Friday, October 25, 2013

Nominations sought for prestigious research award

Nominations sought for prestigious research award | News & Press Center Skip to main content #header { background-image: url("http://www.ala.org/news/sites/ala.org.news/files/ala-header-long.png"); } ALA User Menu My AccountALAALA ConnectContact ALAGiveALAJoin/RenewLogin Search form Search ala homepage quick links CommitteesALA & Council CommitteesDivision CommitteesJoint CommitteesRound Table CommitteesSpecial CommitteesVolunteer FormsDivisionsAmerican Association of School Librarians (AASL)Assn. for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS)Assn. for Library Service to Children (ALSC)Assn. of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)Assn. of Specialized & Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)Library & Information Technology Assn. (LITA)Library Leadership & Management Assn. (LLAMA)Public Library Assn. (PLA)Reference & User Services Assn. (RUSA)United for LibrariesYoung Adult Library Services Assn. (YALSA)OfficesChapter Relations Office (CRO)Conference ServicesDevelopmentFinance & AccountingGovernanceHuman ResourcesInformation Technology & Telecommunication Services (ITTS)International Relations Office (IRO)LibraryMember & Customer Service (MACS)Membership DevelopmentOffice for AccreditationOffice for DiversityOffice for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP)Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)Office for Library Advocacy (OLA)Office for Literacy & Outreach (OLOS)Office for Research & Statistics (ORS)Office of Government Relations (OGR)Public Information Office (PIO)Public Programs Office (PPO)PublishingStaff Support ServicesWashington Office (WO)Round TablesEthnic & Multicultural (EMIERT)Exhibits (ERT)Federal & Armed Forces Libraries (FAFLRT)Games & Gaming (GameRT)Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender (GLBTRT)Government Documents (GODORT)Intellectual Freedom (IFRT)International Relations (IRRT)Learning (LearnRT)Library History (LHRT)Library Instruction (LIRT)Library Research (LRRT)Library Support Staff Interests (LSSIRT)Map & Geospatial Information (MAGIRT)New Members (NMRT)Retired Members Round Table (RMRT)Social Responsibilities (SRRT)Staff Organizations (SORT)Sustainability (SustainRT)Video (VRT)PublicationsALA Award & Notable SealsALA Mail List RentalALA StoreAmerican Libraries MagazineBooklistSubscription Order FormRelated@ your libraryALA-Allied Professional AssociationAmerican Libraries Buyers GuideDonate (giveALA)Freedom to Read FoundationI Love LibrariesLegislative Action CenterLibraryCareers.orgMerritt Humanitarian FundProgramming LibrarianRead Write Connect Right Nav Contact CongressFeedback You are at: ALA.org  » NEWS  » Nominations sought for prestigious research award !Left Navigation: News & Press Center ALA Press ReleasesPress CenterPress Credential GuidelinesPress KitsState of America's Libraries Report 2013State of America's Library Report ArchiveSubmit News Items to ALAOp-edsRecent Media Coverage Share this page:Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on StumbleUponShare on RedditShare on DiggShare on LinkedInShare on Google+Share on PinterestShare on TumblrMore Options Send via email  Print  Cite  Nominations sought for prestigious research award  Subscribe

For Immediate Release
Mon, 10/21/2013

Contact: Mary Taylor Executive Director Library Information Technology Association (LITA) 312-280-4267 mtaylor@ala.org

CHICAGO — Nominations are invited for the 2014 Frederick G. Kilgour Award for Research in Library and Information Technology, sponsored by OCLC, Inc. and the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).  The deadline for nominations is December 31, 2013.


The Kilgour Research Award recognizes research relevant to the development of information technologies, in particular research which shows promise of having a positive and substantive impact on any aspect of the publication, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information or how information and data are manipulated and managed.  The Kilgour award consists of $2,000 cash, an award citation and an expense paid trip (airfare and two nights lodging) to the ALA Annual Conference.


