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Candidates needed for the 2018 ASCLA Election

we're looking for volunteers

Please consider nominating an ASCLA member or yourself as a candidate for next year’s ASCLA elections. Service on the ASCLA board of directors is very rewarding and a great way to meet colleagues from around the country who share your interests within larger ALA. We are small and mighty and we have strong voice for those we represent.Send me the names of those you think are exemplary (and that includes yourself!) no later than September 5, 2017.

ASCLA is in need of outstanding individuals to run for the following offices:

  • President-Elect (this is a three year term consisting of president-elect year in 2018-19, presidential year 2019-20, and past-president in 2020-21)
  • ASCLA Division Councilor (three year term, 2018-2021)
  • Director-at-Large (two year term, 2018-2020)
  • Designated Director, Special Populations (two year term, 2018-2020)
  • Designated Director, Cooperatives and Networks (two year term, 2018-2020)
  • Designated Director, State Library Agencies (2018-20)

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me atrhondag@wwrurallibrary.com. Thank you so much in advance!

Rhonda
2018 Chair, ASCLA Nominating Committee

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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.

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ASCLA and FAFLRT Merger: Open Forum Set

two puzzle pieces going together to signify mergerUpdate: the recording of the 2/14 open forum can be viewed here.

Dear FAFLRT and ASCLA Members,

As you may be aware, last year ASCLA and FAFLRT began holding conversations about merging our two units. The discussions have been very productive, fostering a cordial environment, encouraging collaboration.

FAFLRT is moving the process further by having their members vote on the merger during the 2017 ALA Elections.

Before the referendum occurs, we want to hold an open forum for members of both organizations to learn about our two groups. This forum will be online, via Adobe Connect, and will feature the presidents of both ALA units. They will provide information about both organizations, give a synopsis of the current situation, outline what a merged unit would look like, and discuss future steps.

Most important is that this will offer an opportunity for you, members of both units, to ask questions and offer feedback.

Here are the details for the forum:

Date: Tuesday, February 14.
Time: 3:00pm EST/2:00pm CST/ 1:00 MST/ 12:00pm PST
PowerPoint Presentation: FAFLRT and ASCLA Proposed Merger_2-13-17. 
Link to log join: https://ala.adobeconnect.com/r6ybsqkoo25/

If you want to join the forum via phone, call:
1-866-718-7314
Participant Code: 91920045#

Also, we want to give people a chance to ask questions anonymously. You may do so by using the Google form linked here: http://bit.ly/2kqWq48. We will attempt to answer as many questions as possible during the time allotted.

The merger proposal from ASCLA can be found here: Proposal for Merger of FAFLRT and ASCLA_2-13-17. We encourage members of both units to read through it and also learn about both organizations through their web sites:

ASCLA: http://www.ala.org/ascla/
FAFLRT: http://www.ala.org/faflrt/

Thanks so much for your membership to both organizations. We’re looking forward to speaking with you on the 14th!

Sincerely,

Karl Debus-Lopez
FAFLRT President

Michael Golrick
ASCLA President

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Message from ASCLA President, Michael Golrick

Dear ASCLA Members,

I invite you to volunteer for one of ASCLA’s committees or interest groups – we are still seeking volunteers for this year (2016-2017) to fill out our committees.

If you are not yet a member of any of our committees, please join by sending a note to the ASCLA office, ascla@ala.org stating which committee(s) you’re interested in. They will assist me to appoint you to committees that you have an interest in or affinity for, or suggest some that you might be interested in.  I will be appointing the committees for 2016 through June 30, 2017.  Tell us about your experience and why you can be of help to these groups in your note.

If you are already a committee or interest group volunteer, thank you for your service: you are so much appreciated!  Because of your contributions, our division accomplishes much. ASCLA, through its volunteers, has provided:

  • Member expertise on accessibility and diversity for ALA committees and work groups, such as the Advocacy Coordinating Group and the Working Group on Digital Content and Libraries
  • Standards and guidelines, such as those for libraries serving the blind and physically handicapped and for state library agencies
  • Outstanding conference programming
  • A great member newsletter
  • Assistance vetting online learning opportunities of value to ASCLA members
  • Special recognition of people and library services such as awards for specialized library services for people with disabilities or the homebound.

This is just a small sampling of what our volunteers plan and take part in, and what makes ASCLA a terrific place for opportunities for service, your professional growth, and networking with colleagues.

Thank you again to all our current, past and future volunteers – you are truly what makes ASCLA such a wonderful awesome, and fun, place to be!

Best Wishes,

Michael Golrick
ASCLA President
michael.golrick@gmail.com

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Active Shooter Awareness Training!

In light of the recent events in Orlando that have become far too common in our society, ASCLA would like to invite you to an active shooter awareness training at Annual this year. In addition, our past president was featured on the Dewey Decibels podcast in May discussing this topic. Information about the program and access to the podcast are below.

