CLA Weblog Submissions
To navigate our archives, please click on a category to the left. Do you have information that would be of interest to the library community? Please send your weblog submissions to the CLA office at info@cla-net.org.
Awards and Scholarships
May 28, 2010
CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship
Are you a college senior or college graduate who has been accepted into an ALA-accredited Master of Library Science program? Or, have you just started to pursue your MLS?
If you answered yes to either of these questions, and are interested in pursuing a career in reference or information service librarianship, you are encouraged to apply for the CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship, which awards $3,000 to incoming and beginning MLS students (those who have completed 9 credits or less in their programs).
To apply, please visit the CLA website at http://www.cla-net.org/awards/rspf.php and turn in your application no later than June 30, 2010.
The funding for this fellowship is provided by Reference Service Press, a California-based publishing company. The program is administered by the California Library Association, an association of individuals and institutions devoted to the development of library service for all California residents.
Submitted by:
Posted by claadmin at 2:10 PM
April 12, 2010
CLA Announces 2010 John & Patricia Beatty Award Winner
FOLSOM - The California Library Association announces Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French as the winner of the 2010 John & Patricia Beatty Award.
Since 1989, the Beatty Award annually honors an author of a distinguished book for children or young adults that best promotes an awareness of California and its people. "Aside from being an interesting read, Operation Redwood most closely adheres to the Beatty criteria," said Heather Cousin, a Beatty Award Committee member and Children's Services Supervisor at the Arcadia Public Library. "French vividly recreates rural California and the redwoods while also providing plucky, interesting and memorable characters."
Operation Redwood's synopsis, provided by Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc, states: "When twelve-year-old Julian Carter-Li intercepts an angry e-mail message intended for his high-powered uncle, he finds himself caught up in the fight to save some of the oldest trees in the world. Over the course of the summer, normally cautious Julian will do many things he would never have dreamed of doing before: promise to help a girl he's never met, milk a goat, take a vow of silence, mastermind an office break-in, live in a tree, and, most important, stand up for what he believes."
Added Cousin, "Multi-ethnic and multi-dimensional, (the characters) Julian, Danny and Robin are resourceful, smart and most importantly, believable. While they solve problems with their parents' help, they remain solidly capable heroes in their own right."
Operation Redwood's author, S. Terrell French, is an environmental lawyer who grew up in the Washington D.C. area and attended Harvard College as well as UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and three children, and this is her first novel.
This year's Beatty Award winner was selected unanimously by the CLA Beatty Award committee from a large list of submissions published in 2009. For more information about this year's winner, please visit www.operationredwood.com.
About the John & Patricia Beatty Award
Since 1989, the John & Patricia Beatty Award, sponsored by Book Wholesalers, Inc., annually honors an author of a distinguished book for children or young adults that best promotes an awareness of California and its people. A committee of librarians selects the winning title from books published in the United States within a given year. Patricia Beatty donated the initial cash endowment for the Award. It now honors both her husband, John Beatty, who served as professor of English history and humanities at the University of California at Riverside prior to his death in 1975, and Patricia herself who died in 1991. Together the Beattys wrote eleven books of fiction for young readers; Patricia Beatty wrote numerous other books for young people, of which many have California or western settings. It was Patricia Beatty's hope that the Award will encourage the writing of quality children's books that bring us an awareness of California, its heritage or its future.
About the California Library Association
Established in 1895, the California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services, librarianship, and the library community. CLA helps its 3,000 members excel in a fast-changing job market and is a resource for learning about new ideas and technology. Furthermore, CLA is a leading advocate on all statewide library issues and actively works to influence legislation affecting libraries and librarians. Governed by an elected Board of Directors, CLA is headquartered in Folsom, California.
More information may be obtained at www.cla-net.org
- Official Press Release (81k)
Posted by claadmin at 10:39 AM
December 10, 2009
2009 CLA Award & Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to all who were honored with Awards and Scholarships at the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena. The Awards and Scholarships were presented at the Annual Awards Ceremony & Dessert Reception on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at the Pasadena Public Library.
José Aponte, San Diego County Library
Dorothy Cohen, Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library
California Young Reader Medal Award
"Sold" by Patricia McCormick
Note: Received Award CA Young Reader Medal at Joint Beatty/CYRM Breakfast
"Steinbeck's Ghost" by Lewis Buzbee
Alexandria Godina
Jeannie Chen
Sondhaya "Sunny" Sritongsook
Charlene Chiu
Reference Services Press Fellowship
Nick Velkavrh
Award for Excellence as a Public Librarian
Daniel O. Robles, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library
Technical Services Interest Group Award of Achievement
Ida Z. daRoza, San Mateo County Library
Technical Services Interest Group New Leader Award
Sarah A. Buchanan, University of California, Los Angeles
Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award
Derek Wolfgram, Santa Clara County Library
Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award
Amanda Sharpe
Less than $5M
Hayward Public Library - The Big Read
Whittier Public Library - Whittier Reads
Burlingame Public Library - Literary Tastings
$5M to $10M
Newport Beach Public Library - Corona Del Mar 50th
Beverly Hills Public Library - The Musical
Livermore Public Library - Free2 Succeed
Greater than $10M
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library- Evolved
Fresno County Library - read. watch. listen.
Temecula Public Library - Temecula Children's Programs
Posted by claadmin at 11:13 AM
2009 Edna Yelland Scholarship Winners
The California Library Association provides three scholarships annually in the memory of Edna Yelland, Executive Secretary of CLA from 1947-63, to students enrolled in ALA accredited graduate programs in library or information science in California. The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage and support ethnic minority students in the attainment of a graduate degree in library or information science and to encourage commitment to the improvement of library services to ethnic minority communities.
This year's winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
More about this year's Scholarship Winners:
Jeannie Chen is in her second year of the MLIS program at UCLA. She graduated from UC-Berkeley with a B.A. in English Literature. Her recent studies have focused on digital technology and the development of web-based cultural resources in children's services. She recently worked at the National Archives Office of the Presidential Libraries as a Web Developer Intern last summer. Jeannie was awarded the 2008 ALA Spectrum Scholarship, and has been selected as an ALA Emerging Leader for 2010. Currently, she is active on the ALSC Children and Technology Committee, and the APALA Family Literacy Focus Taskforce. She looks forward to translating her education into services and skills that serve today's wide range of information users.
Sondhaya "Sunny" Sritongsook is currently attending San Jose State University and is entering her second year. She is the first Thai in her family to complete college. She graduated from UC- Irvine in 2004 with a B.A. in Anthropology. She has worked for the San Diego County Library as a library technician substitute for over 3 years. She has also worked as a medical library technician for over a year at the McGuire Health Sciences Library. Sondhaya's passion is to serve her community by promoting healthy behaviors through research and literature.
Carlene Chiu is in her second year at San Jose State University. She has worked for the Altadena Library District for two years. She has an interest in information seeking behaviors of unique groups to identify the best marketing/ outreach methods, and provide better services and programs. She is committed to working with multicultural communities and developing services, programs and collections that reflect their needs as well as becoming a role model for Asians to enter librarianship.
Posted by claadmin at 10:53 AM
2009 Begun Scholarship Winner
The Begun Scholarship, named in memory of former librarian Betty Begun, supports continuing library school students who have demonstrated a commitment to becoming children's or young adult librarians in a California public library. This year's winner, Alexandria Godina, was presented at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
Alexandria is a graduate student in Library and Information Studies at University of California, Los Angeles. Her commitment to youth services is rooted in a deep belief that education truly is the key to change and that children are our future. She believes that being a youth librarian will allow her to partner in the education process and help to meet the needs of our young patrons and their community. She knows that public libraries are vital to their communities as they serve a variety of scholastic and artistic needs. In other words, libraries are critical in supporting children and young people in their education and creative ventures outside of school.
After graduation, Alexandria aspires to be a youth librarian. She hopes to be a positive influence in the lives of children and young people by providing excellent, interactive and equitable
service in a public library.
Posted by claadmin at 10:43 AM
2009 CLA Reference Services Press Fellowship Winner
The CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship encourages college seniors, college graduates and beginning library school students to prepare for a career in reference/ information service librarianship. One fellowship of $3,000 is awarded annually. This year's winner, Nick Velkavrh, was presented at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
Nick Velkavrh is a first-year graduate student in San Jose State University's Master of Library and Information Science program. He has four years of experience in libraries, including work as a reference assistant and involvement in special library projects undertaken as part of an intern program at the Mary Norton Clapp Library at Occidental College. Nick states, "Because of my library experiences, I have discovered my passions: I love connecting people to information."
It was a highly competitive process among several students, but the RSPF Committee members all agreed that Nick should receive the award because of his stellar academic achievement, and the relevant work experience he has had to date. His essay revealed not only a love of libraries but also a clear commitment to our profession, and reference work in particular, which is a critical criterion for the Fellowship Award. Nick was very highly praised by those who provided recommendations for him.
Posted by claadmin at 10:32 AM
2009 Award for Excellence As A Public Librarian
The Award for Excellence as a Public Librarian was established by the Public Library Section (now Interest Group) of the California Library Association in 1994 and provides recognition to a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated a variety of actions that include but are not limited to a new and creative service to the public. This year's winner, Daniel O. Robles, was announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
The selection committee was most impressed with three particular areas in Daniel's vast resume of experience: his Passion, Commitment, and Community Service. Daniel's passion for libraries is most evident in the fact that he has repeatedly been successful in securing voter ballot initiatives that have awarded funding to the library.
