Posted on

Consulting institute at Midwinter Meeting: registration now open!

Librarians looking to strike out on their own in the library profession, or those library professionals approaching retirement and seeking a flexible way to maintain employment, won’t want to miss “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant” in Boston this January.

“Assembling a Consulting Toolkit” is a daylong institute offered by the ASCLA, a division of ALA. The event will be held Friday, Jan. 15, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., in conjunction with the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting, and is designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career.

Seasoned consultants and ASCLA members Nancy Bolt and Sara Laughlin will present an overview of library consulting for guide attendees, who will discover through  self-assessment their personal consulting potential.  Participants will work together in an active and engaging format to explore different roles that consultants play, services consultants may deliver to clients, marketing consulting services, managing a consulting business and finding clients.

“I’m pleased that these two long-time members of ASCLA’s Independent Librarians Exchange Section (ILEX) are willing to share their expertise in creating consulting opportunities with others,” said Brenda Bailey-Hainer, president of ASCLA.  “If you’re interested in starting your own consulting business, this is a session you won’t dare miss. ”

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Interested participants can register for this event only (event code ASC1), or can register in conjunction with Midwinter Meeting 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 for the meeting and this event opens Oct. 1 and ends Dec. 4, 2009. Advance registration prices for this event are $185 for ASCLA members, $195 for ALA members, $145 for retired and student members and $225 for non-ALA members. On-site registration, priced at $215 for ASCLA members, $225 for ALA members, $170 for retired and student members and $260 for non-ALA members, will be available (including online registration) until Friday, Jan. 8.

All interested participants must register by Jan. 8—there will not be seats available at the door on the day of the event.

Posted on

Universal design best practices to be presented, discussed at 2010 ASCLA Midwinter Institute

Maximizing the library experience for all patrons, including those with functional differences, is a challenging endeavor-one that libraries can get help with by attending “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries,” an institute at the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting sponsored by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).

The topic of this intensive half-day event, assembled through a partnership between ASCLA and the Institute for Human-Centered Design (ICHD) (formerly Adaptive Environments), has become even more timely as a result of the recent economic crisis, which has brought people to libraries in record numbers to take advantage of the unique opportunities, experiences and services available there.

By implementing universal design principles, libraries can create physical, communication and information environments that minimize limitations and provide outstanding library services to all patrons, including those with functional differences. The agenda includes presentations on an array of best practices in universal design, including opportunities for experiential learning  and a forum for presenting your library’s universal design problem or aspiration and receiving on-the-spot consultation and solutions.

“It’s important for libraries to create a welcoming environment for everyone in their community,” said Brenda Bailey-Hainer, president of ASCLA. ” This institute is an excellent opportunity to learn about techniques for eliminating obstacles to library use for community members who are often underserved.”

“Breaking Down Barriers” will be held Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.,  at the ICHD, located at 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, in Boston. The MBTA’s North Station is only a few blocks away, providing easy access to the Green and Orange lines, as well as several commuter rail lines. Subway, commuter rail and other pertinent transit information and schedules are available at the MBTA website.

Interested participants should note that the institute (event code ASC2) is a separate ticketed event; registration for the Midwinter Meeting is not required in order to attend this event. For institute-only registration using the online form (login required), select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from the list. Advance registration for both Midwinter and “Breaking Down Barriers” opens Thursday, Oct. 1, with the following advance registration ticket prices available through December 4: ASCLA Member, $155; ALA Member, $155; Non-member, $155; Student/Retiree Member, $120.  Ticket prices increase after Dec. 4. Visit www.ala.org/midwinter for the most up-to-date information on registration.

IHCD is an international non-profit organization, founded in Boston in 1978, committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities. IHCD’s work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with promotion of best practices in human-centered or universal design.

Posted on

Great Stories CLUB now accepting applications

Connect troubled teens with the power of reading with a Great Stories CLUB reading and discussion series. The ALA Public Programs Office and YALSA are now accepting online applications through November 2 for the next round of Great Stories CLUB grants at www.ala.org/greatstories. Funding was provided for this program by Oprah’s Angel Network.

The Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved teens and Books) is a book club program designed to reach underserved, troubled teen populations through books that are relevant to their lives. Feedback from libraries that have held past Great Stories CLUB reading and discussion series has been consistently positive:

• “Students had an overwhelmingly positive response to the program. For several of the students this was the first novel they had ever read in its entirety.” – Highland High School, Albuquerque, N.M. (partnered with Teenagers Encountering and Embracing New Solutions (T.E.E.N.S.), a Title I funded program that provides support to homeless adolescents)
• “The importance of being able to offer something that the resident can choose to participate in and keep after the program ends cannot be underestimated in a facility where residents don’t wear their own clothes, or choose when and what they eat.” – Platte Valley Youth Service Center Library, Greeley, Colo.
• “…working with the boys continues to be one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers. It is remarkable to listen to these young men share their insights, feelings and experiences as we discuss a book. We have watched them become active library users and we hope that they will continue to see the value and importance of libraries throughout their lives.” – Vernon Area Public Library, Lincolnshire, Ill. (partnered with Depke Juvenile Justice Complex)

All types of libraries (public, school, academic and special) located within or working in partnership with facilities serving troubled teens in the United States and its territories are eligible to apply for a Great Stories CLUB grant. Potential organizations for Great Stories CLUB partnership include juvenile justice facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, nonprofits serving teen parents, alternative high schools, agencies serving teenaged foster children, shelters serving homeless and runaway youth and other agencies. For tips on creating a partnership, visit www.ala.org/greatstories.

