Open Forum: Revision of Standards and Guidelines for Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Everyone is invited to attend a public open forum about the current project to review and revise the Standards and Guidelines of Service for the NLS Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

The open forum will occur on Monday, June 28, 2010 from 10:30 a.m. to noon Eastern Daylight Time in Room 141 of the Washington Convention Center, located at 801 Mount Vernon Place NW in Washington, DC.

The Washington Convention Center is located at the “Mount Vernon Square 7th Street – Convention Center” stop on the Green and Yellow Lines of the Metro Subway operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Information about the accessibility of this transit system can be found at the following URL:

http://www.wmata.com/accessibility/

Room 141 is on street level near the corner of 7th and L Streets.

In 2005 the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), published the Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LC/NLS): 2005. The current process of reviewing and revising the standards will conclude in mid 2011. Another public open forum is being planned for January 2011 in San Diego. Details will follow.

For more information about this public open forum, or about the entire project to review and revise the Standards and Guidelines of Service, please contact the project director:

Tom Peters
TAP Information Services
1606 South Stillhouse Road
Oak Grove MO 64075
phone 816.616.6746
email tpeters@tapinformation.com

ASCLA newsletter editor: application deadline extended to Jun. 11

The deadline for applications for the ASCLA Interface editor position has been extended to June 11. Keep reading for details on the position, its benefits and how to apply.

ASCLA seeks an editor for its quarterly online membership journal, Interface. Interface serves as the primary source of information and communication between ASCLA and the library and user community and reaches ASCLA’s 1,000 members each quarter. Guided by ASCLA editorial policy, the editor is responsible for the content, format and timely online publication of Interface.

Compensation of up to $1,000 annually will be provided to cover travel to conferences. In addition, the Interface editor receives complimentary registration for both conferences and VIP early registration for hotels.

The deadline for application is June 11, 2010 and it is anticipated that a candidate will be selected by July 1. A job description is posted below.

Applicants should email a resume and cover letter summarizing their editorial philosophy, two to four samples of written work or editorial activities and two letters of reference addressing qualifications to: Susan Hornung, Executive Director, ASCLA, at shornung@ala.org.

The two-year appointment as Interface editor will begin at the end of ALA Annual Conference 2010 and end at the conclusion of the Annual Conference in 2012. The term is renewable upon approval of the ASCLA Board. Applicants should have a strong overall knowledge of the association and its goals and have an interest in and knowledge of issues relevant to ASCLA members. Applicants must have written and published articles and/or have demonstrated editorial experience. Preferred applicants will have experience or familiarity with the technical and editorial issues associated with electronic and Web publishing and knowledge of emerging technologies in this publishing format.

Job Description: ASCLA Interface Editor

Reports to: ASCLA Board

Term: 2-year appointment, beginning at the end of ALA Annual Conference 2010 and ending at the end of the Annual Conference in 2012. Term is renewable upon approval of the ASCLA Board.

Summary of Position:

  • Interface is the official serial publication of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, a division of the American Library Association.
  • Interface serves as the primary communication channel between ASCLA and the library and user community.
  • Guided by ASCLA editorial policy, the editor is responsible for the content, format and timely publication of Interface and will prepare an annual plan indicating areas expected to be addressed in quarterly issues.
  • The Publications Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the editor and develops guidelines to assist the editor.
  • Editorial policies are approved by the ASCLA Board.

Specific Responsibilities

  • Establish a theme for each quarterly issue of Interface, based on regular communication with ASCLA members, section leaders, Board, committees, and staff, breaking news, and activities of interest.
  • Invite articles related to the theme, through personal invitation to a few key authors and through general announcement using the ASCLA listservs and others as appropriate.
  • Gather articles for quarterly publication, following the annual schedule determined by the ASCLA Executive Director.
  • Establish a schedule of routine items that are expected to appear in each quarterly issue and solicit the required information from ASCLA members and staff following the schedule (ASCLA awards, actions of the Board, conference programs and activities, election results, committee appointments, president’s letter etc.)
  • Work closely with the ASCLA office to incorporate articles submitted by staff.
  • Edit articles for content, style, and correct grammatical usage, consulting with other experts as needed. The ASCLA Publications Committee serves as an unofficial editorial board, and section leaders and ASCLA Board members are always willing to provide advice and counsel.
  • Prepare articles by formatting each within style and layout guidelines provided by the ASCLA office.
  • Prepare each issue for posting to the ASCLA website and submit files via e-mail to the ASCLA office.
  • Collect signed copyright release forms from each author.
  • Attend ASCLA Board meetings as non-voting ex-officio member at ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meetings, and attend as many section and committee meetings, programs, and other ASCLA-related events as possible.
  • Recruit new advertising and work with continuing advertisers to renew and update ads each year. Keep track of invoicing and submit advertising checks to the ASCLA office.
  • Periodically, survey members to determine their satisfaction with Interface and elicit ideas for improvement.
  • Occasionally handle requests for republication and resolve problems.

Honoraria: ASCLA contributes $1,000 per year to help offset the conference expenses of the Interface editor. In addition the Interface editor receives complimentary registration for both conferences and VIP early registration for hotels, and a complimentary one year ASCLA membership.

ASCLA @ Annual Conference: Download the guide now!

The final version of the ASCLA @ Annual Conference guide, complete with room assignments for our events, is now available for download.

Get it now, and use it to plan your conference experience!

Here’s a direct link: http://ascla.ala.org/media/ac2010ascla.pdf

A reminder that Advance Registration closes Friday, May 14–that’s THIS FRIDAY! Register online now for conference and associated ticketed events (login required).

Comprehensive information about the conference, which will be held June 24 – 29 in Washington, D.C., is at www.ala.org/annual.

Congratulations to the 2010 ASCLA elections winners!

Here are the results of the 2010 ASCLA elections. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who ran for office.

Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies:

Norma E. Blake, vice-president/president-elect

Marti Goddard, director-at-large

Brad Ward, director-at-large

Kendall French Wiggin, councilor

Adopted: Approval of bylaws amendment to include single type library cooperatives in the division

Interlibrary Cooperation and Networking Section (ICAN):

Cheryl Bryan, vice-chair

Scherelene L. Schatz, secretary

Tyler O. Walters, member-at-large

Independent Librarians’ Exchange (ILEX):

Nancy Bolt, chair

Carol Ann Desch, member-at-large (one year)

Jeannette Smithee, member-at-large (three years)

Sara G. Laughlin, member-at-large (three years)

Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS):

Adopted: Approval of new bylaws

Stephen Prine, vice-chair

Marti Goddard, forum chair, Library Services to People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Forum

Ruth J. Nussbaum, vice-chair, Library Services to people with Visual or Physical Disabilities Forum

James Patrick Timony, vice-chair, Library Services to People with Learning, Social, Cognitive and Health Issues Forum

Diane Walden, vice-chair, Library Services to Prisoners Forum

State Library Agency Section (SLAS):

Suzy Szasz Palmer, vice-chair

Shirley Biladeau, secretary

Jim Hollinger, member-at-large

Why prison libraries matter

A great clip about the importance of prison libraries! Many thanks to Diana Reese, incoming ASCLA president, for sharing this with us!

We rarely hear how prison library services impacted offenders once they leave prison.  At a recent Earth Day Fair, Denver Public Library recorded videos of people sharing why they love their libraries.  One of them was an ex-offender.   This is one of the reasons I love my job.  So here is a love story to all of you who work in libraries behind the walls.

http://www.youtube.com/user/denverlibrary#p/u/6/svLOQA1C774