Posted on

2012 program, preconference, institute proposals: due May 1

The  deadline for submitting proposals for 2012 institutes (Midwinter/Dallas), preconferences and programs (Annual/Anaheim) is MAY 1, 2011.

PROGRAM proposals must be submitted by this date using this online form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ASCLA_Program_Proposals

PRECONFERENCE/INSTITUTE proposals must be submitted by this date using this online form: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ascla_preconfinst_proposal

We have posted a Word document version of both of these forms at the ASCLA website under Our Association>ASCLA Forms. The Word doc should be used to help prepare submissions, however all final proposals should be sent via the online form.

Any problems with the forms or website should be sent to Andrea Hill, RUSA web manager (ahill@ala.org).

Posted on

ASCLA seeks proposals for online professional development offerings

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) invites interested instructors and presenters to submit proposals for online professional development courses and webinars.

Topics for online learning proposals might include but are not limited to assistive technology; the fundamentals of serving special populations, including those with autism & spectrum disorders, the deaf and hard of hearing, those with developmental disabilities, mental disabilities, mental illnesses, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or vision disabilities; children or young adults with disabilities; managing volunteers with disabilities, what trustees need to know about accessibility; the fundamentals of prison/correction facilities librarianship; independent librarianship and consulting;  web accessibility tools; tips for creating accessible websites; and consortial approaches to ebooks

A complete list of criteria is available in the Online Course section of the ASCLA website. In summary, successful proposals will:

  • Include a description, main topic outline and an estimate of length of the proposed course, webinar or webinar series
  • Outline the audiences who will be interested in this topic, including job titles as appropriate
  • Address the direct competition for this course/topic that already exists in the online professional development marketplace.
  • Provide a description of the instructor/presenter and their relevant experience, e.g. education, job history, that illustrates their expertise in the proposed topic area.
  • Include a writing sample if the proposal is for an online course.

Proposals should be submitted via e-mail to ascla@ala.org as MSWord or PDF attachments. Presenters for accepted proposals will receive compensation for their time, and will also receive training for the software used to deliver the online learning experience. Questions can be directed to Liz Markel, ASCLA marketing specialist or Susan Hornung, ASCLA executive director at lmarkel@ala.org and shornung@ala.org, respectively.

Posted on

ASCLA webinar series launched, registration still open for last sessions

Today, ASCLA launched the inaugural Virtual Convergence, a four-day webinar series offering affordable online learning for a broad variety of librarians and library types.

The Virtual Convergence was designed to provide an affordable mid-year professional development opportunity for librarians who might not be able to afford the cost of conference travel. Webinar topics included grant writing, providing services for at-risk teens, contract librarianship, library accessibility and other issues of interest to public, academic, state, special and other types of libraries.

Registration for the webinars to be held Thursday, Jan. 20 will end at close-of-business Tuesday, Jan. 18. Those webinars are:

  • “Libraries and Information Access for Differently-able Patrons: What We Can Do to Ensure Equality”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. While “diversity” remains critical, many libraries remain inaccessible. Financial limitations, limited knowledge, organizational culture, social construction of disability, and even complacency are arguable contributors to this reality. Join us for an interactive discussion exploring accessibility’s dimensions and solutions.
  • “Extending Our Reach: Using Extension Programs to Promote Statewide Resources”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. Though online tools such as blogs, twitter and webinars we educate Extension staff about resources they can use out in the field with the public along with professionally for their own research
  • “Attracting Latinos to the Library: It’s All About Relationships”, 3-4:30p.m Getting Latinos into the library is not a mystery—many libraries are successfully drawing capacity crowds to their programs and building relationships that continue to reap benefits for the Latino community and the library. This session prepares attendees for the same success at their own libraries.

Registration for the webinars to be held Friday, Jan. 21 will end at close-of-business Wednesday, Jan. 19. Those webinars are:

