AMERICAN LIBRARIES DIRECT July 5, 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? ******************************* What do YOU think? Should state officials mandate that a certified librarian staff every public school library, as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has done in Milwaukee? http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225G3NTX2ZQ This is an unscientific poll that reflects the opinions of only those AL Direct readers who have chosen to participate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Results of the June 21 poll: Judging by nationwide media coverage, did the American Library Association conference in New Orleans, June 22–28, make a difference? YES.................79% NO..................21% (325 responses) For cumulated results and selected responses to all AL Direct polls, visit the AL Online website. U.S. & WORLD NEWS ******************************* Net neutrality loses a round in the Senate http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/netneutrality.htm Supporters of net neutrality were dealt a second blow June 28 when the Senate Commerce Committee rejected by an 11–11 tie vote a bill that mandated equal access to online content for all customers. The defeated Internet Freedom Preservation Act, sponsored by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.Dak.), would have prohibited network operators from charging tiered fees to either content providers or recipients of bandwidth-intensive applications.... 10,000 EPA scientists protest elimination of libraries http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/epaprotest.htm The presidents of 17 locals of the American Federation of Federal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the National Association of Government Employees, and Engineers and Scientists of California have signed a letter asking Congress to halt the closure of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s network of research libraries.... Mayor makes libraries permanent line item http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/newyorkbudget.htm New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has agreed to “baseline” funding for the library and two other programs, making them permanent allocations in the city’s annual budget. In the past, libraries have been a part of what pundits have dubbed the “budget dance,” in which the mayor would propose cuts that the city council and library leaders would negotiate to restore.... State officials mandate librarians in Milwaukee schools http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/milwaukee.htm Some three dozen schools in the Milwaukee Public Schools system have been given 14 months to ensure that a licensed librarian oversees each of their libraries. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction June 26 released the results of an investigation into a Milwaukee Teachers’ Association complaint that the schools were violating rules that call for a certified librarian on staff.... Gwinnett board restores funds for Spanish-language fiction http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/gwinnettfunds.htm Two weeks after removing $3,000 earmarked for purchasing Spanish-language fiction from its budget, the Gwinnett County (Ga.) Public Library board of trustees voted June 28 to restore the funds.... Incarnate Word returns to the Times http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/july2006a/incarnatetwo.htm The library of the University of the Incarnate Word, a private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas, announced June 30 that it was reinstating its print subscription to the New York Times only two days after ordering its cancellation as a protest. Dean of Library Services Mendell D. Morgan Jr. said in what the June 30 San Antonio Express-News termed a “hastily called press conference” in front of the library that he did not think his original decision was inappropriate but that he regretted failing to confer beforehand with other library staff.... Judge: A Visit to Cuba stays in schools for now http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/vamosacubastays.htm U.S. District Judge Alan Gold told the Miami-Dade School Board June 27 that it must keep possession of A Visit to Cuba and 23 other titles in the travel series for children until a preliminary hearing July 21, according to the June 27 Miami Herald. “One way or another, these books are going to remain here until I rule on the case,” he said.... Wisconsin mayor to fund Sunday hours from his salary http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/muskego.htm Charles Damaske, mayor of Muskego, Wisconsin, said in a news release June 23 that he would reduce his 2007 salary by half and remove himself from the city’s health insurance policy to provide funds for Sunday hours during the school year at Muskego Public Library.... Controversial Atlanta librarian Ella Gaines Yates dies http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/june2006ab/ellayates.htm Ella Gaines Yates, who in 1976 became the first African-American director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System in Georgia, died in Atlanta June 27 of pancreatic cancer. She was 79. A controversial figure, Yates’s career at what was then called the Atlanta Public Library began in 1972, when she became assistant director.... ALA NEWS ******************************* Library community draws national praise http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/june2006/neworleanswrap.htm With the eyes of the nation on New Orleans’ recovery from Hurricane Katrina, nearly 17,000 librarians, exhibitors, and library supporters attended the first citywide convention held in the Big Easy since the storm. Widespread news coverage praised ALA members who traveled to New Orleans for their intrepid spirit and impact on the local economy.... Stories and reports from New Orleans http://meredith.wolfwater.com/ala2006/index.php?title=Stories%2C_Reports The ALA wiki includes more than 50 reports on programs, events, and activities at Annual Conference.... Booklist Online ******************************* Featured review: Adult books http://www.booklistonline.com/default.aspx?page=show_product&pid=1665553 Li, Laura Tyson. Madame Chiang Kai-shek: China’s Eternal First Lady. Sept. 2006. 