Frequently Answered Questions
Top Five Questions | More FAQs
Top Five
- When will the Newbery and Caldecott Awards be announced?
The winners of the 2009 Newbery and Caldecott medals as well as several other ALA Youth Media Awards--http://www.ala.org/yma--will be announced from the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver, CO on Monday, January 26, 2009, at 7:45 a.m. Mountain Time. For ALA Midwinter Meeting attendees, the press conference will be held in the Colorado Convention Center in the Four Seasons Ballroom. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. MT. The live Webcast can be viewed at http://www.unikron.com/clients/ala-webcast-2009. Follow the ALA Youth Media Awards Twitter at http://twitter.com/ALAyma. Join the ALA Youth Media Awards Facebook Fan Page. The press release announcing all of the winners will be posted in the Youth Media Awards Press Kit at http://www.ala.org/yma prior to 10:30 a.m. MT. Once completed, the archived Webcast will be available to view in its entirety online as well as on ALA Island in the Second Life virtual world. The American Library Association and its divisions, offices, and round tables offer several more book and media awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, the Pura Belpre' Award, the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, the Stonewall Book Award, and the brand new William C. Morris Award.
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.Newbery Medal Home Page
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.htmlCaldecott Medal Home Page
http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
- When is the next ALA conference?
The 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting will be held January 23-28, 2009 in Denver, CO --
http://www.ala.org/midwinter The 2009 ALA Annual Conference will be held July 9-15, 2009 in Chicago, IL (hometown of ALA headquarters) --
http://www.ala.org/annual Information on submitting proposals for the ALA Poster Sessions for July 11, 12, and 13 at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in time for the January 31st, 2009 deadline is available online. Please see the new Programs & Sessions page for the 2009 ALA Annual Conference which fully explains how to submit a Grassroots Program Proposal in time for the February 6, 2009 deadline. For future Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference dates, please see the Conference Planning Calendar. See the ALA Conference Materials Archive Wiki for handouts, presentations, and other accompanying program materials for previous conferences, at:
http://presentations.ala.org Abstracts from the ALA Poster Sessions for the 2005 through 2008 ALA Annual Conferences are available online at:
http://www.lib.jmu.edu/org/ala
- When is the next National Library Week?
National Library Week 2009--http://www.ala.org/nlw--is scheduled for April 12-18, 2009. The theme is Worlds connect @ your library. 2009 National Library Week posters, banners, and bookmarks are available at the ALA Online Store. National Library Week was last held April 13-19, 2008. The 2008 theme was Join the circle of knowledge @ your library. Honorary Chair of National Library Week 2008 was performer and children's author Julie Andrews, who was featured in print, radio and video public service announcements (PSAs) for this event that are freely available online. Future National Library Week dates can be found on the fact sheet for National Library Week (scroll down to the bottom of the page). During National Library Week, libraries across the country host programs and events to showcase the variety of resources they offer to people of all ages. It's a great time to check out what's new at your school, campus, or public library. Sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), this annual event dates back to 1958 and celebrates the important contributions of libraries and librarians to our society. See a historical list of National Library Week themes. ALA's @ your library, The Campaign for America's Libraries continues ALA's multi-year public education effort about the value of libraries, librarians, and library workers in the 21st century. More details can be found at http://www.ala.org/@yourlibrary. Questions? Contact campaign staff via email at atyourlibrary@ala.org.
- Who can join ALA? What does it cost? And what are my benefits?
Membership in the American Library Association (ALA) is available to libraries, librarians, library support staff, library trustees, library vendors--to anyone who supports librarianship, including library patrons, supporters, and Friends! The ALA offers several categories of membership:- Personal Membership in ALA, Divisions and Round Tables.
- Organizational Membership for libraries, international libraries, and other nonprofits interested in the work of ALA, its Divisions and its Round Tables.
- Corporate Membership for businesses interested in the work of ALA, its Divisions and its Round Tables. Businesses may further support ALA's advocacy work by becoming an ALA Library Champion; contact ALA's Development Office for details.
Dues vary according by type of membership. See the downloadable, print ready Adobe Reader PDF versions of all of the membership application types to determine dues responsibility. You can request print copies of any of these membership applications from Membership and Customer Services, 1-800-545-2433, press 5.
You have the option to complete the ALA Personal Membership Application online. And a copy of the most current personal membership application can always be found in the latest edition of the ALA Handbook of Organization.
View the various benefits of membership for Personal, Organizational, and Corporate Membership.
- Personal Membership in ALA, Divisions and Round Tables.
- I have written a book. How do I get it into libraries?
