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From ALA Washington: President nominates former Public Library Association president for IMLS director

NEWS OF NOTE FROM THE WASHINGTON OFFICE

Contact: Jenni Terry, Press Officer, ALA Washington Office, (202) 628-8410, jterry@alawash.org

For Immediate Release, September 30, 2010

President nominates former Public Library Association president for IMLS director

Washington, D.C. – President Obama announced his nominations for key administration posts yesterday including Susan H. Hildreth for director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Hildreth is currently the city librarian of the Seattle Public Library and an active member of the American Library Association (ALA), having served as president of the Public Library Association in 2006.

She was also was previously appointed as California’s state librarian by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

ALA President Roberta Stevens said Hildreth’s experience and knowledge of all types of libraries make her the ideal choice for the position.

“Within the library community, Susan is known for her innovation and leadership,” Stevens said.

“The ALA congratulates Susan on receiving this prestigious nomination, and we commend President Obama for recognizing her as a talented library leader who will bring vision to IMLS.”

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ASCLA accepting nominations for 2011 service, leadership, achievement awards

The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) is now accepting nominations for its 2011 awards, including the Leadership and Professional Achievement Award, the Exceptional Service Award, the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award, the ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award and the Francis Joseph Campbell Medal.

These awards recognize accomplishments in the following areas:

Cooperative, Consulting and State Library Services: The Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is a citation presented to one or more ASCLA members exemplifying leadership and achievement in the following areas: consulting, library cooperation, networking, statewide service and programs and state library development. Download the award nomination form.

Extension and Outreach Services: The Exceptional Service Award recognizes exceptional service to patients in a medical facility, to persons who are homebound, to inmates, to older adults and to adults with a physical or mental disability who live in group homes or residences, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity and significant research. The recipient receives a citation. Download the award nomination form.

Service to ASCLA: The Cathleen Bourdon Service Award is a citation presented to an ASCLA personal member for exceptional service and sustained leadership to the division. This includes participation in activities that have enhanced the stature, reputation and overall strength of ASCLA and have also cultivated the division’s relationship with other appropriate organizations, institutions or governmental agencies. Download the award nomination form.

Projects focused on library services to people with disabilities: The ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award, sponsored by ASCLA, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Keystone Systems, Inc., this award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities. The award can be for a specific service(s) program or for a library that has made its total services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. The winner receives $1,000 and a citation provided by Keystone Systems, Inc. Download the award nomination form.

Oustanding contributions to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped: The Francis Joseph Campbell Award honors a person or institution for significant contributions in this field of service with a medal and a citation. Contributions include but are not limited to: an imaginative and constructive program in a particular library; a recognized contribution to the national library program for blind persons; creative participation in library associations or organizations that advance reading for the blind; a significant publication or writing in the field; or imaginative contribution to library administration, reference, circulation, selection, acquisitions, or technical services. The award is administered by the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) of ASCLA, and is supported by Keystone Systems, Inc. Download the award nomination form.

Those interested in submitting a nomination can download the appropriate award nomination form(s) from the awards section of the ASCLA website or request the form(s) from Liz Markel, ASCLA Marketing Specialist, via e-mail at lmarkel@ala.org. Nominations for all awards must be received by Dec. 15, 2010. Submission information is included on each form.

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Virtual Convergence: submission deadline extended to Monday, Sept. 20

The submission deadline has been extended to Monday, Sept. 20, for proposals for the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) 2011 Virtual Convergencea series of professional development webinars that will be held in January 2011 immediately following the ALA 2011 MidwinterMeeting.

The Virtual Convergence is an inaugural webinar series presented by ASCLA on topics of interest to both ASCLA members and the broader library community. It offers librarians, library staff and library supporters of all types an opportunity to, for one week, focus on acquiring important knowledge that will enhance and improve workplace performance and effectiveness. The event will be held from Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 21, with webinars scheduled throughout the day. The division currently seeks proposals for these sessions. Proposals may be submitted directly by presenters or, similar to the conference planning process, may be submitted by member volunteers who will coordinate presenter recruitment and/or facilitate a panel ofspeakers.

