FLA News Digest October 2007
News of Florida Library Association
FLA 2008 Membership Campaign Begins
The FLA Office is sending notices of membership renewal in October and November so
look for yours in your email or postal mail box. Notices to personal members who have
email will be sent that way, although if your email has changed since you paid your dues
last year you will probably get a letter. We encourage everyone that can to renew
using our easy to use and secure online method.
The FLA Membership Committee has been working hard to put together a membership
recruitment campaign that includes a poster for library break rooms that is now available
online at: www.flalib.org/membership. Printed copies of the poster will be mailed to all
libraries next month.
Campaign to Convince Floridians of the Value of Public Libraries Poster and
Bookmarks Coming to Your Library Soon
Florida public library directors will be getting a new poster to place in all library
locations. Bookmarks with a similar message and graphics will accompany the posters.
These tools for encouraging library users to think about the value of their libraries were
developed with the generous assistance of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium and
printed with FLA funds.
Herrle Communications, the Campaign public relations firm and FLA representatives
have met several times and are working hard on press releases, Op-Ed pieces, and other
media contacts for us.
All of these activities are being overseen by the Campaign Steering Committee whose
members are: Charlie Parker, President, Wendy Breeden, Legislative Committee Chair,
Lisa Manners, Legislative Committee Vice-Chair, John Bertot, Dawn Bostwick, Mary
Brown, John Callahan, Bob Cannon, Mercedes Clement, Bob Gorin, Danny Hales, Linda
Hendrix, Barbara Gubbin, Mary Ann Hodel, Sheldon Kaye, Helen Moeller, Sarabeth
Kalajian, Rita Maupin, and Cathy Schweinsberg.
FLA Scholarships and Awards Forms Now Available
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Awards Nominations for 2008 are due February 15. Information and the form are
available at: www.flalib.org/awards.html
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Scholarship applications are due February 1, 2008. Information and the form are
available at: www.flalib.org/scholarships.html.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.2
Friends, Foundations & Boards Fall Workshops Have Space Available
It’s not too late to register for the fall Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshops
presented through an FLA partnership with the State Library & Archives of Florida.
Workshops will be presented at the following locations:
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Okaloosa County – Niceville Community Center, 204 N. Partin Dr,
Niceville
Nov. 2
Lee County - South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks
Parkway, Estero
Nov. 8
Indian River County – Indian River County Main Library, 1600-21st
St., Vero Beach
Nov. 9 Alachua County – Alachua County Library District Headquarters, 401
E University Ave., Gainesville
Nov. 12 Pinellas County – Seminole Community Library at St. Petersburg
College, Seminole Campus, 9200 - 113th St. N., Seminole
Nov. 15 Broward County – Broward Northwest Regional Library, 3151
University Dr., Coral Springs
Oct. 31
Download the registration form at: www.flalib.org/workshop_Announce_2007.html
FACRL Fall 2007 Program
The Florida Association of College and Research Libraries/FLA Academic Libraries
Member Group is holding the Fall 2007 Program, “Reinventing Outreach: The New
Frontier,” on Friday, October 26, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., at Edison
College/Lee Campus.
Speakers will talk about the importance of reaching out from the brick and mortar library
to other physical locations and virtual spaces bringing services and resources to the users.
Other topics will include marketing techniques to advertise services and resources in the
outreach campaign and targeting specific groups. Additional program and registration
information can be found at: http://facrl.fcla.edu/programs/programs.html.
News of and For Florida Libraries
Florida Public and Academic Libraries Seeing the Impact of Property Tax Reductions
and State Budget Cuts
Both public and academic libraries in Florida are tightening their financial belts because
of 2007-08 budget cuts. Academic libraries are feeling the impact of reductions in the
state budget made by the Florida Legislature in a special session earlier this month. Those
cuts did not, fortunately, reduce the amount of State Aid to Public Libraries available this
year and it’s a good thing because those libraries are already hurting financially from
legislatively-required cuts to county and state property taxes.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.3
Reported impacts at public libraries include freezing of all vacant positions for the
remainder of the fiscal year and elimination of positions – some vacant and some not.
Layoffs have already occurred and libraries expect more if property tax cuts still being
discussed at the legislature take place.
Collection funds and outreach services such as bookmobiles and books-by-mail are also
affected. Planning for a number of new facilities and renovations has stopped as well.
Looking across all of Florida’s public libraries, it’s clear that the property tax reductions
for 2007-08 have spared only a very few libraries.
FLA is collecting information on the impact of these and state budget cuts on libraries.
Please send any information you want to contribute to Ruth O’Donnell, FLA Executive
Director.
Pinellas Library Cooperative Congratulates 2007 – 2008 Board Officers
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative is pleased to announce its new Board Officers
for the 2007 – 2008 fiscal year. The Cooperative congratulates Donald McGarigle of
Treasure Island on his appointment as Chairman of the Board. He is a retiree of the IBM
Corporation and currently serves as the President for the Gulf Beaches Public Library
Friends of the Library. Mr. McGarigle brings a background in mathematics and
engineering to the Board. The new Vice Chairman, Sara James, is a resident of
Clearwater and serves as the Board of County Commissioners At-Large District 2
representative. She has been employed as a Library Information Specialist with Pinellas
County Schools and has served as the Chairman of the Library Media Selection
Committee. She brings her passion for children and education to the Board. The
Secretary/Treasurer, Laura Sargent, is from Seminole and is the Supervisor of Adult,
Community, and Workforce Education for Pinellas County Schools. She brings over
twenty years of experience in education and literacy services to the Board. She has served
on several boards and committees including several School Advisory Councils and the
Exceptional Education Advocacy Committee. She is also a member of READ Pinellas, a
local literacy coalition, and has served as an Executive Board member for 5 years
including her current position as Vice President.
