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California Libraries e-Newsletter
August 26, 2010
Rebooting the Library (and the Shopping Mall)
Earlier this week, I attended the opening of "Santa Mammon", the new massive outdoor shopping center that has been constructed at the end of the Santa Monica Promenade. You have to admire the powers-that-be for their bravery, if nothing else, for their brazen foolhardiness in opening a ginormous three story mall during an era of recession. The place is, frankly, so top heavy with upscale businesses, it's a bit like taking Rodeo Drive, folding it in on itself like a lasagna pasta sheet, and then putting another Rodeo Drive on top of it.
I loved wandering around the place, and I did just about what everyone else was doing: I stepped into the fancy stores, happily fondled the glittery crystals at the Bagnace outlet, gaped at the incredibly gorgeous shirts at the Feodor of Italy shop, and stared out to sea from the food court patio. And then I ran to buy my socks and underwear at the Sears across the street. For, really, we have to face it: I didn't see anyone actually buying anything at any of the stores. Instead, the place was being treated like a very good museum.
Folks wandered to and fro in the open air under Santa Monica's beautiful blue sun, a stone's throw from the glittering Pacific Ocean, peering at the exhibits, gaping at the gawgaws, and then going right home. They were doing this by the thousands, it seems. You see, it's clear that, first and foremost, this isn't meant to be a shopping mall for today: This is a shopping mall that was conceived several years ago, when the economy was still flush, and it is being maintained for the patron of tomorrow -- he who lives in that foggy era when the economy has recovered. For the businesses and patrons of today, the place is essentially a game of Pass the Parcel (to paraphrase the play "The History Boys"), as we try to get from the ostentatious times of Yesteryear, to the consumptive time of Futureyear.
But what has all this to do with libraries, you may well ask. Well, here's the thing. Perhaps it's my fault and I freely admit I did not make the comprehensive and thorough search I could have, but it seems to me, I saw nary a bookstore in the place. That's all well and good, one supposes - there are plenty of places that don't have bookstores. And yet, don't you see a sort of an opportunity here for public libraries? One wonders, why is there no little branch library in the shopping mall? Why is there no knowledge management specialist providing some assistance at the facility?
I'm currently in my second year of studies for my MLIS in the Los Angeles Cohort of the University of North Texas/ Cal State Northridge program. And in two of my classes (Organization of Information and Advanced Management, if you really want to know), the professors stressed the notion of "providing service at the point of information need." As I, who art a mere acolyte, interpret this, it is the idea of going to where the patron is, rather than waiting for the patron to come to you.
Now, I can already hear the sensible amongst us already complaining about the idea of opening branches in shopping malls. For one thing, I can't argue with the idea that space in those shopping malls does, in fact, cost something like $40,000 per square foot. That is indeed a daunting sum for a cash-strapped public organization where librarians are already being laid off left and right and Library Pages are being replaced by the Pagebot 2000 Autoshelver, no two ways about it. So, perhaps the idea of opening an entire branch next to the Bloomies and across from the Nordstrom won't fly. I can dig it.
But might it not be possible to re-visit the idea of the old Library Bookmobile? If you walk through the shopping center, one sees, not only expensive stores, but also these sweet little wagon-sized carts, from which mobile phones or tiaras or scarves are sold with all the ferocity of barterers at a Medieval market town. Why can't a mobile mini-library be operated off of one of those cute little carts? Can you imagine it?
It would be a central location, equipped (in my fervid mind's eye) with a wifi connected computer to allow communication with the central library, where a patron could get a library card, might be able to check out one or two of a modest collection of best sellers on the cart itself, or could use a Public Access Station (for 15 minutes at a time, perhaps). The cart would come equipped with lots of Civic Information about the community, as well as an As Needed Roving librarian, who would have her own Blackberry for reference questions.
Even if a library cart such as this didn't get much use as a sort of Bookmobile, one imagines that the promotional possibilities for building a library presence in the place where so many people go would be inestimable. Even if you don't check out a single book, the number of people who pass by and go, "Oh yes, I do love the library!" can be counted as a friend who has been reminded of the usefulness of the facility and the organization. That might be very handy come vote time. And, when you consider that these gigantic shopping centers are, in fact, the New Village Green, it behooves us to go where the people are.
Paul Birchall
Cal State Northridge/University of North Texas SLIS 2011
Santa Monica Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:05 AM
Grant Recipients Announced for California's Family Place Library Program
Thirteen California public libraries have been selected as 2010/2011 grant recipients for California's Family Place Library Program, a statewide initiative that helps create family/early childhood space in the children's areas of local public libraries. Equipped with toys, books, and comfortable furniture, these settings support early-learning interactions between young children (ages 0 to 3), parents, and caregivers, and encourage the use of public libraries by families with children.
Program participants for the coming year include:
Altadena Library District
Azusa Public Library
El Dorado County Library (Cameron Park)
National City Public Library
Orange County Libraries (La Habra)
Oxnard Public Library (South Oxnard)
Porterville Public Library
Sacramento Public Library (South Gate)
San Bernardino Public Library
San Mateo County Library (Half Moon Bay)
Santa Clara City Library
Sierra Madre Public Library
Sunnyvale Public Library
In September, two representatives from each of these libraries will attend a three-day Family Place Training Institute that focuses on family-centered services, child development, parent education, collections, space design, and community outreach. These libraries will then be eligible to apply for a federally-funded implementation grant, up to $15,000, to establish early childhood spaces in their children's sections.
Modeled on a national Family Place project, California's Family Place Program is administered by the California State Library and is funded by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
For more information about California's Family Place Library Program, please contact Bessie Condos at the California State Library, (916)651-0981 or bcondos@library.ca.gov .
Submitted to California Libraries by Laura Parker, Public Information Officer, California State Library, lparker@library.ca.gov, (916) 651-6798.
Posted by claadmin at 9:50 AM
Pornography: Solving an Ethical Dilemma with CALIX
Public Access Computers
One evening in 2010 in a small family-oriented library where I work as a part-time Reference Librarian, I found myself questioning what I should do. A parent came to me for assistance. She quietly stepped up to the reference desk, and so as not to be overheard, she whispered to me that a man using one of the public access computers was seated next to her 9-year-old child, and he was browsing what looked like child pornography on the next cubicle. Yes, it happened. I was stunned. I wondered could this man possibly be so bold (or desperate enough) to be viewing child pornography in a public library filled with juveniles and their parents researching CA Missions? I was the only librarian on duty. I had to think, assess the situation, confirm the information, act quickly, discreetly, and ethically to solve this dilemma. What should I do? What would you do? What library principles should librarians and library professionals obey in a similar situation? What resources and tools does the American Library Association (ALA) provide to help us? I am certain that I am not the first, and sadly, I am nor the last librarian that will encounter a similar situation. First of all, without corroborating the alleged claim, I must admit that my reaction was not only judgmental; it was also wrong, and unprofessional. Thus, I am writing about my predicament because, in retrospect, I know that I did not act as professionally as I could have, and as a life-long learner and graduate student in the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at San José State University, I must remember to apply what I have learned. Librarianship has multiple resources that provide librarians and library professionals the guidelines and tools we need to deal with and resolve any problem.
Resources and Tools
The most authoritative and important resource librarians have to deal with these matters is the American Library Association (ALA) and its Office for Intellectual Freedom. It provides us with policies, guidelines, and training, whenever needed. Its mission is to implement the ALA policies applicable to intellectual freedom. The best tool available to promote intellectual freedom at the library is presented in the Library Bill of Rights, and its precepts are based on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Since I did not know the law as it pertains to accessing child pornography in the public access computers at the library, the situation described above, created an ethical dilemma because it not only conflicted with my personal values and beliefs, it conflicted with the ALA's Code of Ethics, which are found in the eight edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual.
Another respected and reliable resource for librarians is the California Library Association (CLA), which has an Intellectual Freedom Working Committee whose mission is to "create awareness of the issues of intellectual freedom, investigates any controversial issue, provides resources for handling problems and prepares recommendations." (About, 2010) I became a CLA student member in 2007. Among the benefits of membership the CLA offers its members a subscription to the California Library Information eXchange known as the CALIX LISTSERV. According to the Webopedia Computer Dictionary the non-technical definition for LISTSERV is: an automatic mailing list server ([first] developed by Eric Thomas for BITNET in 1986.) When e-mail is addressed to a LISTSERV mailing list, it is automatically broadcast to everyone on the list. The messages are transmitted as e-mail and are therefore available only to individuals on the list." (LISTSERV, 2010) I have received the CALIX e-mails for a couple of years. The list focuses on library issues and trends, and it is available to all CLA members who become subscribers. Its intent is to be a forum for librarians in California to practice intellectual freedom and exchange information freely.
CALIX Forum
I did not see the need to use the CALIX listserv until the incident described above. I know that I did not handle the situation well, and it disturbed me. I talked to other librarians, to my family, and friends. I even dreamt about it. I was trying to resolve this ethical dilemma by myself and I was troubled by my lack of knowledge and understanding on how to handle it better in the future. Now, I know that I should not have made CALIX my last resort; I should have made it my first. After all, the members of CALIX are mostly library staff and librarians that compared to me have years of experience in public, academic, school and special libraries. Those of us in the library field must remember that if we are willing to become intellectual freedom fighters, who allow the free flow of communication and ideas without censorship, we librarians, are definitely our best resource. However, sometimes pride, fear of rejection, or being perceived as less cultured or learned than others, we fail to ask questions that might help others in and out of our field of expertise. So, I dared to send a CALIX message, and the forum's purpose was well served. I wanted to learn from others what I could have done better, what applicable laws and guidelines I had to help me. I sought and received information on the laws prohibiting child pornography. I learned different perspectives and policies from public, academic, and special librarians. Their suggestions and examples provided the help and encouragement I needed to learn how to resolve this problem ethically and professionally, the next time around.
What I Learned in CALIX
A librarian's duty includes protecting everyone's right to freedom of expression. Thus, I faced an ethical dilemma that will be encountered by most librarians or library staff at some point in their careers. My only means to seek justice and truth was to inform the authorities and to tell the patron he had to leave. It was very hard for me to go talk to him, not only because of the nature of the situation, but also because I thought I was violating his Library Bill of Rights. I thank the CLA, CALIX and its members, for allowing me to share my learning process. I have learned the laws regarding this issue and I recognize that I acted accordingly and professionally. Now, I pass it forward to you, to learn along with me.
"About the California Library Association," California Library Association, 2010.
http://www.cla-net.org/aboutcla/index.php (Accessed August 11, 2010)
"California Penal Code - Section §311-312.7 Chapter 7.5" Justia.com Laws and Regulations. 2004-2010. http://law.justia.com/california/codes/2009/pen/311-312.7.html (Accessed August 12, 2010)
"Library Bill of Rights," American Library Association, June 30, 2006.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/index.cfm (Accessed August 11, 2010)
Document ID: 24930
LISTSERV. Webopedia Computer Dictionary. Webopedia 2010.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/L/Listserv.html (Accessed August 11, 2010)
"Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)," American Library Association, June 09, 2008.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/index.cfm (Accessed August 11, 2010)
Document ID: 492328
"Professional Ethics," American Library Association, June 13, 2008.
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/proethics/index.cfm (Accessed August 11, 2010)
Document ID: 493251
"United States Code Title 18 § 2251. Sexual exploitation of children." Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School. 2010. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002251----000-.html (Accessed August 12, 2010)
Posted by claadmin at 8:40 AM
August 25, 2010
Finding a Voice for East Salinas & Teen Salinas Speaks (TSS)
They started out as a group of teens who liked poetry. They wanted and used the Cesar Chavez Public Library as a place to meet, write, explore, and perform, but little did they know that from their own words and voices they would inspire and create a city wide movement to build a brighter future for its youth. The group Teen Salinas Speaks (TSS) has created a whirlwind of publicity and gained a devoted following, and from their free poetry workshops to Operation Oprah film campaign, have gathered an entire community to not only explore the power of their words and voices, but combat and face violation and gang activity head on.
In 2009 Salinas saw 29 gang related homicides, coming 4th in the entire state of California for highest per capita murder rate. TSS Member Mya Perez said, "I first joined because it was a way to express myself without getting judged for it, a place where I can perfect my poetry, but now that we have expanded I continue to go because I wanna help rid off gang violence before I see another friend in a coffin..."
The members of TSS recognize that combating gang violence and offering realistic alternatives is no easy journey, and the road ahead will be long, paved with plenty of bumps along the way. They hold weekly meetings and broadcast a weekly radio show called, "The Peace Hour," with PK McCary where they address and discuss issues affecting teens. From injustice to racism the teens tackle each and every piece of life that changes and influences how we see and interact with those around us hoping to raise awareness and create an open dialogue in the community. With the series of nine podcasts, they've begun to soothe the fears and uncertainties of our teens simply by recognizing they exist, and talking them through.
TSS recently reached out to media celebrity Oprah Winfrey to raise awareness and bring national attention to the struggle in Salinas with their "Operation Oprah" film, asking for Oprah's assistance to rebuild and strengthen the community by funding the expansion of the Cesar Chavez Librarylocated in the heart of East Salinas - the Alisal.
Despite the small space of only 9000 square feet, the Cesar Chavez Library sees 900-1,200 visitors a day and hosts the city's most popular weekly bilingual story time with almost 100 children and families in regular attendance. The Homework Center run by Literacy Services offers free bilingual tutoring after school on a daily basis, and continues to watch its numbers climb, as after-school programs and recreation centers close due to budgets cuts. Attendance has more than doubled in the last year, and English Language and GED courses have been filled to capacity. The need is clear, the demand is high, and the City will, hopefully, have enough funds to add another 7,000 square feet to expand the library.
TSS is taking charge of promoting and fighting for the library, a place they refer to as "the heart of the community." They met with the architect of the expansion project, and described the library they wanted, one that included a gym and lots of reading space.
TSS holds poetry writing workshops with local teachers Natalie Bernasconi and Vicki Baron. From the basics of sentence structure to sharing thoughts and ideas with peers, the poetry writing workshops held weekly at the Cesar Chavez Library are an open and safe session for creativity where teens can interact and communicate without being judged or face the stresses and fears they encounter everyday walking through the streets of Salinas. With the help of Garland Thompson, TSS conducted, held, and recorded Salinas Public Library's first Teen Poetry Slam and saw over 100 in attendance. From its success, the interest and demand in poetry and spoken word has risen, and circulation of poetry works and anthologies has climbed.
In hopes to spread their message in the virtual world, TSS Teens have also created a website with the help of local librarian Carissa Purnell (www.teensalinasspeaks.org) where they post video footage of their poetry readings, podcasts, and provide links to communicate via Facebook, MySpace, or gmail. Here they pull together their messages and invite everyone and anyone to join in the battle to find a voice and speak out.
Using all the digital tools available to them, coupled with the power of their voices and will to express them, the teens of TSS have changed the way youth are influencing the Salinas community. You will find them speaking at City Council Meetings as well as at Slam Poetry competitions in Monterey. Teen Salinas Speaks continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes of Salinas youth, developing a rich and talented group of teens and young adults that will change the way the community grows in the years to come.
Posted by claadmin at 10:16 AM
July 22, 2010
President's Column
Although the day is long and an evening City Council meeting awaits, I'm enjoying looking back to a remarkable couple of days last week, when the CLA Board and staff gathered for our first face-to-face meeting since last December. We conducted a quarterly Board meeting on Thursday afternoon, then spent most of Friday (with Rosario Garza's expert facilitation) thinking strategically about CLA's value and future. Our discussions were open, engaged, respectful and honest - and lots of fun besides!
At the Board meeting and planning retreat, we affirmed advocacy, at the state level, as one of the top priority areas that CLA delivers for members. Although, as with most libraries we represent, the CLA budget news was not good - the needs we see are great and far outstrip our funds- we are committed to sustaining CLA as a resource, and voice - for all California libraries.
This has been an amazingly active eight months. CLA transitioned to an Association Management company in December, and a new Executive Director in February. We are pioneering a new model of conference collaboration with the California School Library Association this November in Sacramento. CLA Committees and Interest Groups have been working hard, reaching out to members and key stakeholders, delivering a well-attended series of educational programs across the state for this year's "Spring Fling", seeking new ways of engaging with summer reading, representing library use throughout the state through a "snapshot" day this October, supporting future professionals through the Begun and Edna Yelland scholarships, Reference Press fellowship and the ALA Spectrum Scholars initiative, and more!
CLA has truly been a voice for California libraries this year. From coordinating with ALA to send a strong response to the closure of Colton libraries last winter, to testifying in support of the appointment of Stacey Aldrich as State Librarian this spring, to recent work with California county law libraries to head off a state revenue diversion from their funding stream - CLA has represented its membership well.
Despite a very dire and difficult state budget season, state funding for public libraries was not cut during this year's May Governor's Revise. Those of us in California's public libraries, CLA members or not, owe a huge round of thanks to CLA's lobbyists, Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, and CLA's active Legislative and Advocacy Committee, for protecting California library funding once again.
Mike and Christina also shepherded a request that is a testament to the power and visibility of library supporters across the state - CLA was asked to be a signatory to the Proposition 22 Ballot Argument for this November's election. The proposition would prohibit state "takeaways" from cities and counties - and would help municipalities maintain critically needed public services such as police, fire and libraries.
I want to send a HUGE collective thanks to the tremendous efforts of the CLA Board, CLA staff, Committees, Sub-committees, Task Force members, CALTAC - and CLA library supporters across the state who have given time, energy, and funds to keep alive the vision of California communities thriving due to California libraries of all types, sustained by California Library Association efforts small and large. We have done much - and we have much, much more to do. Stay tuned!
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:30 AM
Executive Director's Column
Ah, summertime! It's the time of year when we most of us try to restore our energy levels and spend time with family and friends away from the noise of our everyday life. I hope you are able to take some time this summer away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life to reconnect with yourself and your loved ones.
My vacation has yet to start and I can't say I'm not looking forward to it, but this year's vacation isn't going to be like the ones before. I'm not entering into my vacation completely drained and needing to separate from my everyday life. Just the opposite - I am excited about what I am returning to on this overflowing desk and Outlook inbox of mine.
As you read in Kim's article, the CLA Board of Directors and Staff meet in Monterey on July 15 and 16 for our board meeting and retreat which went great, but what I want to share with you goes a little deeper. Your 2009-2010 CLA Board of Directors is a remarkable group of individuals who are genuinely dedicated to the future of CLA.
You might think that this comes with the job of being a volunteer leader of a state association, but I can tell you from years of experience with a variety of boards, that there are very few association boards that show 100% dedication to moving the industry forward. Most often, there are a handful of board leaders who take on the lion's share of the work to ensure the association continues to move forward. I have not experienced this with the current leaders - and it's so refreshing!
As Kim mentioned "we have much, much more to do" and she's not kidding as the Board set four priority areas that we will share with you over the next few months. These priorities will bring the library community together to "Navigate the New" (don't think anyone thought this conference theme would be as defining as it has become) and as your Executive Director I am extremely dedicated to ensuring the priorities this Board has established are brought to fruition - and actually, I think we all will be. These priorities are exactly what CLA needs and our members, and the library community as a whole, will benefit.
We are in the beginning stages of electing three new leaders - have you read their bios yet? I have had the pleasure of meeting a few of the candidates and I can tell from our conversations, and the information I have read about all the candidates, is that this is a slate of individuals who are just as dedicated to the California library community as the group of leaders they will join. How awesome is that!!!
As I wrap up my sixth month as your Executive Director, I look towards the next six months and beyond excited for the opportunities that will come our way as we "Navigate the New" together.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 10:29 AM
ALA Corner
Notes from the ALA Annual Conference by outgoing ALA Councilor James B. Casey, edited and abridged by Les Kong, ALA Chapter Councilor, California Library Association.
Despite extremely difficult economic conditions facing libraries across the country, the attendance at this Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. reached a strong final tally of 26,201. The previous Annual Conference final attendance report was 28,941 for Chicago (2009), a mere 9.5% decrease.
ALAWO UPDATE
ALAWO (ALA Washington Office) announced their rally on Capital Hill on June 29.This was offered in place of National Legislative Day for 2010. Approximately, 1600 enthusiastic library supporters (with bright red "VOTE FOR LIBRARIES" t-shirts) attended the rally.
In a separate event, the ALA Washington Office presented a review of issues facing the Library community as Congress and the Obama Administration proceed into a new decade (http://www.ala.org/washoff). It was noted that Congress has moved into a contentious period before the November mid-term elections in which the possibility of movement on key issues important to Libraries is unlikely. With both parties fearful of anti-incumbent tendencies among the electorate, bi-partisanship seems to be at a standstill. Consequently, several ALA initiatives are facing very tough, slow progress:
- The "Workforce Investment Act" seeking funding for public libraries to promote job training and employment resource centers for the unemployed is under discussion in the Senate, but stalled in the House.
- The "Elementary and Secondary Education Act" is being pushed ahead by Secretary of State Arne Duncan, but has not acquired much support beyond his office.
ALA has been pushing for a State certified librarian in every school, increased funding for school libraries, access to professional development dollars for librarians (not just teachers) and the funding of a LEARN Literacy component that could bring a few dollars to public libraries. The ALAWO has been pushing hard on these fronts, but resistance has been formidable and money very scarce.
Attendees were pleased to hear remarks by FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn. She praised ALA for its work in pioneering access to the Internet, supporting E-Rate and in raising awareness of the need for more access to broadband. She indicated that between 14 and 24 million people in the US don't have any access to broadband and about one third of the population lacks access due to cost and/or computer literacy. Efforts underway to expand access to broadband will include streamlining the process by which E-Rate and Broadband funding is granted.
Michele Richardson, ACLU Legislative Counsel, discussed the Cyber Security issues Congress will address in the next six weeks. The Administration and Congress seem to be determined to craft legislation to enable the country to wage a "cyber war" and expand government power to regulate and control information. The ACLU is working largely with the full support of ALA to make sure that any emergency powers are narrowly defined, actions and emergencies are of short duration, Congress has sufficient oversight and that protections for personal information are obtained.
GOOGLE CASE
Jonathan Band, Attorney for the ALAWO, moderated a lively panel discussion of the Google Book Settlement. Unfortunately, all of the panelists were advocates for the Google position and addressing an audience of librarians and library advocates who agree with open access and "fair use".
In 2004, Google entered into an agreement with several major libraries to scan their books and was met in 2005 with a lawsuit prompted by the claims of authors and publishers who claimed that the copyright protections afforded to their intellectual property were being violated by this agreement. The settlements proposed have been stalled in the courts with other groups presenting anti-trust arguments against Google as well as artists and illustrators claiming to share rights with authors and publishers. The final settlement is probably into the future with the three possible outcomes foreseeable:
1.) Google's position being affirmed,
2.) a rejection of half of Google's position with only snippets available for scanning,
or
3.) an outright rejection of the Google position.
The panel was overwhelmingly in favor of the Google position and felt that an outright rejection of the Google position was unacceptable.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION SESSION
James Neal, Chair of Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC), reported how ALA and its divisions have sustained service and fiscal balance despite revenue shortfalls (publishing, membership, conferences) as a result of the current economic climate.
Endowment Trustee Chair Dan Bradbury reviewed the mixed results of the endowment fund during the past year and the more spectacular gains of the year 2009. Portfolio value through the first portion of 2010 reached $28,916,000 where the market value in 2003 was at $18,991,000. The high point of the fund in 2007 was at $31,221,000 - prior to the drop to $23,421,000 during the "crash" year of 2008.
ALA President Camile Alire reported on her successful presidential year in developing advocacy and diversity awareness.
Incoming President Roberta Stevens announced that her presidency will emphasize the developing fund raising techniques and models for libraries as well as the development of authors as advocates for libraries.
ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels gave a brief review of his report to Council and Executive Board. He noted favorable trends in Membership holding steady and very encouraging registrations for this ALA Annual Conference despite the depressed economy.
Two grants have been received from IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services) to promote the support staff certification as well as the recruitment of new librarians from minority groups.
COUNCIL I
The Council approved the Goals and Objectives of the Strategic Plan for 2011-2015 by a near unanimous vote after months of input from across the Association (http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/missionhistory/plan/index.cfm). ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels reported that Executive Board actions included establishing standards of responsible conduct for corporate affiliates and champions of the Association. A "Resolution Reaffirming Equal Employment Opportunity for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Librarians and Library Workers" was passed after some discussion on a unanimous vote. A "Resolution to Insure Equitable Access to All Forms of Electronic Content Through Libraries" was discussed at length. The need for libraries to be assisted in the development of technological innovations to insure that wider access to information can be assured was emphasized. Council voted to bring the resolution back to Council II. A "Resolution on Non-Discrimination in Conference Contracts" offering restrictions on entering into contracts with organizations and legal bodies in cities, counties and states that by law discriminate against Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people was referred to BARC for assessment of fiscal implications.
ALA-APA COUNCIL
Keith Michael Fiels (ALA-APA Executive Director) reported the award of an IMLS grant to assist with the APA Certification program for support staff. This $590,000 should greatly expand Certification Program efforts across the nation. On-line tutorials, scholarships and further initiatives will be forthcoming. ALA-APA will have positive fiscal results during FY 2010 with some encouraging steps underway to repay the indebtedness of ALA-APA that had been extended to $275,000 during the last Mid-Winter. The budgetary ceiling of $242,878 was approved unanimously for FY 2011.
COUNCIL II
Freedom to Read Foundation President Kenton Oliver reported victories in preservation of first amendment rights and addition of 200 additional members during the past year. He also noted the death of FTRF champion and vice-president Burton Joseph. "Resolution Concerning the Proposed Closing of the School of Library and Information Science at Louisiana State University" was passed unanimously. The resolution opposes the closing of the LSU SLIS. The resolution will be communicated to LSU Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents, but may also be relayed to key officials in the Louisiana State Legislature and Governor's office.
ALA Treasurer Rod Hersberger presented a clear, albeit somewhat depressing view of the FY 2010 and 2011 financial picture. It has been evident that the ALA management and staff have done a creditable job of maintaining service during a very difficult period. The Council approved the total Budgetary Ceiling of $57,162,413 for FY 2011. "Resolution to Ensure Equitable Access to all Formats of Electronic Content Through Libraries" was passed with the understanding that the efforts of the Task Force created will work in conjunction with OITP (Office of Information Technology Policy). Also passed was a "Resolution on Ensuring Summer Reading Programs for all Children and Teens."
COUNCIL III
Martin Garner, Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, submitted an action item for approval of Council - "Prisoners' Right to Read: An interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights" was passed unanimously by Council. Mario Ascencio, Chair of the Committee on Legislation, brought six action items forward from his Committee. Several were in support of School Libraries and School Librarians. All of these action items passed by unanimous or near unanimous vote. However, one action item espousing the passage of comprehensive immigration reform involved some discussion and negative votes regarding lack of specificity about the provision of library services to immigrant populations. It did pass by an overwhelming vote.
The "Resolution on Non-Discrimination in Conference Contracts" had been reviewed by BARC subsequent to its referral from Council I. This resolution was passed by a near unanimous vote.
Copies of the final wording of all resolutions and action items from Council Sessions will be posted and available on the ALA Web Site http://www.ala.org.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Les Kong
ALA Chapter Councilor
Posted by claadmin at 10:28 AM
California Librarian Receives National Award
Julie Renee Moore, catalog librarian at California State University Fresno and board member of CLA's Technical Services Interest Group, is the 2010 recipient of the Nancy B. Olson Award. This national award, sponsored by Online Audiovisual Catalogers (OLAC) and named after the award's first recipient, is presented annually to a librarian who has made significant contributions to the advancement and understanding of audiovisual cataloging. Previous recipients have included such nationally recognized authorities as Mary Larsgaard, Jay Weitz, and Sheila Intner.
OLAC's awards committee unanimously selected Julie as this year's recipient, citing her leadership in establishing and promoting cataloging guidelines for audiovisual and electronic materials, her teaching and guidance of catalogers in the application of cataloging standards, and her promotion of cataloging, and specifically RDA, through workshops and presentations, as well as her contributions in formats as diverse as maps, realia, legal materials, and electronic resources.
Julie received her award at the OLAC membership meeting held during the 2010 ALA conference in Washington DC. "It was a great honor to be nominated," said Julie, "and it is certainly very humbling to be the winner of this award."
In her acceptance speech, Julie noted that she had taken workshops with Nancy B. Olson.
"I will always remember one exercise she had us do. We were in a classroom full of mismatched chairs. She had us catalog the chairs...and the test was if she could tell which MARC record belonged to which chair. ...
I left that particular workshop feeling so empowered...if I could catalog a chair, I could catalog anything! I was living in Alaska at the time, and when I returned, I cataloged a bear...which is still one of the most interesting things I've ever cataloged.
It is such a great honor to receive the Nancy B. Olson Award...because she truly was the one who made me realize that I really can catalog anything!"
Congratulations to Julie on an honor well deserved! And stay tuned--Julie plans to offer a workshop on cataloging digital media with a side-by-side comparison of AACR2 to RDA during next year's Spring Fling!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Sandy Schmitz
Vice-Chair, CLA Technical Services Interest Group
Technical Services Manager
Ventura County Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:27 AM
CLA Partners with Pathable for Joint Conference Social Media Platform
Attendees of this year's Joint Conference will be invited to join Pathable, an easy-to-use, on-line community and social network that will help attendees meet and communicate with each other.
Pathable integrates updates from your favorite social media platforms along with conference information and live discussion into a single, attendee-exclusive interactive portal. Furthermore, the Pathable community will allow you to maximize the networking opportunities provided at Conference, allowing you to:
- View the profiles and interests of the other attendees, exhibitors and speakers
- Search for people interested in specific topics
- Discover the sessions your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn contacts are attending
- Get recommendations on who to meet
- Join the discussions about critical industry topics
- Schedule one-on-one meetings with other Conference attendees
Pathable offers not only greater networking capability, but an integrated source of Conference information:
- Aggregated Conference-related news feed from Twitter, Facebook, Flickr & Blogs
- Ability to build and share a personalized conference schedule
- Downloadable hand-outs and materials for sessions
- Mobile accessibility for Smartphones
This Conference-exclusive social media platform will be a free service available for attendee use before, during, and after the 2010 CLA/CSLA Joint Conference in Sacramento.
We hope you take some time prior to conference to become active in the Pathable community and use the site to be even more connected at the conference. For more information on Pathable, please visit their website at http://pathable.com/.
The CLA/CSLA Conference Pathable community is scheduled to launch in mid-August concurrent with conference registration. Stay tuned for more information!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Richard Berta
CLA Membership, Marketing & Communications Director
Posted by claadmin at 10:26 AM
Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award
Since its inception in 2003, the Literacy Interest Group has sponsored an annual award for Outstanding Librarian In Support of Literacy (OLSL) which is presented at the CLA conference each year. The purpose of the award is to recognize an exceptional librarian who supports literacy. The 2009 recipient of this award, Derek Wolfgram, was described as an 'enthusiastic spirit in support of literacy...who is also forward thinking, inclusive and strategic.' Other past honorees include:
2008: Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library
2007: Carol Starr, Marin County Free Library
2006: John M. Adams, Orange County Public Library
2005: Sofia Bellos, Oxnard Public Library
2004: Leslie McGinnis Rodd, Oakland Public Library
2003: Chuck Aston, Redwood City Public Library
The nomination form and additional information about OLSL can be found on the CLA website at: http://www.cla-net.org/aboutcla/literacy.php. Please consider nominating a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty through his/her extraordinary efforts in support of literacy through outreach, programming, public awareness, advocacy, fundraising or ... you name it! Nominations will be accepted through October 1, 2010.
The winner will be honored at the CLA Conference in Sacramento in November. The award recipient will receive a 1-year CLA Membership, a plaque, recognition on the CLA website and a gift certificate. Every nominee will receive a certificate of special recognition as well.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Cherall Weiss
Literacy Coordinator
Newport Beach Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:25 AM
The Power of Three
On June 8th 2010 three library districts in Marin County - San Anselmo, San Rafael and the Marin County Free Library (MCFL) - had library parcel tax measures on their local ballot. Each of us came to the voters by a different path but the end result showed us that one plus one plus one really can add up to more than three. All three libraries were in serious financial trouble. San Anselmo had lost hours and staff and was barely surviving. San Rafael was in a similar situation and was facing still deeper cuts. MCFL had closed one library and was faced with the prospect of staff and hours cuts among the remaining ten branches. In September 2009, MCFL did a voter survey to see if voters would be willing to commit themselves in advance to prevent cuts in hours and services and, if so, what their tax tolerance might be. The answer was an encouraging yes (71% with a margin of error of 5%) for a parcel tax of $49 and the County Board of Supervisors agreed to place a measure on the ballot the following June. After much hard work by staff and volunteers, both San Anselmo and San Rafael were able to move forward also. Measures A, B and C were official. All three measures were for $49 although the durations differed and there were a number of differences in the details. Each jurisdiction had its own campaign committee and election strategy but the publicity generated by each just served to reinforce the need for supporting all libraries.
The smaller weekly papers in each area supported local efforts and the larger county wide paperl came out in support of all three together, saying in effect all libraries are important and that the influence and importance of library service doesn't stop at a district line. MCFL and the six cities libraries in Marin form the MARINet consortium and surveys have told us that our citizens often patronize several libraries and value being able to check out and return their materials to any library. This seems to have had a halo effect during the election - during the campaigning voters told us that "of course they were voting for the library" and it didn't seem to matter which district they were in or which library they used.
More than 70% of the voters told us that they use and value their libraries and were willing to support them. Now that the excitement is dying down, each library jurisdiction is making plans to carry out the mandate of the voters in their particular district and the work is much more locally based. But the good will that the election generated remains and all of us will be working to keep the spirit of cooperation alive.
For more information about the specific campaigns contact David Dodd (San Rafael City Librarian), Renee Hayes (Acting San Anselmo Town Librarian) or Gail Haar (Director of County Library Services, Marin County Free Library.)
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Gail Haar
Director, Marin County Free Library
The Marin County Free Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Click here for more information about Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:24 AM
Public Libraries Use VolunteerMatch Effectively!
Every public library jurisdiction in the state is currently being offered a free upgraded VolunteerMatch account for each branch library as part of Get Involved: Powered By Your Library - a California statewide initiative designed to expand the visibility and contributions of skilled volunteers through public libraries. With tens of thousands of Californians - baby boomers and the generations that follow - seeking new ways to use their skills and experience to make a difference in their community, public libraries are positioned to engage this talent to extend their capacity in the community and to develop advocates and supporters of their services.
VolunteerMatch.org is the largest active network for online volunteer recruitment. With more than 125,000 visitors each week, it has become the #1 search result for "volunteer" at both Yahoo! and Google. VolunteerMatch is a nonprofit, online, national service matching volunteers with over 70,000 nonprofit organizations and programs - and the network increases by over 250 organizations and 7000 new members each week.
VolunteerMatch has also developed customized training and support to help libraries get the full benefit from these tools AND has developed a branded "hub" site that potential volunteers can get to right from their library's website. Our Get Involved "widget" once posted on the library's website drives potential volunteers to our "hub" site where they get immediate display of the library volunteer opportunities you've posted. In addition, tools, resources and videos to help your library maximize its recruitment and use of skilled volunteers can be found at the Get Involved website at www.library.ca.gov/lds/getinvolved.html.
In its first year, the project has averaged over 500 referrals per month to California public library volunteer opportunities. A referral is when a potential volunteer clicks the "I Want to Help" button on a library volunteer opportunity posted on the VolunteerMatch site. This generates an e-mail to the person at the library designated to receive the interest generated for that volunteer position.
Some record performances occurred during the month of June, including the highest number of unique visitors to the hub site (1,639) and the most volunteer referrals in a month --746!! 
