AMERICAN LIBRARIES DIRECT
September 13, 2006
AL Direct is a free electronic newsletter e-mailed every Wednesday to personal members of the American Library Association.

Contents:

U.S. & World News
ALA News
Booklist Online
Division News
Round Table News
Awards
Seen Online
Actions & Answers
Poll
Datebook
AL Direct FAQ

U.S. & World News

Board moves to privatize Tennessee library
The Jackson–Madison County (Tenn.) Library board stunned the Madison County Commission September 6 when it announced its decision to enter library management contract negotiations with the Maryland-based, privately owned firm Library Systems and Services, commonly known as LSSI....

Lackluster fundraising looms over San Diego library
California officials are threatening to renege on a $20-million grant to help build a new main library in San Diego due to almost two years of stalled fundraising efforts by the San Diego Public Library Foundation. If the state backs out, observers fear that a complex private/public formula to pay for the $185-million facility would collapse....

Southeast Community LibrarySurvival uncertain for Minneapolis branches
Several branches of the Minneapolis Public Library are facing potential closure as the library board of trustees evaluates its 2007 budget and three-year plan. Among the libraries facing termination is the Southeast Community Library, which avoided a similar fate in 2003....

Mold-afflicted Missouri library reopens
A broken air conditioner and hot, humid conditions contributed to mold growth on books at the temporary home of the University of Missouri at Columbia’s journalism library, forcing officials to close the stacks from mid-August to September 8, when, University of Missouri Director of Libraries Jim Cogswell told American Libraries, “the area is stable and we have a working library again.”...

ALA News

Gates Foundation grant will improve public library connectivity
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy $525,000 in support of efforts to ensure free public access to the internet in all of America’s public libraries. The three-year general operating grant will allow OITP to help libraries meet an increasing demand for public internet access by supporting their participation in the federal e-rate program....

Graphic from PPO Becoming American websiteNew online resources for immigration-themed programs
The ALA Public Programs Office has set up a new website to assist librarians in creating public programs on the theme “Becoming American—New Immigration Stories.” The project is designed to provide libraries throughout the United States with an excellent selection of books on immigrant literature for adults and families....

Chris CrutcherBanned books virtual panel discussion
On Monday, September 25, at 10 a.m. Eastern time, ALA will participate in a virtual panel discussion to kick off the 25th anniversary of Banned Books Week. Sponsored by Internet2 service provider MAGPI at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, the panel will feature YA authors Chris Crutcher (above) and Sonya Jones, as well as Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair Kent Oliver....

Google Book Search joins Banned Books Week
Starting September 12, readers can visit a new site created by Google Book Search that lets users explore 42 of the banned or challenged books that appear on the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century. Interested readers can search or see basic information about these books and then either check for them in local libraries or buy them online....

Lawyers for Libraries logoLawyers for Libraries training institute in Columbus
ALA will present its eighth regional Lawyers for Libraries Training Institute in Columbus, Ohio, November 3. As with previous training sessions, the institute is intended primarily to equip attorneys with the tools they need to defend the First Amendment effectively in libraries....

CCF logoCultural Communities 2007 fundraising goal set at $277,000
The ALA Public Programs Office began its 2007 fundraising campaign this month to build the Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment created to support local libraries in establishing community and cultural programs. This year’s goal is to raise $277,000 in order to qualify for matching funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities....

 

 


Astonishing Adventures coverFeatured review:
Books for youth

Lyga, Barry. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Oct. 2006. 320p. Houghton, hardcover. Grades 8–11. (0-618-72392-7).
Fifteen-year-old Fanboy is miserable at school, where he is bullied, and at home, with his pregnant mother and her husband, the “step-fascist.” His only relief is the late hours spent creating his own comic book. Then he receives an instant message from Kyra, an enigmatic Goth who seems to be the only witness to the violence he endures, and the two form a cagey, charged friendship....

Division News

Submit a proposal for PLA’s 2008 National Conference
PLA is now accepting preconference and program proposals for its 12th National Conference, to be held March 25–29, 2008, in Minneapolis. Proposals may be submitted through an online form available on the PLA website....

Gail GodwinGail Godwin’s Annual Conference talk online at RUSA
Best-selling author Gail Godwin spoke at the RUSA President’s Program, “What You’ll Read Next: The Buzz of Books,” June 26 during ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. The full text of her talk, “The Two Faces of Authorship in 2006,” is now available on the RUSA website (PDF file)....

Awards

Consider serving on Depository Library Council
Each year the Government Documents Round Table recommends up to five people to be nominated by the ALA Executive Board to serve on this advisory council to the Public Printer. To express an interest, complete the GODORT nomination form by December 1....

