ATTN Travelers: Join ASCLA in Ireland 2018

Dunmore-Head-and-Blasket-IslandsPack your bags for this seven night, grand literary and history tour of Ireland, May 10-17, 2018 with the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), a division of the American Library Association.

This seven night’s themed tour of Ireland focuses on the highlights of this diverse and majestic country. From the capital city of Dublin, home of many famous libraries and writers, to the countryside of the Southwest, this is Ireland at its most intriguing and fascinating. History, world famous writers, music and epic scenery will be taken in each day to delight and wonder the visitor to this ancient and wildly beautiful country. Trip includes accommodations in four cities, transportation between cities, seven meals, a tour of Wicklow Moutnains and James Joyce’s Tower, tour of the Rock of Cashel, boat trip to the Blasket Islands, tour of Kerry’s Writers Museum and much more!

See the interactive itinerary or view in PDF format*. Additional details:

  • Cost*: $2250 per person for double occupancy (single supplement +$500).
  • Airfare and travel insurance not included, but can be provided upon request.
  • Gratuities not included.
  • $500 per person non-refundable deposit due at time of booking (but not before August 2017).
  • There is a maximum of 10 of single supplement fares available, please inquire at time of booking. Room sharing is available and encouraged, but not guaranteed; otherwise the single supplement applies.
  • Trips are open to the public; membership to ALA and/or ASCLA is not required.

Terms and Conditions*: Although unlikely we reserve the right to alter the itinerary or change hotels if required. Once deposit its taken it is not refundable. Participants must be in good health and able to walk long distances in order to participate in the itinerary. Booking this itinerary means you comply and agree you are in good physical condition to participate as if not you may not be able to be accommodated during the trip for portions of the itinerary.

Reservations/Questions: please contact Deb Gisby, 847-579-9898 at Frosch or email deb.gisby@frosch.com.

*subject to change

About ASCLA
ASCLA offers an international fundraising trip annually open to its members and general public. Previous trips include: Scotland, The Netherlands and Belgium, French and Italian Riviera, Madrid and Italy. Mark your calendars – we will be traveling to Greece in the spring of 2019.

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.

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.

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”

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.

Act now! Save IMLS!

we the peopleLast week The White House released the proposed budget that calls for eliminating the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency charged with providing support to the nation’s hundreds of thousands of libraries and museums. ALA and ASCLA need your help to ensure that IMLS is saved, because without libraries people will not have the access to resources and support they need to succeed in school, careers, their communities and their everyday lives.

Here’s how you can help right now:

  • Use the sample messages in this form to contact the offices of your members of Congress.
  • Sign up via this web page to receive updates on the #SaveIMLS effort.
  • Start planning how you and other library advocates will participate in National Library Legislative Day on May 2 in Washington D.C.
  • Can’t make it to D.C.? Register for Virtual Library Legislative Day! We’ll send you a reminder to take action, along with a link to the live webcast of our keynote and issue briefing on the morning of May 1st. We’ll also send you the talking points, give you access to email templates, and other resources to help you take action.
  • Join and track the conversations #SaveIMLS, #LibrariesRespond.
  • Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to do take these actions, too!

Don’t know much about IMLS?  Here’s a quick overview: through IMLS, every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories receive funding to support their state’s libraries and museums. In FY14 the total funding IMLS distributed to states and territories was $154,800,000. In addition, IMLS offers competitive grant opportunities that individual libraries and museums can apply for.  In FY14 they awarded 594 grants (from 1,299 applications) totaling more than $54,700,000. Visit the IMLS site to see how much funding your state receives from them.

Timing is key, make our priorities clear to Congress!

ASCLA’s 2017 Nominees

Vote on keyboardASCLA is very happy to announce the candidates standing for office for the division and sections in 2017. Thanks very much to those willing to volunteer their time, energy and skills for ASCLA – the smallest but mightiest division of ALA! The 2017 elections opened on March 13, 2017 and will close on April 5, 2017. Results will be announced on April 12, 2017. Read all the election details here.

VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Tracy Rochow Byerly          MO
Adam Szczepaniak, Jr.        NJ

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
Lily Sacharow                      NY
Erin Boyington                    CO
Brenda Hough                     KS (if voting for Hough, please write-in her name)

Designated Director, Special Populations
Carrie Scott Banks              NY

Designated Director, Library Consultants
Amy Jane Paget                   IN

Biographies may be found here.