ALA/LAMA's 2008 Best of Show PR Awards

You know that your library has some amazing PR materials – newsletters, program announcements, reading celebrations, websites, YouTube video and more - why not show them off? It's that time again - we want you to enter the LAMA/PRMS Best of Show Competition!

All libraries are invited to submit promotional materials produced between January and December of 2007. Judging in all categories will be based on content, originality, design format and effectiveness. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 4, 2008. A team of experts in librarianship, public relations and marketing will judge the library promotional materials. Winning entries will be on display during the Swap & Shop program scheduled for Sunday, June 29, 2008, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., during the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA. The awards will be presented to the winners on that day. Free samples of library public relations materials from dozens of libraries will be available for attendees to "swap and shop" during the program. For more information about the competition, please contact Sally Lederer at sally@melsa.org, 651-645-5731, ext. 102. The Best of Show Entry Form and FAQ are available on the ALA/LAMA website at http://ala.org/ala/lama/lama.cfm

Survey on improved access at ALA events

The Council of the American Library Association passed a resolution at ALA Midwinter 2008 calling for study and work toward improved access at ALA events.

In an attempt to assist with those efforts, I am conducting a brief email survey. Please respond directly at melorarn@yahoo.com

Survey:

1. Please describe any access difficulties you have had at American Library Association events.

2. Do you have any suggestions for improvements?

3. Further comments?

Thank you very much for your assistance!

Get Involved in Anaheim This Summer! Libraries Continue to Build Communities!

For those of you planning to attend the 2008 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, this coming June, we have another opportunity to help public and school libraries, as well as assist with other community service projects. If you’ve already registered, THANK YOU, and please disregard this message. If not, please read on.

Libraries Build Communities, Friday, June 27, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Participate in this daylong community services effort on Friday. Exact jobs to be determined as we work with the Anaheim Public Library and community service groups. All participants will be notified in advance of the various projects and be able to pick the one in which they wish to participate. Your registration fee will be contributed to local library funds. Lunch, transportation, and a participation T-shirt are included. Registration is $10 and is available on the registration form using Event code AL3.

To register now: http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/annual/2008a/registration.htm

Early Bird registration closes on March 7, 2008, and Advance Registration rates then take effect. Advance registration closes May 16, 2008. We hope you will be able to attend and participate in a volunteer project to raise awareness of the importance of libraries in every community.

If you have any questions about "Libraries Build Communities," please contact:

Don Wood
Program Officer
Chapter Relations Office
American Libraries Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60466
dwood@ala.org
1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429
312-280-2429
312-280-4392 (fax)

Free video available for libraries

The American Library Association is pleased to announce that it is working with WGBH Boston on the upcoming national outreach campaign for the film The Truth About Cancer, which will air on PBS April 16^th at 9 p.m. (check local listings). The 90-minute documentary film, followed by a 30-minute expert panel, hosted by news journalist and cancer survivor Linda Ellerbee will be the launching pad for events and projects across the country focused on creating community conversations around cancer survivorship.

ALA and WGBH encourage libraries to reach out to their local PBS stations to collaborate with them on events surrounding this film. In addition, WGBH encourages libraries to reach out to its national outreach partners on this project including the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation, Lance Armstrong Foundation, YMCA of the USA and the Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups. These collaborations will provide an excellent opportunity for libraries to develop new—or strengthen existing—community partnerships, while offering a valuable service to their communities.

To assist in these outreach efforts, WGBH will offer extensive online resources, including downloadable handouts, which will be available on www.pbs.org/takeonestep starting in March 2008. In addition, a limited number of free Outreach Toolkits including two event posters and a DVD Screener that will include 30 minutes of the film and the full expert panel to libraries that request them. WGBH asks that libraries not hold public screenings using the DVD screener until one week prior to the premiere broadcast.

To order the Outreach Toolkit, please go to: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/request.html

Materials are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This collaborative project with WGBH is administered by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of ALA. Contact Barbara Macikas, RUSA, bmacikas@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4395.

Shirley Olofson Memorial Award for the 2008 ALA Annual Conference

Do you want to attend ALA Annual 2008 in Anaheim, CA, but you're light on the travel funds? Apply by December 15, 2007 for the Shirley Olofson Memorial Award and you may receive a $1000 check to help defray the cost of attendance!

