GENERAL NEWS: ALISE Conference Recap and Five Things

Hello dear Friends and Colleagues,

I am pleased to report that we were a big hit at the ALISE conference in Denver. Our doctoral students presented three posters for the Works-in-Progress session and I received several comments about how advanced they are for being second year Ph.D. students. We knew that! Also our faculty presented several sessions including:

· Feili Tu, library and information science, “Can Master’s Level Students in LIS Programs Provide Effective Virtual Reference Services (VRS)? A Report of a LIS Education Program and ASERL Collaborative Initiative,”

· Feili Tu, library and information science, “How a Simulated Library in the Second Life World Enhances Library and Information Science (LIS) Education: An LIS Education Program Study,”

· Ron Brown and Feili Tu, “Evaluating the Use of Second Life by Libraries and Other Information Environments,”

· Donna Shannon, “Meeting the Student Learning Outcomes Requirements for NCATE and ALA Accreditation,”

· S. K. Hastings and Charles Bierbauer, “State of the Schools,” for the Council of Deans and Directors.

The Denver weather was great most of the time. It was 65 there when it was snowing here! Ended up the week in snow and ice but sure was nice to walk without a coat for part of the time.

I attended an ALA town hall meeting, hosted by ALA President Jim Rettig to gather concerns and issues from librarians to present to President Obama. Of course, I strongly encouraged reauthorization for the Institute of Museum and Library Services emphasizing the importance of LSTA and the support for research and education that the institute has provided.

All in all, a very good and productive week of meetings. Personally, my highlight was seeing my good friend Eva Poole for our traditional, yearly lunch. My heart smiles just thinking about it!

Here are five items to read, think about or take action for:

1. This morning’s edition of The State ran a great article about the increased activity and importance of libraries as a resource at times of economic need. http://www.thestate.com/local/story/668090.html

2. Libraries big draw for job seekers [Detroit Free Press]

http://www.freep.com/article/20090126/NEWS06/901260342/1008

3. OCLC Defends Records Policy, Faces Questions, Suggestions, and Criticisms [Library Journal]

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6632413.html

4. YouTube Hits The Mute Button as Royalty Fight With Warner Bros. Continues [Rolling Stone]

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/01/16/youtube-hits-the-mute-button-as-royalty-fight-with-warner-brothers-continues/

5. And from our friends at the Lubuto Library project:

A showing of paintings by children who have been studying with artist Mwamba Mulangala at the Lubuto Library arts center is scheduled for February. Some of the children are really talented. Others simply delight in having found a way to joyfully express themselves. We'll let you know how the show was received in our next newsletter. In the meantime, you can see some of their art by clicking on the "visual arts program" icon on the photo page on Lubuto's website: http://www.lubuto.org/.

Let me know if there is anything we can do for you. In the meantime, read a book to someone you love.

Yours,

Sam