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National Library News
May 27, 2010
National Nomination for CLA Member
California Library Association (CLA) member Mary Minow has been nominated by President Barack Obama to the National Museum and Library Services Board (NMLSB). Minow, an attorney, consultant and a former librarian and library trustee, specializes in copyright, privacy and free speech. The nomination requires Senate confirmation.
The NMLSB, http://www.imls.gov/about/board.shtm, is an advisory body that includes the director and deputy directors of IMLS and twenty presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed members of the general public who have demonstrated expertise in, or commitment to, library or museum services. Informed by its collectively vast experience and knowledge, the NMLSB advises the IMLS director on general policy and practices, and on selections for the National Medals for Museum and Library Service.
"I congratulate Mary on her nomination to the IMLS Board by President Obama," said Kim Bui-Burton, CLA President and Director of the Monterey Public Library. "Mary Minow is an outstanding advocate and information resource for libraries in California, throughout the country and the world. She has contributed her wonderfully 'dangerous mix of thoughts and information' to the CLA community for many years now, and we are all the better for her thinking and support."
Among her many accomplishments are currently serving as Chair of the CLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, teaching digital copyright at San Jose State School of Library Science and at Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science, editing the Stanford Copyright & Fair Use site (http://fairuse.stanford.edu), and serving as past President of the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners.
Minow was the first recipient of the California Library Association's Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award, given in 2004 and she coauthor with Tomas Lipinski of The Library's Legal Answer Book (ALA Editions: 2003).
About the California Library Association
Established in 1895, the California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association that provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services, librarianship, and the library community. CLA helps its 3,000 members excel in a fast-changing job market and is a resource for learning about new ideas and technology. Furthermore, CLA is a leading advocate on all statewide library issues and actively works to influence legislation affecting libraries and librarians. Governed by an elected Board of Directors, CLA is headquartered in Folsom, California.
More information may be obtained at www.cla-net.org
- Official Press Release (PDF)
Posted by claadmin at 11:17 AM
April 12, 2010
Communities Thrive @ Your Library
That's this year's American Library Association slogan for National Library Week - a nationwide celebration of the value of all types of libraries, librarians and library workers. California's millions of residents and visitors depend on their libraries for lifelong literacy activities, computer and technology tools and support, help with homework, academic and life-enhancing research, pleasure reading, viewing and listening. And the direct services that only libraries provide in person and online.
Especially in these difficult times, California communities are surviving and thriving because of the presence of hundreds of academic, public, school and special libraries across the state - and thousands of skilled and knowledgeable librarians and library staff members working to keep them open and welcoming, rich with resources for all. Thank you, thank you to all!
It seems fitting to me to begin the 2010 National Library Week celebration with Happy Birthday wishes to one of California's library champions - children's author Beverly Cleary - who turns 94 today. Her first book for children, Henry Huggins, was published sixty years ago, and was followed by over 36 others, published in many different languages and different formats.
After growing up in a town too small to have a library, Beverly became a librarian. She then began writing children's books about children, parents and pets that children could recognize and enjoy, inspiring children, especially reluctant readers, to read. Beverly's love of books is celebrated on April 12 every year with a National Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day.
I promise to make time tonight to do just that! I hope that, in honor of Beverly Cleary and National Library Week, you can too.
Kim Bui-Burton
Director, Monterey Public Library
CLA 2009-2010 President
Posted by claadmin at 4:04 PM
March 19, 2010
2010 Woman's Day Magazine Library Contest Open through May 9
CHICAGO - Libraries have until May 9 to promote Woman's Day magazine's newest initiative, "why the library is important to my community." The American Library Association (ALA) and Woman's Day are looking for stories that showcase the importance and value of libraries within the communities they serve.
Women ages 18 and up are invited to send in their stories in 700 words or less to womansday@ala.org. Up to four stories will be profiled in the March 2011 issue of the magazine or at womansday.com.
Librarians can download free tools to help collect local stories from the Campaign for America's Libraries Web site (www.ala.org/womansday). Tools include a sample press release and newsletter copy.