Following the application process, 265 libraries will be selected to develop a book discussion program for troubled teens based on the three theme-related titles and will be given copies of the books to share with participants. Participating libraries will also receive access to an online toolkit to support the program, including sample discussion questions, recommended titles for further reading and other resources. Small cash grants ($100-$200) will be awarded to up to 50 sites for the support of program-related expenses.

For more information on the Great Stories CLUB, including guidelines, book titles and descriptions, application instructions and feedback from past participants, visit www.ala.org/greatstories.

Posted on

History of the Newbery and Children with disabilities in the library are topics of fall ALSC online courses

This fall the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is offering two engaging online education courses, including: The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future and Children with Disabilities in the Library. Registration is now open, and courses run Oct. 5 though Nov. 13, 2009. Check-out the ALSC Blog for past participant experiences (http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/?cat=88).

The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future discusses different aspects of the award, the history of the medal and how it’s changed over time. Participants are given an opportunity to read, discuss and consider past and present Newbery winners with their colleagues from across the nation. The instructor of the course is Kathleen T. Horning, director of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Children with Disabilities in the Library will discuss the individual needs of disabled children and how libraries might be able to assist each child. This course will look at inclusive programming, assistive technologies, staff attitudes and legal considerations. Participants will collaboratively develop strategies for determining needs and identify resources that can be consulted when a child requires help. The instructor of the course is Katherine Todd, adjunct instructor at Manhattanville (N.Y.) College.

Courses are taught asynchronously using Moodle (www.moodle.org), an online learning community. A certificate of completion will be sent to participants upon successful completion of the course. Detailed descriptions and course registration information is available on the ALSC Web site at www.ala.org/alscevents. Fees are $95 for personal ALSC members; $145 for personal ALA members; and $165 for non-members.

Questions about this or other ALSC events should be directed to Jenny Najduch, ALSC marketing specialist at jnajduch@ala.org or 312-280-4026.

Posted on

Nominations open for 2009 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award

NEW YORK–Nominations are open for the 2009 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Nominations will run through October 9 and are being accepted online at ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Up to 10 librarians will be selected. Each will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend an awards ceremony and reception in New York, hosted by The New York Times in December. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.

In 2008, Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded the American Library Association (ALA) $489,000 to support the award, which will continue annually through 2013. The award continues in the tradition of one The New York Times presented from 2001 to 2006.

Last year, more than 3,200 library users nationwide nominated a librarian, and 10 librarians received the award. For more information on last year’s winners, visit ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

The award is administered by ALA’s Public Information Office and Campaign for America’s Libraries, ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians.

Carnegie Corp. of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote “the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” For more than 95 years, the foundation has carried out its founder’s vision of philanthropy by building on his two major concerns: international peace and advancing education and knowledge. Each year, the private grant-making foundation invests more than $100 million in nonprofit organizations to fulfill Mr. Carnegie’s mission, “to do real and permanent good in this world.”

The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2008 revenues of $2.9 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 65,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Posted on

Act now, emerging leaders! ALA EL class of 2010 applications due Friday, July 31

The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting applications for the 2010 class of Emerging Leaders. Applications can be found at http://www.ala.org/cfapps/emergingleaders/. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2009.

The program is designed to enable approximately 100 library workers to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and get an inside look into the ALA structure and activities.
For the first time since its establishment, the Emerging Leaders program will accept non-MLS library workers. Library support staff personnel are encouraged to apply to the program and will have an opportunity to be considered for sponsorship through the ALA Library Support Staff Interests Round Table.

An ALA division, round table, ethnic affiliate, state chapter or school library media affiliate will sponsor approximately one-third of the selected applicants. Each sponsor will contribute $1,000 toward expenses ($500 for each conference). Sponsorship is not required for participation in the program.

Applicants can indicate on the application which groups they want to consider them for sponsorship. A list of sponsoring units is included as part of the online application. You can also check with your state association and/or state chapter to find out if they are participating and how to apply for their sponsorship.

No more than one person from any institution will be selected for participation in the program. In order to be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be under 35 years of age or be a library worker of any age with fewer than 5 years experience working in a library.
• Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each.
• Be prepared to commit to serve on either an ALA, division, chapter or round table committee, taskforce or workgroup, or in your state or local professional library organization upon completion of program.
• Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.

