cover cov1 Baker & Taylor 4c page cov2 TLC 4c page 69 SIRSI 4c page 70 Renée Vaillancourt McGrath Feature Editor Kathleen M. Hughes CONTENTS Managing Editor March/April 2004 Vol. 43, No. 2 102 Capacity Building for Libraries Carolyn Noah and Alan Brickman 109 Reconnecting the Past through Oral History Richard Baranowski and Teresa Calderone 113 The Public Library Geographic Database What Can It Do for Your Library? Christie Koontz, Dean K. Jue, Charles McClure, and John Bertot 119 Library Information Needs of Latinos in Dunklin County, Missouri Beth Bala and Denice Adkins IN EVERY ISSUE 74 Editor’s Note 94 Tech Talk Renée Vaillancourt McGrath A. Paula Wilson 75 From the President 123 News from PLA Luis Herrera Kathleen Hughes 79 Tales from the Front 124 On the Agenda Jennifer T. Ries-Taggart 126 By the Book 81 Perspectives Jennifer Schatz Hampton (Skip) Auld 130 New Product News 91 Internet Spotlight Vicki Nesting Leslie D. Hurst PLUS . 72 Readers Respond 97 Opportunities, Awards, and 77 Verso Honors Retirement Tsunami Looms over Rochelle Hartman Director/Board Teams 99 InterViews Ellen G. Miller Interviewing the Interviewer 88 Book Talk Sheila B. Anderson Filling the Charisma Vacuum: An 131 Index to Advertisers Interview with Patrick Jones Amy Alessio The Public Library Association is a division of the American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; www.pla.org. Cover design by Jim Lange, Jim Lange Design, Chicago Interior design by Dianne M. Rooney, American Library Association, Chicago EDITORIAL FEATURE EDITOR: Renée Vaillancourt McGrath MANAGING EDITOR: Kathleen M. Hughes CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Hampton (Skip) Auld, Steven Cohen, Rochelle Hartman, Nann Blaine Hilyard, Vicki Nesting, Jennifer Ries-Taggart, Jennifer Schatz, Paula Wilson EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Brendan Dowling ADVISORY COMMITTEE Isabel Dale Silver, Chair, Champaign, IL; Marilyn Boria, Elmhurst, IL; Nancy Charnee, New York, NY; Barbara Custon, Pasadena, CA; Nann Blaine Hilyard, Zion, IL; More on “The Fragile Future” Marcia Schneider, San Francisco, CA; Luren E. Dickinson, Jackson, MI; Cindy Lombardo, Orrville, OH. The closing of libraries, the flattening of circulation figures, and the projected short- EX OFFICIO: Jo Ann Pinder, Gwinnett County Public age of librarians pose a threat to the future of the public library, as Michael Sullivan Library, 1001 Lawrenceville Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA argues (“The Fragile Future of Public Libraries,” Public Libraries September/October 30045-4707; [email protected] 2003); however, his alternative vision is equally threatening. It is clear that Mr. PLA PRESIDENT: Luis Herrera, Pasadena Public Library, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 91101-1556; Sullivan believes that the public does not want what public libraries offer: reference [email protected] books, out of the mainstream literature, and directories of reviewed Web sites. What PUBLIC LIBRARIES (ISSN 0163-5506) is published suggests, however, that the public wants the library to be a place where collections are bimonthly at 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. It is no longer built, reference transactions are referred to the Internet, the work of pro- the official publication of the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library fessional librarians is relegated to those who can order from a list of patrons’ requests Association. Subscription price: to members of PLA, and direct the public to a search engine, and where “community” has become a $25 a year, included in membership dues; to nonmem- panacea? bers: U.S. $50; Canada $60; all other countries $60. Single copies, $10. Periodicals postage paid at Although the roles of libraries have evolved through time, there has been a con- Chicago, IL, and at additional mailing offices. sistent unity: books and reading. People have and still do come to the library to read for pleasure, edification, education, and research. In 1974, David W. Davies argued POSTMASTER: send address changes to Public Libraries, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. against the trend of libraries trying to be social and cultural center (Public Libraries As Culture and Social Centers: The Origin of the Concept [Scarecrow Pr., 1974]), in SUBSCRIPTIONS favor of their being a place like a bookstore for books and reading, where librarians develop an appropriate expertise. By becoming more like bookstores (who, too, are Nonmember subscriptions, orders, changes of address, and inquiries should be sent to Public Libraries, Sub- positioning themselves as community-oriented places), we lose what makes us unique: scription Department, American Library Association, that we try to represent the totality of knowledge, primarily in books, to the broadest 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 800-545-2433, spectrum of people regardless of their means, stature, or interests. The erosion of the press 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; e-mail: subscriptions@ ala.org. library’s fundamental identity as a place for books and bookish people only increases ADVERTISING the fragility that Mr. Sullivan and I agree must be strengthened.