May 26, 2003; #1501

Library BANNED

The American Association (ALA) announced the list of most frequently challenged books in 2002. This list is compiled by the Office for For the Word Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association. The Office for version Intellectual Freedom does not claim comprehensiveness in recording click here challenges. Research suggests that for each challenge reported there are as many as four or five which go unreported. They are as follows:

ü Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic.

ü Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, for being sexually explicit, using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.

ü The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier (the "Most Challenged" of 1998), for using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.

ü I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, for sexual content, racism, offensive language, violence, and being unsuited to age group.

ü Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton, for offensive language.

ü Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey, for insensitivity and being unsuited to age group, as well as encouraging children to disobey authority.

ü The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, for racism, insensitivity, and offensive language.

ü Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, for offensive language, sexual content, and Occult/Satanism.

ü Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, for insensitivity, racism, and offensive language.

ü Julie of the Wolves by Julie Craighead George, for sexual content, offensive language, violence, and being unsuited to age group.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to read during the last week of September each year. This year it will be observed on September 20-27, with the theme "Open Books for Open Minds." has been celebrated since 1982 as the annual event to remind not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. It is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Association of College Stores, and is endorsed by the Center for the Book.

Many bookstores and across the nation join in the celebration with displays and of books that have been banned or threatened throughout history. These include works ranging from the Bible and "Little Red Riding Hood" to John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Each year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom receives hundreds of reports on books and other materials that were "challenged" or received requests to be removed from school or library shelves. The ALA estimates the number represents only about a quarter of the actual challenges. "Most Challenged" titles include the popular "Harry Potter" series of fantasy books for children by J.K. Rowling. The series drew complaints from parents and others who believe the books promote witchcraft to children.

The challenges reported reflect a continuing concern with a wide variety of themes. Other "Most Challenged" titles include The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, for its use of language, particularly references to race; It's Perfectly Normal, a sex education book by Robie Harris, for being too explicit, especially for children; and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, for the description of rape she suffered as a child.

For more information, contact the Office for Intellectual Freedom toll- free at 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4223, or send e-mail to [email protected]. You may visit the Banned Books Week web site.

Materials to help libraries celebrate Banned Books Week are available as an ALA Press Kit. The 2002 Banned Books Week Kit includes three full- color posters, one updated List of Books Challenged or Banned, 100 , and one Banned Books Week pin for $29.95 ($43.00, if purchased separately).

BRIEFINGS

Free tickets to book awards. Interested in attending the banquet celebrating the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder book awards (see HH #1490), but don't want to pay the $85 ticket price? Here is your chance to compete for the opportunity to attend this annual gala event for free.

The New Member Round Table (NMRT) Exhibitor Contact and Relations Committee is sponsoring an essay contest for one NMRT member to attend the annual banquet in honor of the winners of the 2003 Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder book awards. In 200 words or less, tell the committee why you want to attend, and how it will be beneficial to you. That's it! If your essay is chosen as the winner, you will be provided with tickets to the dinner, awards presentation, and reception honoring the winners. The tickets are generously donated by Marshall Cavendish Corporation, one of the leading children's book publishers.

The awards program, sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children, is held annually to honor winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder book awards. Any librarian who is a current member of NMRT is eligible. Essays are due by May 31. To enter the contest or for more information e-mail Lisa Weber at [email protected] or Kathrin Dodds at [email protected].

The Association for Library Service to Children develops and supports the profession of children's librarianship by enabling and encouraging its practitioners to provide the best library service to our nation's children.

The New Member Round Table provides a place for those members of the American Library Association who are new to the library profession, new to ALA, or new to both. NMRT brings together people from all types and sizes of libraries and information centers, serving their diverse needs and interests.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Workshop. The New Mexico State Library is sponsoring an Amigos course for "Basic Book & Paper Repair" on two different dates and locations: June 9 - 10 in Las Cruces and June 12 - 13 in Taos. Both workshops will be held at the same times, 8:30-9 a.m. for registration, with the workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This two-day course is designed to provide information and hands-on experience in basic book and paper repair techniques for general (non-rare) library collections. Participants learn about treatment decision- making, repair options, and supplies. In the supervised, hands-on portions of the workshop, participants have the opportunity to practice a variety of repair techniques such as page mending, tip-in, hinge tightening, end sheet replacement, and construction of a polyester wrapper. Other topics include book and paper structure, workflow, protective enclosures, commercial library binding, and reinforcements. The workshop will be presented by Jo Anne Martinez-Kilgore through Amigos. These two-day workshops are limited to a total of 12 participants. Registration is therefore limited to one person per library. You may ask to put a second participant on a waiting list. If these workshops are popular the State Library will try to arrange for them again in the fall. Registration is online. If you can not register online, contact Jackie Dalmy toll-free at 1-800-340-3890, or e-mail [email protected]. Thanks to the New Mexico State Library, all workshops are free of charge.

