it is now an interactive form. Here is the text of the email which has begun to make the rounds:ALA President-Elect Jim Rettig is seeking applications and nominations for appointments to 2008-2009 ALA and Council committees. ... Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:49:00 +0100 466726 http://community.livejournal.com/libraries/773024.html Library patrons indignant at Southeast Library's lack of classic titlesBill Myers, The Washington D.C. ExaminerWASHINGTON - D.C. Public Library officials say they're reinventing the neighborhood library by culling their shelves, restocking with popular titles and focusing on digital media and self-help books. But some activists say the library is dumbing down its collection in a city where cultural standards and literacy rates are already shameful."It's condescending," Hill East neighborhood activist Bryce Suderow said. "It's making an assumption that we're incapable of reading better books....Loriene Roy, the president of the American Library Association, said that libraries have been moving toward the "bookstore" model for more than 20 years."If people are looking for a good book to read, let's make it easier," she said, explaining officials' thinking. "Help the browser."In D.C., though, that's meant pulling books that aren't checked out frequently. That includes world classics such as Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," but also of home-grown authors including Noah Trudeau, Suderow said."Trudeau's 'Like Men of War' is the best book on black soldiers in the Civil War ever written," he said. "And now it's gone."Suderow spoke to The Examiner from within the brightly lit, newly remodeled Southeast Library near the gentrified Eastern Market neighborhood.The library was closed in April. When it was reopened in June, 8,000 books were missing, reducing the library from 58 shelves to 28. The shelves were dominated by brightly colored books in their jackets. The biggest single section was the self-help "For Dummies" series. There were only a few books in the "History" and "Science" sections. There was one book on the Civil War.If library officials have their way, every library branch in D.C. will look like Southeast. ... Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:11:45 +0100 463299 http://michaelgolrick.blogspot.com/2007/07/ala-nominating-committee.html My friend ALA President-Elect Jim Rettig posted about the ALA Nominating Committee. It is so important that I not only provided the link to his post, but am re-posting the message below:The ALA 2008 Nominating Committee is soliciting nominees to run on the 2008 spring ballot for Councilor-at-large. 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. Members who wish to make nominations should submit the followingi nformation: 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. Nominations and forms must be received no later than September 1, 2007. Nominations may be sent to any member of the 2008 Nominating Committee. Committee members are: W. Lee Hisle, ChairVice President of Information Services & Librarian of CollegeConnecticut CollegeE-mail: wlhis@conncoll.eduNancy BoltNancy Bolt & AssociatesGolden, COE-mail: nancybolt@earthlink.netTyrone Heath CannonLibrary DeanUniversity of San FranciscoE-mail: cannont@usfca.eduJon E. CawthorneAssociate DeanSan Diego State UniversityE-mail:jcawthor@rohan.sdsu.eduAlma DawsonProfessorLouisiana State UniversityE-mail: notaed@lsu.eduKaren E. DowningFoundation and Grants LibrarianUniversity of MichiganE-mail: kdown@umich.eduLoida A. Garcia-FeboAsst. Coordinator, Special ServicesQueens Library, Jamaica, NYE-mail: loida.garcia-febo@queenslibrary.orgDale H. RossTrustee, Ames [IA] Public LibraryE-mail:dross24704@aol.comJennifer A. YoungerEdward H. Arnold Director of University LibrariesUniversity of Notre Dame, INE-mail:Jennifer.A.Younger.1@nd.eduTo encourage diversity and leadership development, the Committee will refrain from nominating current Councilors for election to another term. ... Wed, 01 Aug 2007 01:36:00 +0100 459394 http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=freedom_to_read_foundation_election_resu&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 The Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) is pleased to announce the winners of its 2007 Board of Trustees election, held in April. Six trustees were elected to two-year terms, beginning in June: Bernadine Abbott Hoduski, Therese Bigelow, Robert P. Doyle, John K. Horany, James G. Neal, and Judith Platt. Of these trustees, Bigelow, Neal, and Platt were re-elected; Abbott Hoduski, Doyle, and Horany are newly elected. These trustees will join Francis J. Buckley (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Chris Finan (New York), Deborah Jacobs (Seattle, Wash.), Burton Joseph (Chicago), and Candace D. Morgan (Portland, Ore.) as elected board members. The American Library Association President (Loriene Roy), President Elect (James Rettig), Executive Director (Keith Michael Fiels), and Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair (Kenton Oliver) serve on the board in an ex-officio capacity, with vote. Judith Krug is the secretary of the board and executive director of the Foundation. Biographical information on the election winners follows: Bernadine Abbott Hoduski (Helena, Mont.) retired in 1997 after serving as professional librarian/staff member for the Joint Committee on Printing for nearly 25 years. Prior to joining the Joint Committee on Printing, she served as Head Librarian, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Kansas City, Mo., and as guest lecturer at Central Missouri State University and the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Library