ASCLA members have voted overwhelmingly to approve the revised bylaws on the Spring election ballot. The bylaw changes provide a new structure for ASCLA that allows for more member participation and collaboration. Groups of individuals with mutual issues and interests can generate spontaneously, evolving or devolving as the future changes. The new structure streamlines ASCLA’s governance, reducing formally elected positions by 50%.

Impetus for the restructuring came from members’ input over the last two years. Members indicated they want to spend more time on products and results and less time on the process of governance.  They want a high return for the investment of their personal time and want their involvement to be project-based, not position-based.

Under the new bylaws, the proposed composition of the ASCLA Board will look like this:

Five member Executive Committee:

• President, President-Elect, Past-President – one-year terms
• Secretary – two-year term
• ALA Councilor – three-year term

Four “constituent” members from current membership groups – two-year terms – in the bylaws, each slot will be designated for an ASCLA leader representing:

• State library agencies
• Cooperative library services agencies
• Libraries with services for one or more special populations
• Independent librarians/consultants

Three at-large members – three-year terms 

ASCLA Standing Committees will include:

• Awards Committee
• ASCLA Scholarships Committee
• Conference Programming
• Finance and Planning Committee
• Interest Group Coordination Committee
• Legislative Advocacy
• Membership
• Nominating Committee
• Online Learning Committee
• Publications
• Web Presence Committee

For a complete look at the proposed changes, please refer to the ASCLA Restructuring Proposal here: http://connect.ala.org/files/73498/b1006_proposed_ascla_organizational_structure_06_1_40389.doc.

ASCLA’s new structure will expand current members’ opportunities for engagement and attract new members with timely, issue-focused interest groups. ASCLA is re-energized and moving forward to a very successful future. Thank you to all the members who voted!

Submitted by Susan Hornung, Executive Director, ASCLA

The annual conference is beckoning with some spectacular programming and preconferences from ASCLA that are described in this issue of Interface. All the programming looks terrific, but I do want to make special mention of our Consulting Preconference: Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant Friday, June 24, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. since this is the last time it will be offered. This extremely popular workshop is back for its final time.  Seasoned consultants Nancy Bolt and Sara Laughlin 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. Takeaways include marketing tips, pricing your services and business management strategies. Information about all three of our outstanding preconferences, including Leadership Skills: Leading Your Library to Excellence and Forever is a Long Time: Preservation Planning for Digital Collections, can be found here.

By now you should have heard about the results of the elections: ASCLA’s revised bylaws were approved by an overwhelming majority of the voters. We are now working hard to put the new infrastructure in place to ensure ASLA’s successful future.  I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who voted and all those who have contributed their insights and time to infuse ASCLA with new energy and excitement; it’s clear that ASCLA has a loyal and caring membership who cares about moving ASCLA forward to take its place as the premier association for library cooperatives, independent library consultants, libraries serving special populations, and state libraries. Thank you and please don’t hesitate to send us your input and ideas to help keep ASCLA fresh and fun!

Have a wonderful time in New Orleans; if you can’t make it this year, I hope to see you in Anaheim in 2012!

Check out the outstanding programs offered by ASCLA at the Annual Conference!

ASCLA President’s Program: Prisoners’ Right to Read: Balancing Intellectual Freedom and Correctional Security
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 285
Hosted by ASCLA LSSPS and the Library Services to Prisoners Forum
Librarians serving the incarcerated and detained face daily challenges to provide library services. They struggle to balance the library’s mission to ensure access to information while respecting the facility’s goals of safety and security. Program participants will learn to use positive communication skills and the new “Prisoners’ Right to Read: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights” (PRTR) to help correctional administrators craft improved policy and correctional line staff to consistently interpret policy. A Q&A session surrounding the PRTR is also part of the session.

Marketing Libraries to Diverse Communities
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
MCC-Room 342
Hosted by ASCLA
Language, cultural differences, and different perceptions of the role of the library all present a challenge for libraries trying to connect with diverse communities. What are the multicultural marketing trends and practices put to use by other types of businesses, and how can we apply the most successful tools, techniques and principles to the library setting? This program will prepare you to reach out to culturally diverse, fast-growing and information seeking populations of library consumers.

