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RFP issued for Revised Standards for Libraries Serving the Incarcerated

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has issued an RFP for a project director to assist in the production of a revising the current ASCLA standards for libraries serving the incarcerated; responses are due by Monday, March 25, 2013.

ASCLA, a division of ALA, serves librarians who work  with the incarcerated of all ages and produces standards, guidelines and policies for libraries in its four core areas: state library agencies, specialized libraries, library cooperatives and library consultants. The standards for libraries serving the incarcerated were last updated in 1992. A project director will be hired to faciliate, coordinate and work with ASCLA members and outside stakeholders to provide revised standards that will assist librarians and staff serving the incarcerated.

Project deliverables include a library standards booklet and 2 webinars about the standards. A complete version of the RFP is available for download from the ASCLA website. Applicants must submit one print or email copy, and one copy on a CD of the proposal by 6:00pm CT on Monday, March 25, 2013: American Library Association, Attention: Susan Hornung/ASCLA, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795; e-mail: shornung@ala.org.

Email submissions must have “ASCLA Library Standards for Adult Correctional Institutions RFP” in the subject line of the message. Proposals not received by the date and time specified may not be considered and will be returned to the sender marked “LATE RESPONSE.” Faxed submissions will not be accepted. Contact ASCLA Executive Director Susan Hornung, shornung@ala.org,  or (312) 280-4395, with any questions about the RFP content or submission process.

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 cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Our division’s work centers on member-driven interest groups that represent the diversity and important work of our engaged and active members. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in forming new interest groups, receiving discounted registration rates on ASCLA preconferences and online courses, and other important membership benefits? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

 

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New Resources on Students with Disabilities and Website Accessibility

The ASCLA Resources Page has been updated to include new information on website accessibility and students with disabilities:

Students with Disabilities: Pre-K-12
• Project ENABLE (Expanding Nondiscriminatory Access By Librarians Everywhere): This comprehensive site provides information and training for developing effective library and information services for pre-K-12 students with disabilities. The site contains five self-paced learning modules, jam-packed with useful information in a variety of formats (text, still and moving images, graphics, audio over PowerPoint, and more). You will find information to read, videos to view, games to play, learning exercises to challenge you, and quizzes to assess your learning.
Website Accessibility
• Raising the Floor (RtF) is an international coalition of individuals and organizations working to ensure that the Internet, and everything available through it, is accessible to people experiencing accessibility barriers due to disability, literacy, or age.

The ASCLA Resources page contains links that will lead you to excerpts from selected ASCLA publications or to Web sites that may be of interest in the following areas. Visit this page often for new information about serving the following topics:

  • Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • Certification
  • Cooperative Library Organizations
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Equity of Access
  • Impaired Elderly Library Patrons
  • Independent Librarians
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Prison Libraries
  • State Libraries
  • Students with Disabilities
  • Website Accessibility
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Revised Standards for Libraries Serving the Blind and Physically Handicapped Now Available

The “Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped” (NLSBPH) have been published by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and are now available for purchase through the ALA Store.
The 2011 version of these standards and guidelines is the fourth iteration of ALA standards for libraries serving blind and physically handicapped individuals. They were developed by consumers, network librarians and their administering agencies to provide a benchmark for service by which the libraries can judge their accomplishments. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLSBPH) uses these Standards as the basis for consultant visit reviews and evaluation of the library’s operations, and NLS anticipates implementing these revised standards beginning in 2012. NLS has reviewed cooperating network libraries against the original standards, and updates since 1980, with the goal of providing equitable service for eligible individuals wherever they reside in the United States or its possessions or territories.

Among other topics, the text provides information about standards for provision of services, resource development and management, public education and outreach, budget and funding, planning and evaluation, personnel and BARD; guidelines for personnel and space; and several appendices on critical information such as the Library of Congress/National Library Service Eligibility Criteria, the ALA Library Bill of Rights and Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records and the ALA Policy on Services for People with Disabilities.

Learn more about this publication and purchase your copy now at the ALA Store.

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. Our division’s work centers on member-driven interest groups that represent the diversity and important work of our engaged and active members. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, ASCLA preconference and other ASCLA events? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

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All sorts of accolades for ASCLA member Diane Walden

ASCLA member Diane Walden has been named a 2011 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal!

Get the full story here: http://www.libraryjournal.com/csp/cms/sites/LJ/LJInPrint/MoversAndShakers/profiles2011/moversandshakersWalden.csp

We’re also excited to announce Diane as the winner of the 2011 ASCLA Leadership & Professional Achievement Award! The official press release is here and also pasted below.

Congratulations Diane! We’re proud and honored to call you an ASCLA member!

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The 2011 ASCLA Leadership & Professional Achievement Award winner is Diane Walden, correctional libraries senior consultant for the Colorado State Library and a longtime member of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA), the Librarians Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) and the Library Services to Prisoners Forum (LSPF).

The ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is presented to Diane Walden for her exemplary leadership and achievements at the Colorado State Library and at the Florida Department of Corrections in delivering high quality consulting and statewide library services for offenders. Her passionate leadership has positively impacted the offenders who use correctional libraries and those who work in them. ASCLA salutes Diane’s leadership in the creation of the Prisoners Right to Read: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, a clear example of both professional leadership and pioneering activity. Prior to the adoption of the Prisoners Right to Read, there was no ALA policy statement that addressed prisoner rights on a national level. Her tireless efforts with the Right to Read statement are but one of many examples of leadership, initiative and professional achievement demonstrated by Diane in her statewide and national work.

Walden is the Colorado State Library’s coordinator for the highly successful “Read to the Children” program in the Colorado Department of Corrections, which allows parents and other close relatives to make a recording of themselves reading a book, then send the recording and book to the child.  The program increases the literacy skills of both the offenders and their children, strengthens the parent-child relationship and creates a home environment supportive of reading. She also initiated and coordinated a StoryCorps program in the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC). Through this national project that strives “to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening,” Walden aimed to build offenders’ self-esteem and self-awareness; highlight voices often missed in our society; and portray an honest voice of the imprisoned.

“In spite of staff and budget reductions, Diane has forged ahead with an optimistic attitude of getting done what needs to be done,” said ASCLA President Diana Reese. “She is a consistently positive person no matter the situation or hurdles encountered. Her passion for improving library services to offenders drives her to accomplish something every day that will have positive impact. Her internal fire is the power supply that continuously causes her to set the pace and get started on new challenges. This drive to achieve is not only moving the correctional librarianship field forward, it is profoundly impacting the offenders who use correctional libraries and those who work in them.”

Walden received her MLS from the University of Arizona. She previously spent 10 years working in the Florida Department of Corrections, with progressive responsibilities – from a solo correctional librarian to a coordinator of 60 institutional libraries, where she developed library-based literacy, educational and cultural programs. She has worked with the Colorado State Library since 2004 as a senior consultant for the state’s correctional libraries, and is currently responsible for start-up of the library for Colorado Department of Corrections’ newest high security facility.

Reese will officially present the award to Walden at the ASCLA/COSLA Reception on Sunday, June 26, 8-10 p.m. at the 2011 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. This event, open to all ALA Conference attendees, will be held at an ALA Conference hotel. The exact room location will be announced in late spring.

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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.”