Awards

Nominations sought for ALA awards and grants
Nominations are being sought for the 2007 ALA recognition awards and grants. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline for applications is December 1....

Delaware’s quiet campaign
The Delaware Division of Libraries has won a 2007 Communicator Award for its new advertising campaign, “Shhhh. They’re in the library.” The ads promote the online Delaware Library Catalog and Delaware Library Card, which can be used at 28 participating libraries. Communicator Award winners are chosen from a pool of over 14,000 entries and are judged by communications professionals in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Delaware Division of Libraries, Aug. 28

LAMA seeks Cultural Diversity Grant applications
LAMA is now accepting applications for its Cultural Diversity Grant. The grants are intended to support the creation and dissemination of resources that will assist library administrators and managers in developing a vision and commitment to diversity. Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by December 1....

The 2007 AASL awards
Over $50,000 is available through the annual AASL awards program. Thirteen awards, grants, and scholarships recognize and support outstanding contributions to the field of school librarianship in a variety of categories, including leadership, reading, information technology, and distinguished service....

Mashing Up the Library competition winners
UK and Ireland library systems company Talis has announced the winners of its first Mashing Up the Library 2006 global competition to encourage innovation in the display, use, and resuse of data from and about libraries. The first-place award of $2,000 went to John F. Blyberg of Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library for his entry, Go-Go-Google-Gadget, and the second-place award of $1,000 to the Alliance Library System in East Peoria, Illinois, for its Second Life Library 2.0 entry....
Talis, Sept. 11; ALA TechSource blog, Sept. 11

James PattersonApply for James Patterson PageTurner Awards
Thriller novelist James Patterson (right) is offering a $100,000 award this year to any school or university that best instills the importance and joy of reading in its students. Two other $50,000 awards will be given to any group or individual who encourages the excitement of books and reading. The deadline is October 16....
Hachette Book Group

National Collections Care Award
Heritage Preservation and the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works invite nominations for the 2007 Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collections. The annual award honors archives, museums, and libraries that have demonstrated exemplary and sustained commitment to caring for their collections....
Heritage Preservation, Sept. 7

Seen Online

Judith RussellJudith Russell to retire
Superintendent of Documents Judith C. Russell announced September 13 that she will be retiring early next year. Russell has been key in designing the Federal Depository Library Program of the future, creating GPO Access, and developing innovative plans for the publications sales program. Prior to her appointment by Public Printer Bruce James in 2003, Russell spent five years at GPO in the 1990s directing the agency’s electronic dissemination operation and the FDLP.
Government Printing Office, Sept. 13

Flood-damaged libraries to get $61,000 from state, NYLA
Libraries in south-central New York will receive $55,000 in state funding to help recover from summer flood damage and for capital improvement and equipment. The New York Library Association collected $6,000 in donations and will award $1,000 grants to six public libraries damaged during the June floods....
Oneonta (N.Y.) Daily Star, Sept. 13

Arson ruins Spokane school library
A fire set at 3:30 a.m. September 8 at Sacajawea Middle School in Spokane, Washington, destroyed the interior of the library, charred thousands of library materials, and shattered exterior windows. No injuries were reported, but classes were canceled because of smoke damage and unsafe carbon monoxide levels throughout the South Hill school....
Spokane (Wash.) Statesman-Review, Sept. 8–9

Kahuku library patrons fuming at vandals
Laie resident Bill Racoma is so ticked off over the vandalized Kahuku (Hawaii) Public and School Library that he is spearheading a reward campaign to catch the vandals and prevent further damage. Vandals smashed three glass windows on the front doors of the Kahuku Library on the night of September 3–4....
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Sept. 8

Florida State Library imageE-card brings Florida State Library to state employees
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month—and Florida library officials are using the occasion to encourage state workers to sign up for their electronic state library cards. The e-card gives them access to specialized online databases not available to the public....
Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat, Sept. 11

Donald Ryder Dickey holding out the wings of a California mastiff bat, from the collections of the UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical LibrarySome very special collections
As California’s schools have proliferated, collections of books, manuscripts, photographs, maps, artworks, costumes, scientific instruments, and specimens of animals, vegetables, and minerals have piled up faster than dossiers of professors, students, and alumni—thanks to gifts, purchases, and research expeditions. Every college and university has at least one library that has amassed much more than predictable texts and reference materials....
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 12

A Million Little Pieces coverFrey and Random House settle lawsuit
Under a tentative legal settlement, readers who said they were defrauded by James Frey’s best seller, A Million Little Pieces, can claim refunds, an agreement called unprecedented—and understandable—by a leading publishing attorney. Readers who bought the book on or before January 26, the day Frey and his publisher acknowledged that he had made up parts of the book, would be eligible for a refund of the full suggested retail price....
Associated Press, Sept. 8

