News

  • 25 Apr 2012 3:20 PM | Deleted user

    If you haven’t yet participated in Virtual Library Legislative Day, now is the perfect time to do so. All week (April 23-27), library supporters from across the country are contacting their Members of Congress to let them know how important our nation’s libraries are.

     

    On Monday and Tuesday of this week, over 350 library supporters were in Washington DC to meet with their legislators as part of National Library Legislative Day. Even if you weren’t able to attend, you can still make a difference by speaking up for libraries. Here’s how to participate in Virtual Library Legislative Day:

     

    Call Congress

     

    To call your Members of Congress, view this alert at the Legislative Action Center. Read over the asks and then enter your zip code into the “CALL NOW” box to find phone numbers for your legislators.

     

    Email Congress

     

    1.)    Visit the Legislative Action Center home page

    2.)    Enter your zip code into the “Find Your Officials” box

    3.)    Click on your senator’s or representative’s name

    4.)    You will see their bio page appear, click the “Contact” tab

    5.)    Select the option to contact your legislator via “Web Form”

    6.)    Select Compose Your Own Letter

    7.)    Use the talking points from the Call Alert or Issue Briefs to craft your message and send it off!

     

    Tweet Congress

     

    Use this very handy Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) map to find and tweet at your U.S. Senator.

     

     

    To find a full listing of the issue briefs written specifically for National and Virtual Library Legislative Day, visit the NLLD home page.

     

     

     

    Virtual Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations (ALTAFF), the ALA Washington Office, ALA's Chapter Relations Office, and the Office for Library Advocacy.

  • 11 Apr 2012 2:58 PM | Deleted user
    The Joint Spring Workshop for 2012 has been cancelled by the organizing committee. Registrations paid via credit card will be refunded. Questions may be directed to Aimee Babcock-Ellis at aimee [dot] babcock-ellis {at} usdoj [dot] gov. 
  • 09 Apr 2012 9:45 AM | Deleted user
    For more information about the community response to the Mayor's budget proposal, check out WAMU's Metro Connection: D.C. Librarians Face An Uncertain Future (originally aired Friday, April 6, 2012). 


    For more information about how to advocate for DC Public Libraries and DC Public School Libraries, see the DCLA call for advocacy
  • 04 Apr 2012 5:00 PM | Deleted user

    The Student Financial Assistance Committee (SFAC) of the District of Columbia Library Association (DCLA) is pleased to announce the 2012 competition for its Ruth Fine Memorial Student Loans of $6,000 each in support of ALA-accredited graduate library/information science education.  These interest-free loans, which the SFAC can forgive upon an awardee's maintaining a 3.0 or better GPA for the twelve months following the award, have been made to students in DC, MD, and VA since 2002 thanks to a bequest from Ms. Fine (a past president of DCLA).  The SFAC can grant 2 or 3 loans per year.

    The SFAC will accept applications, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials by mail from now until April 16, 2012.  The committee will announce the winners of the loans at DCLA's annual banquet May 24, 2012.  For complete information, please go to http://www.dcla.org/student_aid

    Time is short and all parts of the application must be received by mail by April 16th.  Materials should be mailed to:

    District of Columbia Library Association
    P.O. Box 14177        
    Ben Franklin Station
    Washington, DC   20044

    Attn: Student Financial Assistance Committee

    Thank you for your interest in the Ruth Fine Memorial Student Loan program, and please spread the word about this valuable opportunity to educate future librarians!

    Please contact Abby Yochelson, Chair of the Student Financial Assistance Committee, at ayoc [at] loc {dot} gov if you have any questions.

  • 01 Apr 2012 11:26 PM | Anonymous member
    Friends and colleagues -

    The Mayor of the District of Columbia released his FY2013 budget today and the impacts of that budget on both school and public libraries will be substantial.  Librarians need to network, advocate, and speak out between now and early May when the DC Council will pass a budget for the coming year. Summarized below are the impacts to school and public libraries from the Mayor's proposed budget.

    Please consider sharing this information with your community, your friends, and your elected officials. The residents of the District of Columbia have a very short window to have their voices heard and influence the way our Nation's Capital educates, informs, and supports the intellectual life of our communities.