  • “Conducting Successful Virtual Meetings”, 9-10:30a.m. A not-to-miss session for anyone working virtually…which is most of us, these days! Together, let’s: raise expectations and standards for all online meetings; learn from each others’ experiences through questions and sharing; and improve effective use of software features to increase interactivity and collaboration.
  • “Careers in Federal Libraries”, 9-10:30a.m. Live from the Library of Congress, we’ll hear from a panel of Federal librarians about the types of jobs available to you, and hear about the type of work being done in federal libraries all around the world.
  • “How to Find a Federal Job”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. Join us to discover the types of Federal library jobs that are available, and how to navigate the Federal hiring process and be alerted when new jobs are announced.
  • “Managing Library Adult and Family Literacy Programs”, 11a.m.-12:30p.m. This session will provide an overview of the types of literacy programs found in public libraries with an emphasis on volunteer literacy. Topics include adult literacy statistics; family and health literacy; how to start up or improve volunteer literacy programs, working with adults who lack basic reading skills and with English language learners; and considerations for starting an adult literacy collection.
  • “Resume Writing and Interviewing Techniques”, 1-2:30p.m. Join Robert Newlen, renowned author, for a lively and witty look at job hunting. These tips on resume writing and interviewing are not to be missed!
  • “Saks Fifth Avenue Service on a Dollar General Budget”, 3-4:30p.m. This session will discuss and compare the techniques used in high end customer service oriented retail environments and how we can apply them to our libraries to give patrons a ‘superior’ experience.

A full PDF schedule with descriptions is available at www.ala.org/virtualconvergence. Registration is available online—click on “Register” next to Virtual Convergence at this registration page (login required)—or by mail and fax. When registering for a single webinar from the series, ASCLA and Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT) members pay $40, ALA members pay $50, non-members pay $65 and student and retired members of ALA pay $45. Those registering for two or more sessions will receive a reduced rate on each session.

Group registration rates for this event are available—those interested in more information should contact the ALA registration team at registration@ala.org or 1-(800)-545-2433, option 5.

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. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, ASCLA preconferences and other ASCLA events? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

Posted on

Upcoming ASCLA webinar sessions of interest to students and library schools

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) invites students and library school faculty to take advantage of the affordable and convenient learning opportunities offered by the ASCLA Virtual Convergence—a webinar series that will be hosted online by ASCLA Tuesday, Jan. 18-Friday, Jan. 21.

The Convergence offers webinars addressing topics that go beyond classroom learning, including:

  • Grant writing: where to find out about grant opportunities and how to prepare effective grant applications.
  • Services and information access for disabled and differently-abled patrons, including copyright policy affecting persons with print disabilities and Web 2.0 tools
  • Services to teens of all types, including at-risk teens
  • Providing effective distance reference services
  • Effective library programming for Latino populations
  • Federal library jobs: careers in federal libraries; how to find a federal job; and resume writing and interview techniques

Attending a session is a great way for students to acquire information that will enhance their library school experience, and also give you a leg up in this highly competitive job market for internships and full-time employment. Library school faculty looking to add something extra to their courses or raise awareness of a specialized area of library services should share this information with students or arrange for a group of students to participate in sessions.

A list of relevant webinars can be found in  download here. It contains the complete descriptions, dates and times for the sessions. There are a handful of other sessions not included in this flyer—to learn about them, download the complete schedule here. Webinars will be held throughout the day, and will last approximately 60 minutes, with time for Q&A afterwards. Interested participants are welcome to choose any number of webinars to participate in.

Student member registration is just $45 for a single webinar, and $43 each for two or more webinars. Group registration rates are also available, which makes signing up an entire group of students easy and affordable. To broadcast the webinar for a room full of participants, it’s just $99 per webinar. For multiple logins at a discounted group rate, it’s $38 per person per webinar, with a minimum of two people registered for a single webinar.

To register, go to the registration page. Scroll down to Virtual Convergence and click on “Register” to the right (ALA login required). A downloadable registration form is also available to sign up by fax or mail. Contact Membership and Customer Service with any questions at registration@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, option 5.

Posted on

Virtual Convergence: Webinar series registration now open!

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) invites all members of the library community to engage in online learning with the 2011 Virtual Convergence: a series of professional development webinars that will be held in January 2011 immediately following the ALA 2011 Midwinter Meeting.

Registration is now open for this exciting event, which provides an opportunity for librarians to kick off 2011 with online learning they can conveniently pursue from the comfort of their work or home computer. The Convergence will offer webinars throughout the day from Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 21. Session topics will appeal to a broad range of library types and job functions, and are open to all interested librarians, library staff and library supporters. Webinars will last approximately one hour and include opportunities for Q&A.

