AMERICAN LIBRARIES DIRECT April 26, 2006 AL Direct is a weekly electronic newsletter sent by the American Library Association every Wednesday to personal members by e-mail as a perquisite of membership. Click here to view the online version of our email: <%= util.viewHtmlLink %> POLL: What do YOU think? ******************************* On April 11, the Library of Congress picked 50 recordings to add to its National Recording Registry. Which one or two recordings would you have picked? Click here to ANSWER! http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2259CZ7TYND This is an unscientific poll that reflects the opinions of only those AL Direct readers who have chosen to participate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of the April 19 poll: Would you willingly forego a salary increase or sacrifice benefits to help your library through a financial crisis? YES.............42% NO..............58% (261 responses) For cumulated results and selected responses to all AL Direct polls, visit the AL Online website. http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/aldirecta/2006pollresults/2006polls.htm U.S. & WORLD NEWS ******************************* MARC creator Henriette Avram dies http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/avram.htm Henriette Avram, credited with the development and implementation of the MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging) format, died April 22 at age 86. Avram, who retired from the Library of Congress in 1992 after 26 years of service, was named LC’s first director for processing systems, networks, and automation planning in 1980.... FBI seeks to search journalist’s archives for classified documents http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/anderson.htm The FBI is demanding access to some 200 boxes of the papers and notes of Jack Anderson that the late investigative journalist’s family is donating to the George Washington University library to remove any leaked classified documents. However, the family has resisted the government’s efforts, claiming that turning over the materials would be inconsistent with the reporter’s life work.... Harassment claim dropped against Ohio State librarian http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/mansfield.htm Ohio State University officials have found no evidence that a librarian at the school’s Mansfield campus engaged in harassment when he suggested four best-selling conservative books be added to the freshman reading list.... Gwinnett board chair resigns over director hearing http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/gwinnett.htm A testy exchange between two patrons and Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Library Executive Director Jo Ann Pinder on March 17 led to trustees calling a special hearing to decide whether to discipline Pinder. However, two days before the April 17 hearing took place, board Chair Dan English submitted his letter of resignation.... Miami school board blocks reconsideration end run http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/miamidade.htm The board of the Miami–Dade County Public Schools voted 6–3 April 18 not to interfere with the system’s established materials-reconsideration process in the review of A Visit to Cuba, which has been challenged by a Cuban expatriate.... LC, British Library support e-journal standard http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/ejournals.htm The Library of Congress and the British Library have agreed on a common standard for scholarly electronic journals that will help ensure long-term access to online content.... Brooklyn takes criticism for closed branch http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/brownsville.htm Brooklyn (N.Y.) Public Library officials came under fire at a town hall meeting April 19 for closing the Brownsville branch for one week after a staff member was injured breaking up a fight March 15.... Hanover to keep Guthrie name on public library http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/hanoverpa.htm The Hanover (Pa.) Public Service Committee voted 8–2 April 17 to send a motion to the borough council approving the name of its new library as the “Guthrie Memorial Library, Hanover’s Public Library.”... Wind gust tears roof off school library http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/april2006ab/windgust.htm Wind removed the 2,100-square-foot roof of the Mountain Elementary School Library in Los Alamos, New Mexico, on April 15. The damage occurred early on a Saturday and was not discovered until the local Key Club came to paint at the school that day.... ALA NEWS ******************************* Free teleconference on “Confronting the Crisis in Library Education” http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/Freeteleconfoncrisiseduc.htm ALA President Michael Gorman will host a free national satellite teleconference on Friday, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. “Confronting the Crisis in Library Education” will address the question of whether today’s library education programs are doing an adequate job of training the next generation of librarians and discuss the related issues of continuing education and certification.... Gorman responds to FBI efforts to