Please be aware that individual libraries are responsible for their own collections. There is no one place that distributes books to all libraries -- and that includes ALA. Although, some main libraries purchase books for their branches as well as themselves. And some libraries purchase their books through such distributors as Baker & Taylor, Ingram Book Services, Emery-Pratt Company, and other book suppliers and wholesalers. At best, ALA can review your book in its publication, Booklist. For more information on telling libraries about your own book, first access the ALA Library Fact Sheet 5, Marketing to Libraries, which lists strategies for informing the library community about your product or service. Then access the ALA Library Fact Sheet 3, Lists of Libraries, which lists companies and groups that sell library mailing lists and mailing labels, and includes a suggestion (at the end) on how to compile a list of e-mail addresses for libraries. You might also want to contact book distributors directly to see if they would be interested in providing your book to libraries. You can find directories of library vendors, including book distributors, on the ALA Library Fact Sheet 9, Library Products, Services and Consultants.
- What do I do if there was something on your old site but I can't find it on the site now?
We recommend that you try using our new (Google-powered) Search tool on the toolbar above to find the page, which has been customized for this current version of the ALA web site to give you quick and accurate on-site results -- and is more accurate than using Google.com at this point. Also, some search strategies are suggested in the October 21, 2008 Marginalia blog post, Using ALA's Website.
More FAQ's
What is ALA?
The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. Melvil Dewey, Justin Winsor, C. A. Cutter, Samuel S. Green, James L. Whitney, Fred B. Perkins, and Thomas W. Bicknell founded the Association on October 6, 1876, in Philadelphia.
As of July 31, 2008, the ALA had 67,027 members, with members in the United States of America, Canada, and over 115 other countries. Approximately 94% of those members are personal members, with the remaining being organizational or corporate members.
The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.
ALA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in Washington, D.C., and Middletown, Connecticut.
We may be contacted by e-mail, phone, fax and mail.
How do I order books, posters, and other ALA products and publications?
All of ALA's posters, books, and other materials are available for purchase by individuals as well as by libraries. Members of the American Library Association receive a 10% discount on purchases (be sure to clearly indicate your membership number in your order).
You can view all of our available books and posters--as well as place an order--at the ALA Online Store.
Request the free ALA Editions (books) and/or ALA Graphics (posters and bookmarks) catalog and be added to the regular mailing list by clicking on the Request A Catalog tab at the top of the page at the ALA Online Store and completing the address form.
You can both request the free catalogs and place an order (or check on an existing order) by calling the main ALA toll-free phone number, 1-800-545-2433, and pressing 7 during the greeting. Or you can call 1-866-SHOP ALA (1-866-746-7252). Orders can be placed between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, Central Time.
Orders, including purchase orders, can also be faxed to (770) 280-4155, or mailed to the following address:
American Library Association Order Fulfillment
P.O. Box 932501
Atlanta, GA 31193-2501
You can also send orders via e-mail to ala-orders@PBD.com.
Information concerning payment options, cost of shipping, any applicable state sales tax, and international orders is included on the About the ALA Online Store page. Read about the ALA Editions Approval Plan.
For subscriptions to ALA's periodicals, start with the ALA Publishing page, which has links to information on the publications from individual units. A more comprehensive, detailed list of ALA's magazines, journals, and newsletters is on the ALA Periodicals page.
How can I become a librarian? Does ALA offer any classes?
The ALA web site has information on how to become a professional librarian. This position usually requires that a librarian have a master's degree in library and information science. ALA is the professional organization that accredits the master's degree programs at nearly 60 universities all over the country (and in Canada and Puerto Rico, as well). ALA accredits master's degrees only; it does not accredit undergraduate degrees or certificates in librarianship - which do exist.
While there are bachelor's degrees in library science, it is not necessary to get one of these in order to prepare for the master's degree; the undergraduate degree can be in any subject. What ALA's accreditation hopes to show is that the librarian, as opposed to the library technical assistant or technician, is indeed worthy of professional designation and description, having successfully completed a graduate-level discipline and course of study.
Undergraduate degrees and certificates are usually associated with library paraprofessional work, those support staff positions that carry the title of library technical assistant or library technician or any similar variations--see List of Support Staff Positions in Libraries.
Definitely access the section of the ALA web site of ALA's Office for Accreditation, specifically:
Accreditation Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the appropriate degree to be a professional librarian?
A: ALA policy 54.2 states: "The master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association (or from a master's level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country) is the appropriate professional degree for librarians."For school library media specialists, ALA policy 54.2.2 states: "The master's degree in librarianship from a program accredited by the American Library Association (emphasis added) OR a master's degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is the appropriate first professional degree for school library media specialists."
The complete list of schools with ALA-accredited programs (which includes contact information for each institution) is available at the ALA web site as a searchable online database, at: Directory of Institutions Offering ALA-Accredited Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies
http://www.ala.org/lisdir Click on the link, Directory of ALA-accredited programs in a searchable database format, and then on the link, Search the database, which will take you to the main search page, Searchable database of ALA-accredited programs -- which has at the top of the page an instant sort of the list by state; click on a state’s name to get a list of the universities in that state’s with ALA-accredited library science master’s degree programs. This online database version can be searched by various options, including "100% online program available." ALA has shown great faith in distance learning programs, by according these ALA-accredited status along with a university's traditional classroom programs.
