Call for 2018 Conference Proposals

Annual Conference 2018 logo for New Orleans

crowd clapping during a programALA is now accepting program proposals for the 2018 annual conference. Please refer to the following for additional information:

Deadline to submit proposals for a 2018 program is September 5, 2017. When submitting, please choose ASCLA as the division you’re proposing your program to. The link to the submission site will redirect to the ALA log-in page.  All submitters are required to have an ALA profile, but are not required to be ALA members. See the submission site for additional instructions and how to submit.  

Please contact the committee with any questions.

ASCLA/FAFLRT Merger Voted to Move Forward

two puzzle pieces going together to signify mergerThe Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) voted to proceed with merging with the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) division of ALA in the spring 2017 election.

“Our [FAFLRT] diminishing membership has made it difficult for us to ensure representation on affiliated groups and have robust programs and services for federal and armed forces librarians”, said Karl Debus-Lopez, FAFLRT President. “This merger with ASCLA will provide our members with more networking and educational opportunities, access to more financial resources and a dedicated staff provided by ALA; The missions of FAFLRT and ASCLA are closely aligned and there will be the opportunity to create interest group(s) that reflect the needs of federal and armed forces librarians”.

“With such compatible missions and some overlapping membership, the merger makes sense”, said Michael Golrick, ASCLA President. “We’re very excited and confident that we will bring together the strengths of both memberships and let our voices be heard for specialized libraries”.

The merger will allow for a bigger and guaranteed voice in ALA policy setting and an increased presence within ALA, greater ability to advocate for needs of specialized libraries and agencies and staff assistance to allow more programming and career development activities through online learning as well as ability for more robust offering of programming at ALA’s conferences with the assistance of staff. Once finalized, the merger will result in the addition of up to ~300 new members to ASCLA’s current ~800 members.

FAFLRT promotes library and information service and the library and information profession in the federal and armed forces communities; Encourages appropriate utilization of federal and armed forces library and information resources and facilities; and provides an environment for the stimulation of research and development relating to the planning, development, and operation of federal and armed forces libraries. FAFLRT is a supportive network for professional growth and advancement and a focal point for discussion of key information management and technology issues of federal and armed forces libraries.

ASCLA is the premier destination for members to find information and build capacity to serve populations that are served by state library agencies, specialized libraries, library cooperatives and library consultants. ASCLA enhances the effectiveness of library service by advocating for and providing high quality networking, enrichment and educational opportunities for its diverse members.

2017 Election Results!

Thank you to all those who volunteered for roles within ASCLA leadership. We have the results for the 2017 election!

Congratulations to our new board members:

  • Vice-President/President-Elect: Adam Szczepaniak, Jr.
  • Director-at-Large: Lily Sacharow
  • Director-at-Large: Erin Boyington
  • Designated Director, Special Populations: Carrie Scott Banks
  • Designated Director, Library Consultants: Amy Jane Paget

Again, thank you to all that volunteered and congratulations to the winner!

Join Us – Online Public Forum on NLS Standards Revision

ada logoThe Working Team for the revision of the 2011 Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped invite you to make comments on the second, revised draft of the standards.

Three ways to comment:

  1. Using this Google form
  2. Join one of three online Public Forums

    1. April 27, 2017 at 9:00 AM PST/12:00 PM EST
      1. Login as a guest with your name with this access link
      2. Call-in number: 1-888-718-7314
      3. Participant Code: 92491678#
    2. May 11, 2017 at 10:30 AM at Western/Southern Conference in Santa Fe, NM
    3. June 6, 2017 at 2:15 PM at Midlands/Northern Conference in Ann Arbor, MI
  3. Email to the members of the Working Team
    1. Danielle Miller (danielle.miller@sos.wa.gov), Director & Regional Librarian Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Representing the Western Conference
    2. Will Reed (will.reed@cpl.org), OLBPD Manager, Cleveland Public Library/Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled. Representing the Midlands Conference
    3. Eura Szuwalski (eura.szuwalski@gmail.com), Project Director for the revision process. Goleta, California.

Continue reading “Join Us – Online Public Forum on NLS Standards Revision”

Dr. Elizabeth Curry selected for 2017 ASCLA Leadership & Professional Achievement Award

Headshot_Elizabeth CurryDr. Elizabeth Curry, Dean, University of North Florida Thomas G. Carpenter Library, has been selected for the 2017 Leadership & Professional Achievement Award administered by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).

“Often described by her peers as a creative problem solver who successfully facilitates process-oriented solutions, Curry is frequently sought out for strategic planning efforts, leadership training and complex project planning endeavors. Curry led a myriad of cutting-edge projects with the Southeast Florida Library Information Network, where she set the stage for libraries’ future leaders by implementing the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute, which is still active today”, said nominator, Barbara Stites, Ph.D.

