ALA Traveling Exhibit

The ALA Public Programs Office, in partnership with the National Center for Interactive Learning at Space Science Institute, the Lunar Planetary Institute and the National Girls Collaborative Project, announces a new traveling exhibition opportunity for public libraries. Following a competitive application process, eight public libraries will be selected to host an interactive exhibition called Discover Tech: Engineers Make a World of Difference. Public libraries in rural areas and those serving rural populations and underserved groups are especially invited to apply. Online applications must be submitted to ALA by May 1. To apply, visit www.ala.org/programming/discovertech.

Discover Tech is made possible through the support of the National Science Foundation. The exhibition and its educational support materials and outreach opportunities are part of the STAR (Science-Technology Activities and Resources) Library Education Network (STAR_Net), a hands-on learning program for libraries and their communities.

Discover Tech will tour from September 2012 to June 2014, visiting each of the eight selected sites for a period of eight weeks. The exhibition requires approximately 750 square feet of space for optimal display. Each site will be awarded a grant of $1,000 to support public programs related to the exhibition. Each host library will also be asked to join a national Community of Practice (CoP), accessible at http://community.discoverexhibits.org, and is expected to take part in project evaluation. For more information about Discover Tech, STAR_Net and the CoP, visit www.ala.org/programming/discovertech.     

The Discover Tech exhibition will focus on a number of timely topics that are essential for understanding the nature of 21st  century technology and engineering—both high and low tech— and their potential for helping to solve many of the world’s problems. Through interactive elements and displays, visitors to the Discover Tech traveling exhibition will understand that engineers are real people who, through a creative and collaborative design process, arrive at practical solutions to help solve society’s problems in the U.S. and throughout the world. Exhibit visitors will also learn about the fundamental principles of energy, become aware of their own energy use, and understand the impact of engineering on societies over time and place.

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ALA Public Programs Office

www.ala.org/publicprograms

publicprograms@ala.org

Are you a Programming Librarian?

Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study Resources

To:       State Library Directors

            State Data Coordinators

            State Chapter Directors

From:  John Carlo Bertot (Information Policy & Access Center, University of Maryland)

            Judy Hoffman (American Library Association)

Date:   February 24, 2012

The slow economic recovery continues to impact state budgets in general, and library budgets in particular. The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study team is well aware of the need for data that will help public libraries expand and strengthen their advocacy efforts during this critical time. In response to your feedback, the team has once again created an advocacy package for use during the current legislative sessions. The package contains the newest data available, gathered from the November 2011 survey responses

Following are the new resources:

• Press Release templates (local focus, adaptable for state level)
• Op-Ed templates (state focus, adaptable for local use)
• Topic Handouts (click on your state)

Color graphics comparing your state vs. national, using new 2011-2012 study data)

• Public Libraries & Employment
• Public Libraries & E-Government
• *Coming Soon* State Profiles: Selected 2011-2012 study data comparing national and state levels (e.g., speed of connectivity, average # of workstations) as well as other state-level resources. *ETA April 1*

The topic handouts and state profiles can also be accessed through the Information Policy & Access Center at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org (make selection in “Your State” graphic).The new data presented here are based on preliminary analysis and there may be some changes to the figures reported when the final report is issued in June 2012.

The new press release and op-ed templates have been crafted with the focus on the crucial role public libraries play as strategic technology partners for digital literacy and local economic development. The templates can easily be customized for media targets at the state, regional, and local levels. We would appreciate knowing if you have success getting media placement or how these materials are being used in your advocacy efforts.

We hope you find these new resources useful, and know that more survey data will be available later this spring. ALA will present more of the preliminary survey results to the national media during National Library Week (April 8-14), and the full report will be released at the end of June.

Note: 2011-2012 survey state level data are only available for states with sufficient survey response rates. Not included: Connecticut and Oregon.

If you have any questions or feedback regarding the PR templates, please contact Judy Hoffman, 312-280-4291, jhoffman@ala.org. For assistance regarding the State data, contact the Information Policy & Access Center at 301-405-9445 or support@ipac.umd.edu.

ALA Election Guide

“Your Guide to the 2012 ALA Elections” is now available from the ALA homepage (http://ala.org/), or by going to http://tinyurl.com/2012electionguide.  A pdf version of the guide can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2012electionguidepdf. 

