On October 24, ALA President-elect Jim Retig testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' House Administration Committee at an oversight hearing pertaining to the services of the Library of Congress.
Retig stated that “The diminution of the quality and quantity of Library of Congress cataloging has had an enormous financial impact on the nation's libraries,” Rettig stateds. “Cataloging that the Library previously provided must now be performed by multiple libraries, often doing duplicative work, thereby wasting tax dollars.”
The Library of Congress' communication efforts are a theme that ran through each aspect of Rettig's testimony. Rettig also expressed concerns about the need for more funding for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), which serves more than 750,000 people, and surely more in the near future, as the baby boomer generation ages.
“ALA strongly recommends that the Library of Congress return to its former practice of broad and meaningful consultation prior to making significant changes to cataloging policy.”
For more on the testimony:
Jim Rettig Library of Congress Testimony -- October 24, 2007 (PDF)
"ALA President-elect Jim Rettig calls for Library of Congress to maintain its service to the public." American Library Association. 2007.http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/october2007/rettigtest102407.htm (Accessed 31 Oct, 2007)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
New Orleans Library Recover Still Underway
It has been a while since ALA held the annual conference in New Orleans. It was evident that Katrina had devastated the libraries of the Gulf Coast. That rebuilding effort has continued. The 9th Ward, the area hit the hardest by the hurricane has triumphed over adversity with the opening of their library. This story was reported by the Associated Press in the Times Picayune Newspaper (http://www.timespicayune.com). Think about making donations or finding ways to help with this continued effort.
Library branch opens in hard-hit 9th Ward
10/6/2007, 2:34 p.m. CDT
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It's being called a beacon of hope for recovery in the Lower 9th Ward.
On Friday, the Martin Luther King Jr. branch library was officially reopened more than two years after it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.
"This is the place where you can touch the rest of the world," Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu told students of Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology who attended the event.
Library branch opens in hard-hit 9th Ward
10/6/2007, 2:34 p.m. CDT
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It's being called a beacon of hope for recovery in the Lower 9th Ward.
On Friday, the Martin Luther King Jr. branch library was officially reopened more than two years after it was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina.
"This is the place where you can touch the rest of the world," Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu told students of Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology who attended the event.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
ALA applauds Senate SNL Reform Bill
Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John Sununu (R-NH) introduced the National Security Letter Reform Act of 2007. This legislation takes a stand against one of the more invasive measures of the US Patriot Act.
The bill comes in response to the abuses of NSL by the FBI last spring. Libraries are particularly vulnerable to the demand for records due to the access they provide to internet access for their patrons.
ALA supports and urges reforms to the National Security Letters according to Loriene Roy, president of ALA and stated that "Law enforcement is extremely important but, those efforts must be balanced against Americans' rights to privacy, in our case their library and internet usage records.
"ALA Applauds Senate NSL Reform Bill." American Library Association. 2007.http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/nslreformact2007.htm (Accessed 07 Oct, 2007)
The bill comes in response to the abuses of NSL by the FBI last spring. Libraries are particularly vulnerable to the demand for records due to the access they provide to internet access for their patrons.
ALA supports and urges reforms to the National Security Letters according to Loriene Roy, president of ALA and stated that "Law enforcement is extremely important but, those efforts must be balanced against Americans' rights to privacy, in our case their library and internet usage records.
"ALA Applauds Senate NSL Reform Bill." American Library Association. 2007.http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/nslreformact2007.htm (Accessed 07 Oct, 2007)
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
SecondLife: Virtual World Celebrates Banned Books
ALA celebrates Banned Books Week in virtual world
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is pleased to announce Banned Books Week activities for librarians and the general public in virtual worlds Second Life, Teen Second Life and on social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. ALA is working with other library partners to provide an interactive experience centered on Banned Books Week, September 29-October 6, 2007, to help librarians and others to feel comfortable in social networking spaces and to reach out to new audiences. Partners include Alliance Library System, Alliance Second Life Library, TAP Information Services and the new ALA membership group Virtual Communities and Libraries.
“Since 1982, Banned Books Week has been an opportunity for Americans to learn more about how censorship still occurs, explore a wide range of ideas and authors and celebrate our freedom to read,” said OIF Director Judith Krug. “Online communities present an ideal opportunity to reach out to new audiences and expand our programming.”
