December 2009 Alabama Association of AACRL Newsletter College and Research Libraries Executive Board From the President . President: Rickey Best Auburn University at Montgomery Library As we approach the holiday season, it is important to take a moment to reflect 7440 East Dr. Library Phase I on this past year. The library profession saw numerous challenges and changes, Montgomery, AL 36117 some exciting (OCLC’s introduction of WorldCat Quick Start and the implementa- 334-244-3200 tion of ALA Connect – a virtual, collaborative workspace), some sad (the loss of [email protected] Judith Krug, director of the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Vice-President/President-Elect: Freedom). Throughout the year, however, we have been coping with change Charlcie Pettway Vann Houston Cole Library brought about by declining funding, which impacts how we serve our patrons and Jacksonville State University our ability to provide them with the resources they need. 700 Pelham Road North Change is occurring both at the national level with ACRL, as well as at the local Jacksonville, AL 36265-1602 chapter levels. New policies implemented by ACRL President Lori Goetsch are 256-782-8434 [email protected] allowing for members to participate in committee work virtually, eliminating the Past President: Tim Dodge need for traveling to conference sites. Locally, AACRL has implemented its new Reference Department committee structure, and the committees are actively at work. At our April meeting, Ralph Brown Draughon Library we will present to the Chapter a revised set of by-laws. 231 Mell St. The one constant in this year of change is the importance of advocacy. Jim Auburn University, AL 36849-5606 334-844-1729, [email protected] Rettig, Past-President, and Camila Alire, current President of the American Library Association, both focused upon the need for advocacy. In recent weeks, we have Secretary: Ellen Wilson University Library seen calls requesting support for the positions of both ACRL and ALA on the Patriot University of South Alabama Act (S. 2088 – advocating the placing of reasonable limitations on the use of Na- 307 N. University Blvd. tional Security Letters) and the SKILLS Act (S. 1699 “Strengthening Kids interest Mobile, AL 36688 in Learning & Libraries Act “– to ensure that there is at least one highly qualified 251-460-7025 [email protected] school library media specialist in each school receiving funds under the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965). Treasurer: Muriel K. Wells National Children’s Advocacy Center The Government Relations Committee of ACRL is currently working to develop 210 Pratt Avenue the legislative agenda for the Association. Among the items the Committee is con- Huntsville, AL 35801 sidering are revisions to Section 215 of the Patriot Act (S. 2088); Consumer Product 256-533-5437 Safety Improvement Act – to specify exemption for libraries and for children’s [email protected] books (H.R. 1692); Public Access to Federally Funded Research (S. 1373); Network Member-at-Large/ACRL Chapter Liaison: Neutrality (H.R. 3458); Strengthening Kids Interest in Learning and Libraries Act Mildred Jackson (S. 1699); Fair Use and Anti-Circumvention (Copyright); Orphan Works (Copy- The University of Alabama University Libraries right); and Access to Government Information. Box 870266 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0266 Each of the above areas has important implications for our institutional abili- 205-348-5008 ties to serve our students, our faculties, and our communities. To learn more about [email protected] these issues, I encourage you to subscribe to the ALA Washington Office’s District Legislative Liaison: Eric A. Kidwell Dispatch (http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/). Remember, to advocate for an Houghton Memorial Library issue, you do not have to travel to the Washington office of your representative or Huntingdon College 1500 East Fairview Avenue senator. Phone calls and e-mails, along with a local office visit, can be effective as Montgomery, AL 36106 well. Provide your local district officials with copies of your library newsletter so 334- 833-4420, [email protected] that they can be informed about what your library is accomplishing – these officials Webmaster: Jason Battles can be a great help in communicating directly to your elected official. The University of Alabama University Libraries Among the earliest acts of our first congress were the appointment of John Box 870266 James Beckley as Clerk of the first House of Representatives and the election of Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0266 205-348-8647 Samuel A. Otis as the Secretary of the Senate on April 8th, 1789. The concern over [email protected] ensuring access to information was expressed eloquently by Thomas Jefferson, who Newsletter Editor: Kathy Wheeler declared, “Information is the currency of democracy.” Let us spread our currency University Library broadly and advocate that our elected officials comply with Jefferson’s maxim. University of South Alabama As I promised in my first column, I have endeavored to stay focused on