2008 VLA Annual Conference
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STAFF Coeditors Cy Dillon Ferrum College Virginia P.O. Box 1000 Ferrum, Virginia 24088 (540) 365-4428 [email protected] Libraries January/February/March, 2008, Vol. 54, No. 1 Lyn C. A. Gardner Hampton Public Library 4207 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, Virginia 23669 (757) 727-1218 COLUMNS (757) 727-1151 (fax) Lyn C. A. Gardner 3 Openers: Literacy: The Long View [email protected] Donna Cote 9 President’s Column Sara B. Bearss, Ed. 43 Virginia Reviews Editorial Board Lydia C. Williams Longwood University Library Farmville, Virginia 23909 FEATURES (434) 395-2432 [email protected] Lydia Williams 11 An Interview with Virginia Author Extraordinaire David Baldacci Ed Lener 17 2007 VLA Annual Conference College Librarian for the Sciences Virginia Tech University Libraries Michelle L. Young 37 Faculty-Librarian Collaborations Facilitate P.O. Box 90001 Information Literacy Competence in the Blacksburg, Virginia 24062-9001 Large Classroom Setting (540) 231-9249 Ruth Smith, Brittany Horn, 40 A Partnership between a Public High [email protected] and Shelley Chitwood School’s Health Sciences Academy and an Academic Health Sciences Library Karen Dillon Manager, Library Services Carilion Health System P.O. Box 13367 Roanoke, Virginia 24033 (540) 981-7258 Virginia Libraries is a quarterly journal published by the Virginia Library Association whose (540) 981-8666 (fax) purpose is to develop, promote, and improve library and information services and the profes- sion of librarianship in order to advance literacy and learning and to ensure access to infor- [email protected] mation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The journal, distributed to the membership, is used as a vehicle for members to exchange information, ideas, and solutions to mutual problems in professional articles on current top- ics in the library and information field. Views expressed inVirginia Libraries are not necessarily Editor, Virginia Books endorsed by the editors or editorial board. The Virginia Library Association (VLA) holds the copyright on all articles published in Sara B. Bearss Virginia Libraries whether the articles appear in print or electronic format. Material may be Senior Editor, Dictionary of reproduced for informational, educational, or recreational purposes provided the source of Virginia Biography the material is cited. The print version of Virginia Libraries is designed by Lamp-Post Publicity The Library of Virginia in Meherrin, Virginia. The electronic version of Virginia Libraries is created by Virginia Tech’s Digital Library and Archives and is available at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VALib or as 800 E. Broad Street a link from the Virginia Library Association website (http://www.vla.org) and the Directory Richmond, VA 23219-8000 of Open Access Journals (http://www.doaj.org/). Virginia Libraries is indexed in Library Litera- [email protected] ture, a database produced by the H.W. Wilson Company. Items for publication and editorial inquiries should be addressed to the editors. Inquiries regarding membership, subscriptions, advertising, or claims should be directed to VLA, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277. All personnel happenings and announcements should On the cover: Conference attendees be sent to the VLA Newsletter, Kevin Tapp, Box 7024 Radford University, Radford, VA 24142, enjoy The Homestead in Hot Springs [email protected]. The guidelines for submissions to Virginia Libraries are found on page 7. Designed With Students in Mind Pursue a Master’s Degree of Library and Information Science Through the University of North Texas at the James Madison University Libraries SLIS and online SCHOOL OF LIBRARY The University of North Texas School of Library AND INFORMATION SCIENCES and Information Sciences will bring its ALA accredited Master’s program and popular online format to The Virginias in proud partnership with the Library and Outreach Programs James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia Onsite instruction includes two four-day web institutes with the remainder of the instruction delivered online Virginia and West Virginia Web Institute Dates August 17-21, 2008 January, 2009 TBA For information contact: The UNT School of Library and Information Sciences University of North Texas Master’s Degree is School of Library and Information Sciences accredited by the P.O. Box 311068, Denton, TX 76203-1068 Telephone: (940) 565-2445, 1-877-ASK-SLIS . Fax: (940) 565-3101 E-mail: [email protected] Visit: www.unt.edu/slis JANUARY–MARCH, 2008 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES PAGE 3 OPENERS Literacy: The Long View by Lyn C. A. Gardner re the rates of reading fall- ing the profound personal insights opment in the span of human ing, or are the methods we treasure in literature. Indeed, a history; and as technology fosters of reading changing? The startlingly high percentage of films ever-faster changes in human soci- Ajury’s still out. While the NEA’s are still being adapted from