75% of California public libraries are currently participating in this project. If you need help finding the person(s) in your library who are involved, have questions about how it works, or want to set up your special upgraded account, please contact Carla Lehn at the state library: clehn@library.ca.gov or (916) 653-7743
NOTE: If your library has a VolunteerMatch account that is not associated with the "Get Involved" initiative, you'll also need to contact Carla to get it linked to our special project account and to receive the free upgrade.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Carla Lehn
Library Development Services
California State Library
The California State Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Click here for more information about Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:23 AM
Salinas Rodeo Centennial
Now a major stop on the professional rodeo circuit, the Salinas Rodeo is celebrating its Centennial this month. Starting in 1911 as just a side attraction at the Sausal Park Racetrack, the Rodeo has only gotten bigger and better.
To join the city in honoring this tradition, Curator Deborah Silguero from the National Steinbeck Center mounted displays at the John Steinbeck Library that have library visitors stopping for a second look. Even though the Library's Local History Collection includes an impressive Rodeo clipping file, some Rodeo official programs, and a few Rodeo photographs, library employee Kelly Henderson's loan of historic memorabilia, including a working saddle, photographs, and war medals that once belonged to her father, war hero, cowboy, fireman, agricultural inspector, pilot, rancher, and harmonica player James W. Jones, really enhanced those clippings.
Everyone's favorite is the Salinas Rodeo Cowgirl whether she is called Cowgirl, Sweetheart, Queen, Hostess, Miss Salinas, or Miss California Rodeo. OCEN Tribal Chair Louise J. Miranda Ramirez sent photographs of the remarkable Piazzoni sisters, descendents of Esselen Tribal Leader Salvador Mucjai, taken in their teens or early twenties of the last century. Two of the sisters were Rodeo "Sweethearts" around 1917 and 1918. The photos show spirited young ladies at the Salinas Rodeo, and on their ranch, riding and roping. The Salinas Daily Index of July 21, 1917 announced that the talented Miss Piazzoni might add bull riding to her repertoire.
Salinas native Katharine Dixon, also a Library employee, loaned a 1940 photo of her aunt, Rodeo Hostess Patricia Adcock, as well as the colorful rodeo scarf worn that same year by her mother Jerry Adcock. Photographs of past Rodeo cowgirls, and blowups of old newspaper articles complete the display.
On the exhibit walls loaned by the National Steinbeck Center hang ten historic posters donated by the Rodeo Association and framed at discount by Peninsula Arts and Crafts. Local History Librarian Mary Jean Gamble provided the research on the Rodeo. Deborah Silguero, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the National Steinbeck Center worked with her assistant Paul Van de Carr to curate the entire presentation and take it to museum standard. The exhibit cases were loaned from the Maritime Museum in Monterey, and solicited for the Library by Ms. Silguero.
Judging by visitors of all ages who stop, look and read about the Salinas Rodeo, it is amazing what the help of a few good friends can do for a collection of historic newspaper clippings.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mary Jean Gamble
Historian Librarian
Salinas Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:22 AM
San Francisco Public Library Recognized Nationally for Promoting Sustainability
SFPL receives three awards for its innovative and creative efforts
San Francisco Public Library received three awards recently for its innovative and creative efforts to promote sustainability practices, both in its own operations and to the community it serves, and for ensuring the library system remains available to all in tough economic times.
SFPL was among 12 libraries in North America selected as a top innovator by the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), a member organization of leading public library systems. San Francisco was recognized in the sustainability category for its Green Stacks Environmental Library Initiative.
Green Stacks is a system-wide, multifaceted sustainability initiative to ensure that every community has access to accurate and relevant information and resources - increasing community awareness and ensuring the library environment is a positive, healthy model of the larger community ecosystem. As part of this initiative, SFPL:
- Implemented green facilities maintenance practices at 27 branches and the Main Library, including everything from recycling & composting to LED lighting retrofits
- Designed 10 new and renovated libraries to LEED Silver or higher
- Designed a branch signage program that highlights sustainable features of community libraries
- Engaged community partners to develop green spaces in and adjacent to libraries
- Became the first library in the U.S. to offer a compostable plastic library card (the EcoCard)
- Developed a year-long calendar of public programming
- Created and promoted The Green List, a recommended bibliography (all formats and ages)
- Launched a community awareness and marketing program in partnership with SF Environment.
"We are delighted to recognize the top innovators and are pleased to make all of the innovative submissions available on the ULC website. There are remarkable, creative programs that can be duplicated by other library systems. ULC created the Innovations Initiative as a means to showcase the excellent work of library systems across North America," said Susan Benton, ULC President and CEO.
In June, San Francisco Public Library's Green Stacks program, and its partnership with SF Environment, was highlighted by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as a winner of the 2010 Green & Blue Award for Greatest Community Impact, among city departments.
"Stewardship of the environment is a commitment that affects every San Franciscan," said Mayor Newsom. "We are pleased to honor the departments and dedicated individuals for every creative solution they have put to work to increase the livability of our city."
Also in June, San Francisco Public Library was one of six libraries nationwide honored with a John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award at the annual American Library Association (ALA) Conference in Washington D.C. The award recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations. SFPL was recognized for its 2009 Overdue Fine Amnesty Program campaign, "Return the Books," which led to the recovery of 29,000-plus items, valued at approximately $730,000, over the two week amnesty period in May 2009.
The fine amnesty program was intended to help library patrons cope with the economic downturn by removing one obstacle - overdue fines --allowing them to resume using library resources. The total number of recovered items was 29,228, including 3,151 books that were more than 60 days overdue and were therefore "assumed lost" or unlikely to be returned. The John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award, which has been awarded since 1946, is sponsored by the H.W. Wilson Company, the H.W. Wilson Foundation and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). It is considered to be the most prestigious of all library awards in the field of public relations. The award comes with a $5,000 prize which is being returned to the City to help offset the general fund costs from foregoing the overdue fines over the two-week amnesty period.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Michelle Jeffers
Public Relations Officer
San Francisco Public Library
The San Francisco Public Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Click here for more information about Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:21 AM
June 25, 2010
President's Column
One of my favorite poems, Meditation at Lagunitas, by one of my favorite poets, Robert Hass, begins "All the new thinking is about loss. In this it resembles all the old thinking." Given the library news that seems to be cascading through California, that just about sums up my feelings these days. Many public, school and academic libraries are facing unprecedented cuts ("This is even worse than Prop. 13 days" one long-time librarian remarked to me).
As the "great recession" continues with declining public revenues, increasing costs, high unemployment and no end in sight, communities of all kinds are facing even more difficult budget decisions this season, with even more dire consequences for the libraries and the constituents we serve.
Elementary school libraries in Natomas, an area close to CLA's administrative offices, have all been closed. The books and materials locked away, the staff dispersed or laid off. At Cal State L.A., during finals, students operated a makeshift "open library" after 8 p.m. outside the doors of the closed CSU library - its reduced hours due to budget cuts.
As for my place of work - Monterey Public Library - the end of one-time monies and a continued drop in hospitality, sales and property taxes will lead to layoffs and a 6-day-week open schedule later this summer. This will be the first time in over thirty years that the Library will not have a seven-day open schedule because of the loss of esteemed and dedicated library colleagues. I know this scenario is being replicated across the state, as public libraries, large and small, are looking at layoffs, slashed budgets and more closed hours.
And yet, in acknowledgment of the just turned Summer Solstice, and the abundance of light around us, I invite you to celebrate with me some remarkable successes.
Up north in Siskiyou County, after being faced with a "worst case" scenario of completely closing the entire library system and eliminating library services, access and connectivity (human and Internet) for an entire county, Interim County Librarian Lisa Musgrove, staff and library supporters should be congratulated for successfully keeping four branches open and services available for the next six months.
100% of public library-related ballot measures passed this June - benefitting the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Marin County, San Anselmo, San Rafael and Woodside. State Library funding was preserved in the May 2010 "Governor's Revise", including reimbursements for resource-sharing and State Library services. Even my home town library of Pacific Grove, faced with possible closure last November, got a modest increase in its operating budget this June - and the parcel tax measure, which achieved more than a simple majority but lost by less than 50 votes, is likely to be on the ballot this fall for another try.
As we read in CALIX, in American Libraries and online, and as I and others will hear at ALA tomorrow through Monday, there are many recent library stories of successes and sad losses - and the whole roller coaster ride in-between.
"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope" said Dr. Martin Luther KIng, Jr. in 1966, quoted more recently this January by President Obama. Tonight, three days past the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, I hold these words to heart, and feel their light. I send them now to you.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 12:59 PM
Executive Director's Column
Greetings from the ALA Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.!
From now through June 29th, I will be participating in workshops and attending special events at the Grand Hyatt Washington, Farragut Square and throughout the Washington Convention Center. After the amazing time I had in Boston during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, I am really looking forward to the experiences and knowledge I will travel back to Sacramento with after attending this Annual Convention. It would be great to meet CLA members who are also in D.C. during this time. I'm in meetings all day on Friday, but plan on being at the Expo Opening on Friday. I'll keep an eye open for "CA" on name tags - it will be my very own "Where's Waldo". Instead I'll call it "Find the CLA Member" - or how about "CLA Member Bingo"? I could make a punch card...
Throughout the conference, I'll be providing updates on CLA's Blog and Twitter with information on my schedule and insights from our conversations. If you'd like to reach me, please email hollym@cla-net.org and/or mention or direct message @CalLibAssoc on Twitter.
Since my last article I have had the opportunity to meet with more members and tour their facilities. This time I stayed a little closer to home and visited with Mary George, Assistant Director and Mark Parker, Director of Library Services, of the Placer County Library and Chris Freeman, Stockton City Librarian and Deputy Director of Community Services for the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System. Once again the experience was incredible and reinforces my appreciation to the CLA Board for giving me this opportunity to be involved with a dynamic group of people.
I was also fortunate enough to participate in the State Librarian's strategic planning session last week. Fortunate is a word that keeps coming to mind when I think about Stacey Aldrich and the time I've been able to spend with her working on projects or just talking. Stacey's team has great passion and dedicated to the California library community and it was so much fun working with them on suggestion for the future of the State Library. I came away from that two day session energized for the CLA Board retreat next month were the CLA Board members will discuss some of the same topics regarding the next chapter for CLA.
I'm also looking forward to my visit July 2nd visit at the Fresno Public Library - a partner location in our Summer Enrichment Program funded by a grant provided by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The librarians at the Fresno Public Library are working with the Central Valley Afterschool Foundation on a program the City of Fresno has put together. On July 2nd day kids will participate in an "Amazing Race" where they will explore downtown Fresno, as well as other locations, to gain a deeper understanding of Fresno's unique history and culture. It sounds like it's going to be a great day!
Well, I'm off to brave the heat and humidity - never a good hair day! I hope you are having a wonderful start to your summer and I look forward to meeting more CLA members here in DC and back in sunny - but not humid - California!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 12:59 PM
A Tribute to David Sabsay
California lost a great library leader when retired Sonoma County Librarian David Sabsay passed away on March 20, 2010. Thank you to CLA President Kim Bui-Burton for her notice and words of appreciation for David posted on the CLA Blog.
I appreciate CLA putting this information about David on the website, since I would not have learned of his death otherwise. It has triggered lots of memories of a modest, somewhat shy and retiring, highly intelligent man who was deeply committed to doing everything he could to improve California's public libraries. He made a powerful and lasting impact on California libraries through a number of significant professional accomplishments. I would like to share my memories of David with current CLA members. Although I never worked for David, I consider him one of my greatest mentors.
I first got to know David well during the years 1979 and 1980 when he served as Chair of CLA's Government Relations Committee (GRC) and I served as a member. (The current Legislative Committee was then known as the GRC.) Proposition 13 had just passed in 1978 and California's public libraries were hurting. David set out to find a funding solution by proposing the legislation that eventually became the law we know today as the Public Library Fund or PLF, which has provided millions of dollars to California public libraries since 1983-84.
David's approach to getting this legislation passed was masterful and always strategic. As a Past President of CLA (1971), David understood Association politics. At the 1978 annual conference's Membership Meeting, he introduced a simple statement of principles that would guide the development of the proposed legislation. It passed overwhelmingly and, with this membership endorsement, David set out to actually write the legislation. He brought drafts to GRC meetings for months as the language evolved to meet some minor concerns and issues that arose from several CLA members and also issues that arose in the various legislative committees over the course of the next two years.
First, however, he recruited Mike Dillon and persuaded the Association to hire Mike as its legislative advocate or lobbyist. Obviously, this was a brilliant choice! All CLA members know how well Mike has served the Association for over 30 years now.
Next, he and Mike recruited then Senator Jim Nielsen, a respected conservative Republican, to be the bill's author. This was another excellent choice, as Nielsen was willing to work closely with David and Mike in developing the actual language of the bill, provided strong support at every step of the legislative process, and demonstrated that support for libraries was a bi-partisan issue.
During the two years that David served as Chair of the GRC, he gave countless hours of hard work to secure support for the bill. Fortunately, he had the strong support of his enlightened Sonoma County Library Board and a highly competent staff, because he was working for our bill so many hours each week that he had very little time for Sonoma County.
Working closely with Mike, Senator Nielsen, CLA leadership, GRC members, and the CLA membership at large, who became heavily involved in grass-roots lobbying for the bill, David was tireless and determined, as well as an excellent speaker before legislative committees when needed. As a GRC member, I watched David's work with admiration and respect, and not a little awe. This was before CLA had Legislative Day, Day in the District, or even a formal legislative network, so the task of rallying grass-roots support for the legislation was more difficult than it would have been later in CLA's history. As we began to achieve passage of the bill through the various committees, CLA members and library supporters throughout the state responded magnificently, however, and the legislative network was born.
The bill passed through two committees in each house and finally the Legislature, and was sent to then Governor Jerry Brown for signature at the end of the session. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed the bill on the same day that he signed a bill giving tax breaks to the horse racing industry! This got lots of negative publicity for the Governor statewide. Don't hold it against Jerry Brown today, however, because he signed the same bill two years later when we got it through the Legislature in 1982 and on his desk again.
After the 1979-1980 legislative session and the Governor's veto, David was disheartened and exhausted. He felt he could not give the effort that would be needed for another legislative session and that he needed to give more attention to Sonoma County. I agreed to serve as GRC Chair for the next two years, 1981-1982, and although it was a lot of hard work, I could do it because I had David's example to follow. There were additional challenges during this next legislative session, but the work was easier than it had been during David's term because the bill's language was set, the adjustments needed to meet the concerns of CLA members and legislative committees having been worked out during David's term, legislators were familiar with the bill, and CLA members and library supporters around the state were fired up and willing to lobby hard for the bill. We all did, and it passed and was signed into law.
David was a man of big ideas, some of which came to fruition, such as the idea of a county-wide joint powers authority library in Sonoma County, and others of which were only partially fulfilled, such as the PLF. He never "thought small," though.
In Sonoma County he created the first, and for many years the only, public library organized as a joint powers authority (JPA) under California law. I only gradually came to understand what a brilliant organizational and financial structure this is as compared to the standard county library organization under state law, which itself has many admirable features. More than 20 years after Sonoma County Library became a JPA, this method of library organization was adopted by several other counties and their respective cities in the mid-1990's as they faced serious crises in finance and governance caused mainly by the state take-away of local property taxes. David led the way and showed how it could be done.
PLF was another of David's big ideas and the PLF we know today is very different from David's concept. Today PLF is a simple per-capita aid distribution, a change that became necessary due to later state actions and later voter-approved initiatives, which together severely constrained local government's ability to increase local library funding.
David's idea was embodied in the law as originally passed. It was for a Public Library Foundation Program, identifying a basic, specific level of per capita support needed for all public libraries, large enough to provide a reasonably good level of service and adjusted annually for inflation, with 10% provided by the state if 90% were provided by the library's local governing authority. Local governments could provide more funding, but could not get more from the state than 10% of the annually defined Foundation Program. If local governments provided less, their state share was reduced proportionately. By setting the annual per capita amount of the Foundation Program, the state was effectively advising local governments of the amount they needed to spend to provide a good, basic quality of library service.
David developed this plan to provide an incentive for local governments to increase their library funding, so they could capture a larger share of state funding. If this plan had ever been fully implemented, what a wonderful method of improving funding for public library services it would have been! It was strongly supported by the library community at the time and still seems brilliant to me, but no longer workable or fair in a greatly changed fiscal environment for local government.
Unfortunately, the state never provided full funding for PLF or anything close to full funding, so this promise was never fulfilled. For years, "full funding for PLF" was CLA's highest legislative priority. Full funding would have revolutionized public library funding and services in this state. Even as it is today, the PLF still provides a significant additional resource for local public library budgets. David's role in establishing PLF was essential and critical.
One last thought about David's legacy..one of the many lessons I learned from David was that the responsibility of a public library director does not end with "how I run my library good," to use a familiar phrase from libraryland. A public library director is also responsible for understanding and attempting to influence, change if necessary, state laws that impact the organization, governance, and funding of public libraries. Today this means all the complex laws impacting local government funding in California. And, one of the best ways we can do this is through our professional organization, CLA.
Thank you, David Sabsay, 1971 CLA President and CLA leader extraordinaire throughout your career!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Linda M. Wood
1985 CLA President
Retired Alameda County Librarian
Posted by claadmin at 12:20 PM
Fullerton Public Library Hours Reduced
Due to budget reductions for the coming 2010-11 fiscal year, the Fullerton Public Library will be closing its Main and Hunt Branch facilities on specific days to save on staff and operational costs.
The Main Library will be closed Fridays and Saturdays, and the Hunt Branch will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
The library's Bookmobile will also be taken out of service.
Library Director & CLA member Maureen Gebelein said the decision to reduce library hours was made by the Fullerton City Council as it struggled to close an approximate $6 million gap in the 2010-11 budget caused by the economic downturn. Cuts were made across the board, affecting all city departments and operations.
Gebelein said in addition to the reduction in hours, "the library also eliminated four staff positions that were already unfilled due to a hiring freeze, and took a 98 percent cut in its materials acquisition budget."
New hours for the Main Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
The Main Library's normal operating hours were 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
New hours for the Hunt Branch, 201 S. Basque Ave., will be 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, and noon-8 p.m. Thursday.
The branch's normal hours were 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
"With fewer staff and shorter hours library patrons may experience longer waits when at either library," Gebelein said. "However, we are committed to providing the best service possible to our customers."
Further information about the new schedules for the libraries may be obtained by calling the administrative office for the Fullerton Public Library at (714) 738-6380.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Sylvia Palmer Mudrick
Public Information Coordinator
Fullerton Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 12:05 PM
New County Librarian Announced
Laurel Prysiazny, currently the Deputy Director for the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, has been appointed the new County Librarian by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. She will start her new leadership role in Fresno County on July 26. County Librarian Karen Bosch Cobb retired in April.
Prysiazny has been Deputy Director for the Burton Barr Central Library since 2007. Her first year in that position was spent reorganizing the 280,000-square foot library to be more customer-focused and responsive to changing customer expectations in today's fast-paced technology environment.
"I believe that libraries are more than just books. Libraries are key community gathering places that allow people to connect physically and virtually to the information world," she said, adding that the goal of any library is to provide a multitude of activities which transpire to meet and exceed every resident's expectations.
Prysiazny began her library science career with the University of Calgary as a cataloger, spending ten years there in a variety of positions utilizing her organizational skills, customer service focus and teaching skills. After earning her Masters of Library and Information Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1991, she moved to Victoria, B.C. to work for the Library Services Branch, which is equivalent to a state library here in the U.S. Her career in that province involved interesting travel to libraries accessible only by barge or helicopter, traveling through a year-round avalanche zone on a narrow road wide enough for only one car, and being only one of two people left in a town evacuated due to a potential tsunami.
In 1999, Prysiazny moved with her husband to the United States to accept a position with the Black Gold Cooperative Library System in San Luis Obispo, supervising their technical services division which included overseeing the operations of the Cooperative's telecommunications network and associated peripherals. The following year she relocated south to become the Automated Services Manager for the Long Beach Public Library. During her tenure in Long Beach, she oversaw the migration of the library's primary online catalog and circulation system and developed two generations of its website. In 2003, she was promoted to Associate Director and Manager for the Long Beach Main Library. Among her accomplishments in that position was the establishment of the award-winning Information Center for People with Disabilities and the BizConnect Information Service for small businesses in the community. She also reorganized the Main Library from a traditional subject-based organization into a service-based, customer-centric structure focused on community services, programming, and instructional services for customers and staff.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Patricia Pondexter
Fresno County Library
The Fresno County Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Click here for more information about Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 12:04 PM
San Jose SLIS Awarded Federal Grant to Study Multi-Library Text Reference Collaborative
Use of text messaging is skyrocketing, and our nation's libraries are starting to explore new ways to tap into this increasingly popular communication platform to connect with their patrons.
Dr. Lili Luo, an assistant professor with the San Jose School of Library and Information Science, will conduct the first in-depth research regarding how libraries can meet their patron's information-seeking needs via text messaging. Thanks to a $122,683 grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Luo will conduct a two-year study of how libraries can use text messaging as a platform for providing virtual reference services, as well as how they can collaboratively deliver services and expand their ability to meet patron needs during challenging economic times.
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Engaging a New Generation of Library Users: Exploring a Multi-Library Collaborative Model to Deliver Text Reference Service will investigate how text reference service is different from other types of virtual reference services (such as email and instant messaging) and how it can fulfill users' information needs. Luo will also study whether text reference provides an opportunity for libraries to engage new users, including our nation's teens - the fastest growing group of individuals using text messaging.
Luo will study the rich pool of data available via InfoQuest, the nation's first large-scale collaboration by numerous libraries to provide text reference services. Launched in July 2009 by Alliance Library System, today more than 60 libraries from multiple states participate in InfoQuest. They include a wide array of library types, including urban, suburban, and rural libraries, small and large libraries, and public, academic, school, and law libraries.
The project's goal is to learn from InfoQuest's innovative national model, gleaning new knowledge regarding how to implement, manage, and assess a collaborative text reference service model, as well as factors libraries should consider when deciding whether or not to participate in a text reference collaboration. Results will establish a solid understanding of the text reference user community and provide a roadmap for libraries interested in adopting texting to meet patrons' information needs.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums, announced the award on June 15, 2010. View their announcement here: http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/061510.shtm
To learn more about InfoQuest, visit http://www.myinfoquest.info/.
To learn more about SLIS, visit http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/.
For information regarding this announcement, please contact Lisa Valdez at lvaldez@slis.sjsu.edu.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Lisa Valdez
Coordinator, Communication and Grant Development
San Jose State University
School of Library and Information Science
Posted by claadmin at 12:03 PM
San Jose SLIS to Award Scholarships to American Indians and Alaska Natives
The San Jose School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) is partnering with the American Indian Library Association (AILA) to launch Circle of Learning - an initiative designed to recruit and support American Indians and Alaska Natives who are interested in earning a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree.
The scholarship program is designed for Native students who want to earn a fully online ALA-accredited MLIS degree. Scholarship recipients will receive financial assistance and other support, including mentoring, career advisement, field experiences, involvement in professional conferences and workshops, and interaction with Native leaders in the profession.
Because all courses are delivered fully online, students will be able to live anywhere while earning their MLIS degree. Circle of Learning's unique blended approach of online curriculum delivery and face-to-face social and professional interactions will help ensure that scholarship recipients receive personalized support and develop a professional network that will benefit them in the years ahead.
The Circle of Learning scholarship program is made possible because of a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. IMLS announced the award on June 15, 2010. View their announcement here: http://www.imls.gov/news/2010/061510.shtm
The Circle of Learning advisory committee is finalizing application criteria. Details regarding eligibility for scholarships and application materials will be available on the project website by August 3, 2010. Students will need to be admitted to the School's MLIS program in order to receive scholarship funding, and the individuals selected to receive scholarships will be eligible to start receiving tuition reimbursement for courses taken during the Spring 2011 semester.
For more information regarding the Circle of Learning project, including application information and deadlines, please visit the project's website at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/circleoflearning/.
For more information about SLIS and how to apply to the School's fully online MLIS program, visit http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/audience/prospective.htm.
To learn more about the American Indian Library Association and its initiatives to improve library and information services for American Indians, visit http://www.ailanet.org/.
For information regarding this announcement, please contact Lisa Valdez at lvaldez@slis.sjsu.edu.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Lisa Valdez
Coordinator, Communication and Grant Development
San Jose State University
School of Library and Information Science
Posted by claadmin at 12:02 PM
UCLA's ALA Student Chapter Fundraises for Diversity
In support of the ALA's Spectrum Presidential Initiative the ALA Student Chapter at UCLA recently organized a successful BBQ for Spectrum Scholars fundraiser at the home and garden of Tim Ahern and former CLA President Cindy Mediavilla. The UCLA Student Chapter brought together nearly 30 MLIS graduate students, professors, and library professionals from our community to support this important scholarship to increase diversity within the our profession. We are proud to say that our BBQ helped raise more than $1,000 for the ALA's Spectrum Scholarship Program.
Among our distinguished guests were numerous professional librarians including Los Angeles City Librarian, Martín Gomez. Mr. Gomez was appointed City Librarian by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in 2009 and we were honored that he could attend and show support for the fundraiser. Also in attendance was one of our fellow library science graduate students, Jeannie Chen. Ms. Chen is a former UCLA Spectrum Scholar, CLA Edna Yelland Scholarship recipient, and just graduated from the UCLA MLIS program this year.
Our BBQ menu included grilled burgers, hot dogs, dips, salads, fresh veggies, and a delicious homemade lemon cake baked by our own Student Chapter Co-President Lindsay Klick. 
We are also extremely grateful to Ahern and Mediavilla for opening their home to this important fundraising event. Their beautiful backyard garden is a stop on the annual Theodore Payne Foundation's Spring Garden Tour, and the diversity fundraiser could not have been in a more appropriate setting than a garden resplendent with a diversity of native California plants.
The ALA Student Chapter at UCLA recognizes the importance of increasing diversity within the library profession, and we were honored to help support the ALA's national efforts to increase academic opportunities for underrepresented populations.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Chris Salvano
Co-President, ALA Student Chapter at UCLA, 2009-2010
Posted by claadmin at 12:01 PM
May 20, 2010
President's Column
A walk through downtown this afternoon - under blue skies! in the sunshine! - away from my office and computer and phone, made me realize that - yes - spring is here once again. And about time!
If April is the cruellest month, then May must be the hopeful one. My teacher librarian friends are counting down the days until school is out, students are giddy with "summer's-almost-here" energy and public librarians are gearing up for summer reading (work and) fun. Lucky folks are planning their summer adventures, while the rest of us are scribbling mental notes to pause in place for a staycation, or even just a luxurious morning off, with the to-do list deliberately left behind.
Summer day, summer day. Four simple words that taste to me of juicy peaches, crisp cherries and sweet-tart berries warm from the sun. That hold the glitter of endless waves stretching over and crashing into white foam, the dusty tang of pine needles and sage along a winding trail, the heat rising from asphalt, the soft warmth of late evenings by the canal. Satisfying slurp of nearly liquid ice cream against the tongue, crisp clink of ice cubes rattling in a glass, crickets chirping late into the night, rhythms flowing around an idling car, windows open and elbows flung out.
I'm holding onto these memories, reveries and hopes as I head towards yet another management meeting about budget woes, scaling back services and harder times ahead. No one is immune during this "Great Recession" - I am reminded every day by the growing number of unhoused, unemployed, unsettled visitors to the Library where I work, by the stories shared/whispered/overheard from family members, friends, friends-of-friends, colleagues, co-workers, the headlines on Google and the local news.
I hum "Hard times, hard times, come again no more" - a song by Stephen Foster from 1854 that seems most apropos now. I think about a terrific saying on a t-shirt (thanks to Stephen Abram and his blog Stephen's Lighthouse via Kathy Gould and her terrific blog, PVLD Director's Blog) from Eleanor Crumblehulme, a University of British Columbia library employee: Cutting libraries in a recession is like cutting hospitals in a plague.
And I gain great comfort today from two very different types of people. Wendell Berry's "The Peace of Wild Things" begins "When despair for the world grows in me", then builds into a strengthening, lyrical paean to the "peace of wild things" and the wildness around us. And Rolling Stone Keith Richard's quote: "When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you" brings me back home to the ground I have chosen - my work and my place in the world.
Libraries of all types belong to all of us. Just like summer days, sunshine, wilderness and that most intangible, necessary, evanescent of feelings - hope. May you all find moments of presence, clarity and respite - time to take a breath, nourish yourself and forge onward - in the midst of these challenging times.
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 1:00 PM
Executive Director's Column
Last month, readers of California Libraries were asked "What one thing could CLA do by the end of 2010 that would assist you as a library professional?" Your wide range of responses were very informative, especially those related to library advocacy and membership dues.
First, I noticed that there were several comments directed at advocacy and the need to do more and do it better. Those comments concern me because from everything I have seen and read in my three-and-a-half months on the job is that CLA has done an outstanding job of lobbying and advocating on behalf of the California library community. Our lobbyists, Michael Dillon and Christina DiCaro, are highly respected at the Capitol and are sought out for their guidance by many legislators and their staff who trust their intellectual knowledge and understanding of the system. Now, what these legislators do with the information they receive from CLA is entirely up to them, but it would be difficult to argue that CLA isn't reaching them.
Furthermore, advocacy is only as strong as the voice supporting it and this is where I think CLA is currently at a disadvantage. We have all heard the phrase that there is strength in numbers and at no time is that phrase more powerful then when it is applied to advocacy. In order for our voice to have a greater impact in Sacramento we need to have the support and participation from not only our members, but from those folks who have yet to join CLA.
Another comment that appeared often in the survey results was that CLA needs to lower its dues. This is a tough issue to address without sounding pompous or self righteous, but I'm going to give it a try. CLA cannot provide the services you are asking for without membership dues and the lower the dues, the greater the chances of services being cut.
Think about what happens every time your budget gets cut - the question of how will you provide services at the level our patrons have come to expect always comes to the top of the list of concerns. It may not come that clearly, but its there when you have to discuss staffing levels and library hours. It's the same thing for CLA. Every time your budgets get cut, CLA has to cross its fingers and hope that we don't lose members because we have limited income streams to help manage month to month expenses. Does this mean CLA can't lower its dues? No, but we have to way all of the services provided to determine what is absolutely necessary and what might be able to be put on hold until the economy turns around. This is where it gets tough because what CLA services aren't necessary?
Regarding these issues, it is clear that our Association needs to investigate better methods to effectively communicate our advocacy efforts and the value we bring to our members. Currently, your CLA leadership and staff are taking into consideration all aspects of our services and will come together in July to determine the best way to represent California libraries and librarians both now and in the years to come.
We will be communicating this information to you through the various forms of social media we have - Facebook, Twitter, this e-newsletter, emails, et al, but we will also be relying on you to help us evaluate CLA. When you see something from the California Library Association in your inbox, please take the time to open, read it and respond if necessary. We will be coming to you over the next few months with questions to help us provide you a professional association you are proud to belong to and spend your hard earned income supporting.
I said it in last month's article, but I'm going to say it again - CLA's future is bright and together we will move this amazing organization forward!
I hope you have a great rest of your May and I look forward to chatting with you soon!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 10:59 AM
Celebrate Summer Learning Day, June 21, 2010
Literacy is recognized as a critical building block for success in school and in life, and summer learning loss in reading has been identified as a primary source of the widening achievement gap between lower- and higher-income children and youth. Libraries are essential partners in promoting literacy in communities. On June 21, 2010, join hundreds of communities across the state in celebrating Summer Learning Day, a national celebration of summer learning programs. This is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on what libraries are doing this summer to support literacy and reading for kids.
Visit the National Summer Learning Associate website, www.summerlearning.org/SLD, to learn more about Summer Learning Day, register your event and find resources to help you plan - including free webinars. Can't join us on June 21st? You can hold your event anytime during the summer - just be sure to register on the Association website. And don't forget that July is Summer Learning Month in California.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Natalie Cole, Ph.D.
Programs Director
Posted by claadmin at 10:55 AM
Creative Fund Finding: USDA Grants for Libraries
Like most libraries in 2009, Tulare County Library has prepped for a stimulus (American Rehabilitation and Re-investment Act or ARRA) package. The California State Library advised libraries to make an analysis of library construction needs. Once the stimulus information was released, it appeared that the only thing that covered libraries was the broadband package. At the same time, many federal agencies in the state were becoming flush with cash. In some cases small agencies had more funding than they had the manpower to distribute. It is at this juncture, libraries need to be creative about who they ask for funding. Even though there was only one nationwide project directed at libraries, much of the funding could be applied towards libraries. It's a question on who to ask for funding. I decided to investigate other possibilities.
In the summer of 2009, Senator Barbara Boxer held a forum at Fresno State University. The idea was to disseminate information about stimulus programs that were available in the state. I was able to find how our library could be eligible and discover the agency contacts. My main focus was library construction and job skills funding. It turned out most of the job skills funding had gone into Work Investment Boards and similar programs and didn't appear to be sharing. However, I saw a grant opportunity from the United States Department of Agriculture. They were funding construction projects in rural areas by loans and grants. This is probably the last place anyone would look for library funding, but it became very lucrative very quickly.
The USDA provides Community Facility (CF) funding every year in communities with high unemployment (over 19%). The stimulus package resulted in a beefed up version of that package. Communities less than 5,000 in size, with 19% of unemployment could apply for up to $50,000 per project. It required a hard cash match and a match from a third party. The match is on a sliding scale so a community smaller in size would get a bigger match, 55-45 for a community small than 5,000. Our Library Director had contacts with the local USDA office, which had funded a project several years back. There were 20 communities in our county that were eligible, but only a handful had a library branch in them. Going back to our list of community priorities from the stimulus package we submitted three grant proposals, two for library branch renovations (Ivanhoe and Earl mart) and one for a library book machine (Cutler). We submitted in May and by July, we were received preliminary notifications that all three projects would be funded, $165,000 in construction dollars, a $350,000 project.
Currently, we are in the process of the library renovations and we have purchased our book machine. The renovation of the two libraries took longer than the book machine to get official approval. Both buildings were over 50 years old and had to be assessed by an Architectural Historian to assure that any renovations would not impact the library's historical value. The process took several months, but both buildings were not historical value. Since this is a stimulus package, we have one year from award to complete the project and we must also report quarterly on the progress. Every dollar spent or action taken has to be accounted for and logged into the federal reporting website. Currently, we are on track to complete this project. Normally, these rural libraries would take several years to see this type of renovation. It's great to be able to provide that kind of resource to a community that receives very little.
For the book machine, we chose Brodart's Lending library. We investigated Contra Costa and Yuba County Libraries Library a Go Go machine, but since the machine is not made in the United States, it couldn't qualify for an American Made project. Furthermore, both the model would exceed our budget for the project ($110,000 allocated, but construction and installation would have been $140,000). After further research, we found Brodart's Lending Library as the perfect fit. It is American made and its base price was only $15,000. The major issue then became finding a location with a power source and internet access.
Due to system issues, we couldn't afford and couldn't find an internet connection available on our site. We talked to Brodart who then convened a conference call with the product manufacturer Piknic Inc. We were able to talk them into developing a product in which an internet connection and sip2 connection was not required. Barcode information would be stored locally on the machine. Items on the machine would not be available in the catalog or general collection. Scan of the library cards and books would be held locally and the nearest branch library staff will plan to visit the machine once a week to download the information to a USB stick and then upload the information to the branch. This keeps the information up to date, but doesn't restrict the machine's use.
The book machine will be in action at the end of July while the branch renovation will be completed by March 2011. One of the concepts that I think other libraries can take away from this project is to always look for money, even in unusual places. Stimulus money was particularly hard to come by. You have to know who to contact to get the money. We didn't have to apply through the grants.gov website, we simply applied to the local federal office using their forms, more information is available via their website http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ca/cf/index.htm. If you are interested in contacting the USDA office for a project like this, and you can go to the website mentioned. I will follow up on the project in a later article.