few(er) 307 N. University Blvd. topics. If I can answer any questions regarding the ACRL legislative priorities or be Mobile, AL 36688 251-460-7938 of assistance to any of you in any other way, please contact me at [email protected]. [email protected] Rickey Best AACRL President Page 2 December 2009 AACRL Newsletter Legislative News: Patriot Act Reauthorization AACRL Significant Contribution Award Change for 2010 Legislative Day has never been used), and H.R. 3845 contains “… important new reporting, For 2010, and currently planned for audit, and oversight provisions that will In 1955 the Consolers, a husband-and- only this coming year, National Library ensure Congress will continue to get the wife gospel duo, recorded a wonderful Legislative Day is being replaced with information needed for real congressional version of “Give Me My Flowers.” The National Library Advocacy Day and is oversight of the executive’s surveillance song begins with the words, “Give me being moved on the calendar to coincide operations.” with ALA Annual Conference, which will my flowers while I yet live, so that I be held in Washington, D.C. this coming So, what is the bad news? The bad news can see the beauty that they bring.” In summer. National Library Advocacy is that the U.S. Senate passed much nar- a similar spirit of recognition, we are Day will be June 29, which immediately rower reforms. Library organizations, seeking nominees who should be hon- follows Annual Conference. You can as well as civil liberties groups, believe ored (while they yet live) by the AACRL read further details at: that more substantive reform should have been made by the Senate to address un- Significant Contribution Award. http://ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/ warranted surveillance and the collection index.cfm. and retention of personal data. Internet The purpose of this award is to rec- usage in libraries is not addressed nor is ognize achievements and significant As you may recall, the recent AACRL the issue of the use of NSLs (National contributions in the area of college and membership dues increase will help sup- Security Letters). ALA President Alire port an additional Alabama academic li- explained ALA’s position in a letter to research libraries on the local, state, brarian in attending National Legislative the Washington Post from October 18 regional, national, or international level Day. If you are interested in representing (available online, including on the above and the award is open to all librarians, Alabama at National Advocacy Day, you mentioned web site). library faculty, paraprofessionals, other may contact Eric A. Kidwell (ekidwell@ information professionals, or students huntingdon.edu). For more information and a detailed timeline of legislative action on the reau- enrolled in graduate library programs PATRIOT Act News thorization of the PATRIOT Act, go to: who work or reside in Alabama and who http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/ are associated with college, university, As is so often the case with legislation, advocacy/federallegislation/theusapatri- or research libraries. Additionally, this there is both good news and bad news to otact/index.cfm award may be presented to organiza- report on the reauthorization of the USA tions, groups, vendors, or other individu- PATRIOT Act. Personally, I tend to be AACRL Government Relations als who have contributed something of of the “give me the bad news first” type, Committee but we’ll start with the good news for significance within the state of Alabama this report: Part of AACRL’s restructuring, led by in the area of college and research librar- current president Rickey Best, has been ies. The contribution(s) must have been The good news is that the U.S. House of the addition of several committees to Representatives Judiciary Committee has accomplished while the person or group AACRL operations. One such committee was a resident of Alabama. (Nominees passed the USA PATRIOT Amendments is the Government Relations Committee. Act of 2009. This bill has been praised Members for 2009-10 include Barbara must be residents of Alabama). by both ALA and ARL. ALA President Hightower (Auburn University) and Kent Camila Alire is quoted in Library Jour- Snowden (Troy University Montgomery) The AACRL Significant Contribution nal (www.libraryjournal.com/article/ and the chair, Eric A. Kidwell (Hunting- CA6706001.html) as complimenting the Award will be presented at the annual don College) as the chapter’s legislative Dinner/Business meeting to be held in House Judiciary Committee on its “ … liaison. The committee has been slow in thorough, open debate of H.R. 3845 … getting started with its work due to the Huntsville in April 2010. (which) includes many provisions that chair’s overabundance of campus “stuff” will re-establish the balance between (SACS just about sums it up), but the Please submit nominations either by the needs of law enforcement and the expectation is that we will become more rights of the American public.” What postal mail or e-mail by the DEADLINE active once we return from the holidays of January 15, 2010 to: H.R.