Applicant must:

1. Be a member of ALA and NMRT

2. Be active in the library profession

3. Show promise or activity in the area of professional development

4. Have valid financial need

5. Have attended no more than five ALA annual conferences

To apply, please visit:

http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/applyforfunds/shirleyolofson.htm

ALA's 'I Love Libraries' campaign

Many of you may be familiar with ALA's new website for the public, Ilovelibraries.org, a place where those outside of the library community can visit to learn more about the health and vitality of today's libraries, to share their library stories, to sign up for the e-newsletter and to advocate on behalf of libraries.

Although designed with the general public in mind, we are encouraging members of the library community to use this Web site as a vehicle to tell their library stories, as well. To that end, we are looking to ALA Chapters for help in gathering those stories. Do you have a story idea that might be a great fit for Ilovelibraries? Did something recently run in your newsletter that might have larger appeal? Do you think your fellow chapter members might have a story to tell?

ALA is encouraging people who love libraries to send their news stories, essays, articles, and other writings to Ilovelibraries.org. We are particularly looking for written, feature articles of 500-1500 words, and Library Showcase featurettes of 300-500 words, as well as accompanying artwork, if possible. Further details are found at http://www.ilovelibraries.org/aboutus/editorial.cfm.

To help solicit stories for Ilovelibraries.org, ALA has created ads (available in black and white, and color) and is asking chapters and other groups to include them in their print and online publications. We hope you take this opportunity to help spread the word about Ilovelibraries.org!

If you have an idea for an article, but aren't sure it's what we're looking for, please contact us at ilovelibraries@ala.org.

And, if you haven't yet taken a look, please visit http://www.ilovelibraries.org and let us know your thoughts!

Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Ilovelibraries Team

Michael Dowling, Director, Chapter Relations and International
Relations Office
Don Wood, Program Officer, Chapter Relations Office
Andy Bridges, Communications Director, ALA Washington Office
John Chrastka, Director of Membership Development
George Eberhart, Senior Editor, American Libraries
Keith Michael Fiels, ALA Executive Director
Jenny Levine, ALA Internet Development Specialist and Strategy Guide
Marci Merola, Interim Director, Office for Library Advocacy
Kerri Price, Senior Administrative Assistant, Communications & Member
Relations

P.S. To promote Ilovelibraries.org on your blogs and elsewhere, download the ilovelibraries.org badges at http://www.ilovelibraries.org/aboutus/webbadges.cfm.

Nominate Somone For ALA Intellectual Freedom Award

The ProQuest/SIRS State and Regional Intellectual Freedom Achievement Award is given each year for the most innovative and effective intellectual freedom project covering a state or region. The award is sponsored by ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Roundtable and ProQuest and consists of a citation and $1,000. Programs may be one-time, one-year or ongoing/multi-year efforts.

Examples of eligible programs are statewide public relations initiatives to promote awareness of intellectual freedom, programmatic assistance to meet a broad-based censorship challenge, coalition building or education outreach efforts, or effective reorganization or management of an intellectual freedom committee.

State libraries or library associations, educational media associations or programs, legal defense funds, and intellectual freedom committees or coalitions and related parties are eligible for nomination by themselves or others.

Deadline for nominations is December 1.

EBSCO ALA Conference Sponsorship

EBSCO ALA Conference Sponsorship provides ten $1,000 awards for actual reimbursed expenses to help librarians attend ALA’s Annual Conference. To apply for this award, applicants be ALA members and librarians that not supervise another professional librarian. The award is donated by EBSCO Subscription Services. For more information and application information please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsbucket/ebscosponsorship/ebscosponsorship.htm.

New ALSC Blog

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has launched an ALSC blog at http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/. The blog provides a venue for coverage and interactive discussion of time sensitive news in children's librarianship, current issues in the field, programs, conferences, initiatives, resources and activities of interest to ALSC members and those interested in children's librarianship.

"I am delighted that ALSC has added this very current and interactive means for its members to communicate," said Jane Marino, ALSC president and director of the Bronxville (N.Y.) Public Library. "There are already so many blogs discussing children's books and literature. To have a venue to discuss not only books, but children's librarianship and the many issues our members face is both exciting, and
I hope rewarding, for us all."

ALSC has selected Teresa Walls, librarian at Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Ind., as Blog Manager. A volunteer community of regular and guest bloggers, led by Walls and recruited from the ALSC membership, will report on ALSC and ALA programs and news of interest to children's librarians. Lively commentary, opinion and reaction to blogger posts are welcome and encouraged.

"The ALSC blog will be a useful communication tool for the organization," said Teresa Walls, ALSC blog manager. "Added to the ranks of the ALSC electronic discussion list and the ALSC Wiki, the blog will provide members with yet another vehicle for sharing ideas with their colleagues."