Submitted to California Libraries:
Jeff Scott
Deputy County Librarian
Tulare County Library
The Tulare County Library is an Institutional Member of the California Library Association and supports our advocacy efforts. Click here for more information about Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:54 AM
Good Stuff in the Building: How Facilities Enhance the Experience of Library Patrons
A good library offers many products to its patrons. The collection is first among them, of course. The expert services provided by library staff, the computers and programs are all part of the mix of products that patrons love and expect when they walk in the door. A facility that is designed well and operated well is also part of that mix. Consider light, comfort, safety, beauty, design, air quality, cleanliness as building amenities that motivate people to visit the library. These are part of the experience of coming to a good library, and need to be considered as part of the library's core products.
Light
The human eye loves daylight. Daylight contains the full spectrum of colors that our eyes are designed to use. The eye especially loves indirect daylight from the north and east. Northern and eastern light provides the best conditions for reading. Natural daylight, diffused and soft from these directions, is a hallmark of good library design. Direct daylight from the south and west, however, is not comfortable for reading. A good library design will maximize the light coming from northern and eastern windows and will manage or eliminate the intense sun from the southern and western exposures. In the example shown, the north glass on the library building was angled seven degrees eastward to eliminate all western light, while leaving the reading area washed in indirect northern light.
If your library has north or east-facing windows, maximize the use of this light by removing any obstructions of shades. Similarly, if you have large amounts of southern or western facing glass, block or diffuse the direct rays by rearranging the furnishings or by adding shades inside or outside the windows.
Artificial light can mimic the colors of natural daylight. New florescent lamps are available in a range of color temperatures, expressed in Kelvin (K) numbers. The old warm white lamps or incandescent lamps, with their predominant yellow colors, might look good in a cafeteria food line, but create a dingy appearance in libraries. Look for lamp color temperatures of over 3500K which provide a higher ratio of cool colors such as blue. Next time you step outside notice how much bluer natural daylight is than most artificial light.
Safety and Security
Patrons must feel safe in the facility. This sense of privacy and seclusion can be a prime factor in encouraging people to visit your facility. For many it is a great escape from the distractions and annoyances of daily life.
Many library facilities have begun to use carefully placed video surveillance cameras that allow for monitoring of problem areas without creating a sense of intrusion. When security problems do arise patrons are comforted and encouraged by quick and appropriate action. Look for security guards that have good aptitude for diffusing a tense situation. An upset or angry person can often be managed with a calm but confident tone of voice.
Comfort
To settle into a well designed and comfortable chair, knowing that you are going to spend the next several hours of your life there is one of the joys of using the library. Comfort does not always mean soft cushions or deep upholstery. Witness the trend toward ergonomic task chairs with little or no padding or upholstery. If the geometry of the chair fits the user then the thickness of the upholstery or feel of the fabric is a secondary concern. Teens like a chair that looks cool and they can slouch in, one that older people will avoid for exactly those reasons.
Beauty
How many library facilities have we all seen with dirt-colored carpet and beige walls? Our patrons may be coming to our facility from an ugly work environment or a poorly designed home. Let us offer them beauty when they walk through our doors.
Look at the colors that are predominant in your facility. Paint is cheap. A fresh coat of a fresh color can make a huge difference in a meeting room or reading area. Newer fabrics and carpets that are resistant to soiling have allowed facility designers to be much more imaginative with color pallets than they were several years ago. Don't be afraid of using bold and bright colors.
Artwork also adds to the beauty of a library. Readers need something to stare at as they ponder that last chapter. Does your library have an art in public places program? These programs set aside a small portion of each project budget to purchase and install artwork that is specifically intended to enhance the facility's space.
Air Quality
Indoor air quality has become an area of concern for all public buildings. Most heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems (HVAC) include minimum settings for outside air to ensure a good mix of oxygen. Typically the minimums are set at 20%, meaning no more than 80% of the air in the building is re-circulated. Ask the maintenance staff to check the outside air intake settings. Air that feels stuffy or stale often means high levels of CO2 and not enough oxygen. People often interpret the feeling of high CO2 levels as heat, but turning on the air conditioning won't help without sufficient quantities of outside air.
Odors and gasses from new furnishings and paint can also contribute to indoor air quality problems. New standards described by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) will provide a noticeable reduction in these contaminants. Buildings designed with LEED standards do not have that "new building smell" that can be irritating to many people. Even the fabrics on the furnishings and the chemical cleaners used by the custodial staff play a role in creating healthy and comfortable indoor air.
Windows that open are starting to come back into vogue among architects. Like day lighting, operable windows were shunned for years under the notion that open windows make it too hard to control air temperatures and energy costs. Most people, however, make good choices intuitively about letting in a little fresh breeze and using nature's air conditioning system.
Cleanliness
Seek to enhance your facilities environment by providing clean surroundings for your patrons. Public restrooms are the acid test, so check them regularly throughout the day. Many facilities do not have the luxury of custodial help throughout the day, but assigning staff to pick up a few stray towels and such can make a big difference in the overall impression of cleanliness. If your library has carpeting the single most important cleaning task is daily vacuuming with a high quality vacuum.
Think about the whole range of products your library offers, including the benefits and comforts that are built into the building itself. Good design, followed by good maintenance and daily attention, will create a facility environment that your patrons love. Libraries will continue to be magnets for our communities, producing a sense of pride and wellbeing that is unique among public buildings.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Don Tucker
Director of Facilities
Sacramento Public Library Authority
Posted by claadmin at 10:53 AM
How Do We "Celebrate Reading"?
16th Annual Kepler's-Friends' Day
In Menlo Park, the main Library is just two blocks away from a fine independent bookstore, Kepler's Books and Magazines. There, a special event is held each year. Sixteen years ago Clark Kepler and the Friends of the Menlo Park Library joined to "celebrate reading" and the Library.
This event, the "Celebration of the Magic of Reading," has become a Menlo Park tradition, and evolved into a musical celebration of reading, our libraries and our schools. Others from our business community have, from the beginning, supported this event with gift certificates to benefit the participating schools.
Kepler's also supplies donations for free drawings for the young people attending and performing. Draeger's, a Menlo Park grocery, The Almanac, the weekly newspaper, and various local businesses are among charter members who have helped with publicity.
Rain or shine, the Annual Celebration of Reading is on the first Saturday in May in Kepler's Plaza with the 4th grade orchestras from local schools performing together. The music continues, progressing through the grades until around 1:30. The finale performance is that of the Menlo-Atherton Jazz and Concert Bands. They delight the crowd for nearly two hours. The day gives spectators a glimpse of the evolution of music in Menlo Park and how music is important to excellence in schools.
The event is free, as are many of the raffle prizes intended for the young attendees. In addition, there are opportunities to buy raffle tickets for gift certificates donated by our local businesses. Proceeds of these raffles go directly to the participating schools.
On the "Celebration of the Magic of Reading" day, Kepler's donates 10% when a buyer says "It's for the Library." The Belle Haven Branch Library is the beneficiary of this generosity.
The Friends of the Library are proud of this unique collaboration with Kepler's, our local businesses, and the schools. It's a great day for the kids, the Library, and the community at large.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Tim Goode & Aldora Lee
Friends of the Menlo Park Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:52 AM
Lost Stars - and Lost Archives
Like many of us who love the arts, I was quite saddened to learn of the recent death of Lynn Redgrave, the great Oscar nominated and OBE-awarded actress, whose career included film highlights such as "Georgy Girl" and "Gods and Monsters" as well as many turns on Broadway and the West End stage. Her death was another hit for the talented Redgrave clan, which lost Vanessa Redgrave's daughter Natasha Richardson a year ago. Lynn was Vanessa's younger sister - and one can only wish we could have been flies on the wall while listening to the conversations at the family dinner table as they were growing up together.
Admittedly, this obituary may sound like it has very little to do with libraries or librarianship - unless one is creating a display of DVDs and books to honor the actress's work, which is not a bad idea when one thinks about it. Yet, if you will bear with me, all shall be made clear. You see, at the same time that I am studying for my library degree in the Los Angeles Cohort of the Cal State Northridge/University of North Texas SLIS, I also work as a theater critic for several Los Angeles area newspapers and magazines. I have done it for years. And, if you want to know what a thankless gig is, it is being a theater critic in a city that is known for heralding almost every cultural spectacle except for theater. Oh, yes, there are big theaters downtown, such as the Mark Taper and the Pantages - and the bus and truck tours of "Camelot" and "Smokey Joe's Café always pass through here, but for most theater is the crazy stepmother in the attic of the local culture. Nevertheless, there is tons of theater in Los Angeles - almost 100 shows are playing at the smaller spaces on any given weekend night, a testament to the city's allure for acting, directing, and writing talent.
Anyway, to get the anecdote on target, when I heard that Lynn Redgrave passed on, I myself wanted to write a little obituary for her for my own personal blog. You see, while working for the Los Angeles Reader, a small paper in the LA region, I had the pleasure of reviewing Redgrave's stunning production of "Tales from My Father," which played at a fairly intimate theater in Beverly Hills back in the early 1990s. I wanted to re-run my old review of the play and describe what the show meant for me at that particular moment of time. The trouble was, the paper for which I wrote the review closed down in 1996. As is not entirely unexpected for a business going under, little effort was expended to preserving the paper's records - and, as the world was still a year or two away from discovering the pluses of digital storage, there was no archive whatsoever.
I Googled for the review but came up with nothing, and then I searched deeper, through various periodical databases. Nothing! It turned out, shockingly enough, that in the burgeoning period of the Internet, no one had ever thought to digitize the archives of the LA Reader. With the exception of a few feature articles, all the paper's articles were utterly lost. From my point of view, the paper's remit in the theater section alone encompassed 11 play reviews a week, from 1975 to 1996 - all gone, with no record. The critic Kenneth Tynan wrote that a play's review is like a letter to the future about a play's performance. But without the records, it's as though the plays never existed.
The point germane to librarianship is that the idea that we, as a trade, came late to the party in terms of dealing with the fact that a whole decade of information might have gotten lost in that interim period between the print and the digital era. It's not just the archives of old newspapers that have slipped through the cracks, it's also billions of reports and documents written on Wordperfect 5.0 or, God help us, Wordstar. It's the thousands of tiny fanzines or local newspapers that were created to be important in a certain moment in time, but which no one bothered to store, let alone collate, scan, and digitize. It's hard to imagine how future historians will manage to resurrect this information, which, once so common, is already lost to time. And it makes one realize the horrifying ease with which knowledge vanishes and becomes memory. It happened with many of the classics of Greek and Roman literature - and it has happened to the hundreds of thousands of theater reviews from the late lamented LA Reader.
On a related note, if I might take a second to invite all readers of this newsletter to join the Los Angeles Cohort of the Cal State Northridge/University of North Texas at our first All School Day, being held at the Glendale Public Library this Saturday, May 22 from 10-1. The CSUN/UNT SLIS program is the new kid on the block, and this is its Alpha Year. With a panel that includes numerous local library professionals, as well as faculty from the University of North Texas who are flying out for the event, the All School Day provides a delightful opportunity to "kick the shoes" of the program. RSVP to untlalissa@gmail.com and come join us!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Paul Birchall
CSUN/University of North Texas SLIS 2011
Santa Monica Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 10:51 AM
Successful Programs are All Alike, Unsucessful Programs are Uniquely Ineffective
The library where I work got a grant to have system wide events with the goal of uniting the community around a reading experience, and inspiring people to read. We had a range of events, some more successful than others, and learned a lot about what works in different branches. But in the spirit of Tolstoy: successful programs are all alike...it's the unsuccessful ones that keep you up all night. It's like when I used to teach and never had a memorable reason given for handing in homework on time, compared to the lyricism devoted to rationalizing late or non-existent homework.
So, a book discussion at a local pizza place, pizza included thanks to the Friends of the Library, seemed like a good idea. Dan, the pizza place owner, let me put up posters and lists of area-wide events related to the grant. I had recently recruited a volunteer discussion leader to help out with my branch's book club meetings; we had done the whole process as laid out in the Get Involved Volunteer Management training. There was a JD, an interview with two staff, and now she would lead this discussion as her audition.
She was there, I was there, and so was her friend who had not read the book. She had typed up questions and we three did our best to discuss them, over a large pizza that I would not try to get reimbursement for. Hard to justify for only one bona fide member of the public. Discussion stalled when I just couldn't let pass the assertion California was legally bankrupt, and when I did my best to let pass the statement that "after all reading is just to get away from things, no different from t.v." (Okay, sometimes, sort of). Finally the one person present who was not a discussion leader had to leave.
The volunteer and I said cheering things to each other and Dan came in from the patio, asking us to congratulate him for his first day of sobriety. I told him how, after I had quit smoking lo these many years, I used to have the quandary that everyone at work I liked was in the smoking area of the staff room., and that I had decided it was because, No.1, people with no bad habits are obnoxious and No. 2 in classic freudian analysis, smokers are oral personalities, which sure beats the alternative...
He had a good laugh at that and said he couldn't have imagined me coming up with that. Guess there was one small take-away: one member of the public knows librarians are not the prudes he thought.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Eve Nyren
CLA Member
Posted by claadmin at 10:51 AM
April 22, 2010
President's Column
California libraries have a proud tradition of being "green" - since 1849! By creating a "reading room" for the City of Monterey, and the first library in the State of California, the Monterey Public Library founders established a system of shared public good that also extended individual buying power and demonstrated wise use of resources (books, time, energy and space).
Fast forward to April, 2010. And imagine how many millions of times library items at California school, public, academic and special libraries have changed hands over the past 161 years - what an amazing amount of reuse! As one 20th century customer commented, the Library has saved "hundreds of dollars and hundreds of feet of storage space" for many in our community.
Our profession's commitment to "being green" has long extended through the life of a book, magazine, CD or DVD. Once it has been used "to death", and is shabby or worn, outdated or sits forlornly on a shelf for years, it's time to recycle it. Hardworking Friends of the Library groups around the state oversee used-book sales in halls big and spaces small (and help "green" library budgets - and we are grateful). And if all else fails, books and other materials can be physically transformed at waste management sites.
Libraries of all types have been early adopters of paperless pathways and solutions such as online catalogs, database resources, online Library card self-registration, email notification of overdues and holds, e-books available for check-out/ downloading and websites as 24/7 electronic branches. Saving energy, trees, natural resources and our community of users' time.
Across California's deserts, forests, coastline, cities and towns, school, public, academic and special libraries showcase energy-efficient lighting, green building features, native plant and low water landscaping, solar arrays - "environmental literacy" in action. We can lend, show and help our users learn. The Redwood Shores Community Library in Redwood City has a hands-on ecosystem exhibit center, while the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library Environmental Learning Center in San Bernadino County has an interactive trash truck and rescue wildlife.
Libraries of all types help sustain communities. As library staff and library supporters we can be proud of our efforts to share library resources with the community – and reduce, reuse and recycle - for the past century and a half. Happy 40th Earth Day - and many happy returns!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 10:15 AM
Executive Director's Column
Great ideas were discussed on April 19th and 20th when I was fortunate enough to travel to Southern California and meet with CLA members. The underlining theme of this visit seemed to be students and how CLA can be more accessible and engaging to California's library students and CLA's future leaders.
My guides for Monday were Cindy Mediavilla, Library Programs Consultant for the California State Library, CLA Past President and CLARION Editor, and Natalie Cole, CLA Programs Director. Our first appointment of the day was with Professor Greg Leazer, Chair of UCLA's Department of Information Studies. Our discussions ranged from student chapters to participation at the CLA Annual Conference to a faculty/staff advisor who is a CLA member. I am really looking forward to September when CLA staff will travel back to UCLA for student orientation, but in the meantime, Natalie and I are looking forward to developing these ideas into programs for the Board to consider and implement.
Our Monday afternoon meeting was with Martìn Gòmez, City Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library and members of his staff: Anne Connor, Central Library Director, Pat Kiefer, Assistant City Librarian, and Cecilia Riddle, Director of Branch Library Services. This meeting was very informative and identified a need for CLA to more involved with our Southern California libraries and members. One idea was for CLA to hold an advocacy day in SoCal a few months prior to any legislative day held in the Capitol. The concept here would be to encourage those members who are unable to travel to Sacramento to come together and discuss the issues with CLA leaders, lobbyists and staff so these issues could be clearly represented during CLA's legislative day in Sacramento. The next step would be to set up other regional advocacy days in areas where it's difficult for members to travel to participate.
The other item to come out of Monday afternoon's meeting was the need for stronger paraprofessional education. I know this is something CLA has been discussing prior to my arrival and an area the ALA supports through the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program. CLA staff will investigate how we can make this program more accessible to CLA members. It seems like the right thing to do seeing how many of the approved LSSC programs listed on the website are available through California's Fresno Pacific University.
On Tuesday, Natalie and I traveled to the Inland Empire to meet first with Tracie Carignan, Library Manager, Glen Avon Regional Library and Chair of the CLA Student Interest Group, and Young Lee, San Jose State University MLIS Student and intern at Glen Avon Regional Library. I'm always energized when meeting students and discussing ways to involve and empower them with their professional association - this meeting didn't disappoint! We all agreed that the majority of MLIS students don't see CLA as a resource and that this is something we want to change. One area that the CLA Board of Directors is discussing and one I mentioned in my last article is creating CLA board positions for California MLIS students (I should have more to report on this item after the July CLA Board meeting). Involving students in developing CLA policy and plans is necessary for the future of CLA. We discussed the Student Interest Group being more than just a venue for current students to come together. We see it as a community where we will work with partnering CLA committee and other interest groups with the Student Interest Group to achieve a more cohesive relationship between the students and careerists. We view the Student Interest Group community as a source that can help shape CLA's brand and develop not only future CLA leaders, but leaders of library systems. The idea here is to create a management mentorship and offer tools for growth.
Our afternoon wrapped up with an invitation to tour the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library and visit with area librarians. About a month ago I responded to an email which was in response to an article written about the Manteca Branch Library and the need to look at different library models for libraries to succeed in tough economic times. This email was written by Robert Karatsu, Library Director of the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library. Robert's email highlighted the out-of-the-box thinking his community engaged in to create a Cultural Center which combines a performing arts theater, library and events space all located in Victoria Gardens, a regional shopping mall in Rancho Cucamonga.
After touring this amazing Cultural Center, Robert, Natalie and I met with Michelle Perera, Assistant Library Director, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library; Kathy Bloomberg-Rissman, Library Director, Upland Public Library; Susan Erickson, Executive Director, Inland Library System; and Mark Smith, Administrator, Riverside County Library System and CLA Board member. Many of the items covered on Monday were revisited during this meeting and only emphasized the importance of CLA developing programs for careerists, MLIS students and paraprofessionals.
CLA's future is bright and together we will move this amazing organization forward, which brings us to this month's survey: What one thing could CLA do by the end of 2010 that would assist you as a library professional?
Thank you to Greg, Martìn, Anne, Pat, Cecilia, Tracie, Young, Kathy, Susan, Mark, Michelle, and Robert for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet and share your concerns and ideas with me, and a special thank you to Cindy and Natalie - and their families - for making my first trip to SoCal extremely productive and absolutely amazing! I can't wait for my next library adventure!
Posted by claadmin at 10:12 AM
Evaluating Your Summer Reading Program
If you are taking part in CLA's 2010 California Summer Reading Program and using the statewide theme of Water for your children's, teen, or adult summer reading program, please prepare to collect participation statistics this summer and submit them to CLA in September.
The questions we will ask and notes on collecting your data are on our website: http://www.cla-net.org/summer-reading/evaluation.php.
The California Summer Reading Program is LSTA-funded, and any libraries using the statewide theme are required to submit their participation statistics to CLA. These statistics are used by the State Library to fulfill reporting requirements issued by IMLS (the Institute for Museum and Library Services), which administers LSTA at the federal level. Failure to report your data will jeopardize your library's participation in future statewide summer reading activities.
We will collect your data using a zoomerang survey that we will send out in September. The survey should be completed once for each library jurisdiction, with one person responding on behalf of all libraries. Please do not send any data directly to CLA staff.
Thank you, in advance, for collecting your data and submitting them to us! Your information helps us demonstrate the amount of summer reading activity taking place in California's libraries, and helps us improve the California Summer Reading Program for the future.
If you have any questions, please email CLA Programs Director, Natalie Cole, at ncole@cla-net.org. Thank you!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Natalie Cole
CLA Programs Director
Posted by claadmin at 10:00 AM
APALA's 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration, June 2010
There's quite a party planned for D.C. during the ALA Annual Conference, and you're all invited! The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) will celebrate its 30th anniversary in style on Sunday, June 27 with a gala celebration at China Garden in Rosslyn, Virginia. The evening will include a six-course dinner and performances by the Lao American Women Association (LAWA) dance group and Bollywood-style singing duo Subodh Sen and Sameer Shah. Franklin Odo, director emeritus of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American (APA) Program, will deliver the keynote address. APALA will also present the 2009 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature and honor past officers.
Dr. Odo is a scholar and activist and a true leader in the field of Asian/Pacific American studies. He was the director of the Smithsonian APA Program from its inception in 1997 until his retirement in January 2010, and he was also the first Asian American to attain the title of curator at the National Museum of American History. As director, Dr. Odo co-curated and initiated exhibitions about the experiences of Chinese Americans, Filipino Amerians, Indian Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Native Hawai'ians, and Vietnamese Americans. Before taking the helm at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, Dr. Odo was a professor of ethnic studies at the University of Hawai'i. He received an M.A. in East Asia regional studies from Harvard and a Ph.D. in Japanese history from Princeton University.
All proceeds from the gala will benefit the APALA scholarship, which provides assistance to members who are seeking a degree in library and information science. DEMCO is the platinum sponsor of the APALA 30th Anniversary Gala celebration.
China Garden is just a few stops on the Metro from the Convention Center, and you don't have to be a member to attend, so please join us for an evening of fine dining and entertainment as we honor Dr. Odo and celebrate 30 years of APALA. For more details and to purchase tickets ($35 for APALA members, $40 non-members), visit http://www.apalaweb.org/APALA30.htm.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Michelle Baildon
Past President, APALA
MIT Libraries
Patty Wong
County Librarian
Yolo County Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:59 AM
First-Ever Choose Privacy Week to Take Place May 2-8, 2010
Choose Privacy Week is a new initiative that invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the tools they need to educate and engage users, and gives citizens the resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy.
The American Library Association (ALA) has developed a variety of resources to help libraries reach out to their communities. Primarily, it offers a civic engagement model with instructions to both moderators and
participants: http://www.privacyrevolution.org/index.php/resources/for_libraries/civic_engagement
ALA is offering a free online workshop, "How to Moderate a Deliberative Forum on Privacy," on April 13, 2010 from 1:00 - 3:00 Central. For more information and links to register for the workshops, visit ALA's Libraries Fostering Civic Engagement MIG website.
Additionally, the site offers short videos on privacy, promotional materials and other programming ideas at
http://www.privacyrevolution.org/.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mary Minow
CLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair
Library Law Consultant
LibraryLaw.com
Posted by claadmin at 9:58 AM
FY 2011 Funding for Adult Literacy
The budget process is underway. The Senate and the House have been holding hearings and working on their appropriation bills in response to President Obama's requested budget, issued February 1. Jane Oates, the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the Labor Department, and Martha Kanter, U.S. Under Secretary of Education, testified at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on March 25.
Here's a quick run-down of the President's proposed budget as it relates to adult literacy and education:
- $612.3 million for Adult Basic Literacy Education State Grants, $30 million more than the 2009 appropriation, but a $15.9 million decrease from last year. That's because last year, the program received a one-time increase of $45.9 million to correct for a past accounting error that left some states underfunded for several years.
- $75 million for the English Literacy/Civics Education set-aside, the same as last year's appropriation.
- A $30 million increase for National Leadership Activities. Along with an identical amount from Vocational Rehabilitation, the money supports a new Workforce Innovation Fund that is to be part of a Department of Labor and Department of Education Partnership for Workforce Innovation. According to the Administration, the partnership "will coordinate to award competitive grants that would encourage innovation and identify and validate effective strategies for improving the delivery of services and outcomes for beneficiaries under programs authorized by the Workforce Investment Act." We don't know yet what the scale or targets for these grants will be - whether individual programs and/or local community-based projects will be eligible, or whether Education and Labor will be looking to fund regional or statewide initiatives (or even national initiatives) - or some combination of both. Another question to be answered is whether adult literacy and education will have access to more than just the $30 million in National Leadership dollars that are going into the fund. ProLiteracy has been working with the Representatives from the Administration and members of Congress who are working on the details, and have recommended that the final appropriations bill provides community-based adult education organizations with access to the fund. We'll update you as soon as we have more information.
Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
With health care reform settled, the adult literacy field had hoped that Congress would take up reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which hasn't been reauthorized since it was enacted in 1998. (WIA Title II is the largest source of federal funding for adult literacy and education programs.) But as of this writing, there's no clear timetable for action on WIA. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on WIA on February 24, but it related primarily to Title I. Reauthorization was mentioned briefly by U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter during the March 25 hearing held by the Labor/HHS Appropriations Committee; she made more prominent mention of reauthorization as a priority in her written testimony.
American Graduation Initiative (AGI)
This initiative, which would have invested roughly $12 billion in community colleges over 10 years, appears to be a dead issue for now. A provision to fund the initiative, announced by President Obama last summer, was included in the version of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) that the House passed this past fall, but the budget reconciliation bill that was signed into law at the end of March dropped the provision.
Connecting with Policymakers
On February 18, ProLiteracy member programs from across the U.S. participated in a hill advocacy day focusing on WIA reauthorization and funding issues. A central message was the importance of WIA reauthorization and ways in which the current law often fails to meet the needs of adult learners at the lowest literacy levels. ProLiteracy also met with representatives from the Department of Education's Office of Vocational Assessment & Education (OVAE) and presented them with a memorandum outlining three key Title II reforms to make the legislation more accommodating to the needs of adult learners served by ProLiteracy affiliate members:
- Strengthen the "direct and equitable access" provisions so that organizations serving the lowest level learners are better able to compete for grant funds.
- Add more flexibility to the intensity and duration of instruction provisions.
- Redesign the National Reporting System so that it meets the needs of learners at all literacy levels.
At the invitation of ProLiteracy, Brenda Dann-Messier, Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, and Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of the Employment and Training Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor, both addressed the ProLiteracy/Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE) joint national conference in Chicago March 16-19. This is the first time a high-level official from the U.S. Department of Labor has spoken at a national literacy conference. Both officials stressed that they are working closely together on WIA reauthorization and other concerns.
As of February 1, ProLiteracy has a new Policy and Government Affairs office in Washington. If you are interested in our policy and advocacy work and/or meeting with your representatives in Washington, contact Jeff Carter, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, at jcarter@proliteracy.org or by phone, (202) 577-3638.
Authored by:
Tracy Carman
tcarman@proliteracy.org
Source: http://www.proliteracy.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=826&srcid=334
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:57 AM
In Memory of David Sabsay
As one of California's great library visionaries of the 20th century, David Sabsay pioneered cooperative activities among libraries, library systems and throughout the profession.
Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Sabsay was chief founder and first coordinator of the first cooperative library system in the Western United States (North Bay). David also worked actively through CLA to help enact the first California legislation that provided State funds for cooperative library systems as well as individual public libraries. As president of the California Library Association in 1971, he oversaw a major reorganization that helped strengthen the association.
Mr. Sabsay shaped collaborative library services to California communities during the past sixty years and we are grateful for his efforts and many successes. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:56 AM
Up in the Cloud
Just today I found myself reading this fascinating article in the April 18th business section of the New York Times. You know you're a grown up when the first section you turn to in the paper is no longer the movie section but the business section. As a kid, you first read the funnies. Then it's the movie section. After that, it's the business or food section. I suppose in the next phase of my life, I'll turn first to the obituary section to see who of my pals has dropped dead - and after that, well, if I'm lucky I'll just be watching Informercials at one in the morning and drooling - but right now, it's the business section.
Anyway, to get back on point, I was fascinated by this article about how Netflix, the mail order movie company that has essentially put Blockbuster (that poor 1990s relic) out of business, is now going to use the massive computers owned by Amazon.com to handle most of their technical, administrative, and data storage functions. The owner of Netflix is quoted as saying that the company signed on to utilize The Cloud so as to "focus our innovation around finding movies, rather than building larger and larger data centers."
One aspect of this story that fascinates me is the fact that Netflix and Amazon are, in fact, bitter rivals and competitors: Both companies sell movies, though Netflix is, of course, shifting into a model offering distribution of their movies over the Internet, as opposed to those little discs in those nasty red envelopes that often get returned inside my library's DVD cases.
What is also intriguing, though, is the innovative use that these companies are both making of The Cloud. I am seriously loving the entire concept of The Cloud, which refers to users storing information offsite, using computers that are far more enormous and powerful than we could ever afford for ourselves. Using Cloud programs, such as Google documents for instance, allows us to keep our own computers nice and empty. It also provides some insurance that any important information that we are desperately concerned about can be safely backed up somewhere distant from any possible disaster that could befall a local site.
Cloud Computing is, of course, not even the future anymore: What the Amazon and Netflix deal indicates is that it's the absolute present. The Times article goes on to discuss how many smaller companies, particularly start up computer software firms, are renting time and space on Clouds to provide the computing power and storage space they could never afford on their own.
As a student at the Cal State Northridge cohort of the University of North Texas SLIS program, I have frequently been instructed to analyze and discuss to where I think the world of libraries is heading in the future. And I can't help but think that libraries could do far worse than to utilize Cloud Computing more fully.
I'm not talking about exiling bad patrons, such as the smelly drunks who stagger into the library pulling gigantic suitcases full of their clothes, to a cloud - though it would be nice if we could do such a thing. Rather, I mean that libraries, which are often short staffed and even shorter budgeted, could send many of their cataloging and records storage to these remote systems, freeing up time and space on site for public programs and materials acquisitions.
We have seen some of this starting already through the use of Worldcat and the OCLC as a centralized repository for harvested metadata. But there are many opportunities to use the Cloud in the library setting. Patron records and circulation use statistics are a couple that spring to mind. But there are other potential uses as well. For instance, the article goes on to discuss how some companies create "private clouds" within the rented data space, so that patrons can rent space to perform their own computing functions. Why can't libraries start thinking about providing Cloud Space for patrons performing complicated computing functions? You never know, it could create a new avenue and purpose for the library.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Paul Birchall
Cal State University Northridge/University of North Texas SLIS 2011
Santa Monica Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:55 AM
March 18, 2010
President's Column
Listening to National Public Radio on the way to work this morning, I had the serendipitous experience of hearing author Sebastian Faulks read from his latest book A Week in December about, well, reading:
"I s'pose it's an escape from the real world.'
'But surely it's just the opposite,' said Gabriel. 'Books explain the real world'. They bring you close to it in a way you could never manage in the course of the day."
That made me think hard about reading - the act, the pleasure, the struggle - and those who are unable to experience what I have. And it made me think about the California Library Association, and the Leadership Committee's call for volunteers for the CLA Board ballot, and the message I want to send to all of you today. (Hang in there - I think I can connect the dots..)
It may help to imagine the winding route I was taking, along the sweep of foggy coastline, with trees emerging from the mist and bright spring green grass alongside. I was reminded of the cell phone call I took, walking along that very same coastline, when I was asked to consider running for California Library Association President last year.
When I said yes, I would run, quite frankly, I had no idea of what I was saying "yes" to - and sometimes life is better that way! I had no idea how much work had been done to invigorate and transform California's oldest and largest library association, and how much work there was still to be done.
I had no idea how many dedicated, skilled, knowledgeable, articulate, charming and downright wonderful people work to support library efforts, principles and communities throughout California. I've been incredibly lucky to learn about the amazing CALTAC coalition, gain a better understanding about essential statewide Literacy efforts, experience the incredibly effective Legislative and Advocacy and Intellectual Freedom Committee work, watch the Leadership Development Committee spring into action, meet passionate and committed Interest Group members from around the state, work with the forward thinking and engaged 2010 Conference Committee - my list could go on and on. I am humbled and heartened by all you dedicated library supporters!
And quite frankly, I had no idea how important that contact, courage and camaraderie would be for me, personally, during this year of budget cuts, increasing usage and uncertainty about the future. My volunteer work with CLA has both been an escape from my "real world" and a chance to learn, connect and grow closer to the heart of what it means to develop and sustain libraries for our communities - and the future.
My invitation to you, today, is to consider becoming a "CLA Leader and CLA Learner" by giving your time, talents and energy to help continue CLA's transformation. Ignite your passion, push your boundaries and get involved!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 2:05 PM
Executive Director's Column
Thank you to all the members who responded to my question last month on "Why do you choose to be engaged with CLA?"
The responses ranged from being notified of valuable information and staying in touch with what is happening in California libraries to networking opportunities and professional advancement. I value the responses I received because it's those responses that help your volunteer leaders and staff work smarter on your behalf.
Those responses created more question: Do we offer enough networking opportunities? Do we have enough meaningful committee work to provide our volunteer leaders the experience they desire? Are we staying current as a state association? For the most part my questions can be answered with a yes, but I know we can be more, and it's that "more" we are dedicated to achieving.
Your CLA Board of Directors and Staff are working on ways to improve how we communicate with you, how we promote the value and importance of CLA not only to California librarians, but to our local and state government leaders as well, and build partnerships with organizations to help advance librarianship in California.
Throughout this year you will see enhancements to the CLA web site, communications and education. At the recent Board of Directors meeting task forces and sub-committees were created to help accomplish the improvements and enhancements we are dedicated to accomplishing this year.
So here is my March question: if you could improve one or two areas on the CLA web site, what would those areas be and what is needed to accomplish the improvement you seek? Click here to take a brief survey. If you have more than one or two areas, please feel free to email me directly at hollym@cla-net.org. I appreciate your feedback!
Thank you for your commitment to CLA!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 2:04 PM
Are You Ready to Free the Leader in You?
Recently I was sent a survey from the university I attended and where I had served in student government for three years. I began as a representative on our Student Judicial Board, then as Student Representative for the College of Letter, Arts and Sciences and finally as Student Body President. Since I was 13 years old I have felt this need to be involved in organizations that can create change - I guess that's why I have been in association management for 12 years. The skills I learned from serving in student government helped me understand how to serve on other organization boards and committees for which I've had the pleasure of volunteering, as well as how to guide and mentor the board of directors for the associations I have been lucky enough to manage.
For 114 years CLA has been a volunteer-run organization reliant on members like you to move the association forward - through 11+ decades - through an entire century. The changes and advancements for California libraries over the past century happened because of dedicated librarians like you. You work on a daily basis for your library and community and how many of those hours are outside of your "work hours"? The past and current CLA leaders take some of those outside of work hours to ignite their professional passion at the statewide level for the betterment of our profession.
Are you ready to free the leader in you? Are you ready to share your passion for what you do on a statewide level?
The CLA Leadership Development Committee is calling for nominations for the 2010 elections and is appealing to your inner leader. Are you passionate about California libraries and want to transform this passion into action? Your CLA Board of Directors and staff are dedicated to recognizing those members who are the silent leaders, but have a passion and desire to make a difference and can bring their special skills to fill vacancies on the CLA Board and committees. The work is challenging, invigorating, and provides professional growth. Association governance is similar, but just different enough from libraries to enable CLA members to increase their skill sets while working with other volunteers from throughout the state. Please consider growing your skills, expanding your professional network, and helping CLA become the premier library professional organization it should and can be.
If you are ready to free the leader in you visit CLA web site and complete the Committee Volunteer Form. Once completed please email to Immediate Past President, Barbara Roberts at barbara.roberts@palmsprings-ca.gov or fax to 916-932-2209. Do you have a co-worker or peer whom you feel would make an excellent CLA leader? Print out the volunteer form and helped them free the leader inside of them too!
