AMERICAN LIBRARIES DIRECT January 25, 2006 A member communication from the American Library Association Welcome to AL Direct, an electronic newsletter sent to ALA personal members by e-mail as a perquisite of membership. AL Direct will be e-mailed every Wednesday and features news stories from American Libraries Online, ALA- and library-related news, and other items of interest from the ALA website. Click here to view the online version of our email: http://link.ixs1.net/s/ve?ei=7111064&si=h2&cfc=3html POLL: What do YOU think? ******************************* Should ALA increase its membership dues by $10 for each of the next three years? Click here to VOTE! http://www.zoomerang.com/reports/public_report.zgi?ID=L22JDAKNHU5C U.S. & WORLD NEWS ******************************* Google defies DOJ demand for search records http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/googledoj.htm The Department of Justice sought a court order January 18 from the U.S. District Court of Northern California demanding that Google comply with its August 2005 subpoena for millions of randomly selected online search records held by the Silicon Valley-based search-engine firm.... Clinton Library begins accepting document requests http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/clintonfoia.htm On January 20, the fifth anniversary of President Clinton's departure from office, the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, began accepting Freedom of Information Act document requests from researchers interested in the history of the administration.... Task force recommends D.C. library overhaul http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/dctaskforce.htm The District of Columbia Public Library needs more than $450 million in improvements--including a new $280-million headquarters library, 400 new computers, and replacement of half its collection over the next three years--according to a draft report released January 17 by a task force organized in 2004 by Mayor Anthony A. Williams.... New Bronx library center opens http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/bronx.htm The New York Public Library held a dedication ceremony January 17 for a new, state-of-the-art, five-story central branch in the Bronx--a facility three times the size of the Fordham Library Center that had served the borough for 82 years.... Thieves can profit from book-heist story http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/transybook.htm A federal judge ruled in mid-January that the four men who were sentenced in December for book theft and assault at Transylvania University library in Lexington, Kentucky, can keep any profits from selling the story of their crime to the media.... Salinas library hours to double http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/salinashours.htm The Salinas, California, city council approved a plan January 17 that will increase hours at the city's three libraries by this spring. The plan will use $250,000 in money from the Rally Salinas campaign to expand weekly library hours from 33 to 69, the Salinas Californian reported January 18.... France to put history professor on trial for stolen documents http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/francecourt.htm A Paris court intends to bring a retired Marquette University history professor and an accomplice to trial for stealing valuable documents from the French National Archives in the 1980s.... ALA NEWS ******************************* San Antonio meeting spotlights education for librarianship http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/midmeeting.htm ALA President Michael Gorman (far right) kicked off the Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, January 20-25, with a half-day forum on education for librarianship. Extending that theme into his President's Program, Gorman welcomed author and National Public Radio commentator Andrei Codrescu, ostensibly to engage in a dialogue about the future of the profession.... 60 libraries will receive Jewish literature discussion program grants http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/jewishliterature.htm ALA's Public Programs Office and Nextbook--a gateway to Jewish literature, culture and ideas--selected 60 public and academic libraries to receive grants for Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature programs. During the course of the three-year initiative, a total of 159 libraries have been selected to participate.... DIVISION NEWS ******************************* Preconference on library programming will lead off PLA meeting http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/plapreconference.htm Poet Mark Doty, film studies professor Thomas Doherty, and Middle Eastern specialist Barbara E. Petzen have been added to the roster of speakers for "Cultural Programming for Libraries: Linking Libraries, Communities and Culture," to be held March 21-22 in Boston.... The three C's of teens http://www.plablog.org/2006/01/linda-braun-three-cs-of-teens.html Community, Collaboration, Creation. A summary of author Linda Braun's presentation at the YALSA Teens and Technology Institute, held at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.... PLA Blog Top technology trends http://litablog.org/?p=187 A summary of the LITA discussion on tech trends at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.... LITA Blog AWARDS ******************************* Perkins, Raschka win 2006 Newbery, Caldecott medals http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/newbery.htm The writer of a novel about a group of teens who over the course of a summer search for the meaning of life and the illustrator of a story about a girl's magical visit to her multiracial grandparents' home were named respective winners of ALA's Newbery and Caldecott medals honoring children's literature.... More ALA children's/YA literary award winners http://news.ala.org/releases/rollup.html See a list of all the awards for books and videos for children and young adults presented at the ALA Midwinter Meeting.... Nominations sought for 2006 JCLC awards, scholarships http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/jclcawards.htm The Joint Conference of Librarians of Color 2006 invites nominations for its awards and scholarships, which will be presented during its conference, "Gathering at the Waters: Embracing Our Spirits; Telling Our Stories," to be held in Dallas, October 11-15, 2006.... GLBTRT Stonewall Award winners http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/stonewall.htm ALA's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Round Table named Abha Dawesar, author of Babyji (Anchor Books) and Joshua Gamson, author of The Fabulous Sylvester: the Legend, the Music, the 70s in San Francisco, the winners of its two Stonewall Awards.... LAMA announces John Cotton Dana PR award winners http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/JCD06.htm Six libraries are winners of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award, which recognizes and honors outstanding achievement in library public relations.... RUSA's Notable Books Council reveals 2006 top picks http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/2006notablebooks.htm The Notable Books Council has compiled its 2006 list of outstanding books for the general reader. These titles have been selected for their significant contribution to the expansion of knowledge and for the pleasure they can provide to adult readers.... First Sophie Brody Medal for outstanding achievement in Jewish literature http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/sophiebrodymedal.htm Avner Mandelman won the RUSA award for his book Talking to the Enemy, published by Seven Stories Press.... YALSA collection development grant winners http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/bwi.htm Two public librarians, Karin Thogersen of Huntley Area Public Library (Ill.) and Rachel Orozco of the Rita and Truett Smith Public Library (Texas), have been named winners.... YALSA selected audiobooks for young adults http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/selectedaudiobooks.htm Titles were selected for their appeal to a teen audience, the quality of their recording, and their enhancement of an audience's appreciation of any written work on which they may be based.... YALSA Sagebrush Award winner http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/sagebrush.htm Vaunda Nelson, teen librarian at the Rio Rancho (N. Mex.) Public Library, won the award for her Lights! Camera! Books! 2005 Teen Summer Reading Program.... YALSA Baker & Taylor Scholarship winner http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/january2006/bakertaylor.htm Library Media Specialist Felice Piggott has won a YALSA Baker & Taylor Scholarship Grant for 2006. Piggott will receive $1,000 to attend ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.... SEEN ONLINE ******************************* New Des Moines library will feature a bakery http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060120/NEWS08/601200361 La Mie Bakery & Restaurant will open a cafe in downtown Des Moines' new public library this spring.... Des Moines (Iowa) Register, Jan. 20 UNC, Virginia Tech get NSF grant for digital library curriculum http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jan06/NSF011906.htm The National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year grant of over half a million dollars to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to develop "Collaborative Research: Curriculum Development: Digital Libraries."... University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jan. 19 Librarian wants more librarians on postage stamps http://www.nydailynews.com/news/col/crichardson/story/385013p-326763c.html Retired librarian Vladimir Wertsman is mounting a drive to see more of the world's librarians honored with commemorative postage stamps.... New York Daily News, Jan. 23 Former Ocmulgee director to be sentenced this week http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/011206/3557081.shtml David C. Wilson will be sentenced January 26 on seven federal felony counts stemming from a middle Georgia library corruption case.... Savannah (Ga.) Morning News, Jan. 12 50 British public libraries face closure as local councils balance their books http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/01/23/nlibr23.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/01/23/ixhome.html Around 50 libraries in at least six different counties are facing possible closure in the coming months. Most are in small and sometimes isolated communities. David Lammy, the culture minister, is writing to every council urging it not to close libraries as part of its budget measures.... The Telegraph (London), Jan. 23 ACTIONS AND ANSWERS ******************************* Internet searches and privacy protection: A guide for the perplexed http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/060123-112156 Internet consultant Danny Sullivan discusses the pitfalls of retaining your privacy while googling.... Search Engine Watch, January 23 The academic library as a virtual destination http://www.educause.edu/apps/er/erm06/erm0610.asp?bhcp=1 USC Library Dean Jerry Campbell weighs in on the changing mission of university libraries and the evolving role of librarians as digital technologies gradually take over many of their traditional functions.... Educause Review, January/February 2006 A librarian's guide to finding websites you can trust http://www.google.com/newsletter/librarian/librarian_2006_01/article2.html Librarian's Internet Index Director Karen Schneider gives five characteristics of authoritative online resources, with some tips on how to evaluate them.... Google Librarian's Newsletter, January 2006 Congressional sponsors needed for Katrina library relief bill http://capwiz.com/ala/issues/alert/?alertid=8055171&type=CO Washington Office Action alert: ALA has drafted a bill that would authorize an appropriation of $100 million for FY 2006 to provide targeted grants to Gulf-state libraries serving communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Library supporters in targeted states are asked to contact their representatives and ask them to sponsor it.... ALA Washington Office The "Are you a librarian?" test http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=16327970492571681853 Test your professional knowledge with this challenging 29-question test, which includes many ALA-related questions. You don't need to join the sponsoring site (a dating service) to take the test.... OKCupid CONTACT US ******************************* George M. 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