A downloadable Web button that can be linked to the official rules on the Woman's Day Web site (www.womansday.com/ala) is also available.
The initiative continues a nine-year partnership between the magazine and ALA's Campaign for America's Libraries that has generated millions of dollars worth of editorial coverage for libraries. Since 2002, Woman's Day has asked its readers to write in about "how the library has changed my life," "how the library helped improve my health" and "how the library helped me deal with the tough economy."
Woman's Day magazine is a Partner in the Campaign for America's Libraries (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary), ALA's public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types - across the country and around the globe - use the Campaign's @ your library brand. The Campaign is made possible by ALA's Library Champions, corporations and foundations that advocate the importance of the library in American society.
Other Partners include Carnegie Corporation of New York, Disney Book Group, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Univision Radio and Verizon.
Submitted by:
Megan McFarlane
Campaign Coordinator
The Campaign for America's Libraries
Posted by claadmin at 9:36 AM
March 9, 2010
Critical Action Alert: Public & School Libraries Need Our Help
Please call your congressperson's Washington office today and ask him/her to sign onto two letters circulating around Congress. The first letter your member needs to sign urges the Appropriations Committee to appropriate $100 million to Improving Literacy Through Schools (ILTS) in FY2011. President Obama has consolidated ILTS with five other programs, meaning it would compete with other literacy programs for federal dollars. We cannot let ILTS go without this funding because school libraries are essential to a child's education and ILTS is the only federal source of funding for school libraries.
The second letter your Representative in Congress needs to sign asks the House Appropriations Committee for $300 million for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) in the FY2011 Appropriations bill. The American Library Association's Washington Office has created a chart (pdf) indicating how much your state received for LSTA in FY2010 versus how much your state would receive if LSTA is funded at $300 million. For example, California received $16,971,056 in 2010 and would receive $25,796,264 if LSTA was funded at $300 million. LSTA is the only federal funding for public libraries.
If your representative is a Democrat please ask him/her contact Joseph Mais in Congressman Raul Grijalva's office (at 202-225-2435) to sign these two letters. If your member is a Republican please ask him/her to call Rachel Fenton in Congressman Vernon Ehlers' office (at 202-225-3831) to sign-on.
Furthermore, when you contact your member's office, please explain how important it is that both public libraries and school libraries receive this funding. Tell your member about the critical services your library provides and why it deserves full funding.
If you need to locate your members of Congress, please visit CLA's Capwiz Legislative Action Center and enter your zip code.
Posted by claadmin at 2:38 PM
February 18, 2010
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
February 11, 2010
Three Libraries Selected for 4th Annual ALSC Bookapalooza Program
CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has announced the winners of the fourth annual Bookapalooza program. The three libraries selected to receive a collection of children's materials are the Foundation Schools (Md.); Monterey County Free Libraries; and the Richmond Public Library.
The collections consist of books, videos, audiobooks and recordings produced in 2009 and submitted by children's trade publishers for the 2010 award and media evaluation committees. Intended to help transform each library's collection, the Bookapalooza award provides an opportunity for communities to use these new materials in creative and innovative ways. The Bookapalooza program aligns with ALSC's core purpose of creating a better future for all children through libraries.
The Foundation Schools serve approximately 400 children and adolescents, in grades one through 12, who suffer from an emotional disability. Students are referred to the Foundation Schools when the public schools have exhausted all other options to meet their special needs; in addition to emotional and behavioral problems, many students who come to the school have fully diagnosed learning disabilities or learning deficits, a history of school failure and deficits in the essential skills necessary for school success. Currently, the school's library is small and outdated, leaving students uninspired and uninterested. The Bookapalooza collection will transform the library into something students can use both academically and recreationally, aiding in the success of students at the Foundation Schools.
The Monterey County Free Libraries in Greenfield, CA, serve a large Oaxacan community, which presents a number of challenges and struggles. Oaxacans come from Chiapas, the poverty-stricken region in Mexico bordering on Guatemala. Due to their isolation in the mountains, poverty and lack of schooling in Mexico, many Oaxacans in the community do not speak Spanish or English; the languages they speak identify their Oaxacan subgroups. The Bookapalooza grant will help the library meet the challenges the marginalized Oaxacan immigrant community confronts as it seeks to integrate into American society.