The Association for Library Service to Children is a network of more than 4,200 children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts, publishers, education and library school faculty members and other adults committed to improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families and others who work with children.

Applicants sought for 3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant

Members of ALA's New Members Round Table (NMRT) can apply to receive a grant, sponsored by 3M Library Systems, which will cover expenses to attend the ALA Annual Conference, June 26 to July 2, 2008, in Anaheim, CA. The deadline for applications is December 15, 2007

Want to read about the ALA experiences of last year's winners? Take a look at the August 2007 issue of Footnotes
(http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/footnotes/august2007a/footnotesaug2007.htm ). You will see how professionally rewarding attending an ALA conference can be.

The application form and further information about the grant is available on the NMRT website (http://www.ala.org/ala/nmrt/applyforfunds/3mawardinformation.htm ). Remember, you must be a current member of NMRT in order to apply. To join NMRT, visit the ALA website (http://ala.org) and follow the "Join/Renew ALA" link to add to your ALA membership.

For further information about the grant, please contact:

Kate Hahn, Chair, 3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant Committee

Nevada State College Library,

1125 Nevada State Drive, Henderson, NV 89002

Phone: 702.992.2802

Fax: 702-922.2801

Email: kate_hahn@nsc.nevada.edu

Travel Grant Opportunities for ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim- June 26-July 2, 2008

Below is a list of travel grant/award opportunities for the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, June 26-July 2, 2008
http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/09/25/travel-grants-for-attending-annual-conference

Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007 Report

The full report, “Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007 Report” has been published. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA), the Study is part of a sustained effort to provide current information that describes access to computers and the Internet in U.S. public libraries

You can find it at www.ala.org/plinternetfunding or purchase a copy online at the ALA Store: http://tinyurl.com/3cb83p.

Quick link to the full 227-page report in pdf: Download complete Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007

If time is short, and you just want to see the report highlights, see these three sections.

• Executive Brief: The State of Technology and Funding in U.S. Public Libraries in 2007
  Authors: Larra Clark, Denise M. Davis
• The Library Funding Landscape
  Author: Denise M. Davis
• Challenges for the Future and A Call to Action
  Authors: John Carlo Bertot, Denise M. Davis, Charles R. McClure

Library Services for Illegal Residents -- What do You think?

American Libraries Direct reported today that two counties in Virginia are considering limiting illegal immigrants' access to library services.

After reading the article, do you think this could be an issue for Minnesota Libraries? How might you handle this situation if your county asked you to evaluate the services you provide for illegals?

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #4

The final installment of Chris Olson's Councilor report from ALA.


ALA-APA MEETING:
(American Library Association – Allied Professional Association)
The ALA Council also serves as the governing board for the ALA-APA. ALA-APA Treasurer gave the financial report and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the four-year old organization. The organization needs to be marketed more extensively in order to get more voluntary contributions. Council passed the budgetary ceiling for the APA organization ($323,914). The Committee on Organization made a report to ALA-APA Council and two votes were taken on some changes in wording and reporting. The Certified Public Library Administrator Certification Review Committee gave their report. There are currently 33 courses offered by 8 providers. There are 76 candidates actively enrolled in the program. Total course enrollment is 161 students. The ALA-APA Standing Committee on the Salaries and Status of Library Workers also reported on the salary surveys that the organization has produced.

COUNCL III: The Committee on Organization made its report to Council and had two action items:
(1) To revise the composition of the Chapter Relations Committee by requiring someone to be an ALA member who is also a member of an ALA Chapter or Division affiliate. (As a side note: I have been appointed to serve on the Chapter Relations Committee for the next two years.)
(2) To recommend that Council adopt a report on e-participation, which asks for a formal task force charged with examining existing documents and developing recommendations to adapt association policy so as to help ALA move forward with effective e-participation practices.

The Committee on Constitution & Bylaws made its report to Council with four action items.
(1) The Catholic Library Associate applied for ALA affiliate status, and this was granted.
(2) A request that names on ballots be prepared under the direction of the nominating committee instead of randomly. Passed.
(3) A change in wording to clarify the committee listings in the bylaws. Passed.
(4) A request for councilors to comment on potential bylaws changes. Councilors have the responsibility to ask their constituents about the changes as well. There was some discussion about a whether or not a "Constitutional Convention" is necessary.