Scheduled webinar sessions include:

  • “Grant Writing 101”
  • “Presenting Topics to People who are Autistic, Deaf, Disabled, and Non-Disabled”
  • “Teaching Ophelia: Assisting At-Risk Teenagers”
  • “Why Reinvent the Wheel? Tools for Serving the Fast-growing Teen Population”
  • “Knowledge Management: Process and Tools for Convergence”
  • “Using Learning Objects to Enhance Distance Reference Services”
  • “The Disability Experience in a Post- 2.0 World: Implications for Libraries”
  • “Contract Librarianship: Concepts and Strategies”
  • “Accessibility 101: Assure That Your Library Is Welcoming & Usable for Persons With Disabilities”
  • “A Copyright Policy Update on Access to Information for Persons with Print Disabilities”
  • “Public Computer Conundrums: Policy and Program Choices That Improve Patron Outcomes”
  • “How to Build a Bridge:  Connecting Different Types of Libraries”
  • “Starting a New Library for At-risk Young Adults in a Digitally Divided Community”
  • “Libraries and Information Access for Differently-able Patrons: What We Can Do to Ensure Equality”
  • “Extending Our Reach: Using Extension Programs to Promote Statewide Resources.”
  • “Attracting Latinos to the Library: It’s All About Relationships”
  • “Conducting Successful Virtual Meetings”
  • “Careers in Federal Libraries”
  • “How to Find a Federal Job”
  • “Managing Library Adult and Family Literacy Programs”
  • “Resume Writing and Interviewing Techniques”
  • “Saks Fifth Avenue Service on a Dollar General Budget”

A full PDF schedule with descriptions is available for download from the ASCLA website. Registration is available online—click on “Register” next to Virtual Convergence at this registration page (login required)—or by mail and fax. When registering for a single webinar from the series, ASCLA and Federal and Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT) members pay $40, ALA members pay $50, non-members pay $65 and student and retired members of ALA pay $45. Those registering for two or more sessions will receive a reduced rate on each session.

Group registration rates for this event are available—those interested in more information should contact Liz Markel, marketing specialist, at lmarkel@ala.org.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

Resource-sharing experts appearing at upcoming ASCLA preconference

A stellar lineup of resource-sharing experts will present at the upcoming preconference Giving People What They Want: Information Access in Libraries and Beyond, a full-day workshop sponsored by ASCLA.

Giving People What They Want, which will be held 9a.m.-5p.m. on Friday, June 25, will feature a thought-provoking examination of technology and how its pervasive development is challenging traditional approaches to resource-sharing and content access. Presenters will examine users different information-seeking behaviors and how they differ significantly from how libraries have traditionally provided information. Participants will also discuss technological limitations inherent in sharing resources across disparate systems; innovative approaches that are broadening the definition of resource-sharing; and the impact of digital publishing, library end-user research, and innovative implementations of resource-sharing.

The event speakers include:

  • Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit “fact tank” that studies the social impact of the Internet. The Project has issued more than 200 reports based on its surveys that examine people’s online activities and the Internet’s role in their lives. Rainie is a co-author of a series of books about the future of the Internet and is working on one about the social impact of technology that will be published in late 2010. Prior to launching the Pew Internet Project, Rainie was managing editor of U.S. News & World Report.
  • Marshall Breeding, director for innovative technologies and research for the Vanderbilt University Libraries. As a part of the librarys management team, he focuses on issues related to the strategic use of technology in the library, designs and develops digital library resources and investigates emerging technologies. Breeding also serves as executive director of the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, a large-scale archive of digital video content. He frequently speaks and writes on topics of network technologies and library automation. He is the creator and editor of Library Technology Guides and the lib-web-cats online directory of libraries on the Web, and has authored eight issues of ALAs Library Technology Reports as well as many other articles, book chapters and books.
  • Kyle Banerjee, digital services program manager for the HYPERLINK Orbis Cascade Alliance. He has written numerous articles and coauthored two books on digital library issues. Last year, he chaired a team responsible for migrating the 36 Alliance member institutions to a new resource sharing system.
  • Michael Lascarides, who is a specialist in information architecture, focusing on usability analysis and user experience design for the New York Public Library. He is also an adjunct professor in the computer art departments at the School of Visual Arts (New York) and New York University.
  • Cyril Oberlander, associate director, Milne Library, at the SUNY College at Geneseo. He has previously worked as the director of interlibrary services at the University of Virginia Library and head of interlibrary loan at Portland State University from 1996-2005. His consultation experience includes independent consulting services through OCLC Western and workflow design with various vendors. Oberlanders research interests include organizational development, workflow design, mobile technology, information visualization and knowledge systems.
  • Bryan Skib, collection development officer at the University of Michigan. After earning degrees in French history from Princeton University and from the University of Michigan, he worked for 18 years in a variety of public service roles at the Hatcher Graduate Library, particularly in the areas of History, European Studies and Religion. He has been active in several academic and library associations, including the Western European Studies Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). As a member of the Library’s senior management team, he contributes to library-wide strategic planning. His current responsibilities include overall management of the materials budget, collection development strategy, preservation and document delivery activities for the University Library.