nov- ety, one might expect our arts to Reading at Risk delineates a valid els and short stories — frequently fluctuate as well. The problem for cause for alarm, some have criti- without viewers even realizing the libraries, of course, is that whether cized it for failing to make adequate source. or not books should continue to allowance for the types of read- Since we have become aware of be privileged over other sources ing going on during Internet use, different learning styles, one might of information and entertain- perusal of graphic novels, and even ment, the fact is that they’re slip- gaming. Then there’s the migration ping in the polls. No matter how of fiction to other forms of media. much “new” media and technol- Audiobooks may make “reading” … the book … no longer ogy we add to aid circulation and easier by eliminating the need for draw people to the library, it’s not literacy and providing additional reigns supreme even going to alter the fact that the way color, with character voices and among avid readers people read — most notably in the narrative inflections often adding younger generations — truly seems to one’s enjoyment while enforc- as a source for either to be changing. ing the reader’s interpretation of While it’s clear that the book is the text; still, the imaginative act entertainment or not going to disappear — not yet, involved in absorbing and engag- information. at least — it’s just as clear that it no ing with the story is quite similar to longer reigns supreme even among that required by the printed word. avid readers as a source for either Many audiobook listeners still refer entertainment or information. to this act as “reading” — should even applaud the greater wealth During the recent Writers Guild of we? Learning is definitely going of learning available through this America strike, I had hoped that on, with nonfiction as well as fic- variety of media that provide audi- the paucity of television offerings tion providing the benefits we tra- tory, visual, and even tactile means would inspire many to return to ditionally expect of them; if there’s of absorbing knowledge. Yet while reading. But complaints of library less exposure to spelling and punc- many are coming to recognize the staff over television boredom did tuation, this is balanced by the cultural and educational value not seem to lead to more time to benefit of improving one’s feel for of media such as comics, games, read. The comments I heard seemed the flow of narrative through the and the Internet (none of which unfortunately typical, though spoken word. There are similar are actually “new” media at this perhaps understandable: after a non-verbal lessons to be learned point, though their growing, but long day of work often followed from other “replacement” media: still sometimes problematic, accep- by housework or childcare, many story is still at the heart of graphic tance by those in education-related didn’t have the energy to read very novels, films, television, and the fields may make them seem so), much. The anecdotal evidence sug- more elaborate role-playing com- do we really consider them to be a gested that even among library puter games, all of which offer a fair substitute for the sorts of “lit- staff, reruns and reality shows were more visual take on the construc- erary pleasure reading” that the still often preferred over reading, tion of story, but still balance NEA seeks to measure? And if not, providing light or background character development, plot, and should we? The novel in Western entertainment. (I challenge you theme while sometimes provid- literature is a fairly recent devel- to make a weekly log of your per- PAGE 4 VIRGINIA LIBRARIES JANUARY–MARCH, 2008 sonal time that details hours spent part-time jobs, other types of pro- year, I read scores of stories that watching TV, including movies fessional writing and editing, or felt ... not quite dead on the page, I and shows, and using the Internet, the earnings of other family mem- won’t go that far, but airless, some- including email, versus time spent bers. Some may hold the belief how, and self-referring[,] […] writ- reading printed literary materi- that art should exist for its own ten for editors and teachers rather als. You might be surprised at the sake; but if nothing else, payment than for readers. […] It’s tough for results.) is an indicator of the state of the writers to write (and editors to edit) There’s a lot of concern among audience in a free-market society, when faced with a shrinking audi- writers as well as libraries about showing whether the author is still ence. […] [Is the] American short the falling numbers of fiction read- connecting with readers. The abil- story well? Sorry, no, can’t say so. ers. It’s not just the increasingly ity to live by one’s art also means Current condition stable, but apt high price of paper that has book that the artist has the best oppor- to deteriorate in the years ahead.”3 sales and readership in a continu- tunity to focus intensely and delve King urges people to reinvigorate ing downward spiral; the interests deeply into that art.