Deadline to submit your nomination form is end of business Friday, March 26, 2010.
Ignite your passion, push your boundaries and get involved!
For more information regarding CLA nominations and the election timeline, please visit www.cla-net.org
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 2:03 PM
Potrero Branch Library Reopened March 6
Library renovation includes new rear windows with spectacular city views
San Francisco Public Library celebrated the reopening of the Potrero Branch Library on Saturday March 6 - marking the 14th completed library project in the city's Branch Library Improvement Program. Located at 1616 20th St. in San Francisco, the renovated Potrero Branch Library added 33 percent more space for neighborhood library services.
Hundreds of residents attended the grand reopening celebration which kicked off with Chinese lion dancers at the renovated branch. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held with City Librarian Luis Herrera, State Sen. Mark Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Department of Public Works Director Ed Reiskin, Library Commission President Jewelle Gomez and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library's Donna Bero.
The renovation of the Potrero branch included seismic retrofitting to make the building safer in the event of an earthquake and accessibility improvements to meet ADA requirements. A new elevator and an additional staircase were added to access the new program room, which can accommodate Library classes and events as well as after-hours activities for the neighborhood. The creation of an inviting brightly lit children's area with an interactive Play-to-Learn wall and a new designated teen area were also part of the refurbishment. The renovation was designed by the Library Design Studio in the City's Bureau of Architecture in the Department of Public Works.
A centerpiece of the branch library is a new sculpture suspended above the library's main staircase, here and past here by artist Gina Telcocci. The abstract sculpture has many layers of meaning, referencing the unique natural and cultural history of the Potrero Hill neighborhood.
Potrero is the 14th library project to be completed under the Branch Library Improvement Program, which is funded by a $105.9 million bond measure passed by voters in November 2000. The program is supporting the renovation of16 branch libraries and the construction of eight new library buildings around the City. Project costs for the Potrero Branch Library totaled about $5.4 million.
Over the past two years, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library has been working in partnership with neighborhood residents and communities to raise funds, awareness and support for the branch improvements. Friends, together with the Potrero Library Campaign Committee, will contribute approximately $500,000 towards the branch renovations to pay for furnishings, fixtures and equipment -expenses not covered by the bond. For more information on how to support the Potrero Library Campaign, please contact Mary Abler at (415) 626-7512 ext. 107 or mary.abler@friendssfpl.org.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Michelle Jeffers
Public Relations Officer
San Francisco Public Library
The San Francisco Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and helps supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 2:02 PM
Shelving Books in the Village Green
I'm not a librarian - yet. Rather, I am just another MLIS student (at the newly minted Cal State Northridge/University of North Texas program) paying his way through library school by working as a library page - one of those legions of worker bees whose primary responsibility is to shelve the endless sea of books that are checked in and out of my library. You may have seen me puttering along as I push my little cart around at my library, a rather large facility on the West Side of Los Angeles. It's interesting to note that in the comparatively brief time I have been working there (and it's only been about four years, which is a mere drop in the sea compared with the eras that some folks) I have myself noticed the pace of business has increased almost exponentially.
It's quite surprising to me how increasingly busy the library is getting - not just with folks using the computers to create resumes and whatnot, but with people just stopping by to utilize the library's other services. We have often heard from library nay-sayers that "libraries are dying." They're "dying" to get in, more like. One look at the check out desk, or the rows and rows of trucks sardine-can packed with returned books waiting to be reshelved, will tell you a different story. The Great Recession may have done a sad number for the muffin bakeries and Kroch plastic shoe shops up and down the 3rd Street Promenade, but at the library, we're in boom times. Patrons who a few years ago would just buy the new Danielle Steel novel or rent "Star Trek" at Blockbuster now troop into the library to check them out for the week for free. Folks too impoverished for any sort of entertainment swarm the library to hang out and peruse the shelves and chat (until they get shooshed quiet by a librarian).
"Pardon me, but where is Hitler?" was the very first question a patron asked me. He was a rather heavy set fellow in a sweaty tank top. He had a bald head, which he made up for with a shaggy beard that stretched almost to the flesh of his hairy chest, and he carried a rather threatening walking stick. The query took me aback, as really it should anyone with any sense. But after a minute, I realized he was looking for books about Hitler, which was an issue I was much more capable of addressing. "Why, you will want to check 921 H, sir," was my answer, sending him on his way to the biographies.
One thing about working at a library which surprised me is that I am never bored, not even when I am performing the most mundane of tasks. You see, libraries really are the village greens of the modern urban world - and all aspects of life and all classes of people ultimately pass through the village green. Not too long ago, I was working as the monitor of the library's Computer Commons, which contains 70 computers for the use of the general public (almost all stations are busy almost all the time).
An old man hobbled in and, tremulously leaning on his cane to peer over my little desk, he told me that he had never used a computer before but he had been told that there was a website on which he could see photos of himself in a band that he had performed with, oh, some sixty years ago.
It was no hardship to sign the gentleman onto a computer and then do a quick Google search of the his name, discovering with ease the website, in Dutch, showing the photos of a World War II era Big Band. There, in the back row of one photograph, holding a trombone in his hands, was the fellow (some 60 years earlier), dressed in a dazzling white suit and smiling a toothy smile full of youth and talent. Seeing the image of himself, as separated by an ocean of time, the elderly man's eyes welled up, but he smiled. "Ahh, I was so young, so young," the gentleman sighed. I printed out a copy of the photo and he tottered away with it, well pleased.
Mind you, not all library encounters are so pleasantly resolved. Indeed, many can't be resolved at all. The other day, while shelving some books, I passed a small table in the reading room. Two elderly ladies were seated around the table, across from each other. They were both fairly plump, with snowy white hair framing their apple round faces. Their table was piled with books and papers and both ladies were enrapt with their reading. However, what was odd was that each women was also holding up a folder to block the view of the other's face. Other than that, they were paying no attention to each other.
I whisperingly asked one of the security guards what was up with the strange looking pair, and I was promptly treated to a fascinating tale of blistering hate. It turns out the two women didn't know each other - but they had gotten into a fierce argument about something trivial. The guard had suggested that one of the women might want to move to a different table to read, but this merely sparked off another heated argument, as neither lady wanted to relinquish the high ground of the trophy table. The lady who left the table would clearly be heralded as the loser in the fight. And so, they women instead elected rather pathetically to wait each other out.
"You see," one lady even told the security guard. "I have taped the 23 Psalm to the other side of this folder so she will see it and know she is being a devil!" I walked around the table and surreptitiously took a glance, determining that, yes, she had taped a copy of a Psalm to the folder, albeit not the part that calls for "turning the other cheek."
I returned to my shelving, leaving the two women sitting there, locked in their war of eternal karmic hate. And so they just sat there, on and on. One suspects they would have sat there right up until the end of time and the stars fell from the skies, too, just reading and putting folders in each other's faces, except, of course, the library closed at 5:30 and they had to go home.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Paul Birchall
SLIS CSUN/University of North Texas (2011)
Posted by claadmin at 2:01 PM
March 17, 2010
THK U FR TXT'g
Friday in the airport en route to ALA. Something's different. I feel so relaxed...
I'm surrounded by people tapping away at their laptops and other mobile devices. This time last year, it seemed like everyone in the airport was screaming personal messages into phones. I am a ham-fisted typist and unlikely to ever text, but I am filled with gratitude to texters and those who invented the technology. Public places are back to the same subdued roar we had before the advent of the cell phone.
Another reason I am grateful to texters is their frequent typos. I admit to the occasional typo myself, but given the glorious proliferation of texted malapropisms I have recently received, my self esteem on that front has improved. (There is one school of thought I sometimes embrace, that most people suffer from an excess rather than a lack of self esteem, nevertheless, it feels good.)
At ALA, in every meeting I attended, people around me broke out their trusty little devices and appeared to be furiously taking notes. But who knows - with those itty-bitty screens you can't tell what people are looking at unless you really invade their personal space. Indeed, one proposed program I heard about was to be on managing staff use of social networking...I guess it depends which side you are on, the manager or managee, but some people will no doubt enjoy this aspect of hand held devicees.
On the other hand, I keep getting emails from people I don't want to offend who want to be my friend on Facebook. In order not to offend them, I say yes, but I never have time to look at my Facebook account. How do other people do it? If we all adhere to what various pundits assure us is the bare minimum, then on top of a 40 hour work week, 56 hours of sleep a week, at least six hours a week of vigorous exercise, flossing twice a day, volunteering regularly, keeping up with the joneses in leisure and professional reading, cooking and eating ethically and making sure to spend time with good friends and one's inner adult - well, what time is left for social media?
While grateful to the TXTrs around me, I also enjoyed a few days of being unconnected myself, and thus unable to be confronted by my woeful dereliction of all those great things you can spend all day doing online without actually accomplishing anything.
It's all about choice, but one thing is sure: hand held devices are now mainstream and not using them will soon be an eccentricity.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Eve Nyren
CLA Member
Posted by claadmin at 2:00 PM
Call for Presentation Proposals
CLA is seeking presenters who are professionals, paraprofessionals, exhibitors, or friends of libraries to submit proposals for concurrent sessions and/or institutes. To submit a presentation proposal, please visit http://proposals.cla-net.org/ for more information. The deadline for submission is Monday, April 19, 2010.
Dear Library Community,
As previously announced California Library Association (CLA) and California School Library Association (CSLA) are collaborating this year to bring the library community one joint conference. We will be "Navigating the New" together! Librarians and library supporters from all segments of the profession and all parts of the state will be coming to Sacramento November 12-15, 2010 to learn, network and enjoy.
As it relates to the call for proposal process, CLA and CSLA will be collecting presentation proposals separately through our respective online submission forms. Once the call for proposals process closes for each association (approximately 30 days from each launch date), both conference committees will work collaboratively to compare submissions with the intent to provide a broad range of topics but at the same time minimize any direct duplication of session topics.
Our goals this year are to:
- Inform, delight and engage the attendees
- Create the "Must Attend" Conference of the Year!
- Provide opportunities for conversation among attendees beyond normal networking
- Provide a hands-on experience as part of the learning process
- Provide sessions that address the growth of social media and technology
- Extend content beyond the walls of the conference center
Please keep these goals in mind as you submit your proposal for consideration.
Procedures for submitting a concurrent session proposal:
- Session proposals are accepted online only.
- All fields with an asterisk (*) must be completed or the proposal will not be considered.
- Session titles must clearly communicate the content of the program.
- Concurrent Sessions are 60 minutes in length.
- Institutes are either two or six hours in length.
- Spell out abbreviations or acronym for institutions, school names, job titles, or cities.
- Proposal must be submitted by Monday, April 19, 2010. Proposals submitted after that date will not be considered.
Please do not miss the deadline for proposals for the CLA/CSLA Joint Conference November 12-15, at the Sacramento Convention Center. We need your proposal submitted by Monday, April 19, 2010. All submitters will be notified of their proposal's status by Tuesday, June 1, 2010.
Please visit the proposal information link at http://proposals.cla-net.org/ for all the information. If you have any questions about topics, please contact our program chair, Mary Menzel at mmenzel@calbook.org. Contact Gretel MacLeod at gretelm@cla-net.org or by toll-free phone at the CLA office at (877) 481-3298 for assistance if you encounter any difficulties with the submission process.
Finally, remember that being a presenter is a great way to show your administrators the value of your attendance and will also help defray the costs of attending. CLA member presenters receive free registration for the day of their presentation.
We look forward to receiving your proposal.
With best wishes,
Dana Christy
2010 CLA Conference Chair
Kim Bui-Burton
2010 CLA President
Posted by claadmin at 11:36 AM
March 8, 2010
Register Now for CLA's Spring Fling Events!
Fling yourself into Spring with the California Library Association's 2nd Annual Professional Development and Networking program series.
This year's Spring Fling programs include workshops, cultural and social events, as well as panel discussions. Events take place online in addition to eight cities, ranging from San Diego to Sacramento.
While attending CLA's Spring Fling programs you will meet new people, learn new skills, and spend time with colleagues and friends who share your interests. Visit the Spring Fling website to find the program that's right for you!
Discounts on registration are available for CLA members while further savings have been made for library students.
On behalf of CLA's staff and volunteers, we hope to see you at a Spring Fling program!
List of 2010 CLA Spring Fling Programs
March
- Betwixt, Befuddled and Be"Tween"
April
- The Internet Public Library: Opportunities for Participation
- Religion & Public Libraries: Do You Dewey 200?
- SCCTP Basic Serials Cataloging & Holding Workshops
May
- Best Practices for Successful Computer Literacy Workshops for Adult Spanish Speakers
- Angel Island Immigration Station Tour
- Baby, Preschool, Bilingual and Spanish Storytimes Showcase!
- Career Development Workshop: Embracing the Past, Celebrating the Future
- New Developments in Cataloging Practices
June
- Will LIS Graduate Students Accept Coursework in 3D Immersive Spaces?
- Taking Charge of Your Career: Resume Writing, Interview Skills, and Finding a Job that's Right for You
Posted by claadmin at 9:25 AM
March 4, 2010
2010 California Summer Reading Program's Training Workshop Video
Please visit the 2010 Summer Reading Workshop page to view this year's summer reading training workshop and find information on:
- setting the scene and decorating the library;
- programming ideas for children, teens, and adults, including storytimes, book discussions, games, crafts, environmental programming, and programming on a budget;
- offsite summer reading programs;
- teen volunteers; and
- planning your adult summer reading program.
The workshop is divided up by topic for ease of viewing, and powerpoint presentations and handouts are also available for download.
If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback on the videos, please email Natalie Cole at ncole@cla-net.org. For full information on the 2010 California Summer Reading Program, please visit http://www.cla-net.org/summer-reading.
The workshop took place on November 5, 2009, at the Arthur F. Turner Community Library in West Sacramento, a branch of Yolo County Library. It was presented by CLA in partnership with the NorthNet Library System.
Thank you to the members of CLA's 2010 California Summer Reading Program steering committee for preparing and presenting our workshops, and to Infopeople for hosting the videos on their server.
The California Summer Reading Program is a project of the California Library Association, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Submitted by:
Natalie Cole, PhD
Programs Director
California Library Association
Posted by claadmin at 10:57 AM
February 18, 2010
President's Column
Driving to work this past week felt like a marathon run - dodging Yield and Danger signs, maneuvering around potholes (growing deeper by the day) and rough patches, looking out for other drivers and walking distractions (Will that man on a cell phone notice that he's starting to cross against the red light? No!). When a car paused at a busy intersection to let me slip in, with a nod and a wave, however, my stressful morning lightened and the sun seemed to shine a little brighter. For a moment I felt as though I had an ally on the road, my breathing slowed down and my heart eased.
With my Library Director's hat on, life in California libraryland in 2010 sometimes feels like running that gauntlet. For many of us heading into even tighter budget seasons this spring it can seem that we are being asked to do the impossible. Cut more, cut further...and then start thinking about doing even more with less in the coming years. While we rethink and reduce, our communities' need for our services and resources grows. We know that public libraries are truly "first responders" (thank you, former ALA President Jim Rettig) for families, students, seniors, the un- and under-employed in our cities, towns and counties. We know that public, school, academic and special libraries provide essential "information infrastructure" support for community, education and business activities and success. We are our communities' guides, teachers and allies.
I live in the central California coastal town of Pacific Grove, where the local city library has suffered tremendous budget cuts and is now open four days for 24 hours a week. As I mentioned in my inaugural speech, a local property tax measure dedicated to the Library was on the ballot two days after the conference ended. 65.91% of the voters approved the $96 per year parcel tax; however, it failed to achieve the 66.67% vote required to pass, losing by 30 to 35 votes. I can't tell you how disheartening that felt to me, as a resident who values libraries and the public good - and as someone who has had my life changed by what the library makes possible.
Fast forward to Saturday, February 6 - a rainy morning in Pacific Grove. Over 100 residents of all ages met together for a Library Summit - using the "Open Space" model of gathering input and sharing ideas. The interest, enthusiasm and support was palpable, as was the investment in time, energy and creativity. The results of this meeting will hopefully lead the way for a revitalized library and city. As one attendee shared at the close of the meeting, "With all these ideas and all these people who care, I'm sure the Library will stay open. I'm not going to let it close."
With my California Library Association President's hat on, I send the same message to each of you - members, colleagues, library-serving agencies, organizations and associations. With all that we bring to our work, to our constituents, and our communities, "all these ideas and all these people who care", we will get through these tough times. And working together is definitely better than going alone. I was humming the children's song that I learned so long ago at the Pacific Grove Library storytime - "The more we get together, together, together; the more we get together the happier we’ll be" - as I turned into traffic and sent back a wave to my ally on our shared journey forward. Now I send that wave, and that hope, to all of you!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
The Monterey Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:58 AM
Executive Director's Column
Hello CLA Members!
I know we've barely met, but I'm hoping you wouldn't mind answering a question for me. Why do you choose to be engaged with CLA?
You're already a busy enough as it is. Having one more item on your to-do list some days is - let's face it - exhausting, but still, as an active CLA member, you choose to have one more item to do. When you have some downtime, you choose to spend it reading and sometimes responding to listservs, blogs or tweets. You choose to take time away from your daily routine to attend interest group and/or committee meetings, participate on webinars, and travel to conferences to enhance and expand your knowledge. Why? I know we've barely met, but I'm hoping you wouldn't mind answering a question for me. Why do you choose to be engaged with CLA?
Over the next few months you will receive short member satisfaction surveys to help us better understand the value CLA currently provides and what the opportunities are to not only exceed your expectations, but the California library community's expectations as well.
I want CLA to be the to-do on all of your lists. Thank you in advance for choosing to assist your CLA team in striving to provide the tools and services you expect from your professional association.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Holly Macriss
CLA Executive Director
CLA Members, click here to take a brief survey!
Posted by claadmin at 9:56 AM
ALA Corner
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION MIDWINTER MEETING - Boston, Massachusetts. January 14-19, 2010. Abridged version by Les Kong (ALA Chapter Councilor, California Library Association), based upon Notes by ALA Councilor James Casey.
According to ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels on January 19, 2010, the total registration was higher than expected, reaching 11,095 by Monday, January 18. By comparison, registration for ALA's Midwinter Meeting in 2009 (Denver) was 10,220 by Monday, January 26.
ALAWO (ALA Washington Office) UPDATE: The ALAWO presented a review of issues facing the Library community. ALAWO Executive Director Emily Sheketoff and Lynne Bradley, Director of the Office of Government Relations (OGR), described several emerging opportunities and cautioned that the need for active advocacy is more important now than ever. Bradley discussed how efforts to modify the USA Patriot Act - especially Section 215 - are reaching the point during the next few days where steps will be needed by library advocates to call members of the House-Senate Conference Committee. Senators Feingold and Durbin were noted as firm supporters of ALA positions on this issue.
OGR Associate Director Corey Williams reported that the settlement between Google and authors/publishers concluded in September 2008 has been amended and an ALA Task Force headed by Jim Rettig is investigating the implications for libraries. A final "fairness hearing" is scheduled to be concluded by the courts on February 18, 2010.
OGR Assistant Director Jessica McGilvray reported that the Obama Administration has taken productive steps to make government information more accessible to the public. Miriam Nesbit of the Office of Government Information Services (National Archives Office) is working in cooperation with ALAWO to review complaints about government agencies for not releasing information in a timely manner and also preparing recommendations for improving access to government information so that such measures as Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) will become less necessary.
Emily Sheketoff outlined the huge influx of money that could be headed to empower libraries in many areas - especially rural - to achieve broadband connectivity. Although ALA's own submission for the first round of broadband grants was not successful, OITP has every intention of trying again in round 2 (according to Alan Inouye, Director of OITP) and it is hoped that Libraries will check the "Know Your Stimulus" section of the ALAWO Web site "every day from now to March 15, 2010." Keri McGuire of OITP also discussed the release of information on Round two on January 15, 2010 and urged libraries interested in this development to download OITP's "latest publication, a profile of five library networks that successfully upgraded their broadband connectivity." [http://ala.org/casestudies]
Sheketoff discussed the opportunities faced by libraries upon the possible success of the "Jobs for Main Street Bill" in which $650 million to employ thousands of staff persons for public libraries who will be designated to help our patrons to use our libraries in developing job hunting and career development skills. She urges that we "inundate" the Senate with calls for the passage of our Library segment of this bill.
Sheketoff also explained plans to have a Library Advocacy Day Rally at 11 AM on June 29th in Washington, DC. This rally would be followed by a concerted effort by library advocates to lobby their Congresspersons and Senators on Capitol Hill. She indicated that in consequence of this effort, there will be no Library Legislative Day in 2010, but that this would resume in May 2011. To register for the Rally, contact the ALAWO at http://www.ala.org/lad
COUNCIL I: BARC (Budget Analysis and Review Committee) Chair James Neal reported on the highly skillful fiscal management of ALA during 2009. Anticipated revenue shortfalls for 2009 were addressed with corresponding expense reductions - including the elimination of positions and the use of furloughs. Since the Association ended the FY 2009 with a surplus of several hundred thousand dollars, incentives amounting to about $253,000 were provided to ALA staff as compensation for losses due to furlough days. The net revenue for 2009 General Fund was $213,296. An anticipated shortfall for 2010 based upon the first months of FY 2010 shall be addressed through measures similar to those initiated during 2009. The Endowment Fund Report by Dan Bradbury revealed that through careful management balancing and controlling risk, the Fund achieved market value of $28,680,000 by the end of 2009, and thereby recovered most of the losses that occurred since high point of its value was reached at the end of 2007 of $31.22 million. ALA President Camila Alire discussed the accomplishments of her first six months in office and progress made by her initiative, the ALA Advocacy University, and the establishment of advocacy tool kits for all types of libraries. ALA President-Elect Roberta Stevens highlighted her three initiatives for her Presidential year: (1) Frontline Fundraising training for libraries; (2) efforts by libraries to cultivate authors as library advocates in a program called "Our Authors, Our Libraries;" and (3) a contest by which youngsters will be encouraged to produce film clips for publication on YouTube with the theme "Why I need my Library."
Betty Turock (former ALA President) donated $100,000 for a push to fund the "Spectrum Presidential Initiative: National Initiative for Inclusivity in America's Libraries." Turock spoke about the need for greater diversity in the library profession and backed it up with this generous donation.
ALA-APA COUNCIL: It was reported by Keith Fiels and Rod Hersberger that the Library Support Staff Certification program will commence on January 25, 2010 and hopefully realize sufficient revenue to reverse the downward fiscal direction of ALA-APA. The ALA-APA ended 2009 with a deficit of $15,244 and has failed to repay any portion of the initial $250,000 loaned by ALA for startup back in 2003. The debt has been raised to $275,000 in order to give ALA-APA the opportunity for the Certification Program to establish a sufficient influx of revenue.
COUNCIL II: Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) President Kenton Oliver delivered reports on emerging challenges to our efforts to preserve intellectual freedom and privacy rights and introduced the new Executive Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, Barbara Jones. Rod Hersberger (ALA Treasurer) reported on the current situation of ALA's budget and steps anticipated for FY 2011 to contain what is expected to be another very challenging year of shortfall in revenue and rising costs. Libraries across the country are struggling with limited budgets and this will impact ALA revenues. He warned that one of the largest ongoing expenses is the rising cost of post-retirement health insurance benefits of ALA staff. Programmatic Priorities for 2010 to 2015 were approved unanimously by Council as a guide to Budget preparation for FY2011.
COUNCIL III: It was announced that Kevin Reynolds and J. Linda Williams were elected to the ALA Executive Board for the term 2010-2013. Martin Garnar, Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, reported on current activities of the Committee. A "Resolution in Honor of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund's Fortieth Anniversary" was approved by Council. The Fund had been "...founded in 1970 to help librarians who have been denied employment rights because of their defense of intellectual freedom or because of discrimination." Mario Ascencio, Chair of the ALA Committee on Legislation presented a report and several action items. "Resolution on Transparency and Openness in the Federal Government" was passed unanimously. "Resolution to Support Digital Information Initiatives at the U.S. Government Printing Office" was passed. "Resolution on Universal Access to Broadband" was passed unanimously. Beverly Lynch, Chair of the International Relations Committee presented a "Resolution on Rebuilding Libraries and Archives Damaged or Destroyed by the Earthquake in Haiti (passed unanimously)."
Jim Rettig (former ALA President) gave a brief report from the newly formed Google Book Settlement Task Force. This group will inform ALA Council as to the implications of this Settlement for libraries become more evident. Some programs concerning the Settlement will probably be set for ALA Annual in Washington, DC.
A "Resolution in Support of 2010 Spectrum Presidential Initiative" was passed unanimously. ALA Council remains firmly committed to expanding diversity in the Library profession.
Copies of the final wording of all resolutions an action items from Council Sessions will be posted and available on the ALA website .
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Les Kong
ALA Chapter Councilor
Posted by claadmin at 9:55 AM
Writer-to-Writer Challenge, Part IV
What is the Writer-to-Writer Challenge? Adult literacy learners of the California Library Literacy Services are invited to read a book, any book. It can be fiction or non-fiction, written at any level, and can be a book-on-tape. They then write a letter to the author describing how the book changed their lives.
This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. There are two rounds of judging: In the first round a panel of librarians and literacy specialists carefully selected the finalists in each category. In the second round, groups of learners reviewed the finalists' letters and picked the winner and runners-up in each category.
The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series, concluding with part four with a letter from the "Emerging" winner, who wished to remain anonymous:
Anonymous
Alhambra Civic Center Library
Dear Anne Frank,
Your story touched my heart! Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was sad and painful to hear (on tapes). Tears came to my eyes as I listened and realized my past life was sad and painful too!
You were a young girl hiding in Amsterdam to escape the Nazis in World War II. But for me - living in North Korea - I was a child running away from Communism during the Korean War.
My mother passed away when I was five. About two years later, I was escaping to South Korea with my father and a bunch of people - refugees. We were hiding in caves, behind bushes, crossing mountains and rivers, sometimes with shots passing close to our heads and sides.
My father carried me on his back across water and when my feet were sore and tired. I had no shoes! In some villages, there were camps. We stayed in tents, and they gave us a ball of rice and a "pill" of salt to eat.
Once my father was taken away by soldiers with guns to become part of the North Korean Army, but he escaped at night. Then, we went farther south by boat, train, and, at last, walking across a frozen fiver to a safe place in South Korea.
We both had strong and brave fathers, Anne. They protected us. You were not happy to be missing school. I liked school too, but went for just a short time in second grade. After the war my father remarried. My step-mother and father had three children and needed me to help care for them, cook, carry water, feed farm animals, and do other farm work; but I wanted to go to school!
I married an American soldier when I was 23. I am lucky to be an American citizen now and learning English at Alhambra Library in California.
You were such a smart girl, Anne - a very smart girl! I feel bad about you dying in the concentration camp; but, I say, "Thank you!" to God for saving my life and giving us your book to read.
Thank you again!
Anonymous
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:52 AM
A New Deal For Bernal, A New Day For Bernal Library
The Works Progress Administration, (renamed the Work Projects Administration in 1939) was good to the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. It provided much-needed construction jobs which created the Aztec Street steps, the grading and paving of Bernal Heights Boulevard and the St. Mary's Park playground. Most importantly, the excavating, grading and wall-building of the Bernal Recreation Center's field and playground literally paved the way for the construction of the neighborhood's jewel in the crown: the Bernal Heights Branch Library.
A second New Deal of sorts, in the name of the City's Branch Library Improvement Program, employed trades people all over San Francisco for the past several years. It's interesting how today's economic reality parallels that earlier era and once again the building of civic structures symbolizes hope for people.
In Bernal Heights, CDX Builders of San Francisco was awarded the library job and its crew steadily worked on the renovation for almost two years, bringing architect Andrew Maloney's vision to life. The renovated and restored Bernal Heights Branch Library reopened to the public on Jan. 30, 2010.
Maloney works with the Library Design Studio of the City's Bureau of Architecture and his design for the renovation was an intelligent and thoughtfully elegant response to the original building, which was designed by the well known and significant local architect Frederick H. Meyer. The renovation, as the original building, will clearly stand the test of time. Maloney understands the bones of the building and is honored them through his work. This dusty architectural gem was being improved through his careful lead and the crew's steady effort.
The interior workmanship is of superior quality: wood veneers painstakingly matched through careful refinishing, thoughtful use of tiling and flooring and creative use of lighting and ceiling finishes. The Beaux Arts staircase seamlessly dovetails with existing walls. The entire newly installed lower floor, which houses the public restrooms, children's room, community meeting room, and staff rooms has detailing which is fully integrated with the upper floor - not an easy feat, considering it was once a basement.
The front exterior façade now provides an access ramp which is gracefully sculpted to include public seating. There are new lighting fixtures which echo nearby streetlamps and the era of the original building. A small veranda facing the corner provides a comfortable place for neighbors to converse and watch passersby. The south façade incorporates a second access ramp into the Children's Room which does not intrude upon the architectural lines of the building.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Lisa Dunseth
Bernal Heights Branch Manager
Posted by claadmin at 9:50 AM
Every Day is LegDay
The Contra Costa County Library Commission has always strongly advocated for the Public Library Fund (PLF). During an advocacy work shop at the 2009 CLA Conference, someone quipped that for me "every day is Leg Day." How true!
For three years, our Commission took a resolution to the Mayors' Conference to urge the Governor and legislators to preserve and fund PLF. The resolutions always passed unanimously Thus, all 19 mayors have been on record supporting PLF, and many mayors have also sent their own letters.
In 2006/07, I took resolutions to both California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the League of California Cities for them to support PLF. Both passed their boards. Also, many counties added PLF to their long list of legislative priorities.
At the December Mayors' Conference (held at the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center), I congratulated one of my city council members on almost being mayor. Then in 30 seconds, I explained PLF and asked if I were to draft a letter to the governor for him, would he sign it. "Sure Al," he replied. As such, his letter went out in early January.
At the January Mayors' Conference, I introduced my self to Assembly Member Nancy Skinner (District 14). She is a library supporter, but at the time, was not familiar with PLF. However, after our brief conversation, Assembly Member Skinner is now a PLF supporter. Furthermore, I followed up with a letter giving her more background on PLF and the monetary amounts for the library jurisdictions in her district. Also at the Mayors' Conference, I talked with my state senator and his letter went out on January 28th.
Lastly, I attended the Board of Supervisors reorganization meeting and the new chair is sending a letter. And ditto for my own B.O.S. member.
So what's the secret to being a library advocate? There is no secret. Go where your elected officials gather and agree to draft the letters for them!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan B. Smith
Library Commissioner
Contra Costa County Library
The Contra Costa County Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:49 AM
Legal Self-Help Websites
In this economic downturn, courts are seeing a rise in the number of lawsuits being filed. With layoffs, furlough days, and mounting debt, many people just cannot afford to hire an attorney. An increasing number of people are handling their own cases, writing their own legal documents, and conducting their own legal research. California's County Law Libraries' (CCCLL) primary mission is to provide Californians with free access to legal information, and to serve as a valuable resource in these types of situations. However, many users turn first to the Internet and/or their local public library when starting a legal research project. There is an abundance of legal information online, with varying degrees of credibility and accuracy. This abundance can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the law. For those of you faced with these types of legal reference questions, CCCLL Law Librarians offer this short list of legal self-help websites for general California legal information.
A great starting place for many people is the California State Court's Self-Help website. This website provides detailed background information, as well as procedural information, guidance on finding court forms, and tips for presenting your case in court. Guides are available for a large number of common legal issues, such as divorce, small claims, and evictions. Included in these guides are links to interactive versions of the required court forms.
A similar online self-help center is provided by the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Although this website is intended for those with cases before the Santa Clara Court, much of the background and procedural information, and information about forms, is relevant to those with cases in any California Superior Court.
Good websites for generating court documents in subject areas such as family law, small claims, and evictions are EZ Legal File (http://www.ezlegalfile.org) and I-CAN! Legal (http://www.icandocs.org/). Both websites ask users a series of simple questions, and use the answers provided to produce forms that can be filed with a court. The availability of these websites and subject areas covered varies by county.
Users looking for primary legal resources rather than self-help websites can conduct some research online. Primary resources, the law itself, are of three types: statutory, regulatory, and case law. California statutory law, which is passed by the Legislature and known as the California Codes, is available at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.calaw. California regulatory law, which is promulgated by Executive Agencies and known as the California Code of Regulations, is available at http://www.calregs.com. Both websites offer fully keyword-searchable versions of the law.
California case law is also available online. The full text of California Supreme and Appellate Court decisions are available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions. This website, powered by Lexis, provides very robust search features, allowing users to retrieve known cases and to search for cases by keyword. Sophisticated search limits are available.
Librarian-created mini-courses in legal research are available as well. CCCLL offers "Basic Legal Research: A Mini Research Class" at http://www.publiclawlibrary.org/research.html.
The Southern California Association of Law Libraries (SCALL) offers a free, full text online resource, "Locating the Law: A Handbook for Non-Law Librarians" on the SCALL web site at http://www.aallnet.org/chapter/scall/locating.htm.
CCCLL provides free chat reference service as part of the California AskNow project. Users can access this live chat service from the "Ask the Law Librarian" link on every page of the California State Court's Self-Help website, from links on many public law library websites, and directly at http://www.247ref.org/portal/access_law3.cfm. Although Law Librarians cannot provide legal advice, they can direct users to reliable sources of legal information, both online and at the user's local law library.
Legal self-help sites can provide a good start for legal research. However, users should understand that self-help websites are no substitute for legal advice or legal services. For users looking for more assistance or legal advice, LawHelpCalifornia (http://www.LawHelpCalifornia.org) offers free referrals to legal aid and court services, sliding scale legal programs, and lawyer referral services.
In addition to these online self-help resources, California is fortunate to have a county law library system. Link to your county's public law library at: http://www.publiclawlibrary.org/find.html.
These County Law Libraries are a valuable resource for self-represented litigants. County Law Libraries provide free access to the law, both in print and electronically, as well as trained and helpful staff to help users navigate the often complex world of legal research.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Karen M. Lutke, San Mateo County Law Library;
Mary Pinard, Sacramento County Public Law Library,
and John A. Zorbas, Butte County Public Law Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:47 AM
Long Live the E-Book! (TAX the E-Book!)
Apple's recent introduction of its new iPad e-book reader really got me thinking about e-books vis-à-vis the future of libraries. There are so many exciting possibilities for ways libraries could incorporate these devices into our mission, but there is one question that really needs to be dealt with before we can have a thorough discussion about how an "e-book economy" will work. That one question is this: Should e-books be taxed?
I must first admit a bias in my writing this article. Since I work at a public university, I have a keen interest in seeing a healthy state budget. And by "healthy" I don't just mean "big." I mean one that doesn't fluctuate as wildly as our current budget does. So, as I'm sure most of the readers of this newsletter do also, I watch the budget process (and read Richard Berta's emails about library funding) each year with a certain degree of trepidation and a great deal of frustration.
This year was very interesting because Governor Schwarzennegger convened a Tax Panel in September (euphemistically called the "Commission on the Twenty-First Century Economy") which took a hard look at the revenue side of the budget picture. There was one part of this commission's report that really hit close to home for libraries: the tax-exempt status of online content such as e-books. In my library, I have seen such a decline in purchasing of taxable print titles that it has really made me start to wonder about a few things: How long can this go on? Are libraries are in danger of partially cannibalizing their own budgets by moving all of their content to non-taxable media? Why does it make sense for us to pay sales taxes on CD's and the dead tree versions of books but not on albums from iTunes and e-books from Amazon?
Of course, I also look at this issue as a reader, because as a reader of e-books, I know that I would rather pay some taxes with the knowledge that I can expect a certain degree of service should there be anything wrong with my e-book. Just look at what happened last July when Amazon decided to pull copies of George Orwell's 1984 from the Kindles of unsuspecting consumers. Where were these consumers supposed to go for remediation in this case? A furloughed court system funded by the sales tax revenues from printed books?
In his state of the state speech, Governor Arnold Schwarzennegger made the point that "144,000 taxpayers pay almost 50 percent of all personal income taxes," demonstrating a problem with current tax policy in California. He went on to say "Now, think about that -- 38 million Californians have to rely on 144,000 people for their schools, their fire protection, their health care, their public safety and so many other services." It seems to me the same argument could be made for our current policy on exempting e-books from the sales tax.
If we think about all of the things a state government will need to accomplish for an "e-book economy," why should the e-books rely on the diminishing revenues from sales taxes on print materials?
Putting my example of the court system aside: How is the State of California supposed to fund things like broadband internet access, smart grids, or renewable energy projects to power these computers and e-book readers if the revenue only comes from an increasingly dwindling number of print materials?
Yes, I understand that tax policy is a complicated subject, but we as librarians and consumers do not take a look at this issue, who will? The publishers? I doubt it. Legislators? Don't hold your breath.
When Schwarzennegger's tax commission released its findings none of the legislators (predictably) went anywhere with it. So where does that leave us? Will libraries continue to be starved of resources because there isn't the political will to start taxing e-books? Or will we take the lead on this matter and advocate for a sustainable e-book tax policy in California?
All I would hope readers to take away from this article is this: The next time you see a receipt for an e-book from iTunes or Amazon that says "Tax= $0.00," just remember that you get what you pay for.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Tyler Rogers
Library Assistant, San Diego State University
Posted by claadmin at 9:45 AM
Making a Difference, One Teen at a Time
For the past three years I have had the great opportunity to be part of The Big Read. Our library has received the grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to put on a community wide reading initiative. The NEA provides many materials and statistics about why doing such an initiative can make a difference in your community and eventually the country. One of the target populations that the NEA points out as having a low literacy rate is teens. I know that that is a big shock to any librarian, but we wanted to see what we could do to help make a difference in the teens that live in our area.
We decided last year that we wanted to take the program out to the Juvenile Correction Center (JCC) that is located in our area. After all, this is a large group of troubled teens all together, what better place to start.
For most people this may be a little daunting but for us it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The hardest part for most people in creating a partnership like this is to find the golden contact, that one person who is on the inside who firmly believes in the program that you would like to take to their students. Luckily for us we had a contact already and so we were ready to take the next step. We had to develop a program that would be interesting for these troubled teens. The book that we had selected as part of the NEA's grant was To Kill A Mockingbird. As part of the program we went out and gave every student and staff member a copy of the book and a reader's guide. We learned a lot from that initial visit. We learned that kids who are in jail read a lot; they also don't like the fact that in the outside world, people are trying to ban books that they like. At this first visit we handed out approximately 150 books to their students and staff members.
The program was very well received. The staff later reported to us that there has been a positive effect that has manifested itself to everyone involved. By taking the program out to more than just the students and putting a copy of the same book into everyone's hands, from the teacher's and students to the line staff, doctors, nurses, group leaders, and secretaries. This wide spread contribution to literature made it possible for everyone involved to be able to talk about the book and the overall picture that it presents. This has allowed the staff to discuss with the students different problems that they encounter while using the book as the foundation for their discussion. Giving a book to each student made them cherish it a little more than they would have otherwise. These students and teachers have little and so having something that is theirs made a great impact on the students and made it all the more personal to them. By giving the book to everyone in their "community" it put everyone on the same page and made it so that everyone they had an encounter with was on the same page and had something in common to talk about.
One story that gave the students an opportunity to relate to someone else is the story of Idaho 7th District Court Judge Greg Moeller. He visited the students and told them how this book made him decide to become a lawyer and subsequently a judge. This story gave the students the opportunity to see how an ordinary book can change a person's life forever. Allowing the students to read this book, let them fall in love with it and see how it could have the power to change lives gives them the opportunity for life long application.
The goal of our program was to provide a step that would enable those students to change their lives. Teens are reading less and less and consequently there are teens that find ways to occupy their time that lands them into trouble. Teens who read more are better citizens throughout their entire lifetime. While this was the first time we had worked with this group, we feel that the effort we expended has given us a much better result than we could have hoped for.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Ray Lusk
Madison Library District, ID
Posted by claadmin at 9:43 AM
The Qilin
Like the mythical Chinese Qilin, a library is a different creature seen from each angle.
A qilin has a single horn on its forehead, a yellow belly, a multicoloured back, the hooves of a horse, the body of a deer, and the tail of an ox. Gentle of disposition, it never walks on verdant grass or eats living vegetation.
Public libraries are almost always part of a larger public entity - city, county, state or federal. They are a department or division of that entity, subject to all its rules and regulations. If the parent institution requires all payments over five dollars to be receipted in duplicate, library staff must do that whether or not the customer wants a receipt. Being part of a public entity, a library depends on public funding.
Libraries are like retail operations in that they have inventory, staff and services. People come into libraries expecting service at least as agreeable as they receive at a good retail store. This is different from what people may expect from other government offices. My husband did not have a great experience getting permits to fix our garage, but that did not really surprise us. Like retail operations, libraries have a lot of manual, time sensitive work behind the scenes. A county employee from another department who worked briefly at my Library told me "I never saw people work so hard!" Unlike a retail operation, in a library each successful transaction does not directly earn money. However, statistics showing, for example, many well attended story times and many items borrowed may help when asking for public funding.
At various libraries where I have worked, I have heard customers express the idea that library services including borrowing materials, enjoying materials in the library, and benefiting from children's programs are rights enjoyed by the community for free. This explains why there is often strong community resistance to cutting services or closing branches. It seems almost as if the library is seen like a church where all are welcome. Few other government departments arouse such sentiment.
The Qilin is gentle on the environment, and libraries are, too. Libraries are one of the original recyclers.
Since the Qilin was a mythical beast, it was never actually seen except in claims for the past. The Qilin's presence signalled a virtuous ruler, so scholars routinely brought up its absence as a sign of the decadence of their living times. But what if it had appeared? Would people say, this beast is a line item we don't really need, it has four legs and eats hay so give it to a cattle rancher. who surely has all the expertise needed? That's about what privitizing libraries is.
In my work as a member of the ALA International Relations Committee and International Relations Round Table, I have often been reminded of the fact that the United States' public libraries are seen arounnd the world as shining examples; librarians in other nations still see the U.S. as a leader in librarianship. That is not true in all other arenas. Will we let our libraries become mythical beasts that once existed in testimony to enlightened government, a long, long time ago?
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Eve Nyren
CLA Member
Posted by claadmin at 9:41 AM
Strategies for Managing Information in the 21st Century
"There are two basic rules of life: Change is inevitable, and everybody resists change." (Craine 2000) Changing professions or changes within a profession often runs a close second to losing a loved one. Deathlike feelings of change are now only a mouse click away. Librarians and Information professionals know that because of new technology, change manifests itself in the sheer volume of information which accumulates within organizations and among its professional ranks. Both struggle to manage the myriad of documents they produce and find in order to turn them into useful knowledge. Managing that change requires addressing the needs of the organization and its professionals as well as caring for the psychological impact change has on people within the organization. Understanding the newer fields of RIM and PKM plus the psychology of change is crucial for today's information professionals
Resource Information Management or RIM addresses the need for information management at an organizational level. In 2007 the digital information universe was 281 exabytes (1exabyte = 1 billion gigabytes), and in 2011 it will be 10 times that figure. (Weller - Collison 2008) Coupled with compliance issues, legal, international and societal expectations managing information growth is critical. Proper information handling can make a difference between winning and losing court cases, being fined for non compliance and keeping abreast of international competition. RIM monitors events in the business environment and creates advantageous information policies within the organization.
Organizations are now turning to a field known as Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) to address the information needs of its professionals. It is all about organizing and capturing the personal information and knowledge used by professionals who make organizational level decisions. Phil Schnyder sees the process as two steps. "Knowledge workers need to find ways to gather information wherever it may come from, but they also need to find ways to get back to it and use that information." (Miller 2005) His company ask Sam has created software that allows users to systematically gather information and organize it for personal use. This program is very similar to Vannevar Bush's visionary idea of a machine called a Memex (1945) which allowed a person to cross link ideas and use them when needed.
RIM and PKM allow people and organizations to survive and hopefully thrive in a harsh changing environment. Unfortunately, implementing these ideas can be hard on people in the organization. Gearing up for change includes gearing up the workforce. There are four processes that people in an organization typically go through before accepting change. Wise management is able to shepherd its employees through the "Comfort Zone," "The 'No' Zone", "The Chasm" and "The 'Go' Zone". (Craine 2000) RIM, PKM and solid understanding of the psychology of human nature are just some of the tools we will use as we step past the threshold of the 21st Century.
References
Weller-Collison, A., Kahn, R., & Wescott II, W. (2008, September). Skills for Building Success in the Electronic Business Environment. Information Management Journal, 42(5), 50-58. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Miller, R. (2005, November). The Evolution of Knowledge Management. (cover story). EContent, 28(11), 38-41. Retrieved August 26, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Craine, K. (2007, September). Managing the Cycle of Change. Information Management Journal,41(5), 44-50. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Shawn Stamm
CSUN/UNT MLIS Student
Posted by claadmin at 9:38 AM
Triplet Watch (Plus One!)
I am the mother of triplets plus one. I am also an attorney who works for the Los Angeles Public Library as a part-time messenger clerk. I have always loved books, music, and other media. The library has always been a favorite place to frequent, and now I get to go there every day, for work. I started with this job so that I could still be available to help my children with homework and pick them up from school.
I enjoy working there so much that I decided to apply to library school. I am now in my second semester and wondering "why, oh why, did I think I could so much." What is most interesting is to observe the effect this is having on my children.
My four daughters "play" library at home. They even play library when they have their friends over. I have a bookcase filled with books just for them. It is interesting to watch them tell their patron friends how many books they are allowed to check out, or advise which books they might enjoy better, or to tell their friends to use their "library voice" when talking. They even use the dining room as a "community room" and lead art projects.
I've also noticed an increase in the amount of books they read, the level of books that they read, and the variety of subjects between them. My oldest triplet enjoys fiction as well as non-fiction books about the weather. My youngest triplet enjoys fiction books about animals as well as non-fiction books about drawing, art, and animals. They are eight years old. My youngest daughter, age six, enjoys reading anything and constantly reads above her grade level, "borrowing" her older sisters' books. My oldest triplet will also grab my graduate books and articles from school and attempt to read those. I must admit, she can pronounce all the words properly, although then we have to grab a dictionary and clear the meanings so she will not go past any misunderstood words. I usually keep those books out of reach, as it means more work for this mommy. I am already short on time.
By now, you might be wondering about the middle triplet. What does she like to read? Well, getting her to read was quite difficult. I took her to the library, and she would spend hours picking a book, putting it back, picking another one, putting it back, and finally coming home with nothing. Eventually, after several trips, we found a book that she liked. The end result was well worth it.
She came to me one night with a look of awe on her face. "Mommy, mommy, can I tell you something?" I nodded my head. "I feel like I'm in the book; like I'm there." Goosebumps erupted all over me. My daughter who couldn't stand reading had discovered the magic of entering another world. She is hooked for life.
This is why I want to be a librarian. From my home life to my work life, I am helping people and making a difference. Every day in the library, somebody discovers something, learns something, or has an epiphany. Every day, I am a part of that. I cannot imagine a better career than to become a librarian.
Now back to my studies so that I can make this dream come true!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Elizabeth Brenda Marshall
CSUN/UNT MLIS Student
Elizabeth Brenda Marshall is the mother of four children, works for the Los Angeles Public Library as a messenger clerk, is a licensed attorney in the State of California, and a graduate student at University of North Texas via the online program, California Cohort, in conjunction with California State University, Northridge. She is a member of CLA, SLA, ALA, and AALL. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Posted by claadmin at 9:37 AM
UNT and CSUN Partners in New MLIS Program
The University of North Texas Department of Library and Information Sciences and the California State University, Northridge have established a cohort program in the Greater Los Angeles area which began in Fall 2009. Combining the experience in offering the MLIS of UNT with the excellent facilities at CSUN's Oviatt Library, this program has provided an opportunity for a cohort of students to begin their studies.
Students attend an intensive four-day Institute during each of the first two semesters which are held at the Oviatt Library. University of North Texas faculty teach the classes at both Fall and Spring Institutes. A panel of distinguished, regional library leaders are also invited and speak to the cohort.
After the four-day Institutes, the rest of the classes are conducted online via Blackboard. Students have access to the combined print and electronic resources at the Oviatt Library and the University of North Texas. Additional synchronous communications allow guest lecturers to communicate to the students through Wimba, a collaborative learning software application, so students can communicate directly with the lecturer in real time.
The 50 students in the cohort have finished their first semester in which they took two classes: Introduction to Information Professions and Introduction to Information Access and Retrieval. This Spring they will be tackling two other challenging classes: Introduction to Information Organization and Management of Information Agencies. After these four classes, the students may choose to continue with the General Studies program or focus on a specialty such as Health Informatics, Information Organization, Information Systems, Law & Legal Informatics, School Librarianship and Youth Librarianship. The entire program can be completed in two years and is ALA accredited leading to a Masters of Science degree.
As opportunities present themselves, students want to contribute and play an active role in the library community. Students in the Greater Los Angeles cohort have participated in various library related events and have become members of several professional organizations: American Library Association, California Library Association, Southern California Association of Law Librarians, Special Library Association, Reforma and Library of Information Sciences Student Association. Students have also volunteered at several events such as in the LA as Subject, the 4th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar hosted by USC and at the 2009 Annual CLA conference in Pasadena.
A second cohort is planned for Fall 2011. For more information about the program contact Dr. Phil Turner at phil.turner@unt.edu.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Carol Siu & Grace Rosales
UNT/CSUN class of 2011
Posted by claadmin at 9:36 AM
Will Kindle Kill the Library? As If!
For my birthday this year (forgive me if I don't tell you which one), a beloved relative gave me the new Amazon Kindle, which we have all seen touted as the next big thing in terms of books and literature. It's a fine device, and I like it a great deal. For one thing, I love being able to download a book to read anyplace I am, with just the click of a button. Many a bus ride in Los Angeles has been made more palatable by my ability to download the sample first chapter of some book and then read it for free. And, when I am doing my reading for my MLS classes as part of the Cal State Northridge/ University of North Texas SLIS program, almost nothing is nicer than to download full text journal articles to the Kindle and then make the type bigger so I don't get the dreaded Library School Eyestrain.
Publishers and publishers' agents apparently loathe Kindles because they lose money on people downloading e-copies of books instead of buying the more expensive, inky editions of the volumes. By that argument, though, publishers and agents have also long hated libraries, who have actually served as the ancient version of Kindles, lending out books for people who don't buy them. Those agents and publishers have clearly forgotten their childhoods, when a beloved librarian read them "Amelia Bedelia" at their Storytime for Twos session.
When the Kindle - and now its Sony analogue, The Nook - was first released, a variety of pompous (and oddly smug) prognosticators of technology gleefully predicted how these electronic devices would either spell doom for libraries or, at least, force libraries to totally change their shape and form. Who would need to go to a library to take out a dog-eared, sticky, hardcover copy of Steven King's "Under the Dome" when they could easily download it right to their lovely little electronic device? Maybe libraries would inevitably be forced to pulp all their books, feeding them into paper shredders one by one, and replacing them with Netlibrary or Amazon.com accounts, so people could instead check out Kindles and then download all the books to their hearts' content. Why, they could just chuck out all those unhygienic books entirely and replace them with computer consoles.
And, yet, having had this Kindle for a while now, I can assure you that librarians may sleep soundly in their beds. The Kindle is not likely to replace books. What I have discovered - and I admit, my discoveries are anecdotal - is that all the Kindle has done is create different classes of book. A voracious book lover will tell you that there are two kinds of books. There is the book you treasure. You buy it, fondle it like a lover, accidentally drop crumbs in the folds, get fingerprints all over the corners, read it again and again, put it on your shelf, and then leave it for your grandchildren as a cherished heirloom. Oh, my Narnias! Oh, those Oz books! Oh, Lord help me, those Harry Potters!
And then there are the books you really don't care too much about. The ones you read once and then forget. You know, the latest blah thriller or drab book about some old ghoul Senator that's out of date next week. No one is going to use a Kindle to download and buy books of the first type. It is the second sort of book, the impulse or "junk" reading, which is the Kindle's stock in trade. These are what I, at least, prefer to download.
But, let us not forget, that these not-so-valuable books cost dollars for you to have them Kindled - and at the library, you can just check them out for free (or, rather, paid for by our tax dollars)! Yes, you can Kindle the same book for ten bucks, but when you've read it, the e-copy just sits there in the virtual realm, with no physical body, until the Kindle breaks and then it's gone forever. It has no shelf space or corporeal purpose. And, if it is one of those second types of books I'm talking about in the previous paragraph, you're not going to read it ever again. I believe you can't even donate the rights to read the e-book to the library (and that is actually a commendable thing that libraries should be examining). Really, you might as well just check the hard copy out of the library and then return it.
We read that some libraries check out Kindles and allow patrons to download books to them. And, yet, this seems like a system that just hasn't been thought out yet to the point of being sensible. Amazon, we understand, charges much more to libraries to download books than it does to the general public. There may also be an additional "per download" licensing charge. This suggests that a paperless, electronic version of a book could be far more expensive than an old fashioned dog eared version of the same work. And, at the end of the day, the library doesn't even have a hard copy of the book to put back on the shelf for browsers to pick up!
Meanwhile, there's another aspect of the Kindle that is downright unsavory for all readers. As it turns out, just like at a library, the book you get Kindled isn't actually yours. In the library, by contrast, the book belongs to everyone. However, on your Kindle, the book belongs to Amazon.com (or to Sony or to whatever company is making the next version of the e-book). If you remember, a few months ago, Kindle deleted all copies of George Orwell's 1984 from the Kindles because of some kind of a rights issue. And now, as I discovered to my dismay, they have also disconnected the Kindle's "text to speech" option, which turned any Kindled book into an Audiobook.
Admittedly, I understand the reasoning behind this: It was another rights issue, and there is so much money to be made on audiobooks that they didn't want people to use the Kindle for such a thing. And, yet, I can't imagine a world in which a publisher could walk into my house or library and snatch a book or an Audiobook off my shelf. But they can do this on a Kindle. My 80-something year old grandmother, who happens to be blind and loved hearing books read via the Kindle's text-to-speech, was quite displeased when they disconnected the function without telling her.
For a reader, a Kindled version of a book that you can get for free at the library may have some transitory, "Fin de Millennium" glamour - but, at the end of the day, those ten dollar charges for books in which you don't really have sustained interest start to add up. And then, we'll all be back at the library.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Paul Birchall
Cal State Northridge/ University of North Texas, SLIS 2011
Posted by claadmin at 9:35 AM
January 21, 2010
President's Column
As I write this month's column, on a windy, storm-tossed morning in mid-January 2010 from my window above the Monterey Public Library's front door, I see glimpses of blue skies amid the advancing gray clouds. I watch rain on a distant hilltop, flying brown leaves and vibrant green new ones, bundled-up parents with small children, students and senior citizens pausing on the sidewalk as a fire engine blares away from the station, red lights flashing. For a moment, it feels as though we are in the eye of the great economic storm that surrounds us - the calm place after great upheaval and before the great unknown.
Make no mistake, these are discouraging and threatening times for California libraries and the communities we serve. Statewide budget turmoil affects every one of us - academic, law, public, school, special libraries and librarians - and our populations of users. National crises and international tragedies spill over into our neighborhoods, agencies and counties. "Everything is connected to everything else: as I learned in high school Ecology class - and I see expressed every day around me. And, while sobering, that simple fact also gives me great hope.
My feelings of optimism in the midst of such crisis and change may be partially due to the California Library Association's energetic and enthusiastic new Executive Director, Holly Macriss, who has accepted the position effective February 1, and the rest of CLA's hard-working association team. Holly has the experience and skill set to move CLA forward in these challenging times. I am very pleased that she has already begun working to bring herself up to speed on libraries; Holly attended the American Library Association Midwinter meeting in Boston this past weekend, has jumped into 2010 Conference planning and is rapidly getting acquainted with California's school, academic and special library organizations and communities. Holly will be introducing herself to all of you very soon - stay tuned!
Also brightening the horizon - the possibility of improved collaboration with California library schools and students, more chances to partner with other library associations, agencies and organizations on events and activities, expanded communication with CLA Interest Groups and all of you. Yesterday I was on a conference call with California Library Association leaders and California School Library Association leaders, preliminary to more specific conversations with CLA and CSLA leadership on ways we can better work together to advance our members' interests in these difficult times.
Those participants who traveled met in wet-and-windy Sacramento and the others called-in from storm-tossed southern and central California. Despite the statewide storm raging outside our meeting, inside we exchanged ideas, excitement and a shared sense of purpose for working together to improve educational opportunities for our memberships, increase communication and understanding between our respective groups and focus on commonalities, instead of differences. At CLA, we look forward to many more such conversations with all the library-serving agencies and organizations throughout California - and all of you. We will survive difficult times and Navigate the New - together!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
Posted by claadmin at 9:52 AM
News from the Capitol
LEGISLATIVE ANALYST WEIGHS IN AND ASSEMBLY & SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEES BEGIN WORK ON 2010 BUDGET
On January 8, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presented his 2010-11 State Budget, and in his letter to the legislature, he notes, "With our national economy still struggling to recover, California, like most states, must confront an additional budget gap of nearly $20 billion... My budget calls for even greater reductions in nearly every aspect of state government than were necessary in 2009." In fact, the Governor proposes a series of deep cuts to health and human services, prisons, and state employee compensation adjustments. A major component of the Governor's solution is predicated on the state receiving almost $7 billion in relief from the federal government. It is rumored that the legislative leaders and the Governor will head to Washington D.C. in the coming days to lobby the California congressional delegation and others to plead their case for additional federal funds for California. In the meantime, the Governor has officially called a "special session" of the legislature to address the state's "fiscal emergency," and the "special session" will run concurrently with the 2010 legislative session.
On January 12, the state's non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) released their annual overview and analysis of the Governor's January Budget. The LAO acknowledges the "incredibly daunting challenges" that the legislature will face this year in order to close the $20 billion gap, and recommends the legislature act quickly in order to capture "full year" savings. The LAO's office said that while state leaders should actively request federal funding relief in complex areas such as Medi-Cal and Special Education, they caution that the "likelihood of Washington agreeing to all of the Governor's $7 billion in requests is almost non-existent." In fact, appearing before the Assembly Budget Committee on January 13, the Legislative Analyst, Mac Taylor, told the members of the committee, "I don't think there is any way you would get $7 billion (from the feds). It's probably closer to $3 billion."
The LAO also cautioned both the Assembly Budget Committee as well as their counterparts in the Senate Budget Committee that they should look to some of the Governor's proposals with a cautious eye, as "some of his proposals are not fiscally wise. For example, in In Home Support Services (IHSS), you will eliminate care to people who will ultimately go into more expensive skilled nursing." The LAO pledged to offer the two committees some alternative solutions in the coming weeks. Probably most sobering was the LAO's acknowledgement that even adopting the Governor's deep cut proposals, utilizing fund shifts, and seeking assistance from the federal government, etc. "is not going to solve your long-term Budget problems this year. You are still going to have a $5 to $6 billion problem next year. We need an ongoing solution." Thus, the LAO is suggesting the legislature consider fee proposals, new revenues, etc. in conjunction with cuts to programs.
The Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees will continue to hold hearings through the end of May on the Governor's proposal, as well as the LAO's comprehensive analysis and alternative recommendations, which should be available in mid February. As recently reported to CLA members, the Governor's Budget does not propose any cuts for library programs such as the Transaction Based Reimbursement, the Public Library Foundation, or the literacy program.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro
CLA Lobbyists
Posted by claadmin at 9:51 AM
Writer-to-Writer Challenge, Part III
What is the Writer-to-Writer Challenge? Adult literacy learners of the California Library Literacy Services are invited to read a book, any book. It can be fiction or non-fiction, written at any level, and can be a book-on-tape. They then write a letter to the author describing how the book changed their lives.
This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. There are two rounds of judging: In the first round a panel of librarians and literacy specialists carefully selected the finalists in each category. In the second round, groups of learners reviewed the finalists' letters and picked the winner and runners-up in each category.
The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series, continuing part three with this E-newsletter with a letter from Beginner winner Evonne Macias:
Evonne Macias
Hemet Public Library
Dear Dave Pelzer,
My name is Evonne Macias and I attend the Hemet Adult Literacy Program. At this time, I am trying to earn my GED. I am 54 years old and have now read your book, A Child Called It. I really did not think there was another mom as bad as mine, but after I read your book I realized that there was. I found that I was anxious and angry as I read. I was looking for any kind of joy, a joy that neither you, nor I have ever had.
In the beginning, I saw a mother with much love for her children. Unfortunately, your childhood happened during a time when people did not want to get involved in other people's business, and no one would say anything. These kinds of abuses were ignored. I felt all your pain and cried with you as I read. I know that deep down it really hurts because you were just a little boy.
I also grew up with an alcoholic mother and she was also very abusive. I can't tell you how much I hated her, day after day, I was always crying. And yes it started when I was around 2 or 3 years old. Your story has opened my eyes to the reality of what has happened and to the truthful pain. In addition to an abusive mother, my dad walked out on us when I was three. He was a truck driver who carried heavy loads of hay for the dairies, also an alcoholic, and decided to live in his truck. I have three brothers and I was the only girl. We were all abused, but I had it the worst. My dad would come home and it would only bring us more pain.
I remember that in your book, your mother had all of the control. That was how it happened with me. She was, and still is to this day, in control of the family and people around us. My grandmother, grandfather, all her sisters and brothers, cousins, our school, teachers and friends all knew this was going on and yet, I just can't understand how nothing was ever done. Your story was a lot like mine. except a person helped you, a teacher I believe. That person gave you the courage to survive. I was very naive and I didn't have that courage.
It was also very hard for me in school I never could remember what I learned. Whether it was reading, writing or math; I just couldn't learn it. I was also never able to attend high school. I could not read or write at all. I did, however, go to grammar school for ten years, repeating kindergarten and third grade. When I was 18 my mother came home looking for one of my brothers and he was not home. She was very upset and drunk. She got out the broom and started to hit us. As I got up to see what was going on and hit me over the head very hard. I was upset and crying! Then my brother, who was out, walked in and she hit him too. He was 16 at the time. She hit us all again and then told us all to go to bed.
That day, I don't know how, but I found the courage to go away. I put a few things into a green suitcase and ran away. It was about 3 a.m. and I never went back.. Reading your book gave me hope.
Now at 54 I am in this adult literacy program hoping to learn to read and write, hoping to get my GED. Thank you for your courage. Now is not the time to sacrifice myself, but the time to go on beyond my limits into a new world.
Respectfully,
Evonne Macias
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:50 AM
CALA-SCA Chapter at the 2009 CLA Conference
The Chinese American Librarians Association, Southern California Chapter (CALA-SCA Chapter) held several informative, interesting and fun programs at the 111th Annual California Library Association Annual Conference in Pasadena. The program entitled "When the Earth Quakes: From California To China" was sponsored by CALA-SCA Chapter and co-sponsored by the CLA Technical Services Interest Group and the CLA Chinese American Librarians Interest Group. A panel of distinguished speakers who shared their expertise and experience from their efforts on investigation and research, leadership and management in rebuilding and preserving invaluable collections from the earthquakes. The participants found the program greatly benefits them with methods and strategies that can be applied to earthquake safety, preparedness, reduction of damage and losses, and to preservation programs. Presentations of the distinguished speakers are summarized as followed:
- Dr. Jean-Pierre Bardet, Chair and Professor of the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California discussed about the "Earthquakes and art preservation." He has been invited to China to visit the May 2008 earthquake hard hit areas in Sichuan and to participate in the rebuilding plans for the areas. Dr. Bardet reviewed basic concepts in earthquake engineering and their applications to art and library preservation.
- Dr. Susan C. Curzon, Dean, University Library, California State University, Northridge, shared their valuable lessons learned from the Northridge Earthquake. She discussed the recovery efforts and the impact on services during the six years when the library was being rebuilt.
- Dr. Yong-Gang Li, Research Professor, Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, spoke on the devastating earthquakes in China and in California especially on the earthquake-generating faults in California. Dr. Li is an earthquake expert who has also been invited by the Chinese Earthquake Administration to study the internal structure of the Longmen Shan Fault (LSF) and rock damage at depth caused by the May 2008 M8 earthquake for selecting safe places to re-build the ruined cities and towns in the region. Dr. Li has done scientific investigation at the epic central area in China. He compared the results from the Longmen Shan Fault with those obtained from the San Andreas Fault to further our understanding earthquake physics. All of Dr. Li's efforts are an aid for earthquake prediction, mitigation, and relief in the current and future earthquakes in the world. In his presentation, Dr. Li introduced the information on hazards and scenarios of recent major devastative earthquakes in California and Sichuan as well as the preparedness we should care about earthquakes to be safe so as to reduce property damage.
- Sally C. Tseng, Honorary Executive Director of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), shared the moving stories that touch everybody's heart from the earthquakes in China and the efforts and work of the Chinese American Librarians Association on Rebuilding Libraries in the Earthquake Disastrous Areas in China.
- Joy Wang was the moderator of the program. She is the President of CALA-SCA Chapter, and a librarian of the Soka University of America at Aliso Viejo.
From L- R: Dr. Yong Gang Li, Sally Tseng, Dr. Jean-Pierre Bardet, Dr. Susan Curzon, Joy Wang CLA CALA-SCA Chinese Banquet
As a traditional event at the California Library Association Annual Conference, the CALA-SCA 2009 CLA Chinese Banquet was held on Sunday, November 1, 2009, at the Fu-Shing Chinese Restaurant in Pasadena. The evening was filled with authentic Chinese food, live Chinese music performance and door prizes with a variety of Chinese gifts. With our great honor, Dr. Camila Alire, ALA President and Kim Bui-Burton, CLA President together with several distinguished California libraries’ directors and guests joined and made warm greeting speeches at the banquet. All the attendees enjoyed the evening with lots of fun and laughs and were introduced to the rich Chinese culture as embodied in the delicious Chinese dishes and the live professional performance of traditional Chinese music - PiPa.
Dr. Camila Alire ALA President, spoke at the 2009 CLA CALA-SCA Chinese Banquet
Kim Bui-Burton, CLA President and Director, Monterey Public Library, spoke at the 2009 CLA CALA-SCA Chinese Banquet
Jan Sanders, Pasadena Public Library Director, shared a good laugh with the attendees and Manuel Urrizola, Master of Ceremony, at the Banquet
Thank you for all committee members of CALA-SCA chapter, volunteers and long-term supporters who contribute extraordinarily to making the programs so successful and possible: We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Sally Tseng, Ying Xu, Yong Yi Song, Manuel Urrizola, Wen Wen Zhang, Kuei Chiu, Zuo Wang, Joy Wang, Maggie Wang who worked very hard to make such great and successful programs. Special thank you to Ying Xu, Program Chair of CALA-SCA and Librarian of California State University at Los Angeles for her countless efforts on coordination of the events and Sally Tseng on developing the informative and educational program, to Manuel Urrizola and Wen Wen Zhang for their lively masters of ceremony at the Banquet.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Joy Wang and Sally C. Tseng
Chinese-American Librarians Association
Posted by claadmin at 9:49 AM
Deep Space Images Unveiled in San Jose
A crowd of 200, including a class of sixth graders from a nearby school, filled the lobby of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (San Jose) on a recent weekday morning for the unveiling of unique, multi-wavelength images of the Milky Way. One view represents a composite of images captured by NASA's three Great Observatories: the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Chandra X-Ray Observatory. A companion poster illustrates what each view looks like separately. None of them would have been visible to the naked eye. Dr. Michael Kaufman - professor of Physics and Astronomy at San Jose State University - delivered a brief talk, followed by a lively Q&A engaging participants of all ages. The King Library was one of only two locations in the San Francisco Bay Area chosen to host an unveiling event marking the close of the International Year of Astronomy, held in recognition of the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first celestial observations.
Related activities scheduled the following weekend significantly increased visits to the library's Children's Room. Visitors included a junior scout troop that took advantage of the opportunity to earn their astronomy badge. Lectures on varying aspects of space exploration delivered by Kaufman and his colleagues were also popular. They demonstrate the unique benefit enjoyed by San Jose as a result of the collaboration between the City of San Jose and San Jose State University in co-managing the King Library. The day's programming represented the combined efforts of public and university library staff, together with SJSU Physics and Astronomy Department.
NASA's images remain on view in the Fourth Street Lobby of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library throughout 2010. The library is located at 150 E. San Fernando at S. Fourth Street in downtown San Jose. Parking at the nearby Fourth Street Garage is free weekends before 6 p.m. For exhibit information, call (408) 808-2397.
A duplicate set of images is on display at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. Visit the following site for resources to develop your own space exploration programming: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/iya/.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Lorraine Oback
San Jose Public Library
The San Jose Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:47 AM
Dropping in at the Library - The New Community
The other day, while working at my West Los Angeles area library, I noticed an unattended backpack on a table. Given that unattended bags are a no-no under most circumstances, and in this era of watchful terrorist activities in particular, I summoned one of the library's security guards, who took the bag away and stored it righteously in the Lost & Found room downstairs. It was only a few moments later when the owner of the bag, a seemingly unbalanced gentleman, in stained blue jeans, a torn hoody, and sunglasses, returned to his former table and started roaring that we had stolen his bag.
I attempted to approach the gentleman to mollify him, and to tell him that his bag was safely stowed in the Lost and Found, but he went right off on me, yelling and howling and calling me a variety of vituperative names that would shame my mother. I backed up on my heels, never turning my back on the patron, and attempted to inch my way to my desk, where the library's security guard panic button was kept.
The gentleman advanced upon me, blood and vengeance in his eyes and intentions - but then another patron rushed forward and tackled the first man. This second man was not dissimilar from the first: He was balding, with dirty blue jeans and a torn denim jacket. The two men rolled around on the floor, punching and hitting and biting. They picked themselves up and flung themselves at each other again, rolling onto a computer table and hitting the terminal, which fell over sideways with a crunch. Patron sitting at the Public Access Stations nearby leapt out of the way to preserve their skins.
Finally, the library's security guards showed up, pulled the men apart and dragged them off and away. Alas, it turned out subsequently that no charges could be pressed against neither man, as both of them were drunk and were in no condition to testify against each other. They were escorted to separate doors of the library, sent off, and ordered not to return - for 24 hours, which is the library's maximum banishment punishment (without a court order).
Now, I must confess in the spirit of disclosure that I am not actually a librarian - at the moment, I'm just one of the legions of paraprofessionals who work part time in a library, supporting the facility and the staff. And I am more than willing to entertain the notion that many other ways probably exist of defusing what was essentially an escalating situation than running for the panic button and pressing it.
However, I'm also actively obtaining my MLS at the new cohort programs offered by the University of North Texas on the campus of Cal State University Northridge. And, in none of my classes, can I recall being offered courses on how to deal with the predations and dangers of that comparatively small area of the general public that is utterly unhinged. This is not meant to be a criticism of my school in particular - I would venture to say that I am getting a fine education in library studies as part of my program. Yet, one can't help but notice that, as many of the definitions of what the place we call a library means to the public changes, many of the attempts to keep us relevant need to change as well.