For further assistance on school librarianship, please see the following web pages set up by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL, a division of ALA):
Nationally Recognized NCATE-AASL Reviewed & Approved School Library Media Education Programs AASL Education & Careers School Librarianship as a Career
See ALA's Guidelines for choosing a master's program in library and information studies for help in selecting the master's program that is right for you. You would need to contact the individual degree programs directly for any further details.
Please note that not every master's degree program in library science is accredited by ALA. To see a list of all universities offering degrees in library science -- whether accredited by ALA or recognized by NCATE-AASL or not -- check your local public library for a copy of the American Library Directory, which is a two-volume set published by Information Today, Inc. Volume two has a list of all schools offering library science degree programs. This list attempts to be comprehensive, listing both graduate and undergraduate library science degree and certificate programs.
For further assistance, please use ALA's Educations and Careers web page, at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/educationcareers
How many libraries are there?
The ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 1 reports that there are an estimated 123,291 libraries of all kinds in the United States. No annual survey provides statistics on all types of libraries. Public, academic, and school library counts on that fact sheet come from the most recent versions of the following surveys by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2005 (2007); Academic Libraries: 2004 (2006); A Brief Profile of America's Public Schools (2007), and Schools and Staffing Survey, 1999-2000: Overview of the Data for Public, Private, Public Charter, and Bureau of Indian Affairs Elementary and Secondary Schools (2002). Figures for special libraries, armed forces libraries, and government libraries come from the American Library DirectoryTM 2007-2008 compiled by the publisher, Information Today, Inc.
What is ALA's governing structure?
ALA is governed by a 186-member policy-making council elected directly by members; an executive board made up of four officers elected by members, plus eight members elected by Council, that is responsible for the oversight management of ALA; and an executive director, Keith Michael Fiels, who administers ALA headquarters and its 250-member staff.
I am wondering if you have any data regarding loss rate that may have been collected as part of surveys of your members or in any other form.
There is no "standard" rate of book loss, not that ALA has created - and we don't believe that any other organizations have attempted to create such a figure. The reasoning and extent in reporting library theft varies, and so a national figure might not be reliable. Such statistics are only collected locally, and not on a national basis, so we must rely on general articles to describe the extent of the problem.
There are various surveys that have been performed over the years, but without any regularity or periodicity. Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Patron Use, and Collection Management: A Handbook for Library Management, by David F. Kohl (Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 1986) reports a range of research studies relating to loss rates. While no rate is "acceptable," what is typical, based on these studies is a loss of .15% to .5% per year; or overall loss rates of 4-8% when an inventory, or inventory sample, is conducted periodically.
In her book Managing Overdues, Patsy J. Hansel extrapolates from surveys she conducted to posit a national "overdue rate" of .7 percent pre-automation and .4 for post-automation to suggest a national loss of 6.28 million items, or $125.6 million at a rate of $20 per book. The number of items was based on 1994 NCES circulation data.
Finally, Richard Boss in his 1999 report on library security technologies cites an "anecdotal" figure of a 3% loss rate which Judith Gelertner extends to being a $70,000 a year cost for a 50,000 volume collection, using 2005 book replacement cost figures.
Some selected references to articles on this subject include:
Boss, Richard W. "Security Technologies for Libraries: Policy Concerns and a Survey of Available Products," Library Technology Reports 35, no. 3 (1999), pp. 271-356.
Gelernter, Judith. "Loss Prevention Strategies for the 21st Century Library." Information Outlook v.9, no. 12 (2005) pp. 12-22.
Hansel, Patsy J. Managing overdues : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. (New York : Neal-Schuman, c1998)
Kohl, David F. Circulation, Interlibrary Loan, Patron Use, and Collection Management: A Handbook for Library Management (Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 1986)
Luurtsema, David. "Dealing with Book Loss in an Academic Library." Library & Archival Security. 14, no. 1, (1997): 21 ff
Mosley, Shelley, Anna Caggiano and John Charles. "The 'self-weeding' collection: The ongoing problem of library theft, and how to fight back". Library Journal v121n17 (Oct 15, 1996): 38-40
O'Neill, Edward T. and Wesley L. Boomgaarden. "Book Deterioration and Loss: Magnitude and Characteristics in Ohio Libraries." Library Resources & Technical Services. 39, no. 4, (1995): 394 ff.
Stack, Michael J. "Library Theft Detection Systems--Future Trends and Present Strategies." Library and Archival Security 14:2 (1998), p. 25-37.
Van Gemert, Edward V. "Where have all the 'lost' books gone?" College & Research Libraries News v57n9 (Oct 15, 1996): 38-40
What are divisions? Offices? Round tables?
Divisions are membership units focusing on specific types of libraries or library services; ALA has eleven divisions. Offices are units which address broad interests and issues of concern to ALA members. Offices do not have members but are advised by member advisory committees; ALA has sixteen offices. Round tables are membership units that promote specific fields or areas of librarianship outside the scope of the divisions; ALA has seventeen round tables. And there is also the ALA Library, whose primary mission is to help the staff of the American Library Association serve ALA members, and thereafter, the needs of the members of ALA, other libraries, and members of the public seeking information on librarianship.
