2016 celebrates the sixty-fifth anniversary of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as a full-fledged division of the American Library Association (ALA). In this article, the author discusses celebrating the past and transforming the future. At the 2015 AASL National Conference the 65th Anniversary Giving Campaign was launched. The…

Hard times bring out the ambiguity in politics. Except for fiscal extremists, most politicians in North America want to support their libraries. When "Library Journal" ("LJ") planned to name the heroes and villains in the politics of library funding, they rediscovered that politics just is not that simple, and that it may be a…

The perfect politician, the ideal political ally to a library, is often but not always an elected official. He or she is always an effective champion of "reasonable financial support," i.e., "the amount...which a thoroughly competent librarian can spend wisely." That is what J.T. Wyer, director of the New York State Library, said in his "What the…

The President of ALIA writes about expectations for the Public Libraries Summit, and provides an account of what took place on the day of the meeting, and what has taken place since. In funding terms, the most likely areas of productive engagement with the federal government are considered to be: children, early learning and a literate Australia;…

This book is for community leaders, librarians, library committees, volunteers, aid workers and others who are interested in the practical aspect of starting and maintaining a successful library. Throughout the developing world, countless dedicated people respond to the pressing need for information in their communities by helping to start a…

In this article, the author reports on how three women saved their school libraries and created an advocacy model for all. The dynamic trio: Lisa Layera Brunkan, the great researcher with exceptional people skills, Susan McBurney, the master organizer with a Ph.D. in linguistics, and Denette Hill, the numbers lady with fantastic business acumen,…

This article discusses the types of preservation projects the National Endowment for the Humanities' Office of Preservation expects to support, the cost of these projects, and some strategies for accomplishing them. Projects conducted by Research Libraries Group, Association of Research Libraries, and Council on Library Resources are highlighted.…

This article describes how librarians stepped up to the plate to rescue materials and meet the needs of thousands of uprooted evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, employing their unique skills and resources to put forth a humane and herculean effort. In Houston and Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Memphis; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and…

Describes a successful campaign mounted by the Maryland Educational Media Organization for passage of a resolution supporting funding for school library media programs at the Maryland Governor's Conference on Library and Information Services in 1990. A copy of the resolution is included. (MES)

Provides an overview of the activities at the 1992 Special Libraries Association (SLA) Annual Conference. Professional development programs are described; division programs are summarized; SLA business activities are reviewed; and concerns and future plans of the association are discussed, including international membership, minority recruitment,…

The American Library Association's (ALA) Annual Conference, June 24?30, in steamy Orlando, drew 19,575 people, including 5,739 exhibitors, the lowest total since Miami in 1994, not counting the SARS-shadowed conference in Toronto last year (see statistics, p. 15). Although this years conference was filled with exciting events, this abstract is…

This brochure provides information on the background, objectives, location, management, funding, and current developments in 1992-93 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) core programs. The following programs are discussed: (1) Universal Bibliographic Control and International MARC (UBCIM), including work on the development of…

The "Victorian Free Library Service Board Act" of 1946 was the culmination of a long campaign to replace the mechanics' institute model of library provision with free libraries funded by state and local government. Given that library reform required legislation by the state government, this paper is mainly concerned with the political…

Summarizes the themes and discussions of the first conference of the American Library Association's Black Caucus. Issues addressed include responsibility to the African-American cultural heritage, education, financial aspects of librarianship, children's and young adult librarianship, and participation in the political process. (EA)

This publication provides detailed guidelines on how libraries and library associations can begin the process of lobbying in the state capital for funding or legislation. The first of three major sections covers how to use the legislative process, how to develop a government relations program, and how to select public relations tools. The second…