For more information, contact the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative at 727-441-8408.
Donald McGarigle
Sara James
Laura Sargent
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.4
Gifts to the Rollins College Library
Mrs. Miriam Warner gave a generous gift of $5,000 to the Rollins College Library in
memory of her father, Dr. Richard Firestone (1888-1944), a Rollins professor in language
and literature. This gift will enable the Archives/Special Collections department to
digitize the college student newspaper Sandspur (from 1931-1950), thus completing
digital coverage of the Sandspur during the Hamilton Holt administration (1925-1949).
A $2,000 gift from Mr. Fred Hicks will fund an annual fellowship/internship in Special
Collections and Archives. This fellowship/internship will emphasize projects using
materials in the archives, special collections, and other sources at the College as they
relate to the fine arts, the performing arts, and/or the humanities. This opportunity is
targeted at liberal arts undergraduates in their junior year interested in graduate work or a
career in the arts and humanities, a historical field, or the professional fields of archives,
museum studies, or librarianship.
Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative celebrated its 10th anniversary on
October 1. The first Cooperative Coordinator, Debbie Marrs, passed away in 2004. Her
successor, Bob Gorin, is now at the helm of this six member library cooperative.
The Florida Book Review Highlights Banned Books
September 29 through October 6 was ALA’s Banned Books Week. Librarians are invited
to visit the Florida Book Review’s Classic Reads page to see which Florida books have
been challenged. On the News page, viewers can see a sampling of Banned Books events
around Florida, or link to a list of Florida libraries to find an event near them.
Viewers can check back soon for more reviews, a 60th Anniversary reconsideration of
the classic Florida Book, Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ River of Grass, and a special
Halloween Florida Hauntings column by Molly McGreevy.
Meet Thomas Jefferson at the Orlando Public Library
Spend an unforgettable and thought-provoking hour in the company of our nation’s third
president. Actor/playwright J.D. Sutton will portray Thomas Jefferson in “Thomas
Jefferson, My Services to Our Country” on Saturday, November 10 at 2 p.m. at the
Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd.
Attendees will hear firsthand recollections of the people, events and ideas which shaped
our country and its ideals, and be stirred by Jefferson’s vision of what America’s
independence means to people throughout the world who long for and cherish freedom.
This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.5
Award Winners at FAME Conference
The FAME conference was held Oct. 10-12 in Lake Buena Vista at the Disney Coronado
Springs Resort. At the Conference, the following award winners were announced:
The winner of the Principal’s High School Advocate for Excellence Award went to Ralph
Gilchrest IIII of Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland. There were no applicants for the
Elementary Principal Advocate Award, so a middle school principal from Santa Rosa
County was selected. She is Jennifer Granse of Gulf Breeze Middle School in Gulf
Breeze. Mr. Gilchrest and Ms. Granse received a plaque and a check for $300. Students
in the MLS program are encouraged to participate in the
awards next year by applying for the Amanda award and
nominating excellent principals by the 2008 deadline
during the summer. Mary Smither of George Jenkins High
School in Lakeland won the Amanda award. She also
received a trophy and a $300 check.
The Sandy Ulm Scholarship Award was given to Gina
Bray, UCF student and Media Specialist at Timbercrest
Elementary in Deltona.
Details for all awards can be found at
http://www.floridamedia.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=8
Gina Bray,
FAME Scholarship winner
Florida Publishers Association Presents 2007 President’s Book Awards
The Florida Publishers Association (FPA) presented its 2007 President’s Book Awards to
publisher and author members whose books were chosen as the best in 14 different
categories. From the many books submitted to this annual contest for FPA members,
independent judges selected winners in the following categories:
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Best Adult Nonfiction (tie) -- The Man Who Fed the World by Leon Hesser
(Naples) and Here to There: Grief to Peace by Diana Jacks, Ph.D. (Quality of
Life Publishing Co., Naples)
Best Adult Fiction -- Coming Home by Cissy Hassell (RoseHeart Publishing,
Gainesville)
Best Interior Design -- Florida: Beyond the Blue Horizon by Alan S. Maltz (Light
Flight Productions, Key West)
Best Cover Design -- Ancient City Treasures by Wayne Randy Cribbs (OCRS,
Jacksonville)
Best Business Book -- The Pre-Foreclosure Real Estate Handbook by Frankie
Orlando (Atlantic Publishing, Ocala)
Best Florida Book for Adults -- Florida: Beyond the Blue Horizon by Alan S.
Maltz (Light Flight Productions, Key West)
Best Poetry -- Ancient City Treasures by Wayne Randy Cribbs (OCRS,
Jacksonville)
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.6
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Best Children’s Book -- If a Dolphin Were a Fish by Loran Wlodarski, illustrated
by Laurie Allen Klein (Sylvan Dell Publishing, Mount Pleasant, SC)
Best Florida Book for Children -- Bowlegs’ Bounty by Joseph Kropp (Day to Day
Enterprises, Oviedo)
Best Juvenile Fiction -- The Secret of Squirrel Meadow by Marlin Houser
(Marhouse Inc., Altamonte Springs)
Best Young Adult Nonfiction -- Grandma’s Magic Scissors by Linda S. Day (Day
to Day Enterprises, Oviedo)
Best Young Adult Fiction -- Inherited Journey by Lowell Teal (Windermere)
Best Overall Book -- The Secret of Squirrel Meadow by Marlin Houser
(Marhouse Inc., Altamonte Springs)
President’s Pick -- The Thief at Keswick Inn by Linda Salisbury (TabbyHouse,
Mineral, VA)
In addition to a plaque commemorating their awards, all winning FPA members received
a certificate and 1,000 President’s Book Awards gold foil labels for their book covers.
This year’s winning publishers and authors came from Florida, South Carolina, and
Virginia.
Ave Maria University’s New Canizaro Library Now Open
Ave Maria University’s new Canizaro Library opened in August. The state-of-the-art
facility currently holds over 200,000 volumes and was designed for a future capacity of
400,000. Ave Maria University exists to further teaching, research, and learning in the
abiding tradition of Catholic thought in both national and international settings.
Among a variety of features, the new Library provides: a 24-hour reading room, with
seating for 36, computer workstations, copy machine and printer, and 24-hour snack
service; Music-Media Collection and Language Learning Resource Room with
workstations for students to watch instructional video, listen to music, and brush up on
their foreign language skills; four Quiet Study rooms with seating for 30; six Group
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.7
Study rooms with seating for 30; a Rare Books/Special Collections/Bound Periodicals
Room that houses 40,000 volumes; a microform reader-printer room; a collection
especially strong in theology and philosophy; state-of-the-art computer stations, including
a shared computer training center; wireless Internet access throughout the Library; 66
online databases; and seating for 401.
Free Technology Fair for Businesses at Palm Harbor Library
The Palm Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Palm Harbor Library and Pinellas County
Economic Development are holding a free “technology fair” for local businesses. This
lunch-and-learn seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30
p.m. at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Avenue, Palm Harbor. Lunch will be
offered, followed by brief presentations on the following business tools:
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Quick Books: Easily manage basic accounting tasks with this versatile software
Microsoft Excel: Make more informed decisions, analyze data, create
spreadsheets and develop professional-looking charts using this program
Library e Sources for Business: Learn how the library’s many databases can help
you in your business
Government e Sources for Business: Start (or grow!) your business and sharpen
your skills by attending free business training seminars
How to Promote Your Business on Line: Utilize a free marketing tool by signing
up with the Pinellas County Networking Directory
Pre-registration is required by October 19. To register, or for more information, call the
Chamber of Commerce at 727-784-4287.
Pinellas Library Literacy Programs Receive Target Grants
The Target Corporation awarded $6,000 to two Pinellas Public Library Cooperative
literacy programs. The Deaf Literacy Center received $3,000 to support literacy through
the arts programming and the Born to Read program received $3,000 for early childhood
reading advancement. The Deaf Literacy Center project will target the Deaf community
with the specific goal of using the cultural linguistic arts for social and educational
change. The funds for the Deaf Literacy Center project will enable a Deaf Arts Festival to
be held in the spring. The Born to Read program will utilize funds to assist with current
services such as teen parenting classes, community outreach programs, story times at
local libraries and partnering health agencies, and through incorporated presentations
with the school system. Books that are distributed to the families enable parents to read to
children on a daily basis. These funds will enhance the services provided to Pinellas
County residents at their local libraries. For more information, please contact Paula
Godfrey at the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative at (727) 441-8408.
News from Osceola Library System
The Osceola has reached some of their Long Range Plan milestones in 2007. They were
awarded Library of the Year 2007 ~ Innovation in Service by FLA. For the first time in
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.8
the Library’s 18-year history, customers checked out over 1 million resources. The 71%
increase in circulation coincides with the Library’s new service model roll-out. They also
launched their redesigned web site with Web 2.0 functionality, special pages for Teens
& Kids, and the Library’s identity/branding palette.
The library hosted special events during the year including the national touring exhibit
“Anne Frank: A History for Today,” hosted by the library during April. 1,200 students
from area schools toured the exhibit, and the library was pleased to educate the
community about the positive values of diversity.
The Library reopened its doors for the first-ever, after-hours party in anticipation of the
midnight release of the seventh and final installment of the wildly popular Harry Potter
books. An enthusiastic crowd of 800 attended the event. Fans of the young wizarding
series joined the Potions Class, competed in the Triwizard Course, and tested their
intellectual prowess in the trivia game. Pictures of the guests attending the Library’s
event landed on the front page, above-the fold, of the Orlando Sentinel. 500 copies of
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows were checked out within 48 hours of release.
Lee County Officials Declare Month for Community Reading
Tuesday, Oct. 9 marked the beginning of a
month-long celebration of reading in Lee
County, Florida.