Working as a librarian since 1977, Mr. Robles is continually recognized for his commitment to library services - including the implementation of a literacy program and designing a library website which provides a rich variety of town services and information. Mr. Robles' commitment to his profession has been singled out nationally as he was the first California librarian to win the Public Library Association/Baker & Taylor Allie Beth Award for "extraordinary knowledge of books and the ability to share." He cares for his profession and provides leadership as a member of REFORMA, ALA, PLA, and CLA. Daniel's visionary perspective and considerable self-sacrifice (low pay and postponing cost of living raises for nearly ten years) resulted in saving their library from closing its doors forever!
Perhaps most impressive of all is Daniel's community service. He serves on the boards of service organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis, and the Boy & Girls Clubs. Dan even drove daily for Meals on Wheels for 8 years, enhancing his delivery of food with reading and listening materials from the library. Our committee congratulates Daniel Robles for his extraordinary achievements during his career, and can think of no more worthy candidate for this award.
Posted by claadmin at 10:18 AM
2009 Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award Winner
Since its inception in 2003, the Literacy Interest Group has sponsored an annual award for Outstanding Librarian In Support of Literacy. The award recognizes and honors a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support literacy. This year's winner, Derek Wolfgram, was announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
Mr. Wolfgram is currently the Deputy County Librarian of Santa Clara County Library and was previously the Butte County LD. The following is excerpts from the nomination:
While not familiar with Literacy Services in the Library before becoming the library Director, Derek quickly got up to speed and became one of the best-ever advocates of literacy! Throughout his time as Library Director he became involved in everything literacy.
While always an enthusiastic spirit in support of Literacy, Derek's support isn't just all fun and games - rather it is also forward- thinking, inclusive and strategic. He was sure to include the Literacy Services team when doing his system needs assessment and when he instituted the Leadership Team of managers, the Literacy Specialist was solidly at the table. Extremely supportive of our efforts to secure grants, he's proven to be a key team member, offering his valuable visionary and editing skills.
Perhaps most illustrative overall is recalling last January when Derek accompanied two adult learners and a volunteer tutor to visit one of our legislators. Mr. Wolfgram stepped back and encouraged the focus be directed on the learners. Surely the necessary messages about concerns for the library were heard that day, but with Derek's compassionate and elegant presence, what the legislator will remember when thinking of the Library are the voices from two adults who have so benefited from Literacy Services.
More than once Derek has been heard to say that Literacy is one of the most important things the Library does as well as one of the things he is most proud of.
Posted by claadmin at 9:54 AM
2009 Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award Winner
The California Library Association's Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award honors California citizens, groups, and organizations that have made significant contributions to intellectual freedom in California. The committee selects nominees based on recent or important lifetime contributions to intellectual freedom. This year's winner was announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual California Library Association Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
This year's winner, Amanda Sharpe, is a graduate student in the Information Studies Program at UCLA. She earned a B.A. Degree in History from UC Santa Barbara. She spent several years as a school teacher before entering UCLA last fall.
Ms. Sharpe was the recipient of the 2009 Freedom to Read Foundation's Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship. The scholarship paid for Ms. Sharpe's attendance at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. According to Conable Scholarship chair Candace Morgan, "Amanda's efforts in promoting reading to incarcerated youth was a key reason she was selected over an impressive group of applicants. The right of prisoners to have access to information is an issue that is increasingly prominent in the intellectual freedom community. The severe restriction of reading material to imprisoned young people does them - and society - no favors. We look forward to helping Amanda as she continues to shine light on this area."
While at the ALA Conference, Ms. Sharpe presented a poster session during the Diversity Fair. In addition, she used the conference to launch her new website, www.chil-es.org. The website is dedicated to supporting non-Spanish-speaking children's librarians who serve Spanish-speaking communities. The website provides ideas about community outreach, programming, collection development, and other resources.
Ms. Sharpe's dedication to ensuring that incarcerated youth are afforded intellectual freedoms makes her a worthy recipient of the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award. Her efforts to train non-Spanish-speaking librarians to better serve their communities are also noteworthy.
Posted by claadmin at 9:36 AM
California Library Association President's Award
The President's Award recognizes outstanding contributions, leadership and achievement in support of California libraries by a Trustee, Friend, Elected Official or other lay person(s) who has given his or her time and talents to further the advancement of California Libraries.
The 2009 CLA President's Award recognizes Dorothy Cohen of the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library for her unwavering support, dedication, and ability to get results. During the last three years she has served on the Board of the Friends of the South Pasadena Library, the Library Exterior Beautification Committee, the Library's History Book Committee, Chair of the Bookstore Committee and is involved in the Library's Measure L Special Tax Ballot Measure (having served on three previous successful tax measures). Although she was a co-founder of the Book Store in 1982, Ms. Cohen enthusiasm and energy continue in her role of recruiting, training and scheduling staff for the store.
With her experience on the City Council, service as Mayor, and current city involvement as an appointed member of the Community Redevelopment Commission and a special task force on the City's Mission Street Specific Plan, Ms. Cohen makes sure the library maintains its position as a gem of South Pasadena.
The 2009 President's Award was announced at the Awards Ceremony during the 111th Annual California Library Association Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
Posted by claadmin at 9:28 AM
TSIG 2009 Award Winners
The Technical Services Interest Group of CLA is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 TSIG Award of Achievement as well as the 2009 TSIG New Leader Award. Winners were announced during the Awards Ceremony at the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition in Pasadena, CA.
Technical Services Interest Group Award of Achievement
Ida Z. daRoza, San Mateo County Library
The Technical Services Interest Group of the California Library Association is pleased to announce that Ida Z. daRoza has been selected as the 2009 recipient of the CLA TSIG Award of Achievement.
Ida was a 2003-2004 Spectrum Scholar, and has been active in professional organizations since her graduation in 2005 from the San Jose School of Library and Information Science. In addition to being the cataloger for the San Mateo County Library, where she won a county award for excellence for her implementation of authority control, Ida served as Vice-President/ President-Elect and President (later Chair) of ACTSS (later TSIG) during the tumultuous year that saw CLA's first Spring Fling and the reorganization of our section into an interest group, guiding the group through the transition with patience and aplomb. Ida has been a strong advocate of continuing education and staff development in Technical Services. Under her leadership, ACTSS/TSIG produced three educational programs for technical services librarians during the Spring Fling, as well as programs for the 2009 CLA annual conference. Ida is the author of a chapter on professional development through associations, conferences, and meetings, which appears in the 2009 Neal/Schuman publication Staff Development Strategies that Work: Developing New Library Managers and Leaders. Ida has also contributed articles to the TSIG publication Technotes. She brought TSIG into the world of Web 2.0 by creating a TSIG presence in Facebook and Second Life.
Ida is a member of REFORMA, serving as the West Coast Chapter's representative to the executive board and creating and moderating the chapter's Facebook page. She is currently representing REFORMA in ALA's Diversity Council and has chaired the Services to Latinos Round Table within CLA.
TSIG is pleased to honor Ida daRoza for her tireless devotion to the library profession and to technical services.
Technical Services Interest Group New Leader Award
Sarah A. Buchanan, University of California, Los Angeles
The California Library Association Technical Services Interest Group New Leader Award for 2009 has been presented to Sarah A. Buchanan.
The award committee was impressed by Sarah's thoughts on future directions in technical services, her articulation of the significance of her educational and work experience, her evidence of professional activities, and her willingness to contribute her talents to the CLA Technical Services Interest Group.
Sarah A. Buchanan received her M.L.I.S. degree in June, 2009, from the University of California Los Angeles Graduate School of Education & Information Studies. For the past two years she has been a Library Assistant in the UCLA School of Law, Library Cataloging & Metadata Section, and she has additional work experience in cataloging and archives.
Although she is a new librarian, Sarah already has a record of professional association service and leadership, as well as publications. She is now an active member of the 2009-2010 Technical Services Interest Group Board of Directors by virtue of her appointment as Newsletter Committee Co-Chair.
The Technical Services Interest Group is pleased to honor this enthusiastic new librarian and to welcome her into our interest group and our profession.
Posted by claadmin at 8:50 AM
California Library Association Member of the Year
The CLA Member of the Year Award recognizes an individual member of the California Library Association for her or his outstanding contributions, leadership and achievements in service to California libraries. We are pleased to recognize José Aponte as the 2009 CLA Member of the Year.
José Aponte, County Librarian of the San Diego County Library, more than meets the criteria for the 2009 CLA Member of the Year Award. Locally, the San Diego County Library under his direction during the last three years has added 5,000 open hours per year, increased library visitors by 41%, program attendance by 112% and doubled circulation, from 4 million to 8.3 million. The Library has engaged with government, non-profit, school and commercial partners to leverage resources and create excitement and interest.
Professionally, Mr. Aponte has been active in and held leadership positions in CLA, ALA, and PLA. He was a member of the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Advisory Council and a Presidential appointee to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. As a speaker he has promoted libraries at national and international events. His achievements are too many to be listed. Mr. Aponte has written "Libraries transform communities and create public value: they are the catalyst that brings disparate groups together to build social capital." With this award we recognize José Aponte as a master catalyst.
