Erica MacCreaigh, also a senior consultant in the Institutional Library Development unit, states, “I think The Prisoner’s Right to Read will prove itself the single most powerful document in the English language for correctional librarians. It carries a weight of authority not found in other writings about correctional libraries. As such, it should prove a substantial asset to anyone striving to uphold the fundamental principles of librarianship in an environment designed to oppose them.”

What is summer loss?
The idea of students slipping in their reading abilities is called “summer loss.” The concept is based, in part, on the research of James Sangil Kim, Ed.D., assistant professor of education at Harvard University. Dr. Kim’s research suggests that while many students’ reading skills diminish over the summer months away from school, students who read a minimum of eight high-interest books at their Lexile level over the summer can achieve similar gains in reading growth as students who attend summer school.

How your actions help
Durham Public Schools in North Carolina have implemented a Lexile program based on Dr. Kim’s research with success. Watch a 4-minute video about how the program boosted their summer reading success. And here’s how the Durham County Library implemented the Lexile-based program with reading lists that could easily be replicated through WorldCat.org lists (rather than having to build a specific page on your Web site.)

It’s an important point to make to your community—your summer reading program is fun and engaging, but it’s also vitally important. The work you do gives students an important leg up for the next school year. Use the downloadable WorldCat.org summer reading materials to help promote your summer reading program—especially as an online component for your current program.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering free library subscriptions to care ADvantage, a quarterly publication for caregivers and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses.

Each issue of care ADvantage presents articles written by top experts in their respective fields, offering valuable information and insight into a wide range of timely topics from the medical and practical to the emotional and inspirational.

Over 200 public libraries nationwide have subscribed thus far, and we would love to extend an invitation to you to join them in providing this magazine so patrons who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses can have greater access to the information and support that is available to them. We would also greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word to other libraries across the nation, if possible.

Every library in your system can each receive one free issue per quarter, with no end date to their subscription. Please call 866-AFA-8484, Ext. 111 or email Melissa Austen to subscribe or to request a sample copy of the magazine.

Nance, in her roles at the Colorado State Library as School Library Senior Consultant, has contributed much to Colorado.

Some highlights:

• She worked to develop standards for school libraries including
• http://www.cde.state.co.us/litstandards_index.htm http://coloradoschoollibrarystandards.pbworks.com/
• She produced a video: Your School’s Team Deserves a Star Player.
• http://www.cde.state.co.us/media/cdelib/video/StarPlayer/StarPlayer.html
• She served on a team to develop the nationally recognized Learner’s Bill of Rights
• http://aasl.ala.org/essentiallinks/images/e/e2/Learners_Bill_of_Rights1_24_09.pdf
• She conducted scores of school library workshops and presentation throughout the state and nationally on instruction, advocacy, and using data in school library programs
• She worked on school library alternative licensure and updated teacher librarian certification
• She liaisons with school library educational institutions for quality professional development
• She led several online resource projects including the Teacher Librarian Ning (url) http://coteacherlibrarian.ning.com/
• She coordinated the Power Libraries Program board activities
• She served on regional, state, and national committees including the Colorado School Library Leaders, Colorado Association of School Librarians, Am. Association of School Libraries, and the Colorado Technology leadership Forum.

Nance is as extraordinarily talented as she is humble so this list would be longer if she let me go on.  Suffice it to say, we are overwhelmingly grateful for the work and dedication Nance has made on behalf of the students in Colorado, as well as educators, administrators, and library staff.  She has been a vital part of the Colorado State Library staff and integral to activities in the Colorado Department of Education.  She will be missed by so many people in the education/library communities.  She will wrap up her time at CDE/State Library in August 2010.

In showing our gratitude for Nance, please take a moment to email her, thank her for something that made a difference to you, and wish her well.

Francine Fialkoff, Library Journal Editor-in-Chief, has asked me to bring this site to your attention if you haven’t already seen it: www.LosingLibraries.org.

Reduced hours in Boulder and Lafayette, and the closures in Aurora are listed, as is the BHAG advocacy initiative.

The prominent “Report Cuts” button allows sending of newspaper stories and annotations…and to report successes. The site seems geared toward public libraries, but doesn’t appear to restrict inclusion of layoffs, reductions, or closures in other types.