How can I find out when ALA division conferences and forums, institutes, symposiums, and other events will be held?
Check the Calendar of Library Events (formerly Datebook) section at American Libraries Online and see the list of ALA Events, or read the Calendar section in the American Libraries magazine.
Online registration is available for division conferences and forums, symposiums, training, institutes, workshops, and distance learning/e-learning classes.
For questions about registering for events or conferences, please contact our Registration Center at registration@ala.org. For login help, send help requests to loginhelp@ala.org.
What is National Library Legislative Day? When is it?
Held in the spring, National Library Legislative Day offers librarians the opportunity to come to Washington and talk directly with their congressional representatives. NLLD 2009 is May 11-12, 2009. Please feel free to contact Kristin Murphy in the Washington (DC) Office if you would like more information about participating in National Library Legislative Day.
Can I contribute financially to ALA?
Yes. Please see the giveALA web page. There are many opportunities to support ALA and libraries through contributions and donations to the ALA Development Office, as well as to the Freedom to Read Foundation, the ALA Washington Office, and assorted awards and scholarships, including the Spectrum Scholarship. Contact the ALA Development Office directly for further assistance.
Does ALA have an awards program for members?
Yes. ALA and its units confer many different types of awards; see the Awards & Scholarships web page, at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants.
I need an ALA interlibrary loan form. How can I get one?
The interlibrary loan form, sometimes called "the ALA form," can be accessed as an Adobe Reader PDF (Portable Document Format) file; as well as a Microsoft Word (2000) file (which can be edited). The form can also be purchased in bulk from library supply houses. A list of directories of library product suppliers is available on ALA Library Fact Sheet 9, Library Products, Services and Consultants.
Find out more about interlibrary loans from ALA Library Fact Sheet 8, Interlibrary Loans.
What is Banned Books Week? When is it?
Banned Books Week will next be celebrated September 26–October 3, 2009. The most recent report of books being challenged and banned in schools and libraries, the 2007 Banned Books Resource Guide, which lists book titles that were asked to be removed from schools and libraries, as well as when, where, and the reasons why, is now available from the ALA Online Store. This book might also be at your local public and/or community college library.
Banned Books Week--http://www.ala.org/bbooks--celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.
I'm a parent looking for good materials for my children to read this summer. Where can I start?
ALA has many reading lists serving many different audiences and purposes. Our page Summer Reading and Learning for Kids lists many of these. See more reading lists for children at the ALA Library Fact Sheet 23, Recommended Reading, at:
http://www.ala.org/readinglists.
I have some books I no longer want. How can I donate them to libraries?
ALA does not accept or distribute donations of books or any other materials. Please see ALA Library Fact Sheet 12, Sending Books to Needy Libraries: Book Donation Programs for further assistance, including links to web sites with information on book donation programs across the country and all over the world. Several individual book donation organizations appear on the list compiled by this office, which can be accessed at:
http://delicious.com/alalibrary/bookdonations For information about possible value of older materials, the Rare Books and Manucripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL, a division of the American Library Association), has prepared a detailed brochure, Your Old Books.
Are there any volunteer opportunities at your Annual Conference (or Midwinter Meeting)?
Each year for the Annual Conference, the Chapter Relations Office puts together a group of student volunteers from the chapters to assist ALA staff at the conference. To qualify, each student must be a current ALA member and a member of a student chapter, and cannot have previously participated in the program. Although each school has its own selection process (i.e. random drawing, essay contest, etc.), the chosen student's name must be submitted to ALA by the group's faculty advisor. One student will be accepted per chapter.
In exchange for working 4 hours per day at the conference, each student will receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. Transportation costs (such as airfare and cabs) are the student's responsibility. This program is only available at Annual Conference. At this time, there are no volunteer opportunities at Midwinter Meetings.
Information about the Student-to-Staff Program is sent to the schools each year in January.
I am a publisher. Where can I get information on your conferences and how I can participate?
For a list of the upcoming conferences of both the American Library Association and its state library association chapters, please see Affiliates conference & event calendar 2008-2019: A listing of library association conferences & events; includes religious holidays. For a list of future ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference dates and locations only, please see Upcoming Conferences & Events. For full details on exhibiting at upcoming ALA Annual Conferences and/or Midwinter Meetings, please see the ALA Conferences and Exhibitions section of the ALA web site.
What is the ALA-APA? How is it different from ALA?
The ALA Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) was created to work for better salaries, pay equity and increased status for librarians and other library workers and to certify individuals in specializations beyond the first degree. It is a legally separate entity, tied to ALA through an interlocked Board and Council. To find out more about ALA-APA activities, such as National Library Workers Day, and how you can get involved, visit the web site at http://www.ala-apa.org.
What happened to the Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace?