Posted by claadmin at 8:43 AM
March 12, 2009
2009 John and Patricia Beatty Winner Announced!
Lewis Buzbee will be honored with the 2009 John and Patricia Beatty Award for his book Steinbeck's Ghost (Feiwel and Friends, 2008). The Beatty Award is given annually to the children's or young adult book that best represents California, its people, culture, and history.
Travis and his parents have moved out of downtown Salinas to a new house in a development, and he feels out of place. Whenever he has the chance, Travis sneaks back to his old neighborhood which includes Salinas' John Steinbeck Library. During his visits, he becomes involved in the campaign to save the library and embroiled in a mystery related to John Steinbeck. Buzbee's intriguing tale creatively combines literary, historical and modern California.
The John and Patricia Beatty Award, established in 1987 by Patricia Beatty, has been given annually since 1989. Since 1999, BWI Books has co-sponsored the award with the California Library Association. The winning author receives an engraved plaque along with a prize of $500 which is presented at the annual CLA Conference's Beatty Award Breakfast.
The 2009 Beatty Award Committee consists of: Diane Bartlett of Stanislaus County Library, Brenda Crotts of Butte County Library, Sarah Harper of County of Los Angeles Public Library, Kathy Haug of Richmond Public Library, April Lencioni of Fresno Public Library, and chair Melinda Steep of Yorba Linda Public Library.
Posted by claadmin at 12:07 PM
November 25, 2008
2008 Annual CLA Awards
Congratulations to all who were honored with Awards and Scholarships this year for CLA. The Awards and Scholarships were presented at the Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, November 14, 2008 during the 110th Annual Conference in San Jose.
President's Award Winner
Donna Bero, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library
Donna Bero, Executive Director of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, is the recipient of the CLA President's Award for her passionate and visionary work in promotion of library services. During her tenure with the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library-which began in January 2005-that organization has raised $10.5 million, $6.6 million of which will support a 16 million dollar campaign to furnish and equip 24 new and renovated libraries as part of San Francisco's Branch Library Improvement Program. Donna's leadership was decisive in the successful campaign in 2007 that safeguarded library funding through a property tax set aside for the next 15 years. And her collaborative style has strengthened the Friends' partnerships with the San Francisco Public Library, the City of San Francisco, and many public, private, and non-profit organizations in San Francisco.
Donna's influence has extended far beyond San Francisco to help libraries and library advocates across the state and nation. She is generous in offering her time and creativity in supporting the work of Friends groups in other communities, including Berkeley and San Diego. Under her direction, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library hosted the Libraries of the Future conference in July 2006 and she commissioned a library value study that could be used by other libraries throughout the state and nation. She has been participated in various projects of the California Library Association, and has lobbied for library support with legislators in Sacramento and Washington.
Member of the Year Winner
Carey Gross, Butte County Library
Carey Gross, Literacy Specialist at the Butte County Library, is the recipient of the CLA Member of the Year Award for her tireless work promoting literacy services both in her own library and on behalf of all California libraries. Long known to her colleagues as a passionate advocate for literacy services, Carey recently leaped to statewide attention in her valiant efforts to fight a legislative proposal that would have totally eliminated library literacy funding in California. In her role as member of the CLA Legislative Committee, Carey sounded the alarm in a series of e-mails that delivered cogent, focused talking points mixed with impassioned pleas for the importance of literacy as a core library service. Inspired by her leadership, library advocates across the state took time out to contact their state legislators. These letters, e-mails and phone calls ultimately helped to defeat the proposal and save literacy funding.
In her own Butte County Library, and previously at the Redwood City Library, Carey is known and admired by the literacy community throughout the state as a devoted, innovative and inspiring literacy services provider. She has been instrumental in raising the awareness of literacy services across the state through a variety of efforts, including public speaking, workshop presentation, and her professional involvement with the California Library Literacy Services and the California Library Association.
One colleague comments about Carey: ". . .while she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to work collaboratively with other libraries, agencies, corporations and legislators to further the goals of literacy, it all comes down. . .to making the lives of learners more fulfilled and helping them to become a stronger, more confident, and better informed citizenry."
The John and Patricia Beatty Award Winner
Joan W. Blos
Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California 1850-1852
CLA Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland Winners
Jovanni Williams
Jovanni Williams received her BA in sociology from California State University Long Beach. She is now at the University of California Los Angeles where she is in her second year of graduate study in Library Science and Information Studies program. She is also obtaining a second Master's, in Afro-American Studies, at UCLA. Jovanni is currently working with UCLA faculty in hopes of developing a joint program between the two fields. Jovanni is a southern California native. Growing up, she lived across the street from her city's public library. She does not know if living across the street from the library was a coincidence or a sign, but she believes that she was destined to be a librarian. Jovanni has worked in libraries since the age of 17. She had worked in several types of libraries and now works part time for the UCLA Law Library. Her ultimate career goal is to become an academic librarian at a community college. She wants to share, preserve, and maintain literature, teach information literacy instruction, as well as teach Afro-American Studies courses.
Teresa Mares
Teresa Mares, a library school student at San Jose State University, is currently working as a school librarian for Native American children on the Soboba Reservation. The dilemmas her students face daily motivate her to continue and work hard at her studies. Before discovering librarianship, Teresa earned a bachelor's degree in Communications from CSU San Bernardino. She changed careers to education after working years as a social worker. While participating on a committee for school improvement, she became interested in establishing the school's first library, opening in 2003. Working in a remote area, she gains professional development through school colleagues and professional associations. She will be serving on CLA's Cultural Diversity Committee in November and is a Diversity Task Force Member for the American Association of School Librarians. Her passion for becoming a librarian stems from a desire to serve special populations who are lacking service. Her long-term goal is to encourage individuals from different backgrounds to consider librarianship. Teresa will be the first member in her family to receive a master's degree. She will complete her studies next year and continue as the schools librarian so she may offer Native children professional library services comparable to other area schools.
Cristina Mitra
Cristina Mitra was born and raised in San Francisco and is a 1st generation Filipina and a 4th generation Chicana. She studied Spanish & Latin American Studies at Smith College. Since graduating cum laude in 2002, she has dedicated herself to San Francisco's non-profit sector working in outreach and database management. She cares passionately about creating equity for low-income people of color, immigrants, young people, and the LGBT community.
It has always been crucial for her to intertwine her work with her personal goals of social change, and has chosen to become a librarian as a more sustainable way to achieve these goals. In the short term, she hopes to work as a public librarian serving the Latino and Spanish-speaking community and, in the longer term, she aims to work in policy, advocacy, and management.
When not studying, she works in the after school program of a San Francisco public high school as the librarian. She loves dance, urban biking, cooking, and laughing hard with her family and friends who make life such a joyous experience. She is very grateful to the California Library Association for their generosity and confidence in her ability as a librarian.
The Begun Scholarship Winner
Linda Engelke
Linda Engelke grew up in Manchester, Connecticut and attend Keuka College in upstate New York where she received a B.A. degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. While attending Keuka, she was chosen for a two month internship with Member of Parliament, David Knox in London, England. She was also awarded a scholarship to study for a semester at the International University in Oslo, Norway where she received a certificate of Norwegian Studies. Linda has loved libraries all her life and have worked in the field for over thirty years-currently as the YA librarian for the Rancho Cucamonga Public Libraries. At present, she is completing classes towards an MLIS degree at SJSU. She expects to graduate by Fall 2009.
CLA Reference Services Press Fellowship Winner
Pamela Eldana
Pamela Eldana grew up in San Gabriel, a suburb of Los Angeles, best known for the San Gabriel Mission. She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Sciences, with a minor in History and Sociology. Currently, she is the branch supervisor of a public library for Kern County. In this position she directs the daily operations of the branch, located in the rural town of Rosamond, California. Prior to this position, she was employed for over eight years at a private consulting firm in San Francisco, beginning as an Analyst and working her way up to Director of Research. Although she has been working in information services for many years, she only recently realized her career calling - to be a Librarian. She is attending San Jose State University's Master's degree program in Library Science.
Award for Excellence as a Public Librarian Winner
Michelle Perera, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library
Michelle Perera, Library Services Manager, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, Paul A Biane Library, is an outstanding example of a young professional whose commitment to public service is equaled only by her dedication to the field of librarianship and her enthusiastic endorsement of public librarianship as a profession. While Michelle only received her MLS in 1996, within 10 years she has accumulated a remarkable background, which includes managing a unique library that not only serves as an anchor in a major retail mall but also partners with a professional theater; assisting in the design of two major public library outlets; and serving as an adjunct professor for 8 years with San Jose State University's School of Library and Information Science. Michelle approaches her work with pride, enthusiasm and professionalism. In fact a few of the many colleagues honoring Michelle are former library school students. Michelle represents the best of our profession and we are proud to award her this honor.
Access, Collections & Technical Services Section Award Winner
Xiaoli Li, University of California, Davis
Xiaoli Li has provided exceptional leadership within CLA ACTSS and beyond. She served as President of ACTSS in 2006 and led the ACTSS Board in an intensive networking effort that recruited candidates and new members. Outside of CLA, she has chaired committees of MLA, ILS users group, OCLC task force, and UC librarians association.
Xiaoli is an active advocate for continuing education. She has made numerous presentations. She is a trainer for "Cataloging for the 21st Century," a Library of Congress initiative and was a team member of the Chinese American Librarians Association 21st Century Librarian Seminar Project. She has authored several journal articles on serials control.