Nominations will be accepted from any member of the American Library Association.  Nominating letters must address how the research is relevant to libraries; is creative in its design or methodology; builds on existing research or enhances potential for future exploration; and/or solves an important current problem in the delivery of information resources.  A curriculum vita and a copy of several seminal publications by the nominee must be included.  Preference will be given to completed research over work in progress. More information and a list of previous winners can be found at www.lita.org.


Currently-serving officers and elected officials of LITA, members of the Kilgour Award Committee and OCLC employees and their immediate family members are ineligible.


The 2014 Frederick G. Kilgour Award Committee includes Erik Mitchell, chair, Brett Bonfield, past-chair, Rebecca Mugridge, and Kebede Wordofa, members, and, Roy Tennant, OCLC liaison. More information about the Committee is available at http://www.ala.org/lita/involve/committees/kilgour/lit-awoclckil .


            The following distinguished people have received the award to date:

Karen Markey Drabenstott, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1998Dean K. Jue, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla., 1999Gary Marchionini, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., 2000Marcia Bates, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif., 2001Carol C. Kuhlthau, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J., 2002Herbert Van de Sompel, Los Alamos National Laboratories, Los Alamos, N.M., 2003Carl Lagoze, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 2004William E. Moen, University of North Texas , Denton, Texas, 2005Ching-chih Chen, Simmons College, Boston, 2006Richard Pearce-Moses, Arizona State Library, 2007Dr. Jane Greenberg, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2008William H. Mischo, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2009Dr. John Willinsky, Stanford University, 2010Daniel J. Cohen, George Mason University, 2011G Sayeed Choudhury, Johns Hopkins University, 2012Barbara Tillett, Library of Congress, 2013

More information about the Award is available at http://www.ala.org/lita/awards/kilgour.


Send nominations by Dec. 31, 2013, to the Award jury chair: Erik Mitchell, 255 Doe Library, MC 6000, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000 or emitchell@berkeley.edu . 


The  Kilgour Research Award will be presented at the LITA President’s Program on June 29 during the 2014 ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas.


 


About OCLC
Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing library costs. More than 72,000 libraries in 170 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials. Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.


 


About LITA


LITA is the leading organization reaching out across types of libraries to provide education and services for a broad membership including systems librarians, library administrators, library schools, vendors and many others interested in leading edge technology and applications for librarians and information providers.  For more information, visit www.lita.org, or contact the LITA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4268; or e-mail: lita@ala.org

Library and Information Technology Association Filed Under: Awards (Professional Recognition) Log in or register to post comments Copyright Statement Privacy Policy Site Help Site Index © 1996–2013 American Library Association 

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“DIY @ your library” for Teen Tech Week, materials for National Library Week among gems in new ALA Graphics catalog

CHICAGO — Dozens of exciting new products that are bound to inspire and excite readers in schools and libraries across the nation are spotlighted in the new ALA Graphics Winter 2013 catalog. Featured on the cover is YALSA’s 2014 Teen Tech Week™ theme — DIY @ your library®. From makerspaces and coding classes to online knitting clubs, you can use the new poster and bookmark to show that libraries can connect in meaningful ways with the teens in your community. The Teen Tech Week™ DIY CD, which includes the layered poster and bookmark files, along with easy-to-print PDFs, program ideas and Web files, allows you to take it to the next level. With some design experience, you can customize your posters and bookmarks, create new promotional materials and brand your entire TTW program.

Lives Change @ your library® is the theme of National Library Week, April 13-19, 2014. The Lives Change CD, which includes options for both National Library Week and School Library Month, allows all types of libraries — school, public, academic and special — to customize materials to fit their specific demographics. If you’re less design-savvy or simply in need of quick and easy promotions, you can order printed posters, mini-posters and bookmarks. ALA President Barbara Stripling’s “Declaration for the Right to Libraries,” featured on a new poster, serves as a strong public statement of the value of libraries. Libraries and library supporters can use the newly available Declaration Signing Poster to hold signing ceremonies where community members, organizations and officials can visibly sign and stand up for their right to have vibrant public, school, academic and special libraries in their communities.