Behavior Issues in the Library: Strategies for Successful Responses
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
MCC-Room 349
Hosted by ASCLA LSSPS and ALSC
Librarians deal with a wide variety of patrons and patron behaviors. This program offers strategies and resources to help librarians coping with customers whose behaviors are associated with mental health issues, including autism spectrum disorders. The panel, which will include self-advocates and professionals in the field of mental health and autism spectrum disorders, will provide practical approaches on this topic, including how to de-escalate situations.

Managing Membership
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 349
Hosted by ASCLA
Successfully communicating the value of membership and its benefits is more important than ever–especially for library consortia. Learn how one consortium has implemented a membership management system and its subsequent impact on communications about the benefits of membership–with outstanding results!

Open Source Integrated Library Systems in Consortia
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 333
Hosted by ASCLA ICAN
Open source integrated library systems are no longer cutting-edge technology, but managing dozens of libraries on the same system is still a task left to a few brave souls. This program examines five consortia of varying size, type and complexity from Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Kansas, Michigan and Georgia, who are successfully using either Koha or Evergreen Open Source systems in a union catalog environment.

Displaying Partnerships: How to Successfully Build Partnerships with Other Agencies
Saturday, June 25, 2011, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
MCC-Room 349
Hosted by ASCLA
For the last two years, a regional library consortium in Ohio has partnered with the local division of the American Cancer Society to provide information, ideas and resources to all types of libraries in the state for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held each October. Spurred by its success, the consortium plans to expand their reach to other types of cancer awareness. This program will review the successes of the partnership, and shed insight on how to foster similar partnerships between your library and local community organizations.

Consulting From Both Sides of the Fence: Why Libraries Hire Consultants, and How Consultants Get Jobs
Sunday, June 26, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 339
Hosted by ASCLA ILEX
Getting a consulting job requires a masterful mix of attention to detail and creative flair–from drafting a detailed proposal and submitting it on time, to being selected for the project and finalizing a contract. Learn about the process from the viewpoint of the director and from that of the consultant. You will have a chance to participate in a mock proposal review. Presenters Beth Bingham and Nancy Bolt are currently consulting after distinguished careers in library leadership positions; Sara Laughlin was a consultant for ten years before becoming a library director in 2007.

American Sign Language Literature Programming @ Your Library
Sunday, June 26, 2011, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
MCC-Room 333
Hosted by ASCLA/LSSPS
Attendees will learn about existing quality resources that support deaf people’s efforts to be understood by the public as people first and who have their deaf culture and language called American Sign Language (ASL). Librarians will learn about the differences between Deaf and ASL literatures and about the latest and greatest in contemporary literature to bring into the library’s reading and discussion groups. Sources for locating books, videos and films, funding, speakers, authors, deaf library friends groups and tips for programming librarians will be shared.

Library Snapshot Day: A Nationwide Success Story of Library Advocacy -New Jersey State Library
Monday, June 27, 2011, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 334
Hosted by ASCLA
Library Snapshot Day provides a way for libraries of all types across a state, region, system or community to show what happens in a single day in their libraries. This initiative provides an easy means to collect statistics, photos and stories that will enable library advocates to prove the value of their libraries to decision makers and increase public awareness. Library Snapshot Day was initiated by the New Jersey State Library; similar programs are taking place in 27 states across the country. This session will provide an overview of results from different states, and also prepare participants to easily hold their own Library Snapshot Day.

All Annual Conference participants are invited to engage with ASCLA’s discussion groups. These sessions are an informal opportunity to connect with peers tackling the same issues who are interested in learning about available solutions. Come spend time with your colleagues and leave refreshed and reinvigorated with new ideas and solutions for your toughest problems.

Physical Delivery Discussion Group
Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
DOUB-Crescent B
This discussion group is for those interested in and involved with physical delivery systems for library materials. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about each others’ projects and make valuable professional contacts.

Virtual Library Discussion Group
Monday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 238
Provides a forum for discussion of library services that can be provided in an electronic format. This group also provides an opportunity to discuss cutting edge pilot projects as well as established services that promote a 24/7 library that is accessible anytime, anywhere.

Collaborative Digitization Discussion Group
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
DOUB-Crescent B
The resource for collaborative digitization discussions within ALA. In 2010, the group will take up “Librarianship and Traditional Cultural Expressions,” a set of principles developed by a workgroup led by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. Following presentations on this main topic, all representatives of collaborative digital projects will also have an opportunity to provide brief status updates.