The city of Richmond, CA, struggles with high-rates of crime, violence and poverty. For many children, it is hard for children to get to the library, but luckily the library comes to them. The library has had a bookmobile since 1947, and the current vehicle has been in service since 1996. Over the past two years, the bookmobile has serviced, on average, 4,500 children a month. With an extremely limited budget, it has been very challenging for the bookmobile librarians to keep up with the collection needs of the community. By winning the Bookapalooza award, the bookmobile will be able to replace its older books and allow more books to go out on loan in the community.
ALSC, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is the world's largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,200 children's and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC's Web site at www.ala.org/alsc.
Members of the 2010 ALSC Grant Administration Committee include: Linda Ernst, King County (Wash.) Library System; Lynn Piper Carpenter, Birmingham (Ala.) Public Library; Stacy Dillon, LREI, N.Y.; Peter Howard, Louisville (Ky.) Free Public Library; Richard Michael Kerper, Millersville University, Pa.; April Mazza, Wayland (Mass.) Free Public Library; Stephanie Ann Simpson, N.C.; Margie Stern, Delaware County (Pa.) Library System; and Tracy-Lyn Van Dyne, Connetquot (N.Y.) Public Library.
Submitted by:
Jenny Najduch
ALSC Marketing Specialist
The Richmond 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 4:20 PM
February 10, 2010
Report on Executive Board Meetings at ALA Midwinter Conference
Dear Colleagues:
I wanted to update you on the Executive Board meetings held at Midwinter:
SPECTRUM: The Spectrum Presidential Initiative was a topic of much discussion, as the Board met with Falona Joy, who is serving as a fundraising consultant to the project, and discussed strategies for achieving the one million dollar goal for new Spectrum scholarships. Plans call for half to be raised from within ALA, and half to be raised from new, external sources such as corporations and foundations. The immediate goal is to increase the number of scholarships; the long term goal is to also build relationships and infrastructure that will lead to future contributions and growth in the program.
EVENT PLANNER: As you are aware, the Board spent some time discussing the event planner and ways in which the planner could be improved. An action plan has been developed by ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels that will address many of the issues that have made it difficult to find specific meetings, so that the planner which will be released in April reflects improvements based on member feedback. We'll be reporting back to you on this work, as well as on the development of the new ALA Connect- based Conference Planner, which will replace the current Event Planner. The new Planner will be Beta tested at Annual, and will replace the current one next Midwinter.
E-PARTICIPATION: We also spent a good deal of time discussing how we can support more e participation, improving the conference experience and how to increase participation in the virtual conference planned for Annual. This last is particularly important as travel funds become tighter.
LIBRARY ADVOCACY DAY: This was also an agenda item. Board members discussed strategies to encourage participation, as well as how best to coordinate the many aspects and implications of what promises to be a unique ALA conference event.
STRATEGIC DISCUSSION: Increasing member satisfaction was the topic of a "strategic discussion" held Friday. Board members discussed ways of better understanding and meeting the needs of members, the potential of electronic communication to improve member communication, and specific strategies for increasing member engagement and satisfaction. The Board plans to devote time at each meeting for a discussion of a strategic issue. Future discussions will focus on each of the new goals of the 2015 strategic plan.
EMERGING LEADERS: Time was also spent discussing the Emerging Leaders program, with a particular emphasis on the improvements that have been made to the program based on feedback from participants. In particular, each year's projects have been increasingly valuable as units have gained experience in planning activities that are meaningful and have a real impact on the association and its services to libraries. A three-year cumulative report on the project was also discussed. We also discussed a status report from the young professionals group formed by me to look at new ways of involving younger members.