The original 1990s Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents & Kids had become outdated, with many web site links no longer working. ALA's Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of ALA) revised the document and the list of links ultimately became the Great Web Sites for Kids:
http://www.ala.org/greatsites The additional information in the print brochure evolved into the The Librarian's Guide to Great Web Sites for Kids brochure, which is freely available online as an Adobe Reader PDF file, at:
http://www.ala.org/apps/gws/greatsitesbrochure.pdf
What happened to LPN (Library Personnel News)?
LPN, or Library Personnel News, which was published by the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR), ceased with the December 2003 issue. It was replaced in January 2004 by an electronic monthly newsletter, called Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today's Leaders, which is published by the American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA). Library Worklife covers similar HR-related issues, such as career advancement and HR laws and practice, and includes new topics, such as certification, statistics, and work/life balance, along with a section devoted to support staff issues. See the following web pages for further assistance: Information about Library Worklife and subscription costs:
http://www.ala-apa.org/newsletter/newsletter.html How to subscribe to Library Worklife:
http://www.ala-apa.org/newsletter/subscription_form.htm How to write for Library Worklife:
http://www.ala-apa.org/newsletter/submissions.htm
How do I register for ALA's online courses, such as the ones being offered by ACRL, ASCLA, YALSA, and RUSA?
Please see the Online Registration page for Distance Learning for further assistance.
For questions about registering for events or conferences, please contact our Registration Center at registration@ala.org. For login help, send help requests to loginhelp@ala.org.
I do a lot of traveling and visit libraries all over the country. What would make the visits more enjoyable would be if ALA would institute a National Library Card that I could use at any and all of them.
This remains a popular suggestion from library users and patrons year after year. However, neither ALA nor PLA (Public Library Association, a division of ALA <http://www.ala.org/pla>) coordinate national public library service. Please be aware that ALA is a private, professional nonprofit organization to which members--both individual librarians and organizational libraries--must pay dues to belong. Not necessarily every librarian or library are members of ALA. Public libraries are overseen not by ALA, but by their State Library. Due to the process by which public libraries are funded, the establishment of any national reciprocal borrowing privileges is a bit more complex than you might imagine. Public libraries in the U.S. are set up under a local governance model, as the majority of funding for most public libraries comes from local taxes. On average, nationwide, local taxes are responsible for over 80% of public library funds, with 10% coming from state sources; federal interests contribute less than 1%. Also, there is no mechanism set up by which the materials borrowed by "national" library users and patrons could be returned to their home institutions—which are presumably a state or more away--in a timely manner. Nor is there a mechanism to ensure that these materials would be returned. Creating such a multi-state secure mechanism that would protect and secure the varied collections of all of the libraries across the country from any misuse or abuse of a national borrowing system would pose a formidable challenge. Over the years, public libraries have made great strides in resources sharing, through the development of inter-library lending procedures, cooperative partnerships, regional networks, and even some statewide networks. But a single all-state borrowing card and system would be difficult to develop.
I just finished reading a book on your banned books list. I would like to find a summary of the reasons why this book was challenged.
The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) maintains information on which books are challenged and why and regularly publishes this information in a publication, most recently in the 2007 Banned Books Resource Guide.
The 2007 Banned Books Resource Guide, which lists both banned and challenged books along with their dates and locations and reasons, is available from the ALA Online Store, but it may already be available to you from your local public or school library collection. It is not duplicated online.
Information in the Resource Guide is often initially published in the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom where there may also be an extensive discussion of the events surrounding a challenge.
For some online resources, consult the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom already noted. Check especially the listings under "Targets of the censor."
A University of Pennsylvania Library site, The Online Books Page, has links to challenged books in the public domain.
Created by a university librarian, The Forbidden Library: Banned and Challenged Books provides brief information on challenged books, with some references to bannings (and burning at the stake!) in the 16th century.
Some of the more well-known banned and challenged books appear in a joint online project with Google Book Search, Celebrate Your Freedom to Read - Explore Banned Books.
In addition, there are a number of other books that may assist you in your researches. Please check with your local library about the availability of any of the following:
100 banned books: censorship histories of world literature / Nicholas J. Karolides, Margaret Bald, Dawn B. Sova. New York: Checkmark Books, 1999.
Banned in the U.S.A.: a reference guide to book censorship in schools and public libraries / Herbert N. Foerstel. Rev. and expanded ed. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002.
Banned books, 387 B.C. to 1978 A.D. / Anne Lyon Haight, Chandler B. Grannis. New York: R.R. Bowker, 1978.
Banned plays: censorship histories of 125 stage dramas / Dawn B. Sova. New York: Facts on File, c2004.
Battle of the books: literary censorship in the public schools, 1950-1985 / Lee Burress. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1989.
Censored books II: critical viewpoints, 1985-2000 / edited by Nicholas J. Karolides. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2002.
Censorship: a world encyclopedia / editor, Derek Jones. London; Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, c2001. (4 v.)
Forbidden books in American public libraries, 1876-1939: a study in cultural change / Evelyn Geller. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1984
Intellectual freedom for children: the censor is coming. [Chicago, Ill.] : American Library Association, 2000
Intellectual freedom manual, 7th edition. Chicago: American Library Association, 2006.