Keeping relevant in terms of technology is not the question: I have seen much commendable analysis about how libraries to be atop the technological curve in order to survive. But there are other ways that the library has to remain relevant, as well
The other day, I was riding the Santa Monica Blvd bus in Los Angeles, and I found myself seated across from several itinerant teenage travelers - Street Kids, we would have called them back in the day. Caparisoned in Mohawks of many gaily decorated colors, with enough nose rings and eyebrow studs to cause an airport security detector to melt down in alarms and cries, the young hoboes were on their way to Hollywood to Hang Out. Even if one doesn't desire such a thing, it is impossible not to eavesdrop on a private conversation that takes place no more than six inches in front of your nose, and so I found myself accidentally treated to a run down of the daily life of the group of Street Kids, as they bivouacked their way from Portland to San Diego, with stops for booze and weed at all the various high spots up and down the coast.
"So, that place is great," one of the kids gushed, his tongue ring clanking noisily against his chipped front teeth. "They have comfortable chairs and a lot of computers, so you can go there and hang out and play whatever music you want to put on the Internet and whatever. They even show a movie once a day, for free, and you can just go there and watch it and take a nap! There's stuff to read and advice on where to get free food and condoms and stuff. It's great!"
Now, forgive me, but I totally figured that the kids were talking about my own library, which has many of those same services - the movies and the free Internet, anyway, though the naps and condoms are generally forbidden. But, it turns out that the kids were actually talking about a "drop in" center somewhere in Hollywood which catered to the needs of the homeless and the transient. Here's the thing, though. The kids might just as easily have been talking about my library - and yours as well, I venture.
You see, we are watching as libraries shift from being repositories of books to being community centers. And, we are witnessing an era in which that there is becoming a synthesis, not just of technology, with librarians being able to check out E-books and patrons discovering they can download audiobooks to their Iphones, but also of purpose. The line between the library facility being a book repository to being a Drop In Center is becoming thinner and thinner. And one can't help but think that it would behoove our training to reflect that. Not only should we learn how to perform an adequate Reference Interview, we also need to intern at a suicide hotline or work for a week or two behind the counter of a homeless shelter.
This next generation of librarian really needs to be far more than an expert in using Ebsco and Proquest and the Directory of Directories - we need to know how to forward someone to the nearest homeless shelter, or how to recognize schizophrenia, or how to exercise reflective listening for the troubled. Perhaps, in addition to courses in the high tech innovations in the world of Metadata Harvesting, we also need classes in how to deal specifically with the homeless or with the mentally ill or with the congenitally enraged because that is one of the library's purposes, too, as it turns out.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Paul Birchall
CLA Student Member
Cal State Northridge SLIS '11
Posted by claadmin at 9:45 AM
IMLS Western Regional Fellowship
Transforming Life After 50 - Fellowship Opportunity for Public Library Staff
The California State Library, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Oregon State Library, and Washington State Library are pleased to announce a year-long Fellowship opportunity funded by a grant from the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services, Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.
This year-long Fellowship will provide continuing education scholarships for selected public library staff and professionals who wish to advance their library and information science skills related to improving services to and engagement with active, older adults. Up to 100 qualified applicants from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington will be selected to participate. Fellows will be introduced to a new framework for serving and engaging adults ages 50+ that both promotes productive aging and establishes libraries as centers of lifelong learning and civic engagement.
For more information about this Fellowship and for the link to the online application, go to: http://transforminglifeafter50.org/innovators/imls-fellowship.
The Fellowship will run from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. Deadline for submission, including a Letter of Library Commitment from your current Library Director, is April 2, 2010. Selection of Fellows will be announced June 1, 2010.
If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact either Suzanne Flint at 916-651-9796 OR Stephen Ristau, Fellowship Coordinator, at 503-281-4305.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Suzanne Flint
California State Library
Posted by claadmin at 8:43 AM
The Infinite Fragility of Being
"What's my email?" asked an elderly gentleman using one of the library's public computers.
"AOL," I replied, not missing a beat.
Not that I have added reading the subconscious mind to my reference skills - I just remember that fact because the last time he had asked the same question was when he had a seizure while waiting for me to get off the phone.
Bet that got your attention. It sure got mine.
Well, to clarify, I had picked up the phone for a customer who had been waiting while I helped a child find some books and then look up the Accelerated Reader points, while the gentleman (I'll call him Henry, not his real name) quavered "Miss..?" (I'll be with you as soon as I finish helping this customer.) "Miss, I need some help..." (I'll be with you in a few minutes.) "Miss, I'm having a seizure."
To customer on phone: I'm sorry, I have an emergency here, may I ask you to hold or call you back?
To Henry: Do you want me to call an ambulance?
Henry: No, it's just my hands. I just can't type this in.
So I sat down beside him and typed in his change of address form for the USPS. That went fine until we got to the blank for his email address, which he couldn't remember. Fortunately, it was just the provider he had forgotten, so I tried;
Hotmail?
No.
Yahoo?
No.
AOL?
Yes, yes, that's it! Let's do my wife's form now!
Ah, the wages of success.
After it all, he assured me he was able to drive home safely and tottered out the door with his walker.
What I took home from that encounter: Remember how fragile people are, even, or especially, when they are ganging up on the reference desk.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Eve Nyren
CLA Member
Posted by claadmin at 8:41 AM
Revamping the Community Reads Programming Model
Back in 1998, Librarian powerhouse, Nancy Pearl, began Seattle's "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book" with the book The Sweet Hereafter. At that point in time, this was an innovative programming idea and it made a huge splash in the Library world. Since then, the concept of an entire community reading the same book has taken hold across the nation.
Today, if you were to search the Internet for "community reads" one would retrieve thousands of relevant websites. There is enough information floating out there from various sources for someone to plan a program from start to finish with insider tips and tricks. Communities, Librarians, authors and publishers love it.
Well, mostly adult folks love it. Most communities focus on one book-hence the concept of a Community Reads, but in doing so neglect to reach other readers (or even non-readers). In 2008 my library, the Alameda Free Library, jumped on the bandwagon, though we changed the concept a little bit. Our program was named, "Across the Pages: an Alameda Community Reads Event." The goal was to truly make it a community event. We featured both an adult and a children's title: Bee Season by Myra Goldberg and The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg. These books had similar themes and thus, crossover programming potential. I'd like to say that the program was a success, for not only were we able to reach a terrific adult population, but we also included our other, younger, population as well. (This other population, as I'm sure most of you are aware, constitutes over 60% of circulation in most, if not all, public libraries.)
Not satisfied with that success, we tried something else. Frankly, we needed something that would cost us less money than purchasing hundreds of the same title to fulfill our community's reading needs. What did we do? We went with a theme! Summer Reading Programs do it, why not implement a Community Reads with the same idea? Mystery at the Library, the Alameda Community Reads Program for 2009 was born. We were able to get several great mystery authors in, thanks to the Sisters in Crime group. We worked with our local Police Department, showed films for all ages, hosted book discussion groups, held several Mystery in a Box programs for kids and teens, and even hosted a fundraising Murder Mystery program. I'd have to say, the program was certainly a success, everyone sure got into the theme. We were able to include the entire community, all ages and most importantly, all reading levels.
In 2010 we're at it again. This time, we're focusing on Speculative Fiction. With a theme this broad, we're sure to have record participation. Our programs will run the gamut from a history of the Horror fiction genre to (hopefully) an appearance by the volunteer organization, the 501st Legion: Vader's Fist (check them out, http://501st.com, if they do come, I'm sure it'll draw a huge crowd!) We're also planning a scavenger hunt for all ages, movies for all ages, and an author visit or two to keep things interesting for our community.
It's fun to take a 'classic' program like a Community Reads and mix it up a little. Who knows what will be next, perhaps a Twitter/Facebook mashup program!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Annemarie Meyer
Alameda Free Library
Posted by claadmin at 8:39 AM
Riverside County Library Hosts 2010 Arbuthnot Lecture
The Riverside County Library System, in cooperation with the University of California Riverside, will host the 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture featuring Kathleen T. Horning, a nationally known expert on children's literature and director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Ms. Horning is well known to librarians and children's book experts as a very interesting a highly engaging speaker. "KT," as she is known to her many friends and admirers, is also the author of Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children's Books. Her lecture will be titled "Can Children's Books Save the World?"
The lecture will be held on Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Extension Center at 1200 University Avenue, adjacent to the UCR campus in Riverside.
The Arbuthnot Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. Each year ALSC selects one library in the United States to host the event. Since its inception in 1970, the Arbuthnot lecture has only been hosted in California four times previously and never in the Inland area.
Ms. Horning is one of the most important voices in the area of library services to children and the advocacy of children's reading in the United States. In addition to her book, Cover to Cover, Ms. Horning also publishes the annual CCBC Choices bibliography, an annotated best-of-the-year list that many libraries use as a core collection development tool. She also serves on the United States Board on Books for Young People and is the recipient of the 2009 Scholastic Library Publishing Award from the American Library Association, sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing.
While in the Riverside area, Ms. Horning will also visit libraries and meet with informally with area librarians.
Anyone who is interested in children's literature, libraries, education or early childhood development, will find this lecture very interesting and rewarding. Registration for the lecture will open online March 1, 2010.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mark Smith
Riverside County Library System
CLA Board Member
The Riverside County Library System is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 8:38 AM
Why I'm A Librarian
I was asked why I want to become a librarian. After considerable thought, here is my response:
My father, who is now 93 years old, was and still is an avid reader. We did not agree on almost everything throughout my life-however there is a prevalent commonality between us. I spent many a day walking to the public library with him to pick out books (it was around the corner from our home) when I was a child. Everything could be discovered there-all the answers to my questions, all the information I wanted to know, all the fantasies that I could experience though my mind, all the places I wanted to visit were in books-and they all could be found in the library. I even bought a house across from this same library and live in it today. Upon sincere reflection I can honestly say that the library was one of the most honest, comfortable and sincere shared experiences I have ever had with my father.
I still do not see eye to eye with my father but we both still love the public library and its books. I hope to help others find the joy of the library experience by becoming a librarian and opening the world of information and books available to all - to expand their knowledge and hence their world as was done in my own life. Hopefully by taking this action I will also learn and grow and perhaps be as astute as my own father when I get to 93 years old.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Colette Chaffee
MLIS Student
Posted by claadmin at 8:37 AM
Youth Enjoy Digital Arts Lab
On November 11, 2007, Salinas Public Library Director Elizabeth Martinez introduced the idea of a Digital Arts Lab (DAL) to the Salinas City Council, as a place for youth to build their interest in graphic and digital arts toward a potential career. With financial support from the Rally Salinas Fund, and an Irvine Foundation award of $25,000 to purchase computers and equipment for the lab, the DAL opened in September 2008, and has grown in popularity and dramatically increased digital arts and literacy skills of the community.
DAL projects have ranged from introductory courses and hands on Learn and Play Demos led by community volunteers, California State Monterey Bay Service Learning Students and staff. Visitors to the DAL have free and unrestricted access to four Apple computers, two Apple notebooks, and an Apple Mac Pro. Each computer has the entire Design Premium Adobe Creative Suite, Apple iLife, and Final Cut studio software to explore. Programming and hands on courses have introduced patrons to editing and uploading their own digital photographs with Adobe's Photoshop CS3 and Flickr, creating musical scores and mash ups using Garageband, as well as introductory web design and search engine optimization seminars.
The DAL has attracted a variety of guests from area teens editing skateboarding films, to local fishermen creating video advertisements to be aired on local television. Everyone from Senior Citizens to young children can be found uploading music to their ipods using Apple's itunes, and both adults and children enjoy taking, editing, and uploading photographs from embedded webcams in each DAL computer.
Along with the endless software and digital art capabilities the DAL houses the equipment for the U Name It Teen Lounge which sits outside its glass doors. Featuring both a Nintendo Wii Xbox360Elite, the library features a variety of games daily, and hosts in house tournaments in partnership with the local gameshop, Gamecrazy. Recognizing the differences in skills level and taste, each tournament offers prizes and tips for all participants regardless of their abilities. Rockband and Guitar Hero tournaments bring together young adults as teams, and the physical demands of Wii sports get teens from across the community up and moving to the library.
For more information on the Salinas Public Library's Digital Arts Lab you can visit their online blog at www.digitalartslab.blogspot.com. Along with information regarding scheduling and programming you can also view online tutorials developed and created by Salinas Public Library Staff and volunteers. See also www.salinaspubliclibrary.org
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Carissa Purnell
Salinas Public Library
The Salinas Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 8:36 AM
November 25, 2009
President's Column
Hello California Library Association members!
As your President for 2009/10, I've had an eventful three weeks since the gavel was passed at Conference. From the unfortunate rupture with San Jose State University to the shocking closure of the City of Colton's libraries in Southern California to the successful recruitment of a strong and experienced Executive Director for CLA to the physical relocation of CLA's offices and transition to a new management structure - whew!
Thankfully, each of these adventures has been met with offers of help, great teamwork, problem-solving, kindness and goodwill. I am grateful to be working with so many others of talent and commitment across the state (and the country) to serve California communities, support California libraries, renew and revitalize CLA.
For those who were not able to attend the 111th Annual CLA Conference at Pasadena on November 1, I wanted to share an abbreviated version of my introduction of myself and my hopes for CLA the next year:
These are unprecedented times - for our communities, our libraries across the state, and for the California Library Association. We need to act creatively and realistically, envision a future beyond current limitations, and build toward that future. I applaud Past President Barbara Roberts, the Board and CLA staff for doing all of this during the past year.
Many of you may not know me. My name is Kim Ly Bui-Burton. I am the child of a first generation immigrant, and I share this heritage, and this poem I wrote for my father, with many of us living in California.
My Father's Pho
The broth is always steaming when I arrive;
oxtail-scented mist,
the way the morning began in his childhood,
fog rising off the Mekong,
the soup-vendor's cart close behind.
Pale half moons of onion - "oignon" -
that word the French forced on his tongue.
Ordered piles of beef:
"meat is a seasoning, not a meal."
Coriander's leafy green.
He remembers the colors steeping the hills,
add rice sticks, bleached as the stalks
harvested after American rain.
White ao dai, white bones.
The noodles curl thick in the pot.
All this my father gives me:
memory's meat; the salt of nuoc mam
and grief, heat of soup, his lost life.
He finishes with the sweetness of lime.
The first bowl is mine. I will eat.
I'm the Director at Monterey Public Library - the same library where I worked my first job - as a Page - when I was 16. As California's first Vietnamese-American Library Director (but not the last) giving back to CLA has long been something I've wanted to do.
Sixteen years ago, CLA took a chance on the future of a first-year San Jose State graduate student/single mom - me - by selecting me as a recipient of the Scholarship for Minority Students in Memory of Edna Yelland. That financial and professional support changed my life, as did the friendships and professional growth that CLA Conferences and activities have fostered and sustained. I am honored and humbled to be here.
And where is here? For CLA, this past year, and these past few weeks, has been one of challenge and change. In keeping with Past President Barbara Roberts' goals from last year, my focus is to continue the revitalization of CLA by:
- completing its infrastructure work
- expanding our relationships with other library organizations and stakeholders
- improving our value and usefulness to all of you - and your institutions and communities
- demonstrating respect, integrity, clarity and transparency in everything we say and do
When I think about library staff and library supporters across the state, I imagine that we live in the same world - communities struggling to survive difficult times; physical libraries as essential and poorly funded community anchors whether in cities, towns, rural areas, tribal lands, universities, community colleges, schools or businesses; residents young and old embracing and demanding technologies for productivity, creativity and connection; growing needs and shrinking resources.
But I can't be sure of that until I ask you - what are you facing? What do your communities need? What solutions have you found? What can your Library Association provide to transcend this difficult time?
With the help of the new Board you have elected to represent you in the year ahead, CLA's new Executive Director and increased CLA staff through our contract association management firm ARC, these questions will be asked - and answered - in the coming year.
We will invite our statewide library partners - including the State Library, InfoPeople, Califa, CALTAC, schools of library and information science, other library associations and more - to meet with the Board and myself to talk and think about how we will work more closely together.
We will reach out to all of you - professionals and paraprofessionals, community volunteers, new and seasoned CLA members, committees, interest groups and allies - so that your voices are heard in CLA's strategic planning process. The plan that we create - together - will set the course for CLA for the future.
As California libraries and California library supporters, we must act together. Our missions and populations may be different and diverse, yet they are overlapping. These differences cannot, must not, divide us.
Our strength comes from our diversity, our commitment to shared values, literacy and lifelong learning, our history, our dedication, our passion. I ask each of you to bring your whole self to the table for CLA as we join together to shape our future. Together, we will Navigate the New!
Kim Bui-Burton
CLA President
Posted by claadmin at 9:30 AM
CLA joins the Association Resource Center
On December 1st, 2009, the California Library Association officially entered into contract with the Association Resource Center (ARC) in Folsom, CA.
The Association Resource Center (www.4arc.com) specializes in association conference planning, management, and providing operational resources to the businesses it serves. Utilizing ARC's resources, CLA will be able to accelerate its revitalizion as an association, thanks in part to ARC's talented staff, wealth of knowledge pooled from multiple associations under contract as well as nearly 30 years of association management experience.
Utilizing this "economies of scale" model, CLA staff will be able to shift their focus onto forward-thinking tasks that will go to better serve CLA members and the library community at large. Additionally, staff will be able to collaborate with experts in a wide array of associations that are housed within ARC's offices. With these benefits at hand, we as staff are excited to enter this new partnership.
As such, the California Library Association has a new address, telephone, and fax number:
California Library Association
950 Glenn Drive, Suite 150
Folsom, CA 95630
Phone: 916.233.3298
Fax: 916.932.2209
Along with CLA's transition within ARC, the Association has added three new staff members:
Gretel MacLeod
Membership Services Associate
gretelm@cla-net.org
Dawn Wood
Staff Accountant
dawnw@cla-net.org
Kevin Kilkenny
Legislative Analyst
kevink@cla-net.org
CLA's new staff will collaborate with newly-appointed Executive Director, Holly Macriss, as well as Meetings & Conference Director, Stephen Hamilton, and Membership, Marketing & Communications Director, Richard Berta.
We look forward to serving you, our members, in the coming year.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Richard Berta
CLA Membership, Marketing, & Communications Director
Updated February 5th, 2010
Posted by claadmin at 9:28 AM
Your New Leadership Development Committee
We are now firmly operating under the new CLA bylaws that took effect in July of this year. Those bylaws established a brand new standing committee called the Leadership Development Committee to be chaired each year by the Immediate Past President. The committee members have staggered 3 year terms. When this committee was conceived, the idea was to have an internal CLA mechanism to identify and grow members for leadership roles in CLA so that candidates for election will be selected for skill sets rather than "popularity" and name recognition alone. This committee also serves as the nominations committee for CLA elections.
The Committee met for the first time at conference. Members to the committee are appointed by the sitting President, so I appointed this group while still President and will chair this committee for one year as Immediate Past President. I wanted the group to be representative of current leaders, up and coming leaders, and diversity in library and skills. As such, I am proud to introduce to you your very first Leadership Development Committee members:
Stacey Aldrich - State Librarian
Keri Botello - UCLA
Wayne Disher - Director, Hemet Public Library
Carey Gross - Literacy Coordinator, Butte County Library
Sandy Vella - UC Davis
Rosario Garza - CEO of SCLC
Gail McPartland - Deputy Director, Contra Costa County Library
Cheryl Gould - Consultant and trainer for Infopeople
Rivkah Sass - Director, Sacramento Public Library
Members have chosen staggered terms of 1-3 years so there will be vacancies each year for the next CLA President to fill. We all owe these talented individuals our thanks for taking on the "birth" of this committee. I feel very lucky to be working with them this year.
At our first meeting we established our overarching value as inclusiveness. We want to reach deep into the membership and identify members with the skills and interest to work in the governance of our organization. We will be looking for future CLA leaders who are ADROIT:
- Accessible
- Diverse
- Refreshed
- Open
- Inspirational
- Transparent
We established a timeline for elections next year, will be working on a message to be sent to the membership seeking those interested in working with CLA, and will be working on a "curriculum" for Board of Directors training. There has never been a formal Board training program, and speaking from experience, we very much need one.
In the future the committee may discuss and recommend campaign guidelines so everyone running for office has the opportunity to introduce themselves fully to the voting members.
Our next meetings will be virtual and start in the new year. This new committee has an important charge and we hope that as its first members we will set the stage for a very successful CLA leadership succession and election process for the future.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Barbara Roberts
CLA Immediate Past President
Posted by claadmin at 9:25 AM
The Gift Horse
Last week I received a free Sony ebook reader including a cd-rom "library" as a raffle prize from the 2009 ALA Conference.
At American Library Association Conferences there is always a huge exhibits area and many vendors there have various raffles and giveaways. I routinely let them swipe my exhibits card and then forget about it. After all, the chance of winning anything is pretty small. But this time I did win and was quite staggered by the generosity of the prize.
In a press release dated August 25, 2009, Sony announced "starting today, Sony's Library Finder application will go live. Library Finder offers visitors to the eBook Store by Sony easy access to their local library's collection of eBooks. Thousands of libraries offer eBooks optimized for the Sony Reader, and visitors can now find these libraries by typing their zip code into the Library Finder. Through the selected library's download website, visitors can check out eBooks with a valid library card, download them to a PC and transfer to their Reader."
The ebook I received was of the previous model that does not claim any access to library collections and now it did not seem as generous a prize as at first blush. Nevertheless, I was grateful and ready to get the hang of the device. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth," as the saying goes.
The reader software could not be installed on my work computer without disabling the virus protection software and even if I knew how to do that, I probably shouldn't. I brought it home and asked my ex-systems-analyst husband to install the software on our computer. Then I accessed it and was disappointed to see no books in the "library". I would have to buy ebooks to populate it. There were a few books preloaded onto the device, but I had recently read the only ones of interest to me.
I can report the reader is easy to use once an accessible ebook is chosen. The size of the print can be changed and it is easy to advance, go backward or search for a particular page. It is comfortable to hold. But I still prefer the kind of books you don't have to install, and can borrow for free from a library.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Eve Alison Nyren
Manager
Rocklin Library, Placer County Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:20 AM
Writer-to-Writer Challenge, Part II
What is the Writer-to-Writer Challenge? Adult literacy learners of the California Library Literacy Services are invited to read a book, any book. It can be fiction or non-fiction, written at any level, and can be a book-on-tape. They then write a letter to the author describing how the book changed their lives.
This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. There are two rounds of judging: In the first round a panel of librarians and literacy specialists carefully selected the finalists in each category. In the second round, groups of learners reviewed the finalists' letters and picked the winner and runners-up in each category.
The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series, continuing part two with this E-newsletter with a letter from Intermediate winner Larry Evans:
Larry Evans
Palmdale City Library
Dear Mr. Poitier:
My name is Larry Evans and it was at the age of fifty-one that I learned how to read. Your book was the first book I ever read from cover to cover. Thank you for the inspiration I received from reading The Measure of a Man. My comments will start with you growing up in the Bahamas. Being blessed with weather so warm and beautiful all year round to enjoy - what a life! That lifestyle would only be a dream for me. The closest thing I had to living on an island was an old television show called Gilligan's Island.
My hometown was somewhat like yours; we also carried water to drink and had to use an outhouse. It is easy for a country boy like me to relate to your life style as a boy. As I read your book about how you faced racism at a very young age, it made me think that racism is maybe part of the reason why it took me fifty-one years to read the English Language.
When you lived on Cat Island, there were only two Caucasians there and you were never introduced to the color of your skin; being told that you were not equal to whites after you moved to Nassau had to make you look at the world in a different way. As I read further you showed more pride and dignity in your book. Miami, Florida, is where you faced the common reality of America's racism; for example when the police forced you to walk down the street with a gun pointed at your back and said if you looked around, you would be shot. I could feel your frustration and hurt as you walked without looking around.
Leaving Florida was a good idea. But facing the mean streets of New York City, not to mention old man winter, was a harsh reality. When you joined the United States Army, it seemed like the right thing to do in order to escape New York's cold, cold winters. A lot of people would understand why a black man in the United States Army could not put up with racism in the 1950s and 60's. Returning to New York you started over.
The book especially held my attention when I read about how you learned how to read. You did this by reading the newspaper and with the help of a friend while you worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant. I continue to read with inspiration after you made your mind-up to become an actor and you became an excellent one. After I read your book, I sat back and thought of how much courage, strength and dignity you displayed throughout your life in all you did. My favorite part was reading how you refused to turn your back on your friends. Your book is my inspiration. Today I can read!
Sincerely,
Larry Evans
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:20 AM
Librarians are Information Specialists
Librarians are information specialists, gatherers and keepers of knowledge. They help us hunt the information we need using their experience in a wide variety of ways and means. They understand the organization of information and are here to help you locate just what you need.
But not all librarians are in the local library you normally think of. Librarian means so much more today and the job of librarian is varied and sometimes extremely specialized.
Medical or Hospital Librarian - When your doctor needs information on a new technique or drug he uses specialized medical librarians that do the research for him or her. These librarians spend a lot of time reading medical journals and getting the information for the doctor to make an informed decision.
Corporate Librarian - These librarians keep all documentation and information organized for employees to access. When Disney's Imagineers need information on roller coasters or older Disney films for reference they go to their in house library and archives. Companies that use catalogues need them organized and data entered so products and information can be found when requested.
Specialized Librarian - Many animation facilities keep a library of art, scripts and drawings. These librarians need skills in the handling and storage of valuable and fragile artwork. Most have a background in film studies with emphasis on animation. Since many images are captured electronically experience with Photoshop is sometimes required.
The Getty and many museums use photo librarians to organize and identify photos of art in their collection. In a natural history museum there are collections of study bones, skins and artifacts that need cataloguing and organization. Archiving is another facet of being a librarian that is needed in museums and companies. Magazines like "People" have thousands of celebrity photos archived and must have them available when needed.
Film and Tape libraries are housed in broadcast facilities that need to be handled by people trained to handle film and deal with tape and its many formats.
Find what you love and do what you love is a saying I like to use. I think as a new Library Science student I will love being a librarian and I will love doing a librarians work at a facility in a field I love. Sometimes we need a little nudge to see the possibilities and the different opportunities to use a library degree for a career in a field you enjoy.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Lisa Reinert
MLIS Student & CLA Member
Posted by claadmin at 9:15 AM
SoCal CALA Chapter Welcomes Visiting Chinese Library Directors
After more than six months countless planning, arrangements, communication and coordination with major libraries in Southern California, the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) Southern California Chapter (CALA-SCA) IMLS Hosting Committee members: Sally C. Tseng (CALA Honorary Executive Director), Maggie Wang (CALA-SCA Past President) and Ying Xu (CALA-SCA Past President) welcome two visiting Chinese library directors: Ms. Jizhen Song of Chongqing Children's Library and Dr. Shuiqiao Wang of Yunnan Provincial Library to the Southern California. This Visiting Program was part of the "Think Globally, Act Globally" Project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). We accompanied Ms. Song and Dr. Wang to visit six libraries with notable collections and exemplary services from July 14 to 18, 2009. They are: the County of Los Angeles Public Library (CoLAPL), Lawndale Library, Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL), LAPL Chinatown Branch, the Cerritos Library, and the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library.
CALA is a partner of this 2009 IMLS Grant Project. As a Chapter, we want to do our best to ensure these events were successful and Ms. Song and Dr. Wang received rich information resources, as well as had opportunities to introduce Chinese libraries to American colleagues.
Visiting highlights included:
- Ms. Song and Dr. Wang visited, observed and received first-hand information on library operations and services of major public libraries in Los Angeles area that are serving diverse communities.
- We met with library directors, managers, and department heads to discuss their roles and responsibilities -- shared information of each library’s administration, management, organization, policies, staff hiring and evaluation procedures, services, technologies applications, and together with their unique library architectures, and many more. There were discussions among Ms. Song, Dr. Wang and library directors and those presented.
- Each library was very thoughtful to provide a very informative guided tour, to look at the uniqueness of their notable collections, services, online catalogs and databases, and to observe the use of these public libraries. We were especially honored that directors from several libraries personally provided the guided tours during their busy schedules. Their warm welcome and hospitalities were deeply appreciated.
- We were invited to attend the Board of Library Commissioners Meeting at the Los Angeles Public Library. The Library Board is a new concept to the Chinese library directors. Ms. Song and Dr. Wang were very interested in this library management structure and they told us that they would bring this structure back to China.
- Ms. Song and Dr. Wang were invited to speak at the LAPL Thursdays@Central program and at the County of Los Angeles Public Library Headquarters on July 16 and 17 respectively. Sally Tseng worked very hard to prepare PowerPoint presentations for them. These presentations include introductions to Chinese libraries, public libraries, their administration, management, organizations, collections, statistics, services, rules and regulations, the National Cultural Information Resources Sharing Project, assessment of public libraries, the Chongqing Library, and theYunnan Provincial Library, etc. The presentations were very well received. The audiences were deeply impressed by the library buildings, organizations, services, assessment and evaluation systems, and projects of the Chinese public libraries. These presentations provided great opportunities to exchange information about library operations between China and the United States.
- Considering the limited time in visiting these large libraries for Ms. Song and Dr. Wang had each library was very kind to prepare package of handouts, CDs, and other items on library services for them so they could bring back to China. We sincerely appreciate the generosities of the above libraries for sharing their most informative, useful and invaluable resources with the visitors.
- In addition to the resourceful handouts, we were especially impressed by the department heads at the County of Los Angeles Public Library system for their well prepared PowerPoint presentations on their services of Children and Youth, Emergent Literacy, Teen and Young Adults, and Teens Services. They were very generous to let us downloaded their PowerPoint presentations for Ms. Song and Dr. Wang.
- Ms. Song and Dr. Wang were very impressed with these library systems, histories, beautiful architectures, interior designs and displays, their general and special collections, facilities, public and technical services, their strong commitments to excellence in users services, implementation of innovative programs to serve children, teens and adults as well as the library directors’ leadership in staff development, training and advancement. They told us that they greatly enjoyed the visits and learned much from each library which will be very helpful to their work. They will take the information and the valuable handouts back to China to share with their colleagues. They stated that libraries in China will be greatly benefited with what they had learned from these libraries. At the end of the tour, Ms. Song and Dr. Wang expressed their sincere appreciation toward all the libraries, the library directors and their staff participated in this IMLS Chinese Library Directors Visiting Program. They also expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the CALA-SCA Hosting Committee.
- The visit was exceptionally informative, productive and successful – exceeded our expectation! We are inspired by each library’s effective and quality services for the diverse community. We see good results for our hard work and Ms. Song and Dr. Wang had a great experience.
Acknowledgements:
First of all, CALA-SCA would like to thank IMLS for granting this Project. We sincerely appreciate all the library directors, administrators, department heads, library managers and staff for arranging and organizing very informative meetings, discussions, guided tours, warm welcome and hospitality. We thank them for their enthusiastic support in hosting these visits, for their well planned schedules, efficiency, effectiveness and leadership in making these fruitful and successful visits! We would like to especially thank all IMLS Grant partners who had worked very hard to contribute to the success of these visits. Special thanks to the leaders at the China Ministry of Culture, the Library Society of China, the Chinese American Librarians Association, the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and to Dr. Shuyong Jiang, Haipeng Li, and Dr. ShaLi Zhang for their able assistance.
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Don Buckley, Anne Connor, Martin Gomez, Robert Seal, Margaret Donnellan Todd, Helen Tsai, Sally Tseng, Kuang Pei Tu, Maggie Wang, Ying Xu for their thoughtful arrangements, coordination, and preparing handouts for us; to Debbie Anderson, Pam Broussard, Tina Carwile, Barbara Custen, Dan Golden, Dora Ho, Fred Hungerford, Terri Maguire, Melissa McCollum, David Mill, Jocelyn Mullen, Sophia Wang, Beth Wilson, and other colleagues at these 6 libraries, for the part they played in making these visits so successful. I would like to thank Jeanny Chan, Julia Chang, Wenwen Zhang for their excellent translations of the conversation into Chinese for our visitors which greatly enhanced their understanding of the discussions. All the above colleagues had worked very hard to contribute to the success of these visits and had done Great Jobs! Thank you very much!
L to R: Beth Wilson, Robert Seal, Sally Tseng, Margaret Donnellan Todd (County Librarian) County of Los Angeles Public Library), Shuiqiao Wang, Jizhen Song, Melissa McCollum, and Wenwen Zhang
L to R: Jeanny Chan, Jizhen Song, Shuiqiao Wang, Don Buckley (Cerritos City Librarian) Shuiqiao Wang, Sally Tseng, and Ying Xu.
L to R: Anne Connor (Director of the Los Angeles Central Library), Jizhen Song, Martin Gomez (Los Angeles City Librarian) Shuiqiao Wang, and Sally Tseng
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Sally C. Tseng
Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA)
CALA Honorary Executive Director
Posted by claadmin at 9:10 AM
Using Project Management to Relocate Your Library
Moving a Library is a daunting task. It can be even more daunting when you are the person who is responsible for moving all the technology from one location to another.
When the Anaheim Public Library secured capital improvement funding to do an ADA retrofit of the Central Library, it fell to me to create a plan for moving the technology for Adult and Teen Services to a temporary home while expanding the Children's services in an area that would remain in place and open during the renovation. Trying to implement some of the skills I learned from my various project management courses I started putting together my project plan. I created a template that I compiled from text book examples, course outlines and other webcasts. I start with a header that appears at the top of each page with the project title. The first line of the first page contains the project start and end dates. This is when the work is to be done. Then I write the project objectives. For some this is sufficient for the project charter which would then receive management approval. I already have been given direction to proceed so I go next into the work breakdown structure.
After that we get into the main body of the document and the fun really begins. I use a work breakdown structure in an outline format that shows all the tasks that need to get done. In this case I start with relocating a network switch from the Central Library to the temporary building and assign it to the City Networking team. I brought them into the planning process early so we make sure that everyone is aboard. Here is an example of the how this outline might look:
1. Install networking hardware in the building
a. Contractor to terminate fiber connecting the building to the city network.
b. City Networking Team to test cable runs to verify existing cables will carry data
c. City Networking Team to remove Central Library Network switch from the basement and move it to the Temporary Building.
d. Run patch cords from existing patch panel to the Network Switch
The next part of the document addressed relocation of public computers to the temporary building. Now we involved City's Facility Maintenance to ensure we had sufficient electrical capacity to meet our needs. After that the staff computers, and where they were going.
I also wanted to enlist as much help as I could in relocating equipment. The company that is responsible for maintaining the public copy machines was asked to help move that equipment. But moving the security detection system was a bigger hurdle. 3M technician time was a billable expense.
That brings me to the next section of the document: the issues list. Here is where I list out any and all potential problems and concerns that need to be addressed. Sometimes these were technical issues: i.e."Old security gate must be three feet from metal objects. Also, magnetic field will interfere with computers operations for computers within eight feet." Other items were notes to management regarding cost and needs for billing information. Then there were matters that affected the public: i.e. no wireless access planned for the temporary site. The point here is to get all potential problems and concerns on paper so everyone could have input on them.
This brings me to the list of responsibilities. The next part of the document is a table which outlines who is responsible for what and their contact information.
Now this can be as extensive or short as you need it to be. You can put in your entire list of stakeholders if you want to. However, the Project Management definition of a stakeholder is "anybody who perceives they might be affected by the project." That can be a lengthy list, so you might want to limit it to critical stakeholders: those who can actually kill or withhold funding from the project.
In my case I did not need to go that route. I just needed a list of contacts that were responsible for the work and funding the work. So I included my City Networking Team lead, library staff coordinating the move to the new building, the dispatchers for 3M and other third party agents who were responsible for moving their equipment, telephone people and the City Librarian.
The final section is a comments section. This is supposed to be an open space where anyone can say anything about the upcoming project. However, in the three projects I have used this template, nobody has ever written anything in. I have had several discussions with various stakeholders that resulted in alterations to the main body of the document, but not in the comments section.
So that was the planning part of the project and then the work got done. I am in the habit of marking completion dates on this document.