Free Advocacy Webinar

“Ask the Advocate” webinar provides opportunity to talk to ALA experts and learn about ALA advocacy resources

CHICAGO –“Ask the Advocate: Find What You Need to Make the Case” will be the topic of a free webinar on Wednesday, February 29, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. CST.

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions pertaining to advocacy issues at their library, as well as learn who resources are available to help make the case for libraries.

Patricia Tumulty, Chair, ALA’s Committee on Library Advocacy (COLA), and Marci Merola, Director, ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) will take questions from attendees during this open forum style webinar and share their expertise on successful advocacy efforts. They will highlight ALA’s Advocacy University, which provides information, courses and tools to help library advocates make the case at the local level.

Registration is mandatory.  Visit https://ala.ilinc.com/register/bfhjyyt to sign up today. 

Jaclyn Finneke, Communications Specialist

Office for Library Advocacy

American Library Association

50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611

312.280.2428; 800.545.2433, x2428

jfinneke@ala.org

ALA President's Award for Advocacy

Applications for the ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by ALTAFF, due March 15

PHILADELPHIA - Applications for the American Library Association (ALA) President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of ALA, are due March 15, 2012.

This award honors and recognizes statewide advocacy for libraries with $1,000, to be used for the development of a program or programs for Friends and Trustees at the state library association conference. The winner will receive honorable mention by the ALA president at the Opening General Session of the 2012 ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif.

The winning campaign will have been successfully implemented during 2010 or 2011 and will have engaged citizens and librarians from across the state to make the case for state library funding. The campaign must also use Capwiz (http://capwiz.com/ala/home) or a similar interactive database to communicate with state legislators.

In 2009, the first ALA President’s Award for Advocacy, sponsored by ALTAFF, went to the Florida Library Association for its quick response to a proposal to eliminate all state aid to libraries, as well as its ongoing public awareness campaign. In 2010, the award was given to the New Jersey State Library for its Snapshot Day program, which has been adopted by ALA as an initiative. More than 30 states have used Snapshot Day to provide visible evidence of the way libraries change lives every day.

For more information, visit http://www.ala.org/altaff and click on “Awards & Grants.”

ALTAFF is a division of the American Library Association that supports citizens who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. ALTAFF brings together library Trustees, advocates, Friends, and Foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ala.org/altaff, or contact Jillian Kalonick at (312) 280-2161 or jkalonick@ala.org.

American Library Association Midwinter Meeting Update

The American Library Association Midwinter Meeting was held January 21-24, 2012 in Dallas, TX. The Midwinter Meeting primarily focuses on business meetings of the organization, discussion groups, author forums, and of course, the Exhibitors.

Over 6236 individuals and 3693 exhibitors were registered for Midwinter on January 24, for a total of 9929 total participants. This number reflects a decline in attendance as compared to 2011 and 2010 Midwinter meetings in San Diego and Boston, respectively.

ALA Council passed the following resolutions:

Resolution on Publishers and Practices Which Discriminate            Against Library Users

Resolution opposing restriction of access to materials and Open Inquiry in Arizona Ethnic and Cultural Studies Programs

Resolution Opposing the Research Works Act 

Resolution Opposing the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)

Resolution on the Loss of Crucial Government Information

Three Council members were elected to the ALA Executive Board: Robert Banks, John Mooreman and Alexia Hudson. Some of you may remember Robert Banks as a past president of MPLA.

Barbara Stripling, long time ALA Council member, former director of School Library Services in New York, Stripling is now assistant professor of practice at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. Gina J. Millsap, active ALA member, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka, Kansas. Elections open soon for the 2013-2014 President –Elect and Councilors at Large. Election results will be announced following the May 4 meeting of the Election Committee.

Upon recommendation of the Chapter Relations Committee, each state chapter will be required to submit an annual report on state association activities. A survey will be sent in February to Chapter Councilors. Chapters are asked to submit reports for the organization’s fiscal year. Reports will help to assess the vitality of organizations, notable achievements, and challenges ahead. Ultimately, these will help Chapters and ALA work together to achieve excellence.

Watch for the new ALA Chapter Councilor Blog, coming soon to a SDLA web page near you. I hope to have one created soon to provide timely ALA news and information about library issues.

Respectfully submitted,

Vickie Mix, ALA Councilor