AL Direct, February 3, 2010 Contents American Libraries Online ALA News Booklist Online Division News Round Table News Awards Seen Online Tech Talk The e-newsletter of the American Library Association | February 3, 2010 Publishing Actions & Answers Calendar American Libraries Online Libraries take disproportionate hit in New York mayor’s budget New York City’s three library systems took a disproportionate hit in the $63.6-billion budget proposal released by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg January 28. In order to close a $4.9-billion deficit for FY2011, the plan makes $1.6 billion in reductions to city agencies. Of the 834 job cuts, 299—more than one-third—would come from library staff, prompting the New York Times to call libraries “the biggest loser” in the budget. Additionally, the plan calls for another 135 library jobs to be lost by attrition.... American Libraries Online, Jan. 29 Jobs Bill looming, but no support for librarians Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.Dak.) has indicated that he and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) plan to introduce the Senate’s $80-billion version of the Jobs for Main Street Act on February 4. This bill, also simply known as the “Jobs Bill,” is designed to get Americans back to work; but it does not include any money for libraries or librarians. The ALA Washington Office urges librarians to call their senators and urge them to include the hiring and retaining of librarians in the Senate version of this bill.... District Dispatch, Feb. 3 LSSI loses challenge to Florida rule mandating full- time directors A judge has dismissed a legal challenge brought by Library Systems and Services (LSSI) against a proposed rule that would require Florida’s public library systems to be administered by a full-time librarian employed by the library’s governing body. Proposed by the Florida Division of Library and Information Services as an amendment to the State Aid to Libraries guidelines, the rule would require local governments to meet the requirement in order to receive a library operating grant from the state.... American Libraries Online, Feb. 3 Candidates for Lexington director made public Leonard Kniffel writes: “Doug Tattershall, media relations coordinator for Lexington Public Library in Kentucky, sent American Libraries an http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2010/february/020310.htm[7/17/2014 2:21:30 PM] AL Direct, February 3, 2010 email announcing that three finalists for the library’s vacant executive director position will be in Lexington interviewing for two days the first week of February. The chosen candidate will replace Kathleen Imhoff, whose controversial firing last July was the subject of much local media scutiny.”... AL: Inside Scoop, Feb. 1 Will’s World: I Blog, Therefore I Matter Will Manley writes: “I find it fascinating that so many people try to put a sad face on retirement. Some of this negativity stems from our strong American work ethic, but much of it originates from fear. Take away work and you’re floating around in space with nothing to do. I decided that I wanted to fill up my time by writing a book so I got rid of my television, gave my cell phone to my 2-year-old grandson to play with, and disconnected the computer. This last decision was a mistake.” Will Manley is now blogging at Will Unwound.... American Libraries, Mar.; AL: Inside Scoop, Jan. 29 ALA News Inaugural Judith Krug Intellectual Freedom Panel ALA Annual Conference, Angela Maycock writes: “Office for Intellectual Freedom staffers Washington, D.C., June attending the 6th Annual State of the Net conference January 27 in 24–29. Early bird Washington, D.C., were honored to witness the first iteration of the registration is in effect Judith Krug Memorial Intellectual Freedom Panel. The panel, through March 5. moderated by David Weller of Wilmer Hale, was titled ‘Global Free Expression: Will the Internet Reign or Get Reigned In?’ and featured provocative speakers from a variety of perspectives.”... OIF Blog, Feb. 2 New Flickr group: ALA in Second Life Watch the Annual In an attempt to gather together the Conference Facebook various photos and photo sets on Flickr of event page. The official ALA Island as well as of ALA members and Twitter hashtag is staff at Second Life events under one #ala10. umbrella, the ALA Library’s Valerie Hawkins created a new public Flickr group, ALA in Second Life. Anyone can join and then add photos to the group pool. And this is a place where participants of the upcoming “The Future is Now: Libraries and Museums in Virtual Worlds” conference, March 5–6, can post their pictures as well.... Virtual Presence, Feb. 2 @ your library website recommends resources The @ your library website provides http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2010/february/020310.htm[7/17/2014 2:21:30 PM] AL Direct, February 3, 2010 information and recommended resources that everyone can take advantage of