Active Shooter Policies in Libraries Program: Be able to complete an environmental scan to identify potential risk areas at your library, as well as write an active shooter policy/procedure for your library. Most libraries have policies dealing with a problem or unruly patrons. Find out how to protect your patrons and staff from a darker problem, someone intent on inflicting actual physical harm. The NDSL active shooter procedure will be presented as a model as well as tips for writing your policy. Speaker:  BreAnne Meier, North Dakota State Library, Date: Saturday, June 25, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Location: Orange County Convention Center, W101B. Schedule it.

ASCLA Past-President in the News: Active Shooter Training: ASCLA Past-President Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer (director of New Mexico State Library) speaks in the Dewey Decibels, episode 2 podcast, May 23, 2016, about library security and making your space safer!  Listen to the podcast here (at about 38.23) as Kathleen explains about some of the active shooter training programs she made available to her staff at the New Mexico and New Jersey state libraries. She talks about the programs’ usefulness for frontline staff and the model that was used at Scott County (Ky.) Public Library.

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Calling for 2017 Program, Preconference, Institute Proposals

Do you have innovative ideas, services and programs to share with your library colleagues? Why not present one at the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conferences? Submit a proposal to the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) today!

The 2017 Midwinter Meeting, January 20 – 24, 2017 will be in Atlanta GA, and the Annual Conference, June 22 – 27, 2017 will be in Chicago IL.

The deadline to receive online proposals for 2017 is June 13, 2016. 

The link to submit a conference program/preconference/institute proposal is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASCLA2017Proposals.  

Once collected, the ASCLA office will send the proposals to the ASCLA Conference Programming Committee to oversee, organize and recommend for approval to the ASCLA board at Board Meeting II at the Annual Conference in Orlando FL, 2016.

Please spread the word to anyone who you think would like to present a valuable program for ASCLA. Our conference program committee is specifically looking for proposals that would appeal to:

  • ASCLA interest group members.
  • Librarians who serve people or youth who are incarcerated or in detention
  • Library consultants and independent librarians
  • Library staff who serve people with disabilities
  • Staff of library cooperatives and consortium
  • State library staff

Please feel free to contact Susan Hornung at shornung@ala.org if you have any questions.

 

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ASCLA selects its 2016 award winners!

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has selected its 2016 Award winners. The awards program recognizes outstanding achievement within the library profession by librarians and libraries for significant current or past achievements, including publications, program development and leadership in the profession.

The Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held from 5:45 – 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Room Plaza BR D. This event is co-sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) and the Federal and Armed Forces Librarians Round Table (FAFLRT) and will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. All conference attendees are welcome!

The following recipients will be honored.

Chris Corrigan, Digital Reference Librarian of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress is the 2016 recipient of the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award, which is named after former ASCLA Executive Director Cathleen Bourdon. Chris was chosen for his sustained leadership and exceptional service enhancing the stature, strength and reputation of ASCLA to ALA Council, ALA Membership, and other ALA-affiliated organizations.

The recipient of the 2016 ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is awarded to Cal Shepard, State Librarian, State Library of North Carolina. Ms. Shepard is recognized for her many years of service to the library profession and is specifically being honored for her accomplishment at the State Library of North Carolina in formulating a sunset plan to transition Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding for two large State Library projects to state funding. Through her leadership and vision, she opened up LSTA funding to be used by libraries across the state.

Kate DeVoe, Youth Services Librarian and Kelly Doolittle, Library Assistant, both of Tompkins County Public Library (NY) are the recipients of the 2016 ASCLA/Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS) & National Organization on Disability (NOD) Award. They are recognized for providing vital services to children through their project, “Adapt and Include: Library Programs for Children with Sensory Integration Challenges.” The award consists of $1,000 and a citation supported by Kay and David Holloman of Keystone Systems, developer of the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS), and the National Organization on Disability.

Stephen Prine, Assistant Chief, Network Division, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is the recipient of ASCLA’s 2016 Francis Joseph Campbell Award for outstanding contributions to the advancement of library service for people with physical disabilities and/or physical impairments. Mr. Prine is recognized for his many years of exemplary service to the print disabled community, as well as to his colleagues across the country and within ASCLA.

The 2016 ASCLA Exceptional Service Award is presented to the Marshes of Glynn Library System in Brunswick, Georgia for implementing the ALA Every Child Ready to Read program at their local jail. This innovative project teaching incarcerated parents and other caregivers how to support the early literacy development of their children is an exceptional example of how libraries can transform lives.  It also serves as an example of a program able to be replicated in other libraries.

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In the Margins Book Award and Committee Press Release!

The In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee, (ITM) a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC) http://youthlibraries.org/  selected their top fiction book, Tattooed Teardrops by PD Workman and non-fiction book, America’s Massacre: The Audacity of Despair and a Message of Hope by Tewhan Butler  as well as a Top Ten http://youthlibraries.org/2016-margins-top-ten  And official list http://youthlibraries.org/2016-margins-official-list-0. ITM strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody – or a cycle of all three.

Please read the full press release here.

 

 

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ASCLA has a new strategic plan!

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has announced a new strategic plan to guide the organization in its planning, activities, and initiatives. The strategic plan includes the organization’s mission, vision, strategic priorities, goals, and key objectives.

Read all about it here: http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclastratplan