Volume 5, No. 12 • December 2008

ALA-APA News | Career Advancement | Certification | HR Law | HR Practice
Recruitment | Salaries | Spotlight | Statistics | Support Staff | Work/Life

Spotlight

ALA-APA News

  • Las Vegas–Area School Librarians Likely Safe for Now

    American Libraries: November 21, 2008

    The elimination of 105 middle and high school librarian positions has been proposed as part of the solution to a $120-million shortfall at Clark County (Nev.) School District, but following two heated public meetings, it appears likely that other areas of school funding will be cut to balance the budget.

    Much of the 14.1% budget cut, which was caused by reductions in state funding, has been planned: $32 million will be saved with a … Read the rest

Career Advancement

  • ASCLA Award Nominations Due Dec. 15

    CHICAGO—Don’t miss out on an opportunity to recognize a colleague or project for contributions to the library professions represented by the Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA).

    ASCLA’s five awards encompass three key areas: service to special populations, contribution to state library and multi-type library systems and service to the division. The nomination deadline for all awards is Dec. 15.

    Specifically, the awards recognize the following contributions:

    The ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award, sponsored by ASCLA, the National Organization on … Read the rest

  • Florida State University Supports ALA’s Diversity Efforts in the Library Profession

    CHICAGO – The Florida State University College of Information will provide matching funds for tuition to Letitia Bulic and Deidra Garcia, 2008 American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Scholarship winners.

    Bulic and Garcia are each pursuing a masters’ degree in library and information studies at Florida State, which has offered tuition remission to Spectrum recipients since 1999.

    Bulic, of Ormond Beach, Fla., graduated from Guilford College in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She is particularly interested in the management, … Read the rest

Certification

  • LSSCP to Proceed One Year Ahead of Schedule; Fall 2008 Meeting Addresses Revised Timeline, Assessment Recommendations

    By Jamie Bragg

    On October 30 and 31, 2008, the Library Support Staff Certification Program Advisory Committee gathered to discuss progress on the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP). During the two meetings, held at the American Library Association in Chicago, the Advisory Committee heard reports on topics including the LSSCP Project’s revised timeline; assessment recommendations; and policies and procedures.

    In their report on the project’s revised timeline, Co-Directors Karen Strege and Nancy Bolt proposed that the Advisory Committee (AC) … Read the rest

HR Practice

  • What Golf and the Stock Market Can Teach Us about Becoming a Better Manager

    By Julius Rhodes

    Playing golf can be infuriating. Anyone can hit a good shot, but the key to really mastering the game is the ability to hit a good shot time and time again. It has been said that while life is a game, golf is serious, and though I do not agree with the strength of that wording I do think the game of golf holds lessons that—if applied in a consistent and conscientious manner—can make us better managers.… Read the rest

Recruitment

  • LIS Diversity Scholarship Opportunity—March 1, 2009 Deadline

    The American Library Association’s Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies Division [ALA ASCLA] is recruiting applicants for the tenth annual ASCLA Century Scholarship. ASCLA Century, a $2500 award, is an ASCLA diversity initiative within the ALA Scholarship Program that promotes the entry of individuals with access needs into the library and information science profession.

    Eligible veterans are encouraged to apply.

    ASCLA Century Scholarship Home Page: http://ascla.ala.org/century

    ALA Scholarship Program Home Page: http://www.ala.org/scholarships/

    ASCLA Century Scholarship Criteria:

    1. Acceptance to or enrollment

      2. … Read the rest

Support Staff

  • ALA-APA Midwinter Forum on Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP)

    The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) is offering conference attendees an opportunity to give feedback on the development of a national, voluntary certification program for library support staff. Funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the project is a partnership between the American Library Association and the Western Council of State Libraries.

    This forum will be held 10:30 to noon, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at the 2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver.… Read the rest

Work/Life

  • How Can Screencasts Help You?

    By Alexandra Tyle

    Do you spend too much work time answering the same computer questions? “How do I create borders in Excel? How do I create an email account? How do I use the library catalog?” Do you need more time to dedicate to other library duties? If you answer yes to these questions, you may be a perfect candidate to learn screencasting!

    What is a screencast? A screencast is a recorded video of your computer desktop/screen as you demonstrate how to … Read the rest

HR Law

  • FMLA Regulations Issued; Effective January 16, 2009

    By Kelly A. Hayden, JD, Assistant General Counsel

    Reprinted with permission from the Management Association of Illinois’s Web site, www.hrsource.org. The article was posted on November 20, 2008.

    Employers have waited a long time. After receiving notification from the Department of Labor in February of 2008 that the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations would be revised, the Department issued regulations on November 17, 2008. Following a 60-day publication period, the regulations are due to take effect on … Read the rest

LW Tip