—Ron E. Scrogham, Reference Librarian, Johnson County (KS) Library William N. Coffee, c/o Benson, Coffee & Associates, 1411 Peterson Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068; (847) 692- 4695; fax (847) 692-3877. PRODUCTION To Each His Own ALA PRODUCTION SERVICES: Troy D. Linker, Kevin Heubusch; Ellie Barta-Moran, Angela Hanshaw, Kristen I just finished Renée Vaillancourt McGrath’s Editor’s Note (“Many People, Many McKulski, and Karen Sheets. Books) in the January/February 2004 issue of Public Libraries and wanted to take a MANUSCRIPTS minute to second her words. Unless otherwise noted, all submissions should be sent to While I applaud the general idea behind Nancy Pearl’s initiative (to encourage the feature editor, Renée Vaillancourt McGrath, 248A N. pleasure reading), I am made profoundly uncomfortable by the idea that we all have Higgins Ave. #145, Missoula, MT 59802; publiclibraries@ to read the same thing in order to have something to talk about with each other. Not aol.com. See the January/February issue or www.pla.org for submission instructions. to mention, I fail to understand the logic behind required reading of an assigned work INDEXING/ABSTRACTING as a spur to increasing the attraction of pleasure reading . I would like to recommend Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys—Literacy in the Lives Public Libraries is indexed in Library Literature and Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE), in addi- of Young Men by Michael W. Smith and Jeffrey D. Wilhelm (Heinemann, 2002). It’s tion to a number of online services. Contents are ab- a study regarding the literacy issues of boys across America, and it addresses many of stracted in Library and Information Science Abstracts. the same issues McGrath brings up so eloquently in her article.—Lynne Welch, MICROFILM COPIES ■ Reference Librarian, Herrick Memorial Library, Wellington, Ohio Microfilm copies are available from University Micro- films, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞ ©2004 by the American Library Association All materials in this journal are subject to copyright by the American Library Association and may be photo- copied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or Public Libraries encourages letters to the editor. Letters are used on a space-available basis and educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other may be excerpted. Preference will be given to letters that address issues raised by the magazine. reprinting, photocopying, or translating, address Acceptance is at the editor’s discretion. Send to Renée Vaillancourt McGrath, 248A N. Higgins requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions, Ave. #145, Missoula, MT 59802; [email protected]. 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. EBSCO 2c page 73 EDITOR’S NOTE f all goes as planned, by the time that A Salute to her local public library had a preregistration you receive this issue of Public policy which locks in the same set of children Libraries, I will be on maternity leave Parent-Librarians and parents for a six-week session. Since after the birth of my first child there is no waiting list, parents who aren’t (expected on February 7, 2004). The Renée Vaillancourt McGrath quick enough to register their children for next two issues of Public Libraries Feature Editor story time during the registration period are Iwill be compiled by guest editors Jennifer out of luck for at least two months (until the Schatz and Linda Braun. Schatz will be cov- next session begins). ering editorial responsibilities from approxi- As a former children’s librarian, I do mately January through February 2004, and understand the reasons for restricting atten- Braun will take over these duties from dance at story time programs (and did so March through April 2004. Manuscripts myself in my first professional position at a and queries can continue to be sent to me library that had traditionally conducted story during this time (and I will forward them to times in this way). But having since seen the appropriate guest editor) or may be sent many public libraries (not to mention the big directly to the guest editors (all contact bookstores) accommodate groups of all sizes information is included at the end of this through drop-in programs, I realize that the article). I am tremendously grateful to lesser ability to control the environment with Schatz and Braun for taking over my Public a larger group is more than outweighed by Libraries responsibilities so that I can have the convenience that we provide to parents some uninterrupted family time during this by offering story times that are open to all. significant transition in my life. Public libraries also need to consider the needs of families with children of different ages.