International Relations committee reported that 450 people from 87 countries were at ALA this year. The committee supports ALA having a full time person supporting international relations.

A resolution on the use and abuse of National Security Letters on the need for legislative reforms to assure the right to read free of government surveillance was passed unanimously.

Policy Monitoring Committee (chaired and reported to Council by Minnesotan Rory Litwin) had two action items:
(1) An addition to the policy manual recommending a statement that supports Immigrant rights. (2) This item addressed the committee's recommendation that a policy on the role of libraries in providing e-government and emergency services be added to the policy manual. Both items were adopted.

A resolution came forward from the ALA Division, ASCLA, on accessible digitization projects. This recommended that ALA encourage libraries engaged in digitization projects adopt Section 508 regulations to ensure that they are creating versions of materials that are accessible to persons using screen-reader or other assistive technologies. The resolution was adopted.

A resolution on Representation came forward from AASL Division Councilor, Sylvia Norton. It asks the Committee on Committees to clarify the processes of selecting committee members. This resolution was adopted.

Emily Sheketoff from the Washington Office spoke on Legislative Day on the Hill. There were almost 2000 library supporters. There was tremendous attendance by Congressional staff and members of Congress. One of the most important messages was the introduction of school library legislation by a bipartisan House and Senate group that introduced the SKILLS Act, which will amend NCLB, and calls for a school library in every school headed by a state-certified media specialist.
Minnesota had a small organized group to make congressional visits. Throughout Tuesday afternoon, visits were made to both Senator Klobuchar and Coleman’s offices… and individual visits to see Representatives Peterson, McCollum, and Walz.
Future Mid-Winter Meetings (January) will be held in Philadelphia (2008), Denver (2009), Boston (2010), San Diego (2011), Dallas (2012) and Seattle (2013). Future Annual Conferences (June) will be held in Anaheim (2008), Chicago (2009), Washington DC (2010), New Orleans (2011), Anaheim (2012) and New York City (2013).

Once again, it was my pleasure to serve as your Chapter Councilor during the past three years. Please feel free to contact me with any questions about ALA.

Chris Olson.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #3

The third installment of Chris Olson's Coucil Report from the ALA National Conference.

COUNCIL II: The Committee on Legislation presented the following resolutions, which were passed with some discussion. These included:
(1) Resolution on Funding for the National Library Service (the resolution calls upon Congress to fund the $19.1M needed for the first year of the NSL’s multi-year digitization project to convert up-to-date technology for the Talking Book services to people with visual or physical disability.)

(2) Resolution on Principals for Digital Content (the resolution adopts a declaration, Principles for Digital Content, which deals with values, intellectual property rights, sustainable collections, collaboration, advocacy, international scope, continuous learning, preservation and importance of standards.)

(3) Resolution on Government Printing Office FY 2008 Appropriations (this resolution reaffirms its commitment to Government Printing Office and Federal Depository Library Program services and collections and urges full funding at $182M)

(4) Resolution on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (this resolution urges the passage of the SKILLS Act, which would include school library media specialists who meet the criteria established by the state educational agency as highly qualified in NCLB, require school districts to employ at least one highly qualified school library media specialist, allow state and local Title II funds to be used to assist in recruiting and training highly qualified school library media specialists)

(5) Resolution on the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program FY 2008 Funding (this resolution urges Congress to restore full funding of $47M to enable the program to complete its activities)

I have copies of all the resolutions if anyone is interested in seeing them in more detail.

The Freedom to Read Foundation is ALA's First Amendment legal defense arm. John Berry informed Council on the current activities including Youth and the First Amendment, Freedom to Read Freely, Protecting Privacy and Anonymity, Religion and the Public Library, and State Legislation.

Teri Switzer presented the treasurer’s report. ALA programmatic priorities include diversity, literacy, intellectual freedom, equity of access to information and library services, education and life-long learning, and organizational excellence. The budget proposal addresses first the 2010 strategic plan. Goals in the plan include:

(1) Advocacy/Value of the Profession
(2) Education
(3) Public Policy and Standards
(4) Building the Profession
(5) Membership
(6) Organization Excellence

The key internal developments for this year include the completion of Joblist Online; completion of online database project - Choice and Booklist; Year 3 of publishing department "Content Centric" business plan; complete the business plan of a magazine promoting library usage to the public; better utilization of the Association Management System as a tool to exploit cross marketing opportunities. There has been little change in ALA's total revenues. Last year they made $47M from dues, publishing and meeting and conferences. Teri recommended that additional scholarships be offered from the Spectrum fund, which would help in increasing the diversity in our profession.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #2

A second installment of Chris Olson's Council report from the ALA National Conference

ALA MEMBERSHIP MEETING I:

ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their respective positions in a discussion of “Should ALA take stands on ‘non-library’ issues.” Both the featured speakers and those who addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful. The issue wasn’t resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by all parties concerned. -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present. The Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting remained quiet and uneventful. The attendance was 235 and by any measures a very successful venture. Councilor Larry Romans and his Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this Conference."