Censorship and selection: issues and answers for schools / Henry Reichman. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.
Libraries, the First Amendment, and cyberspace: what you need to know / Robert S. Peck. Chicago: American Library Association, 2000.
Libricide: the regime-sponsored destruction of books and libraries in the twentieth century / Rebecca Knuth. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2003.
Teaching banned books: guides for young readers / Pat Scales. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.
(Note: This is a selective list. Your local library may have other equally useful books--look for books with subjects including the terms “Censorship,” “Prohibited books,” and “Challenged books.” )
As stated on the reunion of the cast of the 1970s ABC-TV television show, Happy Days, is it true that after the airing on September 27, 1977, of the episode titled, "Hard Cover," in which the show's most popular character, Fonzie, portrayed by actor Henry Winkler, got a library card, that library card registrations by children suddenly received a dramatic increase, as much as 500%?
Yes, as discussed in the Happy Days 30th Anniversary Reunion television special that first aired on the ABC network on February 12, 2005, the Fonzie character did encourage his buddies to get a library card (the "Hard Cover" episode already has a claim to fame as being the first episode after Fonzie, ahem, "jumped the shark" in the season's three-part opener), but the American Library Association has been unable to document an increase in signups of the magnitude suggested by Winkler. Only a few states track the number of library cards held with any reliability, and there is no report in ALA's American Libraries or in any other library press periodical telling of a surge in signups in the months following the episode. The number of library cards in the United States is one statistic that isn't collected for the Public Libraries in the United States federal survey series by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Neither does a number appear in The Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac. There's a hesitation to collect and present such numbers, due to the fact that the accuracy of them would vary from library to library. For example, ALA publishes its own annual public library survey through its Public Library Association (PLA, a division of ALA), the Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report, which is conducted on a random sampling of about 1,000 public libraries all over the US, of various population served sizes and locations. The survey questionnaire does ask each library to provide its number of "library registrations" but with the caveat: "Report this figure only if the library has purged its file at least once within the last three years. If not, indicate by putting N/A in the space." Many of the participating libraries, which are individually named in the report, do provide a number, but dozens of them do not. Patrons move away, or pass away, and citizens are under no obligation, legal or otherwise, to inform public libraries of their own or a relative's status and its effect on the library’s number of registrations. In short, there is no way to prove--or disprove--the statement. Winkler, providing the keynote speech at the closing session of ALA's 2005 Annual Conference, has spoken before of what he has overcome to become successful in his chosen profession, and he is obviously passionate about inspiring others, especially children, through literacy. For more information, see the article, From the Desk of Norman Lear: The Fonz, Drunk Drivers, and Trash, available from the Environmental Media Association, and the Happy Days Wikipedia entry. Also see Entertainment’s Impact on Society: Some Recent Examples (PDF) from the Council for Excellence in Government and the Entertainment Education and Health in the United States article that appeared in the Spring 2004 Issue Brief of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Where can I buy a copy of the Dewey Decimal Classification?
The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) is published by OCLC/Forest Press. For full information on the formats in which the Decimal Classification is available, please see http://www.oclc.org/dewey. A list of some of the libraries around the world that are using Dewey Decimal Classification can be found at Online DDC Catalogs.
I've been reading in the newspapers about library closings. Is there anything I can do to help?
Absolutely! Support for America's libraries is vital and that's what @ your library - The Campaign for America's Libraries is all about. Advocacy for libraries is important as funding cuts continue across the country--see Funding News @ your library for the latest news reports. Do not hesitate to contact the Campaign at atyourlibrary@ala.org with any questions. For further information and guidance, definitely contact ALA's new Office for Library Advocacy (OLA). Find out more about OLA from the ALA Marginalia blog post, OLA: The First 100 Days.
I'd like to present a program at your next conference. How do I go about doing so?
Please see the new Programs & Sessions page for the 2009 ALA Annual Conference which fully explains how to submit a Grassroots Program Proposal in time for the February 6, 2009 deadline. Information on submitting proposals for the ALA Poster Sessions for July 11, 12, and 13 at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in time for the January 31st, 2009 deadline is available online.
How can I learn about doing public relations for my library?
The Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA, a division of the American Library Association), sponsors programs, publications, etc., pertinent to your needs. See specifically its Public Relations and Marketing Section. ALA's public relations department, the Public Information Office (PIO <http://www.ala.org/pio>), manages the public awareness efforts of the Association through the Campaign for America's Libraries, delivering key messages to external audiences about the value of libraries and librarians. Join PIO's Electronic Discussion lists, such as PR Talk or Library Advocacy Now! And see PIO's Visibility @ your library Blog for the latest tips, news, and information, at:
http://www.pio.ala.org/visibility In addition, the Library Media & PR web site by Stephanie Stokes provides public relations information and opportunities. Some recent books you might find useful include:
Doucett, Elisabeth. Creating Your Library Brand: Communicating Your Relevance and Value to Your Patrons. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008.