CHAPTER RELATIONS REPORT: The Board discussed a report from the Chapter Relations Committee presented by Chair Susan DiMattia. Chapters have been the focus of increased attention under the strategic plan, and Susan reported on successes such as the Capwiz legislative action software now provided to Chapters by ALA. In Florida alone, Capwiz has been credited with helping save a $22 million annual state appropriation from being zeroed out. Other Chapter issues and plans were also discussed, particularly in light of the current fiscal climate.
BOARD LIAISON REPORTS: A good deal of time was spent discussing Board liaison reports. Under this program, Board members meet with divisions, round tables, committees and affiliates in order to share information about strategic issues and initiatives and to learn about member issues and needs. Discussions focused on responding to a wide variety of issues and suggestions from various groups.
BUDGET: Budget matters included discussion of reports from the Finance and Audit Committee, from BARC, from the Auditor and from the Endowment Trustees.
EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION: In closed session, the Board discussed appointment of a new Endowment Trustee, representatives to the Depository Library Council and standing committees. They also heard an update on various legal issues from ALA Counsel Paula Goedert.
More detailed information on the meeting agenda and Board documents may be found at here
Also, please let me know if you would like any further information about any of the items I have discussed here. Thanks!
Dr. Camila A. Alire
ALA President
www.camilaalire.com
ALAlire Blog: http://camilaalire.wordpress.com
Posted by claadmin at 11:44 AM
February 1, 2010
U.S. Department of Agriculture Allocates $100 million for Rural Public Libraries
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Secretary of Agriculture has allocated $100 million in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facilities funding for public libraries to provide educational opportunities and improve public services in rural communities. The funding will be provided primarily through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
"In 78 percent of rural communities, the library is the sole provider of no-fee Internet access," Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA Washington Office, said.
"This funding specifically set aside for rural libraries is a lifeline for communities across the country who depend on their local libraries for basic needs such as Internet access as well as assistance with e-government services, literacy and homework programs, and much more. We thank the USDA for its recognition of the vital role libraries play in rural communities and their need for funding."
Funds may be used to construct, enlarge or improve public libraries. This can include costs to acquire land needed for a facility, pay necessary professional fees and purchase equipment required for operation. Funds can be used to purchase shelving, furniture, computers, audio-visual equipment, distance learning equipment and bookmobiles.
Depending on funding availability, USDA Rural Development will provide up to $500,000 in additional Recovery Act dedicated grant funds to each of the State Offices for library projects.
For more information on the program and how to apply, see the USDA Rural Development fact sheet.
Or, to reach the USDA Rural Development contact for California, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/CA
Contact: Jenni Terry
Press Officer, ALA Washington Office
Posted by claadmin at 9:38 AM
May 5, 2009
ALA Millennial Survey
The American Library Association's Emerging Leaders Program is asking CLA members born after 1978 to participate in an online survey. The findings of this survey will help CLA and other library professional associations understand the needs and wants of the "millennial generation" and better serve its members. The results of the survey will be presented at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference.
This survey will take about 15-20 minutes, and is available at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=l2y9vQxaMRF6OSNMyjdJTQ_3d_3d
For additional information about the Emerging Leaders Program, please visit http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders/index.php/Main_Page.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Posted by claadmin at 3:01 PM
January 16, 2009
Libraries During Tough Times
Library use has been increasing during the current economic downturn. Recently, the Wall Street Journal highlighted this issue, with a special spotlight on the Tracy branch of the Stockton - San Joaquin County Public Library.
The article is available online at the Journal's website.
Posted by claadmin at 10:19 AM
December 18, 2008
ALA Submits Report to Obama-Biden Transition Team
After the 2008 presidential election, the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) Advisory Committee and the Committee on Legislation (COL) held meetings with the ALA Washington Office to discuss the key issues and concerns the library community must communicate to the new Administration during this time of transition and throughout Obama's presidency.
Following these meetings, the ALA Washington Office compiled a report, which was submitted to the Obama-Biden Transition Team on Wednesday, December 17. The Washington Office is communicating with the Transition Team and hopes to continue this open dialogue over the next four years. The report, titled Opening the "Window to a Larger World," Libraries' Role in Changing America, can be viewed here.
Posted by claadmin at 11:50 AM