Two characterful new posters with accompanying bookmarks are also launching. Stephan Pastis’ Timmy Failure and Total, his 1,200-pound polar bear/business partner, appear front and center exclaiming “Reading Leads the Way to Greatness!” On another, Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s Lunch Lady — and her sidekick Betty — invite readers to feed their imagination.

Find all the new products at the ALA Store, where your purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.

ALA Graphics supports the mission of the American Library Association through the creation and distribution of quality products promoting libraries, literacy, and reading.


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AASL names Ina Laguerta as 2013 Spectrum Scholar

CHICAGO - As part of its commitment to furthering diversity in the school library profession, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has named Ina Laguerta as its 2013 Spectrum Scholar. The Spectrum Scholarship fund is the American Library Association’s (ALA) national diversity and recruitment effort designed to address the specific issue of under-representation of critically needed ethnic librarians within the profession. AASL supports Spectrum Scholars through conference assistance and mentoring.

Laguerta is currently working on her master of library and information science degree through San Jose State University's online program with a focus on children's services and teacher librarianship. She is also pursuing a graduate degree in public administration at California State Polytechnic University, focusing on services in public library and public school library settings. She is employed as the library clerk at Wallen L. Andrews Elementary School in Whittier, Calif. and hopes to continue working in a school library or public library with children.

“There is nothing comparable with the feeling of making a child’s day by simply handing him or her a free bookmark, reading a funny story, or laughing about the same favorite titles,” said Laguerta.  “It is refreshing to see children come to the library to hang out with me and some old books over their iPads and other electronics.  I see why many librarians do it for forty years!”

Since 2001, AASL has provided more than $62,500 to the Spectrum Scholarship Program to fund scholarships. Working with sponsors, AASL has been able to offer Spectrum Scholars travel and registration grants to support their attendance at AASL professional development events, including the AASL National Conference & Exhibition and the AASL Fall Forum. Experienced AASL members serve as conference mentors to assist the Spectrum Scholars in navigating the event and becoming more involved in AASL.  In addition, AASL annually provides all interested Spectrum Scholars with a one-year complimentary student membership.

Established in 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program is ALA’s national effort to increase diversity in the profession by recruiting and providing scholarships that allow students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds to become librarians. Spectrum Scholars improve service at the local level because they reflect the communities served by libraries in today’s changing world. Spectrum has provided more than 830 scholarships to qualified applicants enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an AASL-recognized School Library program. To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, visit www.ala.org/spectrum.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.


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Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards Youth Literacy grant to ALSC, YALSA

CHICAGO — The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded a Youth Literacy grant in the amount of ­­$246,806 to the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

ALSC and YALSA will use the grant to support three important initiatives, El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), Teen Read Week™ and summer reading for teens.

“The El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) initiative is committed to introduce families to community resources that provide opportunities for learning through multiple literacies,” said Starr Latronica, ALSC president.  “The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s continued support of this initiative is invaluable to libraries across the country.”

 “Summer reading and Teen Read Week™ are valuable tools used by libraries all over the country to support teen literacy efforts,” said YALSA President Shannon Peterson. “YALSA is thrilled to have the Dollar General Literacy Foundation continuing to support these important efforts.”

“The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is pleased to continue our support for El día de los Niños and Teen Read Week™,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “By engaging children and teens in reading, a foundation for future success is built. We applaud the life enriching work of ALSC and YALSA and value our partnership.”

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s Youth Literacy grants are awarded to public libraries, schools and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. 

Since its founding, Dollar General has been committed to supporting literacy and education. To further this support, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation was established in 1993 to improve the functional literacy of adults and families by providing grants to nonprofit organizations dedicated to the advancement of literacy.

For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation or for a complete list of grant recipients, visit www.dgliteracy.org.

About Dollar General Corporation

Dollar General Corporation has been delivering value to shoppers for nearly 75 years. Dollar General helps shoppers Save time. Save money. Every day!® by offering products that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, house wares and seasonal items at low everyday prices in convenient neighborhood locations. With more than 11,000 stores in 40 states, Dollar General has more retail locations than any retailer in America. In addition to high quality private brands, Dollar General sells products from America's most-trusted manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Unilever, Kellogg's, General Mills, Nabisco, Hanes, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola. Learn more about Dollar General at www.dollargeneral.com.

About YALSA
For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or e-mail: yalsa@ala.org.

About ALSC
ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at http://www.ala.org/alsc.


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ALA welcomes Macmillan expansion of library

For Immediate Release
Mon, 10/21/2013

WASHINGTON, D.C.—This month Macmillan will offer its entire e-book backlist to libraries, as reported in Publishers Weekly. Macmillan first entered the library e-book market in January 2013 by offering a pilot of its mystery titles under the Minotaur imprint, then expanded the pilot to romance titles in June. With its third foray into the library e-book market this year, Macmillan is definitely on an “upward trajectory with librarians,” said ALA President Barbara Stripling.

“ALA is pleased to learn of this major expansion of the Macmillan pilot “President Stripling continued. “After a very difficult 2012, the library community has witnessed positive e-book movement from a number of the large publishers. I believe this reflects a growing appreciation among publishers of the value libraries bring by connecting authors and readers millions of times every day in this country.” In addition to Macmillan, libraries have seen improved availability and terms from Penguin (now part of Penguin Random House) and Hachette Book Group, and Simon & Schuster launched a pilot of several libraries in New York City over the past year.

“However, I do want to emphasize that while we’ve seen good progress this year, much more remains to be done,” said Stripling. “Many issues remain on the table, such as multiple licensing options per publisher, full access to newly published titles, conversion of all remaining pilots to nationwide distribution, library pricing that is closer to consumer levels, preservation, privacy, and accommodations for people with disabilities.”  


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New ACRL and LLAMA e-book focuses on 'The Greening of America’s Libraries'

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) announce the publication of “The Greening of America’s Libraries: LEEDing the Way.”  Written by Mary M. Carr and Steven L. Carr, United States Green Building Council (USGBC) trained and certified accredited LEED- AP professionals and librarians, this digital publication introduces librarians and design professionals to the information, standards and tools necessary to construct or renovate a library in accordance with the USGBC’s LEED requirements and process.

A core principle of libraries is to be a presence in the communities they serve. That presence takes many forms, from historical images of a librarian riding the circuit on horseback, to a bookmobile, to the physical space of a library building. Today’s libraries use technology to extend the reach of resources and services. These sorts of changes, along with economic concerns, have necessitated a fresh look at physical library buildings, including making them more environmentally sound.

Building on Mary M. Carr’s recent book “The Green Library Planner: What Every Librarian Needs to Know Before Starting to Build or Renovate,” the goal of “The Greening of America’s Libraries” is to provide the information, tools and confidence a non-building or design professional needs to construct or renovate library spaces with an eye towards sustainability. Carr and Carr provide readers with point-by-point explanations of LEED requirements in all relevant categories along with examples of existing library building projects that illustrate specific LEED requirements. The handbook is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in library renovation projects along with the construction or lease of new library spaces.

“The Greening of America’s Libraries: LEEDing the Way” is available for purchase in a variety of e-book formats through the ALA Online Store and Amazon.com; and through EBSCO for library e-book collections. 

***

About ACRL

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) is the higher education association for librarians. Representing more than 11,500 academic and research librarians and interested individuals, ACRL (a division of the American Library Association) is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to help academic and research librarians learn, innovate and lead within the academic community. Founded in 1940, ACRL is committed to advancing learning and transforming scholarship. ACRL is on the Web at http://www.acrl.org/, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ala.acrl and Twitter at @ala_acrl.

