445n3_2pcorrex.indd5n3_2pcorrex.indd ccvr1vr1 55/30/2006/30/2006 111:51:431:51:43 AAMM 445n3_2pcorrex.indd5n3_2pcorrex.indd ccvr2vr2 55/30/2006/30/2006 110:41:170:41:17 AAMM PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION VOLUME 45 • NUMBER 3 • MAY/JUNE 2006 ISSN 0163-5506 DEPARTMENTS 4 News from PLA kathleen hughes 6 On the Agenda 7 From the President daniel l. walters 16 Tales from the Front jennifer ries-taggart 19 Perspectives nann blaine hilyard FEATURES 29 Book Talk amy alessio 42 Barefoot in Columbus 31 Internet Spotlight The Legacy of Kreimer and the Legality of Public Library steven m. cohen Access Policies Concerning Appearance and Hygiene This article analyzes three significant legal cases where patrons 35 Bringing in the Money were evicted due to their appearance or hygiene rather than for dis- stephanie gerding ruptive behavior and focuses on how policies should be constructed and enforced to avoid future litigation. 40 Passing Notes james kelly michael garrett farrelly 50 T he Accidental Supervisor 64 By the Book In these days of reduced funds and staff cutbacks, it’s not unusual julie elliott for people to be moved sideways into supervisory positions or to have a number of library pages suddenly added to their responsi- 70 New Product News bilities. Here’s some advice for successfully managing this role. vicki nesting pat tunstall EXTRAS 58 Ill Winds Hurricanes and Public Libraries along the Gulf Coast 2 Readers Respond How did two powerful hurricanes affect public libraries in three 2 Editor’s Note states? With numerous library systems destroyed, how did public 10 Verso—The Librarian librarians meet the demands from hurricane evacuees? Who Reads Is Lost mary cosper leboeuf 63 Index to Advertisers cover and table of contents images by jim lange design. 445n3_2pcorrex.indd5n3_2pcorrex.indd 1 55/30/2006/30/2006 110:42:050:42:05 AAMM What’s Up with the Cover? Depicting a feature article on the cover can be tricky (we EDITORIAL don’t want to get too literal, and we do want to make sure EDITOR: Kathleen M. Hughes that you take notice of the journal sitting in your inbox). CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Steven M. Cohen, Julie Elliott, So sometimes our artist, Jim Lange, opts instead to por- Michael Garrett Farrelly, Stephanie Gerding, Nann Blaine Hilyard, tray a book, reading, or library theme. For this issue, he Nanci Milone-Hill, Vicki Nesting, Jennifer Ries-Taggart has transformed an iconic Modigliani painting—eye- ADVISORY COMMITTEE catching, don’t you agree? Marilyn Boria, Elmhurst, IL; Nancy Charnee, New York, NY; Bessie Condos, Sacramento, CA; Barbara Custen, Pasadena, CA; Now that you’ve picked up the journal to check out the Sally Decker-Smith, Wheeling, IL; Luren E. Dickinson, Shaker cover more closely, be sure to take a minute and check Heights, OH; Nanci Milone Hill, Methuen, MA; Patricia Marvel, Las Vegas, NV; Marcia Schneider, San Francisco, CA. out all this issue has to offer. In “Ill Winds,” Mary Cosper EX OFFICIO: Clara N. Bohrer, West Bloomfield Library, LeBoeuf details how Gulf Coast libraries have fared in the 4600 Walnut Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, MI 48323-2557; wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and don’t miss James [email protected]. Kelly on library access policies concer PLA PRESIDENT: Daniel L. Walters, Las Vegas-Clark County ning appearance Library District, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89101; and hygiene in “Barefoot In Columbus.” Also, if you’re [email protected] thinking of nominating yourself, your library, or some- PUBLIC LIBRARIES (ISSN 0163-5506) is published bimonthly at 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. It is the official publication of body else for one of the many library service awards out the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library there in libraryland, then you’ll want to take a look at this Association. Subscription price: to members of PLA, $25 a year, included in membership dues; to nonmembers: U.S. $50; Canada issue’s Perspectives column, which features instructive $60; all other countries $60. Single copies, $10. Periodicals postage essays by recent award-winners. (Then visit www.pla.org paid at Chicago, IL, and at additional mailing offices. and nominate yourself, your library, or a colleague for one POSTMASTER: send address changes to Public Libraries, of our awards!) Be sure to check out all of the other infor- 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. mative and entertaining items in this issue as well. SUBSCRIPTIONS With this issue, we say good-bye to PLA President Dan Nonmember subscriptions, orders, changes of address, and Walters, whose last column appears on page 7. Thanks, inquiries should be sent to Public Libraries, Sub scription Dan, for your hard work on behalf of PLA this year and Department, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 1-800-545-2433, press 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; for your thoughtful, and thought-provoking columns. [email protected]. With the July/August issue, we welcome and look forward ADVERTISING to hearing from incoming PLA President Susan Hildreth, William N. Coffee, c/o Benson, Coffee & Associates, 1411 Peterson state librarian of California. Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068; (847) 692-4695; fax: (847) 692-3877. Finally, send comments and questions about PL to PRODUCTION [email protected]; we look forward to hearing from you! ALA PRODUCTION SERVICES: Troy D. Linker, Angela Hanshaw; Kathleen Hughes Angela Gwizdala, Christopher Keech, Stephanie Kuenn, and Christine Velez. Editor MANUSCRIPTS Unless otherwise noted, all submissions should be sent to Kathleen is reading Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood Kathleen Hughes, Public Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., by Koren Zailckas and 1776 by David McCullough. Chicago, IL 60611; [email protected]. See www.pla.org for sub- mission instructions. INDEXING/ABSTRACTING Public Libraries is indexed in Library Literature and Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE), in addition to a num- ber of online services. Contents are ab stracted in Library and Information Science Abstracts. Readers Respond MICROFILM COPIES Microfilm copies are available from University Micro films, 300 Social responsibility begins at home. In addition to the actions N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum Michael Baldwin described in “Librarians As Knowledge requirements of American National Standard for Information Provocateurs” (Public Libraries, March/April 2006), public libraries Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. can serve as models for accountability and transparency by pub- ©2006 by the American Library Association lishing the following kinds of information on their own Web sites: All materials in this journal are subject to copyright by the American Library Association and may be photocopied for the ■ recent and archived minutes of board meetings; noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advance- ment granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision ■ budget and other financial information; Act of 1976. For other reprinting, photocopying, or translating, ■ current and past annual reports; address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. continued on page 6 445n3_2pcorrex.indd5n3_2pcorrex.indd 2 55/30/2006/30/2006 110:42:270:42:27 AAMM 445n3_2pcorrex.indd5n3_2pcorrex.indd 3 55/30/2006/30/2006 110:42:460:42:46 AAMM news from pla News from PLA Don’t Miss These PLA ■ PLA’s Smartest Card Update Cooper. Cooper Programs at the 2006 ALA ■ Your Library’s Intranet, the hosts the nightly Annual Conference Hidden Tool: Not So Sexy, But Oh CNN news pro- So Satisfying gram Anderson Please note: This is a preliminary Cooper 360°, and schedule. Information is subject to Sunday, June 25, 2006, has anchored change. Visit www.pla.org for updates. 1:30–5:30 p.m. many major ■ Brain Research: Programming For breaking news Saturday, June 24, 2006, All Types of Libraries stories, includ- 10:30 a.m.–noon ing the devas- ■ Changing Demographics: Sunday, June 25, 2006, 4–5:30 p.m. tation caused Marketing to Communities in ■ Meet Us At the Campfire: Telling by Hurricane Transition Your Story Katrina. His book, ■ Good to Great: How to Rethink, Dispatches from Reconfigure, and Revitalize Your Monday, June 26, 10:30 a.m.–noon the Edge: A Memoir Library into Greatness ■ From Collaboration to of War, Disasters, ■ Graphic Novels for Children? The Cohabitation: Partnerships that and Survival will be available in Wave of the Future Build Communities June 2006. PLA is pleased to pres- ■ ■ I Want to Speak to the Person in From the Inside Out: How to Sell ent Anderson Cooper as part of the Charge! How to Effectively Handle New Service Models to Reluctant ALA Auditorium Speakers Series. Problems and Emergencies in the Staff Following his talk and the PLA Public Library ■ Helping Every Child Become awards presentation, join PLA for a ■ Intellectual Freedom in Rural Ready to Read: Care-providers gala, music-filled reception. There is Libraries: How to Keep the Library and Librarians as Partners no charge for attending this event. for Everyone ■ Natural Mentoring and Reverse PLA thanks HarperCollins for their ■ That’s Tight! Teen Volunteer Mentoring in the Digital Age support of this event. Success Stories Monday, June 26, 2006, Saturday, June 24, 2006, 1:30–3:30 p.m. PLA 11th National Conference 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. ■ Building the Ultimate Portal: Draws Record-breaking ■ Models of Engagement: Listening Selection Secrets of the Librarians’ Crowd to Boston to and Learning from Adult New Internet Index Readers and New Immigrants ■ Exploring the Technology of More than 11,000 library staff, Gaming exhibitors, authors, and guests Saturday, June 24, 2006, ■ Targeting Collections to Your packed Boston’s Hynes Convention 1:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.