Program information will be available and updated at: http://www.ala.org/cfapps/emergingleaders/. For questions or more information regarding the program, contact Beatrice Calvin at bcalvin@ala.org.

Posted on

Reminder: LSSPS Annual Dinner tickets–get yours now!

Just a reminder that we still have tickets available for the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) Annual Dinner. All current LSSPS members as well as those special populations librarians who are interested in meeting others in the field and networking with peers are invited.

The dinner will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at Emilio’s Tapas Sol y Nieve, 215 East Ohio St., Chicago, and is an opportunity to visit with old colleagues and meet new ones who are employed in library services for special populations, including patrons with visual or physical impairments, the deaf and hard of hearing, incarcerated adults and youth and those with other special needs. Regular (“on-site”) registration rates for the event are $50 for ASCLA members, $55 for ALA members, $60 for non-members, and $40 for students.

Those interested in registering for the dinner and conference—or adding the dinner to their current meeting itinerary—can do so through Step 6 (“Your Events”) of the online registration form or by calling 1 (800) 974-3084. Those who are interested in only attending the dinner (event code SL3) should choose the “Preconference and Events Only” registration type from Step 5 of the online registration form, then scroll down to the dinner under Step 6. Events in Step 6 are sorted by day and time.

Learn more about Emilio’s at the restaurant website. The restaurant is fully accessible, and is located just east of the intersection of North Michigan Avenue and East Ohio Street. The nearest El stop is Grand-Red Line, and a number of Michigan Avenue buses can also get you there. Plan your trip at www.transitchicago.com.

The complete schedule of ASCLA events at Annual is available on the ASCLA website.

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

ALA Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates for 2010 Election

The ALA 2010 Nominating Committee is soliciting nominees to run on the 2010 spring ballot for the offices of ALA President-elect, ALA Treasurer and Councilor-at-large.

The Nominating Committee will select two candidates to run for President-elect, two candidates for Treasurer, and no fewer than 50 candidates for the 33 at-large Council seats to be filled in the 2010 spring election.

The President-elect will serve a three-year term: as President-elect in 2010-2011, as President in 2011-2012, and as Immediate Past President in 2012-2013.

The Treasurer will serve a three-year term, beginning after the 2010 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2013 Annual Conference.

The Councilors-at-large will serve three-year terms, beginning after the 2010 ALA Annual Conference and ending at the adjournment of the 2013 Annual Conference.

The ALA President, Treasurer and Councilors also serve in corresponding roles in the ALA-Allied Professional Association [ALA-APA]. Individuals considering ALA-APA office are encouraged to consult with their employer regarding any restrictions regarding lobbying activities or service on the governing body of a 501(c)6 organization.

Members who wish to make nominations should submit the following information: nominee name; present position; institution; address; telephone; fax; and e-mail address. Self-nominations are encouraged. All potential nominees must complete the Potential Candidate Biographical Form available at https://cs.ala.org/potentialcandidates/ beginning June 1. Nominations and forms must be received no later than August 15, 2009.

Nominations may be sent to any member of the 2010 Nominating Committee. Committee members are:
• Nancy Allen, Chair, Dean and Director, University of Denver, Penrose Library. E-mail: nancy.allen@du.edu
• Kathleen E. Bethel, African American Studies Librarian, Northwestern University. E-mail: kbethel@northwestern.edu
• Wayne Bivens-Tatum, Librarian, Princeton University Libraries. E-mail: rbivens@princeton.edu
• Sarah I. Flowers, Morgan Hill, CA. E-mail: sarahflowers@charter.net
• G. Victor Johnson, President, Board of Library Trustees, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights, IL. E-mail: gvicjohnson@sbcglobal.net
• Haipeng Li, Reference Librarian/Outreach Coordinator, Oberlin [OH] College. haipeng.li@oberlin.edu
• Patricia Montiel Overall, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ. E-mail: overall@u.arizona.edu
• Janice M. Rice, Outreach Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Madison. E-mail: jrice@library.wisc.edu
• Kathryn M. Toon, Hawkins, TX. E-mail: kmtoon@juno.com.

To encourage diversity and leadership development, the Committee will refrain from nominating any current Councilors for election to another term. However, the Committee encourages all current Councilors who wish to continue their service to the Association to file as petition candidates. Petitions will be available from Lois Ann Gregory-Wood, Council Secretariat, ALA, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611, Email: lgregory@ala.org, or during the 2009 Annual Conference or 2010 Midwinter Meeting. Petitions require 25 signatures for names to be included on the 2010 ballot.

Posted on

New ASCLA/RUSA Executive Director Sought

The search is underway for a new executive director for the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) based at ALA headquarters in downtown Chicago.

Get all the position details here:
http://www.joblist.ala.org/modules/jobseeker/controller.cfm?scr=jobdetail&jobid=12855

Know someone who might be interested in this opportunity? Please forward them the link to the JobList posting.