Successful proposalswill:

  • Show plans for presentations that fit within the 90-minute session blocks, including at least 15 minutes forQ&A.
  • Show how the presentation addresses a topic either of interest to ASCLA members, or represents an area of ASCLAs expertise that benefits other types of librarians. This may include but is not limited to: financial management; strategic planning; grant writing; services to special populations including the blind, deaf and hard of hearing and the incarcerated; and library consulting. Past topics addressed by ASCLA programming are listed in the ASCLA @ Annual 2010 guide, as well as the version of the guide that covers 2009 Annual Conference programming.
  • Include an outline of the points the presentation willcover.
  • Outline the audiences that will be interested in thistopic.
  • Include a description of the presenter and his/her relevant experience, e.g. education, job history, that illustrates their expertise in the proposed topicarea.

Proposals must be submitted using the online submission form no later than close of business on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. Presenters for accepted proposals will receive compensation for their time and will also receive training for the webinar software. Questions about ASCLA or the Convergence can be directed to Liz Markel, ASCLA marketing specialist, or Susan Hornung, ASCLA executive director at lmarkel@ala.org and shornung@ala.org,respectively.

More information about the Virtual Convergence schedule, registration rates and other event details will be posted on the ASCLA blog and ASCLA website in mid-October,2010.

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Call for proposals for ASCLA online professional development series

ASCLA seeks proposals for presentations for its 2011 Virtual Convergencea series of professional development webinars that will be held in January 2011 immediately following the ALA 2011 MidwinterMeeting.

The Virtual Convergence is an opportunity for librarians to kick off 2011 with an intensive professional development opportunity they can conveniently pursue from the comfort of their hometown. The Convergence will offer webinars throughout the day from Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 21, that are open to all interested librarians, library staff and library supporters. ASCLA is currently seeking proposals for those webinarsessions.

Successful proposalswill:

  • Show plans for presentations that fit within the 90-minute session blocks, including at least 15 minutes forQ&A.
  • Show how the presentation addresses a topic either of interest to ASCLA members, or represents an area of ASCLAs expertise that benefits other types of librarians. This may include but is not limited to: financial management; strategic planning; grant writing; services to special populations including the blind, deaf and hard of hearing and the incarcerated; and library consulting. Past topics addressed by ASCLA programming are listed in the ASCLA @ Annual 2010 guide (PDF), as well as the version of the guide that covers 2009 Annual Conference programming (PDF).
  • Include an outline of the points the presentation willcover.
  • Outline the audiences that will be interested in thistopic.
  • Include a description of the presenter and their relevant experience, e.g. education, job history, that illustrates their expertise in the proposed topicarea.

Proposals may be submitted using the online submission form no later than close of business on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. Presenters for accepted proposals will receive compensation for their time and will also receive training for the webinar software. Questions about ASCLA or the Convergence can be directed to Liz Markel, ASCLA marketing specialist or Susan Hornung, ASCLA executive director at lmarkel@ala.org and shornung@ala.org,respectively.

More information about the Virtual Convergence schedule, registration rates and other event details will be posted on the ASCLA blog and ASCLA website in mid-October,2010.

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Norma Blake elected ASCLA vice president/president-elect

Norma E. Blake has been elected to serve as vice president/president-elect of ASCLA.

Blake has served New Jersey libraries for more than 30 years and has been the New Jersey State Librarian for the last nine years. During her tenure at the State Library, Blake has played a leadership role in many significant projects that have helped libraries to evolve towards the service and technology expectations of the future. She has led libraries toward the future through the development of innovative programs that serve as national models for delivering services to all populations of library patrons. This includes creating New Jerseys first statewide marketing campaign for libraries; implementing a highly successful interlibrary loan system; developing New Jerseys first Web portal and virtual reference services, providing access to statewide resources; providing statewide Internet access for libraries through JerseyConnect; expanding popular statewide programs such as the Statewide Summer Reading Program for children and teens; and encouraging the implementation of innovative programs and services for the blind, deaf and hard of hearing at the New Jersey State Librarys Talking Book and BrailleCenter.