County commissioners officially
proclaimed October as “One Book, One
Community: Lee County Reads Month”
during a regularly scheduled board
meeting that day. They issued the
proclamation in honor of the countywide
book club, which is currently reading Tim
Dorsey’s Florida Roadkill. The book
details creative killings by anti-hero Serge
Storms and his eccentric sidekicks during
a slaying spree that spans Florida.
(Front, Center) Tampa Bay author Tim Dorsey
(left) and Lee County Library Director Sheldon
Kaye show off the One Book, One Community: Lee
County Reads Month proclamation from Lee
County’s Board of County Commissioners.
This is the fourth year of the Lee County
Library System’s One Book, One
Community reading project, but staff decided to let the public choose the book to feature
this time around. Lee readers chose Florida Roadkill by a vote of 4-1 over any other title.
Commissioners said that residents’ preferred read demonstrates the versatility of
literature and emphasizes the importance of using books of all genres to foster an
appreciation for reading among society.
Dorsey and Lee County Library Director Sheldon Kaye accepted the commissioners’
proclamation on behalf of the local book club. Later that evening, Dorsey met fans and
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.9
signed books at a meet-and-greet that officially kicked off a series of events held during
“One Book, One Community: Lee County Reads Month.”
PPLC Deaf Literacy Center Joins the Deaf Florida Family Literacy Academy
The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative’s Deaf Literacy Center was selected by the
Volunteer USA Foundation’s Family Literacy Initiative as a Deaf Florida Family
Literacy Academy expansion site. They received a $34,606 grant from Alliance for
Families with Deaf children to provide in-home Family Literacy instruction to families
with Deaf and hard of hearing members with children ages 0-12. The program will build
effective communication skills through innovative techniques using trained mentors,
children’s books and parent/child literacy activities. It is the program’s goal to increase
the student’s language and literacy skills while promoting the involvement of parents as
equal partners in their child’s education. Family members will be given resources and
taught strategies on how to ‘read’ (using sign language and speech) to their child and
incorporating their child’s prior experiences with the book. These funds will serve over
100 new individuals and will expand our organization’s service to the deaf and hard of
hearing by incorporating a Family Literacy component to their existing Adult Literacy
program. In addition to the weekly home visits they will also offer monthly workshops,
family signing socials and signed story times. For more information, contact Rosa
Rodriguez at the Deaf Literacy Center at 727-724-1525 ext 232.
The Big Read Passes from Alachua to Marion County
Over 140 people attended Marion County’s kickoff celebration for The Big Read One
Book/One Community on Saturday, October 6th. The selected book this year is Their
Eyes Were Watching God and the event took place in the Central Florida Community
College Fine Arts Theatre. Festivities included a gospel singer, the MCCA Dance Troupe
from West Port High School, the Mayor of Ocala reading a proclamation for The Big
Read, a welcome from Barbara Fitos, Marion County Commissioner and a letter from
Congressman Cliff Stearns read by his District Director, John Konkus. The keynote
speaker was Lois Hurston-Gaston, grand niece of Zora Neale Hurston.
A highlight of the program was when Sol Hirsch, Director of the Alachua County Library
District, passed off The Big Read to Julie Sieg, Director of the Marion County Public
Library System. Alachua and Levy Counties joined together and received funding for
The Big Read and selected the same book that Marion County chose. Their program was
primarily in September. With the Marion County program starting on October 6th, it was
a wonderful opportunity to join efforts. Tap dancers simulated passing along boxes of
books, activities and a feathered hat. They were tap danced to Sol and he then passed
them to Julie. The Alachua and Marion County libraries are participating in a joint
activity on October 26th when a chartered bus will take people from both counties on a
day trip to Eatonville, Florida, to see the town that is a primary part of the book. Contact
Gerry Brent, Library Community Liaison, at 352-368-4507 for additional information.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.10
BooksAlive! Book Festival at Bay County Library
The Bay County Library Foundation will present the ninth annual “BOOKS ALIVE! A
Festival of Reading” on February 8 and 9, 2008. This event will benefit the Northwest
Florida Regional Library System. On Friday, February 8, Florida State University will
present creative writing classes at the FSU-Panama City Campus from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. The cost for the day is $50. On Saturday, February 9, sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. at
Gulf Coast Community College East Conference Center. These sessions are free of
charge. A Literary Luncheon will be held from 12:30 - 2:15 P.M. The keynote speakers
will be Ms. Lee Smith and Mr. Hal Crowther. Tickets for luncheon are $20. In the
afternoon, there will be book sales and signings from 2:15 - 4:00 p.m. A Literary Gala
will be held that evening from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For more information, contact
Bettina Mead at 850-872-7500, ext. 31.
USF-Lakeland Library Showcases “The Hollywood Librarian”
The Library of the University of South Florida Lakeland campus presented two showings
of “The Hollywood Librarian: a Look at Librarians Through Film” during Banned Books
Week. These showings of the documentary, premiered at the ALA conference in June
2007, corresponded to similar efforts by libraries across the country and Canada during
BBW. In all, 50 viewers attended the showings, including media specialists, librarians
and library staff from all over Polk County, but also from Hillsborough, Pasco and
Broward counties. Group discussions were held after both showings, facilitated by Dr.
John Gathegi, Director of the USF Library and Information Science School and Dr.
Cynthia Patterson, Assistant Professor of English at USF Lakeland. A commercial release
of the documentary should be available in about 12 to 18 months.