“We are thrilled to work with ALA on this exciting project,” stated Kitty Pope, executive director of the Alliance Library System. “It is important to get the word out about censorship and the impact banning books has on democracy and access to information.” Second Life/Teen Second Life:To tie in with this year’s theme of “Aye, mateys…celebrate your freedom t' read!,” ALA has created a “Pirate Paradise” in Second Life (SL), a 3D virtual world complete with pirate ship and a wharf with interactive displays on banned books. ALA Banned Books Week graphics will be used to create virtual posters, displays and T-shirts that can be worn by Second Life avatars. The Topeka and Shawnee County (Kan.) Public Library has loaned a virtual display on banned books they created for their National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Big Read initiative. All ALA Second Life activities will take place on ALA Arts InfoIsland.
On September 29, ALA will host a kickoff event in Second Life: a pirate's party with the theme “Arrgh Mateys—Celebrate Your Freedom t’ Read!” Later in the week there will be fireworks displays, book discussions and other intellectual freedom educational programs.
Throughout the week, visitors will have access to a professional welcome center, a listening station for podcasts, and an interactive classroom on one of the most frequently challenged books, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” An updated calendar of SL and real world BBW activities can be found at various SL kiosks and at www.ala.org/bbooks.
Second Life Programs scheduled to date are listed as follows (note: all times are in “SL” time, which corresponds to Pacific Daylight Time). Dates and times are subject to change:
September 29, 6–9 p.m.: Kickoff Pirate Party, “Aye, Mateys - Celebrate Your Freedom t' Read!” featuring a pirate ship, music, dancing, displays, fun and free banned books and posters
September 30, 7 p.m.: Fireworks
October 1, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck, moderated by Tom Peters of TAP Information Services (Second Life name Maxito Ricardo)
October 2, Noon: Fireworks
October 2, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou, moderated by Tom Peters
October 3, Noon: Intellectual Freedom Program, “Frequently Challenged Books,” moderated by OIF Deputy Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone (Second Life name Pachelbel Dagostino)
October 4, 5 p.m.: Intellectual Freedom Program, "Challenges and Customer Service Opportunities," presented by Rose Chenoweth, Alliance Library System (Second Life name Enya Theas).
On Teen Second Life, there will be an underwater pirate ship/banned books display on Eye4You Alliance during all of Banned Books Week. On October 5, from 4–8 p.m. (Second Life/Pacific Time), there will be a “Dress as Your Favorite Banned Book Character” party also on Eye4You Alliance.Social Networking SitesALA has set up a Facebook group for librarians and the public who want to share ideas, experiences, events and banned book recommendations. The name of the group is “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week 2007.” Beginning September 24, members of the “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read” Facebook group will receive a Banned Books “Challenging Fact of the Day.” All are welcome to join the group (search for Banned Books Week 2007).
ALA also has a MySpace page for Banned Books Week. The page features a blog about BBW activities, music, videos, photos from BBW events and more. The page can be found at http://www.myspace.com/bannedbooksweek.Second Life (http://www.secondlife.com) is a 3-D virtual world with over nine million residents. Over 200 colleges and universities are investigating Second Life as a distance learning tool and there are over 700 librarians in Second Life working collaboratively to test library services in a virtual environment. You must download Second Life software and sign up for an account to participate in Second Life; basic accounts are free.
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) is a social networking tool that connects people by interest, location and more. Members can share news about themselves and others, favorite books, pictures, movies and to meet other people who live and work around them.
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/) is a social networking site offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos.
For information on ALA Banned Books Week, contact Nanette Perez at nperez@ala.org. For more information on Second Life events, contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com, in Second Life as Lorelei Junot or Tom Peters at tapinformation@yahoo.com or in Second Life as Maxito Ricardo. For more information on Teen Second Life please contact Kelly Czarnecki at kczarnecki@plcmc.org. Eye4You Alliance sponsored by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) is pleased to announce Banned Books Week activities for librarians and the general public in virtual worlds Second Life, Teen Second Life and on social networking sites MySpace and Facebook. ALA is working with other library partners to provide an interactive experience centered on Banned Books Week, September 29-October 6, 2007, to help librarians and others to feel comfortable in social networking spaces and to reach out to new audiences. Partners include Alliance Library System, Alliance Second Life Library, TAP Information Services and the new ALA membership group Virtual Communities and Libraries.