Schools. She was the founder of ALA’s Government Documents Round Table in 1972 and currently serves on the ALA Council. Therese Bigelow (Kansas City, Mo.) is Associate Director of Strategic Planning & Community Development at the Kansas City, Mo., Public Library. She currently serves on the Marketing Public Libraries Committee of the Public Library Association and is an ALA Councilor. Robert P. Doyle (Chicago) is Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association. ... Tue, 15 May 2007 17:49:26 +0100 417085 http://xrefer.blogspot.com/2007/05/neal-wyatt-elected-rusa-president-for.html Neal Wyatt has been elected president of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, for the 2008-2009 term. Wyatt will become RUSA president-elect in July 2007 and will assume the RUSA presidency in July 2008 (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Sat, 12 May 2007 09:39:56 +0100 415511 http://xrefer.blogspot.com/2007/05/ann-m-martin-elected-aasl-president.html Ann M. Martin, educational specialist in Library Information Service for the Henrico County Public Schools (Va.), was elected president-elect of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) in the 2007 election. Martin will serve as president-elect starting in July 2007, and will assume the AASL presidency at the end of the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, California (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Sat, 12 May 2007 09:38:49 +0100 415512 http://xrefer.blogspot.com/2007/05/desch-elected-ascla-president-for-2008.html Carol Ann Desch, coordinator of Statewide Library Services and director of the Division of Library Development, New York State Library, Albany, has been elected president of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, a division of the American Library Association, for the 2008-2009 term. Desch will become ASCLA president-elect in July 2007, and will assume the ASCLA presidency in July 2008 (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Fri, 11 May 2007 11:18:18 +0100 414866 http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/search/librarianship/SIG=13gq5d8qd/*http%3A//www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=157499 CHICAGO—Carol Ann Desch, coordinator of Statewide Library Services and director of the Division of Library Development, New York State Library, Albany, has been elected president of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), for the 2008-2009 term. (Source: Yahoo! News Search Results for librarianship) Fri, 11 May 2007 00:24:23 +0100 415460 http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/arlisnap/~3/113889929/ From the ALA website (complete article here): CHICAGO - James Rettig, university librarian at the University of Richmond (Va.), has been elected president of the American Library Association (ALA)... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: [ArLiSNAP]) Thu, 03 May 2007 14:09:34 +0100 410532 http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6438389.html James Rettig, an expert on reference and university librarian at the University of Richmond, VA, has been elected 2008-9 president of the American Library Association (ALA) in a very close vote, defeating Nancy Davenport, a longtime Library of Congress executive and president, Nancy Davenport and Associates. (Source: Library Journal News) Wed, 02 May 2007 16:44:09 +0100 409030 http://xrefer.blogspot.com/2007/05/james-rettig-elected-ala-president-for.html James Rettig, University Librarian at the University of Richmond (Va.), has been elected president of the American Library Association for the 2008-2009 term, defeating Nancy Davenport, president, Nancy Davenport and Associates (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog) Wed, 02 May 2007 10:25:06 +0100 408916 http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6438389.html James Rettig, an expert on reference and university librarian at the University of Richmond, VA, has been elected 2008-9 president of the American Library Association, defeating Nancy Davenport, a longtime Library of Congress executive and president, Nancy Davenport and Associates. (Source: Library Journal News) Wed, 02 May 2007 08:27:30 +0100 408814 http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6438333.html?rssid=190 The American Library Association (ALA) has a new president: James Rettig, university librarian of the University of Richmond in Virginia, will take the helm of the world’s oldest and largest library association for the 2008-2009 term. (Source: School Library Journal Breaking News) Tue, 01 May 2007 07:00:00 +0100 409759 http://tametheweb.com/2007/02/rettig_for_president.html I finally had some time to read about the candidates and listen to the podcast from Seattle and I'd like to take just a moment to endorse Jim Rettig for president of the American Library Association. http://rettigforala.org/ A few reasons why: In the Q&A segment of the podcast, biblioblogger Gary McClay asks the presidential candidates "What does Library 2.0 mean to you?" Nancy Davenport answers first and discusses applying Web 2.0 tools to libraries and the association, promoting better communication. Nice answer, but Rettig really grabbed me with his response. Rettig replies (as best I can transcribe): Library 2.0 is an example that ALA can learn from so that we can create ALA 2.0: which would be about inclusion, participation and collaboration. We are very, very good about talking about collaboration and breaking down silos at ALA but we aren't as good at actually doing it. And the model that L2 provides of all stakeholders having an opportunity to participate and have their voices heard is one that we need to work on. We need to