Fisher, Patricia H. and Marseille M. Pride. Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan: A Guide to Help You Survive and Thrive. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.
Wolfe, Lisa A. Library Public Relations, Promotions, and Communications, Second Edition: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2005.
See the book, article, and online resources compiled by the ALA Library on this subject at the delicious.com web site, at:http://delicious.com/alalibrary/libmarketingandpr
What is El día de los niños/El día de los libros--Children's Day/Book Day?
El día de los niños/El día de los libros--Children's Day/Book Day--is celebrated every year on April 30. Information about the event can be found on the ALA web site, at:
http://www.ala.org/dia.
http://www.patmora.com/dia.htm.
What is the "e-rate?"
E-rate is the popular name for a far-sighted extension of Universal Service authorized by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. This federal initiative provides discounts to public libraries and to public and private K-12 schools on telecommunications services, Internet access and some closely related costs, such as inside wiring. The discounts range from 20% to 90% with the deepest discounts going to those communities with the greatest need based upon the local eligibility levels for participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The E-rate has played a pivotal role in helping libraries connect their users to the Internet. Today more than 95% of our nation's libraries offer Internet access to the public. This is compared to 1996 when 28% of library systems that offered public access to the Internet in at least one branch. With more than $350 million in discounts since 1998, the E-rate has helped change the public library's information technology landscape. For more information, please see the E-Rate and Universal Service web page from ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP).
Has ALA any information on helping those affected by Hurricane Katrina? What are the proper steps to take in cleaning up a library after a disaster?
See ALA's Libraries and Hurricane Katrina page for latest information and resources. For further actions and assistance, please see the book donation instructions for both individuals and organizations at the New Orleans Public Library web site, on the Frequently Asked Questions About Book Donations web page. Contact the ALA Library at library@ala.org to request a list of organizations that will accept used book donations. For tips on how to clean up following a natural or other disaster, please see the resources noted on ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 10, Disaster Resources: A Selected Annotated Bibliography, particularly Tips for Salvaging Water Damaged Valuables, which was prepared by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a group which also has the Disaster Resources for Cultural Institutions page and the ten-minute online video, Coping with Water Damage. For libraries affected by flooding, or by water damage following a fire, mold may be a difficult problem once the water subsides, and discarding the materials may be the best course of action. See Invasion of the Giant Mold Spore, a SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network) Preservation Leaflet, for specific information. SOLINET has also prepared a Disaster Preparedness and Recovery: Selected Bibliography. Other online disaster preparedness resources are the Disaster Preparedness and Recovery page from the ALA Washington Office and the Disaster preparedness and response page from CoOL, Conservation OnLine: Resources for Conservation Professionals. Also view the extensive resources compiled by the Society of American Archivists for its annual MayDay May 1 "Save Our Archives" event, including a list of Annotated MayDay Resources. If your area has been declared a federal disaster area, the web site of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will have additional information for you. Also, see the web sites of the American Red Cross and use FirstGov.gov, the official web portal of all U.S. Government agencies.
What--and when--is Teen Read Week?
Teen Read Week will next be celebrated October 18-24, 2009.
Teen Read Week--http://www.ala.org/teenread--is an annual observance celebrating teen and young adult reading for enjoyment which began in 1998. Books with Bite @ your library® was the theme for 2008 See the list of titles nominated by teens for the 2008 Teens' Top Ten Books!
Find out future Teen Read Week dates.
If I have feedback about the site, how can I send the feedback to ALA?
ALA is very interested in hearing what our members and site visitors have to say about our web site. We have established an e-mail box for this purpose. To provide feedback on this site, you may complete the Feedback Form online. For comments or questions about ALA and its work, please use ala@ala.org.
What is National Library Workers Day? When is it?
National Library Workers Day (NLWD) will next be celebrated on Tuesday, April 14, 2009.
National Library Workers Day (NLWD) is an opportunity to celebrate the people who make libraries work, because "Libraries Work Because We Do." On the Tuesday of National Library Week, libraries host events that recognize the value, variety of responsibilities and contributions of library employees. NLWD 2008 was held Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Find out more about the 2008 celebration in the LiveJournal Library Reference Specialist blog entry, National Library Workers Day 2008!
Events have included parties sponsored by friends groups or trustees, bulletin boards with profiles of library staff so patrons can get to know them better, and personalized handmade "I appreciate you" cards given out by staff to one another. More ideas about how to publicize and celebrate can be found on the NLWD page on the ALA-APA web site, at:
http://www.ala-apa.org/about/nlwd.html
Where can I find a copy of the copyright notice to place on copiers?
The copyright warning notice which should be placed on library photocopiers and other machines capable of duplication comes from the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress, which is online at:
http://www.copyright.gov The entire statement can be found in Circular 21, Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians, of the Copyright Office, which appears online as an Adobe Reader PDF (Portable Document Format) document, at:
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/circs/circ21.pdf In Circular 21, the copyright warning notice appears on page 20 of the 24-page PDF document; the paragraphs above and below the notice itself provide guidelines as to use and placement.