“Curry is not only a proven strong leader at the local and national levels, she is also a teacher of leaders. She has influenced the next generation of emerging leaders in Florida through the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute. As the content creator and facilitator for the first three years of the program, as a mentor in later years, her continued influence on these librarians cannot be overstated”, stated Bradley Ward, former colleague.

Curry will be honored at the ASCLA Achievement Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 10-11:30am at the Hilton Chicago during ALA Annual Conference. Breakfast will be provided. All conference attendees are invited to attend the event. See additional event details.

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association, enhances the effectiveness of library service by advocating for and providing high quality networking, enrichment and educational opportunities for its diverse members, who represent state library agencies, libraries serving special populations, library cooperatives and library consultants.

William “Will” R. Reed selected for ASCLA’s Cathleen Bourdon Service Award

Headshot_Will ReedWilliam “Will” R. Reed, Manager, Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled, Cleveland Public Library, has been selected for the 2017 Cathleen Bourdon Service Award administered by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).

“Will has proven to be a tireless advocate for information access and reading opportunities to individuals with print disabilities as noted with his work with the Library Services for People with Visual and Physical Disabilities Forum (LSPVPDF) as well as his role as a working team member to revise the Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped”, said nominator Ruth J. Nussbaum. “I particularly appreciate his excellent working relationships with colleagues and his ability to form consensus”, Nussbaum added.

Colleagues specifically highlight Reed’s expertise, approachability and influence with the use of Adaptive Technology. Reed developed a model of service delivery for libraries serving people with print disabilities. This model is successfully used at the D.C. Public Library where it helped them to build their JAWS curriculum into a powerful force for Adaptive Technology training, employment and entrepreneurship.

Reed will be honored at the ASCLA Achievement Awards Ceremony on Saturday, June 24, 2017 from 10-11:30am at the Hilton Chicago during ALA Annual Conference. Breakfast will be provided. All conference attendees are invited to attend the event. See additional event details.

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association, enhances the effectiveness of library service by advocating for and providing high quality networking, enrichment and educational opportunities for its diverse members, who represent state library agencies, libraries serving special populations, library cooperatives and library consultants.

Spring 2017 Online Learning

4/17/17 [eCourse] Story-a-thon: Creating Community Partnerships to Enhance Access to Literacy Services for Children with Disabilities
Learn how to break down the walls of your library/facility to develop community partnerships specific to the disability community. Examine how their library/facility defines outreach, identify their current services for children with disability, how these services can be enhance as outreach services and programs, and how initiate outreach programming. Then develop an outreach backpack to use upon completion.

4/20/17 [Webinar] From Theory to Practice: Outreach to Underserved Patron Populations
This 90-minute webinar focuses on increasing participants’ level of understanding of the library and information needs of individuals who are considered “traditionally underserved”. Traditionally underserved populations include (but are not limited to) patrons who: have disabilities, are currently or formerly incarcerated, are English language learners, are homeless, are members of the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered community. During this webinar, we’ll discuss the components of cultural competence, learn principles of inclusion for all library user groups, and articulate strategies that can be implemented in the library in order to provide more effective outreach to underserved library user groups.

4/25/17 [Webinar] Not to be Forgotten: Providing Library Services for People Living with Dementia
Library services to this growing and often overlooked population are currently scarce. See what some of your peers are doing around the nation to assist this population, learn tips for effective communication, and explore resources available to help. Libraries have a unique role in uplifting this population.

5/1/17 [eCourse] Build Your Professional Brand and Get Published
This course is intended for librarians who want to share their library expertise through publications, including books, magazines, blogs and other media. The content in the course will help librarians develop their personal brand by leveraging their knowledge into writing that benefits their brand and the profession as a whole.

5/1/17 [eCourse] Building a Successful Independent Consulting Practice
This course will guide participants through the exploration and quantification of their uniquely marketable skills and expertise in order to build and launch a successful consulting practice. Using carefully curated resources and experience, the instructor will help each participant design and build a strategy for launching a consulting practice in their area of expertise. This course will cover building a brand, finding a niche to serve, marketing your services, and how to find and land business. Participants will leave with actionable strategies and plans for their own practice. This course is geared towards the independent consultant.

5/17/17 [Webinar] Ebook innovation + publisher collaboration = library domination @ your library
Libraries have the power to drive ebook discovery because they know what people need and read in their communities. Hear about how we (a library consortium in Illinois) created partnerships with publishers and an ebook vendor with a project called PopUp Picks to leverage library expertise to connect community members to their next great read and increase community engagement.

About ASCLA
The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association, offers convenient, year round online learning opportunities to further your knowledge and career skills. ASCLA’s online courses and webinars focus on topics related accessibility and outreach to underserved patrons as well as topics related to state and specialized libraries, prison libraries, library cooperatives and library consultants. ASCLA members qualify for discounted registration rates including discounts on group registrations. Courses and webinars are open to the public.