Xiaoli's leadership and organizational skills have been evident in her professional positions, including Head of Technical Services at UCD Health Sciences Libraries and Department Head of Cataloging & Metadata Services. She planned serials and CJK conversion projects for several libraries. More recently, she helped plan a major reorganization of technical services at UC Davis.
This award acknowledges her outstanding leadership and contributions in technical services to professional associations and to librarianship on the state, national, and international level.
ACTSS New Leader Award Winner
Michael S. Smith
After fifteen years in the broadcasting industry, Michael S. Smith began volunteering in the Cataloging Department at Fresno County Public Library and was soon hired full-time. Within a few years he entered San Jose State's Library and Information Science program. He plans to graduate with a master's degree in May 2009. While working as a library assistant in cataloging Michael realized the integral part technical services plays in the operations of a library. As a future cataloger he hopes to explore areas of database enhancement, including the role of Web 2.0, user tagging, wikis, and networking.
Michael already has a record of library association service and recently served as Treasurer of the San Jose State Student Chapter of the American Library Association. The CLA ACTSS Board of Directors looks forward to working with Michael as he pursues his career in librarianship.
Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award Winner
Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library
Jean Hofacket has shown a commitment to the needs of underserved populations throughout her career, and nowhere has this commitment been more evident than in her support of library literacy services in Alameda County. As County Librarian, Jean has successfully directed the inclusion of literacy into the 5 year strategic as well as the negotiation of service and funding contracts for literacy programs throughout the Library jurisdiction including the County jail and juvenile hall. She is an advocate on behalf of literacy at the state, regional and local level and during the recent state budget crisis, when California Library Literacy Service funds were slated for elimination, Jean led a vocal campaign against the proposal with state lawmakers.
Jean is a visionary leader who supports and encourages literacy program innovation. In 2007, she traveled to the White House with library staff to accept the Coming Up Taller Award on behalf of a program for which she has strongly advocated - the Library's "Write to Read" Literacy Program at Alameda County Juvenile Hall. Jean has also supported and directed library funding towards the Library's "Start with a Story" Project, an award-winning family literacy outreach program for children for children visiting inmates at the Alameda County Jail. Her sensitivity to the needs of the underserved helps to ensure that the library remains a relevant and indispensable force in the lives of our citizens.
Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award Winners
Gloria Won, University of California San Francisco Medical Center Library
Gail Sorrough, University of California San Francisco Medical Center Library
Gloria Won and Gail Sorrough raised awareness about a grievous challenge to intellectual freedom, and helped create a public outcry on the issue which resulted in the reversal of censorship.
Gloria, a librarian at University of California San Francisco Medical Center Library, discovered a problem while conducting a search for the term abortion on POPLINE, the world's largest reproductive health database. Her search was garnering few results. She reported the problem to her director, Gail Sorrough. Won contacted the project's database manager who told her, "Yes, we did make a change in POPLINE. We recently made all abortion terms stop words. As a federally funded project, we decided this was the best for now." This move effectively blocked all searches on the term abortion. POPLINE's move was motivated by political pressure from U.S. Agency for International Development who has anti-abortion agenda and refuses funds for abortion activities or supplies. POPLINE's decision was a violation of intellectual freedom.
Won and Sorrough spread the word about the problem through medical librarian listservs, and the outcry grew. As a result, the dean at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which supports and maintains POPLINE, directed the project administrators to immediately restore abortion as a search term. Their advocacy on behalf of intellectual freedom is being recognized with this award.
PREXCELLENCE Award Winners
Best in Show Winner
Library A Go-Go
Contra Costa County Library
Less than $5 million Budget
FIRST
Contra Costa Library - Lafayette branch
SECOND
Hayward Public Library - Digital Storytelling
THIRD
Downey City Library - One Book, One Community
$5-10 millon Budget
FIRST
Oceanside Public Library - Mascot Marketing
SECOND
Friends of the San Francisco Public Library - New Organizational Identity & Ballot Measure Empowers (2 winners)
THIRD
Santa Clara City Library - Free 2 Succeed
OVER $10 millon Budget
FIRST
Contra Costa County - Library A Go-Go
SECOND
San Diego Public Library- Children's Book Festival
THIRD
Fresno County Public Library - Annual Report Calendar
Posted by claadmin at 10:48 AM
June 23, 2008
California State Library announces California Civil Liberties Public Education Program Grant Recipients
State Librarian of California Susan Hildreth has announced the 2007-2008 grant recipients for the California State Library's California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP). The announcement came following the CCLPEP advisory committee meeting in May.
CCLPEP received 66 grant proposals totaling almost $2.8 million, with $500,000 available for distribution. Thirty proposals were selected for grant awards. Winning grant projects include a study that will provide recommendations to the California Department of Education Curriculum Commission for their upcoming history-social science curriculum revision, as well as documentary films, an original musical recording, books and research, web sites, oral histories, art and photography exhibits, and a variety of educational projects.
CCLPEP is the outgrowth of the 1998 California Civil Liberties Public Education Act, an initiative Assembly Member Mike Honda sponsored. The purpose of the Act was to provide funding for public education activities and educational materials surrounding the internment of Japanese Americans and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry, with the intent being to illuminate and create understanding of the causes and circumstances of the internment and similar events. Susan Hildreth said, "Each year's CCLPEP projects have fulfilled the original purpose of the Act very well, and the 2007-2008 projects add much to that body of work."
The FY 2007-2008 CCLPEP grantees and their projects are available online at http://cla-net.org/included/docs/2008GrantRecipients.pdf.
For more information about the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, please contact Linda Springer or Christopher Berger at (916) 653-5217 or cclpep@library.ca.gov.
Posted by claadmin at 1:56 PM
May 22, 2008
Emerging Leaders Scholarship Opportunity
CLA is offering a scholarship to participate in ALA's Emerging Leaders Program!
This program is designed to enable more than 100 new librarians to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and get an inside look into ALA structure and activities.
In order to be eligible for participation in the program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be under 35 years of age or be a new librarian of any age with fewer than 5 years post-MLS experience, and
- Have a recent MLS degree from an ALA or NCATE accredited program or be in an MLS program currently, and
- Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each,
- Be prepared to commit to serve on an ALA, Division, Chapter or Round Table committee, taskforce or workgroup upon completion of program, and
- Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.
To apply for the CLA scholarship, valued at $1500, you must also be a CLA member.
The scholarship application form is online at http://cla-net.org/included/docs/EmergingLeadersRegForm.pdf. To learn more about the Emerging Leaders Program, visit wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE DUE JUNE 20, 2008.
Posted by claadmin at 9:20 AM
May 20, 2008
Begun Scholarship Accepting Applications Now!
The Begun Scholarship, named in memory of former librarian Betty Begun, supports continuing library school students who have demonstrated a commitment to becoming children's or young adult librarians in a California public library.
For the application and information on eligibility, please visit http://cla-net.org/awards/begun.php. The deadline to apply is July 1.
Posted by claadmin at 11:30 AM
April 14, 2008
2008 Beatty Winner Announced!
Joan W. Blos will be honored with the 2008 John and Patricia Beatty Award for her book Letters from the Corrugated Castle: A Novel of Gold Rush California 1850-1852 (Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2007). The Beatty Award is given annually to the children's or young adult book that best represents California, its people, culture, and history.
Continue reading "2008 Beatty Winner Announced!"
Posted by claadmin at 8:15 AM
March 20, 2008
Scholarships Available
Scholarships are available for the 2008 LAMA Preconference
An Inside Look at Leadership
Friday, June 27, 2008; Anaheim, California
The Library Administration and Management Association will award three $500 scholarships for "An Inside Look at Leadership," a LAMA preconference being held at the American Library Association annual conference in Anaheim, CA, on June 27, 2008. The preconference is presented in partnership with The Pacific Institute, and is intended for everyone in leadership positions as well as those moving towards leadership roles within their organizations or lives.
Participants will work to improve effective thinking skills; heighten self-confidence; increase self-motivation; attain goals that were once thought out of reach; and understand paths to career growth.
The scholarships will offset the $225 cost of registration and the balance can be used toward travel, housing, or other costs associated with the annual conference. Applications are available at http://www.ala.org/ala/lama/precon_scholarship.pdf.
Funding for this scholarship is made possible through interest income generated by generous and ongoing contributions to the LAMA Endowment Fund.
The mission of the Library Administration and Management Association is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association.
Posted by claadmin at 9:33 AM
January 30, 2008
Local Newspaper highlights CLA Member of the Year
The Orange County Registrar wrote a brief on Leslie Farmer, CLA's Member of the Year Award Recipient for 2007. The article can be found at the link below.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/member-association-library-1969573-farmer-long
Posted by claadmin at 9:54 AM
January 25, 2008
2008 American Indian Youth Literature Awards
The American Indian Library Association (AILA), an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), is pleased to announce the recipients of its American Indian Youth Literature Award. This new literary award was created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. Books selected to receive the award present Native Americans in the fullness of their humanity in the present and past contexts.
The award is presented in each of three categories-picture book, middle school, and young adult-and each winner receives $500 and a custom-made beaded medallion, which will be presented at a ticketed event during the American Library Association Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. See the AILA web site for more detailed information about the books, authors and award event. see the AILA web site http://aila.library.sd.gov/.