Florida Library Youth Program
For 2008, the Florida Library Youth Program’s children’s theme is
the Whole Wide World @ My Public Library, with stories and crafts
from each continent.
Ben Garcia, Orange County Library District’s graphic artist, was
chosen to develop the 2008 artwork. The children’s artwork has three
children aboard a hot air balloon to support the theme that they can
experience the whole wide world at a public library. For teens, the Technopop section has
proven activities that will bring teens into a library. Teens will pop with appreciation
when they see the vibrant colors and Asian influence Ben used in his Technopop graphic
design.
Public Library youth services staff involved in planning and presenting library programs,
as well as media specialists, are invited to attend an annual workshop:
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December 3: Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City
December 5: Alachua County Library, Gainesville
December 7: West Regional Library, Jacksonville
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.11
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December 10: Polk Community College, Lakeland
December 12: Central Brevard Public Library, Cocoa
December 14: Broward County Library, Coral Springs
December 17: Edison College, Ft. Myers
For more information about the program and upcoming December workshops, contact
Patricia Romig.
National and International News
ACRL Releases “Achieving Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Academic and
Research Librarians”
ACRL has released “Achieving Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Academic and
Research Librarians: The Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Librarians of
Color,” a white paper commissioned by the ACRL Board of Directors working group on
diversity, chaired by Dorothy Washington of the Purdue University Black Cultural Center
Library in Lafayette, Ind. The paper was authored by Teresa Neely of the University of
New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., and Lorna Peterson of the University of Buffalo in
Buffalo, N.Y.
Building on the 2002 ACRL white paper, “Recruitment, Retention & Restructuring:
Human Resource in Academic Libraries,” the authors discuss efforts to promote, develop
and foster workplaces that are representative of a diverse population, along with
addressing the development of a workplace climate that supports and encourages the
advancement of librarians from underrepresented groups. The paper stresses empirically
supported and assessable solutions to increasing the diversity of the academic library
workforce, drawing inspiration from the broader recruitment, retention and advancement
literatures.
The white paper recommends specific goals for recruitment, retention and advancement
of diverse populations; focusing on collaborative recruitment planning, encouraging a
positive work environment and support system for minority hires and increased
mentoring opportunities to promote advancement. Working to enact and assess these
goals will help academic libraries more effectively serve their diverse communities and
overcome the historical lack of recruitment, retention and advancement of people of color
in academic librarianship. The white paper and a companion piece authored by ACRL
President Julie Todaro, of the Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, can be found
online.
Register Early at Grants.gov to Apply for Traveling Exhibit Grants
The ALA Public Programs Office (PPO) has announced that libraries planning to apply
for its federally funded library programming grants will be required to register and apply
through Grants.gov. This new federal mandate will affect libraries that apply for future
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.12
traveling exhibit grants and other federally funded projects that include a cash grant
component. Applicants for federally funded grants without a cash component, such as the
“We the People” Bookshelf, will not be required to apply via grants.gov.
Grants.gov is a “unified electronic storefront” created to facilitate interactions between
grant applicants and the 26 federal grant-making agencies that offer grant funds. The
registration process can take approximately two-weeks to complete, and typically
requires the involvement of an organization’s chief financial officer or other authorizing
official. PPO strongly urges early registration, particularly for public, academic and
special libraries interested in applying to host upcoming traveling exhibitions on themes
such as John Adams and African Americans in Baseball, as well as library outreach
programs related to the WPA Writers’ Project. Further details on these projects will be
announced in October.
To assist libraries with the Grants.gov registration process, PPO has posted instructions, a
checklist, technical requirements, FAQs and more on its Web site. From this site,
librarians can also access a wiki about Grants.gov registration to share feedback and post
questions for colleagues. Problems with registration, including technical questions and
difficulties, should be directed to the Grants.gov helpline at 1-800-518-4726.
Public, academic, school and special libraries will only be required to complete
registration via Grants.gov once, and may then apply for future grant opportunities
offered by any federal agency. Visit www.grants.gov for complete information and to
sign up for e-mail alerts about grant opportunities that may be of interest to your library.
HBCU Library Alliance Holds Its Second Leadership Institute
The HBCU Library Alliance recently held its second Leadership Institute, August 10-15,
2007, at the Aberdeen Woods Conference Center in Peachtree City, Ga. The 2007-2008
Institute, facilitated by KTA Global Partners, was kicked off by opening speaker Kate
Nevins, Executive Director of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET). Speakers
such as Charles Greene, from the White House Initiative on HBCUs, also participated in
the six-day event.
Funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Leadership Institute was
established to provide theoretical and practical instruction and useful resources to
encourage the development of leadership skills within the HBCU library community.
Eleven libraries participated in this year’s Leadership Institute. Those libraries were
Hinds Community College in Mississippi; Jackson State University in Mississippi;
Johnson C. Smith in North Carolina; Mississippi Valley State University; Morehouse
School of Medicine in Georgia; North Carolina Central; Southern University in
Louisiana; St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina; Tougaloo College in Alabama;
Tuskegee University in Alabama; and Wiley College in Texas.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.13
Senate Introduces NSL Reform Act
The U.S. Senate introduced the National Security Letter (NSL) Reform Act of 2007
September 25 in response to Justice Department abuses of NSLs uncovered by a March
internal FBI audit. Introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) and John Sununu (RN.H.), the bill is a bipartisan effort like the House version (H.R. 3189) introduced July
26.