“Since 1982, Banned Books Week has been an opportunity for Americans to learn more about how censorship still occurs, explore a wide range of ideas and authors and celebrate our freedom to read,” said OIF Director Judith Krug. “Online communities present an ideal opportunity to reach out to new audiences and expand our programming.”
“We are thrilled to work with ALA on this exciting project,” stated Kitty Pope, executive director of the Alliance Library System. “It is important to get the word out about censorship and the impact banning books has on democracy and access to information.” Second Life/Teen Second Life:To tie in with this year’s theme of “Aye, mateys…celebrate your freedom t' read!,” ALA has created a “Pirate Paradise” in Second Life (SL), a 3D virtual world complete with pirate ship and a wharf with interactive displays on banned books. ALA Banned Books Week graphics will be used to create virtual posters, displays and T-shirts that can be worn by Second Life avatars. The Topeka and Shawnee County (Kan.) Public Library has loaned a virtual display on banned books they created for their National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Big Read initiative. All ALA Second Life activities will take place on ALA Arts InfoIsland.
On September 29, ALA will host a kickoff event in Second Life: a pirate's party with the theme “Arrgh Mateys—Celebrate Your Freedom t’ Read!” Later in the week there will be fireworks displays, book discussions and other intellectual freedom educational programs.
Throughout the week, visitors will have access to a professional welcome center, a listening station for podcasts, and an interactive classroom on one of the most frequently challenged books, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” An updated calendar of SL and real world BBW activities can be found at various SL kiosks and at www.ala.org/bbooks.
Second Life Programs scheduled to date are listed as follows (note: all times are in “SL” time, which corresponds to Pacific Daylight Time). Dates and times are subject to change:
September 29, 6–9 p.m.: Kickoff Pirate Party, “Aye, Mateys - Celebrate Your Freedom t' Read!” featuring a pirate ship, music, dancing, displays, fun and free banned books and posters
September 30, 7 p.m.: Fireworks
October 1, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck, moderated by Tom Peters of TAP Information Services (Second Life name Maxito Ricardo)
October 2, Noon: Fireworks
October 2, 5 p.m.: Book Discussion, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou, moderated by Tom Peters
October 3, Noon: Intellectual Freedom Program, “Frequently Challenged Books,” moderated by OIF Deputy Director Deborah Caldwell-Stone (Second Life name Pachelbel Dagostino)
October 4, 5 p.m.: Intellectual Freedom Program, "Challenges and Customer Service Opportunities," presented by Rose Chenoweth, Alliance Library System (Second Life name Enya Theas).
On Teen Second Life, there will be an underwater pirate ship/banned books display on Eye4You Alliance during all of Banned Books Week. On October 5, from 4–8 p.m. (Second Life/Pacific Time), there will be a “Dress as Your Favorite Banned Book Character” party also on Eye4You Alliance.Social Networking SitesALA has set up a Facebook group for librarians and the public who want to share ideas, experiences, events and banned book recommendations. The name of the group is “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read! Banned Books Week 2007.” Beginning September 24, members of the “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read” Facebook group will receive a Banned Books “Challenging Fact of the Day.” All are welcome to join the group (search for Banned Books Week 2007).
ALA also has a MySpace page for Banned Books Week. The page features a blog about BBW activities, music, videos, photos from BBW events and more. The page can be found at http://www.myspace.com/bannedbooksweek.Second Life (http://www.secondlife.com) is a 3-D virtual world with over nine million residents. Over 200 colleges and universities are investigating Second Life as a distance learning tool and there are over 700 librarians in Second Life working collaboratively to test library services in a virtual environment. You must download Second Life software and sign up for an account to participate in Second Life; basic accounts are free.
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com) is a social networking tool that connects people by interest, location and more. Members can share news about themselves and others, favorite books, pictures, movies and to meet other people who live and work around them.
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/) is a social networking site offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos.
For information on ALA Banned Books Week, contact Nanette Perez at nperez@ala.org. For more information on Second Life events, contact Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com, in Second Life as Lorelei Junot or Tom Peters at tapinformation@yahoo.com or in Second Life as Maxito Ricardo. For more information on Teen Second Life please contact Kelly Czarnecki at kczarnecki@plcmc.org. Eye4You Alliance sponsored by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
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