GAZETTE Volume 19, No. 40 • November 7, 2008 • A weekly publication for Library staff CFC Rally Calls on Library Staffers’ Generosity By Jennifer Gavin Library staffers were asked on Friday, Oct. 31, to find a way—despite a falling stock market and rising prices for fuel, food and other necessities—to continue their legendary generosity in giving to charities through the Combined Federal Campaign. As government employees, we’re really among the lucky ones in difficult times, noted Librarian of Congress James H. Billington as he thanked Library staff- ers, who exceeded last year’s pledge goal, for their longtime generosity. Last year, Wheeler Barry 1,380 Library staffers contributed to the The U.S. Armed Services Color Guard presents the colors to kick off the annual Combined Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), and Federal Campaign at the Library. the Library won the campaign’s Summit planned as part of the Library’s CFC cam- be a CFC book sale —the location is still Award, its highest award for excellence. paign, including the CFC Agency Fair being determined—and bake sales. The This year’s Library-wide pledge goal is from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, AFSCME unions at the Library will spon- $575,000. Nov. 13, in Madison Hall; the CFC Talent sor fund-raising speakers’ programs. Billington quoted the late tennis great Show from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, The Library’s chief operating officer, Arthur Ashe: From what we get, we can Nov. 18 in the Coolidge Auditorium; and Jo Ann Jenkins, noted that the Library make a living; what we give, however, the CFC White Elephant sale, from 9:30 had already raised $10,000 toward this makes a life. a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. Several fund-raising events are 10, in the Madison Hall. There will also CFC, Continued on page 7 Native American Activist to Give Keynote Native American activist, journalist peoples’ traditions, culture and and poet Suzan Shown Harjo will deliver arts. For the past four decades, the keynote address for the Library’s 2008 she shaped federal Indian policy celebration of Native American Heritage and succeeded in recovering Month. more than one million acres of The free, public event will take place land including sacred places. at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the Harjo is one of seven Native Mumford Room, LM 649, in the James Americans who filed the 1992 Madison Building. landmark lawsuit, Harjo et al v. Born in Oklahoma, Harjo is Hodulgee Pro Football, Inc., regarding the Muscogee and a member of the Cheyenne name of the Washington, D.C., people. Her great-grandfather, Chief Bull football team. In 1999, a three- Suzan Shown Harjo will give Native American Bear, was a leader in the Cheyenne resis- judge panel unanimously decided Heritage Month keynote. tance against government oppression to cancel federal trademark pro- Harjo’s social and political activism during the late 19th century. tections for the team’s name. The District dates back to the late 1960s and early Harjo is founder and president of The Court reversed that decision in 2003; 1970s when she was news director for Morning Star Institute, a national Native the case is now before the U.S. Court of the American Indian Press Association rights organization that promotes Native Appeals. NATIVE AMERICAN, Continued on page 7 2 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GAZETTE NOVEMBER 7, 2008 NOTICES Permission Needed to Pick Blackberries Information Technology Services reminds staff that service and support units are responsible for the purchase of cellular telephones, Blackberry devices and any wireless GAZETTE www.loc.gov/staff/gazette add-on device that may be required within their organizations. MATTHEW RAYMOND However, the service or support unit must receive written approval from Information Executive Editor Technology Services (ITS) before ordering wireless equipment and services. A memorandum GAIL FINEBERG Editor requesting this approval should be sent to James McGrory, chief of the Technical Facilities MICHAELA McNICHOL and Services Division of ITS. Art Director, Photographer ITS supports only AT&T and its Blackberry device, model 8700c. No other wireless device Contributing Editors: Erin Allen, Calendar; and service provider will be allowed to connect to the Library’s network. Carlin “René” Sayles, Moving On and Length of Service; Service and support units also are responsible for purchasing voice and data services Runako Balondemu, Donated Leave Contributing Photographer: Barry Wheeler from a service provider. Although it is appropriate for service units to set up accounts directly Proofreader: George Thuronyi with the service provider, this should be done under the rules and regulations of the Library’s PETER BRAESTRUP JAMES W. McCLUNG Office of Contracts and Grants Management. Founder Founding Publisher If individual purchases are less than $2,500 for services