About LLAMA

The Library Leadership and Management Association (www.ala.org/llama) advances outstanding leadership and management practices in library and information services by encouraging and nurturing individual excellence in current and aspiring library leaders. LLAMA is a division of the American Library Association.


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LLAMA webinar helps you create a leadership development training

CHICAGO — If you have ever thought about how to create a leadership development training for your region or institution, LLAMA’s new webinar may be what you need.  The Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) will present “Creating a Leadership Development Training” from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, Nov. 20. This webinar will present the process used to create the Virginia Library Leadership Academy, a biennial leadership development training program for library staff in Virginia sponsored by the Virginia Library Association.  Participants will have a checklist of points to review should they wish to develop a training program in their region.

Who should attend: library staff interested in starting a leadership development training program; members of state library associations

By the end of this webinar participants will:

know what points to consider if they wish to create their own leadership development training program;have tools for determining how viable a program like this could be in their region;what to consider regarding training format: face-to-face, webinar, combination;how to determine the location for an on-site training;how to select or hire training facilitators and consultants;know what is involved in preparing the budget along with some suggestions for getting financial support.

Presenters:

Elizabeth Hensley is the founding chair of the Leadership Development Forum (LDF) of the Virginia Library Association.

Nan Carmack is the director of the Campbell County Virginia Public Library System.  She is chair of the Leadership Development Forum and is a graduate of the Virginia Library Leadership Academy (VALLA).

M. Teresa Doherty is the head, Information Services at Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries.  She is the coordinator for the Spring 2014 Virginia Library Leadership Academy and is a 2010 VALLA graduate.

Fees:
LLAMA member: $49
Non-LLAMA member $59
LLAMA group rate (5 or more people at one site) $199
Non-LLAMA group rate (5 or more people at one site) $239

Register online: http://tinyurl.com/3zhtecm

Register with a purchase order or by mail: registration form (PDF).

For questions about this webinar or other LLAMA programs, contact Fred Reuland. freuland@ala.org

About the Library Leadership and Management Association
The Library Leadership and Management Association (www.ala.org/llama) advances outstanding leadership and management practices in library and information services by encouraging and nurturing individual excellence in current and aspiring library leaders. LLAMA is a division of the American Library Association.


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Author and literacy champion David Baldacci, Auditorium Speaker at ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits

CHICAGO — David Baldacci is passionate about literacy and reading, believing that “the ability to read is the foundation for everyday life.” One of the world’s bestselling authors, he has more than 110 million copies of his novels in print in more than 45 languages and 80 countries. He and his wife Michelle also created a foundation to combat illiteracy in the US — they believe that “virtually none of the major issues we face as a nation today can be successfully overcome until we eradicate illiteracy.” ALA Midwinter Meeting attendees will have the opportunity to hear him speak about the range of his work when he joins us as an Auditorium Speaker from 10 - 11 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.

Baldacci left a well-established law practice in Washington, D.C. for his writing career. His first novel, “Absolute Power,” was made into a movie starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman. His “King & Maxwell” series was made into a TV series and premiered on the TNT Network in June 2013. His most recent book for young readers, “Day of Doom” (2013, Scholastic) was the final book in the bestselling multi-platform “The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers” story arc. In March 2014, Scholastic will publish “The Finisher,” a fantasy novel for children that follows the adventures of a determined young heroine named Vega Jane, who lives in an ordinary world with extraordinary secrets.

Although he is involved with several philanthropic organizations, Baldacci’s greatest efforts are dedicated to his family’s Wish You Well Foundation® that supports family and adult literacy in the US by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs. You can visit Baldacci at his website.

Baldacci’s appearance is sponsored by Scholastic.

ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits. The conversation starts here …

Registration and housing for ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits are open at http://www.alamidwinter.org.

