ALANEWS v1n003 (October 1995) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alanews/alanews-v1n003 NEWS RELEASES October, 1995, Vol. 1, No. 3 From: Pamela Goodes For Immediate Release Linda Wallace 312-280-5043, 5042 ALA NEWS ALA to sponsor "Log On" Day "Log on at the Library." That will be the message for a special day of demonstrations designed to focus national attention on the role of libraries and librarians in providing public access to the information superhighway. Betty J. Turock, president of the American Library Association (ALA) urged all school public and college libraries to take members of the public on a cruise down the information superhighway as part of "Log on at the Library Day" to be held Tuesday, April 16, 1996, during National Library Week. She noted that libraries without online connections can ask computer stores, other libraries or community volunteers to stage demonstrations and invite local government officials to see for themselves why their library should be connected. "Nothing is more important to the future of our country than equal access to information for all people," Turock said in announcing the special event. "Our goal is to make sure that every American has access to information online at their school, public and college libraries." "Equity on the Information Superhighway" is the theme for Turock's year as ALA president and for the second year of ALA's Library Advocacy Now! campaign. The goal is to mobilize a national network of library advocates to help generate support from lawmakers for funding, affordable telecommunications rates and copyright provisions that support universal access to information via libraries. Some 75 Library Advocacy Now! workshops were held with more than 9,000 participants during the first year of the campaign. The ALA Washington Office credits these efforts with helping to stave off major cuts in federal funding for libraries. The campaign also generated news coverage, letters to the editor and editorials of support in magazines and newspapers nationwide, including Business Week, Child, USA Today, the Boston Globe, Los Angles Times and Chicago Tribune. A list of trained presenters available to conduct Library Advocacy Now! training is available from the ALA Public Information Office. There will be a training session on Monday, January 22, 1996, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio. "Log on at the Library" Day will replace the Night of a Thousand Stars/Great American Read Aloud previously held on Wednesday during National Library Week. Local libraries are free to sponsor local read alouds but ALA will focus its national publicity efforts on "Log on at the Library Day" in keeping with the ALA Goal 2000 of positioning libraries and librarians as leaders in bringing information technology to the public. A National Library Week tip sheet is available free from the ALA Public Information Office, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 5044/5041. American Library Association presents technology demo to Congress Pamela Berger, school library media specialist at Byram Hills High School Library in Armonk, N.Y., represented the American Library Association (ALA) at a special demonstration of information technology held for members of Congress on October 12 in Washington, D.C. Berger described Socrates, the student of the future, and explained how ICONnect, a technology initiative developed by the American Association of School Librarians, a division of ALA, will prepare school library media specialists and teachers for the student of tomorrow. Berger chairs the committee that developed ICONnect, which offers online instructions, mentoring programs, mini-grants, a home page and gopher to help school library media specialists, teachers and students learn skills necessary to navigate the information superhighway. Her demonstration was part of a two-day program titled "A Day in the Life of a Student in the 21st Century" organized by the Council of the Great City Schools for the House Joint Hearing of the House Science and Economic Committee and Educational Opportunities Committee. ALA's involvement was arranged by the association's new Office for Information Technology Policy, based in Washington, that was created as part of ALA Goal 2000. ALA DIVISION NEWS ALCTS Educational Policy Statement adopted An Educational Policy Statement has been adopted by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Board of Directors. The action was taken during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago. The policy statement is designed to satisfy the needs of library educators and librarians for a statement of desired education for librarians in development and technical services work. It will be used to respond to inquiries from within and without the profession about what it means to a librarian performing technical services and collection development functions. ALCTS will update the policy on a regular basis. An appendix to the policy statement defines competency statements in the areas of intellectual access and organization; preserving access; identification, selection and acquisition of information resources; management skills, and skills in research analysis and interpretation. ALCTS is recommending the policy be used by the ALA Committee on Accreditation (COA) in its accreditation process of schools of library and information science. The ALCTS Education Policy Statement is available on the ALA Gopher. To access the statement follow the path: Gopher.uic.edu, port 70/The Library/American Library Association/ALA's Divisions/Association for Library Collections & Technical Services/ALCTS Education & Training Syllabi & Policies/ALCTS Educational Policy Statement. For more information, contact the ALCTS Office at 1-800-545- 2433, ext. 5031, or 312-280-5031. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association. ALCTS task force to address digital cataloging A Task Force to Define Bibliographic Access in the Electronic Environment has been developed by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) Board of Directors. The action was taken during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Chicago. The task force will focus on digital cataloging. It was formed in response to the growing need to apply expert organization to the rapidly increasing number of information resources available electronically. It is also designed to enhance the major role played by the library catalog in directing and informing users of information resources. "American libraries are known worldwide for their expertise in cataloging and classification of intellectual property in print and non-print formats," said ALCTS President David Farrell. "I expect the results of this task force will extend our reputation into cyberspace." The task force is expected to lead the way in defining access and bibliographic control mechanisms for information in electronic form. It will work closely with the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP), based in Washington, D.C., in communicating those mechanisms to members of the library and information communities. Jennifer Younger, assistant director of Technical Services at The Ohio State University Libraries and ALCTS past president (1993-94), will head the task force. The task force will meet for the first time during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio, January 19-25, 1996. It will convene electronically prior to Midwinter. A preliminary report is expected during the 1996 ALA Annual Conference in New York, July 4-10. The task force is expected to complete its work by the 1997 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Washington, D.C. ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association. Michele Dalehite is new LITA President Michele Dalehite, assistant director for Library Services at the Florida Center for Library Information in Gainesville, is the new president of the Library and Information Technology Association (LITA). She assumed office at the conclusion of the American Library Association (ALA) Conference, June 23-30, in Chicago. Dalehite will focus on improving the association's organizational and fiscal position, and will work to initiate an examination of LITA's strategic direction during her presidential year. "LITA has been my home for professional development for 20 years and has given me many opportunities to be professionally active," Dalehite explained. "It was only fitting, when called upon, that I return the favor by helping LITA meet the needs of its membership -- a diverse group of individuals who are on the forefront of re-designing libraries and their services for the next century." Dalehite has served as project analyst at SOLINET where she worked on batch processing programs, offline products such as COM and online services such as the LAMBDA and MARC holdings systems. She started as OCLC Training Coordinator where she profiled and trained staff at more than 150 libraries. Her publications include "MARC Format on Tape: A Tutorial" (From Tape to Product, Pierian Press, 1985) and "Vendor-Supplied Automated Authority Control..."(volume 8, Law Library Journal). Dalehite has been a presenter at for a number of American Library Association (ALA), LITA and state association conferences. She is a member of the Florida Library Association. Dalehite has a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in library science from Florida State University. LITA, a division of the American Library Association, is concerned with the planning, development, design, application and integration of technologies within the library and information environment with the impact of emerging technologies on library service, and with the effect of automated technologies on people. For further information, contact Linda J. Knutson, LITA Executive Director, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4270, or 312-280-4270. Fax: 312-280-3257. Internet: . Award and scholarship applicants sought Applications available for seven 1996 ALA scholarships Applications are available for seven 1996 American Library Association (ALA) Scholarship Program awards. The deadline for applications is December 22, 1995. The scholarships of $3,000 each are available for students entering an ALA-accredited master's degree program in library and information studies. The scholarship program is designed to encourage the development of leadership in American librarianship. Three major factors are considered in awarding scholarships: academic excellence; leadership, and evidence of a commitment to a career in librarianship. The scholarships: The Marshall Cavendish Scholarship is a general scholarship donated by the Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Tarrytown, N.Y., publishers of illustrated reference books for libraries. The David H. Clift Scholarship, named in honor of a former ALA executive director, is a general scholarship. The Tom C. Drewes Scholarship, established with a donation from the founder of Quality Books, is given to a library support staff person pursuing a master's degree. The Mary V. Gaver Scholarship is awarded to an individual specializing in youth services. It honors the memory of a past ALA president and Rutgers University professor who made many contributions in library youth services. The Louise Giles Minority Scholarship, is awarded to a person who is a member of a principal minority group: African-American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Hispanic. It is named in honor of a Michigan community college librarian. The Miriam L. Hornback Scholarship, is awarded to an ALA or library support staff person pursuing a master's degree. It is named for a long-time ALA staff member (1944-1991) who was secretariat to the ALA Council and Executive Board. The Tony B. Leisner Scholarship, is for a library support staff person pursuing a master's degree. It was established with a donation by an active ALA member and former ALA Council member. A single application form is used for all of the scholarship program awards. For applications, contact: ALA Office for Library Personnel Resources, 50 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4277, 4281, or 4282. FAX: 312-280-3256. The awards will be formally announced during the ALA Annual Conference in New York, June 4-10, 1996. Candidates sought for 1996 LITA/Gaylord Award Candidates are being sought for the 1996 Library and Information Technology Association (LITA)/Gaylord Award for Achievement in Library and Information Technology. The deadline for applications is December 31, 1995. The award, $1,000 donated by Gaylord Bros., Inc., is given for achievement in library and information technology made in