This long list of accomplishments has not gone unnoticedthe New Jersey Knowledge Initiative won the Innovation award from the National Council of State Governments for helping New Jerseys economy by providing specialized databases for small businesses, researchers, students and teachers. Numerous grants have also been awarded, including two IMLS federal grants for librarian recruitment, a federal grant for developing the New Jersey Digital Highway and Live Homework Help. Her most recent achievement was securing $7.5 million in grants from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Programs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for computer security, hardware andbroadband.

I am honored to have been selected to serve as vice president/president elect, said Blake. There is a great diversity among the divisions of ASCLA, and every one of its sections has been hard hit by tough economic times. ASCLA is one of the best vehicles for providing members with the tools to sustain and grow their institutions now and in better times tocome.

Blake serves her profession as a member of New Jersey Networks Citizens Advisory Board; the Board of the Southern New Jersey Development Council; SCALES, the State Council of Adult Literacy Education Services and the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. She is affiliated with the New Jersey Library Association and the American Library Association. She is also liaison to the Urban Libraries Council for COSLA, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies; secretary of Chief Officers of State Library Agencies in the Northeast; and member-at-large of the State Library Agency Section (SLAS) of ASCLA. Her professional accolades have been plentiful: she was selected as the New Jersey Library Associations Librarian of the Year, elected President of NJLA, a member in the Leadership NJ Class of 2000, received the Distinguished Service Award 2005, by NJLA-CUS-ACRL NJ, was named a 2008 Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern NJ and was selected by Library Journal as the 2008 Librarian of theYear.

Blake began her term at the conclusion ALAs 2010 Annual Conference. A complete list of ASCLA election results are posted at the ASCLAblog.

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Congratulations! ASCLA award winners honored at Annual Conference

In addition to the Francis Joseph Campbell Award and the ASCLA Century Scholarship–both of which are housed under the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) of ASCLA–the division also offers the Exceptional Service Award, the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award and the ASCLA/KLAS/NOD award. This last award is sponsored by Keystone Systems and the National Organization on Disability (NOD).

The 2010 Exceptional Service Award is presented to Barbara T. Mates, who recently retired from her position as head of the Cleveland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This award recognizes exceptional service to patients in a medical facility, to persons who are homebound, to inmates, to older adults and to adults with a physical or mental disability who live in group homes or residences, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity and significant research. As an active member of ALA, ASCLA and the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) of the division since 1976, Mates distinguished herself as a passionate, outspoken advocate for persons with disabilities and for those who are aging. “Her leadership and advocacy have significantly improved not only library services for people with disabilities, but also the accessibility of conference and other services provided by the American Library Association to its members. She has also left a mark on the profession through her collaboration with colleagues in the national Network of Libraries for Blind and Physically Handicapped and at the Library of Congress to advance service improvements, as well as her contributions to published guides and tools for library staff to use in delivering accessible services to library users.

Jerry Krois, recently retired from the Wyoming State Library after 31 years of service–most recently as the Deputy State Librarian–is the 2010 recipient of the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award. This honor is presented to an ASCLA personal member for exceptional service and sustained leadership to the division. Krois has long been an active member of ALA and ASCLA and has served in a variety of capacities, including division president, chapter council for the Wyoming chapter of ALA, president of the Wyoming Library Association and currently as a director-at-large on the ASCLA Board of Directors. In these leadership roles, he has contributed exciting ideas for division programming, has cultivated relationships with partnering organizations and enriched the division with the creation of resources such as the “LSTA Success Stories” web resource. He is now serving as the Director of the Eaton (Colo.) Public Library.

The Resource Library of the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) is the winner of the 2010 ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award for its project “Disability Etiquette Infusion Units: Changing Attitudinal Barriers at University of Wyoming,” Winners are honored for innovative and well organized projects that have successfully developed or expanded library services for people with disabilities. As Wyoming’s University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (UCEDD), part of a national network of UCEDDS, WIND envisions “a Wyoming where all people can participate in everyday community life.” Changing attitudinal barriers toward people with disabilities in society is an important goal toward achieving that quality of life. Through this project, WIND had a positive impact on more than 850 students’ attitudes towards those with disabilities. More information is available at the WIND Library website: http://www.uwyo.edu/wind/library/.