access Anderson papers http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/andersonFBI.htm ALA President Michael Gorman issued a statement April 21 in the wake of reported efforts by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to access the personal papers of journalist Jack Anderson.... Shades of Glory chronicles the story of African-American baseball http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/ShadesofGlory.htm The Campaign for America’s Libraries announced a new Annual Conference program entitled “Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball,” which will feature James L. Gates, library director at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.... PR Forum to focus on word-of-mouth marketing http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/PRForummarketing.htm “Word-of-mouth marketing” is the latest buzzword when it comes to promoting your library, but what does it really mean? The PR Forum will take place in New Orleans on Sunday, June 25, from 8 to 10 a.m. The program is geared toward library public relations and marketing professionals but is open to any ALA member wishing to attend.... SELA joins Advocacy Institute sponsors http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/SELibraryAssInstitute.htm The Southeastern Library Association has joined the list of cosponsors for the ALA Advocacy Institute, scheduled for Friday, June 23, during Annual Conference in New Orleans.... Booklist Online ******************************* Featured review: reference http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=reference Growing Up with Science. Marshall Cavendish, 2005 (0-7614-7505-2). Gr. 6–9. As we read all the bad press about the state of science knowledge among American students, it is heartening to see such a colorful and useful encyclopedia available for middle-school readers. This set, the third edition of a title last published back in 1990, explains many of the most complicated aspects of science and technology, such as how laser disks and computers work, in clear and precise language with the help of beautiful color photographs and drawings.... NEW ORLEANS UPDATE ******************************* Library staff applies creativity to fundraising for Gulf Coast colleagues http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/gcfundraising.htm Hundreds of librarians and library staff members have pitched in to raise funds for hurricane relief and adopted libraries. Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, celebrated Mardi Gras using such props as a “Booktruck Named Desire” float (above) and raised more than $1,200 for Southern University at New Orleans in February. Amesbury (Mass.) Public Library kicked off National Library Week with a 1950s-style dance to raise funds for its adopted library—Jefferson Parish’s Lakeshore Library in Metairie, Louisiana.... Forget about “Katrina cough” http://www.nola.com/archives/t-p/index.ssf?/base/library-100/1145428264168770.xml&coll=1 Despite claims that there have been more coughs, sore throats, and runny noses since Hurricane Katrina roared through the New Orleans area, a new state health department study has found that the monster storm’s lingering local effects do not include an increase in severe respiratory problems.... New Orleans Times-Picayune, Apr. 19 Katrina’s tide carries many to hopeful shores http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/us/23diaspora.html The New York Times analyzed relocation patterns in 17 counties in and around Atlanta and Houston, two leading destinations for Katrina evacuees. The average evacuee has landed in a neighborhood with nearly twice the income as the one left behind, less than half as much poverty, and significantly higher levels of education, employment, and home ownership.... New York Times, Apr. 23 Renovation and repair at Dillard University (subscription required) http://chronicle.com/weekly/v52/i34/34b00401.htm Over the course of eight years, Arthur J. Clement oversaw $55 million in renovation and new construction on Dillard University’s historic campus in New Orleans. Then he watched with horror as Hurricane Katrina washed much of the work away.... Chronicle of Higher Education, Apr. 28 Money worth spending http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/opinion/23sun2.html Wetlands restoration has been pushed to the bottom of a very long post-hurricane priority list. That may not be surprising, but it is a big mistake. The future of the region’s habitability is tied to the health of its wetlands. Long before there were levees to hold back the floodwaters, there were wetlands acting as a buffer.... New York Times, Apr. 23 New Orleans Museum of Art welcomes ALA http://www.noma.org/index.html NOMA (in City Park, a short taxi ride from the Convention Center) offers free admission on June 23–25 to ALA attendees who bring their conference name tags. Librarian Sheila A. Cork can offer a limited number of tours of the Felix J. Dreyfous Library on Friday, June 23, between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., if you e-mail her well in advance.... New Orleans Museum of Art DIVISION NEWS ******************************* ALCTS Publishing releases new spring titles http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/ALCTSspringtitles.htm