    Richard Huffine, Past-President, District of Columbia Library Association

    DC’s School Libraries in Jeopardy

    The DC Public Schools budget for FY 2013 eliminates all requirements for schools to have a school librarian and eliminates funding for approximately 50 positions out of 125 schools  [schools with 299 or less students] for School Year 2012-2013.  These schools will not receive budget allocations to fund the school librarian position at any level.  All other librarian positions are optional starting in the fall under new flexible funding. Principals will decide whether or not they fund their school library positions. 

    If citizens of the District of Columbia want to do anything, they should advocate with the City Council and the principals of their neighborhood schools. 
     
    If schools lose their librarians then students will suffer. These professionals are essential in providing children with the tools they need to learn and develop in an every changing, information rich, and complex world. School libraries provide the touchstone where all disciplines intersect. They are where children not only acquire knowledge but also develop the skills to learn. Libraries connect all children to the world by making what they have learned relevant and the Library Media Specialists provide students with skills that last a lifetime. 
     
    To contact  a DC Councilmember, see their contact information below.

    Public Library Budget – Some increases but critical issues remain
     
    Mayor Gray released his FY2013 budget today.  The good news is that the public library's operating budget increases by $5 million.  The majority of this increase is tied to full year funding for added staff and related costs.  This includes full year staffing for the new libraries set open in the next few months  – Bellevue, Francis Gregory, Mt. Pleasant and Rosedale.  Funding for staff and a limited opening day collection for the new Rosedale Library, a small library located within the new Rosedale Recreation Center, will likely be allocated this year for this library to open this spring.
     
    Further good news: no staff reductions for the first time in several years.  No reduction in library hours.  We'll continue to provide six day service at neighborhood libraries and to be open seven days a week at MLK.  
     
    There are some challenges we'll face with next year's budget.  Most serious:  no increase in the library's book budget and no increase in funds for staff training.  As you know, both areas were severely cut in the FY2012 budget.  They remain funded at the same level in this proposed budget.
     
    Steps You Can Take NOW
    ·       Share this information with your neighbors, friends, community lists… we need to get the word out!
    ·       Contact your Ward and At-Large Councilmembers and let them know how important libraries are in our communities.
     
    Contacts for DC Council Members
     
    Chairman. Kwame Brown
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 504, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8032 | Fax: (202) 724-8156
     
    At-Large. David Catania
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 404, Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-7772 | Fax: (202) 724-8087
     
    At-Large. Phil Mendelson
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8064 | Fax: (202) 724-8099
     
    At-Large. Michael A. Brown
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 406, Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8105 | Fax: (202) 724-8071
     
    At-Large. Vincent Orange
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8174 | Fax: (202) 727-8210
     
    Ward 1. Jim Graham
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 105, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8181 | Fax: (202) 724-8109
     
    Ward 2. Jack Evans
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 106, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8058 | Fax: (202) 724-8023
     
    Ward 3. Mary Cheh
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 108, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8062 | Fax: (202) 724-8118
     
    Ward 4. Muriel Bowser
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 110, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8052 | Fax: (202) 741-0908
     
    Ward 6. Tommy Wells (Chairs the Committee on Libraries and Recreation)
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 408, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8072 | Fax: (202) 724-8054
     
    Ward 7. Yvette Alexander
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 400, NW Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8068 | Fax: (202) 741-0911 
     
    Ward 8. Marion Barry
    1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20004
    Tel: (202) 724-8045 | Fax: (202) 724-8055
     
  • 27 Mar 2012 10:48 AM | Deleted user


    joint spring workshop logo

    Joint Spring Workshop 2012

    "Strategic Communications: Technology, Generations, and Cultures"

    Speakers: 

    Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project

    Patricia Eng, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Knowledge Center

    Maureen Sullivan, organization development consultant and 2012-13 ALA President

    Monday, April 16th from 8:30 am to 4 pm, continental breakfast and lunch are included

    Library of Congress, Madison Building, Mumford Room

    $60 for members of DCLA, LLSDC, DC/SLA, OCLC, FEDLINK; $85 for nonmembers; and $25 for students/unemployed

    Register online using PayPal: http://dc.sla.org/events?ee=156

  • 16 Mar 2012 11:30 AM | Deleted user
    We are currently accepting nominations for the following District of Columbia Library Association awards (deadline March 30):
     
    Ainsworth Rand Spofford President's Award
    This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of library and information services. Winners do not have to be members of DCLA. This was last awarded in 2009 to Roberta Stevens, ALA President-elect and National Book Festival project manager.