Actions and Answers

Basic Rules of Online Safety graphicDOPA and the participation gap (PDF file)
Illinois Library Association Executive Director Robert P. Doyle summarizes some practical alternatives for teen online safety that are far less intrusive than the Deleting Online Predators Act (H.R. 5319), passed by the House in July. The article also includes basic rules of online safety for teens and talking points on DOPA for librarians and educators....
ILA Reporter 24, no. 5 (Oct.): 16–21

How to blog a conference
Web information consultant Josh Hallett offers some practical advice on the tools and strategies you might need to provide online coverage of your favorite conference. He writes: “Not every organization has the luxury of having a large blogging staff (whether paid or volunteers). You might be all on your own, but having some helpers makes a big difference. If you plan to cover everything, your lowest common denominator is the maximum number of breakout sessions.”...
Hyku, Sept. 6

Voldemort Can't Stop the Rock! album cover by Harry and the PottersThe Wizard Rock movement and literacy
A new music genre called Wizard Rock features songs related to the Harry Potter books, played by bands like the Remus Lupins and Harry and the Potters. Josh Bernstein writes: “Almost every one of these bands on their Myspace or website mention that one of their goals is to promote literacy. Some even have links to sites or pdfs you can download explaining how to help promote literacy in your own area.”...
Alternative Teen Services, Sept. 8

Six tips to protect your online search privacy
Google, MSN Search, Yahoo!, AOL, and most other search engines collect and store records of your search queries. If these records are revealed to others, they can be embarrassing or even cause great harm. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has developed six privacy tips ranging from the simple to more complicated measures that offer near-complete safety....
Electronic Frontier Foundation, Sept. 12

Jefferson Hall artist's conceptionNew West Point library to open in 2008
It required moving a statue of General Patton and blasting away 28,000 cubic yards of granite rock, but West Point cadets in March 2008 will have a magnificent new library and hi-tech interactive learning center on the United States Military Academy’s famous Hudson Valley campus. Designed by STV architects and engineers, the new Jefferson Hall will be the first academic building on the campus since 1972....
U.S. Military Academy

Wikipedia vs. Britannica: The debate
Can Wikipedia’s everyone’s-an-editor approach produce a reliable resource tool without scholarly oversight? Are traditional encyclopedias like Britannica limited by lack of input? The Wall Street Journal Online invited Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to discuss the topic with Dale Hoiberg, editor-in-chief of Britannica. The paper published their exchange, carried out over e-mail....
Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12

Comments on IMLS/NCLIS consolidation
The Institute of Museum and Library Services released a summary of comments September 13 on its draft plan for consolidating the functions of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the public and state library surveys of the National Center for Education Statistics. Overall, the 25 commenters felt that combining data collection, policy, and grant making in one agency would result in stronger federal support for library data collection and information policy....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 13

IMLS grants to Native American communities
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced an award of $1,781,300 September 12 that will go to 15 Native American tribal communities and Alaska Native villages to improve library services to their communities. More than 53 applications were received, requesting $7,135,926....
Institute of Museum and Library Services, Sept. 12

Gulf Coast School Library Recovery Initiative, the next round
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is accepting grant applications from Gulf Coast–area school libraries destroyed or severely damaged by the 2005 hurricanes. The deadline is October 13....
Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries

Kids voting on Mock Election DayNovember 2 is National Mock Election Day
On November 2, American students and parents in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and around the world will cast their votes for president, senators, congressmen, and governors (where there is a race) and on key national issues. The National Student/Parent Mock Election is the nation’s largest voter education project. Find out how your school can get involved....
National Student/Parent Mock Election

Sip tea with Agatha Christie’s grandson
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers are offering, for librarians only, a grand prize of round-trip airfare to London for two, hotel accommodations for two nights, and an invitation from Mathew Prichard, Dame Agatha’s only grandson and the chairman of Agatha Christie, Ltd., to join him for tea at Brown’s Hotel, Mayfair. Enter the contest before September 20....
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers

What’s all the fuss about FRBR? (PDF file)
For those who may have missed it, in its March issue the MINITEX Library Information Network newsletter had a nice overview of Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records and how they are forcing changes in cataloging standards and online databases. For up-to-the minute FRBR facts, try William Denton’s FRBR Blog....
MINITEX/OCLC Mailing, Mar., pp. 5–7

Sponsor: Sirsi Dynix

Sirsi Dynix ad


Banned books buttons
Readers of all ages can vote for their favorite challenged books. Organized by age group, the books all have faced expulsion from U.S. schools and libraries in the last 25 years. Votes will be tallied and announced Monday, October 2.

