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Weekly Poll

2009-12-11T09:53:19-06:00

Be sure to check out our new survey below, or on our home page.

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

2009 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award

2009-12-09T10:29:11-06:00

The West Bend Community Memorial Library in West Bend, Wisconsin, is the recipient of the 2009 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award given by the faculty of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The faculty voted overwhelmingly to give this year’s award to the West Bend Library for its steadfast advocacy on behalf of intellectual freedom in the face of a library challenge that garnered national attention. The efforts of the library board, Library Director Michael Tyree, the library staff, and many supportive community members are to be commended.

The controversy began in February 2009 when West Bend resident and conservative blogger Ginny Maziarka formally objected to the presence of books with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) content in the young adult section of the library. She formed a citizens’ group, West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries, and circulated a petition that called for the library to, among other requests, move “youth-targeted pornographic books into the adult section of the library.”

In response to her objection, a second citizens’ group was formed, West Bend Parents for Free Speech, which was active in supporting the library’s decision not to move or remove any of the titles in question.

The controversy quickly escalated in this town of 30,000 people located outside of Milwaukee. Hundreds of people attended library board meetings and town hall gatherings. In April 2009, four library board members were denied reappointment by the West Bend Common Council for not acting on the petitions to remove the materials. According to Alderman Terry Vrana, who was quoted in the West Bend Daily News, “the appointees were not serving the interests of the community ‘with their ideology.’” At a June 2009 meeting of the library board, a vote was taken and a unanimous decision to maintain the young adult collection without removing, moving, labeling, or restricting in any way, triumphed.

The American Library Association issued a statement in support of the library and against the efforts to control access to library collections. “Fanning the flames of this controversy, opponents of open access in libraries have launched a campaign spreading fear and misinformation. . . By resisting calls to censor potentially controversial materials, [the West Bend Library] promote[s] and protect[s] true education and learning, and uphold[s] the cherished freedoms that we, as Americans, hold most dear.”

Maziarka launched an aggressive campaign and used social media, including her blog, to spread her message. National media outlets such as CNN, ABC News, and Fox News covered the story. In mid-July, the Pew Research Center’s Project on Excellence in Journalism ranked the West End book challenges as among the top five blogged-about topics in the news.

“The West Bend librarians, library board, and library supporters demonstrated the strong and steadfast advocacy on behalf of intellectual freedom that is the focus of the Downs Award. Despite the enormous media attention that the controversy received, they were unwavering in their support of the public library's responsibility to provide a diverse collection to serve *all* community members,” said Christine Jenkins, GSLIS associate professor and director of the Center for Children’s Books.

A reception to honor the West Bend Library will take place during the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association in the Arlington Room of the Boston Park Plaza Hotel on January 16, 2010, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. The ABC-CLIO publishing company provides the honorarium to the recipient of the Downs Intellectual Freedom Award and also co-sponsors the reception.

The Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award is given annually to acknowledge individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it affects libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or long-term interest in, and dedication to, the cause of intellectual freedom. The award was established in 1969 by the GSLIS faculty to honor Robert Downs, a champion of intellectual freedom, on his twenty-fifth anniversary as director of the school.

Consistently ranked as one of the top library and information science programs in the United States, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, founded in 1893 at the Armour Institute in Chicago, maintains a reputation of excellence and quality. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was founded in 1867, and is regularly cited among leading universities in the United States.

Take a trip @ your library®

2009-12-09T09:30:05-06:00

Winter vacation is almost here, and whether that means packing everyone in the car for a trip to grandma’s house or planning an armchair getaway, there’s something for everyone @ your library.

Here are just a few examples of how libraries are promoting travel resources at their libraries.

In a recent article the Grand Rapids (Minn.) Area Library promoted audio books as a great way to pass the time during long car rides or plane trips. The library boasts a collection of audio books in every genre as well as for a wide variety of listening devices including books on CDs, cassettes, Playaways and as downloadable files.

The Southwest Iowa Library Service Area (SWILSA) reminds us that while some Americans might be forced to cancel winter vacations given the cost of gas and the chilly economic climate, the library offers plenty in the way of Armchair travel @ your library. Armchair travel offers Iowa libraries with a brief toolkit for marketing travel based literature, along with area attractions. SWILA provides a booklist, links to local attractions, clip art and sample bulletin board displays.

In it’s Check it out @ your library newsletter, the Wainfleet (Ontario, Canada) Township Public Library provides a list on travel books under the title Get ready to travel @ your library. Selected books include everything from “The Travel Doctor: Your Guide to Staying Health While You Travel” to “101 Places You Gotta See Before You’re 12!”

Sharon Robinson shares her love of libraries

2009-12-09T09:26:50-06:00

The latest in a series of Library Stories videos features Sharon Robinson, the daughter of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Robinson is an author, whose most recent picture book, “Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson,” is illustrated by Kadir Nelson, author and illustrator of “We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,” which was named the winner of the 2009 Robert F. Sibert Medal for the most distinguished informational book for children published in 2008. (Nelson and Robinson are seen, above). Nelson, who won a Coretta Scott King Book Award for “We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball” and also illustrated a Caldecott Honor Book, “Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad,” and Robinson appeared at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Chicago with the exhibit “Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience,” presented by the ALA’s Public Programs Office (PPO). Robinson has written several books about her father, including “Jackie’s Nine: Jackie Robinson’s Values to Live By” and “Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America.” Visibility @ your library provides librarians and library supporters with news and information about important communications issues from ALA’s Public Information Office and the Campaign for America’s Libraries.