Giving People What They Want is open to librarians and library staff involved or interested in the field of resource sharing. Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Annual Conference registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration using the online form, select Institute and Ticketed Events Only as the registration type and proceed to select this event from the list. Advance registration ends May 14, 2010. Advance registration prices for this event start at $205 for ASCLA members. On-site registration starts at $215 for ASCLA members and will be available online until Sunday, June 20. Step-by-step instructions for registering online can be found at the ASCLA blog.

This workshop is one of many ASCLA activities at the 2010 ALA Annual Conference, and ASCLA recently released its comprehensive guide to all the divisions activities at the conference. Download the guide now from the ASCLA Web site, or learn more about the ALA Annual Conference at the conference Web site. Interested participants are encouraged toregister online (login requred) before Advance Registration closes on May 14 and event prices increase.

A stellar lineup of resource-sharing experts will present at the upcoming preconference Giving People What They Want: Information Access in Libraries and Beyond, a full-day workshop sponsored by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.

Giving People What They Want, which will be held 9a.m.-5p.m. on Friday, June 25, will feature a thought-provoking examination of technology and how its pervasive development is challenging traditional approaches to resource-sharing and content access. Presenters will examine users different information-seeking behaviors and how they differ significantly from how libraries have traditionally provided information. Participants will also discuss technological limitations inherent in sharing resources across disparate systems; innovative approaches that are broadening the definition of resource-sharing; and the impact of digital publishing, library end-user research, and innovative implementations of resource-sharing.

The event speakers include:

  • Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit “fact tank” that studies the social impact of the Internet. The Project has issued more than 200 reports based on its surveys that examine people’s online activities and the Internet’s role in their lives. Rainie is a co-author of a series of books about the future of the Internet and is working on one about the social impact of technology that will be published in late 2010. Prior to launching the Pew Internet Project, Rainie was managing editor of U.S. News & World Report.
  • Marshall Breeding, director for innovative technologies and research for the Vanderbilt University Libraries. As a part of the librarys management team, he focuses on issues related to the strategic use of technology in the library, designs and develops digital library resources and investigates emerging technologies. Breeding also serves as executive director of the HYPERLINK “http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/”Vanderbilt Television News Archive, a large-scale archive of digital video content. He frequently speaks and writes on topics of network technologies and library automation. He is the creator and editor of HYPERLINK “http://www.librarytechnology.org” Library Technology Guides and the HYPERLINK “http://www.librarytechnology.org/libwebcats”lib-web-cats online directory of libraries on the Web, and has authored eight issues of ALAs Library Technology Reports as well as many other articles, book chapters and books.
  • Kyle Banerjee, digital services program manager for the HYPERLINK “http://www.orbiscascade.org/” Orbis Cascade Alliance. He has written numerous articles and coauthored two books on digital library issues. Last year, he chaired a team responsible for migrating the 36 Alliance member institutions to a new resource sharing system.
  • Michael Lascarides, who is a specialist in information architecture, focusing on usability analysis and user experience design for the New York Public Library. He is also an adjunct professor in the computer art departments at the School of Visual Arts (New York) and New York University.
  • Cyril Oberlander, associate director, Milne Library, at the SUNY College at Geneseo. He has previously worked as the director of interlibrary services at the University of Virginia Library and head of interlibrary loan at Portland State University from 1996-2005. His consultation experience includes independent consulting services through OCLC Western and workflow design with various vendors. Oberlanders research interests include organizational development, workflow design, mobile technology, information visualization and knowledge systems.
  • Bryan Skib, collection development officer at the University of Michigan. After earning degrees in French history from Princeton University and from the University of Michigan, he worked for 18 years in a variety of public service roles at the Hatcher Graduate Library, particularly in the areas of History, European Studies and Religion. He has been active in several academic and library associations, including the Western European Studies Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). As a member of the Library’s senior management team, he contributes to library-wide strategic planning. His current responsibilities include overall management of the materials budget, collection development strategy, preservation and document delivery activities for the University Library.

Giving People What They Want is open to librarians and library staff involved or interested in the field of resource sharing. Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Annual Conference registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration using the online form, select Institute and Ticketed Events Only as the registration type and proceed to select this event from the list. Advance registration ends May 14, 2010. Advance registration prices for this event start at $205 for ASCLA members. On-site registration starts at $215 for ASCLA members and will be available online until Sunday, June 20. Step-by-step instructions for registering online can be found at the ASCLA blog.

This workshop is one of many ASCLA activities at the 2010 ALA Annual Conference, and ASCLA recently released its comprehensive guide to all the divisions activities at the conference. Download the guide now from the ASCLA Web site, or learn more about the ALA Annual Conference at the conference Web site. Interested participants are encouraged toregister online (login requred) before Advance Registration closes on May 14 and event prices increase.