Five new titles from ALCTS include a selection of the writings of Ross Atkinson, preservation cost analysis, managing electronic resources, the future of the library catalog, and knowledge management.... ALSC 2006 National Institute registration open http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/ALSC2006Institute.htm “Children’s Services Today and Tomorrow” is the theme of ALSC’s 2006 National Institute, to be held September 14–16 at the Hilton Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.... ChoiceReviews.online to get a new look this summer http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/choice/choicereviews/cro2info.htm ChoiceReviews.online has been totally redesigned and will be relaunched as CRO2 in the summer. The service will have a new user-friendly interface and expanded functionality. CRO2 subscribers will have access to 115,000 Choice reviews, as well as all editorial content from recent issues of Choice.... New ASCLA online course http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/ASCLASpanishLanguagemat.htm ASCLA is introducing “Selecting Spanish-Language Materials for Adults,” its first internet-based course designed for library staff serving Spanish-speaking populations. The course includes threaded discussions and chat sessions, and will be held on August 21–September 15 and October 23–November 17.... AWARDS ******************************* Loriene Roy receives 2006 Equality Award http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/Roy2006EqualityAward.htm Loriene Roy, professor in the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin, is the 2006 recipient of the ALA Equality Award, which recognizes contributions for promoting equality in the library profession.... Janice Trapp wins the Sullivan Award http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/TrappwinsSullivanAward.htm Janice Trapp, director of the James V. Brown Library in Williamsport, Pa., is the recipient of the Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children Award. The award, donated by Peggy Sullivan, honors an individual who has shown exceptional understanding and support of public library service to children.... Trina Magi named Futas winner http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/MaginamedFutaswinner.htm Trina Magi, government documents librarian at the University of Vermont in Burlington is the winner of the Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award. Magi played a pivotal role in mobilizing opposition to Section 215 (the library records provision) of the USA Patriot Act.... Thomson Gale Financial Development Award winner http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/GaleDevelopmentaward.htm The Arley (Ala.) Public Library is the 2006 recipient of ALA’s Thomas Gale Financial Development Award. The award, $2,500 and a citation donated by Thomson Gale, is presented annually to a library organization that exhibited meritorious achievement in carrying out a library financial development project.... Beta Phi Mu Award recipient named http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/BetaPhiMuawardwinner.htm Lois Mai Chan, professor at the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science, is the 2006 recipient of the Beta Phi Mu Award, presented to a library school faculty member or to an individual for distinguished service to education in librarianship.... AASL selects 2006 NSLMPY Award winners http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/AASL2006NSLMPYwinners.htm The Hilliard (Ohio) City School District; the Biblioteca Las Américas in Mercedes, Texas; and Kapolei (Hawaii) High School are the winners of AASL’s National School Library Media Program of the Year Award.... EBSCO/ALA Conference Scholarship Award http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/april2006/2006EBSCOALAawardwinner.htm The winners of the 2006 EBSCO/ALA Conference Scholarship Award are Rita Baladad, Tina Bradley, Emily Chandler, Amy Joanne Chow, Nancy Cope, Angela Gonzalez, Teresa Maria Mares, Cassandra Plater, Mildred Walters, and Li Zhang.... SEEN ONLINE ******************************* Elsevier reviews its subscription model http://www.iwr.co.uk/information-world-review/news/2154589/elsevier-reviews-journal-models Elsevier is assessing new pricing models that could see archive databases included with journal subscriptions. The scientific publishing giant is collaborating with major libraries and believes there is demand for a return to title-by-title subscriptions with the added benefit of access to comprehensive databases.... Information World Review, Apr. 24 Falcons at the Evanston Public Library http://www.evanston.lib.il.us/falconcam/ For the third year in a row, peregrine falcons have chosen to nest at the Evanston (Ill.) Public Library. The nest isn’t visible from either inside or outside the library, so the staff set up a FalconCam to monitor the hatching process. The video updates every few minutes.... Evanston Public Library Author Nicholas Basbanes dedicates Army library in Iraq http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-basbanes24apr24,0,2568872.