|
Volume 2, No. 6• June 2005
| |
|
|
I want to be in the Spotlight!
Meet the Librarian for Libraries - Karen Muller!
By Karen Muller
Karen Muller is "Librarian and Knowledge Management Specialist" at the American Library Association. Usually, she introduces herself as "Librarian," delighting that it is the shortest job title at ALA. And it surely beats her prior title, "Executive Director of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) and Executive Director of the Library Administration and Management Association, divisions of the American Library Association." Karen has been at ALA eighteen years, the last four of them in her current position. Here's what she has to say about her current position: MORE
Maurice Freedman and Dorothy Morgan win Dynix-ALA-APA Award for Promoting Salaries and Status for Library Workers
The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) is pleased to announce Maurice Freedman and Dorothy Morgan are the winners of the first Dynix-ALA-APA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Salaries and Status for Library Workers. The award is given to an individual, group of individuals or institution that have made an outstanding contribution to improving the salary and status of library workers in a local, regional or national setting. MORE
Focus Groups at Conference: What Can the ALA-APA Do for Me?
Have you found yourself asking, "What can the ALA-Allied Professional Association do for me? I work in a (fill-in-the-blank) library and there's nothing than can be done about my salary!"
Find out if your assumptions are valid by attending a focus group at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago in June. ALA-APA may already be doing something for you, but you are invited to make suggestions for how ALA-APA can serve you better. There are two opportunities to voice your opinion: MORE
HBCU Library Alliance Leadership Institute is Scheduled to Begin: Pilot Institute Set for June
The HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Library Alliance Leadership Program, funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, has been scheduled. The primary objective of the Leadership Program is to provide theoretical and practical instruction and useful resources to encourage the development of leadership skills within the HBCU library community and on their own campuses. MORE
Districts' and Teachers' Unions Sue over Bush Law
Reprinted from the Public Education Network Weekly NewsBlast, April 22, 2005
http://publiceducation.org/
Opening a new front in the growing rebellion against President Bush's signature education law, the nation's largest teachers' union and eight school districts in Michigan, Texas and Vermont have sued the Department of Education, accusing it of violating a passage in the law that says states cannot be forced to spend their own money to meet federal requirements. MORE
I want to write about Career Advancement!
What Else You Can Do with a Library Degree?
By Christine Martin
Apologies to Betty-Carol Sellen, editor of 1997 book of same name.
With library salaries in the cellar, it pays-literally and figuratively-to look around for non-library employers who value a librarian's skills. Old standbys, of course, are vendors that sell products to librarians and private-sector organizations such as newspapers, law firms, and other corporations that may have an in-house library. MORE
Volunteer Editors and Columnists Wanted!
ALA-APA is seeking volunteer editors and regular columnists for Library Worklife: HR E-News for Today's Leaders. This electronic publication reaches thousands of libraries and library workers each month, delivering high quality content in the following areas: MORE
Professional Associations . . . Moving Past Membership into Involvement
By Julie Todaro
In all aspects of discussing professionalism, the overarching theme is not just membership but involvement in the profession in general and in the structures that support the profession. Our primary structure for involvement, the association, provides the individual with not only opportunities for general involvement but opportunities for continuous learning, avenues for adding to the information and research for the profession and an almost infinite number of opportunities for activity through committees, task forces, discussion groups, sections, and a variety of other workgroups.
Why become involved? MORE
I want to write about HR Law & Regulation!
Summer Parties: Plan Wisely to Avoid Liability
By Kelly Hayden, JD, Labor/Employment Counsel
Originally published by the Management Association of Illinois, April 22, 2005
As the weather turns warmer, many employers plan special events for staff ranging from ordering sandwiches/pizza to a full-day picnic event on the weekend, including food, beverages and activities for employees and family members. While such social outings are a nice break from the regular routine and can boost morale, employers need to be aware of legal issues that could arise and how to best protect the organization from a post-party lawsuit. A few simple steps and thought to issues that could arise is all it takes to prevent most problems at the picnic. MORE
I want to write about HR Practice!
The Importance of Knowledge Management Today
By Paula M. Singer PhD and Jeri E. Hurley, PHR
With so many employees in libraries today approaching retirement age many libraries are becoming concerned about the knowledge gap that will exist between the retirees and the new employees who fill the positions. Most of the baby boomers that are approaching retirement have been loyal to their place of work and more than likely have been employed by the same library for many years. Over this span of time they have gained a wealth of knowledge about the library, the clientele, co-workers, the work processes and procedures and how to function in their job the most efficient way. Has any of this knowledge been captured to pass on to the next employee and throughout the library to other employees so they will not have to start at ground zero again? Why lose all this knowledge that has taken someone many years to gain? MORE
I want to write about Salaries & Pay Equity!
Librarian Salary Survey
Your library may have received an invitation to participate in the 2005 Librarian Salary Survey. If so, The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) needs your help. Please complete the survey to help us provide information to the library community. ALA has collected and published similar information since 1982. Beginning with the 2005 survey, it is being coordinated by the ALA-APA as part of its mission of "improving the salaries and status of library workers." ALA-APA continues to work in consultation with the ALA Office for Research and Statistics. What will change is the publisher and an expansion of the way data collected and made available. What will not change is the quality of publication or the need for your participation. MORE
I want to write about Statistics!
Does Your City/Region/State Conduct a Library-Related Salary Survey?
If you know of salary surveys in your area, please send them to jgrady@ala.org . ALA-APA is gathering information about where salary statistics can be found nationwide. MORE
I want to write about Support Staff!
Membership as a Staff Development Initiative
By John Chrastka, Manager for Membership Development, American Library Association
Support staff have significant opportunities for professional development through membership in library associations. Membership has traditionally been a way to make essential connections that benefit one's work and personal life. However, many support staff do not consider association membership as a regular part of their career development. With encouragement from progressive directors and department heads, support staff can begin to see association membership as a vital, natural component of their professional journey. MORE
I want to write about Work/Life!
The Martial Art Librarian: Tai Chi as a Metaphor for Librarianship
By Lee Ratzan, Ph.D , School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies, Rutgers University and Master Andy Lee, Chief Instructor, TaiChiUSA.com
Abstract
Tai Chi Chuan is an ancient Chinese martial art that follows a philosophy of Ying and Yang and is attuned to the flow, focus, and harmony of opposing principles pictorially represented by the black and white Tai Chi symbol. The state of mind and physical principles of this ancient martial art can also serve as a metaphor for how to become and remain a successful library professional. MORE
|