"We are grateful to have this opportunity to honor authors and illustrators who best portray Native American culture for young readers," Naomi Caldwell, Chair, AILA American Indian Youth Literature Award committee. We celebrate the official recognition American Indian literature for youth. "
Picture Book
Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom by Tim Tingle, illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridge. Cinco Puntos Press, 2006.
A beautifully inspired story of a friendship between Martha Tom, a Choctaw girl and Li' Mo, a slave boy and how their relationship brought wholeness and freedom to Mo's family and also to many slaves. Bridge's illustrations enhance the story by resonating the joy of friendship, the light of faith, and the leadership of children.
Middle School
Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond, by Joseph Medicine Crow. National Geographic, 2006.
This appealing autobiography of Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow (Absarokee) is a winner with the young and old. The author recounts his adventures and training as a traditional Crow warrior and his service as a decorated World War II veteran. Walk, run and ride with him as you learn first-hand
about real-life on the Crow reservation before during and after encounters with newcomers. In a text that is not preachy, but and honest read, Joseph Medicine Crow tell how he over came many challenges to fulfill is role as Chief of the Crow Nation.
Young Adult
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Little Brown Publishers, 2007.
A realistic, bitter-sweet yet, humorous look at the life of Arnold, a Spokane Indian teenager making his way in life on the reservation while attending an all white high school. Alexie brings to life the challenges many young native people experience as they learn to navigate and balance Indian life in a modern world. Part autobiography, Alexie's Arnold reminds us of the complexities of coming of age, bigotry, bullies, loyalty to family and the meaning of love.
To register to attend the presentation of the American Indian Youth Literature Award, please visit the AILA or ALA website.
In the near future an American Indian Youth Literature Award free downloadable bookmark and brochure will be made available on the AILA Web site at http://aila.library.sd.gov/ and the ALA OLOS web site.
Members of the American Indian Youth Literature Award are: Naomi Caldwell, chair, GSLIS, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I.; Carlene Engstrom, D'Arcy McNickle Library, Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Mont.; and Gabriella Kaye, Mashantucket, Pequot Museum & Research Center, Mashantucket, CT., Lisa A. Mitten, Choice Magazine, Sarah Kostelecky, Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Cindy Carrywater, Montana State Library Commission, and Jolena Tillequots, School Library Media Specialist, Yakima Nation.
Posted by claadmin at 9:49 AM
January 16, 2008
Ken Haycock Wins National Service Award
The Association for Library and Information Science Education has awarded its national service award to Dr. Ken Haycock, professor and director of the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University. Dr. Haycock was cited for his specific contributions to the Association as president in 2006 in leading the development of the Association's strategic plan, introducing board effectiveness measures, enhancing revenue development and formalizing performance management. During his term, the Association's membership and financial health improved dramatically.
Continue reading "Ken Haycock Wins National Service Award"
Posted by claadmin at 10:13 AM
September 17, 2007
Begun Scholarship Award - 2007
CLA's annual Begun Scholarship for future youth services librarians has been awarded to Ben Gomberg, Teen Services Intern at San Jose Public Library's Educational Park Branch. Ben also serves as a Library Clerk at San Jose's Harker School, where he has provided library services for both middle and upper school students. Ben will be presented with the scholarship at the CLA Conference Awards Dinner in Long Beach on October 26, 2007.
Ben was born in Oakland, California. He attended Tufts University in Massachusetts, where he majored in and earned a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in World Literatures and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. After spending time in Spain, as well as the East Coast, Ben returned to California. He is currently attending San Jose State University School of Library & Information Science where he plans to earn his MLIS in 2008. He says he has never lived more than three blocks from a library.
The Begun Scholarship Committee was impressed with Ben's passion and commitment to and respect for the young adults he serves. In his essay, Ben stressed the positive contributions that young adults and libraries can make working together, "In a state where the socioeconomic and ethnic makeup of young people is far from consistent with the aging population it is more important than ever that young people be given the chance to be a strong, positive voice in their communities...There are language barriers to overcome, as well as prejudices of racism, class discrimination, and ageism. Libraries are one of the institutions equipped to overcome these obstacles...It is my belief that young adults have the ability to change the world...It is my greatest wish to help libraries guide and accompany this generation, and the one that follows it, as they become influential voices in their communities, and the world."
The Begun Committee congratulates Ben Gomberg and looks forward to watching the progress of his career as a Young Adult Librarian.
Submitted by Paula Weiner, Chair
CLA Begun Scholarship Committee 2007
Posted by claadmin at 1:58 PM
July 19, 2007
Nominations for Excellence as a Public Librarian
Do you know an outstanding public librarian? Someone who deserves some recognition for his or her hard work, great ideas and dedication? Then let everyone know and nominate them for the Award for Excellence as a Public Librarian sponsored by the Public Library Section of the California Library Association.
This award recognizes and promotes excellence in public library service by an individual librarian in a California public library. The winner of the CLA award may be nominated for ALA's "Allie Beth Martin Award" if appropriate. It is given to a professional librarian (MLIS) who is a member of the California Library Association. The Recipient must have worked as a professional librarian in a California public library for at least three years. The award may be for lifetime achievement but should highlight accomplishments in the last three years. The Award shall not be given to current officers of the Public Library Section or to members of the Award Committee.
Nominations are due by September 1st. The form is here: http://www.cla-net.org/included/docs/awardforexcellence.pdf. If you know an outstanding public librarian, don't let them go unrecognized.
Julie Farnsworth
Past-President, Public Library Section.
Posted by claadmin at 2:05 PM
July 17, 2007
CLA Member of the Year/Presidents' Award
Do you know someone who has been a leader for California libraries this year?
The California Library Association is seeking nominations for two prestigious awards, Member of the Year and President's Award. Details and nomination forms are attached to this email and are also available at http://www.cla-net.org/awards/moy.php. Nominations are due by September 30. The award winners will be honored at the CLA Conference in Long Beach at the Awards Banquet on Friday evening, October 26.
The Member of the Year Award honors a CLA member for his/her outstanding contributions, leadership and achievements in service to California libraries. The nominee will have made a significant contribution to the advancement of libraries and librarianship through professional activities within the past three years. Consideration for selection as Member of the Year includes: distinguished service to the profession; active and innovative leadership in the development of libraries and the improvement of library service; and outstanding contributions in promoting libraries and bringing community, regional or statewide recognition to libraries.
The President's Award recognize outstanding contributions, leadership and achievement in support of California libraries by a Trustee, Friend, Elected Official or other lay person(s).. The nominee(s) will have given his or her time and talents to further the advancement of California Libraries. Membership in CLA is not a requirement.
Our libraries and our profession are enriched by those who provide outstanding leadership. This is a wonderful way to honor and recognize these special individuals.
Posted by claadmin at 7:42 AM
June 27, 2007
Begun Scholarship Opportunity - Last Chance to Apply!
Attention all library school students who have made the smart career choice on becoming a children's or young adult librarian in a California public library!
You can apply for a $3000 scholarship now.
Please go the CLA Web site for all the details and application form.
The deadline to submit your application is July 1, 2007. Please take advantage of this outstanding opportunity.
Paula Weiner
Chair, Begun Scholarship Committee
Posted by claadmin at 1:20 PM
April 20, 2007
2007 John and Patricia Beatty Award is Announced
Celeste Davidson Mannis will be honored with the 2007 John and Patricia Beatty Award for her book Julia Morgan Built a Castle (Viking, 2006). The Beatty Award is an award given to the children's or young adult book that best represents California, its people, culture, and history.
Many people may not know who Julia Morgan was, but if they looked at the architecture of California, they would see her designs in more than 800 buildings including Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Growing up in Oakland and the bay area, Julia Morgan dreamt of becoming an architect during a time when women were not in the profession. Not letting this stand in her way, Julia persisted and became the first woman to study and receive a certificate at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Upon her return to San Francisco, she opened a studio and became California's first licensed woman architect, designing buildings that withstood the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. For more than forty-five years Julia Morgan designed and constructed distinct homes, churches, YWCA buildings, and of course, the opulent Hearst Castle. Julia Morgan is an important figure in California's rich history.
The John and Patricia Beatty Award, established in 1987 by Patricia Beatty, has been given annually since 1989. Since 1999, BWI Books has co-sponsored the award with the California Library Association. The winning author receives an engraved plaque, along with a prize of $500, which is presented at the annual CLA Conference's Beatty Award Breakfast. Ms. Mannis will be present to receive the award at the October 28 Beatty Breakfast.
The 2007 Beatty Award Committee consists of: JoAnn Bauer of Humboldt County Library, chair Lisa Buckley of Fresno County Public Library, Karen Holt of Roseville Public Library, Kristyne Hrdina-Moulton of Thousand Oaks Public Library, and Wendy Westgate of Los Angeles Public Library.
Posted by claadmin at 12:04 PM
November 22, 2006
Annual Awards Winners
This year, for the first time, CLA honored our award and scholarship winners at an Award Dinner Gala on the Friday before our annual conference. Below are brief introductions of the honorees. Congratulations to all our winners!
MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Anne Cain
The Member of the Year Award recognizes an individual member of the California Library Association for his or her outstanding contributions, leadership and achievements in service to California libraries.