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions My escort on what was the unlikeliest of bibliophilic adventures, Lt. Col. Brian C. McNerney, took me to a recreation center in which a new library was about to open its doors to eager readers at LSA Anaconda near Balad, Iraq. The freshly installed wooden shelves had been stocked through the efforts of octogenarian Army veterans in the United States.... Los Angeles Times, Apr. 24 San Bernardino County supervisor urged to keep manga book on shelf http://www.vvdailypress.com/2006/114597098999319.html Two weeks after ordering the removal of a comic book that contained explicit graphic images from the San Bernardino (Calif.) County Library, First District Supervisor Bill Postmus has received a letter from the National Coalition Against Censorship in which he is accused of censoring a “critically acclaimed book.”... Vacaville (Calif.) Daily Press, Apr. 25 Library-related cartoon caption contest provokes merriment http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06113/684139-294.stm There were three winning entries (and eight honorable mentions) to create a caption for a cartoon featuring a rough-looking motorcyclist staffing the reference desk... Pittsburgh (Pa.) Post-Gazette, Apr. 23 Altered Books available for check-out http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/arts/design/23suth.html Last year, the Portland (Maine) Public Library joined forces with the Maine College of Art for a project in which artists were invited to take any of the library’s discarded volumes and do with them as they pleased. In February, 186 altered books were put into circulation, and within two weeks about 100 had been checked out. Some library patrons used them as centerpieces at dinner parties, others held mini-exhibitions in their homes.... New York Times, Apr. 23 ACTIONS AND ANSWERS ******************************* List of Web 2.0 products and services http://www.listible.com/list/complete-list-of-web-2-0-products-and-services Confused about what Web 2.0 is all about? There are now many Web 2.0 services that could replace current desktop applications. Here is a major apps list, arranged by popular vote.... Listible The world’s greatest library http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20060424-library-congress-washington-dc-elbridge-gerry-congress-thomas-jefferson-monticello-ainsworth-spofford-rutherford-hayes.shtml Established 206 years ago, on April 24, 1800, the Library of Congress was initially intended merely to provide reference assistance for a small number of government workers. But thanks in large part to the efforts of one visionary Civil War–era assistant librarian, it was ultimately built up into one of the most impressive repositories of human knowledge on the planet.... American Heritage, Apr. 24 What students have to say about academic libraries (Podcast or streaming video) http://www.asu.edu/lib/podcasts/#student Five Arizona State University students from various academic backgrounds were engaged as a panel by moderator JoAnn Mulvihill on February 17. Panelists sounded off on what types of technologies they preferred to use, what time and where they preferred to write papers, how they learned about how to use the library, and what improvements they’d like to see.... Arizona State University The devaluing of higher education http://www.aaup.org/surveys/06z/zrep.htm In 2005–2006, average faculty salaries increased by less than the inflation rate for the second consecutive year, making faculty positions less appealing for the next generation of scholars. That is one of the findings of the AAUP’s annual report on faculty compensation.... American Association of University Professors, Apr. 24 Jet-age design for Mexican library http://www.noticiasarquitectura.info/especiales/biblio-jalisco-lot-ek.htm More than 200 Boeing 727 and 737 fuselages are stacked in a north-south slant in relation to sun exposure for energy efficiency in this design for a new Jalisco Library in Guadalajara, Mexico, by the New York architecture firm LOT-EK. The building utilizes the space inside the fuselages to contain and organize functions that require enclosed spaces—such as book collections, meeting rooms, and administration offices.... Noticias Arquitectura, Apr. 17 Audio preservation and restoration directory (PDF file) http://www.arsc-audio.org/Directory2005-07-25.pdf This directory lists companies and individuals who offer services, equipment, or supplies for audio preservation and restoration.... Association for Recorded Sound Collections The great library card collection http://librarycards.expage.com/index.html 13-year-old Cory Peterson of Suisun City, California, has spent his past five summer vacations touring U.S. public libraries in quest of library cards to add to his collection. Your library could be on his 2006 trip list. Check out his website to see part of the collection.... Cory Peterson CONTACT US ******************************* George M. Eberhart, Editor: geberhart@ala.org Karen Sheets, Graphics and Design: ksheets@ala.org Send feedback: aldirect@ala.org AL Direct FAQ: www.ala.org/aldirect/ To advertise in American Libraries Direct contact: Leonard Kniffel, Editor-in-Chief, lkniffel@ala.org American Libraries 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 http://www.ala.org/alonline/ 800-545-2433, ext. 4216 ISSN 1559-369X.