COUNCIL I:

This is the first of three official meetings of ALA Council. The ALA Executive Director, Keith Michael Fiels, made his report to Council. Included in his report are the following:

(1) The launching of LoveLibraries.org where people can learn more about the excitement and vitality of today's libraries. The website includes feature stories on the great things happening in today's libraries, book reviews, links for viewers to share their story about their library, and much more!

(2) The usability and redesign of the ALA website. This process began in August 2006. The consultants designing the site, UserWorks, will be conducting 18 meetings with 2007 Annual Conference attendees to walk through the "wire frames" and observe their reactions. No date has been announced as to its launch.

(3) Membership. Membership has remained relatively stable - down 1.35% from April 2006. We currently have 66,569 members.

(4) ALA Tech Sources along with ACRL (Assoc. of College and Research Libraries) will hold its first annual Gaming, Learning and Libraries Symposium in Chicago at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel on July 22 - 23.

(5) Office of Government Relations (OGR). IMLS was funded at $253.5M, which was an increase over last year. ($167.5M for State Programs, $3.6M for Native American and Hawaiians, $12.3M for national leadership grants, $23.7M for Laura Bush recruitment and education programs and $2 for research and analysis.) Improving Literacy Through School Libraries is level funded at $19.1M. With No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization underway, the Washington Office (WO) is working to include school libraries in these ways: (a) an amendment calling for a school library in every school library in every school headed by a state-certified school library media specialist, (b) as part of a "highly qualified" section of NCLB.

(6) Office of Intellectual Freedom. Banned Book Week will be 9/29 - 10/6/07. You can go to ALA Graphics for resources.

(7) The Emerging Leaders Program. This program takes promising young leaders and works with them to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Applications for the second round of emerging leaders will be available July 1, 2007. Deadline is August 15, 2007.

(8) Public Information Office. The 2000 libraries selected for the "Pursuit of Happiness Bookshelf" were announced. 23 libraries were selected to receive the "Lewis and Clark" traveling exhibit. More Information

(9) American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Early registration deadline for the AASL National Conference is July 6, 2007. This conference will be held in Reno, Nevada, October 25 - 28.

(10) Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). ACRL has published User Surveys in College Libraries. Ordering information: www.ala.org/acrl (Click on Publications/books & Monographs / CLIP Notes. ACRL and ARL (Association of Research Libraries) are sponsoring the third Institute on Scholarly Communication in Washington, DC, July 18-20. An ACRL Task Force has begun review of information literacy standards. If there are any questions about the task force or thoughts to share electronically, please send them to Lori Goetsch, Task Force Chair at lgoetsch@ksu.edu.

(11) Association for Library Service to Children. (ALSC). A one-time grant has been announced for library doing exceptional outreach to underserved populations. The "Light the Way" grant will be funded by Candlewick Press. The application for this will be available during ALA Midwinter Meeting 2008 in Philadelphia.

(12) Library and Information Technology Association. LITA's tenth National Forum is scheduled for October 4 - 7, 2007 at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Denver. Registration has opened. It includes two pre-conferences, 30 concurrent sessions, three general sessions +! More Information.

(13) Public Library Association (PLA). PLA is now accepting applications for its Results Boot Camp 3, a weeklong interactive workshop designed to teach participants practical library management skills. Results Boot Camp 3 is scheduled for October 29 - November 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Early registration ends July 1.

Registration is now open for the PLA-sponsored Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) courses. These courses support both the learning outcomes defined in CPLA standards and the principles and practices of the "Results" series. To satisfy CPLA requirements, candidates must complete seven of the nine courses offered including four core courses (Budget and Finance, Management of Technology, Strategic HR, and Planning and Management of Buildings.)

You can view the current course schedule and register online at PLA.org. Use the same URL to get up-to-date information about the 2008 annual conference (March 25 – 29, 2008) to be held in Minneapolis.

(14) Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). YALSA has published Get Connected: Tech Programs for Teens. This is available for purchase on Neal-Schuman's website.