“We all agree that going after suspected terrorists needs to be a top priority, but we
shouldn’t violate the privacy of law-abiding Americans,” the senators stated. “Congress
needs to put appropriate limits on these authorities—limits that allow the government to
actively investigate suspected terrorists and spies while also protecting the privacy of
innocent Americans.”
Like the House bill, the Senate proposal would give an NSL recipient the ability to
challenge the letter as well as its nondisclosure restriction, alert the recipient if the
obtained records are used in later proceedings, and entitle the recipient to legal counsel as
well as the ability to challenge the use of the records. The lack of such rights led to the
lawsuit of the four librarians known as the Connecticut John Does.
“ALA greatly supported Feingold’s office in the introduction of this legislation,” said
Tara Olivero, assistant director of ALA’s Office of Government Relations. “The bill has
some strong cosponsors, and our hope is that through these reform bills we can get some
changes made to NSL applications including greater judicial review, more oversight, and
recognition of higher First Amendment standards for libraries.”
Removal of Religious Texts From Prison Libraries Causes Controversy
According to the New York Times, the Standardized Chapel Library Project, an initiative
of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, intends to bar access to library materials that, according to
the Bureau of Prisons, ‘‘discriminate, disparage, advocate violence or radicalize.” The
initiative was created in response to concerns that prisons were becoming recruiting
grounds for militant Islamic and other religious groups. The policy requires chaplains to
remove books from chapel libraries unless the book appears on a list of 150 approved
texts. The program has resulted in the elimination of thousands of religious texts from
prison chapel libraries that were purchased by the prisons, or donated by churches and
religious groups.
ALA President Loriene Roy called on the Bureau of Prisons to immediately halt its
removal of religious texts from prison libraries and return removed books to the library
shelves. “We are outraged to learn that the Bureau of Prisons is removing religious texts
from prison chapel libraries based solely on whether or not the books are on a short list of
‘approved’ religious books. A government agency should not have the right to determine
what religious texts are ‘appropriate’ when our Constitution promises not only freedom
of speech, but also freedom of religion. Moreover, it is illogical that the Bureau of
Prisons is removing the very resources that may help incarcerated persons change their
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.14
lives for the better. The idea that removing religious books will create better citizens is
ridiculous, and goes against the democratic fiber of our society.”
After this decision to remove the materials was announced, the New York Times reported
that the Bureau had decided to return the materials “in response to concerns expressed by
members of several religious communities.” Spokeswoman Judi Simon Garrett explained
that the Bureau has not abandoned the idea of creating lists of acceptable books, but they
have elected to keep the religious materials on the shelves while those lists were
compiled. She added that the review of all materials in chapel libraries is scheduled for
completion by the end of January 2008.
HBCU Library Alliance to Hold Summit on Preservation of Photographic Collections
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Library Alliance will hold a Photograph
Preservation Summit, October 1 and 2 at the University of Delaware. The summit is part
of a 30-month, four-phase initiative to improve the preservation and conservation of
significant photographic collections held within Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs).
The initiative is being funded by a $1.2 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation. The grant was awarded earlier this year to the Art Conservation Department
at the University of Delaware and the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET), in
partnership with the HBCU Library Alliance and the Conservation Center for Art and
Historic Artifacts (CCAHA).
In addition to the educational summit, the project will also include on-site collection
assessments, and funding for projects and environmental monitoring at ten HBCUs.
Longer-term, the project will promote opportunities for sharing resources and
conservation knowledge within the broader HBCU network, and introduce HBCU
undergraduates to graduate studies and careers in conservation and preservation as well
as other professional opportunities within libraries, archives and museums.
Applications Being Accepted for Excellence in Academic Libraries Award
Blackwell’s Book Services has provided funding for an Excellence in Academic
Libraries Award Program to recognize an outstanding community college, college, and
university library each year. This award is to recognize the accomplishments of librarians
and other library staff as they come together as members of a team to support the mission
of their institution. Blackwell’s gift of $12,000 provides a $3,000 gift to each of the three
winning libraries and $3,000 to support travel by an ACRL officer to the three award
ceremonies.
The awards process involves a committee with two subcommittees (one for Nominations
and one for Selections) to preside over this award. The Nominations subcommittee will
have 6 members with staggered terms, representing different time zones and different
academic library types. The Selections subcommittee will have 5 members, including the
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.15
past-past-president and the past-president of ACRL, as well as three appointed members
from the different types of academic libraries.
Submissions must be postmarked by Friday, December 7, 2007. For guidelines, visit the
Guidelines page. For answers to frequently asked questions, visit the FAQ page.
IFLA Pre-Conference: How Can Public Libraries Attract And Keep Young Clientele?
The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) is accepting proposals for
papers to be presented at the Navigating with Youth pre-conference on August 5-7, 2008
in Montreal, Canada. The pre-conference will precede the 74th Annual IFLA conference
in Quebec City on August 10-14, 2008. Deadline for proposal submissions is November
2, 2007. Notification of acceptance of papers will be in December 2007. Registration fees
for the pre-conference will be waived for the speakers. Speakers will be responsible for
their own travel, room and board expenses.