Customer service training kit now available

2009-12-09T09:21:19-06:00

“Customer Service: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities,” a training kit by Sandra Nelson, is now available for purchase from the Public Library Association. The second in PLA’s new Train the Trainer series, this kit contains everything needed to hold a one-day (4-4.5 hours) customer service workshop. Content focuses on creating effective customer service policies in your library by defining the rights and responsibilities of both customers and staff members.

By using this kit, trainers will learn how to describe the difference between security issues and public service issues, be able to explain the rights and responsibilities of staff and customers in a customer service interaction, define and illustrate assertive communication techniques, provide examples of effective and ineffective customer service interactions, facilitate general discussions and manage group interactions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the training program and revise the program if needed. Included in the kit are an introduction/instructions (PDF file), trainer’s agenda (MS Word), PowerPoint presentation, script, participant handouts, and evaluation forms.

Nelson is also the author of “Libraries Prosper: A Guide to Using the PLA Advocacy Toolkit” (ALA 2009), “Implementing for Results: Your Strategic Plan in Action” (ALA, 2009), “Strategic Planning for Results” (ALA, 2008), as well as many other library management books. She is the Senior Editor of the Public Library Association Results series.

“Customer Service: Balancing Rights and Responsibilities – Training Manual,” (ISBN 13: 978-0-8389-9731-4) costs $45, with discounts available for ALA and PLA members. As this is a downloadable training kit, it must be ordered via the ALA store, www.alastore.ala.org.

AASL's winter tour of online courses

2009-12-09T09:19:38-06:00

School library media specialists are encouraged to sign up for the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) 2010 winter tour of online courses. Designed to isolate problem areas, the four 4-week courses will help develop the skills and techniques to help school library media specialists bring their programs into the 21st century. Registration and course information are available at www.ala.org/aasl/eacademy.
The following courses will run Jan. 11 to Feb. 8:

Design for Understanding Meets the 21st Century Library Media Specialist

Making a Place, Making a Case for Read-Alouds: A Powerful Teaching Tool for Literacy K-6

The following courses will run Feb. 1 to Mar. 1:

The Path to Collaboration: Making it Happen

Inquiring Minds Want to Know: Infusing Literacy Skills into the Inquiry Process

Led by experts in the school library media field, these courses will arm attendees with the tools and resources necessary to get results in their programs. Just for signing up, AASL is offering a free archived Learning4Life (L4L) webinar with every course registration.

Detailed descriptions of each course and registration information are available on the AASL e-Academy pages at www.ala.org/aasl/eacademy. Fees are $99 for personal AASL members; $149 for personal ALA members; $225 for non-members; $99 for retired AASL members; and $75 for student AASL members.

Preservation Week @ your library May 9-15, 2010

2009-12-09T09:16:13-06:00

Recognizing the critical role libraries play in preservation, the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will sponsor the first national Preservation Week, May 9-15, 2010.

Preservation Week intends to raise awareness of libraries’ role in connecting the general public to preservation information and expertise. Events sponsored by libraries will increase preservation awareness by emphasizing the close relationships among personal, family, community, and public collections and their preservation.

It is the first national awareness campaign targeting collections preservation awareness for the general public by strengthening community partnerships for preservation.

Preservation Week will begin to address the preservation concerns of the valuable collections of individuals, families and collectors by providing Web resources, success stories, and ideas for programs and projects, focusing on libraries as a place for preserving our rich heritage. The Preservation Week Web site will connect librarians with excellent resources already available for those who need specific preservation information. Go to the Preservation Week site at www.ala.org/preservationweek for information and resources.

A Preservation Week poster and bookmark is now available in the ALA Store. Help support Preservation Week. Visit the ALA Store: http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2823

Join your colleagues at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston for the Preservation Week Forum sponsored by the Preservation and Reformatting Section of ALCTS on Sunday, Jan. 17, 44 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. in the Boston Convention Center, Room 162 A/B.

With the theme of “Pass it on,” the first preservation week is a collaborative effort with the Library of Congress and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, in addition to many other
cultural heritage organizations and associations, to connect people to preservation on a personal
level, to increase the number of advocates for the importance of preservation in sustaining
cultural heritage and information access and to enhance knowledge of preservation issues among
the public and those responsible for collections.

In 2004 Heritage Preservation carried out the first national survey, the Heritage Health Index, to document collections preservation needs in libraries, museums, and archives (www.heritagepreservation.org/HHI/summary.html). That survey showed that roughly 1.3 billion items need treatment to reduce the risk and rate of damage.

The Heritage Health Index recommended that meeting the national preservation need will take shared responsibility by many, including public and institutional decision-makers, and policy makers.

The condition of 30 percent of items across every type of collection and library is unknown. Even when condition is known, our cultural heritage continues to be at risk, including newly created digital collections. No one knows of preservation needs in the individual, family and community collections that represent our heritage in private hands.