Posted on

ASCLA Forum offers tour of prison library at Annual Conference

ASCLA will offer a unique opportunity to gain insider access to a prison library thanks to the Library Services to Prisoners Forum (LSPF), a special interest group within ASCLA.

Have YOU Ever Been to Prison? An Insiders Look at a Prison Library is an off-site professional development program that will be held Monday, June 28, 2010 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The tour is open to all conference participants, and would be of interest to anyone considering a career in correctional librarianship, current correctional library staff, and public library staff who provide outreach services to jails and other detention facilities.

Participants will be transported from the Washington Convention Center to the Jessup Correctional Institution Library in Maryland, where they will have an opportunity to both see the facility and discuss current correctional library events and issues with leaders in the field. Speakers include Glennor Shirley, Maryland Correctional Libraries coordinator; Diane Walden, correctional libraries senior consultant, Colorado State Library, and chair of LSPF; and Erica MacCreaigh, correctional libraries senior consultant, Colorado State Library, and co-author of Library Services to the Incarcerated.

Space at the event is limited, and RSVPs are required by June 3, 2010. Participants will be required to provide the following information for a background check in order to receive the security clearance required for prison entry: full name, date of birth, social security number, drivers license number and license state of issue. RSVPs that include this information may be sent to Diane Walden at diane.walden@doc.state.co.us, or provided to her by phone (719-269-5607). Participants will cover the cost of transportation to the facility, which is estimated at $20 per person.

Posted on

ASCLA releases guide to division programming and events at Annual

ASCLA has released a comprehensive guide for the divisions activities at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference, including preconferences, programs, discussion groups and special events.

The guide, which is now available for download, includes information about two workshops hosted by ASCLA from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 25 in Washington, D.C. “Giving People What They Want: Information Access in Libraries and Beyond” features a thought-provoking examination of technology and how its pervasive development is challenging traditional approaches to resource-sharing and content access. Attendees will examine users different information-seeking behaviors and how they differ significantly from how libraries have traditionally provided information. The sell-out workshop “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant” is also scheduled and offers a chance to prepare for library consulting success with this full-day workshop. Seasoned consultants Nancy Bolt, Sara Laughlin and Beth Bingham will present an overview of the consultants role and guide you through a self-assessment to uncover your consulting potential. Participants will work together to identify consulting opportunities and how to align them with their experience and skills. Each of these events requires advance ticket purchases; participants may register for preconferences without registering for the entire ALA conference. Registration instructions can be found in this ASCLA blog entry.

The guide also lists ASCLAs 2010 programs and discussion groups, which cover topics relevant to all types of libraries. Highlighting this years programs is a joint Presidents Program sponsored by ASCLA, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Library Leadership, Administration and Management Association (LLAMA): Capitalizing on Crisis: Leading Libraries in the Post-Recession Era. Other programs slated for 2010 will cover topics such as revenue generation for networks, cooperatives and consortia; innovative services for incarcerated populations and ex-offenders; and transforming library workplace cultures. ASCLAs discussion groups provide an opportunity for colleagues to gather and discuss hot topics and ongoing professional challenges. They also offer a forum for collaborative problem-solving. Discussion group topics include collaborative digitization, library consulting, physical delivery, virtual libraries, youth consulting and LSTA coordinationa complete listing is available in the guide.

Download the guide now from the ASCLA Web site, or learn more about the ALA Annual Conference at the conference Web site. Interested participants are encouraged to register before Advance Registration closes on May 14 and event prices increase.

Posted on

ALA Diversity and Outreach Fair @ Annual – Application Deadline Approaching

The deadline for the 2010 Diversity and Outreach Fair is rapidly approaching. This popular event will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010, during the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 16.

Sponsored generously by DEMCO and coordinated by the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, the Diversity and Outreach Fair provides an opportunity for libraries and member groups to share their successful diversity and outreach initiatives with ALA Annual Conference attendees. The Fair celebrates examples of diversity in American libraries and demonstrates possibilities for libraries seeking diversity in action ideas. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to present posters and converse with conference attendees about their diversity initiatives.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities act, this year’s fair will celebrate accessible library services for all patrons and highlight innovative services to underserved communities. Additional available topics include services to underserved or underrepresented communities and mobile library services.

For more information, and to apply, please visit www.ala.org/divfair.

Questions about the Diversity and Outreach Fair? Contact John Amundsen, OLOS Communications Specialist, at 312.280.2140, or email jamundsen@ala.org.