Stay in touch and get updates at the Midwinter website, by tracking the tag-- #alamw14, by joining the Facebook Event, or on Tumblr and Pinterest.

Make your case for attending!


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Farrell, Feldman seek 2015-16 ALA presidency

CHICAGO — Maggie Farrell, dean of libraries at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, and Sari Feldman, executive director of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, Ohio, are the candidates for the 2015-16 presidency of the American Library Association (ALA).

“Thank you for the nomination for the position of ALA President-elect,” Farrell said.  “Serving in this leadership role is a great honor given the critical work of our association in advancing libraries.  ALA is instrumental in advocating for the contributions of libraries in our society and it is my hope to continue this legacy in addition to advancing our profession through education and professional development programs.  I look forward to meeting with our members and discussing how together we define the future of libraries and our profession.”

Farrell has been an ALA member since 1988. She served as the Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) division councilor (2010-13) and ALA councilor-at-large (2004-07).

Her activities also include serving as chair of the Committee on Legislation, Federal Depository Library Program Task Force (2012-present); member of the International Relations Committee (2009-11), Traditional Cultural Expressions Task Force Co-Chair (2010-11), and the ACRL Board (2010-13).

She is currently a member of the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries Member Council and served as chair (2012-13), and held a seat on the OCLC Board of Trustees (2006-13).

Her honors include appointment by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal and reappointment by Governor Matt Mead to the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics, 2008-14 where she currently serves as chair.

Her publications include “Princely Planning in a Political Environment” in “The Machiavellian Librarian: Winning Allies, Combating Budget Cuts, and Influencing Stakeholders,” fall 2014; “Developing a Faculty Advisory Group,” Journal of Library Administration, 2011; and “Reframing Organizations through Communication and Advocacy” in "World Library and Information Congress," 2009.

Farrell holds a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University,  and a Master of Library Science from the University of Arizona, a BA in American Studies from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and a Russian Linguist Certification from the Defense Language Institute.

Feldman has been an ALA member since 1990.

She stated, “It is an honor to be nominated for leadership in the American Library Association. Libraries and library services are engaged today in a critical period of evolution. The role of the ALA is increasingly important as the library profession transforms to address digital opportunities and technological innovation while staying true to our values of intellectual freedom, equitable access, literacy and diversity. I am energized by the prospect of connecting with our membership to advocate on behalf of our professional community and to advance support for and awareness of libraries of all types.”

Feldman’s activities include serving as president of the Public Library Association (PLA) (2009-10), chair of the ALA Office for Literacy/Outreach Services Advisory Committee (2000-2003) and co-chair of the ALA Digital Content and Libraries Working Group (2011-present).

She previously chaired the Urban Libraries Council Urban Youth Strategy Group (2005-2006) and served on the PLA Every Child Ready to Read Task Force (2007-2008) and PLA Task Force on Pre-School Literacy (2001-2005).

Feldman currently serves as board president of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, a political subdivision of the State of Ohio and one of the largest local public funders of arts and culture in the nation. She is also a founding member and current trustee on the board of OneCommunity, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding high-speed broadband access to drive innovation and economic growth across Northeast Ohio.

Feldman is the 2013 recipient of the PLA Charlie Robinson Award, established to recognize innovative public library directors. Her previous honors include the Crain’s Cleveland Business Woman of Note award (2011), the USA Toy Library Association Player of the Year (2008), the Syracuse University Vice President’s Award for Teacher of the Year (1995) and the ALA Loleta D. Fyan grant (1994).

Her co-authored publications include “Politics and Advocacy: The Role of Networking in Selling the Library to Your Community,” Public Library Quarterly, 2007; “The Dream of One Cleveland,” Library Journal, 2005; and "Learning Environments for Young Children: Rethinking Library Spaces and Services," 1998.

She received an MA in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a BA in English from State University of New York in Binghamton.