512p. Atlantic Monthly, hardcover (0-87113-933-2). Petite, elegant, and mighty, Madame Chiang Kai-shek lived to be 105, but when she died in 2003, many Americans had no idea of how powerful a woman she was or of how much she suffered. First-time biographer Li is the first to tell Madame Chiang’s dramatic life story.... NEW ORLEANS UPDATE ******************************* Signs of life http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/4013038.html Columnist Chris Rose writes: “I don’t think I’m quite ready to climb to the top of the Superdome and scream ‘We’re BACK, baby!’ But as harbingers of recovery go, the ALA conference last weekend was a serious step in the right direction.”... New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 30 When the librarians come marching in http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/opinion/29greene.html Columnist Bob Greene writes: “They’ve recarpeted hell. They’ve given it a deep cleaning, taken a deep breath, and opened its doors for business. The ALA gathering, which ended yesterday, was remarkable not so much for what was being discussed and merchandised—books, library equipment, software—as for where it was held: The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.”... New York Times, June 29 Flooded and forgotten (subscription required) http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/01/forgotten/index_np.html Author Susan Straight writes: “The partying is subdued these days in New Orleans. The French Quarter is open for business, music cascading from open bar doors, the smells of spicy food mingling with shouts and laughter. The city is so grateful for this convention that welcome banners hang everywhere, saying, ‘We're jazzed you’re here!’ (And in many souvenir shops, newly printed T-shirts proclaim, ‘Librarians Do It by the Book! ALA 2006.’)”... Salon, July 1 Realtors register for New Orleans conference in record numbers http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=68455 Advance registration for the 2006 Realtors Conference and Expo in New Orleans, November 9–13, is outpacing all previous Realtor conventions. Some 30,000 are expected to attend the convention, which would make it the largest event to take place in New Orleans this year. Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, cochairs of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, will address the General Session on November 11.... National Association of Realtors, June 28 DIVISION NEWS ******************************* Applications/nominations invited for C&RL editor http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/july2006/CRLeditornominations.htm Applications and nominations are invited for the position of editor of College & Research Libraries, ACRL’s bimonthly scholarly research journal. The editor is appointed for a three-year term, which may be renewed for an additional three years.... AWARDS ******************************* Laura Bush announces Librarian Recruitment and Education grants http://www.imls.gov/news/2006/062806.shtm First Lady Laura Bush announced $20.9 million in grants through IMLS June 28. Thirty-five awards will go to universities, libraries, and library organizations across the country to recruit and educate librarians. The grants are designed to help offset a current shortage of school library media specialists, library school faculty, and librarians working in underserved communities.... Institute of Museum and Library Services, June 28 PLA awards applications available online http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/july2006/PLAawardsonline.htm PLA has introduced a new online awards application for its seven service awards. Members can now nominate their colleagues and libraries for PLA awards through the PLA website.... SEEN ONLINE ******************************* Tomás and the First Lady http://www.mcldaz.org/library/userdef/ud_mcld_events.aspx The Maricopa County (Ariz.) Library District was thrilled when First Lady Laura Bush accepted its invitation to attend a performance of Tomás and the Library Lady at its Guadalupe branch June 16. The play was the centerpiece for a children’s library card sign-up campaign. About 200 people attended, including 100 children.... Maricopa County Library District LC strengthens its flood defenses http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/070506/loc.html While the Library of Congress was largely high and dry last week after flooding closed several other federal agencies containing important documents, officials in the preservation office stood ready to save items in the collection if necessary.... The Hill, July 5 Social networking for bookworms http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB115109622468789252-Bi4NTGvCqDjylkFiE9xJzb2LsYA_20070626.html For Tim Spalding, a computer programmer and bibliophile, listing a few titles in an online profile isn’t enough. He sought a way to catalog his entire book collection—and to check out what was lining other people’s shelves. Spalding launched LibraryThing.com in August as a way to bring the organizational joys of the librarian to a wider array of book nerds.... Wall Street Journal, June 27 Bookbinding groups resurrect craft worldwide http://www.theeagle.com/stories/070206/lifestyles_20060702030.php Revolutionary War reenactor DeLea Sayers already has an unusual hobby. He recently stumbled across another one when he decided to record his rebellious activity in an 18th century–style journal. Unable to find authentic books from the era, Sayers decided to make his own and discovered the intricate world of bookbinding.... Bryan–College Station (Tex.) Eagle, July 2 Santa Ana phases out its bookmobiles http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1198530.php On June 29, Santa Ana, California, became the latest city to say goodbye to the bookmobile, citing high costs and relatively low patronage. Santa Ana was one of only three Orange County cities with regular bookmobile routes.... Orange County (Calif.) Register, June 30 Osama’s words to stay on library shelves http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/NEWS/206280341 A Marion County (Fla.) Public Library System patron has requested that a book containing Osama bin Laden’s writings be removed from the library shelves, but Library Director Julie Sieg has said it should remain. Her decision is being appealed to the County Commission.... Ocala (Fla.) Star Banner, June 28 Dos and don’ts for getting kids to read http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003097283_summerread01.html Librarians offer the same advice for all ages: Keep a wide variety of books available. Check out your local library’s summer reading program for activities and