recognition of distinguished leadership, notable development or application of technology, superior accomplishment in research or education, or original contribution to the literature of the field. Nominations should include a letter with the name, address and telephone number of the nominator and the name, address and telephone number of the person nominated. A narrative supporting the nomination and a current vita should also be included. Nomination packets should be sent to: Susan Bearg Epstein, Chair, LITA/Gaylord Award Jury, 1992 Lemnos Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Telephone: 714-754-1559. Fax: 714-751-4945. E-mail: sbepstein@AOL.COM. For further information about LITA awards, contact Linda J. Knutson, LITA Executive Director, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4270, or 312-280-4270. FAX: 312-280-5237. Internet:. LITA is a division of the American Library Association. Nominations sought for 1996 RASD John Sessions Award Nominations are being accepted for the 1996 John Sessions Memorial Award sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD). The deadline, to apply is December 15, 1995. The award, a plaque donated by the AFL-CIO, is given to a library or library system in recognition of its work with the labor community. The Butte (Mont.) Silver Bow Public Archives and the Special Collections and University Archives of Rutgers University Libraries were 1995 co-winners of the Sessions Award. The Butte Silver Bow Public Archives was honored for "preserving and making more accessible the rich labor history of the region and state." It was acknowledged as an example of how the local government and the labor community can work together to preserve the labor heritage through collection and educational exhibits. The committee praised "the focused work" of the Special Collections and University Archives of Rutgers University Libraries Archives staff in preserving and making more accessible the records of the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers, AFL-CIO. The staff worked closely with the IUE staff to transfer the records to Rutgers and prepared findings aids and histories to help researchers document the history Nominations should be sent to Arthur S. Meyers, Hammond Public Library, 564 State St., Hammond, IN 46320-1532. RASD is a division of the American Library Association. Jungja Park Yoon named 1995 LITA/OCLC scholarship recipient Jungja Park Yoon, a student enrolled in the graduate program at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., is the 1995 recipient of the Library Information and Technology Association (LITA)/OCLC Minority Scholarship in Library and Information Technology. The scholarship, $2,500 donated by OCLC, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio, is given to a member of a principal minority group with a strong commitment in the use of automation in libraries to seek a career in library automation. It is given annually to a master's degree student. Yoon has worked as a library technician and library technical assistant at the Library of Congress, the University of Georgia Library and Penn State University. She is particularly interested in cataloging foreign language materials on automated systems. She would like to explore resolving the problems of integrating the Chinese-Japanese-Korean languages into the Library of Congress Information System. "This year the LITA/OCLC Minority Scholarship has given us the opportunity to actually increase the talent pool using information technology in an area of great importance in the bibliographic presence of the Pacific Rim languages in the major cataloging utilities," said LITA President Nancy K. Roderer. "The potential benefits of results of these efforts are enormous." "With the increased internationalization of information, it is particularly important for the library community to attract and retain talented librarians with an interest in international library efforts," said Liz Bishoff, OCLC Vice President Member Services. "Ms. Yoon represents the type of librarian that will take the library profession into the future." The 1995 scholarship jury was chaired by Francis Miksa of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Texas in Austin. The LITA/OCLC Scholarship is one of three scholarships given by LITA in 1995. For further information, contact the LITA Office, American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 800-545-2433, ext. 4269. Internet: . LITA is a division of the American Library Association. NEW PUBLICATIONS ALA Editions signs Ensor & Wiegand for two landmark publications "Irrepressible Reformer: A Biography of Melvin Dewey," written by Wayne A. Wiegand, is scheduled for spring 1996 publication byALA Editions, the publishing unit of the American Library Association (ALA). "The biography reads like a big novel - and a hot one," said Arthur Plotnik, ALA Editions editorial director. "Wiegand set out to reveal all aspects of Dewey's life, with none of the restraints of earlier biographies. He has outdone himself." To uncover the "real" Dewey, Wiegand followed many trails, including those of primary source materials in scores of manuscript collections. He explores Dewey's high-minded and high-handed actions as library innovator and educator, New York state education executive and business operator. A professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Library and Information Studies, Wiegand is the author of four books and more than 50 articles. He is the recipient of two ALA G.K. Hall Awards in library history. Pan Ensor, head of Information Services at the University of Houston Libraries, recently signed an agreement with ALA Editions for "The Cybrarian's Manual." The book is scheduled for publicationin fall 1996. It will be a compendium of practical information for the new breed of librarians operating in cyberspace. Ensor will act as editor and compiler, and will solicit contributions from technology leaders. A noted writer and editor on library technology issues, Ensor is book review editor for TER: Telecommunication Electronic Reviews. She is also a regular columnist for Technicalities and editor for Information Today's forthcoming "Key Guides to Electronic Reference Series." For more information, contact Caroline Andrew, ALA Publishing Marketing, at 800-545-2433, ext. 2426, or 312-280-2426.