and less than $3,000 for supplies (1990 – 1997) (1990 – 1994) and equipment, the Office of Contracts and Grants Management recommends that service An official publication of the Library of Congress, The Gazette and support units fill their needs by using a government-wide purchase card. However, encourages Library managers and staff to submit articles and photographs of general interest. Submissions will be edited to if any individual purchase exceeds the limits for services, supplies and equipment, then convey the most necessary information. the service or support unit MUST prepare and submit a funded requisition to the Office of Deadline for submission of articles is 5 p.m. Wednesday, one Contracts and Grants Management for acquisition. week prior to publication date. Please submit text in digital form via e-mail ([email protected]) preferably as an attachedM icrosoft If technical assistance is required in selecting a cellular phone, contact Voice Systems Word file. at 7-7727. Back issues of The Gazette in print are available in the Public Affairs Office, LM 105. Electronic archived issues and the current issue are available online at www.loc.gov/staff/gazette. Federal Benefits Open Season Begins Library of Congress The Federal Benefits Open Season began on Nov. 10 and runs through Dec. 8. During Washington, DC 20540-1620 this period Library staff may elect or change health benefits in the Federal Employees Health Editorial: Gail Fineberg, 7-9194, [email protected] Design and production: Michaela McNichol, Benefits (FEHB) Program or dental and vision insurance in the Federal Employees Dental and 7-0970, [email protected] Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), and elect or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts ISSN 1049-8184 for Federal Employees (FSAFEDS) Program for 2009. Printed on paper that contains recycled paper by the Printing Management Section, Office Systems Services Find out more at a Benefits Health Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Mumford Room, LM 649, sponsored by Human Resources Services (HRS). This is Gazette Welcomes Letters from Staff The staff is invited to use the Forum pages for lively and thoughtful an opportunity to meet the carriers face-to-face, ask questions and obtain 2009 brochure debate relevant to Library issues. However, just as other newspa- information. per editors exercise discretion over which letters to publish and how to edit them, so do we. In deciding whether or how much Staff members who do not want to make any changes in health or dental and vision to publish, we consider content (including misstatements of fact, libel, innuendo, ridicule of individuals or the institution, personal coverage need not take further action, although they should review health plan brochures attacks, and redundancy) and length (the limit is 600 words). for changes in benefits or rates. Letters must be signed by the author, whose place of work and telephone extension should be included so we can verify author- Employees who are now enrolled in the Flexible Spending Accounts for Federal Employees ship. Letter writers should understand that when they sign their letters and release them to us for publication they are relinquishing Program must re-enroll to participate in 2009. privacy. If a letter calls for management response, for example, an explanation of a policy or actions or clarification of fact, we For details about these plans, see the Oct. 31 issue of the Gazette, attend the Nov. will ask for management response.—Ed. 19 Benefits Health Fair, visit the HRS Customer Service Center in LM-107 or call Brenda Bunyasi, 7-8305. Gazette Deadlines The deadline for editorial copy for the Nov. 21 WebTA Upgrade to Offer New Features Gazette is Wednesday, Nov. 12. E-mail editorial copy and letters to the editor to The WebTA system will be upgraded to version 3.7 on Friday, Nov. 14. This upgrade offers [email protected]. many security and auditing features to improve both the functionality of the tool as well as a few long-awaited, user-friendly enhancements. To promote events through the Library’s online The Office of Human Resource Services (HRS) and Information Technology Services (ITS) are calendar (www.loc.gov/loc/events) and the upgrading the system. Gazette Calendar, e-mail event and contact Staff will log on the same way. They will notice some minor but useful changes starting with information to [email protected] by 9 a.m. the Employee Main Menu. The Validate button has been removed from the main menu and is Monday of the week of publication. now located on the T&A Data Screen. Other new features can be found when requesting Leave Boxed announcements should be submitted and Premium Pay, which are now separate categories; when scheduling leave around holidays, electronically (text files) by 9 a.m. Monday, the which are now shown in the calendar view in which leave is requested; and in the supervisors’ week of publication to [email protected].