Mr. Olson Goes to Washington #1 -- Councilor Report from the ALA National Conference

Report by Chris Olson, Minnesota Chapter Councilor

The nation’s capitol is always an exciting place to visit and as the host city for this year’s American Library Association’s annual conference, it proved to provide a number of opportunities for learning and advocacy. Registration figures included: 21,466 registrants and 7,169 vendors for a grand total of 28,635 attendees, which is the largest conference ever in ALA history. This conference completes my three-year term serving as the Minnesota Chapter Councilor. As I have done in the past, I would like to share some of the highlights of the conference and give a report of Council activities to the members of the Minnesota Library Association. (I will also admit that Councilors share their reports with each other and give permission to use each others summaries. My thanks to Shelly Walchak (Colorado Chapter Councilor), James Casey (Councilor At Large) and Jonathon Betz-Zall (Washington Chapter Councilor) for providing excellent text for portions of this report.)

If you would like to learn more about the ALA Council or its activities during this past conference, please feel free to contact me at chris@melsa.org or view information on the ALA Council Page. In addition to my representation on Council, there are also currently three other Minnesotans who have been elected as Councilors at Large: Monika Antonelli (Minnesota State University Mankato); Rory Litwin (University of Minnesota, Duluth); and Ria Newhouse (Metro State University). I am sure that each of them will agree to answer questions.

One of my first activities in DC (and one of the most interesting) was to visit the National Museum of the American Indian to attend an honor dance in celebration of Loriene Roy, who became the president of the American Library Association at the conclusion of this conference. As many of you know, Dr. Roy grew up in northern Minnesota and is currently a professor at the University of Texas in Austin. There are a number of photos from the honor dance posted in a flickr account. (These are even better than the ones I took!) This honor dance was one of the first of its kind to take place in the recently-opened museum. It is exciting to have a colleague with Minnesota-connections serving in the top leadership position for the Association.

There were several thought-provoking speakers at conference including former Senator Bill Bradley and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The closing session featured Garrison Keillor, who reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the library as a refuge. His admiration for the work of libraries and librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions. A portion of the presentation is available on salon.com.

Please note: This entry from Chris will be posted in installments over the next several days. Please check back to read the latest!

New Award to Honor Librarian for Promoting Baseball and literacy or library services

June 5, 2007

Contact: Megan McFarlane

mmcfarlane@ala.org

New award to honor librarian for promoting baseball and literacy or library
services

Winner to receive trip to 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame Game

Applications are available for "Batting for literacy @ your library," a new
award in conjunction with the Step Up to the Plate @ your library program.
The award will honor an individual librarian who has used baseball to
enhance literacy or library service.

The recipient will be awarded a trip to the 2008 Baseball Hall of Fame Game,
an annual exhibition game between two major league teams at the National
Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. The trip will include
a behind-the-scenes tour of the library and museum.

Applications and guidelines are available at www.ala.org/baseball.
Librarians can nominate a colleague or themselves. Submissions should
include a one-page description of how the nominee has used baseball to
enhance literacy or library service and must be accompanied by examples of
baseball-related programming, publicity for programming or other supporting
materials. Applicants are encouraged to send examples of how the nominee
promoted the Step Up to the Plate @ your library program.

All applications must be received by September 1, 2007. Nominees must be
ALA members in order to be eligible.

Step Up to the Plate @ your library, developed by ALA and the Baseball Hall
of Fame, encourages kids between 9-18 years of age to go to their library,
check out a baseball book and write about how a character inspired them.
The program runs through September 1, 2007. More information and free tools
to help librarians promote the program locally are available at
www.ala.org/baseball.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is a Founding Partner in The Campaign for
America's Libraries.

Please join us for a presentation and reception with Dr. Loriene Roy

Dr. Loriene Roy
President, American Library Association

Friday, May 11, 2007
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Pohlad Hall, Minneapolis Public Library
(300 Nicollet Mall - Minneapolis)

Roy, who is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Information, will serve as ALA President from July 2007 to July 2008. As president, Roy will serve as a spokeswoman for the association and help advance the five initiatives of the ALA: equity of access, intellectual freedom, diversity, continuing and professional education, and 21st-century literacy. Her presentation will focus on her presidential initiatives.

There is no need to register for the session. For the reception count, please contact Judy Todd (judy@melsa.org) or call 651-645-5731.
This event is open to all. Please feel free to distribute this invitation to others.

Sponsored by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) and Metronet.