This year's recipient led her library to excellence amid budget cuts and diminishing County resources. She became County Librarian one month after the library lost an election for a parcel tax to increase library hours in 1998. Since that time, she built consensus, forged community partnerships, and created a strong, cohesive county library system that reflects the diverse communities the library serves. Under her leadership, six new libraries have been built or moved into new facilities, and six others have been renovated, and library usage has increased.
She has been described as resourceful, ingenious, and creative. Some examples:
- In 2004/05, facing a $250,000 budget shortfall, she raised over $250,000 in donations and $350,000 in grants to support the library. A library sponsored 5K Fun Run drew over 400 runners and support from library unions and local businesses!
- The 2005 county State Fair exhibit featured library services and won a silver medal.
- With a small IT staff, she has been able to offer online library cards that allow new users access to the library resources remotely, wireless "hot spots," digital audiobooks, and expanded computer training.
- The library's literacy program, Project Second Chance, is one of the most successful in the State.
Her remarkable achievements were recognized by her Board of Supervisors when the library won the 2005 Departmental Award of Excellence.
In CLA, she has chaired the Legislative Committee, the 2005 Awards Committee and is currently a member of the Nominations Committee. She served on the Executive Committee of the Proposition 81 Campaign, and worked tirelessly to generate support for the library bond measure. We are pleased to recognize Anne Cain, Library Director of the Contra Costa County Library, as the 2006 CLA Member of the Year.
PRESIDENT'S AWARD: Alan Smith
The CLA President's Award recognizes outstanding contributions, leadership and achievement in support of California libraries by a Trustee, Friend, Elected Official or other layperson. The President's Award for 2006 goes to Alan Smith.
Alan is recognized for his tireless advocacy for public libraries in Contra Costa County and throughout California. He is a Contra Costa County Library Commissioner.
As Chair of the Prop. 81 campaign in Contra Costa County, Alan gave over 25 presentations in 2006 and obtained over 50 endorsements for Prop 81 from groups including the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, 18 of the 19 City Councils, 11 school boards, a community college district, and numerous organizations and leaders in the community. He met with other local campaigns to provide assistance and advice on grassroots advocacy.
Since 2000, Alan has worked with CALTAC and the California State Library to present board effectiveness training for over 100 library boards and commissions in California. A frequent and effective speaker at meetings of public agencies, Alan has generously shared his talent and expertise in advocacy with fellow library commissioners and board members. He is a remarkable man, who demonstrates every day what a committed, motivated and articulate community advocate can do for libraries.
CYRM PRIMARY CATEGORY: Michael Garland - "Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook"
Each year, one of the CYRM winners is recognized at the CLA annual conference. This year's honoree was Michael Garland. On Michael's website he reveals that he wasn't the smartest one in his class or the best athlete in any sport, but when they passed out the paper and crayons, it was his day to shine. His teachers would never hold up his math test and proudly display it to the rest of the class, but everything he drew would be shown to the class and given a place of honor on the bulletin board. And that's when he started to think he might become an artist. A complete listing of the 2006 CYRM winners is available at http://californiayoungreadermedal.org/winners.htm.
JOHN AND PATRICIA BEATTY AWARD: Dorothy Kupcha Leland - "The Balloon Boy of San Francisco"
Dorothy didn't have a TV when she was growing up and reading was a really big thing in her family. She used to ride her bike up to the library, filling her bicycle baskets with books. She was always intrigued with the idea of writing and really enjoys the research. She ran across the story of Ready Gates, the young San Francisco newsboy who took flight, while working on another book. We are glad that she wanted to learn more about Ready, and now we have "The Balloon Boy of San Francisco" and Dorothy Kupcha Leland, winner of this year's Beatty Award.
CLA SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINORITY STUDENTS IN MEMORY OF EDNA YELLAND: Africa Hands, Pearl Ly and Melanee Vicedo
Africa Hands is in her second semester at San Jose State's MLIS program. She lives in the Bay Area and currently works part-time for Contra Costa County Library. As a child, Africa frequented the Richmond Public Library Main and Point Richmond Branches. She fondly remembers participating in summer reading programs and spending lots of time among the stacks discovering the treasures within.
Africa comes to librarianship from higher education where she worked for several years in admissions and academic advising. Her experiences providing information and services to prospective and current students led her to explore a library career and information science. Africa graduated from Golden Gate University with an MA in Psychology, concentration in Counseling; and University of California at Davis with a BA in Psychology.
Pearl Ly is a native Southern Californian with Chinese-Vietnamese heritage. She received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of San Diego (USD). As an undergraduate, Pearl was an Americorps Volunteer and USD Student Co-Director of Community Service. After graduation, Pearl served in the Peace Corps as a natural resources specialist in Central Honduras. In addition to providing environmental education workshops, Pearl supported a forestry school library data management project and helped establish the first library in a rural community elementary school. Her professional goals include becoming a community college librarian and/or an information specialist for non-profit groups.
Melanee Vicedo is a student at UCLA's Information Studies program. After emigrating from the Philippines at age 7, she was introduced to her local library and the branch became one of the most useful tools into understanding her new home. From the children's section to the university stacks, her appreciation for the services and knowledge residing in libraries has grown exponentially. She received her B.A. in Education from Cal State Los Angeles. She currently works as a Library Assistant at UCLA's Biomedical Library and has a summer internship at the Marina Del Rey branch of the L.A. County Public Libraries. She has worked with UCLA's LGBT Library and the Los Angeles Filipino American Library and was recently elected co-president of the ALA Student Chapter. Melanee will graduate in Summer 2007 and anticipates working as an academic librarian in the community college level.
THE BEGUN SCHOLARSHIP: Jody Meza
CLA has a second scholarship, the Begun Scholarship, named in memory of former librarian Betty Begun. This scholarship supports continuing library school students who have demonstrated a commitment to becoming children's or young adult librarians in a California public library.
The 2006 Begun Scholarship winner is Jody Meza. Jody is a student at SJSU. Her local library in Orland, CA was always her favorite place to visit. She never outgrew her love of the library and as a high school student, she became a volunteer. It was the assignments helping the Children's Librarian that most influenced her decision to work in Youth Services. She was delighted to be hired as the Children's Librarian at the Orland Free Library in 2003 and she believes that earning her degree will allow her to offer the children and young adults of Orland the best programs and services.
CLA REFERENCE SERVICES PRESS FELLOWSHIP - Sarah Lehmann
The CLA Reference Service Press Fellowship encourages college seniors, college graduates and beginning library school students to prepare for a career in reference/information service librarianship.
One fellowship of $3,000 is awarded annually. The funding for this fellowship is provided by Reference Service Press, a California-based publishing company.
This year's winner is Sarah Lehmann. Sarah is currently a first-year student in UCLA's Library and Information Science Master's program. She first became interested in librarianship through a student job at Occidental's library reference desk. What she loves about librarianship is that it unites her interests, skills, and values in the service of something which she finds both meaningful and rewarding: enabling the greatest possible access to the best possible information.
She is particularly interested in academic reference, library outreach and marketing, and thinking about ways to ensure that libraries are as user-friendly as possible.
AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AS A PUBLIC LIBRARIAN: Lynn Whitehouse
This award was established in 1994 by CLA's Public Library Section and provides recognition to a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated achievement in library programming, community outreach, range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials, or in service delivery.
This year's winner is Lynn Whitehouse.
Lynn's success in developing high quality programming, attracting new audiences to the library and building lasting partnerships with local organizations and community groups is remarkable. Thanks in large part to Lynn's creative talents, organizational skills and grant-writing expertise, the library has been able to offer a wide variety of thought-provoking and entertaining programs for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Her programming expertise is a major asset to the library.
ACCESS, COLLECTIONS AND TECHNICAL SERVICES SECTION AWARD: Patricia French
This award acknowledges superior achievement by an individual in those areas of the library profession that encompass access, collections, and technical services. The ACTSS Award recognizes colleagues who have made outstanding contributions in those areas of librarianship that have been especially challenged by the need for innovation and adaptation in dealing with rapidly changing technology and work environments.
This year's winner is Patricia French. Pat served the California library community for many years, providing leadership within the University of California and beyond. Pat's contributions to the library field are numerous She has served as a trainer, was President of ACTSS in 2000 and was one of the initial group from the UC campuses that spent a year setting up the foundation for the Shared Cataloging Program. She was instrumental in setting up and testing the actual process of receiving the MARC records at the campuses. Three years after the records started to flow, she wrote a well-received article for Serials Review on the Shared Cataloging Program. She has also been a multi-year editor for the NASIG proceedings. Her contributions are numerous, but embody outstanding achievements in all four criteria for the ACTSS award.
This past summer, Patricia French left California for a new life as head of technical services for the Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon. This award thanks her for the many, many contributions in California.
OUTSTANDING LIBRARIAN IN SUPPORT OF LITERACY AWARD: John Adams
Since its inception in 2003, the Literacy Section has sponsored an annual award for Outstanding Librarian In Support of Literacy.
This year's winner is John Adams. John has been working in libraries since 1971, starting as an undergraduate Librarian at University of Illinois. After receiving his MLS in 1973, he worked as a branch librarian for Los Angeles Public Library until 1978. From LAPL he moved back to the Midwest to be the director of the Moline, IL Library and then to Tampa, FL as the Director until 1991 when he came to the Orange County Public Library where he has remained.
ZOIA HORN INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AWARD: Tarnel Abbott
This Award honors Californians who have made significant contributions to intellectual freedom in California. The committee selects nominees based on recent or important lifetime contributions to intellectual freedom.
The Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award honors California librarian Zoia Horn, who in 1973 chose to serve time in jail rather than betray confidential patron information. Ms. Horn's experience sets an example of integrity over personal comfort, and has been a model discussed in library literature and shared with generations of library students everywhere. A key goal of the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award is to celebrate and honor other selfless examples of commitment to intellectual freedom that help preserve free speech in an open society.
This year's winner is Tarnel Abbott, a reference librarian at Richmond Public Library and a passionate about intellectual freedom. Ms. Abbott has also been a children's librarian at Richmond. She works tirelessly to promote intellectual freedom. In addition to annual Banned Books displays, she has partnered with organizations to provide films and lectures regarding freedom to read.
PREXCELLENCE AWARDS
The PRExcellence Awards honor the creative side of California's libraries. The awards are to showcase the materials that libraries produce in the areas of marketing, advertising, public relations and all-together communications.
There are four categories that entries can be entered into: Programming (social, cultural, educational or political); Advocacy (fundraising, etc.); News and Information (service listing, calendars, websites, etc.) and Other (everything else that doesn't fit into the other categories.) Within each of these categories there are budget categories (based on the library's budget) as well. A "Best of Show" award is also selected.
BEST OF SHOW
- Whittier Public Library Foundation - One City One Book, Whittier Reads: Farewell to Manzanar material
Less than $5 million Category:
PROGRAMMING
- Whittier Public Library One City One Book, Whittier Reads: Farewell to Manzanar material
NEWS & INFO (tie)
- San Jose State University, Recruiting and Development materials
- South San Francisco Public Library Small Business Brochure
ADVOCACY
- San Francisco Public Library Book Sale Material
OTHER (tie)
- San Bruno Public Library brand campaign
- Victoria Garden Library Cultural Center Opening materials
$5-10 Million Category:
PROGRAMMING
- Kern County Library One Book, One Bakersfield: Epitaph for a Peach
NEWS & INFO
- Santa Clara City Public Library Teen Net
OTHER
- Livermore Public Library Recruiting Brochure
More than $10 Million Category:
PROGRAMMING
- County of Los Angeles Public Library Homework Centers material
NEWS & INFO
- Contra Costa County Early Literacy Services Information
ADVOCACY
- Oakland Public Library Fundraising brochure
OTHER
- San Diego County Library Youth Services Exchange/internal tool
Again, congratulations to all our winners! And a very special thank you to Danis Kreimeier for planning and coordinating the inaugural awards dinner gala! This would not have happened without her and amazing staff.
- Gala Slide Show! (3,640 k)
Posted by claadmin at 7:42 AM
August 8, 2006
Edna Yelland Scholarship for Minority Students Committee Report
Submitted by Deborah Barrow, Committee Chair
The CLA Scholarship for Minority Students committee received 18 applications. The committee met via telephone conferencing to review the criteria for the scholarship and to go over the evaluation form. Each committee member individually evaluated the applications, assigned points and determined which were their top candidates.
We met again via telephone conference to discuss the candidates and determine which we would like to interview. There were 5 candidates invited to be interviewed by phone. They were: Africa Hands, Brenda Linares, Pearl Ly, Melanee Vicedo, and Ray Wilson.
The committee selected three for the scholarship awards: Africa Hands, Pearl Ly, and Melanee Vicedo. We believe that each of these scholarship recipients will be outstanding librarians and that they have much to offer their communities. Award letters have been sent, as well as regrets letters to the other applicants.
There was one issue that arose from an applicant regarding the application process. The applicant wanted to challenge the requirement that scholarship recipients be enrolled in, or plan to attend a library school in California. A few applicants who intended to go to school out of state were eliminated from consideration. Please note that enrollment or acceptance in an ALA-accredited California library school is the first item listed for eligibility for the scholarship.
The members of the committee were: Jack Forman of San Diego Mesa Community College, Sallie Riley of LAPL Watts Branch Library, Rebecca Hill Long of Stockton San Joaquin County Library's Linden Branch Library, Stephanie Woodbury of Contra Costa County Library, and Deborah Barrow of Sunnyvale Public Library.
Posted by claadmin at 2:23 PM
July 31, 2006
Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award
Each year, California Library Literacy Services programs reach out to over 20,000 adults and families with limited literacy skills providing them one-on-one or small group tutoring to help them achieve their goals as family members, workers, citizens or lifelong learners. The CLA Literacy Section invites nominations for the Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award to honor a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support literacy through outreach, programming, raising public awareness, collection development, advocacy, recruitment, fundraising or in other ways.
The winner will be honored at the CLA Conference Awards Dinner on Friday, November 10, 2006 in Sacramento. S/he will receive two tickets to attend the dinner, one year membership in CLA, a plaque to honor his/her achievement, recognition on the CLA web-site, and a gift certificate. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, September 15. The nomination form and guidelines are available at http://www.cla-net.org/included/docs/OLSL.pdf.
Posted by claadmin at 8:10 AM
July 27, 2006
Submit Your PRexcellence Entries Today!
This could be your year!
Tell your Friends and Foundation about the PRexcellence Awards. This year California Friends and Foundations (and other library support organzations) are invited to participate in the awards, along with libraries of all sizes. The Awards are given annually during the California Library Association Annual Conference, including the "Best in Show Award." The conference will be November, 2006 in Sacramento.
There are categories for programming, advocacy, news & information, and "other." Entries may be a single piece or an entire campaign. Don't forget electronic formats (like your web site) - they can be entered too.
With separate budget divisions for small, medium and large libraries there's a way for every California library to participate.
Entries must be received by August 23, 2006. Everything you need to enter is on the CLA web site, take a minute to check it out.
Questions? Contact Deborah Doyle at zorrah@well.com.
Posted by claadmin at 1:29 PM
July 24, 2006
2007 National Library Week Grant
Libraries across the United States are invited to apply for the $5,000 Scholastic Library Publishing National Library Week Grant, which will be awarded to a single library for the best public awareness campaign incorporating the 2007 National Library Week theme, "Come together @ your library."
The grant, in support of libraries, is sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, and is administered by the Public Awareness Committee of the American Library Association (ALA). This year's application deadline is October 16, 2006. National Library Week is April 15-21, 2007.
All proposals must use the "Come together @ your library" theme, which incorporates The Campaign for America's Libraries' "@ your library" brand, on any and all promotional and publicity material supporting National Library Week activities. Guidelines for using the brand are available on the campaign Web site at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary under the "download logos" section.
A grant application form and guidelines are available on The Campaign for America's Libraries Web site at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant.
Information also is available from the ALA Public Information Office.
Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4020. E-mail: mhumphrey@ala.org.
The winner will be notified and announced at the 2007 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. Information on last year's winner, the Maricopa County Library District in Phoenix, Ariz., and the winning application can be viewed at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary/nlwgrant.
Members of the National Library Week subcommittee include Dee Yost, chair, Hastings College Perkins Library (Neb.); Elliot L. Appelbaum, Lexington
(Ky.) Public Library; Dr. Gordon Newton Baker, Clayton State University (Ga.); Darlene Basone, school library consultant, Ohio; and Lisa Rice, Bowling Green (Ky.) Public Library.
For more information about The Campaign for America's Libraries, visit the Campaign's Web site at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary.
Scholastic Library Publishing, a division of Scholastic, creates a multitude of products, both in print and online, for the school and public library market under the imprints of Grolier, Children's Press, Franklin Watts, and Grolier Online. Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site.
* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited.
Posted by claadmin at 2:36 PM
November 29, 2005
Scholarship Fund Receives a Bequest
The California Library Association has received a bequest from the estate of Giovanna Castelfranco Schamberg. The money will go to the Edna Yelland Scholarship Fund, and will be used to support ethnic minority students in the attainment of a graduate degree in library or information science. The scholarship fund was established in 1973, and to date, fifty-one library students have received nearly $50,000 in direct assistance toward their education.
Mrs. Schamberg was a long time member of CLA until her death in 2003 at the age of 84. She retired from the Los Angeles Public Library in 1979 and resided in Palo Alto at the time of her death.
Posted by claadmin at 2:33 PM
October 17, 2005
ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 14, Number 103
October 17, 2005
In This Issue: 21st Century Librarian Grant Applications
IMLS Calls for Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant Applications
Grants help recruit and educate librarians and strengthen graduate schools of library and information science
(APPLICATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 15, 2005)
The Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS) invites America's libraries, archives, library agencies, associations and consortia, to apply for the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (formerly called Librarians for the 21st Century) grant program. IMLS will award over $21 million under this program to help recruit and educate librarians and strengthen graduate schools of library and information science in FY 2006. The application deadline is December 15, 2005.
"In 2003, with a shortage of professional librarians on the horizon, First Lady Laura Bush called on IMLS to help recruit a new generation of librarians through a special funding initiative," explained Mary Chute, Acting Director of IMLS. "Since then, IMLS has funded 1,537 master's degree students, 119 doctoral students, 660 preprofessional students, and 378 continuing education students through this initiative. I am pleased to share with the library community the 2006 grant application guidelines for what will now be called, fittingly, the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program."