The proposals must contain the paper’s title, 300-word summary, 40-word speaker bio
and speaker contact information. Proposals must be submitted in electronic format in
English or French. The purpose of the pre-conference is to conduct a survey of children
and young adult services offered in public libraries around the world. The paper’s
subject areas are:
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The library’s impact and social role in the community: professional ethics,
homework help, library teen board, etc.
How to effectively market youth services to their target audience
Innovative practices in integrating cultural materials, literacy programs, school
visits
Technology: trends, on-site users, distance users, developing new services, impact
on reading, etc.
Physical place: layout and desegregation of youth library services
Reading programs inside and outside library walls: innovative practices
Submissions should be sent to:
Patricia Lemieux, responsable du comité scientifique
Chef de service de l’Espace Jeunes
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
475, boulevard de Maisonneuve Est
Montréal (Québec) CANADA
To obtain a full description of submission requirements, please email Suzanne Payette.
Libraries Urged To Participate in National Study of Internet Use in Libraries
ALA is encouraging public libraries to participate in the 2007-2008 Public Library
Funding and Technology Access online survey. The survey provides an important
opportunity for libraries to share information on computer and Internet resources and
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.16
infrastructure, as well as funding, technology training and other uses of public libraries,
such as providing public access technology centers in their communities. The current
year’s online survey, available at http://survey.pnmi.com, will be available through
Nov. 25, 2007.
The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ALA, continues work
begun by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure in 1994. It provides important
information for policymakers, the ALA and library advocates regarding public library
Internet and public computing needs and issues.
More information, including results from the 2007 study, is available online at
http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding.
The HBCU Library Alliance Begins Mentor Development Program
The HBCU Library Alliance debuted an innovative program to develop mentors at its
second Leadership Institute, held August 10-15, 2007. The Mentor Development
Program is part of a larger initiative, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, to
foster and develop leadership within libraries at Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs).
Mentoring was a critical factor in the success of the HBCU Library Alliance’s first
Leadership Institute, providing a support network for participants during the Institute and
beyond. The Mentor Development Program seeks to strengthen coaching and mentoring
skills for selected participants in the first Leadership Institute, and provides a practical
opportunity for using coaching and mentoring within the context of the second
Leadership Institute.
The Mentor Development Program is in a pilot phase. It currently includes targeted
activities to define roles and responsibilities; evaluate mentoring and coaching
effectiveness through self-assessment and 360-degree feedback; provide training for skill
development; and provide a support network for mentors. In addition, mentors will be
matched with librarians participating in the Leadership Institute to assist in the
completion of projects focused on strategic issues within the librarians’ campuses. The
Mentor Development Program is being facilitated by The Human Resource Department
in Atlanta.
Judge Rules: Bush Out of Line on Presidential Records Release
On October 1, a federal judge invalidated part of President Bush’s Executive Order
13233, which gives former presidents, their heirs, and former vice presidents the right to
review executive records indefinitely before they are made public under the Freedom of
Information Act. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the
provision was in violation of the 1978 Presidential Records Act because it eliminated the
discretion that the law gave to the Archivist of the United States, who is legally
empowered to release documents to the public, the Washington Post reported.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.17
The decision resulted from a lawsuit filed in November 2001 by the public-interest group
Public Citizen on behalf of the American Historical Association, the National Security
Archive, and others immediately after the executive order was issued. The suit argued
that the order was an “impermissible exercise of the executive power.” In finding that the
plaintiffs had standing to pursue the suit, the court cited delays experienced by the NSA
for requests pending at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for the past six-and-a-half
years.
The judge’s decision leaves open the possibility of future lawsuits if presidential papers
are withheld under remaining provisions. Meredith Fuchs, general counsel for the NSA,
told the Post, “Unless the executive order is reversed or withdrawn, decisions about the
release of records from this administration may ultimately be made by the Bush
daughters.”
In 2002, the ALA passed a resolution urging Congress to “amend the Presidential
Records Act as necessary to reaffirm the intent of Congress that Presidential records be
made generally available to the public with limited statutory restrictions by the end of 12
years.” ALA President Loriene Roy said the “court has made it clear just how vital that
information is to democracy.”
People
Dr. Linda Alexander, University of South Florida, chaired the FAME Awards
committee. Her committee spent several months collecting and evaluating applications
for the 2007 Amanda Award and the two 2007 Principal’s Advocate for Excellence in
Elementary and High School Library Media Programs. The 2007 winners were
announced at the closing session of the Annual FAME conference in Lake Buena Vista
on Friday Oct. 12.
Ron Block has been promoted to Library Circulation Supervisor (system-wide) at
Jacksonville Public Library. In his newly created position, Block will work to establish
consistency in circulation procedures and will support the library’s circulation
supervisors and other stakeholders in best practices. Block will also work with the
Circulation Review Unit to examine and streamline circulation procedures across the
library system.
Block brings extensive circulation management experience to his new position. Block
was previously the Circulation Manager for Palm Beach County Library system in
Florida and System Circulation Manager for Onondaga County Public Library System in
New York. Block’s other management experience includes Reference Desk Manager at
Syracuse University, where he managed and staffed the main reference desk and made
appointments for students & faculty to receive more in-depth reference assistance from
librarians.
