ALANEWS (January 10, 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alanews/alanews-950110 Note: conversion from a BITNET transmission format not suitable for mail delivery was locally attempted. This type of conversion may sometimes require "choices" to be made by the conversion program, based on the (lack of) support for various file formats on the target operating system. The "choices" made by LISTSERV may not be the ones you expected, since it does not know anything about the system you are using. However, you would not have been able to use the file at all if it had not been converted. If you have trouble using the file as you received it, please contact the person who sent it and arrange for an alternate delivery method. *------------------------------ Cut here -------------------------------* PUT ALANEWS 1-11-95 NEWS RELEASES January 10, 1995 This batch contains: 1. Library postal rate increases despite fight 2. Harrassowitz to sponsor new ALCTS Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award 3. LAMA seeks "Best of Show" award winners 4. Placement service offered at ACRL national conference 5. "Self-Assessment Guide for Children's Services" published 6. "Singing the PR Blues" 1995 Swap and Shop theme 7. Technology and the Arts new ACRL/LITA Interest Group 8. Ten Library Fellow positions open 9. Videos available on pay equity, recruitment 1. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Library postal rate increases despite fight The library rate charged by the U.S. Postal Service increased January 1 despite attempts by the American Library Association (ALA) to fight the increase. Librarians are urged to send documentation on the impact of the increase such as discontinued services, uses of alternative delivery mechanisms or cost increases to the: ALA Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002. Fax: 303- 547-7363. E-mail: alawash@alawash.org. In testimony before the Postal Rate Commission, ALA argued that the proposed 73.7 percent library rate increase was unjustified compared with the 10 percent average increase proposed for all rates. ALA said library rate mail accounts for only 0.02 percent of all mail volume and sampling error may be responsible for the high cost changes reported by the Postal Service. "Once it was clear that the Postal Service would not agree to cutback the proposed increase, ALA immediately became intervenor to the extent of our ability," said ALA President Arthur Curley. "Unfortunately, ALA does not have the resources to audit the Postal Services's cost-data and rout out the source of the apparent error. The necessary legal and economic expertise would have cost a minimum of $200,000." ALA argued that: - the extraordinary size of the rate increase would have a devastating impact on the fixed budgets of publicly-funded and nonprofit libraries and educational institutions. - the Postal Service data used to justify the increase is of questionable value. - the Postal Rate Commission has in the past taken into account the impact of out-of-proportion rate increases and adjusted the proposal accordingly. The library rate makes possible the mailing at less than commercial rates of books and other library and educational materials among libraries, schools, colleges, museums and other nonprofit entities. Publishers and distributors use the library rate to deliver materials ordered by schools and libraries. It is used heavily by many libraries for books-by-mail programs to reach isolated and homebound users, for delivery of books reserved by users and for interlibrary loan. A few major library rate mailers have already indicated they plan to discontinue books-by-mail service or library rate delivery of materials reserved by users because of the increase. Library rate mailers considering private delivery services are urged to combine package mail throughout the library systems or cooperatives or with other mailers, and to bargain for favorable contracts or volume discounts. While the Postal Service is limited to a specific rate schedule, libraries may be able to negotiate with private providers. 2. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Harrassowitz to sponsor new ALCTS Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award Otto Harrassowitz of Wiesbaden, Germany, is the sponsor of the new Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Acquisitions Section Leadership in Library Acquisitions Award. The $1,500 award will recognize significant contributions by and outstanding leadership of an individual in the field of library acquisitions. The recipient must have demonstrated leadership related to acquisitions librarianship that has contributed significantly to improvements in the field and demonstrated achievement in the field of acquisitions as evidenced by contributions to professional associations, to literature, to the education of acquisitions professionals, or to the advancement of the profession. "Many of us who have grown in acquisitions in the past 25 years have learned to equate the name Harrassowitz with the highest quality of service available in the bookselling or subscription agency business," said Christian M. Boissonnas, ALCTS Acquisitions Section Chair. "For Harrassowitz to sponsor a leadership award in acquisitions, a profession that also strives to provide high quality service, seems particularly proper and fitting." "We trust that this award will help to recognize dedicated professionals who, through their significant achievements, establish high standards for the future and continued advancement of the library acquisitions profession," said Knut Dorn, Harrassowitz managing director and partner. The award will be offered for the first time in 1995. The deadline for applications is January 31. For more information, contact the ALCTS Office at 800-545- 2433, ext. 5034. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association. 3. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 LAMA seeks "Best of Show" award winners Outstanding library public relations materials are being sought for the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) Public Relations Section Swap and Shop "Best of Show" Awards competition. The deadline for entries is May 1. Library promotional materials will be judged by a team of experts. Winning entries will be on display during the Swap and Shop program on Sunday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago. Entries may be submitted in several categories including academic libraries, annual reports, bookmarks, calendars, Friends of the library, fund raising, materials lists, National Library Week promotions, newsletters, school libraries, service/policy brochures, small libraries (under 60,000 population), special libraries, special programs, summer reading materials, user orientation and miscellaneous. Only one entry per library, per category will be accepted. Entry forms and detailed information are available from: Paula Banks, Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway, Medina, OH 44256. Telephone: 216-725-0588. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association. 4. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Placement service offered at ACRL national conference A placement service will be available at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) seventh national conference, March 29-April 1, in Pittsburgh coordinated by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Library Personnel Resources (OLPR). The placement center will open on Thursday, March 30, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional hours are on Friday, March 31, from 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 1, from 8:15 to 11:30 a.m. It will be located in the David Lawrence Convention Center, Rooms S11 and S12. Registration forms are available from the ACRL or OLPR offices at: 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4277 or 4281 (OLPR) or ext. 2529 (ACRL). Indicate if the registration is for job seekers or for employers with job vacancy listings. Preregistration is encouraged by March 7. Onsite registration and interview space will also be available. ACRL is a division of the American Library Association. 5. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 "Self-Assessment Guide for Children's Services" published "Self-Assessment Guide for Children's Services," 2d edition, is the latest publication from the American Library Association (ALA) Continuing Library Education Network and Exchange Round Table (CLENERT). The guide was developed and revised by children's services librarians in Minnesota and the staff of the Minnesota Department of Education. It is designed to help managers, supervisors, educators and trainers, coordinators of children's services as well as those currently working in children's services or preparing to assume new job responsibilities in that area. Included in the publication is background on children's services functions and children's services librarians' roles and competencies along with a self-assessment chart to help individuals evaluate abilities, strengths and learning needs. A glossary of learning formats and techniques is included with a detailed list of print and nonprint learning resources for children's services keyed to the roles and competencies. The guide will assist individuals in constructing a personal action plan and specific strategies for using strengths and defining the types of learning needs for further development and continuing education. Supervisors, coordinators and trainers can use the material as guides for performance statements, evaluation, objectives for learning activities, training sessions, planning services and priority setting related to children's services. The 110-page guide (ISBN 0-8389-7780-4) is $11 (prepaid preferred) from: ALA CLENERT, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4277 or 4281. 6. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 "Singing the PR Blues" 1995 Swap and Shop theme Librarians from across the country are asked to share their best public relations materials at "Singing the PR Blues: Hit the Right Note" at Chicago Swap and Shop" on Sunday, June 25, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago. Materials must be received by June 15. Swap and Shop, the annual display and give-away sponsored by the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) Public Relations Section, showcases library creativity and provides free samples of materials to conference participants. Libraries of all types are encouraged to send 100-300 copies of posters, newsletters, service brochures, materials lists, annual reports, library guides and other publicity materials to: "Swap and Shop 1995," c/o Olivia Chen, Chicago Public Library, Room 2 S-10, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605. In addition to the public relations materials display, Swap and Shop will offer mini sessions on creating a John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award winner and quick tips on public relations problems from public relations experts. John Cotton Dana 1995 award-winning scrapbooks will also be exhibited. For more information, contact: Sarah Kelley, Bluegrass North Regional Library, 305 Wapping St., Frankfort, KY 40601. Telephone: 502-564-7831. E-mail: skell2@ukcc.uky.edu. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association. 7. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Technology and the Arts new ACRL/LITA Interest Group A Technology and the Arts Interest Group has been developed by the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) and the Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL). The new interest group builds on the ACRL Arts Section Technology in the Arts Discussion Group. It was formed to promote the American Library Association's (ALA) examination of technology applied to the organization, retrieval and presentation of information in the areas of fine arts, architecture, cinema and dance. "While LITA has several joint interest groups with other ALA divisions, this is the first one with ACRL, said Nancy K. Roderer, LITA president. "It will be exciting to learn about the new imaging technologies that are being applied in the arts. LITA is also looking forward to additional partnerships with ACRL in areas of mutual interest." "As imaging technologies are evolving rapidly, the collaboration of ACRL and LITA will help to position the arts in taking an active role in developing a culturally informed society," said Sue Martin, ACRL president. The cooperative arrangement was prompted by a suggestion from Howard Besser of the School of Information and Library Studies at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a member of both LITA and ACRL. The first meeting of the new interest group will take place on Monday, February 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia. For more information on the Technology and the Arts Interest Group, contact Howard Besser at 313-764-3417 or on the Internet at . Other information is available by contacting Linda J. Knutson, LITA Executive Director, or Althea Jenkins, ACRL Executive Director at: 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433. E-mail: linda.knutson@ala.org or althea.jenkins@ala.org LITA and ACRL are divisions of the Americsn Library Association. 8. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Ten Library Fellows positions open Applications are being accepted through March 15 for the 1995~96 Library Fellows Program. The joint program of the American Library Association (ALA) and the United States Information Agency (USIA) will place approximately 10 U.S. citizens overseas beginning in September. While 16 positions are listed, funding will permit approximately 10 placements. Stipends for Library Fellows are $34,000 per year. Travel expenses for the fellow and one dependent to and from the host country will be reimbursed. Health insurance and a small housing subsidy are provided. Eligibility requirements are U.S. citizenship, language skills of the host country (desired and sometimes required), and education and experience in library or information science or other fields directly related to the needs of specific projects with demonstrated competency as required. If selected, certification from a physician attesting physical and emotional soundness to conduct the fellowship may be required. Persons who have lived abroad for a 10-year continuous period (1986~1995) immediately preceding application are not eligible. A description of available positions and requirements is attached. To apply, send a resume with a cover letter, briefly stating desired position, foreign language skills, subject expertise and maximum placement service length (there is no application form) to: Robert P. Doyle, Director, Library Fellows Program, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 3200. See center insert in the January 1994 or February 1995 American Libraries for additional information on the program. The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world. Its 55,000 members represent all types of libraries ~ public, school, academic, state and special. The USIA, an independent agency within the executive branch, is responsible for the U.S. government~s overseas cultural and information programs, including 153 libraries in 95 countries, the Fulbright scholarship program, the Voice of America, and the WORLDNET satellite television system. 1995~96 Library Fellows Opportunities AFRICA Senegal, Dakar: Government of Senegal, Economic and Social Council. French required. Five months, January~May 1996. Develop a planning document to further the establishment of the State Council information center. Analyze the information needs and usage patterns of the Council~s researchers. Assess other local information resources relevant to research in the social sciences. Introduce and illustrate examples of information technology appropriate to the mission of the information center. Harare, Zimbabwe: Ministry of Education and Culture, National Library and Documentation Service. One year, January~December 1996. Introduce concepts of multimedia centers to secondary schools and conduct related workshops for educators. Convert a selected school library to serve as a model multimedia center. Formulate standards for equipment, staff and facilities. Work with staff to design a handbook on establishing and organizing school media centers. Durban, South Africa: University of Durban-Westville. Six months, February~July 1996. Organize and conduct workshops for library staff on how to develop reference and outreach services for students and academics. Develop a library skills course for new incoming students. Provide direction on collection development principles and practices. EUROPE Warsaw, Poland: Warsaw Public Library. Moderate level of Polish essential. Six months, September 1995~February 1996. With staff, assess all current library functions with the goal of developing a plan for an automated, open stack public library to serve as a model in Poland. Produce a written document with recommendations for the municipal authorities indicating major changes in management, reallocation of resources and a plan for automation. Training of staff to work in a modern, automated library environment will be an important part of the project. Minsk, Belarus: National Library of Belarus. Facility with Russian is necessary to carry out project. Six months, dates are flexible. Complete study of how access to the library~s collection can be improved physically and by automated means. Provide an analysis of the current automation efforts and compare locally developed programs with commercial software for online public access catalogs. Analyze the library~s plan for catalog access by extending direct computer access to members of Parliament. Leipzig, Germany: American Studies Institute, University of Leipzig. Basic knowledge of German. Eleven months, September 1995~July 1996. Catalog and inventory the collection of 15~20,000 books and journals of the American Studies Institute. The cataloging project will use LC "CD-MARC Bibliographic." Student assistants will work under the guidance of the Fellow who will provide training in LC classification, in searching bibliographic records, and the development of an automated catalog. Geneva, Switzerland: Library, United Nations Office of Geneva. Six months, September 1995~February 1996. Prepare the automated catalog of the UNOG library for public access via the Internet. Supervise data preparation for monographs and serials. Evaluate and recommend Internet options for data dissemination in discussion