prizes. Ask for recommendations. “We live, eat, and breathe books and can share lists of show-stoppers for kids to read,” enthused Sharon Chastain, a King County (Wash.) Library System children’s librarian.... Seattle Times, July 1 Libraries helping the blind http://www.herts24.co.uk/content/herald/news/story.aspx?brand=EHHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newsehhnew&itemid=WEED29%20Jun%202006%2013%3A44%3A07%3A273 July 3 was the start of the UK National Library for the Blind’s Make a Noise in Libraries campaign. The Harlow Library in Essex is taking part, with a display of some of the talking books and large-print texts it has available.... Harlow Herald, June 29 ACTIONS AND ANSWERS ******************************* Freedom of Information at 40 http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB194/index.htm Forty years ago on July 4, 1966, Lyndon Johnson signed the landmark Freedom of Information Act while vacationing at his Texas ranch. But the event does not even appear on LBJ’s Daily Diary, which is the first indication (the dog that didn’t bark) that something was amiss on the Pedernales.... National Security Archive, July 4 Landmark agreement to preserve digital data http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2006/nr06-119.html The National Archives and Records Administration and UCSD’s San Diego Supercomputer Center signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding June 28 that provides an avenue for preserving valuable digital data collections. This collaboration marks the first time NARA has established an affiliated relationship for preserving digital data with an academic institution.... National Archives, June 28 LITA’s annual Top 10 Trends extravaganza http://litablog.org/2006/06/25/the-annual-top-10-trends-extravaganza/ Panel members Marshall Breeding, Clifford Lynch, Eric Lease Morgan, Andrew Pace, Karen Schneider, Roy Tennant, and Tom Wilson predicted the tech future at Annual Conference in New Orleans.... LITA Blog, June 25 Virtual reference in the age of pop-up blockers and firewalls http://www.infotoday.com/online/jul06/Lupien.shtml We know that young people love to chat and that many universities and colleges cater to a growing number of distance and off-campus users—the perfect audience for virtual reference. Various theories have been proposed as to why usage statistics are so low. Most focus on marketing and user behavior. Relatively little has been written about how technical problems impact VR services.... Online, July/Aug. Ten rules for new librarians http://tametheweb.com/2006/06/ten_rules_for_the_new_libraria_1.html Submitted for discussion is this short list—a cautionary list of things to ponder in a Library 2.0 world (or whatever you choose to call it) as new grads hit the streets and start their first jobs.... Michael Stephens, Tame the Web, June 30 Celebrate Canadian Library Month in October http://www.cla.ca/clm/index.htm The Canadian Library Association has estabished October as Canadian Library Month. The idea for a month dedicated to library and information services in Canada was developed by provincial and territorial library partners from across the country to help raise public awareness of the valuable role that libraries play in local communities.... Canadian Library Association, June A primer on open access (PDF file) http://coady.stfx.ca/work/openaccess/assets/Open%20Access%20Introduction.pdf Heather Morrison defines open access literature as literature that is free online for anyone, anywhere, to read, download, and use, providing that the author is properly cited. There are three major definitions of open access: Budapest, Berlin, and Bethesda. There are two main approaches to open access: open access publishing, and self-archiving of articles in open access archives.... Coady International Institute, June Kids and family reading report (PDF file) http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/KidsandReadingPressRelase6-141.pdf The time kids spend reading for fun declines sharply after age 8 and continues to drop off through the teen years, according to a national study (PDF file) released June 14 by Yankelovich, a leader in consumer trends tracking, and Scholastic, a children’s publishing and media company. While 40% of kids between the ages of 5–8 are high-frequency readers (reading for fun every day), only 29% of kids ages 9–11 are high-frequency readers. The percentage continues to decline through age 17.... Scholastic, June 14 25 to-do lists to stay productive http://www.solutionwatch.com/450/25-to-do-lists-to-stay-productive/ Brian Benzinger reviews 25 checklist websites that help you create to-do lists, planners, start pages, and calendars.... Solution Watch, June 22 Cataloging electronic resources: OCLC-MARC coding guidelines http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/worldcat/cataloging/electronicresources/default.htm This revised set of guidelines is intended to assist catalogers in creating records for electronic resources in WorldCat, the OCLC Online Union Catalog. These guidelines pertain to OCLC-MARC tagging (content designation).... OCLC, June 20 Recent public library trends http://www.imakenews.com/sirsi/e_article000554723.cfm Public libraries in the United States have seen usage increase and revenues decline during the past few years, and these funding facts have affected other aspects of those libraries. This article examines those trends, probes the underlying causes, and considers future trends. It is based on analysis presented in some detail on a page at the Normative Data Project’s website.... SirsiDynix OneSource, April Privatization of internet domain names and addressing http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/frnotices/2006/NOI_DNS_Transition_0506.htm The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration seeks comment on the continuation of the transition of the technical coordination and management of the internet domain name and addressing system (Internet DNS) to the private sector. The deadline for comments is July 7.... National Telecommunications and Information Administration, May 23 Library of Congress user survey http://www.loc.gov/library/survey.html In an effort to better serve the needs of its patrons, the Library of Congress wants to hear from users about the effectiveness of its services, resources, and programs. Responses will provide valuable feedback to LC for continuous improvement.... Library of Congress 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.