LTLS - Quick Connections

2009 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award

The West Bend Community Memorial Library in West Bend, Wisconsin, is the recipient of the 2009 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award given by the faculty of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The faculty voted overwhelmingly to give this year’s award to the West Bend Library for its steadfast advocacy on behalf of intellectual freedom in the face of a library challenge that garnered national attention. The efforts of the library board, Library Director Michael Tyree, the library staff, and many supportive community members are to be commended.

ALTAFF accepting applications for Trustee awards

The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is accepting applications for the ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant, the ALA Trustee Citation and the Major Benefactors Award. Applications are due Dec. 15, 2009.

The ALTAFF/Gale Outstanding Trustee Conference Grant enables a public library trustee to attend the ALA Annual Conference. A grant of $850 is awarded annually to a public library trustee who has demonstrated excellence in support of his or her public library. The Conference Grant, made possible by an annual gift from Gale Cengage Learning, is administered by ALTAFF. Winners will be notified by April of the Annual Conference year. Applicants must have a personal membership in ALA and the Trustee Section of ALTAFF through January 2010.  To apply, visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/trustees/grantsawards/trusteegrant.cfm.

ALA files comments to NTIA and RUS on broadband stimulus programs

The American Library Association (ALA) today filed comments to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) regarding the implementation of the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

The ALA’s comments called for increasing funding for the Public Computer Center Program, streamlining and simplifying the application and review process, and prioritizing funding for community anchor institutions.

“Libraries are uniquely positioned to deliver on the promise and objectives of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and the Broadband Initiatives Program,” said Carrie McGuire, director for the program on networks for the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP).

“We strongly encourage the NTIA and RUS to make changes to the program prior to Round 2 to ensure that libraries can take maximum advantage of this opportunity.”

The ALA’s comments assert that libraries are key partners in the programs’ goal of extending the opportunities available online to people across the United States. Libraries play the vital role of providing access to employment information, continuing education, government resources, small business opportunities and more; broadband connections are one of the critical elements that allow libraries to provide these essential resources to the public.

Nomination period open for ASCLA disability services award

The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) seeks nominations for the 2010 ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award.

Sponsored by ASCLA, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Keystone Systems, Inc., this award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities.  The award can be for a specific service(s) program or for a library that has made its total services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. The winner receives $1,000 and a citation provided by Keystone Systems, Inc..

Those interested in submitting a nomination can download the award nomination form from the awards section of the ASCLA website or request the form from Liz Markel, ASCLA Marketing Specialist, via e-mail at lmarkel@ala.org. All nominations must be received by Jan. 11, 2010.

ASCLA accepting nominations for 2010 service, leadership, achievement awards

The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) is now accepting nominations for the Leadership and Professional Achievement Award, the Exceptional Service Award and the Cathleen Bourdon Service Award for 2010.

These three awards recognize accomplishments in the following areas:

Cooperative, Consulting, Multi-type and State Library Services

Manuscripts sought for LITA/Ex Libris student writing award

The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is offering an award for the best unpublished manuscript submitted by a student or students enrolled in an ALA-accredited graduate program.  Sponsored by LITA and Ex Libris, the award consists of $1,000, publication in LITA’s refereed journal, Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL) and a certificate.  The deadline for submission of the manuscript is Feb. 28, 2010.

EBSCO offers five scholarships to attend 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting

The American Library Association (ALA) and EBSCO are partnering to offer five scholarships for librarians to attend the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston. The meeting takes place Jan. 15-19, 2010, and offers an opportunity for continuing education, meetings and interaction with colleagues.
Each EBSCO scholarship will be in the amount of $1,500, and one of the five scholarships will be awarded to a first-time conference attendee. The scholarship money is to be used for conference registration, travel and expenses.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 23, 2009, and the application information can be found at: www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/awardsrecords/ebscosponsorship/ebscosponsorship.cfm.

Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than Dec. 15, 2009.

To apply, candidates must complete the application criteria and submit an essay that answers the following question: “What do you believe to be the biggest challenge in managing electronic resources in libraries today, and what solutions do you envision?” Essays and applications will be judged by a jury designated by ALA.

ASCLA award recognizes library service to blind and physically handicapped

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies seeks nominees for its annual Francis Joseph Campbell Award, which recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped.

The award, which consists of a citation and a medal, is named for Sir Francis Joseph Campbell, the co-founder of the Royal National College for the Blind (United Kingdom). In the spirit of Campbell’s contributions to education for the blind and visually impaired, award winners are selected for their notable and important contributions to advancing the quality and availability of library services for the blind and physically handicapped communities. Contributions may take the form of an imaginative and constructive program in a particular library; a recognized contribution to the national library program for blind persons; creative participation in library associations or organizations that advance reading for the blind; a significant publication or writing in the field; imaginative contribution to library administration, reference, circulation, selection, acquisitions  or technical services; or any other activity of recognized importance.

Correction to Survey Form for "ISL Capital Needs Assessment Survey"

Public libraries received email earlier this week regarding the requirement to complete the "Capital Needs Assessment Survey". All public libraries are asked to complete the survey, even if you are not planning any capital improvement projects.

The survey form initially available for download had a small permissions error -- data input into the form could not be saved.  The form has now been corrected. You can tell if you have the corrected form by looking at the purple box at the top of the form.  If it says "You can save data typed into this form.", that is the corrected version.  If you need a new copy, you can download the corrected survey form. 

After you have filled out the survey, click "Email" at the top of the form.  You will see instructions on submitting the form to the ISL as an email attachment.

The ISL website has more information about the survey and answers to frequently asked questions.

RUSA seeking excellent reference and adult services librarians for 2010 award nominations

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Gale Cengage Award for Excellence in Reference and Adult Services, a Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) award that recognizes outstanding achievements in these areas.

Established in 1990 and sponsored by Gale Cengage Learning, the award is given to a library or library system for developing an imaginative and unique resource to meet patrons' reference needs. The resource can be a bibliography, a guide to the literature of a specific subject, a directory, a database, or any other project that has helped the library meet adult or children's reference needs. Tools, guides or databases that have been developed for reader's advisory or adult service questions and needs are also eligible for the award.