PLA Electronic Newsletter
Volume 6, Number 2 http://www.pla.org/members/enews/vol6no2.html
In this Issue:
Spring Symposium Deadline Reminder
Save America's Libraries Rally at ALA Midwinter Meeting
Miami-Dade's Santiago Named Librarian of the Year
Spotlight on PLA Gold Partner - Baker & Taylor
Staffing For Results Workshop
PLA Programs at the ALA Annual Conference
ALA Extends Subscriptions to Libraries Affected by Divine/Rowecom
Crisis
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SPRING SYMPOSIUM DEADLINE REMINDER
The deadline for advance registration for the 2003 PLA Spring Symposium
is January 27, 2003. Advance registration rates are $195 for PLA and Illinois
Library Association member, $230 for ALA members, and $260 for nonmembers.
To qualify for these rates, registration form must be postmarked by January
27, 2003. Interested parties may register at the PLA desk (located in the
ALA office area) during the Midwinter meeting. Symposium attendees will
have the choice of attending one of five programs that cover all aspects
of librarianship: "Building the Perfect Library," "Emotional Intelligence
and Leadership Effectiveness, " "Power Up with Print: Connecting Teens and
Reading in a Digital Age," "Emergent Literacy Part II: Research and Preschool
Services," and "Staffing for Results." Visit www.pla.org to see agendas
for each of the five workshops that will be offered. Don't forget to make
your hotel reservations at the Palmer House Hilton! For reservations, call 312-726-7500 or 800-HILTONS. When making reservations by phone, please identify yourself as attending the 2003 PLA Spring Symposium.
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SAVE AMERICA'S LIBRARIES RALLY AT ALA MIDWINTER MEETING
(From ALA Press Release 1/13/2003) The American Library Association (ALA) will publicly launch the Campaign to Save America's Libraries - a public awareness effort focused on the impact of library funding cuts nationwide - at its Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. ALA President Maurice J. (Mitch) Freedman and library advocates from across the country will speak out against cuts in school, public and academic libraries on Friday, January 24, at noon in Pennsylvania Convention Center room 108A. "Librarians and our users cannot afford to be quiet about drastic cuts forcing libraries to close their doors earlier, lay off experienced library staff, eliminate periodical collections and reduce programs and services," Freedman said. "These cuts are deeper than those sustained even in the Great Depression, and they are affecting library services in schools, college and university campuses and communities everywhere." Millions of Americans pass through libraries each year, but without adequate support, these resources may not be there when students, families, senior citizens, professors, business people and others need them most. In a recent national poll, the ALA learned that more than 90 percent of adult Americans believe public libraries will play an important role in the future. An accompanying study confirmed that when the economy goes down, public library use goes up. Libraries have reported that circulation has increased significantly since March 2001, when the National Bureau of Economic Research pegged the beginning of the latest recession."Only free countries have free libraries. Americans cannot afford to lose access to this vital school, campus and community resource," Freedman concluded. Help President Freedman kick off this dynamic new campaign and send a strong message that librarians and library advocates will not be quiet about threats to library funding, services and staff by joining the rally at noon!
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MIAMI-DADE'S SANTIAGO NAMED LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR
Congratulations to PLA Board member Raymond Santiago, director of the Miami-Dade Public Library System. Santiago was selected to be the 2003 Library Journal Librarian of the Year!**************
SPOTLIGHT ON PLA GOLD PARTNER BAKER & TAYLOR
Baker & Taylor2709 Water Ridge Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28217
Phone: 800-775-1800
For more information contact: Information Services
E-mail: btinfo@btol.com
Baker & Taylor is the leading full-line distributor of books, ebooks, video and music products to libraries world-wide. Baker & Taylor's latest technology services include: online customer support and ordering; collection development with The Title Source(tm) II and ED(tm)--our complete eBook solution.
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STAFFING FOR RESULTS: A GUIDE TO WORKING SMARTER ONE-DAY WORKSHOP, MAY 13, 2003
The latest entry in the PLA "Results" series, "Staffing for Results: A Guide to Working Smarter" will help you answer key questions you have related to the output and performance of your staff. By analyzing in a systematic way, how long work activities take and then assigning steps to each unit of work, you will have a quantifiable measure of the staff output. "Staffing for Results" walks you through the process of measuring work, identifying best practices, assigning costs to each activity, analyzing resource allocation, and communicating results. In this one-day workshop, the coauthors of the book, Diane Mayo and Jeanne Goodrich, will provide library managers and human resources managers information on how best to use the book's figures and work forms in your library to ensure that your library is optimizing its resources. After attending this workshop, you'll be able to answer questions like:- Who is doing the work?
- How long does it take?
- Is this the best use of people available?
- Do we need more staff? and others.
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PLA PROGRAMS AT THE ALA 2003 ANNUAL CONFERENCE -TORONTO, ONTARIO
Information about PLA Programs and Preconferences can now be found on PLA's web site. Check back for future information about the guest speaker at the PLA President's Program and more!************
ALA EXTENDS SUBSCRIPTIONS TO LIBRARIES AFFECTED BY DIVINE/ROWECOM CRISIS
Today the American Library Association (ALA) announced it will extend subscriptions for customers affected by the recently reported business crisis at Divine/Rowecom to ensure there is no disruption of service. "CHOICE," "Booklist," "Book Links," "American Libraries," "Library Technology Reports" and "Smart Libraries "(formerly "Libraries Systems Newsletter") are among the ALA and affiliated publications affected by Rowecom's recent financial failure.The ALA and its divisions and offices will extend existing subscriptions until March 1, 2003, pending further analysis and the receipt of additional information on the number of subscribers affected.
"The ALA will continue to monitor this situation, seek legal counsel on any possible courses of action and provide updates as soon as possible," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. "We are committed to assisting libraries in any way we are legally able during this crisis."
If subscribers have questions or concerns, they may contact the appropriate staff at the following publications:
"Book Links," Bill Ott, 800-545-2433 x5717, bott@ala.org
"Booklist," Bill Ott, 800-545-2433 x5717, bott@ala.org
CHOICE and other ACRL journals, CHOICE/ACRL Subscriptions, 240-646-7027, choicesubscriptions@pmds.com
For all other subscriptions, including "American Libraries, Smart Libraries" and "Library Technology Reports," please call 800-545-2433 and press 5 or select extension 4290 for Vicki Williams in ALA Customer Service. Subscribers may also email to subscriptions@ala.org. For more information on this issue, please visit https://cs.ala.org/faq/faq.cfm#topfive.