ALA urges FCC to consider role of libraries in economic development

2009-12-08T09:45:21-06:00

In its latest filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the American Library Association (ALA) highlights the vital role libraries play in communities by supporting workforce development, small business creation, life-long education, and access to government resources through public access computer terminals and broadband Internet access.

The ALA’s Friday filing responded to the FCC’s call for comments regarding the relationship between economic development and broadband – particularly broadband adoption – and how broadband access spurs businesses’ productivity and growth. Public libraries serve the information needs of the community by providing access to online resources and services and directly strengthen the economic stability and quality of life in communities across the country. Public libraries are also community anchor institutions, and bringing broadband to the library will result in greater broadband availability to the entire community.

“Over one hundred years ago, Andrew Carnegie funded the construction of over 1,600 public libraries in the United States because he understood the critical role they played in the education and economic empowerment of the public,” said Dr. Mary Alice Ball, Chair, Telecommunications Subcommittee of the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OTIP).

“Today with ten times that number nationwide, America’s public relies even more heavily on libraries not only to educate and retrain themselves, but also to make use of libraries’ no-fee access to the Internet to apply for jobs, use government services and to create small businesses. Carnegie knew that physical library buildings were vital to the continuing growth of the country in the last century; today he would recognize that broadband connectivity in libraries plays a similar function for our society and our economy.”

ALA research finds that 91 percent of libraries offer formal training classes in general computer skills; 71 percent have formal classes in using software applications; and 93 percent have training in general Internet use.

Libraries subscribe to numerous online databases that provide patrons with access to current research and information on a variety of topics including economic development, starting a small business, legal information, and career counseling. Many libraries offer these services to help ensure their patrons not only have access to valuable information but have the skills necessary to evaluate and utilize them. In response to the economic downturn, many libraries are creating additional workshops and training classes on specific employment related topics. Without high capacity broadband, libraries would not be able to provide their patrons with these services – services that are critical to the vitality of communities nationwide.

ALA commends the Commission for soliciting input on a wide range of critical issues as it develops the National Broadband Plan. ALA recognizes the many challenges faced by the Commission and applauds its efforts to put into place a comprehensive plan that will bring lasting social and economic benefit to all areas of the nation.

"Libraries Out Loud" is the theme for the 2010 Illinois Library Association Conference!

2009-12-08T09:03:15-06:00

Program proposals are being sought from every corner of the Illinois library community and agencies with which they interact, whether that is a municipality, a school, a corporation or a university. We serve our constituents best when we serve them as one. With that in mind, we are especially enthusiastic about programs that highlight partnerships -- whether those partnerships exist between libraries or with community organizations such as park districts or chambers of commerce.

As we live out loud, we engage in conversations that share information and challenge us to think and act differently as we face the challenges ahead.

While planning a program proposal, we invite you to consider an interactive focus that can begin those conversations with attendees.

Please consider submitting a program proposal by January 11, 2010. The call for proposals can be viewed at: http://www.ila.org/events/proposal_info.htm

and online submission are accepted. All presenters (librarians and any non-library partners) are entitled to a single day registration to the conference as a thank you for their efforts.

Join colleagues at Navy Pier, September 28-September 30, 2010 and let your voice be heard!

ALTAFF accepting applications for Trustee awards

2009-12-07T09:25:13-06:00

The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is accepting applications for the ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant, the ALA Trustee Citation and the Major Benefactors Award. Applications are due Dec. 15, 2009.

The ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant enables a public library trustee to attend the ALA Annual Conference. A grant of $850 is awarded annually to a public library trustee who has demonstrated excellence in support of his or her public library. The Conference Grant, made possible by an annual gift from Gale Cengage Learning, is administered by ALTAFF. Winners will be notified by April of the Annual Conference year. Applicants must have a personal membership in ALA and the Trustee Section of ALTAFF through January 2010. To apply, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/trustees/grantsawards/trusteegrant.cfm.

The ALA Trustee Citation, established in 1941 to recognize public library trustees for distinguished service to library development, symbolizes and honors the best contributions and efforts of the estimated 60,000 American citizens who serve on library boards. It is presented during the Opening General Session at the ALA Annual Conference. Recipients are expected to be present to accept the award, and expenses for attending must be borne by the recipients or their library organizations. Trustee service may have been performed on the local, state, regional or national level or at a combination of levels. Equal consideration is given to trustees of small, medium and large public libraries. Citations may not be awarded when there is no sufficiently outstanding achievement brought to the attention of the Awards Committee. Applicants must have a personal membership in ALA and the Trustee Section of ALTAFF through January 2010. To apply, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/trustees/grantsawards/trusteecitation.cfm.

The Major Benefactors Award was established to give recognition to individuals, families or corporate bodies who have made major benefactions to public libraries. The award, announced at the ALA Annual Conference and presented locally, consists of two specially prepared citations for the recipient(s) and the beneficiary library. The significance of the gift will be measured from the point of view of the recipient library, rather than by the size of the gift alone. To apply, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/trustees/grantsawards/benefactor.cfm.