Farrell and Feldman will engage in a candidates’ forum from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.  The candidates will each have an opportunity to make a statement and will answer questions from the audience.

Ballot mailing for the 2014 ALA Election will begin on March 19.  The election will close on April 25, 2014.


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Harry Potter Alliance’s Andrew Slack in President’s Program at ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits

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For Immediate Release
Tue, 10/22/2013

CHICAGO — High-demand speaker and energetic activist Andrew Slack offers ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits attendees an outstanding opportunity to learn more about his work and how he sees it relating to libraries and their role in the community.  Co-founder and executive director of the Harry Potter Alliance, Slack is currently developing the Imagine Better Network - "an unprecedented movement that goes beyond Harry Potter to all fandoms so that fantasy is no longer an escape from our world, but an invitation to change it for the better." Slack will be welcomed by Barbara K. Stripling at the ALA President’s Program from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.

Under Slack’s leadership, the Harry Potter Alliance has created more than 170 chapters in schools and communities (and soon libraries) across the U.S. and world. These chapters and hundreds of thousands of members have built libraries, sent five cargo planes to Haiti and made great strides in both human rights and equality-based advocacy. As a Nathan Cummings Foundation Fellow for his innovation in social justice work, Slack is spending one year in New York City developing the Imagine Better Network. He has been profiled in Fast Company, NPR, NYT and the front cover of Forbes.com and written for both the LA Times and CNN. He’s given two TEDx talk and served as a keynote speaker at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum.

The Harry Potter Alliance is a coalition of fandom leaders and members who feel passionate about the power of story to inspire and affect social change. Just as Harry and his friends fought the Dark Arts in J.K. Rowling’s fictional universe, they “strive to destroy real-world horcruxes like inequality, illiteracy, and human rights violations.” Look for the Harry Potter Alliance booth in the Exhibit Hall (details available closer to January).

ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits. The conversation starts here …

Registration and housing for ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits are open at http://www.alamidwinter.org.

Stay in touch and get updates at the Midwinter website, by tracking the tag-- #alamw14, by joining the Facebook Event, or on Tumblr and Pinterest.

Make your case for attending!


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Monday, October 21, 2013

Snorkeler finds rare giant oarfish off California coast

By Tim Gaynor

Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:18pm EDT

n">(Reuters) - A California marine instructor's leisurely weekend snorkel turned into the discovery of a lifetime when she found the carcass of a massive, eel-like creature of a species thought to have inspired legends of giant sea serpents.

Catalina Island Marine Institute instructor Jasmine Santana spotted the 18-foot (5.5-meter) oarfish, which is as thick as a man's torso, while snorkeling in clear waters off the island's coast on Sunday afternoon, the institute said.

The creatures are found in all temperate to tropical waters, but because they dive to depths of 3,000 feet, they are rarely seen and remain largely unstudied. Little is known about their behavior, the nonprofit educational institute said.

"Jasmine Santana was shocked to see (a) half-dollar sized eye staring at her from the sandy bottom," the institute said in a statement. "Her first reaction was to approach with caution, until she realized that it was dead."

Oarfish have a pug face, a crest running the length of their bodies and a skeleton of bone rather than cartilage common to fish species like sharks. They can grow up to a length of 56 feet. Because of their strange appearance, they are believed to have inspired legends of giant sea serpents.

It took a group of 15 adults to pull the fish's massive carcass up the beach to a better viewing area, the institute said. Its longest serving employee, Mark Johnson, could not believe his eyes. "In 32 years here," he said. "I have never seen anything like this!"

The body of the fish appeared almost perfectly intact. The institute sent tissue samples and video footage to a University of California at Santa Barbara fish expert, and is awaiting a final determination on the species.

A spokesman for Guided Discoveries, the educational nonprofit that operates programs on Catalina Island, said the sea creature's skeleton will likely be put on display for visitors.

(This story has been refiled to fix meter conversion in paragraph five)

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Gunna Dickson)


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