boldly experiment in how people can participate in this association. I agree and appreciate the fact that Rettig acknowledges how the L2 model can offer a voice to all members of the association, and, in my mind, especially those new members who will shape the future of the association. Also, he's a blogger at Twilight Librarian and has been blogging since July of last year -- and comments are open! That's a definite indicator for me -- if I see a library blog with comments closed I worry that the library might not want people entering into conversastion. Trust trumps fear in my book! From his platform at http://rettigforala.org/content/platform.htm, I like this as well: ALA and its divisions work hard to educate policy makers about the value of libraries to their communities. I will continue to speak out on behalf of libraries of every type and the fundamental rights and freedoms they represent. ... Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:19:37 +0100 366604 http://blogs.ala.org/greenroo.php?title=about_architecting_participation&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 In a session at the annual conference of the American Society of Association Executives (still working on a post about that), William Taylor (Mavericks at Work) advised advised us to focus on our "architecture of participation." A Google search takes me a Wikipedia article and from there to Tim O'Reilly's June 2004 "Open Source Paradigm Shift." The "architecture of participation" has been one of the most persistent focal points in the greenroo space during the past months -- and will be for months to come. I began thinking about this in association space -- trying to facilitate broader discussion on a 2005-2006 study from ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership on major trends affecting associations. Many association executives are serious readers -- probably not a surprise to those of you in the library world. So, we took the mechanism of a existing association executives book club -- a monthly teleconference on a specific book -- and tweaked it a bit. We shifted the discussion focus to a trend area -- but sent out an advance reading list for each session and asked the month's facilitator to use books, journal articles and web-based resources (including blog posts) as "springboards" for the discussion. That lead us into some interesting explorations. At the same time, an association colleage -- Ben Martin at the Virginia Society of CPAs -- built a discussion group within an online community structure. That discussion, the exchange of stories in that community month by month, trend by trend, was very rich. Then, Ben and I worked together to present a session at the ASAE conference in Boston this August. Well, we started down the path of doing a panel-style presentation -- then changed our architecture. We decided to facilitate a series of small group discussions. There were groups at tables, on the floor, clustered in the doorway -- a full house. ... Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:10:02 +0100 305388 http://blogs.ala.org/memberblog.php?title=candidates_espouse_their_views_at_forum&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 By Kathlene Hanson California State University Candidates for ALA President and Treasurer gave brief state¬ments and addressed questions from audience members Saturday. Candidates for ALA President are Nancy A. Davenport (http://www.nancydavenport.info) and James R. Retting (http://rettigforala.org). Davenport emphasized the importance of the democratic process within ALA and thanked the nominating committee for their confidence in her as a candidate. She values the mission and vision of ALA and would represent ALA by creating collections between different types of libraries, encourag¬ing diversity in the workplace and within ALA. On her website Davenport states, “Throughout my three decades as an active ALA member, I have met some of my closest colleagues, collected invaluable knowledge to further my career, and have gained a thorough understanding of the workings of the ALA, private institutions and govern¬ment agencies. The American Library Association is the driving force in our profession. It is my goal to solidify the position of the ALA as the leader in our community.” Through understanding of the values of ALA and her experiences, she wants to promote and expand on the values of ALA and hopes to successfully an¬ticipate questions about professionals’ needs for doing their jobs better. She values education and wants to work on increasing interest in the profession among college students. She also values library staff and will advocate for more inclusion of staff in ALA. Davenport stated that she is committed to creating educational oppor¬tunities and sharing best practices and wants to establish an awards programs for students to travel to conferences. “Libraries create connections. We con¬nect dreams and ideas,” she said. “I am happy to be nominated to be ALA’s voice and to propel its future advocacy and programs. ... Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:12:01 +0100 344072 http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/october2006a/presidentialnominees.htm The American Library Association Executive Board approved the Nominating Committee’s selections for ALA presidential candidates at its October 29–30 fall meeting in Chicago. Seeking the 2007–2008 ALA presidency are Nancy Davenport, president . . . (Source: AL Online News) Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:28:01 +0100 298772 http://blogs.ala.org/greenroo.php?title=about_architecting_participation In a session at the annual conference of the American Society of Association Executives (still working on a post about that), William Taylor (Mavericks at Work) advised advised us to focus on our "architecture of participation." A Google search takes me a Wikipedia article and from there to Tim O'Reilly's June 2004 "Open Source Paradigm Shift." The "architecture of participation" has been one of the most persistent focal points in the greenroo space during the past months -- and will be for months to come. I began thinking about this in association space -- trying to facilitate broader discussion on a 2005-2006 study from ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership on major trends affecting associations. Many association executives are serious readers -- probably not a surprise to those of you in the library world. So, we took the mechanism of a existing association executives book club -- a monthly teleconference on a specific book -- and tweaked it a bit. We shifted the discussion focus to a trend area -- but sent out an advance reading list for each session and asked the month's facilitator to use books, journal articles and web-based resources (including blog posts) as "springboards" for the discussion. That lead us into some interesting explorations. At the same time, an association colleage -- Ben Martin at the Virginia Society of CPAs -- built a discussion group within an online community structure. That discussion, the exchange of stories in that community month by month, trend by trend, was very rich. Then, Ben and I worked together to present a session at the ASAE conference in Boston this August. Well, we started down the path of doing a panel-style presentation -- then changed our architecture. We decided to facilitate a series of small group discussions. There were groups at tables, on the floor, clustered in the doorway -- a full house. ... Wed, 22 Nov 2006 05:57:03 +0100 298577 http://tametheweb.com/2006/11/on_ala_20.html I'm serving on the ALA Participation Task Force this year. President Leslie Burger established the ALA Participation Task Force "to develop recommendations for expanding member opportunities, especially for the for the next generation of leaders, to participate in their association in meaningful ways," according to the document Jim Rettig sent this summer. I just heard that Jim is a candidate for vice-president/president-elect and if elected he will serve as VP in 2007-08 and President in 2008-09. Woohoo! Jim asked the group to envision "ALA 2.0" and asked for submissions by today. Jim put his up at his blog: http://keillor.richmond.edu/blojsom/blog/jrettig/American+Library+Association/?permalink=font-face-Arial-Helvetica-sans-serif-size-2-ALA-2-0-font.html Below is my response, and of course, like many blog posts, it's a work in progress and written as such. On ALA 2.0 Is ALA ready to open their data, tap into the collective intelligence of their 60,000 + members and create rich user experiences for members online and at conferences? I think so and I believe it?s important. As evidenced by the projects created by the ALA L2 teams in the summer of 2006, ALA staff and members realize the benefit of the Read/Write organization and created some innovative scenarios regarding Web 2.0. For new members, millennial librarians and those new to the profession, this shift is imperative. When a quickly-formed group of plugged in librarians can convene online so easily between free tools such as Facebook, a wiki, a blog and chat tools such as IM to create knowledge, hold a conference or make a decision, we must offer similar experiences and affordances to our new members. The 57% of millennials Pew reported who have created content for the web - blog posts, podcasts, videos, mashups and more - are also entering library school. ... Sat, 11 Nov 2006 13:25:23 +0100 297722 http://www.librarydust.com/library_dust/2006/11/james_rettig.html I discovered yesterday, much to my delight, that James Rettig is running for the Presidency of the American Library Association. Rettig and I are not precisely peers; he occupies a position well apart and above mine in the scheme of...I discovered yesterday, much to my delight, that James Rettig is running for the Presidency of the American Library Association.  Rettig and I are not precisely peers; he occupies a position well apart and above mine in the scheme of things.  I know more of him than I do through him; we have spoken only a few times during Council meetings, though he has been unfailingly cordial.  Mainly I know Mr. Rettig through documentary evidence.  During 2005 the U.S. Copyright Office began to address the issue of “orphan works,” publications whose owners are not locatable, a situation which makes it difficult if not impossible to obtain permissions to use or build upon the original work.  Most of the creative works of the last century are now orphaned.  Last year, Rettig went on record regarding the problem: “I hold the copyright to a work that someday may be considered ‘orphaned.’  Distinguished Classics of Reference Publishing (Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1992) is out of print.  The brief biographical sketch tucked away on p. 337 of this 356-page book is out of date.  An inquiry to my former employer noted in that sketch would today, I believe, result in a successful referral to me.  I would then be able to act on a request to use some or all of this work.  That, however, will probably not be the case in ten or fifteen years.  This will then be truly orphaned and a party seeking to use this copyrighted work may not be able to find me (or my estate if I am deceased). In S.R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science the first is ‘Books are for use. ... Fri, 03 Nov 2006 07:00:00 +0100 295945