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.18
Carolyn Carpan, Rollins College Reference Librarian, is back from sabbatical. Her
book Sisters, Schoolgirls, and Sleuths: Girls’ Series Books in America (Scarecrow Press)
has gone to press and she expects it to be published in 2008. In May, Carolyn joined a
group of Rollins faculty and staff for an educational trip to Central Europe where she
learned about history, culture, and social issues of the Czech Republic. While she was in
Europe, she also spent time in art galleries in Paris, Rome, and Florence, learning about
art and art history.
Dr. John Gathegi, University of South Florida, facilitated a group discussion following
the screening of “The Hollywood Librarian: A Look at Librarians through Film,” at the
USF Lakeland Library on October 2, 2007.
Dr. Vicki Gregory, University of South Florida, was elected as Treasurer for The
American Society for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T) and will serve from
2008-2010.
Amber Holley has been promoted to Senior Librarian at the Webb Wesconnett Branch of
Jacksonville Public Library. Fresh out of college with a master’s degree in Library
Information Science from the University of South Florida, Amber Holley came to
Jacksonville. Moving from Teen and Adult program librarian at the Mandarin Branch to
Senior Librarian at Webb Wesconnett, Holley says that within her new position she is
learning aspects of the library she never thought about before. Although she is in charge
of scheduling and managing other library associates Holley also works at the reference
desk. Holley likes the challenge of working at a different library branch and is looking
forward to leading the staff she is getting to know.
D. Yvonne Jones, Rollins College Reference Librarian, examined an online statistical
tool for comparing academic library data and used it to explore “How Much Do the
‘Best’ Colleges Spend on Libraries?” Her article was published this summer in College &
Research Libraries, 68(4). In the online March issue of Library Journal, she continued
her annual update on award winning science writing with the article “And the 2006
Winners are…”
Dr. Stephanie Maatta, University of South Florida,
recently attended the “Beyond the Book:
Contemporary Cultures of Reading Conference” at
the University of Birmingham, Birmingham,
England. The conference explored issues in
contemporary reading, including mass media, book
clubs, publishing, and the electronic and virtual
environments. Dr. Maatta presented a paper entitled
“Something about Oprah: Television Book Clubs &
Intimate Connections.” The paper was co-authored
with Leila Martini, a 2006 graduate of the School of Library and Information Science.
The conference had a truly international flavor with delegates from Great Britain, Ireland,
Australia, South Africa, the European Union, the Middle East, China and Korea as well
as the United States and Canada. In addition to the conference activities, Dr. Maatta had
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.19
an opportunity to explore some of the local libraries, including the Central Birmingham
Library, Stratford-upon-Avon Public Library, and the University of Birmingham Library
& Information Services Centre. Information about the conference can be accessed at
http://www.beyondthebookproject.org.
Stephanie Miller, Jacksonville Public Library, has been promoted to Children’s and
Teen Librarian at the Brown Eastside Branch. She has moved from library assistant to
associate to a full-fledged librarian in three years. Miller began as a volunteer in high
school and then a page at the Highland Branch Library. After graduating from University
of North Florida, Miller was hired full-time as a Library Assistant in the Main children’s
area. Miller was then promoted to the newly created Library Associate position and
continued to work in the Main children’s area. Library Associates hold undergraduate
degrees and work along side professional librarians to assist library customers.
After completing her Masters degree in Library Science, Miller was promoted to a
children’s librarian position at the Brown Eastside Branch Library. Miller’s unique
experience in children’s library activities through her work at the Main Library prepared
her for her new position as the Children’s and Teen Librarian at the small neighborhood
branch, Brown Eastside. Miller holds a BA in English and History from University of
North Florida and obtained her Masters in Library Science from University of South
Florida through its degree-at-a-distance program.
Doris Van Kampen, Cannon Memorial Library, Saint Leo University, has been
promoted to the rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Van Kampen has served as the systems
librarian at the library for seven years, and is also currently the union president at Saint
Leo University. Her most recent research includes an investigation of faculty attitude
towards copyright compliance in the higher education arena.
Wenxian Zhang, Head of Archives and Special Collections at Rollins College, has two
articles coming out: “Hugh and Jeanette McKean: The First Couple of Rollins and Winter
Park” in Reflections from Central Florida, 5:4 (Oct. 2007) and “Development of the
Yellow Register Archives during the Imperial Ming China,” accepted for publication in
Libraries and the Cultural Record. In addition, he presented a paper, “Documenting
Institutional History through Teamwork: Student-Faculty Collaborative Research at
Rollins Archives,” with Rollins student Rachel Todd in the first Research Forum of the
2007 annual conference of the Society of American Archivists in Chicago, IL.
Calendar
November 2007
11/2
Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshop, Lee County South County
Regional Library
11/8
Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshop, Indian River County Main Library
FLA News Digest
October 2007- p.20
11/9
Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshop, Alachua County Library District
Main Library
11/12
Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshop, Seminole Community Library at
St. Petersburg College
11/12
Deadline for November News Digest; send items to Laura Kirkland
11/13 & 14 Certified Public Library Administration Course “Politics and Networking,”
Orange County Library System, Main Library
http://www.pla.org/ala/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/politics/politics.cfm
11/15
Friends, Foundations & Boards Workshop, Broward Northwest Regional
Library
December 2007
12/12
Deadline for December News Digest; send items to Laura Kirkland