Consortia Management Discussion Group
Sunday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
MCC-Room 242
This group is home to consortia and systems, a discussion of their challenges and sharing of service experiences including automated virtual union catalogs, aggregated purchases of databases, virtual reference services, region-wide platforms for digital assets, resource sharing, training and central processing. Participants engage in conversations about important topics such as service delivery, value of services, system viability and the future of systems and consortia In 2010, we’ll talk about the formation of the New York Alliance of Library Systems (NYALS), and what the system has learned about demonstrating their value to members, funders and other key stakeholders.

LSTA Coordinators’ Discussion Group
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
MCC-Room 263
LSTA coordinators convene for an opportunity to share updates on current activity in their states, and share problems in need of a collaborative solution. The session typically includes a presentation from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Come prepared to collaborate!

General Library Consultants’ Discussion Group
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
HIL-Burgundy
Discussion topics for this group cover the full spectrum of the areas that library development bureaus typically handle or are involved in: state and local library budgets, marketing and public relations activities, changes in their state library or local libraries and new initiatives, to name a few. All librarians who function as consultants at their state library agency are welcome, and state librarians interested in participating are also welcome.

Youth Services Consultants’ Discussion Group
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
MCC-Room 241
Our meetings at Annual and Midwinter typically consist of a round robin of state level youth services representatives on what is happening in their state, good speakers they have had, grant programs they are running, and various other activities. Please come and report on what’s happening in your state.

ILEX Consultants Discussion Forum
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
W-Studio 56
New and experienced consultants can bring their questions and experiences to this informal discussion forum. The conversation will begin with the topic of marketing and promotion by consultants, but can include other topics as well.

Networking, sweets and an awards presentation are on the agenda for the ASCLA/COSLA reception at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference, and all conference attendees are invited to participate in the celebration.

The event, a conference tradition co-sponsored by ASCLA and COSLA, will feature delicious desserts and a cash bar that attendees can enjoy while celebrating this year’s ASCLA award recipients:

ASCLA Exceptional Service Award: Hennepin County (Minn.) Library Outreach Services

ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award: Queens Library Mail-A-Book Program with Interactive Programming for the homebound

ASCLA Leadership & Professional Achievement Award: Diane Walden, Correctional Libraries Senior Consultant for the Colorado State Library

ASCLA Cathleen Bourdon Service Award: Elizabeth Ann Ridler, neighborhood library supervisor at the Brooklyn Public Library

Francis Joseph Campbell Medal: Jamal Mazrui, Deputy Director, Accessibility and Innovation Initiative, Federal Communications Commission

The reception will be held 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 26 in the Riverview Room of the Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal, New Orleans. The awards presentation will begin at 8:30 p.m

Stacey A. Aldrich, state librarian of California, has been elected vice-president/president elect of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.

Prior to becoming the state librarian of California, Aldrich was the deputy state librarian. She has also worked as the assistant director of the Omaha Public Library, and both a public library consultant and branch chief for Public Libraries and State Networking Branch of the Maryland State Department of Education. She holds a M.L.S. from the University of Pittsburgh as well as a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature from the same institution. In her professional capacities, she has many notable accomplishments that have had a significant impact on libraries and library users. For example, she worked with a county and consultants to ensure that 6,000 square miles of California was not without public library service during financial crisis, and she helped to facilitate the  vision and creation of AskUsNow!, Maryland’s online live reference service.  

Aldrich has also made significant contributions to the library profession. A member of ALA since 1992 and a longtime member of ASCLA, she has been an active member of the Maryland Library Association and the California Library Association, serving on committees with both associations. In 1995, she received special recognition from the Maryland Library Association for her work on the SAILOR project, a statewide network. In 2003, she was selected as one of Library Journal’s Annual Movers and Shakers. In addition to librarianship, she has done work for a futuring think tank in Washington, D.C.  and has also served as a Board Member of the Association of Professional Futurists.

“I am honored to have been elected,” said Aldrich.  “I am really looking forward to working with my colleagues to continue to provide great opportunities for special and cooperative library agencies to learn and grow together.”

If you want to learn more about what is going on around ASCLA, you may want to attend the Board Meetings that are held during the Annual Conference.  The ASCLA Board of Directors will be meeting in the Morial Convention Center – Room 242 for the following sessions:

Session I: Saturday, June 25, 2011, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Session II: Monday, June 27, 2011, 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Submitted by Diane Walden, LSPF Vice-Chair

Join the conversation for librarians providing library services to incarcerated and detained youth at a new wiki and a meetup in New Orleans.