The program continues its emphasis on recruiting and educating students at the master's and doctoral levels, while also supporting efforts to recruit future librarians from the ranks of promising junior high, high school, and college students. It will help update the skills of current librarians and library staff through continuing education programs. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian program also helps graduate schools of library and information science build institutional capacity through curriculum development in key areas. In addition, it supports critical research to evaluate program effectiveness and develop strategies for recruiting and retaining librarians.
For fiscal year 2006, IMLS particularly encourages applications for projects that promote collaboration between educators and librarians employed in educational institutions.
Applications, guidelines, and examples of successful proposals can be found on the IMLS Web site at: http://www.imls.gov/grants/library/lib_bdre.htm. Contact Senior Program Officer Stephanie Clark at sclark@imls.gov or Program Officer Elaina Norlin at enorlin@imls.gov with questions or for more information.
Awards will be announced in mid-June 2006.
Posted by claadmin at 2:32 PM
September 26, 2005
Begun Scholarship Winner Announced
The first annual Begun Scholarship for future youth services librarians has been awarded to Madeline N. Miller, page at the Santa Cruz Public Library and graduate student at the San Jose State University School of Library & Information Science, where she hopes to get her MLIS in August 2006. Madeline also works in the children's section of Bookshop Santa Cruz and volunteers in her library's Young People's Room. She has served as a pre-college advisor for tenth-graders and has tutored Spanish-speaking sixth-through-eighth-grade students in writing, reading, and English. In her spare time, Madeline likes to read (children's literature, of course!) and hike and is a classically-trained singer. Her storytime "Opera for Preschoolers" was a big hit this summer, especially when she encouraged the kids to howl during The Dog Who Sang at the Opera! The Begun Scholarship Committee is thrilled that Madeline has decided to become a youth services librarian and looks forward to watching her career blossom.
Posted by claadmin at 10:29 AM
July 15, 2005
Nominations Sought for Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award
The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the California Library Association is pleased to accept nominations for the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award. The California Library Association's Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award honors Californian people, groups, and organizations that have made significant contributions to intellectual freedom in California. The contributions to intellectual freedom do not need to be limited in impact to California.
The Awards Subcommittee of the CLA Intellectual Freedom Committee selects nominees based on recent or important lifetime contributions to intellectual freedom. The Executive Committee of CLA is the final approving authority for the nomination.
The Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award honors California librarian Zoia Horn, who in 1973 chose to serve time in jail rather than betray confidential patron information. Ms. Horn's experience sets an example of integrity over personal comfort, and has been a model discussed in library literature and shared with generations of library students everywhere. A key goal of the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award is to celebrate and honor other selfless examples of commitment to intellectual freedom that help preserve free speech in an open society.
Timeline:
This award may be awarded annually, but there is no requirement to make this award in years when no outstanding candidate is available. Deadline for nominations is August 15. The Intellectual Freedom Committee makes its nomination by September 1, and the award is announced at the CLA annual conference.
Award Amount:
This award has no monetary component. Award winners will receive a certificate and be honored at the annual conference.
For an application form, please visit http://www.cla-net.org/included/docs/Zoia.pdf
David Dodd
Chair, CLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, 2004-2005
Director, San Rafael Public Library
1100 E St., San Rafael, CA 94902
(415) 485-3325
Posted by claadmin at 9:34 AM
May 20, 2005
Endowment Board Approves Funding for 13 Projects
The California Cultural and Historical Endowment Board met May 18, 2005 at the Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles to approve funding for 13 of the 33 projects for which the Board had reserved funding in December 2004. This is one of the major phases in the Endowment's first cycle distribution of Proposition 40 bond funds.
At the conclusion of the May 18 in Los Angeles meeting, the Board approved funding for the following projects:
Endowment Finalist and Awarded Funds
California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts: $375,000
City of Santa Monica: $113,241
Imperial Valley College Desert Museum Society: $244,642
City of Watsonville: $300,074
Bay Area Electric Railroad Association: $310,520
Monterey County Redevelopment Agency: $380,060
Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association: $499,500
Angels Flight Railway Foundation: $996,350
City of Brentwood: $819,839
Knight Foundry Corporatio: $50,000
San Diego Natural History Museum: $2,887,500
Cesar E. Chavez Foundation: $2,500,000
Capital Unity Council: $2,200,000
TOTAL: $11,676,726
The 13 applicants to whom the Endowment Board awarded funds were selected from 276 total Endowment grant applicants. The finalists most clearly demonstrated the Endowment's purposes and goals.
Proposition 40 called for the creation of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment to support the "acquisition, development, preservation, and interpretation of buildings, structures, sites, places, and artifacts that preserve and demonstrate culturally significant aspects of California's history and for grants for these purposes." To carry out Proposition 40's mandate, the Endowment will, over the cycles established by its Board, distribute $122 million of $276 million in Proposition 40 funds.
Posted by claadmin at 3:05 PM
April 15, 2005
2005 Beatty Award Winner Announced
Gennifer Choldenko will be awarded the 2005 John and Patricia Beatty Award for her book Al Capone Does My Shirts, a finely crafted novel set on the island of Alcatraz in 1934. This award is given annually to the author of a children's or young adult book (published in the preceding year) which best promotes an awareness of California and its people, culture and history.
In this appealing book, Choldenko effectively captures the fascination that the outside world had with Alcatraz and its notorious prisoners, and contrasts it with the strictly regimented and monotonous daily life of the island's inhabitants - including not only the inmates, but also the many civilians (penitentiary employees and their families) who lived on The Rock. Bringing the setting to life is Moose Mulligan and his family, arriving on Alcatraz so his father can work in proximity to the special school in San Francisco that Moose's autistic sister will attend. Moose's life is made interesting - and difficult - by his family and friends, the warden, and by a certain larger-than-life inmate.
The John and Patricia Beatty Award, established in 1987 by Patricia Beatty, has been given annually since 1989. Since then BWI Books has co-sponsored the award with the California Library Association (CLA). The winning author receives an engraved plaque, along with a prize of $500, which is presented at the annual CLA Conference's Beatty Award Breakfast. Ms. Choldenko will be present to receive her award this November.
The 2005 Beatty committee consists of Katrina Neville, formerly of San Diego County Library; Jill Patterson from the La Habra Branch Library; Ann Pentecost of the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library; Sue Struthers of Riverside Public Library; and Chair Laura Remer of Chabot Elementary School in Oakland. The committee read nearly 75 titles, picture books and chapter books, fiction and nonfiction. About 20 will be added to the Eureka! Bibliography, accessible from CLA's website. Other books considered with particular interest were: The Coast Mappers by Taylor Morrison; and One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones.
Congratulations to Bay Area author Gennifer Choldenko for her unique award-winning book Al Capone Does My Shirts, which is also a 2005 Newbery Honor Book. She will be speaking and reading from this book on May 6 in Oakland's Montclair District at A Great Good Place for Books.
Posted by claadmin at 12:04 PM
March 9, 2005
Nominations for Barron Prize Sought
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, founded by young adult author T.A. Barron, seeks nominations for its 2005 awards. The Barron Prize honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to other people or the planet. Winners each receive $2,000. Nomination deadline is April 30.
The Barron Prize offers librarians and educators a free set of materials to use in exploring the concept of heroes with their students. Materials include a heroes curriculum, discussion guide, and bibliography.
To learn more about the Barron Prize or to obtain a free set of the heroes educational materials, visit www.barronprize.org.
Posted by claadmin at 9:44 AM
February 1, 2005
2005-06 CYRM Nominees Announced!
PRIMARY (Grades K-2)
Melinda Long. How I Became a Pirate. Illustrated by David Shannon. Harcourt, 2003.
Garland, Michael. Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook. Duttons Children's Books, 2003.
Margie Palatini. The Perfect Pet. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. HarperCollins, 2003.
Jonathan Emmett. Ruby in Her Own Time. Illustrated by Rebecca Harry. Scholastic Press, 2004.
David McPhail. The Teddy Bear. Henry Holt and Company, 2002.
INTERMEDIATE (Grades 3-5)
Barbara Ware Holmes. Following Fake Man. Knopf, 2001.
Avi. The Good Dog. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.
Deborah Wiles. Love, Ruby Lavender. Harcourt, 2001.
MIDDLE SCHOOL/JR. HIGH (Grades 6-8)
Patricia Reilly Giff. Pictures of Hollis Woods. Wendy Lamb Books, 2002.
Joan Bauer. Stand Tall. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002.
Sue Corbett. 12 Again. Dutton Children's Books, 2002.
YOUNG ADULT (Grades 9-12)
Francine Prose. After. HarperCollins, 2003.
Deb Caletti. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004.
Virginia Euwer Wolff. True Believer. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.
PICTURE BOOK FOR OLDER READERS (All Ages)
Candace Fleming. Boxes for Katje. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003.
Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert. Papa's Mark. Holiday House, 2003.
Walter Dean Myers. Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam. HarperCollins, 2001.
Posted by claadmin at 4:46 PM
January 4, 2005
Welcome to the CLA Weblog
Welcome to the CLA Blog! We will be adding articles to each of the main categories to your left. Our most recent articles will appear here on our weblog home page. You can also scan through the archives by Month or Recent Entries or use the Search this site tool to your left.
You can stay updated with CLA's blog by visiting regularly, following CLA's Facebook and Twitter pages, and by adding the blog to your RSS feed. For more information on RSS, click here.
We hope you enjoy reading our articles!
Posted by claadmin at 6:00 PM