In light of recent events, how can I expedite information requests within the framework of state confidentiality laws?
America's libraries support President Bush and Congressional leaders in our nation's efforts to preserve and protect the many hard-fought freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Librarians are encouraged to study and understand state confidentiality laws and to cooperate with the authorities within the guidelines provided by these laws. Librarians have a responsibility to protect the privacy of our patrons while responding to legitimate national security concerns.
Please see the Questions and Answers on Privacy and Confidentiality web page from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. This statement includes links to key policy documents previously prepared by the American Library Association.
Who is the author of the ALA website? When did the site begin?
ALA began its public electronic era in the 1988-89 fiscal year, when several staff were provided "bitnet" accounts, courtesy of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). On May 12, 1991, the first subscription-based electronic list--ALCTS Network News (AN2)--was launched (AN2 was discontinued in 2002). More accounts and many more e-lists followed. In July 1994, ALA launched a Gopher, using the server at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There is a review of the Gopher service in the March 1995 American Libraries. On March 21, 1996, ALA moved to its own server, and began the process of migrating the material on the Gopher to the web site, www.ala.org. All units were provided "space" on the Gopher ... and the web. This space has become increasingly sophisticated as units have gained expertise in web presentation of material of interest to our members, prospective members, and others who have an interest in the mission of the ALA. In the fall of 2001, ALA Information Technology and Telecommunications Services (ITTS) Unit has contracted with a content management firm to assist in the redevelopment of the site. This "new" website launched April 7, 2003. It is the product of over 100 web content developers, and there is no single "webmaster." The ALA web is funded by the general ALA budget, with much of the developmental support coming from individual unit funds (for the staff involved in preparing the web pages or for outside contractors hired). In some cases, members directly support the web development as part of their volunteer work for the Association when they prepare pages--or even maintain whole linked websites. The web--with its nearly 40,000 pages--is continuously updated The main ALA URL -- http://www.ala.org -- remains the same as it has been since we first launched a website. Many division, round tables and office URLs also transferred to the new site. There are, however, many underlying addresses or URLs that will be changed in the transition. Enhanced search features and a detailed site maps are available in the new site to assist members and visitors in finding information. During the week of January 19, 2004, URLs on ALA's Web site were shortened to enhance the site's usability and allow users to refer to its pages more easily in print and other publications. This change to the site's structure did not affect any existing references to the longer URLs found on the site previously. All "old" URLs will automatically "redirect" to new ones, so that if you have bookmarked one of our pages, referred to it in print, or linked to it from somewhere else on the Web, you will be automatically redirected to the appropriate content. The most recent changes to the ALA Web Site, taking place from 2007 on through 2008, have been extensively tracked and duly reported by Karen Muller, ALA Librarian and Knowledge Manager, in the ALA Marginalia Blog in the ALA Web Site category. The ALA Web Advisory Committee provides general oversight for ALA's web-based activities.
Has the American Library Association made any statements about the government actions in the area of terrorism?
On October 25, 2001, Congress passed the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act" (USA Patriot Act.) This law broadly expands the powers of federal law enforcement agencies investigating cases involving foreign intelligence and international terrorism. See The USA PATRIOT Act in the Library from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) for further information and guidance.
When are ALA officer elections held?
See the Election Information page for the ALA 2008 election results.
The ALA election process begins with the preparation of the slate of candidates by the ALA Nominating Committee; there are also nominating committees in each of the divisions, sections of divisions, and the round tables. These slates are reported to the appropriate governing boards during the Midwinter Meeting. Once candidates are notified of the results, the Election Committee's report is posted to the website.How can I find my closest public library?
See the web page, Find Your Library at ALA's http://www.ilovelibraries.org web site.
Where can I get information about CIPA?
See ALA's Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) web page, which is a collaboration among the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the Washington Office, and the Public Information Office.
What--and when--is Teen Tech Week?
Teen Tech Week 2009 will next be celebrated March 8-14, 2009. The general theme of Teen Tech Week is Get Connected @ Your Library. The 2009 focus theme is Press Play @ Your Library. See the Teen Tech Week 2009 planning resources.
Teen Tech Week 2008 materials, including bookmarks and posters, are available at the ALA Online Store. The event is sponsored by ALA's Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA, a division of ALA <http://www.ala.org/yalsa>).
For more details, see http://www.ala.org/teentechweek. Also see the Teen Tech Week page at the YALSA Wiki.
Teen Tech Week debuted March 4-10, 2007.
How may I obtain assistance with navigating the website?
To gain assistance by phone, contact ALA at (800) 545-2433, press 3 to reach the ALA Library, or send an e-mail to library@ala.org.
How do I set up a library?
Please see the web page compiled by the ALA Library on this subject, ALA Library Fact Sheet 16 - Setting Up a Library: A Resource Guide, at:
http://www.ala.org/library/fact16.html The web page is divided into sections for seven library types: school library; public library; academic (college or university) library; library in an international setting; office or small corporate library, one-person library (OPL); church library, synagogue library; and home library, family library.
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