I encourage you to keep the site updated as changes happen in your library. While no one wants to flaunt bad news, showing an accurate picture is important as Colorado braces for further budget battles locally, and at the state level.

Once the site is more fully populated, Library Journal will send out press releases to major media around the country.

Thank you for your help on this.

This year is turning out to be different at the library.

What I mean by this has nothing to do with how much our libraries are being used. Libraries are busier than ever. Our libraries are bustling places. I could not be prouder of a group of employees than I am of each of you who work conscientiously each day to deliver excellent library service.

Indeed, use of our libraries this year is greater than it ever has been. In every major measurable category we are at all-time record levels. Checkouts of books and other library materials is +22%. The number of people visiting our libraries is +20%. Attendance at library-sponsored programs and events is +41%. The number of people logging-on library public-access computers is +34%. We are seeing double-digit increases across-the-board.

In fact, it is turning out to be the busiest year ever at the Pueblo City-County Library. This isn’t any different, either. In each of the past five years, we continuously have set new records for use of libraries. I am pleased we also have been able to increase the number of employees on staff and to improve employee salaries and benefits during this time. I am happy our citizens are motivated to use libraries.It speaks well for our goal of insuring ours is a community of readers.

So, if so much is the same, what is different? What is different is how we are planning for next year. Normally, at this time of year, we would be preparing to gather groups of library employees and members of the Board of Trustees to develop goals and objectives to formulate a balanced budget for 2011.

Until recently, we were planning for flat or somewhat reduced revenues in 2011. This, by itself, is not unexpected. After all, most people are cutting back due to the poor economy. We had some confidence this could be accomplished by “tightening our belts,” just like almost everyone else right now.

But this year is turning out to be different. This year we also are making contingency plans to reduce or eliminate most library services. How can this be? The library is being used more than ever in its entire history, yet we are making plans to possibly curtail and do away with services. Clearly, something is wrong.

What has changed is this. There will be three referenda for voters statewide on November 2. If passed by the voters, each of the three will impact our library revenues dramatically and negatively. It has been determined Douglas Bruce from El Paso County is behind the three measures (http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15281356?source=rss_viewed).

The Bruce proposals are commonly known as Amendment 60, Amendment 61, and Proposition 101. If passed by the voters, the Bruce ballot issues will amend the state constitution and set law to severely cut taxes and slash revenues for nearly all public entities in Colorado, including our libraries in Pueblo County. If the Bruce referenda pass, taxes for libraries will be chopped by as much as nearly one-third in 2011 with more cuts in the years to come. This will result in striking reductions to library services. For example, if these referenda pass, we can balance the library budget by doing all these things:
Permanently close the Barkman Library
Permanently close the Lamb Library
Permanently close the Pueblo West Library
Permanently close the Library @ the Y
Permanently close all Library Satellites and Outreach Services
Permanently close the InfoZone Museum
Reduce hours and services at the Rawlings Library

I want to be clear. No decision has been made on how we will balance the budget in 2011 if the referenda pass. The example above is only illustrative to demonstrate the gravity of the situation.

Passing the Bruce referenda will cut taxes. For example, the average automobile owner currently pays an average of $4.06 annually in Pueblo County to support libraries. If Bruce’s Proposition 101 passes, this will be reduced to an average of six cents per year (http://www.thebell.org/sites/default/files/Pueblo1page.pdf). Another example, if Bruce’s Amendment 60 passes the average homeowner’s property tax paid for libraries will be rolled back to what the dollar amount meant more than fifteen years ago.

In conclusion, I should point out that I am neither advocating for nor recommending against Bruce’s Amendment 60, Amendment 61, and Proposition 101. However, as the Executive Director of the library it is my job to work to provide facts about the state of the library and to guarantee the best possible library services with the revenues provided.

It is a fact that voter approval of Bruce’s proposed Amendment 60, Amendment 61, and Proposition 101 on November 2 will both reduce taxes and cripple library funding.  For more on both sides of the referenda, see http://www.donthurtcolorado.com and http://www.cotaxreforms.com.

Please remember to vote on November 2.

The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the ALA, can be found online at www.ala.org/plinternetfunding.