Applications available for ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by ALTAFF

Some relevant news from ALA and ALTAFF, a division of ALA.

Applications are now available for the American Library Association (ALA) President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of ALA. Applications are due March 15, 2011.

This award honors and recognizes statewide advocacy for libraries with a $1,000 grant for the development of a program or programs for Friends and Trustees at the state library association conference. The winner will receive honorable mention by the ALA president at the Opening General Session of the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

The winning campaign will have been successfully implemented during 2009 or 2010 and will have engaged citizens and librarians from across the state to make the case for state library funding.

In 2009, the first ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by ALTAFF, went to the Florida Library Association for its quick response to a proposal to eliminate all state aid to libraries, as well as its ongoing public awareness campaign.

For more information and application visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/grants_awards/advocacy/index.cfm

or contact: Jillian Kalonick at ALTAFF

ASCLA webinar series launched, registration still open for last sessions

Today, ASCLA launched the inaugural Virtual Convergence, a four-day webinar series offering affordable online learning for a broad variety of librarians and library types.

The Virtual Convergence was designed to provide an affordable mid-year professional development opportunity for librarians who might not be able to afford the cost of conference travel. Webinar topics included grant writing, providing services for at-risk teens, contract librarianship, library accessibility and other issues of interest to public, academic, state, special and other types of libraries.

Registration for the webinars to be held Thursday, Jan. 20 will end at close-of-business Tuesday, Jan. 18. Those webinars are:

  • “Libraries and Information Access for Differently-able Patrons: What We Can Do to Ensure Equality”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. While “diversity” remains critical, many libraries remain inaccessible. Financial limitations, limited knowledge, organizational culture, social construction of disability, and even complacency are arguable contributors to this reality. Join us for an interactive discussion exploring accessibility’s dimensions and solutions.
  • “Extending Our Reach: Using Extension Programs to Promote Statewide Resources”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. Though online tools such as blogs, twitter and webinars we educate Extension staff about resources they can use out in the field with the public along with professionally for their own research
  • “Attracting Latinos to the Library: It’s All About Relationships”, 3-4:30p.m Getting Latinos into the library is not a mystery—many libraries are successfully drawing capacity crowds to their programs and building relationships that continue to reap benefits for the Latino community and the library. This session prepares attendees for the same success at their own libraries.

Registration for the webinars to be held Friday, Jan. 21 will end at close-of-business Wednesday, Jan. 19. Those webinars are:

  • “Conducting Successful Virtual Meetings”, 9-10:30a.m. A not-to-miss session for anyone working virtually…which is most of us, these days! Together, let’s: raise expectations and standards for all online meetings; learn from each others’ experiences through questions and sharing; and improve effective use of software features to increase interactivity and collaboration.
  • “Careers in Federal Libraries”, 9-10:30a.m. Live from the Library of Congress, we’ll hear from a panel of Federal librarians about the types of jobs available to you, and hear about the type of work being done in federal libraries all around the world.
  • “How to Find a Federal Job”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. Join us to discover the types of Federal library jobs that are available, and how to navigate the Federal hiring process and be alerted when new jobs are announced.
  • “Managing Library Adult and Family Literacy Programs”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. This session will provide an overview of the types of literacy programs found in public libraries with an emphasis on volunteer literacy. Topics include adult literacy statistics; family and health literacy; how to start up or improve volunteer literacy programs, working with adults who lack basic reading skills and with English language learners; and considerations for starting an adult literacy collection.
  • “Resume Writing and Interviewing Techniques”, 1-2:30p.m. Join Robert Newlen, renowned author, for a lively and witty look at job hunting. These tips on resume writing and interviewing are not to be missed!
  • “Saks Fifth Avenue Service on a Dollar General Budget”, 3-4:30p.m. This session will discuss and compare the techniques used in high end customer service oriented retail environments and how we can apply them to our libraries to give patrons a ‘superior’ experience.

A full PDF schedule with descriptions is available at www.ala.org/virtualconvergence. Registration is available online—click on “Register” next to Virtual Convergence at this registration page (login required)—or by mail and fax. When registering for a single webinar from the series, ASCLA and Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT) members pay $40, ALA members pay $50, non-members pay $65 and student and retired members of ALA pay $45. Those registering for two or more sessions will receive a reduced rate on each session.

Group registration rates for this event are available—those interested in more information should contact the ALA registration team at registration@ala.org or 1-(800)-545-2433, option 5.

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and multi-type cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, ASCLA preconferences and other ASCLA events? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

Virtual Convergence webinars: registration starts closing Thurs., Jan. 12

Just a friendly reminder that we’ll start closing registration for our ASCLA Virtual Convergence webinar series tomorrow (Thursday)!

The series begins on Tuesday, so as of close-of-business Thursday, Jan. 13, registration will end for the following webinars, all of which will be held on Tuesday:

  • “Grant Writing 101”
  • “Presenting Topics to People who are Autistic, Deaf, Disabled, and Non-Disabled”
  • “Teaching Ophelia: Assisting At-Risk Teenagers”
  • “Why Reinvent the Wheel? Tools For Serving the Fast-Growing Teen Population”
  • “Knowledge Management: Process and Tools for Convergence”
  • “Using Learning Objects to Enhance Distance Reference Services”

Access registration links, information and a complete schedule at www.ala.org/virtualconvergence

These webinars are open to everyone regardless of membership status, and we’re covering topics relevant to all types of libraries and librarians.

This is a great way to meet your professional development needs without the cost of travel to a conference.

INDIVIDUAL PRICING: 1 session: ASCLA & FAFLRT members: $40. ALA members, $50. Non-members, $65. ALA Student/Retired members, $45.

2 or more sessions: Members can save on session prices when registering for two or more sessions. ASCLA & FAFLRT members: $35 per session. ALA members, $48 per session. ALA Student/Retired members, $43 per session.

GROUP PRICING: $99 for a single login—a great way to share these sessions with a team of colleagues in a presentation room

For more than one login for a group, it’s $38 per login.

Don’t miss out on these excellent learning opportunities!

Access registration links and information at www.ala.org/virtualconvergence

2011 Annual Conference: Registration and housing now open!

We are pleased to announce that housing and registration for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference & Exhibition are now open.

Scheduled for June 23-28, 2011 in New Orleans, the Annual Conference is the world’s largest event for the library community. Bringing together more than 25,000 librarians, educators, authors, publishers, literacy experts, illustrators and the leading suppliers to the market, the Annual Conference gives you a once-a-year opportunity to advance your career and improve your library.

Three of the great reasons to attend the Annual Conference:

  • Choose from hundreds of programs spanning the hot topics and current issues affecting libraries and the communities they serve. Planned by ALA’s divisions, round tables, offices and affiliated organizations, the programs presented at the Annual Conference are unparalleled in their breadth and depth of content for attendees from any size or type of library. In addition, your colleagues are planning more social events for networking and learning than you’ll find at any other library event.
  • Visit more than 6 football fields of exhibits featuring the latest in publishing, furnishings and technologies for your library. With over 900 exhibiting organizations, exhibit hall features include 10 pavilions of targeted products and 4 stages with the hottest authors, chefs, poets, and illustrators.
  • Hear big-name speakers every day of the conference. From the Opening General Session to the Auditorium Speaker Series and President’s Programs, the Annual Conference is packed with experts and pundits, authors and educators. Hear from your favorites and learn from the best.

The Annual Conference website has launched and contains all the information for you to make the decision to attend. This is a great chance for you to re-energize your career, network with your peers, explore acres of exhibits and select from a wide range of programs. Discount rates are available, register NOW!

We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!