The Library Services to Incarcerated Youth wiki was created to address the issue that youth are incarcerated or detained with little or no access to high-interest material and engaging programming, despite the power libraries have to increase literacy, improve the detention experience, and reduce recidivism.  All school, public, academic, and special librarians who provide or support the provision of library services to incarcerated youth are invited to share best practices at http://libraryservicestoincarceratedyouth.pbworks.com/w/page/37654221/FrontPage

Some of the topics currently under discussion include:

• creating a formal group and that group’s possible placement in ALA (OLOS, YALSA, ASCLA)
• rewriting the standards for juvenile library correctional facilities
• ALA conference programs
• awards for books for incarcerated teens

A meetup is scheduled in New Orleans during the AnnualConference on Saturday June 25, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Redfish Grill on Bourbon Street.  The agenda includes plans for formal group organization and discussion of the wiki products in process.  Any changes or updates will be posted to the wiki.

Submitted by Nancy Bolt, ILEX Chair

ASCLA’s Independent Librarian’s Exchange (ILEX) will host exciting programs in New Orleans:  the last Assembling a Consulting Toolkit preconference; Consulting from Both Sides of the Fence: Why Libraries Hire Consultants and How Consultants Get Jobs, our Sunday morning program; Consultants Giving Back, a chance for a private, free, one-on-one with an experienced consultant; and an ILEX Forum, where new and not-so-new consultants can informally discuss any topic of interest to them.  Also in this article, learn about the new ALAConnect page for library consultants, chock full (soon) of helpful articles, power points, and tools for successful consulting.

 ILEX in New Orleans

Ilex will be sponsoring its last preconference on Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant.  This immensely successful all-day preconference has received glowing reviews from participants, many of whom have already received consulting contracts.  Experienced consultants (Sara Laughlin and myself) will again be teaching the workshop, complete with a notebook of useful handouts and worksheets to take home with you.  More information is on the ASCLA website at http://www.alaannual.org/content/ascla.  This preconference is scheduled for Friday, June 24^th from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in MCC 242.

The Sunday morning program is Consulting from Both Sides of the Fence: Why Libraries Hire Consultants and How Consultants Get Jobs scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., in MCC 339.  This program will focus on teams of a consultant and a client.  What was the client looking for when an RFP was issued?  Why did the consultant respond?  What did the consultant feel he/she could offer?  Why did the client hire this particular consultant over other possible consultants?  What worked and what were the challenges of the consultant/client experience and relationship?  This will be a truly informative program for consultants bidding on Requests for Proposals and there a lot out there now.

Consultant’s Giving Back was first held at the last annual conference and was successful enough to be repeated.  Consultants appreciate the work we receive from libraries and this is our chance to give back to the library community.  Librarians can request 30 minutes to an hour of free consultation with a consultant of their choice.  Consultants have set aside time on Sunday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Hilton, Magnolia room.  Some consultants are also available outside that time frame.  A list of participating consultants will be available on the ILEX website soon (www.ala.org/ascla).

ILEX will sponsor another forum for consultants to get together.  New and experienced consultants can bring their questions and experiences to this informal discussion forum. The discussion will begin with the topic of marketing and promotion by consultants, but can include many other topics.  At Midwinter we had a lively discussion that we hope to continue in New Orleans.   The ILEX Forum will be on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the W Hotel in Studio 56 Room.

Finally, ILEX has opened a community page on ALAConnect.  All ASCLA ILEX members can visit ALAConnect for helpful tools on consulting.  We are asking ILEX members to populate this site with articles, papers, slides, etc., that they have written.  The first one up is a set of slides on Moving into Management that I prepared for a series of workshops I led.    Library consultants who work in a library may be interested in more management responsibilities or consultants may be interested in some of the research and other background materials that are included in the package.  ASCLA/ILEX members can go to this ALAConnect page for continuous information about consulting. If you are not now an ASCLA/ILEX member, by joining ASCLA  and ILEX, you automatically will have access to this wealth of information.  Membership information is also on the ASCLA website.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of you in New Orleans.

Thanks to everyone that sent articles for this issue of Interface.  We look forward now to the POST Conference issue, where we will be able to report on all of the programs, meetings, and events.  Please keep Interface in mind as you make you way around the Conference and remember to send in your articles and reports as soon as you get home!  The deadline for submitting articles will be July 15.