Get the Biggest Bang for Your Continuing Education Buck at the Premier Event for Public Librarians. Registration for the 13th PLA National Conference opens in early September. AL CO TION NFE A RE N N th C 3 E 1 PORTLAND M O R E G O N 0 AR 01 CH 23-27, 2 Join PLA in Portland, Oregon, a city that continually tops travel destination lists, for the 13th PLA National Conference, March 23-27, 2010. The biennial National Conference is the premier event for the public library world, drawing librarians, library support staff, trustees, Friends, and library vendors from across the country and around the world. The PLA National Conference will feature: • More than a hundred high-quality educational programs, preconferences, talk tables, and special events • World-class speakers and presenters, including the profession’s leading experts and experienced practitioners • A bustling exhibits hall, packed with the latest products and information from library and information technology vendors • Countless networking opportunities and social events Visit www.placonference.org for information about registration, conference programming, special events, travel, and insider tips on everything the Conference and Portland have to offer. Join PLA! Registration opens in early September. Only PLA and Oregon Library Association members can take advantage of our lowest registration fee – $195, compared to ALA members who pay $275 and non-members who pay $330. For more information about all of the benefits of PLA membership, visit www.pla.org or call 800.545.2433, ext. 5PLA. www.placonference.org PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION VOLUME 48 • NUMBER 4 • JULY/AUGUST 2009 ISSN 0163-5506 DEPARTMENTS 3 News from PLA kathleen hughes 3 On the Agenda 4 From the President sari feldman 6 Tales from the Front jennifer t. ries-taggart 8 Perspectives nanci milone hill FeatURES 12 Statistically Speaking 27 No Easy Targets denise davis Six Libraries in the Economy’s Dark Days 18 Internet Spotlight suzann holland and amanda verploeg michael porter and The authors talked to library administrators across the country to david lee king determine how they are coping with today’s economic realities— library funding cuts, a growing user base, and higher circulation. 21 Bringing in the Money 39 Tightrope Walk peter pearson Advocate for Funding While Winning Friends, 24 Passing Notes Influencing People michael garrett farrelly james g. van bramer Advocate without alienating. Van Bramer explains how to manage 52 By The Book the delicate balance between zealous advocacy and maintaining the julie elliott good will of those holding the purse strings. 54 New Product News 44 Public Libraries and the American Recovery vicki nesting and Reinvestment Act emily sheketoff EXTRAS Details steps librarian can take to ensure their libraries have access to funding available through the American Recovery and Reinvest- 2 Editor’s Note ment Act. 56 Index to Advertisers cover and table of contents artwork by jim lange design. EDITORIAL EDITOR: Kathleen M. Hughes Editor’s Note CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Julie Elliott, Michael Garrett Farrelly, Nann Blaine Hilyard, Nanci Milone-Hill, David Lee King, Vicki Nesting, Michael Porter, Lee Price, Jennifer T. Ries-Taggart Dear readers: ADVISORY COMMITTEE Luren E. Dickinson, Shaker Heights Public Library , Ohio (Chair); Clara Welcome to “The Economy Issue.” All of the articles and Bohrer, West Bloomfield Library, MI; Bessie Condos, California State columns in this issue focus on today’s libraries coping Library, Sacramento, CA; Anne L. Coriston, New York Public Library, NY; Dianne Harmon, Joliet Public Library, IL; Joanne King, Queens with our current economic situation. “No Easy Targets” Borough Public Library, NY; Patricia Linville, Seward Community examines how libraries across the country have been Library, AK; Cindy A. Lombardo, Cleveland Public Library, Ohio; Nanci Milone-Hill, Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen, MA; Susan affected, “Tightrope Walk” shows how to carefully and zeal- Sexton-Cooley, Sara Hightower Regional Library, GA ously advocate for funding, and “Public Libraries and the PLA PRESIDENT: Carol Sheffer, Queens Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” details how your Jamaica, NY 11432; [email protected]. PUBLIC LIBRARIES (ISSN 0163-5506) is published bimonthly by the library can gain access to funding that will become avail- American Library Association (ALA), 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. able through this program. We hope you will find some It is the official publication of the Public Library Association, a division of ALA. Subscription price: to members of PLA, $25 a year, included helpful information to guide you and your library through in membership dues; to nonmembers: U.S. $50; Canada $60; all other these turbulent times. countries $60. Single copies, $10. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and at additional mailing offices. In other news, we are looking for a new “By the Book” editor—check out page 52 for details. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Public Libraries, As always, please let us know your thoughts, comments, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. questions, etc. SUBSCRIPTIONS Nonmember subscriptions, orders, changes of address, and inqui- Kathleen M. Hughes, Editor, [email protected] ries should be sent to Public Libraries, Sub scription Department, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; 1-800-545-2433, press 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; [email protected]. Kathleen is reading A Cat Among the Pigeons by Agatha advertisinG Christie. Doug Lewis, Jordan Gareth Inc., 4920 Hwy 9, #141, Alpharetta, GA 30004; (770) 333-1281, fax: (404) 806-7745; doug@ jordangareth.com; Territory: FL, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, KY, TN, VA, WV, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, VT, and ME. Dave Adrian, David M. Adrian & Associates, 7251 Jameson Place, Canoga Park, CA 91303; (818) 888-5288, fax: (818) 888-0547; [email protected]; Territory: PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, TX, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND, MT, WY, CO, NM, AZ, UT, ID, WA, OR, NV, CA, HI, AK, and all international countries. New PLA Products for Your Library’s Youngest PRODUCTION Patrons ALA Production Services: Troy D. Linker, Chris Keech, Tim Clifford, and Justine Wells. “100 Picture Books to Read in Kindergarten” and “75 of MANUSCRIPTS the Best Books for the Very Young” are two new poster Unless otherwise noted, all submissions should be sent to Kathleen kits available from PLA. Created by the West Bloomfield Hughes, Public Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; [email protected]. See www.pla.org for submission instructions. Township (Mich.) Public Library, the posters are available in INDEXING/ABSTRACTING packs of 25 for you to share with your young readers. Public Libraries is indexed in Library Literature and Current Index “100 Picture Books” lists some of the very best picture to Journals in Education (CIJE), in addition to a number of online books to read aloud to kindergarten-age children. The list services. Contents are ab stracted in Library and Information Science Abstracts. includes well-loved classics as well as quality contemporary books. It is designed so books can be checked off as they are MICROFILM COPIES read. Includes parent guide and bookmarks. Product num- Microfilm copies are available from University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. ber 2009-0001; list price $75 (per pack of 25). The paper used in this publica- “75 of the Best Books” lists some of the very best board tion meets the minimum require- books and picture books to read to children from birth ments of American National 30% Standard for Information Cert no. SCS-COC-00648 through preschool. The list includes classics, books that Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, teach important concepts, stories to sing, books with rhyme ANSI Z39.48-1992. and rhythm, and books for bedtime. Includes poster-use ©2009 by the American Library Association guidelines and stickers to add as books are read. Product All materials in this journal are subject to copyright by the American number 2009-0002; list price $55 (per pack of 25). Library Association and may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement granted by Sections Both are available from the ALA Store (www.alastore 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprint- .ala.org). ing, photocopying, or translating, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. public 2 news from pla News from PLA Join PLA in Portland! report contains a special survey on The PLA National Conference is the facilities. For more information visit On the Agenda premier professional development www.pla.org. The print version is event for public librarians, public available from the ALA Store (www PLA Results Boot Camp 5 library staff, trustees, Friends, library .alastore.ala.org); the database must October 12–16, 2009 vendors, and others with an inter- be ordered from PLA (www.pla.org). Seattle est in public libraries. PLA 2010 will provide opportunities to learn new 2010 ideas, share success stories, hear The PLA Reader for Public ALA Midwinter Meeting best practices, and meet colleagues Library Directors and January 15–20, 2010 from across the county and around Managers Boston the world. A co-publication from Neal-Schuman and PLA; List price: $65; ISBN-13: 978-1-55570-684-5; PLA members The first in PLA’s new Train the Mark Your Calendar receive a discount, see advertisement Trainer series, this electronic pub- PLA’s 13th National Conference on page 25. lication (available from the ALA will be held March 23–27, 2010, The first in a new series that is Store, www.alastore.ala.org) sup- in Portland, Oregon. Registration designed specifically for busy public ports the PLA publication “Libraries opens in early September 2009.