Finally, everything on the list gets done. But then new issues that had not been anticipated arise. To address these items for the future, I decided to add a new section to this document. I simply call it "Issues prior to project-closing" i.e. While we changed the hours of operation in the ILS system, we neglected to do so for the self-check machine receipts. Lessons learned and project closing are usually separate documents in project management, but for my purposes, they make a fine way of ending this project document. It keeps everything in one location for easy reference.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Thomas Edelblute
Public Access Systems Coordinator
Anaheim Public Library
The Anaheim Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:05 AM
Websites and Primary Resources
The Tulare County Library invites librarians to visit our reference blog, found on www.tularecountylibrary.org. This blog is accessible via the drop down menu under Ref/Research.
Our reference blog is updated monthly with quality (and free) websites, such as a site that helps people learn languages. Another, called "gethuman" gives the best way to reach a customer service person by phone. The newest site added is for the CFDA. Also, there is a great website for primary and preschool children further down. We invite your comments!
If you go to our digital resources further down on that menu, you'll go to the middle of a page. Scroll up and you'll see an icon for the oral histories digitized about the years 1941-1946. There are 101 interviews here, all very different, that shed light on the activities happening in the San Joaquin Valley of California during that time. Some people also went to San Francisco and Los Angeles, and their stories are here. Some went overseas. Some went to internment camps. Some went to other parts of the United States. There is a short abstract of each interview so you can pick and choose which primary resources you want to use.
Another digital resource is photos for the San Joaquin valley. Although this is available, it is a work in progress and can be searched by subject or location. Another icon there is Calisphere, a history site maintained at the University of California that includes pictures in California history from libraries all over the state, both academic and public.
Scroll down and you'll find papers from Allensworth, the small town, now a State Park in Tulare County founded by Colonel Allensworth, a black man, and settled by our black citizens one hundred years ago until the lack of water resources ended this community. You will also find cards with the various resources in our history room collection regarding Allensworth.
The icon called "Shades of Tulare County" contains pictures documenting the local history of our Japanese and Chinese populations. There are over 400 pictures and descriptions. Then in 2002, Tulare County's Sesquicentennial year, the library went to all our branches and collected historical photographs of life in Tulare County during the past 150 years. That collection can be searched through a pull down menu on the upper left side.
Finally, we've added special lists of books on our front page that changes every month.
One list includes books being read by members of our staff and the other is a theme related list of nonfiction books.
Calisphere was pleased to let us put their icon on our page so people could search for digital images all over this state. There is contact information there if you would like to do this for your web site also. This is just a short review of free resources developed or borrowed by librarians and staff members at the Tulare County Library. Now we invite you to write about special resources that you have on your websites that might interest the rest of us.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Judith Wood
Reference Librarian III
Tulare County Library
The Tulare County Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:00 AM
October 27, 2009
111th Annual Conference is Going Mobile!
For this year's Conference, CLA will offer attendees a free application for their Smart Phones, making it easier to quickly access important Conference information.
CLA and sponsor Boopsie bring you CLA 2009 Mobile...the fastest, easiest way to access Conference Schedules, Speakers, Exhibitors and other important information about the 111th Annual CLA Conference & Exhibition directly from your Smart Phone.
From your BlackBerry, G1, Palm, Windows Mobile or other phone, go to http://cla2009.boopsie.com from your Smart Phone's mobile browser. Downloading is easy and quick. Once you have downloaded the CLA 2009 Mobile App, you practically have the CLA Conference Program at your fingertips!
Also, keep an eye out for the Apple App Store version of "CLA 2009" for your iPhone or iPod touch - this will be launched as soon as the App is approved by Apple headquarters.
Please note:
- Access to a data network is required on your phone, so be sure you have an unlimited data plan
- This application works for Smart Phones only and is not accessible through your Personal Computer
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Richard Berta
CLA Membership, Marketing & Communications Manager
Posted by claadmin at 11:37 AM
President's Column
If it's October it must be fall (although here in the Palm Springs desert it's still in the low 90s!) and time to start thinking of costumes, candy and CONFERENCE! The final conference program is getting spruced up, last minute program changes are being made and scripts are being written. I hope everyone has taken a moment to note in the preliminary program the sessions they cannot miss and are busily planning their conference experience.
I can't wait to begin the conference with a big, joyful, and therapeutic belly laugh with Paula Poundstone as a way to bring to an end to this year of transition and change. I am very happy to report that all of the governance transition is nearly complete. Your Board of Directors made the necessary decisions in September and October to finalize all the loose ends as a result of our bylaws changes and Executive Director recruitments.
In September the Board approved a contract with Association Resource Center (ARC) of Folsom, CA to manage CLA. The contract assures that CLA will have the ability to end the relationship when we are ready, hire our Executive Director and take the Executive Director with us if/when we leave ARC. In the meantime when the contract becomes effective December 1, 2009 ARC will immediately increase CLA's staff to 3.8 FTE, provide modern office space, equipment and computer infrastructure and allow a new Executive Director and the Board to concentrate on planning for a bright future. The CLA office will move from Sacramento to Folsom.
The CLA Board of Directors is currently working with ARC to recruit for a permanent Executive Director. Final interviews should conclude in November. To obtain the most current, up-to-date information, make a point of attending the Second General Session and Membership Meeting on Sunday, November 1st, from 3:15pm to 4:45pm. At this meeting, you can catch up on all that has happened this year before hearing from the "Unshelved" duo of Barnes and Ambaum on "Surviving the Public."
As I pass the presidential gavel to Kim Bui-Burton, I am confident that your Board has made the right decisions for CLA at this time. CLA will be advancing into the next year in a healthy and proactive position, poised to plan ahead for future growth.
Please join me in Pasadena to celebrate our resilience and strength as an organization. CLA rocks!
On your mark, get set, get ready---GO TO CONFERENCE 2009!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Barbara Roberts
CLA President
Posted by claadmin at 11:11 AM
State Capitol Update
Legislature Briefly Returns to Capitol to Tackle Unfinished Business
You will recall that the California State Legislature officially adjourned the 2009 session on Friday, September 11, and should have begun a 4 month long Fall/Winter recess. Instead, some policy matters were left undone in the final days of session, which required the legislature to return to the Capitol in recent weeks to dispense with several pieces of legislation, and to continue their work in the "Special Sessions" on Water, federal funding for education, and the overhaul of the state's tax system.
In our October 15 memo to CLA members, we reported that the State Senate recently returned to the Capitol, to address twenty important measures, including SB 67, by the Committee on Budget, a bill that fell victim to a stalemate between Senate Republicans and Democrats in the final days of session. SB 67 contained several technical "clean up" changes in order to implement the Proposition 1A Securitization program that more than 1100 cities, counties, and special districts have already enrolled in. In the final days of the session in September, Senate Republicans had refused to grant the necessary two-thirds vote for these 20 "urgency" measures, until agreement could be reached on issues important to their caucus, such as extension of the New Construction Home purchase tax credit. Fortunately, with these disagreements resolved, the Senate was able to conclude their work on the 20 bills during a one-day session.
On Monday, October 26, the Assembly reconvened for two purposes: the first was to address approximately 10 pieces of legislation that were coming back to their house from the Senate for a vote of "concurrence," and second, to continue hearings on the complicated water legislation. It should be noted that the Assembly did not need to address SB 67 during their session, as they had already passed the bill in September before the legislature officially adjourned. However, the Assembly did need to take up bills such as technical clean-up measures pertaining to the student aid program and K-12 education.
Also on Monday, as part of the "Special Session" on water, the Assembly and Senate Committees held a joint hearing and took testimony on a major water bill by Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, that could potentially address issues affecting the Delta, water storage, and water conservation. Senator Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass are requesting that several public hearings be held this week and next week on the water legislation, to allow as many affected parties to participate in the process as possible. It is conceivable that the legislature may attempt to vote on a water package next week, if agreements are ultimately reached in this politically-charged battle.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro
CLA Lobbyists
Posted by claadmin at 11:09 AM
Exposure to Library Experience through Engaged Mentorship
In our current economic times, libraries have had the opportunity to engage volunteers in their libraries to help with a variety of tasks. What a perfect time for library school students to take advantage of opportunities when presented to them to volunteer in libraries and receive practical experience. I have had the fortunate opportunity to welcome SJSU graduate student Susan Tockgo in to the library I manage; the Glen Avon Regional Library, located in the Riverside County System. It has been a pleasure introducing Susan to the everyday challenges and excitement that occur in a busy public library. I sincerely appreciate Susan's questions, enthusiasm and suggestions, which I believe has strengthened our mentoring relationship. Susan shares her experiences and challenges below:
What do you do when you are seeking a library position without library experience during this lean and challenging economy? As a graduate student, one method to gain a hands-on library experience is through formalized internship once you've completed certain amount of class units. But in the meantime, what opportunities are there to combine theory and practice in the hopes of achieving a better understanding of what librarianship is all about? As it turned out, I was able to find a volunteer position while attending the "Tricks and Tips for Getting Your First Professional Job " Spring Fling workshop sponsored by the Student Interest Group of CLA. I was able to make contact with a forward-thinking library professional with twenty-years of library experience and who subscribes to what the core values of librarianship are about: Stewardship, service, literacy and education, equity of access, intellectual freedom, and democracy. Tracie Carignan is the manager at Glen-Avon library, one of 34 branch libraries within the Riverside County Library System. And through her mentorship, I was able to gain practical day-to-day, hands on experience about librarianship. Here is a short-list of the experiences I gained:
- Learned about the overall library and organization.
- Observed through method of shadowing staff members and learn about their work and interaction with patrons.
- Was able to sit in on staff meetings for reference and circulation department. And sat in on branch manager's meeting.
- Observed problem-solving in action of various departments.
- Was able to interact with staff one-on-one and get to know their philosophy, method and approach to their work.
- Gained personal experience of assisting library patrons at the circulation and reference desk while being supervised.
- Gained knowledge and learn to use Sirsi-Dynix software for Acquisition, OPAC, and Circulation department.
- Gain new knowledge about the use of cataloging within library county system.
- Gained hands-on knowledge about Online Selection & Acquisitions.
- Learn about how to facilitate community outreach programs such as resume workshop.
I appreciate the fact I was able to gain additional insights about challenges to all facets of librarianship while volunteering these past two months at this library. Through her mentorship, I gained the perspective of observing not only other staff members at work but also the day-to-day challenges she faces daily as a manager. The important lesson I take away is the power and dignity shown through herself as an example of a manager with a can-do attitude toward her staff and when serving the public. In the future, I hope to follow her lead while finding gainful employment in a library.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Tracie Carignan
Manager- Glen Avon Regional Library
Riverside County Library System.
&
Susan Tockgo
SJSU Graduate Student
Posted by claadmin at 11:06 AM
2009 Writer-to-Writer Challenge
A Writing Competition for Adult Literacy Learners
What is the Writer-to-Writer Challenge? Adult literacy learners of the California Library Literacy Services are invited to read a book, any book. It can be fiction or non-fiction, written at any level, and can be a book-on-tape. They then write a letter to the author describing how the book changed their lives.
This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. There are two rounds of judging: In the first round a panel of librarians and literacy specialists carefully selected the finalists in each category. In the second round, groups of learners reviewed the finalists' letters and picked the winner and runners-up in each category.
The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series beginning with this E-newsletter.
Alan Archer
President, CLA Literacy Interest Group
***
Winner: Advanced Writer
Sima Tawakoli
Berkeley Public Library
Dear Paulo Coelho,
I am honored by "my good fortune of the world," as you would say to be able to read your novel The Alchemist in two different languages, Farsi and English. I read the Farsi version of The Alchemist almost one decade ago when I had started to work as an architect and instructor. I read the English version of your novel when my English tutor, Judy bought it for me one very pleasant morning this June in Berkeley. Maybe one day I will have a chance to read it in your language which I am sure will be the best to understand fully all of the magic of the book.
Your book had a deep influence on my life. I had some idea of going to other countries and The Alchemist made this decision stronger. Four years ago, I left my country, Iran, "to look for my treasure," like Santiago did. I can tell you that not just for me but for any person who goes after his or her treasure this book is like a model. All of the things that happened in any chapter in The Alchemist, such as being disappointed, upset, hopeful, or persistent, happen to us seekers. My: life right now is in the chapter where Santiago is working in the Crystal shop, after he feels he has lost everything by being robbed. Sometime I feel I have lost my precious things by leaving my country. I know that I have to pass a few more chapters to find my treasure.
When I read your book again in English, I just remembered how much I enjoyed it for the wonderful truths, like the time that the king talked to Santiago, helping him make his decision about taking his trip and The King told him about a baker who postponed making his decisions for decades and who was still a baker.
It was almost one year after I left Iran when my Mother called to say she just learned the reason for my trip. She wasn't happy when I left. One night when she was missing me so much she slept in my bed where she found The Alchemist under my pillow. She read the book thinking may be she would get sleepy. However, she couldn't stop reading until dawn. When she called me her voice was strong." Now," she said," I understand you."
Thank you, Paulo Coelho for helping me explain my reason for leaving. When I left home, I couldn't explain in words why I had to go. Silently the understanding came when my mother read your words.
Very truly yours,
Sima Tawakoli
Posted by claadmin at 11:05 AM
San Quentin REACH Visit - A Study in Contrast
I was honored to take my first look inside San Quentin State Prison on August 26th, 2009, while attending Project R.E.A.C.H.'s Student Acknowledgement & Check Presentation Event. This MLP-sponsored program, "Reach for Education, Achievement and Change with Help," trains and supports inmate tutors who mentor over 50 men per year in the development of literacy skills. Let me share with you what I saw, which became essentially a study in contrast.
Approaching the foreboding medieval-style castle entrance, I notice the hand-welded bars above tall arched windows. Yet the tower parapet is covered with 21st century satellite dishes.
While waiting in the "sallyport" for guards to hand-operate the ancient gates, there is some dread of what is to come. It is soon assuaged by stepping into a courtyard and gardens, beautifully maintained by inmate gardeners. Yet contrasts continue as we compare the religious facilities on the north side with the grimy Adjustment Center and Death Row on the south.
Continuing on our path, we walk on buckling pavement and follow a crumbling brick wall that opens to a smooth surface tennis court and immaculate baseball diamonds. Thanks to a recent successful fundraiser/rock concert, the baseball fields are a beautiful home to teams that beat all visitors. If it isn't great coaching, then it must be that continual "home field" advantage that makes them constant winners!
A walk past a spiritually active Native American firepit contrasts with our modern pre-fab modular destination. Nervous about inmate contact, I soon feel at home as we are warmly greeted by the five-member REACH Executive Council. They have been working for weeks to establish a list of inmates who are approved to attend the event, and who have each been given a hand-written "ducat." The only signs of modern technology are the nicely printed programs and the overactive air conditioner. Everything else, from setup to cleanup, runs by inmate hand labor.
Although dressed in well-worn denim shirts and pants, I see much pride in appearance with neat pressing and finely-stitched patches.
Despite the fact that many housing units and much of the yard are segregated, the REACH classroom is one place where all races learn together in friendly camaraderie and safety.
As my co-workers and I worry over the fat grams in our KFC box, I realize how eager my inmate dinner partner is to remove my container when finished, in the hopes of salvaging uneaten items. He is not displeased. All men ate voraciously, claiming the chicken and cake were "the best food we've had in months."
We forget that many of the older, long-term scholars have not partaken in the rapid changes of the outside world. One of the inmate "technical experts" remarked that he has never sent or received an email, and that when he left civilian life, "gas was 99 cents per gallon."
The ultimate contrast is the presentation, especially when we see diminutive Jane Curtis speak among men half again her height. Eyes look upon her with respect and love. Appreciation is evident for her and the work of prison co-sponsors Debra Sheldon and Tom Bolema. Along with three regular and several occasional "outside" tutors, they have provided a way for incarcerated men to improve their literacy skills.
As their printed program asserts: Project REACH is making a pronounced difference in the lives of those involved. Every time a man learns to read a new work, graph an algebraic equation, write a letter home, prepares for a successful passage of the GED - or simply sees that he can wish, ask for, and receive help with something that matters very deeply to him and his sense of self-esteem - it is a transforming experience. Project REACH and its participants are at the heart of every one of those transformations.
The two-hour visit, with its look at past versus present housing as well as learning conditions, speaks well for Project REACH. My view may be colored by my enthusiasm for the program, which attracts the most motivated of the incarcerated. Nevertheless, I am convinced that despite what goes on elsewhere in San Quentin, what goes on inside the REACH classroom promotes a brighter future for everyone involved.
Marin Literacy Program offers adult and family literacy programming through its Inmate Literacy Services both at San Quentin State Prison and Marin County Jail. Visit MLP website www.marinliteracy.org for more information. Jane Curtis is Coordinator of Inmate Literacy Services, and Kaaron Carver is Marin Literacy Program's Office Assistant.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kaaron Carver
Marin Literacy Program
Posted by claadmin at 10:59 AM
September 23, 2009
President's Column
As conference comes ever closer, I am upbeat about registration and the potential for a really great conference. Thanks to Richard Berta at our CLA office, we now have weekly registration statistics. Compared to registration last year at this time for the San Jose Conference, numbers are up 10.5%! It is heartening to know how valuable conference is to our members despite the economy! So if you have not yet registered, consider doing so and come network with your colleagues. And remember the fun events and tours available. If you have just a few mad dollars to spend, the CLA's special events are a good bargain for a great time. Also, we have also just received confirmation that ALA President, Camila Alire will be at conference making a presentation on advocacy on Monday at 9 am. We will be pleased to have her join us.
I have been contacted by some Interest Group chairs who are already planning their year ahead. Many are interested in some sort of virtual option which is not only green but smart. The availability of the technology infrastructure for a truly virtual interest group is still pending until CLA has offices and staff that can accommodate it. However, in the interim, Groups are using conference calling, "Go to Meetings" and other creative options. For any CLA member who would like to form a new Interest Group contact the CLA office for information. I will be attempting to join all Interest Group meetings being held at conference to share your enthusiasm and hear about what you want to do.
CLA is in preliminary contract negotiations with the Association Resource Center, the association management company that may run our operations. The CLA Board will discuss the draft contract during a telephone conference meeting on September 24th and begin final negotiations for a planned decision by Conference. The Finance Committee has already reviewed the fiscal impact of the draft contract. In addition, the Board is very much aware that we need to find a permanent Executive Director and will also be discussing how best to achieve that.
It is my pleasure to be able to share that CLA is now an Associate Member of the Urban Libraries Council. This membership will allow CLA complete access to all the member benefits including events, committee participation, discussion listservs and research publications. ULC will be offering their Foresight 2020 Initiative as one of the Unconference topics in Pasadena. It is my hope that having access to all the research done by this remarkable organization will allow CLA to share ULC findings as appropriate with all CLA members, many of whom do not meet the membership criteria to be members individually. CLA also encourages any library meeting their membership criteria to become a member and increase California membership in this organization.
Your three presidents - current, immediate past and president-elect - are all busy with appointments and nominations. I am nearly complete with my appointments to the new Leadership Development Committee. Monique and her nominations committee are very close to having a slate for the regular election and Kim is working hard on her committee appointments for next year. I know I speak on behalf of all three of us when I say THANK YOU to all who have agreed to serve or stand for election. This state is blessed with CLA members who care about the organization, who believe in working together and are so very generous with their time.
I am so excited that we now have an electronic newsletter and I hope that you all forward it on to colleagues or fellow staff that may not be members. It’s a great way to understand what's going on with CLA as well as a way to introduce the possibilities of CLA to others. Please give me your feedback and share what you hear from others so we may make this member benefit the best it can be.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Barbara Roberts
CLA President
Posted by claadmin at 9:59 AM
Legislative Committee Update
Another Legislative Session has drawn to a close, and while the CLA Legislative Committee continues to monitor several issues related to local government funding, our attention has turned to planning for our Conference program. Effective advocacy is grassroots advocacy - moving beyond structured events such as Day in the District to engaging a broad base of library supporters in maintaining support for libraries. Committee members Deborah Doyle and Jan Sanders have put together an outstanding program on how to be an effective advocate whatever your role in the library. We hope you will join us on Monday, November 2 at 8AM to learn how you can be a more effective advocate from Lena Kennedy, a grassroots organizer for the Obama campaign, and Kristen Murphy of the ALA Washington Office.
The Committee has also been taking a close look at "how we've always done it" and will be recommending a number of changes to Day in the District, Legislative Day, and other CLA advocacy activities to the CLA Board of Directors. We're trying to find ways to make it more exciting, productive, and cost-effective for people to participate.
You may not realize that funding for CLA's advocacy efforts comes primarily from Institutional memberships. The cost of membership is small compared to the risk of losing library funding and support, so if your library is not an institutional member please encourage it to join!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kathy Gould, Director
Palos Verdes Library District
The Palos Verdes Library District is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:43 AM
State Capitol Update
PARTISAN BICKERING AT THE CAPITOL JEOPARDIZES IMPORTANT LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL
On September 4, SB 67, a skeleton bill, by the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review was substantially amended to contain 28 pages of language pertaining to the Proposition 1A securitization or "Receivables Financing Program." You will recall, that under the agreement to shift $1.9 billion in property tax from cities, counties, and special districts during the July Budget negotiations, the state authorized local governments to borrow money to off-set the loss, using the state's credit worthiness, such as it is, to guarantee the loans. The bill creating the securitization program was AB 15 (4X) by Assemblyman Ted Gaines, which was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger. However, soon after the bill became law, the Department of Finance, the State Treasurer's Office, and Bond Counsel requested a series of amendments to correct some technical problems. In addition to those changes, SB 67 would also ensure an accelerated schedule for the securitization of the Proposition 1A loans to occur no later than mid-November, and it scores a potential savings of approximately $200-$300 million in interest costs for the state.
Unfortunately, SB 67 fell victim to a series of late-night partisan bickering in the Senate, during the final hours of the 2009 session on Friday, September 11. The Senate Republican leader, Dennis Hollingsworth, expressed concern that procedural motions were being waived without the consent of the minority party, and noted that his side of the aisle was attempting to advance three pieces of legislation important to their caucus. He told the Los Angeles Times, "In order for us to achieve bipartisan agreements, we have to establish and maintain a level of trust that a deal is a deal. It's not one, two or three items that we're negotiating over. It's one big item - trust." Thus, when bills such as SB 67 were brought forward for a vote on the Floor that night, the Senate Republicans refused to grant their votes - which would have provided the necessary two-thirds vote for passage. Only one Republican, Senator Abel Maldonado, crossed party lines to vote in support of the measures. Senate Democrats, for their part, said that the Senate Republicans were holding up 20 critical measures in order to get Democrats to "cave on three unrelated demands." Failure to act, Democrats noted, would ultimately jeopardize bills pertaining to funding for domestic violence shelters and county funding for swine flu, and SB 67.
Local government groups were dumbfounded when they learned that this important clean-up measure (SB 67) had been part of the late-night fall-out between the Senate Democrats and Republicans. When the dust settled, and the legislature left to begin their Fall recess, the League of Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and the California Special Districts Association immediately sent a letter to Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth. The letter requests that these two leaders "take expedited action to reconvene the California State Senate immediately to approve two budget clean-up measures of critical importance to both local government agencies and the state...We urge you, as leaders of our state, to work together - and if necessary with the leadership of the State Assembly - to take immediate action to pass these measures that are so vital to providing local services and keeping our streets, our neighborhoods, and all Californians safe."
Presumably, the only way that the legislature will be able to address SB 67 is to convene a "special session" to pass a similar measure as an "urgency bill." (An "urgency" measure takes effect 30 days after the Governor signs the bill.) There are already indications that the legislature may return in the Fall to participate in "special sessions" on water, tax reform, and education, so it is plausible that legislators could take up SB 67 during that same time period. CLA will continue to keep members posted as details emerge regarding this unforeseen development regarding the Proposition 1A borrowing.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists
Posted by claadmin at 9:43 AM
Make a Splash in 2010!
As the theme for Summer Reading 2010 is Water, CLA staff is already diving headfirst into preparations for next year's summer reading activities. Each year, through our California Summer Reading Program, CLA staff and members help California's public libraries present invaluable summer reading programs that serve hundreds of thousands of children, teens, and adults.
As you read this, summer reading packets for summer 2010 are on their way to every public library building and bookmobile service in the state. The packets include theme-based planning manuals for children's, teen and adult programs, and CDs of program graphics that were created by illustrators Henry Cole and Ursula Vernon.
Any public library in California can choose to participate! Those who do have the opportunity to benefit from:
- Our resource-rich webpages
- Training sessions led by experienced California librarians;
- Partnerships we develop with other statewide organizations; and
- The opportunity to purchase incentives and other summer reading products at the lowest cost possible.
The pre-packaged Summer Reading Program that we provide for public libraries is developed each year by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a grassroots organization comprised of librarians working on behalf of librarians. As California's representative to the Collaborative, CLA staff and members contribute to the development of the summer reading program, and convey feedback from California to the group.
The California Summer Reading Program is guided by a steering committee made up of youth services experts from CLA's Youth Services Interest Group, and, beginning this year, experienced adult services librarians who will advise on our new original adult summer reading program.
As you prepare for summer 2010, please remember that we are also collecting participation data for summer 2009. If you are expecting to see this year's survey, but have not yet received it, please contact Natalie Cole at ncole@cla-net.org for a link to the Zoomerang page and supplementary information.
Any questions about the California Summer Reading Program? Please visit us at the CLA Membership Booth at conference! Or email me at ncole@cla-net.org.
The California Summer Reading Program is a project of the California Library Association, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Natalie Cole
CLA Programs Director
Posted by claadmin at 9:31 AM
AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner
All California libraries and library advocates can promote AASL's "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" and "Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs." Implementing the AASL Standards includes the following goals and common beliefs:
Goals:
- Introduce and build awareness of AASL Standards
- Create understanding of the standards
- Develop a "shared" vision
- Sustain the vision
- Flexible. Common Vocabulary and Message. STAY ON MESSAGE. Keep it short, simple: This is who we are, and this is what we do, and this is why it matters.
Common Beliefs.
- READING is a window to the world
- INQUIRY provides a framework for learning
- ETHICAL BEHAVIOR in the use of information must be taught
- TECHNOLOGY skills are crucial for future employment needs
- EQUITABLE ACCESS is a key component for education
- INFORMATION LITERACY has become more complex as resources and technologies have changed
- The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the THINKING SKILLS that will LEARNING has a social context
- SCHOOL LIBRARIES are essential to the development of learning skills.
What you can do right now:
1. Order or download Standards for the 21st Century Learner.
2. Develop a list of who to target with your message. Identify each individual's priorities/ interests and use key words to position the Standards. EX: a Chamber of Commerce would pay more attention to a statement on "technology skills are crucial for future employment needs" rather than "reading" or "equitable access".
3. Post and share Standards for the 21st Century Learner . Post print version in library, staff room, board meeting room. Post link on school and district websites, your blogs, "Tweet", and Facebook. State standards are coming soon!
Resources:
Standards for the 21st Century Learner
Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs
Standards for the 21st Century Learner in Action
The ALA Store has poster and bookmarks.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Jackie Siminitus
VP-Communications and Project Manager
California School Library Association
Posted by claadmin at 9:25 AM
A Success Story
The Partnership between the Iranian Community & the Sacramento Public Library
The Persian Language Advisory Committee of the Sacramento Public Library formed in 1993 when a local group of Iranian-Americans approached the library with a proposal to establish the Persian language collection. This led to the formation of the Persian Language Advisory Committee (PLAC), of the Sacramento Public Library. PLAC worked closely with the Sacramento Public Library and the Library Foundation to raise funds for the collection.
The Advisory Committee prepared a Needs Assessment of Sacramento's Iranian-American community and presented a proposal to the Library. The 1993 Assessment showed that there were more than 8,000 Persian Language-speaking residents in the area. Many of the residents requested literature in their native language and majority of the parents asked for resources that would enable their children to learn about the Persian culture, their heritage and the language. Additionally, the non-English speaking adults wanted books in their native Persian language. It was clear that the Persian community's needs weren't being met because the Sacramento community lacked a location to house the materials. The Sacramento Public Library was the perfect fit for the collection and has since been a great partner to PLAC.
PLAC’s efforts has led to a significant and growing collection of Persian language materials, featuring subscriptions to many resources such as Iranian magazines, newspapers, over four hundred CDs and videos, a thousand titles and two thousand five hundred volumes (including the Encyclopaedia Iranica). The Advisory Committee has also been allocating a thousand dollars annually to purchasing materials that will provide the community with information about the Persian/Iranian history, culture, arts and women studies in the English language.
Sacramento has truly been enriched by this comprehensive public collection. The growing Iranian population truly appreciates and values the resources available to them through the Sacramento Public Library. Today, PLAC believes there are approximately 25,000 Iranian-Americans in the Sacramento area.
A key program of the Advisory Committee has been subsidized by the Persian language classes offered to both the Iranian-American children and English-speaking adults. Thanks to the success of this program, more than 400 students have learned to read, write and speak in Persian since 1996.
The Advisory Committee also organizes and supports an annual Persian Language Speaker Series in the Persian and English languages. This draws hundreds of people from the Sacramento community to hear presentations in the Persian or English languages, from distinguished Iranian scholars, physicians, musicians, dancers, authors, and poets from around the world. Some of the most notable presenters have included: Dr. Ehsan Yarshater, Mr. Freydoon Moshiri, Dr. Ahmad Karimi Hakkak, Mrs. Simin Behbahani, Mr. Khorsandi, Mr. Parviz Sayyad, Mr. Oveisi, Mr. Ebrahim Victory, Maestros Anoushirvan & Shahdad Rohani, Dr. Foroughi, and Dr. Dr. Azita Sayan, Dr. Zahra Taheri, Mrs. Moghadam, Mr. Moshiri, Dr. Mahjoob, Dr. Farnoodi, Dr. Tahbaz, Dr. Javaheri, Dr. Fozouni, Mr. Khavarani, Dr. Astaneh, Mrs. Daroodi, Ms. Moneeroo Ravanipour, Ms. Asyeh Namdar, and Shahrnoosh Parsipour.
The mission of the Persian Language Advisory Committee of the Sacramento Public Library is to build a permanent collection of Persian language resources in the Sacramento library system, to celebrate and explore the rich cultural heritage of Iran by inviting Iranian scholars to the Speaker Series, and to offer Persian language classes to the Sacramento community.
The Iranian-American community in Sacramento is growing rapidly and many younger families have children who are at the age to begin Persian language classes. Furthermore, the successes of the Advisory Committee's programs have created a keen interest in Persian culture and language within the general community. Several Iranian organizations like; Iranian-American Chamber of Commerce, SHAFA cultural organization, MEHR and Radio Bamdad have sponsored programs in partnership with the Persian Language Advisory Committee.
For the past 13 years, PLAC's annual fundraiser, "Persian Night: Celebrating 955" has been put together by committee members and community volunteers. This annual event has raised over $400,000 over the years from the community at large and proceeds have been donated to the Library Foundation for the purchase of Persian language materials, Speaker Series and the Persian Language Classes. Each elegant gathering features a traditional Iranian cuisine with cultural music and dance as entertainment. The Iranian-American Chamber of Commerce, SHAFA cultural organization, MEHR Foundation, Radio Bamdad, have all played key roles in making these events a success. Those attending the fundraising events include local businesses, corporate leaders, elected officials, local dignitaries and library officials.
The activities created by the Persian Language Advisory Committee are not just for Iranians, they are for anyone interested in learning more about the Iranian people's culture and heritage.
I am pleased to share the story of this successful partnership between community members and the library administration with the California librarians. For further information, please contact me via email: info@sacramentopersians.org.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Haleh Motiey
Persian Language Advisory Committee Member
Sacramento Public Library
The Sacramento Public Library is an Institutional Member of CLA and directly supports our advocacy programs. Click here for more information on Institutional Membership.
Posted by claadmin at 9:09 AM
Exhibit Showcases Work of 200 California Teens
See how teens from libraries across the state documented the often overlooked parts of their communities in a new online exhibit of photography and writing sponsored by the California Council for the Humanities.
Also on the website, find free downloadable materials to help libraries and youth organizations replicate the project. Photographs and resources are on view at www.calhum.org/myplace.
In 2008, 21 libraries from Orland to National City, California, guided teens equipped with cameras and notebooks on explorations of their communities. More than 200 teens participated in the 10-week program called "How I See It - My Place." The exhibit features more than 300 photographs and descriptive writings of their findings.
Libraries and other youth organizations interested in hosting similar photography programs can find valuable materials on the website, including a downloadable program handbook with a week-by-week curriculum, scholar essays and other resources.
Also, hear about the project in person at the 111th Annual CLA conference, where the California Council for the Humanities staff and project participants will present their experiences working on the program, Saturday, October 31, from 2:15 - 3:30 p.m.
California Stories: How I See It: My Place is supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the California State Librarian. This project is conducted in partnership with Califa, a membership-based service bureau designed to provide cost-effective delivery of services, programs and products through a membership network of California libraries.
For more information, visit www.calhum.org or contact the California Council for the Humanities at 415-391-1474.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Shawna Sherman
Young Adult Librarian
Hayward Main Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:09 AM
Battle of the Books
Parents cheering from the sidelines. Fans wearing their schools' favorite colors. Is it a sporting event? It's Battle of the Books! In an effort to get students more excited about books and improve reading comprehension, the Santa Fe Springs City Library's Literacy Services started Battle of the Books with three local schools. Initially with 80 children participating, it has grown to 250 children and 4 schools with cheering parents leading the way. Library Director Hilary Keith comments, "It's a great way to get the whole community involved and get students excited about reading, plus we can strengthen our partnership with the local schools." Students typically read 30 books during the school year and work together in teams. On the night of the competition, practice really pays off as students answer rapid-fire to questions about the books. The winning team gets a trophy and bragging rights for the year.
In addition, in looking for creative ways to get families to read together, the Santa Fe Springs City Library came up with an idea - Pages in the Park. Our library, which is lucky enough to have a beautiful historical park under its auspices, held a potluck dinner and book discussion every month during the summer. "Getting kids to open up about books is a rewarding experience - for them and for us," says Literacy Supervisor Jerry Edwards. "Our Literacy group loves the idea - so now we'll be offering it as part of our regular children's literacy services throughout the year."
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Joyce Ryan
Librarian II
Santa Fe Springs City Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:05 AM
National Day of Service and Remembrance
The Huntington Beach Central Library Children's Department helped to promote the National Day of Service and Remembrance by inviting volunteers to participate in the Preschool Storytime and read stories aloud to the children.
The theme of the stories and songs were about helping each other, working together and cooperation. The volunteer readers were Grandma Bobbie from the Library's Grandparent Readers program and Raquel Ferreira-Caulkins, a professional volleyball player and coach, and a native of Brazil. Preschool Storytime closed with a puppet show narration of the book, Fox Stone Soup, in which the animal characters work together and share what they had to make enough delicious soup for everyone. The story was performed by Miss Barbara, Children’s Librarian, Grandma Bobbie and Raquel. The library program engaged current volunteers to show how working together and giving back to your community makes a difference.
The patrons who attended the program learned that volunteering is not only providing a necessary service to an organization but is also a lot of fun. There were many patrons asking how they can help by volunteering at the library and within their community. It was a successful day for inspiring our community members to get involved in volunteering.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Monica Miltko
Volunteer Services Coordinator
Huntington Beach Public Library
Posted by claadmin at 9:02 AM
Reference Musings
If one thing is for sure when working the Reference Desk, it is that things never seem to stay the same from one day to the next. Just when you think you've mastered the newest database change or the latest virtual reference tool, along comes something to throw the proverbial monkey wrench into the works.
This was brought home to me today, when our computers were inaccessible for some time and a distraught student needed to do some research. After the shock to my mind wore off (my first thought is - what do I do without my computers??? Where do I start?) I took a deep breath, cleared my mind, went back in thought (that is, instead of thinking of which database to search and which keywords to use - thinking of which Dewey number and which source to use) and headed for the reference section of the library, where, of course, there was the perfect subject encyclopedia for helping this student. I left her happily reading and writing.