The New York Times Librarian Awards. The New York Times is expanding its Librarian Awards for outstanding community service to include library professionals nationally for 2003. The New York Times is now accepting nominations from across the United States through June 20. The Times is proud of its relationship with libraries which, as the traditional keepers of our society's wealth of knowledge, provide a priceless service to the communities they serve, and is a staunch supporter of libraries and their active roles in the community.

There is still time for librarians to be nominated by the people they serve, as well as their fellow coworkers. Any person can nominate a librarian currently working at any public library in the U.S. who has made a difference in his or her life. You can find more information by visiting the web site.

Last year, The Times recognized 15 librarians from New York City and surrounding counties. This year the awards will be expanding nationally to honor 12 additional librarians from six regions across the U.S.: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Great Lakes, Southwest, Mountain and Plains States, and West. Each winner will receive $2,500, a commemorative plaque, will be honored through announcements in The New York Times in the fall, and an awards reception to be held in New York City in December 2003. Winners will be selected by a committee of distinguished librarians, academicians, and journalists.

Please contact Jennifer Pauly, Senior Community Affairs Manager, at ) (212) 556-1718 or e-mail [email protected] with any questions you may have. The nomination form also can be accessed at the web site and responses can be e-mailed to [email protected]. For more information, please call )(212) 556-4520.

Gale, the foremost print and e-publisher, will be a sponsor of the third annual New York Times Librarian Awards. Gale serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools used in virtually every major academic and public library in the world. Gale is the founder of the Library of the Year Award (with Library Journal), the Library Leadership Forum (an annual professional development seminar), and is a major donor to the American Library Association and its divisions. Gale also maintains a seat on the board of the Friends of Libraries USA.

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) is a leading media company with 2002 revenues of $3.1 billion. Its holdings include The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other newspapers, eight network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and more than 40 web sites, including NYTimes.com and Boston.com. For the third consecutive year, the Company was ranked No. 1 in the industry in Fortune's 2002 list of America's Most Admired Companies. In 2003, the Company was named by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting, and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

JOBS Librarian. The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center is advertising an opening for Electronic Services Development Librarian. The incumbent must be a knowledgeable individual who can take initiative for innovative uses of technology in the provision of reference services at a major academic health sciences library. The Electronic Services Development Librarian will be responsible for developing, promoting, and evaluating technological solutions for reference services for users of the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center. Areas of work will include developing and maintaining the next version of the library’s web site, assuring that it is usable, accessible, dynamic, and stimulating, and collaborating to implement new uses of technologies to create, deliver, and improve library services. The position is part of the Reference and User Support Services division of the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC) and reports to the Coordinator of Reference and User Support Services. This is a non-tenure track faculty position, with a primary appointment in the School of Medicine. Appointment rank is anticipated to be Lecturer II. Education and experience significantly beyond the minimum may qualify the incumbent for appointment at a Lecturer III. Salary range: $30,000-$50,000 based on qualifications. Specific job duties include collaborating in the development, maintenance, and evaluation of the library’s web site; developing and evaluating creative web-based tools and resources for use by faculty and students; promoting the use of current technologies; testing and conducting research on emerging technologies that can be adapted for library service; participating in planning, developing, and implementing library systems; serving as a consultant to the Health Sciences Center (HSC) web team in the organization and meta-tagging of the HSC web site; managing proxy services for remote access; teaching classes in computer skills needed to use the HSC network; and participating in Information Desk and Reference coverage at the library (approximately 8-10 hours per week plus weekend rotation). The incumbent will also participate in scholarly activities consistent with expectations for a faculty member. Required qualifications include a graduate degree in Library or Information Science from an American Library Association-accredited institution, documented experience in web design, and two years of related experience in an academic library. Preferred qualifications are documented experience in assessing web usability and accessibility; strong technical skills in the use of current standard web development tools (e.g. HTML, XML); knowledge of digital library content delivery technology (e.g. vendor-developed and locally-created electronic journals), emerging technology issues, standards, and philosophy (e.g. remote access and security), and web application development technologies (e.g. Java, ColdFusion, ASP, etc.); experience in creatively applying emerging technologies to library services; evidence of ability to work collaboratively within a service-oriented team environment; excellent written and verbal communication skills; evidence of ability to function as a faculty member in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and research, such as publications and grant funding. Application materials must include a signed letter of interest addressing required and preferred qualifications; complete C.V.; writing sample; portfolio of web design; and contact information for three professional references. For best consideration, materials must be postmarked no later than June 30; however, the position will remain open until filled. Electronic applications are encouraged. Send application materials to Mary Kerlee, The University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, MSC09 5100, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5686; or e-mail [email protected]. The JR Number is 7082. For complete information regarding position qualifications, duties, and responsibilities and conditions of employment, please visit the HSC website. The University of New Mexico is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educator.

School librarian. Laguna Elementary School needs a Librarian/Media Specialist. Must have a Bachelor's degree in Library Science or at least one year experience as a librarian. New Mexico licensure is required. Pay is per professional salary scale. Contact Marge Armstrong, Business Manager, Laguna Department of Education, P.O. Box 207, Laguna, NM 87026; )(505) 552-6008 x12; e-mail [email protected].

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