Prism logo
Kent State University SLIS Director Richard Rubin discusses the role of mission, goals, and objectives for accreditation program reviewers in the Fall issue of Prism, the newsletter of the ALA Office for Accreditation.



INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGIST,

Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. Responsibilities include assisting faculty in the use of technology for teaching, with explicit concern for the individual teaching goals; and assisting students in the use of technology for curricular assignments....

Joblist logo
See JobLIST
for more career opportunities.

Joint Conference logo
The Online Placement Center for the 2006 Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, Dallas, TX, October 11–15, is now online. All services are free to job seekers—not just ALA and/or JCLC members or on-site attendees. You may use this service even if you won’t be able to attend the conference.

Kids @ your library logo
ALSC is looking for new and innovative children’s programs and services for children in grades K–4 across the country. The aim is to support the division’s public launch of its
Kids! @ your library Public Awareness Campaign on Sunday, November 12, at Boston Public Library. Send information about your program to Laura Schulte-Cooper by September 21.


Gallagher ALA promotion


ABFFE Freadom poster
If you already have the entire ALA banned book poster collection, try out this one from the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression.

What do YOU think?

Have your library’s news and issues been covered accurately by the general media?

Click here
to ANSWER!

This is an unscientific poll that reflects the opinions of only those AL Direct readers who have chosen to participate.


Results of the
September 6 poll:

Where does your library shelve its collection of graphic novels?

Throughout
the stacks
:
24%
All together:
42%

By age:
49%
Closed stacks or
special collections
:
1%
Other:
4%
Don’t collect:
4%

(184 responses)

For cumulated results and selected responses to all AL Direct polls, visit the AL Online website.

Catalog cards at the Dayton Public Library after the 1913 Flood
Disasters strike every area of the country and do not spare libraries. Usually there is little or no warning, and the best defense is a plan for effective response. The ALA Library offers a fact sheet that contains links to disaster preparedness websites, conservation, training, and other available resources.

“Not many people can say they were the first to do anything. Even doing the smallest thing first is a big deal.”

—University of Florida senior Filup Molina, before camping out on a sidewalk for 13 hours in order to be one of the first two students across the threshold of UF's newly renovated Library West, Independent Florida Alligator, Aug. 3.

September 2006
AL cover
Stories inside include:

The Next Big Issue: Public Access to Research

How Academic Libraries Can Meet Student Info-Seeking Behaviors

Break Out the Pinstripe Suits: Are You Ready for the For-Profit World?

LTR cover
Six times a year, Library Technology Reports provides library professionals with insightful elucidation, covering technology and technological issues. The upcoming September/October issue features Jenny Levine on “Gaming and Libraries: Intersection of Services.”


Sept. 30:

2006 National Book Festival, National Mall, Washington, D.C. Organized by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, the festival is free and open to the public. Contact: National Book Festival, 888-714-4696.

Oct. 11–14:
Access 2006 conference, Ottawa, Ontario. “Capitalizing on Access.” Includes a day-long mash-up Hackfest. Contact: Access 2006.

Oct. 31–Nov. 3:
Wisconsin Library Association, Annual Conference, Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, Wisconsin Dells. “Making Connections.” Contact: WLA, Brigitte Vacha.

Nov. 1–4:
New York Library Association, Annual Conference and Trade Show, Saratoga Springs. Contact: NYLA, 518-432-6952.

Nov. 9–10:
Virginia Library Association, Annual Conference, Mariott Hotel, Williamsburg. “Read, Think, Speak: The Power of Libraries.” Contact: Linda Hahne, 757-583-0041.

Nov. 9–12:
Colorado Association of Libraries, Annual Conference, Hammons Convention Center/Holiday Inn, Denver. “A ClassiCAL Celebration: Libraries and Literature.” Contact: CAL, 303-463-6400.

Nov. 10–11:
Hawaii Library Association, Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, Oahu. “Emerging Technologies Affecting Libraries.” Contact: Carol Kellett, 808-956-6562.

Nov. 11–13:
California Library Association, Annual Conference, Sacramento. “Raise Our Voice.” Contact: CLA, 916-447-8541.

Nov. 12–15:
Pennsylvania Library Association, Annual Conference, Hilton Pittsburgh. “Libraries Alive: Grow, Dream, Realize.” Contact: Kim Snyder, 717-766-7663.

Nov. 14–16:
Arizona Library Association, Annual Conference, Mesa Convention Center. “Libraries, Change, Keeping Up.” Contact: 602-697-6449.

More Datebook items...

American Libraries Direct

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