There is no doubt that databases and the Internet are an absolute boon to our profession and help us provide excellent service, but I, for one, am most grateful for the everlasting (I hope) presence of our print reference collection. It also feels good to be the one to introduce young students to a brand new (to them) terrific source of information - the library collection and their librarian.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Karen Praeger, MLIS
Citrus College Library
Posted by claadmin at 7:55 AM
August 18, 2009
State Capitol Update
INITIATIVE SIMILAR TO ACA 9 BEING DISCUSSED
A constitutional amendment (ACA 9) by Assemblymember Jared Huffman would change the current 2/3 threshold for passage of local bonded indebtedness for the construction, rehabilitation, or replacement of public improvements, to a 55% vote of the voters of a city, county, or special district. It would also lower the vote requirement for a city, county, or special district to impose a special tax from a two-thirds vote of qualified electors to 55%. ACA 9 has been actively supported by CLA, along with the other local government associations, and unions. It has passed three policy committees in the Assembly, with Democrats voting "aye," and Republicans voting "no." It is opposed by the California Association of Realtors, the California Taxpayers Association, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Unfortunately, ACA 9 requires a 2/3 vote for passage on the Assembly Floor, and with all Republicans expected to vote "no" on the measure, it's failure is all but certain. Our readers may recall that the education community suffered a similar fate a number of years ago, when their legislative attempts at reducing the 2/3 vote requirement for bonds failed. However, the education community was ultimately successful in running an initiative campaign to get a statewide ballot measure approved that now allows voters to approve school bonds with a 55% vote of qualified electors.
In light of the potential defeat of ACA 9, a coalition of the major local government organizations, as well as labor and other interest groups, are exploring the possibility of placing a statewide initiative on the ballot in 2010 that would incorporate most of the provisions in ACA 9. In addition to the provisions lowering the vote threshold from 2/3 to 55% for bonds and special taxes, the initiative also parallels the requirements in Assemblymember Huffman's measure, that city councils, county boards of supervisors, or a governing body of a special district would conduct annual audits to ensure that the bond proceeds have been spent on the specific projects. It would also require a public process that solicits a wide range of public comment from the community about the types of facilities that should be funded with the particular bonds. CLA will keep you informed as more information about the proposed initiative becomes available.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists
Posted by claadmin at 9:32 AM
Legislative Committee Update
The primary focus of the Legislative Committee during 2009 has been the State budget and its impact on libraries. Library representatives across the State used Day in the District and Legislative Day in Sacramento to educate Legislators and their staffs about how public libraries use State-funded programs such as the Public Library Fund (PLF), Transaction-based Reimbursement (TBR), and Literacy to benefit local communities. Thanks to these efforts, and those of our CLA Lobbyists Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, the budget ultimately adopted by the Legislature maintained funding for these programs at last years' levels. This was a real achievement given the deep cuts to most other State programs!
Despite the preservation of PLF and TBR, libraries across the State are feeling the effects of reduced local funding and there is an ongoing risk that the State budget will deteriorate further. With that in mind the Legislative Committee is exploring new, cost-effective ways to engage people in advocating for libraries.
One thing is clear - maintaining legislative support for libraries requires more than just the efforts of the Legislative Committee and more than just visiting Legislators on Day in the District and Legislative Day. Libraries and their supporters need to build long-term relationships with the Legislators who represent them so that they understand the important role we play in our communities and know what is at stake when our funding is reduced. Take action today by looking up your local elected officials on CLA's Capwiz Library Advocacy website!
The Legislative Committee is here to support these efforts, and we'd love your input!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kathy Gould, Legislative Committee Chair
Posted by claadmin at 9:24 AM
Declaration for the Right to Literacy
Right to Literacy Convention delegates from across the country determined and voted on the first United States Declaration for the Right to Literacy. The Right to Literacy Convention was part of the National Community Literacy Conference in Buffalo, New York on June 13, 2009.
Delegates concluded that to ensure prosperity for the nation and self determination for the individual, changes at the national, regional and local level must take place.
Literacy leaders, using the model of the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the first Women's Rights Convention, convened from across the nation. The need was clear; tens of millions of adults and children do not have the skills needed to succeed in life. Literacy is the number one tool to change that plight. The right to literacy must be a national priority.
The resolutions support five pillars of literacy:
1. Building the Community
2. Strengthening the Family
3. Ensuring People's Self-Determination
4. Improving the Workforce
5. Transforming the Literacy System
It is a truth held evident by our United States Declaration of Independence: that all men (and women) are created equal, and thus shall have the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. To preserve these rights, we, residents of the United States of America, designate "literacy" as the foundation of such principles and organize our powers to enable every person to affect that ideal. In that pursuit, we acknowledge and agree, as we did in Seneca Falls in 1848 and again 100 years later as part of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, that education shall be guaranteed for all members of the human family...men, women and children. The realization of this vision requires that all residents, regardless of age or status, be able to read and write in order to participate fully and equitably in our democracy.
To see the resolutions and endorse the Declaration for the Right to Literacy go to:
www.literacypowerline.com
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer, Chair, Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:20 AM
Pump Up Your Programs
In 2005, San Diego County Library had 4,188 programs for youth, from birth to the age of eighteen. In four years, that number has nearly tripled, to 12,061 programs a year. Divided by 365 days, that's 33 youth services programs a day (a convenient stat to recall since SDCL is comprised of 33 branches and 2 bookmobiles)-a youth services program at each branch every day of the year. Program attendance more than tripled, from 96,002 to 289, 395. It's no surprise that other stats show correlating increases. Annual circulation, which was just under 4 million in 2005, is now solidly north of 8 million.
These great numbers can rightly be credited to our stellar staff and the steady leadership provided by library administration, but if one workplace habit can be identified as the reason for the increases, it staff's intentional promotion of best practices.
Best practices are by definition the ideas and procedures that work in most situations. Example: Taking a break from Wednesday morning storytimes for a few weeks to regroup or (gasp!) go on vacation? Best Practice: Invite families to make a Wednesday morning playdate at the library, a time for parents to get much needed peer contact and for the kids to socialize. There's no interruption in the family routine and when Wednesday morning storytimes reconvene, families return and hopefully feel just a bit more nurtured by the relationships they've built. This works whatever your community demographics. It is a proven best practice.
By sharing best practices, we've been able to replicate successful programs from one end of the county to the other. San Diego County Library produces and distributes three in-house email newsletters devoted to promoting best practices (Adult Services, Youth Services and Branch Best Practices). In a large system (we cover an area nearly 4,000 square miles), it's a convenient way to concisely share ideas, show photos, and offer contact info for follow up. For San Diego County Library, the email newsletter is another example of a best practice.
We've also made a concerted effort to package programs that work so they can be shared widely. We currently have more than two dozen kits for use as after school programs, activities like legos, card games, reader's theatre - plug and play programs. We've created more than two hundred (English and Spanish-language) storytime kits, complete with books, puppets, craft ideas and master copies of early literacy information to hand to parents. Staff who work with teens have several dozen teen program kits to use, including a recent carnival addition. Teen Services Librarian Jennifer Lawson and her Teen Advisory Guild (TAG) advisors put together a circuit of activities for teens to perform at the annual county-wide TAG gathering. In a race, teams of teens went from booth to booth performing wacky tasks like spelling words YMCA style and immunizing wild (stuffed) animals - maybe the most popular. The program was a great success - a best practice program - so Jennifer packaged the pieces with clear instructions to create a Teen Program Kit - one of a couple dozen that see heavy rotation through the branches.
Now teens who couldn't get to the TAG event can still enjoy the activities. Branch staff can spend their time interacting with teens, not starting from scratch, gathering bits and pieces, buying things they may not have use for after the program. By following best practices in packaging programs, the economy of scale is hard to deny. It saves material funds as well as our precious staffing hours. Doing more with less seems to be the directive these days. Identifying and promoting best practices will help us to do just that.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Pat Downs Bright
President, Youth Services Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:13 AM
ALA Corner
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Chicago, Illinois. July 10-15, 2009
Abridged highlights by Les Kong, based upon notes by Councilor James B. Casey.
Attendance at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago reached a record high at 28,941 - surpassing attendance for each of the previous three annual conferences.
ALAWO (ALA Washington Office): This briefing hosted by Bernie Margolis (State Librarian of New York) and Vivian Pisano (Chair, Organization for Information Technology Policy, and a CLA member) provided attendees with excellent information concerning the new opportunities and challenges ALAWO faces with the Obama Administration and Democratic Congress. Emily Sheketoff, ALAWO Director) described how the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress have not been as supportive of our initiatives as was expected due to very tight budgets and economic uncertainty. LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) appropriations have not been as large as requested, for example. The battles will be as difficult as they were under the past administrations and perhaps more challenging as Democratic majority support is sometimes divided. Kristin Murphy discussed Library Advocacy Day as an opportunity to lobby on Capital Hill on June 28, 2010 (Legislative Day for May 2010 will not be held).
BROADBAND FUNDING - ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). Robert Bocher (Technical Consultant, Wisconsin State Library) led this discussion. Many parts of the US (especially rural areas) have inadequate speed of response time. Most of the US is at or below 1.5 mbs while only a small minority (is at or above 10 mbs). Much of the industrialized world is ahead of us in this regard. Chris McLean discussed how ARRA has funneled $7.4 billion into efforts to expand broadband access even to rural areas. The new ARRA is targeted at larger entities who may, at least, have the grant conversant on payroll who can fight the battle to secure such funding. [Libraries need to contact their Internet providers to find out how they might be able to join with their efforts to secure this ARRA money. The efforts of public libraries (individually) to secure such money have been de-emphasized in favor of those larger scale businesses and organizations.
ALA COUNCIL/EXECUTIVE BOARD/MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION SESSION: Budget and Analysis Committee Chair James Neal reported that revenue was down, but that efforts by the ALA Staff to reduce expenditures had anticipated the bad news and actually exceeded the lower than expected revenue so that the ALA will remain on a sound fiscal footing. Dan Bradbury, Chair of the Endowment Trustees, reported that ALA's endowment fund had reached $24,799,482. The endowment trustees have been managing our resources extremely well with an increase from $11,022,000 in 2000 to $30,554,000 in 2008. [Although the trustees emphasize their conservative investment strategies, the gains achieved over the years have indicated a fairly aggressive equity position.] Jenny Levine described the goals of ALA Connect to: providing a collaborative workspace, providing the opportunity for professional colleagues to link and also to enable them to for communities of common interest.
COUNCIL I: ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels responded to Council about steps towards implementation of the TFOEMP recommendations. Much work has been accomplished during the past six months, but this presentation by Fiels discouraged taking the steps needed to provide real time dissemination via streaming or broadcast of ALA Council deliberations so that those Councilors who could not attend in person would still be able to participate. He described the cost of live audio taping to be $11,000, the real-time streaming to be $55,000 per year and voting remotely by Councilors who are not present at $144,000 per year. Added to these costs in a recession plagued budget, Fiels cited comments by legal counsel about the possible threat of litigation if one or another of our Council Members decided to say something critical of someone while expounding from one of the microphones. Several Council members spoke out in favor of pressing forward with electronic participation.
ALA-APA COUNCIL: This session featured the financial reports of the ALA-APA organization as well as some progress reports concerning the emerging support staff Certification Program. It was reported that the Certification Program of ALA-APA has already had 13 graduates and 129 candidates currently enrolled. A much larger push for certification of library workers is said to be expected in early 2010. "A resolution on Support for Overtime Pay Protection" was supported in principle by the majority in Council, but errors and lack of clarity in the document itself prevented it from passing through this session. The resolution was finally brought back at Council III and passed by 77 - 64.
COUNCIL II: Among the important measures passed at this session was the ALA Policy Monitoring Committee action item calling for the elimination of the category of "Virtual Members" (6.16 in the ALA Policy Manual). Some Members of the TFOEMP viewed this measure as essential to the removal of "second class status" for electronic participation. The ALA Membership Committee Report sought and achieved a dues increase for organizational members of ALA in a measure to bring costs more in line with the levels existing for individual memberships. The Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) Resolution on Ethics Education failed, however, due to the Committee's insistence on providing one firm - the Institute for Global Ethics (IGE) - with the task of providing Ethics Fitness Seminars to Members. The ALA Treasurer's Report highlighted the prudent steps taken by ALA Management and Staff to address the budgetary shortfall. The budgetary ceiling for ALA was approved.
Judith Platt, Freedom to Read Foundation President reported that she will be succeeded by Kenton Oliver. She recalled the great services provided by the late Judith Krug in fighting for intellectual freedom over many decades. Judith Platt noted that the Obama Administration's decision NOT to appeal a ruling by the 2nd Circuit Court that places limits on the government's ability to place gag orders when National Security Letters (NSLs) are issued has rendered that Court ruling final and represents a major victory for privacy rights. A case entitled U.S. v. Stevens is scheduled to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court during its 2009-10 session in which entire categories of speech could be denied First Amendment protection if the perceived value of the speech is deemed to weigh against "compelling government interest."
COUNCIL III: Committee on Legislation secured Council support for passage of a resolution requesting that the "...ALA President, with the advice of the Executive Board, convene an ALA wide representative group to continue to assess the proposed Google Book Search Settlement and its ongoing impact on ALA Members and member institutions and to make recommendations for action by the Association and its members." The Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) secured passage by Council of a number of important action items, including one seeking the "sunset" of Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Resolutions on accessibility of Library web sites and for accessibility of databases purchased by Libraries also passed. A resolution was also passed that will make accessible over the ALA website the recording of the entire deliberations of ALA Council beginning with the next Mid Winter Meeting (Boston, January 2010). Finally, I am pleased to report that, in an election of ALA state chapter councilors, I was elected to the Budget and Planning Assembly of ALA Council.
Copies of the final wording of all resolutions an action items from Council Sessions will be posted and available on the ALA Web Site.
Submitted to California Libraries by Les Kong, ALA Chapter Councilor
Posted by claadmin at 8:25 AM
August 14, 2009
President's Column
Have you found yourself wondering, "What the heck is going on at CLA?" Well my colleagues and friends, herewith is a detailed rundown of what's happened and what's next. I want to get you all up to speed.
Your leadership and task forces have been BUSY!
Task Force Work
Immediately after I took office at conference in San Jose last year, I appointed two task forces: a Technology Task Force headed by Gerry Calderon and a Transition Tool Kit Task Force headed by past president Margaret Miles. Both task forces completed their work. The Transition Tool Kit was distributed to members for help in understanding the upcoming bylaws changes and what it would mean to the structure of CLA and is available on the CLA website. The Technology Task Force's report to the Executive Committee recommended internal changes in hardware and software for CLA and is being used as an internal working document.
Sale of the CLA building and New Office
At the completion of Interim Executive Director Claudia Foutz's Business Assessment Report (8.2 MB), the Executive Committee made the fiscally sound decision to sell the midtown office building CLA had owned for many years. At the time the building was purchased it was envisioned as having excellent investment potential and a possible source for non-dues revenue. Over time, however, the building required various unexpected improvements that detracted from the anticipated non-dues revenue estimates. Continued ownership also required a substantial investment in improvements to bring the building into compliance with ADA legal requirements. However our mid-town Sacramento location remained in well sought after in the commercial real estate market. Without even listing the building, CLA received a competitive cash offer, with no contingencies, and at the close of escrow reaped over $350,000 in profit. These funds will be extremely important as we move forward in re-positioning CLA.
Interim ED, Claudia Foutz, found excellent office space to rent in the Natomas area of Sacramento, close to the airport and downtown. Through her association connections, for $1,000 a month we have office space that includes full janitorial support, furnishings, two offices, two cubicles, access to IT support, and use of one large and one small conference room. The CLA offices relocated to this space at the end of April. The new address and phone number are listed elsewhere in this newsletter issue. Of note, we share the building with the owner, the California Pharmacy Association.
Executive Director Recruitment
The Executive Board has completed two full recruitment cycles for a new Executive Director. It became clear, however, that before we can hire a new Executive Director, we must have adequate staff and infrastructure to support that person. Shortly after Claudia Foutz came on board as the interim ED, the administrative assistant moved out of state and Laura Fisher, the Administrative Director, became an independent consultant. However, Laura agreed to continue to work for CLA two days a week, and Richard Berta, with a degree in marketing, joined CLA as a full-time employee dealing with membership, communications, and marketing. The current staff now consists of Richard, full time communications, marketing and membership person, Laura, part bookkeeper/transition staff support, and Claudia, part-time Interim ED. Remaining fiscally prudent, CLA is delaying further hires until a new transition plan is completed.
Association Management Firms
In order to find an interim solution to CLA staffing and support needs, the CLA Board issued an RFP for an association management firm to take over operational support of our programs. The Board was looking for a firm that would have all the in-house staff needed to support a new executive director until such time as CLA is financially able to expand and hire its own in-house staff. Four responses were received, evaluated, and thoroughly considered. The Board voted to enter into negotiations with the Association Resource Center (ARC) who has over 45 support staff serving 19 associations. ARC is located in Folsom. Interim ED Claudia Foutz's contract has been extended for no longer than March 2010 to help with transition. ARC and Claudia will support my Conference Committee in providing you with an exceptional conference experience. At the same time, we will be working with ARC to continue the search for a permanent Executive Director.
Special Election
A special election was held in July for a new Vice-President/President Elect due to the resignation of Ken Haycock from that position. Kim Bui-Burton, Director of Library, Museum and Cultural Arts in Monterey won that election and has jumped into all the duties with only three months until she takes office as President.
Regular Election
The regular annual election will be held in September this year. The current Nominations Committee, headed by Immediate Past President, Monique le Conge, is working toward having a candidate slate ready. This year, due to the bylaws changes, as well as term expirations, we will be electing: Vice-President/President-Elect for 2011, Treasurer, and 6 at large members to fill out the new Board of Directors. If you would be interested in any of these positions, or know of someone you would like to nominate, please contact Monique at monique_leconge@ci.richmond.ca.us
In addition, as Vice-President, Kim is beginning her standing committee appointments and as President I am beginning to form the new Leadership Development Committee. There will be a call for volunteers for committees coming from the CLA offices, but feel free to contact either Kim or me, respectively, if you are interested in serving on the standing committees (Legislative, Finance, and all award committees) or the Leadership Development Committee. The Legislative Committee was not named a standing committee in the new Bylaws, but Kim will be making appointments will be made to that all-important group that will now be a Working Committee.
Conference 2009
Then of course, in addition to all this activity, the 2009 Conference Committee has been working incredibly hard to ensure that even with the economic down turn, shortage of CLA staff, and the fact that Halloween falls in the middle of conference, we will provide the best opportunity for all of us to get together for education, networking and rejuvenation. Early registration is open at 10% less than last year. I hope you all consider this investment in yourself and your staff and register for conference. I look forward to seeing you all in Pasadena!
"Reach Out!" Electronically
This newsletter, along with CLA's presence on Facebook and Twitter is our first foray into communicating with members quickly with 21st century tools. Our only full time staff member, Richard Berta, is to be commended for pulling us quickly into these mediums. I hope many of you are following along on Facebook and Twitter. I know our Second Life members are interested in having a CLA presence there too. And let me know if you'd be interested in being a Twitter "reporter" at conference this year!
State Librarian Vacancy
On behalf of CLA, I have sent a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger asking him to consider quickly filling the vacant State Librarian position now that the State has a budget. A response was received acknowledging the letter and thanking CLA for stating the importance of this appointment. Some Governor appointments are being made at this time, so let's hope this will be one of them.
Coming soon will be a strategic planning process complete with a membership/program gap analysis and SWOT that will be actively incorporated into the goals of the Board and reviewed by every future Board. This should result in continuity of purpose and forward movement. CLA is poised to develop into the incredible umbrella library professional organization it was always meant to be. We want to honor the past, and keep all that transfers into the future and modify where appropriate for transition and growth. This planning process will result in a dynamic strategic business and operational plan. There is much to do, but I know that with the continued support of all of you amazingly time generous members, CLA will rise to meet all your expectations.
Please let me know your comments, suggestions, questions and concerns at any time: barbara.roberts@palmsprings-ca.gov
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Barbara Roberts, CLA President
Posted by claadmin at 3:08 PM
July 15, 2009
President's Column
By Barbara Roberts, CLA President
Hello CLA!
Welcome to the first ever CLA electronic newsletter. Isn't it about time?
It is the purpose of this communication to "Reach Out!" to keep all members up to date on what's happening in CLA, libraries within the state, interest groups within CLA, CLA Board of Directors actions, CLA legislative reports and act as a forum for sharing not only news, but ideas and information as well.
Registration for this years conference will open soon! The conference committee has made a concerted effort to make this year's conference green, more pocketbook friendly, as well as providing a can't-miss educational and networking event. This year, we will continue to encourage online registration and thus save paper. Additionally, we have lowered fees for early-bird registration by 10% to reflect the budget cutbacks that all libraries are feeling. Take a good look at the offerings and we hope that we see you in Pasadena in October!
Certainly the big items on the table right now are the State budget and the President's Stimulus package. Check out the legislative news columns in this newsletter for the latest. And be sure to check out www.knowyourstimulus.org for the latest on the broadband stimulus funds application process.
The State's Broadband Task Force and Advisory Committees have been formed and librarians are at the table! Stacey Aldrich, Acting State Librarian, will be appointed to the task force. Additionally, through member recommendations, the CLA Board of Directors, nominated Stephanie Sterling Brasley, Manager, Information literacy Initiatives, California State University, Office of the Chancellor, Long Beach, to the Advisory Committee. I'm sure we will be hearing from them on the process for - and the progress of - broadband applications.
The election for our new Vice-President/President-Elect is so important for the continuity of CLA business. I hope you all voted and want to take this opportunity to thank both candidates for agreeing to run.
The search for the next CLA Executive Director and Association Management firm is still in process and I hope to have news for you about that in the next issue of this e-newsletter.
My thanks for the revival of California Libraries go out to CLA's Richard Berta, Membership & Marketing Associate, and Claudia Foutz, Interim Executive Director. It is their energy and creativity that made this publication happen. I also want to thank the IT Task Force, headed by Gerry Calderon, IT Manager at Sacramento Public, for their research and recommendations.
Please share what you think about this method of communication, both in form and content. Is it helpful? What would you like to see that isn't here or what do you think is superfluous? Do you feel it is a valuable member benefit? Email me and let me know: barbara.roberts@palmsprings-ca.gov
Please forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who are not members; it might just pique their interest in joining. And do also share it with your jurisdictions so the benefits of institutional benefits can be better appreciated.
CLA wants to be relevant to you as members. We hope this e-newsletter is just the beginning of ways that we can do that. Enjoy!
Posted by claadmin at 9:31 AM
Recession-Proof Your Library
As we move into the second half of 2009, public libraries across the country have to prove their worth like never before. In these times, when funding is drying up for all but essential services, it is paramount that we be able to articulate just how vital public library services are.
How do we do this? We clearly align public library services with the benefits our funding organizations deem essential. Most likely, these include five perennial concerns: public safety, education, employment, housing and health.
What do essential services look like in public libraries?
- Safety: After school programs, during the hours many young people are without regular adult supervision.
- Education: Teacher cards that supplement school curriculum; basic computer instruction-fundamental skills many need so they can access/utilize all other computer-based resources; online databases that offer access to all, not just those who qualify for scholarships or can afford tuition.
- Employment: Assistance with resumes, i.e. software, free copies and workshops; opening the library earlier so users accessing job ads and applications online can get a jump start.
- Housing: Programs to help homeowners facing foreclosure; prospective/new homeowner workshops.
- Health: Preschool screenings before/after story time; healthy cooking classes for parents/families; coordinating with school districts to fund lunches, before and after school snacks at the library during out-of-school times; posting and distribution of local medical/health services.
How can we make our service models even more worthy of shrinking public dollars? We can leverage our assets by coordinating with other community-based organizations and governmental agencies.
- Perhaps you've partnered with the local Head Start to host monthly family gatherings in your community room because they don’t have a space large enough.
- Maybe the local employment bureau refers their clients to your library because you've dedicated workstations for job seekers.
Funders favor organizations who share resources for the greatest benefit of their constituents. Identifying and taking advantage of shared resources and missions can translate into a more secure position when funding streams run low.
Who are likely partners? They are any departments funded by your organization, i.e. fire, police, parks & rec. dept. Other partners could include: school districts, Y's, Boys & Girls Clubs, clinics, Chambers of Commerce, faith communities, apartment complexes, PTO's, credit unions, home school collaboratives, neighborhood watch groups, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other social service organizations.
Who will fare better during these tough times? Library systems that have stopped measuring their worth by their circulation statistics. They have learned their real value is demonstrated in their responsiveness to their communities, going beyond traditional library services to provide local service gaps, i.e.
- Help with homework after school - very few school libraries are open after 3 PM.
- Assistance with online forms/tests, including dedicated workstations/reserved hours for library users to complete paperwork that is only available online.
- Access to the community bulletin board/resource database that promotes services offered by all the other local organizations.
What can we all do to make our library systems more recession-proof?
- If you haven't yet, consider revamping programs/services to align with services your funding agency deems essential.
- Shore up connections and relationships with neighbor organizations, especially those with shared missions.
- Gather and broadcast the stories, photos, and yes, numbers, that help demonstrate how critical your services are to your constituents.
Let's step up and tell everyone: Public libraries provide essential services and deserve to be at the front of the funding line.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Pat Downs Bright
CYAS President
San Diego County Library
Pat.downs@sdcounty.ca.gov
Posted by claadmin at 9:15 AM
Conference News
PSSST! I'm going to let you in on the best kept secret of the year. The CLA Conference in Pasadena, Oct. 30- Nov. 2, is going to be a blast! Not only are we offering over 90 programs, but we've got comedienne Paula Poundstone, plus Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum, the hilarious creators of our favorite library comic-strip, Unshelved. After-hours, we're offering an awards/dessert event on Friday, a masquerade casino night on Saturday, and dine-around opportunities to eat at some the best restaurants in town on Sunday.
Let's see what else is scheduled: a One Book/One Conference discussion of Rick Wartzman's best-selling work Obscene in the Extreme, about the banning of The Grapes of Wrath in Kern county (lunchtime on Saturday); the first-ever joint Beatty/California Young Readers Medal breakfast, where you'll get to enjoy twice the usual number of authors with your meal-ticket (Sunday morning); and a closing session panel with this year's California Library Journal Movers & Shakers (Monday afternoon).
So, what's this all going to cost? Well, the good news is that we haven't increased conference registration fees. Better yet, we've reduced early bird registration cost by 10% from 2008 prices! Also, we've further reduced prices for unemployed CLA members so that they may take advantage of this premiere networking event. So be sure to register early and stay till the very end of conference. I look forward to seeing you in Pasadena!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Cindy Mediavilla, Chair
CLA Conference Planning Committee 2009
Posted by claadmin at 9:15 AM
ALA Corner
As of July 1, 2009, with one week remaining before the 2009 Annual Conference, registration stood at 13,402, compared to 11,509 one week prior to the start of the 2008 (Anaheim) conference.
During the Annual Conference, the Washington Office offered many opportunities for members to learn more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), specifically about the broadband funding program. In addition to following the latest news via http://www.ala.org/knowyourstimulus, members can also view a webinar on the Web site, which was held on Wednesday, July 8, that provided an overview of the application process. Members can e-mail questions to librarystimulus@ala.org. Answers will be posted on a Frequently Asked Questions page on the "know your stimulus" Web site.
ALA, along with the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) filed a brief on May 4, 2009, with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in response to a private settlement agreement reached among Google, the American Association of Publishers and the Author's Guild, which (if approved) resolves their legal dispute over the scanning of millions of books provided by research libraries.
In the filing, the library associations do not oppose approval of the settlement. Rather, the associations ask the judge, "to exercise vigorous oversight of the interpretation and implementation of the settlement to ensure the broadest possible benefit from the services the settlement enables." Further details may be found here.
Plans for the National Conversation on Privacy/Privacy Week initiative are being finalized after a period of seeking input, feedback, and advice from ALA leadership, members, and privacy organizations. There are new designs and a new brand for the campaign materials, which were be highlighted with the completed Privacy Revolution website at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.
At the ALA Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Executive Board received the final report of a special presidential task force on library education. Recommendations were referred to the ALA Committee on Accreditation which will respond to the Board at this conference.
The Committee on Accreditation is seeking comment on these recommendations from ALA members and other stakeholders and has set up a blog for that purpose.
The Task Force also identified core competences for beginning library generalists. At the 2009 Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Council approved these competences. All ALA members with an interest in library education are encouraged to read the report and share their ideas with the Committee on Accreditation.
The Library Support Staff Certification Program is well on its way to becoming a reality. The boards of six divisions - ACRL, ALCTS, ASCLA, LLAMA, PLA, and RUSA have approved the program, meaning they support the goals of the program, will assist as the program matures, will help recruit evaluators for the portfolios candidates will create, will help publicize the program, may offer courses, and may recruit candidates. The Library Support Staff Interests Round Table has also approved the program, and other units are being asked for their approval. The goal of this Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and ALA funded project is to create standards of practice for academic and public library support staff and a program to measure competency is one year ahead of schedule. If the ALA Executive Board approves the program, applications will be accepted beginning in January 2010.
Remembering...
- Judith F. Krug Memorial Service, Friday, July 10. The library world lost a great leader in April with the death of Judith F. Krug, the founding director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and the Freedom to Read Foundation(FTRF).
Since her passing on April 11, 2009, the outpouring of support - from both within the library community and without - has been immense. For those who wish to sustain Judith's work and legacy, the Freedom to Read Foundation has established the Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund. Donations to the fund may be made online at www.ftrf.org, or sent to FTRF, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.
- ALA conferees were invited to BCALA's "Tribute to Dr. E.J. Josey,"
on Sunday, July 12. The BCALA membership meeting followed from 8:00-10:00pm in the same room. Dr. Josey, founder of BCALA (Black Caucus of the American Library Association) and ALA past president (1984-85) and ALA Honorary Member, died July 3, 2009. His legacy celebrates his dedication to the profession, library organizations and institutions, and to the countless librarians and others whom he mentored throughout his career. He was remembered at multiple events during the 2009 Annual Conference.
Annual Conference 2010 Capitol Hill Rally
In 2010, ALA's Annual Conference is in Washington, D.C., and the Washington Office will try something new in place of National Library Legislative Day.
Specifically, ALA will hold a big rally on Capitol Hill with members of Congress and senators speaking to the library group on Monday, June 28, 2010. Afterward, rally-goers will meet with their representatives and senators at their offices to talk about issues in their libraries. States will have banners, participants can carry signs with our library messages, and we will shout our message for all to hear!
Contact Kristin Murphy at kmurphy@alawash.org for more information. To learn more about National Library Legislative Day,
click here.
Some of the resolutions that will be discussed at ALA Council include:
- Resolution on Libraries and the Continuing Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Accessibility for Library Websites
- Purchasing of Accessible Electronic Resources Resolution
- Resolution on Civil Marriage Equality Regardless of Sexual Orientation
- Intergeneration Day
- Single-Payer, Universal Health Care
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Les Kong, ALA Chapter Councilor
Posted by claadmin at 9:15 AM
Literacy Section Reorganized
There was no question in our minds. The Officers and Executive Committee members of the CLA - Literacy Section wanted to move forward as a part of the CLA reorganization and become an Interest Group.
The first question to arise was one of governance. Should we keep the same organizational structure: President, Vice President, Past President and Secretary? Or should we change to a different format, and if "yes", what would it be? We put this question out to our members and their responses gave us two new options:
1. Co-Chairs serving staggered terms, Past Chair and Secretary.
2. Chair and Vice Chair, Secretary and Assistant Secretary.
An additional suggestion was that we alternate our Chair position between Northern and Southern California in sync with the CLA conferences.
We put the above choices back out to the Literacy Section members for a vote and they selected the #2 option above, plus agreeing to alternate North and South.
We have had some very hardworking and dedicated Literacy Section members serving as CLA Assembly Members, and on the Legislative, Conference Planning, Membership and Continuing Education Committees. Internal to the Literacy Section, other very committed members have served as officers and committee members. We have worked diligently with one goal in mind: a strong, successful CLA. That will continue to be our goal as we make the conversion into the Literacy Interest Group. We look forward to being a vital part of the new CLA as it blossoms.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Alan Archer, 2009 President, Literacy Interest Group
Posted by claadmin at 9:10 AM
News from the Capitol
Legislative Business Continues While Budget Deal Remains Elusive
As the so-called "Big 5" members of the legislative leadership at the State Capitol continue to hold discussions behind closed doors, to bring about a resolution to the Budget stalemate, policy and fiscal committees continue in earnest, dispensing with hundreds of measures. Since very few of the members of the legislature are actively engaged in the Budget negotiations, this allows regular business to continue "as usual" at the State Capitol. The Senate and Assembly are scheduled to take their annual "legislative recess" for one month, commencing Friday, July 17, but without a Budget in place, those plans may be dashed. Democrat leaders in both houses are visibly frustrated in almost daily press conferences, as they update the media regarding the limited progress of the Budget talks. However, Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee contends that the 4 leaders and the Governor are making some strides, and he claims talks have been relatively productive.
As this report goes to press, we remain concerned that an ultimate Budget deal will have serious ramifications on the local government community. Reporting several weeks ago, we noted that the Governor and the Senate President pro Tem are now willing to re-engage on the issue of borrowing $2 billion in property taxes from cities, counties, and special districts. This action could likely be taken for two reasons:
1) Republicans in both houses are resistant to raising taxes to help balance the Budget, and
2) Each day that the Budget stalemate is prolonged, the size of the Budget deficit increases, as does the need to make even deeper cuts or find borrowing solutions.
CLA is actively advocating against any borrowing proposal that would harm public libraries.
Look for our regular legislative "News From the Capitol" reports for future updates on the Budget talks.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Michael Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists
Posted by claadmin at 9:10 AM
Interest Group Conversion
As of July 1, Sections and Round Tables will now be known as Interest Groups. This move reflects that of ALA, in which Interest Groups are designed to be more fluid, less bureaucratic, and more relevant to current interests of members. These groups can be formed by type of library, type of activity, a special interest (about anything!) or a geographic area. Any voting member of the Association is eligible for membership in an Interest Group.
Below is a list of former Sections and Round Tables that will continue as an Interest Group:
- Academic
- African American Librarians
- Chinese American Librarians
- Collection Development
- Library History Interest Group
- Literacy
- Marketing and Public Relations
- Reference
- Student Roundtable
- Technical Services
- Youth Services
For more information on this conversion, please read CLA's Transition Tool Kit. If you have any questions, please e-mail me at rberta@cla-net.org.
I hope you enjoy reading this month's issue of California Libraries. Please let me know what you think!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Richard Berta, CLA Membership and Marketing Associate
Posted by claadmin at 9:01 AM
Legislative Committee Continues Fight for Library Funding
In these times of budget pressure, the CLA Legislative Committee is working harder than ever to protect library funding. Activities such as Day in the District and Legislative Day are organized by the Committee to empower library staff and supporters across California to educate elected officials about how libraries serve their constituents. The Committee also collects data to inform Legislators about the potential impact of State budget and other Legislative actions, encourages people to contact Legislators about specific issues, presents conference programs to help people become better library advocates, and works to make sure information about Legislative actions that impact libraries is distributed to people across the State via the Calix listserv, CAPWIZ, and the CLA website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Come to conference this year and participate in the Advocacy/Legislative workshop to learn more about the Committee functions and the role you can play in protecting and perserving libaries. This year, the Committee is exploring new initiatives to get even more people involved and we would welcome your input! Stay informed and involved and come see me and your collegues this year at Conference on October 30 through November 2 in Pasadena!
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Kathy Gould, CLA Legislative Committee Chair
Posted by claadmin at 9:00 AM