with the UN International Computer Center and other Geneva providers. Set up training procedures for Internet use of the OPAC and prepare training and documentation to assist long-distance users. Paris, France: The American Library in Paris. Working knowledge of French. One year, September 1995~August 1996. Improve public services, specifically reference service, reference collection development and user needs assessment. Conduct staff workshops in reference services. Develop and implement user surveys. Improve outreach activities and public documentation on computer searching and library use. Analyze reference collection. Train in searching OPAC and CD-ROM indexes. Conduct advanced workshops on LAN and the Internet. LATIN AMERICAN Panama City, Panama: Panama University of Technology. Spanish not required. Twelve months, September 1995~August 1996. Train university faculty, graduating seniors and ministry of the presidency personnel in using the Internet and accessing U.S. databases. Conduct workshops for faculty and students on bibliographic networks and computerized reference sources. Advise on the development of a management information program for government ministries. Bucaramanga, Colombia: Universidad Industrial De Santander. Spanish preferred, but not required. Twelve months, September 1995~August 1996. With Colombian librarians, design and organize a graduate program in library science. Activities will include analyzing preferred modes of study, optimal program length and the selection of bibliographic resources necessary to mount a program, development of curriculum design and assisting in preparation of a draft proposal for presentation to university officials. Advise on potential international sponsors and grant application procedures to seek funds to establish the program. Ciudad Obregon, Mexico: Instituto Technologica De Sonora. Spanish required. Nine months, September 1995~May 1996. Work with a consortium of five northern Mexican University libraries to develop reference services. Provide direction on collection development principles and practices. Conduct training workshops for library staff at each university in basic reference philosophy and skills. Select appropriate reference service technology. Develop reference service. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Office of the Prime Minister, Libraries Division. Twelve months, September 1995~August 1996. Assist in the development of secondary school libraries nationwide. Provide training for school librarians that should result in the integration of the library into the school curriculum. Plan and assist in the implementation of a program for the training of primary school teachers integrating information skills into the curriculum. EAST ASIA Rangoon, Burma: The Universities Central Library, Department of Higher Education. Six months, starting date flexible. Assist with the inventory and assessment of library resources and services. Advise on appropriate automation systems and online databases to meet user needs of the academic community. Provide information on the acquisition of library software and on access to online systems. Conduct workshops on library automation. Consult with library studies teaching staff on the addition of a library automation component to the curriculum. Jakarta, Indonesia: University of Indonesia (UI). Five months, September 1995~January 1996. Evaluate American studies resources at the UI and selected Indonesian institutions to determine policy guidelines for collection development. Instruct staff on drafting grant proposals. Advise on how to analyze and identify organizational needs for automation. Conduct feasibility studies and specify requirements for library technology. And, Perth, Australia: University of Notre Dame. Seven months, February 1996~August 1996. Develop collection development policies for an American studies collection and make recommendations for acquisitions. Promote contact between the host institution, organizations and individuals within the American studies community in the U.S. Advise on the accessibility of American studies resources available on the Internet. NOTE: Fellow will work at both institutions as specified. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Nine months, September 1995~May 1996. Consult with the library director to advise on current policies and procedures for academic library management. Develop strategies to improve practices and user services. Conduct staff development workshops in library management. NEAR EAST Jerusalem, Israel: Israeli Center for Libraries. Six months, starting dates flexible. Advise the center~s director on the establishment of a cooperative, interlibrary loan system to serve the 1,200 system libraries. Advise on the development of an extension services publication department. 9. For Immediate Release From: Pamela Goodes January 1995 Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 Videos available on pay equity, recruitment Videos on pay equity and recruitment are available from the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Library Personnel Resources (OLPR). "Pay Equity: A Matter of Fairness" introduces pay equity concepts and strategies for library workers. Designed for staff development programs or individual continuing education, the 17-minute video was produced by James Comes of the Ball State University Libraries in Muncie, Ind., for the ALA Committee on Pay Equity. "Talented People Wanted: The Future is Information" describes the library and information profession and features profiles of minority librarians. The 16-minute video is designed for recruiting people of color into the profession and is useful for career days and career collections. It was produced by Fullerton College, California Media Services (coordinator John Ayala, dean of Learning Resources) for the ALA President's Committee on Cultural Diversity. "Pay Equity: A Matter of Fairness" (ISBN 0-8389-2185-X) and "Talented People Wanted: The Future is Information" (ISBN 0-8389-2186-8) are $7 each (prepaid preferred). To order, contact: ALA OLPR, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4277 or 4281. Free short-term loans of the video are also available from OLPR.