ALA Cognotes D.C. Highlights 2010 - (Page 1)

WASHINGTON — 2010 ANNUAL CONFERENCE Cognotes ALA By Karen E. Brown, University of Hawaii amila Alire, ALA President 2009-2010 was the enthusiastic Master of Ceremonies for a rally on Capitol Hill June 29, leading the activities for Library Advocacy Day. More than 1,600 ALA members and advocates of all ages braved the 90-degree heat to take part in the largest federal advocacy event in ALA history, with chants of “We’re gonna tell ‘em” and “What do we want? Money! When do we want it? Now!” Holding up signs designating their state, the crowd with red shirts bearing the slogan “Vote for Libraries” didn’t just include librarians and information specialists, but also LIS students, members of YALSA and ALISE, friends of libraries and even folks from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska and Qatar. Speakers included Lauren Myracle, author of beloved and contended books ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r, Keith Michael Fiels, Executive Director of ALA, Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island, and Representative Vern Ehlers, Michigan. 2010 Annual Conference Highlights Librarians Rally on Capitol Hill C Acclaimed songwriter and performer Natalie Merchant performs selections from her newly-released Leave Your Sleep, a two-CD set of songs adapted from the works of classic and contemporary poets for the Exhibits Closing Program June 28. (1) Hundreds of librarians cheer for library support in Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds during Library Advocacy Day. (2) Author Lauren Myracle makes her case for more financial support for libraries. Alire emphasized the main themes of the advocacy day including increasing Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funding to $300 million for FY2011 and including support for school librarians in the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Pumping up the crowd for their meetings on the Hill following the rally, she led the group with the rally cry, “We’re going to tell them!” Sen. Reed spoke eloquently about » see page 4 Exhibitors Add International Flair By Deb Nerud Vernon T sell books at ALA, we are here to make contacts between librarians he ALA Annual Conference and publishers.” is a great place to gather all Scherer said that his association the items you need for your helps American librarians obtain library. The vendors and exhibitors German books easier…“so libraroffer everything one could want or ians can order directly from U.S. need that is library related, includ- companies, call a toll free number ing items to meet the needs of cul- and have an easier time with the tural awareness or a diverse patron payment.” He continued, “It’s a population. benefit to the I spoke with librarian that three exhibitors has a foreign “[This] is the main at this year ’s language seclibrary show and we plan conference, that tion. For the to come for many years.” represented librarian lookGermany, Spain ing to find a and Asia who excertain book plained the symbiotic relationships we have German Books in Print to they hope to form with American find that specific book or publisher.” librarians. “America Reads Spanish” is a Looking for German books and promotional campaign launched periodicals? The Association of to promote books in Spanish and Publishers and Booksellers in Spanish language. Organizational Baden-Württemberg, Germany representative Francisco Vives and exhibited for the 25th time this Alina San Juan, Trade Officer of year at ALA. Johannes M. Scherer, the Embassy of Spain were at the Executive Director, said that the conference to facilitate a way for publishers have the option to send librarians to buy books in Spanish, a representative to be in the booth said San Juan. “[The ALA Annual and meet attendees personally, or Conference] is important as this » see page 8 send only their books. “We do not Amy Sedaris Regales Audience At ALA Annual 2010 Closer By Frederick J. Augustyn, Jr. The Library of Congress olly Raphael, Pres- Amy Sedaris makes a bookmark during an ident-Elect of ALA, entertaining Q&A with attendees at the Closing introduced Amy Se- Session June 29. daris, television and film actor, author, and comedian on the it. She said she enjoys using the library morning of June 29. In a well-attended near her home in New York City. The appearance sponsored by Grand Cen- building used to be a women’s prison, tral Publishing, Sedaris, younger sister where she claims that she sometimes of humorist David Sedaris, followed hears the voices of “screaming dead a few brief remarks of her own with women.” Sedaris asserted that “libraran extensive, question-and-answer ies are so great because they are free.” session centered on the topic of her While Sedaris was answering fan mail forthcoming book slated to appear in (“all of seven letters”) one day, a friend November—Simple Times: Crafts for of hers told her that she loves working Poor People. She is also the author of: in a library because “she gets big hugs.” I Like You: Hospitality under the Influ- She hoped that many of those present » see page 15 ence and co-authored The Book of Liz and Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not. Sedaris joked that she assumed that this was one of the quietest conventions interfaces around. The rapid interchange with the Click here to see audience that soon followed proved her our ad on page 3. wrong, a result that she undoubtedly expected, reserving most of her time for M Inn vative http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/index.cfm http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/cognotes/index.cfm http://www.nataliemerchant.com/ http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/advocacy/libraryadvocacyday/index.cfm http://www.amysedarisrocks.com/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ALA Cognotes D.C. Highlights 2010

ALA Cognotes D.C. Highlights 2010
Librarians Rally on Capitol Hill
Exhibitors Add International Flair
Amy Sedaris Regales Audience At ALA Annual 2010 Closer
Junot Diaz: His Life a Canvas
John Grisham Thanks Libraries
Authors Recognized for Contributions to Children’s Literature at Newbery Caldecott Awards Banquet
Will Shortz Tests Librarians’ Puzzle Skills
NBA Star Dwyane Wade Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month
APALA Celebrates Its History, Accomplishments, Current Programs, and Members at 30th Anniversary Gala
Library Champions
Librarians Can Change Society
DEMCO/AILA 2010 Scholarship Awards
Dave Isay and StoryCorps: Preserving the Voices of Everyday People
Marlo Thomas Cultivates Seeds of Laughter
Kidd and Taylor: On Memoirs, Relationships
Revised Intellectual Freedom Manual Introduced
Toni Morrison and Libraries: An Intimate Relationship
Sir Salman Rushdie Putting Messages in a Bottle
Eppo van Nispen Inspires Librarians to Finish Strong
Technology Titans Reach Out to Libraries in ALA Technology Pavilion
Archivists and Librarians Working with Legislative Records Display Synergy at GODORT Session

ALA Cognotes D.C. Highlights 2010