“All hands on deck” is the message ALA President Molly Raphael is sending in regards to funding for school library programs. Her Presidential Task Force on School Libraries comprises members from all facets of the library profession, and in that spirit she’s calling on library practitioners to get involved in the crisis affecting school libraries. … Continue reading Message from ALA President Molly Raphael
Reforma, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, celebrated 40 years of advocacy at its 4th National Conference in Denver, September 15–18. Fittingly, the conference, whose theme was: “Elevating Latino Library Services to a Higher Level,” coincided with the Diez y Seis de Septiembre (the anniversary of … Continue reading Reformistas Gather to Reflect, Recharge as Group Turns 40
“All of you represent assets in your communities that truly make a difference,” Texas State Librarian Peggy Rudd told more than 320 librarians gathered in Frisco, Texas, September 8–11, for the 2011 Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Annual Conference. An affiliate of the American Library Association, ARSL is a nationwide network of library … Continue reading A Big Gathering of Small and Rural Libraries
The only recourse after disaster strikes is to recover and learn from it. The library community is well aware of the horror visited upon the Eastern seaboard by Hurricane Irene, and, hearteningly, how communities are strategizing about how they’ll restore library services even as they struggle to repair and rebuild other essential town infrastructure. Transplanted … Continue reading Unavoidable Disasters and Unfathomable Disconnects
As librarians, we support freedom of speech and freedom of access to information. In early 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that increased these freedoms. Known as Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the decision declared unconstitutional some statutory restrictions on political speech—restrictions that carried the threat of fine or imprisonment for … Continue reading Librarians and the Threat to Free Political Speech
John Chrastka, ALA’s director of membership development, is leaving the Association effective August 31 to become a partner in a Chicago-based association consulting agency. His immediate supervisor, ALA Associate Executive Director for Communications Cathleen Bourdon, says of John: He was the friendly face of ALA to thousands of ALA members and a true colleague to … Continue reading ALA Bids Farewell to John Chrastka
Now that the debate over raising the debt ceiling is over and the smoke is beginning to clear, the question remains: What does this really mean? And, more specifically, what does this mean for libraries? First, a recap: With little time to spare, Congress finally passed on August 2 the Budget Control Act of 2011, … Continue reading A Librarian’s Primer on the Debt-Ceiling Deal
“This is one of the best days I’ve had in two years!” exulted Cathleen Russ, director of Troy (Mich.) Public Library the morning after some 58% of voters saved the library from closing permanently by approving a five-year operating millage. The August 2 special election was the third library referendum held there in the past … Continue reading Third Time’s the Charm for Troy Public Library
Wake up, librarians! No-fee public access to government information is in danger, because on July 22 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 252–159 to drastically cut the Government Printing Office (GPO) appropriations for FY2012 and eliminate funding for the GPO Federal Digital System (FDsys). FDsys was created by GPO in 1994 to fulfill the requirement … Continue reading Government Information in Peril
The three-branch Santa Clarita (Calif.) Public Library opened its doors over the Fourth of July weekend as an independent city system for the first time since city officials voted in August 2010 to depart from the County of Los Angeles Public Library. By all accounts, hundreds flocked to the openings to check out materials, eyeball … Continue reading Privatization – and Pushback – Proceed in Santa Clarita
The Winona Newspaper Project, an open, noncommercial digital archive, is providing access to a number of historic periodicals of Winona, Minnesota, a mid-sized city in the southeastern part of the state. The project is an indispensable resource for Winona State University’s Darrell W. Krueger Library and university faculty and students, as well as for local … Continue reading How One Library Digitized Its Community’s Newspapers
I received a pleasant surprise about a week ago when ALA Publishing colleague Ben Segedin forwarded a voice-mail to me from a librarian who had phoned to request a few copies of American Libraries’ May/June 2011 issue. It would have been routine except for one detail: The caller identified herself as the heretofore unidentified woman … Continue reading Community-building “Cover Girl” Comes Forward
