LTLS - Quick Connections

BRASS Dun & Bradstreet Public Librarian Support Award

The Dun & Bradstreet Public Librarian Support Award Committee is seeking nominees for this award to be presented at ALA 2008. The $1,000 award will support attendance at the Annual Conference for a public librarian who has performed outstanding business reference service and who requires financial assistance to attend the ALA Annual Conference. For additional information, see the following:

http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rusasections/brass/brassawards/awarddescription/dunbradstreet.htm.

Applications are to be made in writing to the chair of this standing BRASS committee by December 1, 2007. Chair: Nelly Somerman, nsomerman@stdl.org.

Judge Rules Provisions of Patriot Act Unconstitutional

On September 6th a federal judge today struck down portions of the USA Patriot Act as unconstitutional, ordering the FBI to stop issuing "national security letters" that secretly demand customer information from Internet service providers and other businesses.

Go to this link to see the article in the Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090601438.html?referrer=emailarticle

Weekly Poll

Be sure to check out our weekly poll below, or on our home page.

You can also view results from previous weekly polls.

Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award Nominations Due October 12

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. Given annually, the award acknowledges individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it impacts libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or long-term interest in, and dedication to, the cause of intellectual freedom.

Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., Westport, Connecticut, provides an honorarium to the recipient and co-hosts the reception in honor of the recipient. The reception and award ceremony will take place in January 2008 during the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia.

Letters of nomination and documentation about the nominee should be sent by e-mail to unsworth@uiuc.edu with a copy to weech@uiuc.edu or in paper form to John Unsworth, Dean, GSLIS, 501 E. Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820 before October 12, 2007. Questions should be directed to Terry Weech at weech@uiuc.edu. More information about the award is available at http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/about/awards/downs-award.html.

35th National Storytelling Festival Chartered Coach Trip

The McHenry County Storytelling Guild is sponsoring their final chartered coach trip to the National Storytelling Festival in Johnson City, Tennessee, October 4-8, 2007. This 3-day Festival is rated as one of the Top Ten events in the U.S. Magical and compelling performances by nationally known tellers will take you around the world. For details and a registration form, email Denise at festivaltrip@earthlink.net.

House Bill (HB) 499, Trustee Petition

The Governor has signed HB 499. It is PA-95-065.

House Bill (HB) 499, Trustee Petition, passed. This bill amends the Illinois Local Library Act by making the minimum signature requirement for a nomination petition for the office of library board trustee 25 (now, 50). House sponsors: Rep. Jim Sacia (R-89, Freeport), Mike Fortner (R-95, West Chicago), and Shane Cultra (R-105, Onarga). Senate Sponsors: Sen. Todd Sieben (R-45, Geneseo), and Pamela J. Althoff (R-32, Crystal Lake). ILA supported this initiative after it was amended to address our concerns.