at their local Get the scoop on this libraries—such as articles on how kids are learning how to make year’s best Series movies with the help of their local library, how librarians are helping Nonfiction March 16 job seekers prepare for job interviews, and lists of youth media at the next free award winners. It is the website for ALA’s public awareness webinar from Booklist. campaign, the Campaign for America’s Libraries, which highlights the Books for Youth value of libraries and librarians and connects people to free Associate Editor Daniel resources.... Kraus and representatives from Accreditation actions select series publishers ALA’s Committee on Accreditation has granted continued discuss what’s new for accreditation status to LIS programs at the University of Alabama, 2010 in this growing McGill University, North Carolina Central University, University of area of youth South Carolina, and Wayne State University. The next comprehensive publishing. Register review visit at each institution is scheduled to occur in 2016.... online. NEW! From Booklist. Updated measures of service quality for today’s libraries ALA Editions has released Assessing Service Quality: Satisfying the Expectations of Library Customers, In this issue Second Edition, by Peter Hernon and Ellen Altman. This Jan./Feb. 2010 classic book, which was honored with the Highsmith Library Award when first published, is brought fully up to date as Peter Hernon and Ellen Altman integrate the use of technology into the customer experience. They offer solid, practical ideas for developing a customer service plan that meets the library’s customer-focused mission, vision, and goals.... The ins and outs of writing great book reviews ALA Editions has released Writing Reviews for Readers’ Advisory, by Booklist Adult Books Editor Brad Hooper. Reviews are an important resource for readers’ advisory and collection development, as well How to Thrive by as a helpful promotional tool, introducing patrons to Design what is new on the shelf. Hooper shows readers how to write succinct and effective reviews, and he ABLE in Afghanistan includes different ways reviews can be used to promote your library.... It’s the Content, Stupid Career Leads from Featured review: Music Cohodas, Nadine. Princess Noire: The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone. Feb. 2010. Executive Director, 464p. Pantheon, hardcover (978-0-375- Mid-Hudson Library 42401-4). System, Poughkeepsie, Born in 1933, Eunice Waymon was a musical New York. Reports to prodigy, amazing North Carolina churchgoers the Board of Trustees with her piano playing beginning at age 4. and will provide http://aldirect.ala.org/sites/default/al_direct/2010/february/020310.htm[7/17/2014 2:21:30 PM] AL Direct, February 3, 2010 Serious, proud, and hardworking, she oversight and dreamed of becoming a classical pianist and leadership for the staff only began performing her unique blend of classical, gospel, in developing these jazz, and pop when she took a nightclub gig to earn money for programs and services. graduate school. Eunice’s spontaneous invention of her alter Extensive ego, Nina Simone, is evidence of her formidable capacity for communication and improvisation, the lifeblood of her world-altering music and the interaction with the skill that helped her survive the bloody turmoil of the civil- Directors and Boards of rights era. Cohodas infuses every scene with electrifying detail the member libraries is and penetrating insights into Simone’s struggles as an African required to determine American musician of phenomenal talent and exalted the specific mix which ambition.... will best meet the needs of the member Top 10 black history libraries. Represents the system and nonfiction books member libraries at Ray Olson writes: “Although 6 of NYLA and in other the 10 best African American professional venues. nonfiction books reviewed since the MHLS is a state- February 1, 2009, Spotlight on Black supported, cooperative, History aren’t biographies, only one interdependent system may lack elements of that beloved-by-readers genre, making of 66 large and small for a reading list, indeed.” You will have to click through to local libraries in a five- find out which one he is talking about, but the list includes county region of the three other musical memoirs to accompany Nina Simone’s mid-Hudson River biography, including books on Lena Horne, Little Richard, and valley. 17 full-time and Thelonious Monk.... 8 part-time employees provide a wide range of @ Visit Booklist Online for other reviews and much more.... catalogue, circulation, program, support, and technology services to the member libraries.... Division News Register for Teen Tech Week Registration is open for YALSA’s Teen Tech Week through February 16. A national initiative aimed at teens, their parents, educators, and other concerned adults, Teen Tech Week will be celebrated at thousands of public and school libraries across the country March 7–13.