    Distinguished Service Award
    This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the District of Columbia Library Association by an active, current DCLA member. In 2009, this was awarded to Barbara Folensbee-Moore in recognition of her DCLA presidency, her long-time commitment to National Library Legislative Day, and her mentoring of new and aspiring librarians.

    Community Service Award
    This award recognizes those who have volunteered their library expertise to develop a library program, facility or service unrelated to their current employment. Preference is given to DCLA Members. In 2009, this was awarded to Richard Huffine for his dedicated leadership of the Federation of Friends of the D.C. Public Libraries.

    Other Awards:
    DCLA occasionally awards other certificates or plaques. For example, in 2009, a Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Barbara Conaty for her long service as editor of the DCLA newsletter. In 2007, Anne Osterman [Elguidi] received a Certificate of Appreciation for her extraordinary contributions as a first year member of DCLA.
     
    For more details on the criteria of each award, and a list of past winners, please visit http://www.dcla.org/awards.
     
    To nominate a worthy colleague (there are no formal forms to fill out), please contact Jennifer Manning, Awards Chair, at jmanning@crs.loc.gov or 202-707-7565.

    Deadline: Friday, March 30, 2012
    Awards will be presented at the DCLA spring banquet on May 24.
  • 04 Mar 2012 3:16 PM | Deleted user

    The Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services is now accepting program proposals for “Thinking Outside the Walls” the 2012 annual conference (October 10-12, 2012) in Richmond, Virginia.  Winning proposals will receive one free conference registration.  There may be additional funds available for special needs.

    The ABOS Conference Program Committee will review all submissions. Selected programs may be scheduled twice; therefore presenters should be prepared to deliver the program twice during the conference. 

    Conference attendees range from new library employees to managers with years of experience; therefore program offerings need to cover a broad range of topics.

    The ABOS Conference Program Committee is also willing to consider proposals from individuals outside of the organization.  If you can recommend someone, please forward this email to them, or reply with the individual’s contact information and his/her area of expertise, and the committee will contact him/her directly.

    The deadline for submissions is March 16, 2012.

    You may submit your proposal by going to the ABOS website’s 2012 Conference Page and clicking on the “my conference proposal” link, or by simply clicking here. If you have any questions regarding the form or require more information regarding the conference, contact Martha Buckner:

    ABOS Vice-President/President-Elect
    abosvicepresident [at] gmail {dot} com

  • 01 Mar 2012 9:56 AM | Deleted user
    The DCLA Student Financial Aid Committee accepting applications for the Ruth Fine Memorial Student Loan Award now through April 16. For complete details, go to www.dcla.org/student_aid
  • 27 Feb 2012 10:25 AM | Deleted user

    The Catholic University of America (CUA) School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) Alumni Board announces that nominations are open until Feb. 29th for the 2012 Raymond Von Dran Memorial Award, an annual award which recognizes a CUA SLIS alumnus/alumna for demonstrating innovation, collaboration, and leadership in their library career. Past recipients of this honor include Kimberly Ferguson, former Head of Information Services at the U.S. Senate Library (2008 award), Lynn Scottie Cochrane, former Director of the Denison University Library (2009 award), Barbara L. Post, former Manager of Information Services, Transportation Research Board (2010 award), and Lea L. Uhre, Director, Executive Office of the President Library (2011 award).

    Fellow alumni, employers, and colleagues are invited to nominate SLIS alumni for the 2012 award. Alumni are also welcome to nominate themselves. As noted above, the deadline for 2012 nominations is February 29, 2012. The award is normally presented at the annual spring SLIS Stone Lecture (this year: Friday, April 20, 2012).

    For further information on the Raymond Von Dran award, see the Raymond Von Dran Memorial Award Information page:
    http://slis.cua.edu/alumni/vondranaward.cfm