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Volume 3, No. 1• January 2006
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Celebrating the Second Anniversary
of Library Worklife |
I want to be in the Spotlight!
9to5: Organizing Low-Wage Women
By Ellen Bravo, Gloria Santa Anna and Linda Meric
When 9to5, National Association of Working Women was founded in Boston in 1973, the terms "sexual harassment," "pay equity" and "family leave" didn’t exist or weren’t widely used in the American vocabulary. But experiences with sexual degradation on the job, under-valuation of women’s work and lack of consideration for family responsibilities were common. So were the consequences, financially and emotionally, for women workers. MORE
The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association Renaming Contest Deadline Extended!
The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association is extending its renaming contest deadline to January 31, 2006, to provide additional time to suggest a new name that encompasses the organization’s dual missions. The ALA-APA was established in 2002 to offer certifications for library staff in specialized fields and to advocate for the status of—and better salaries for—library workers. MORE
Pittsfield, Maine, Library Workers Receive 4% Raise
Public library workers, as city employees of Pittsfield, Maine, benefited from the approved 2006 budget, which was adopted on December 20, 2005. Pittsfield city councilors voted for a $2.48 million operating budget, without increasing the mill rate. The original raise was proposed to be 2%, but, because health insurance costs were lower than expected, was increased to 4%. MORE
Buffalo and Erie County (NY) Public Library Board Makes Cuts
A significant decrease in funding from Erie County meant the Public Library Board has had to make serious cuts to library staffing and operations for 2006. The $25.3 million budget, according to Kenneth H. Stone, the library system’s chief financial officer, is smaller than the 1997 budget. Salaries and benefits account for more than three quarters of the library budget. MORE
Cuyahoga Falls (OH) Library Freezes Administrative Salaries Due to Budget Losses
Cuyahoga Falls (OH) Library trustees voted to close the library on Sundays and reduce hours on other days due to funding shortfall. The 2006 budget of almost $1.8 million is $142,521 less than in 2005. In November, a five-year levy was not passed, by 441 votes, which would have covered current expenses. MORE
I want to write about Career Advancement!
Career E-Portfolios Part II: Creating an Online Career Development Tool
By Casey Schacher
Online e-portfolios, which are accessible via the internet, can have a tremendous impact on career development. Not only do they provide users access to candidate information anytime and from anywhere, they also suggest technical knowledge and expertise. The purpose of this article is to break down the creation of online e-portfolios into a sequence of manageable tasks that will turn any professional into a savvy web designer and developer. MORE
 I want to write about Certification!
Certified Public Library Administrator Program Application Process Opens on January 17, 2006
Public librarians—what’s next? Certification! The online application for the Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA) will be active on Tuesday, January 17. Those who want to be the first to participate in this program may apply at www.ala-apa.org/certification/cplaapplication.html. The application fee for the CPLA program is $250 for American Library Association members and $300 for non-American Library Association members. Applications will be reviewed by the Certification Review Committee on a quarterly basis, beginning in the spring of 2006. MORE
I want to write about HR Law!
Bullying: Beyond the Playground
By: George K. Pitchford, Esq
The concept of bullying is normally associated with a school playground, and invokes images of a heavyset pre-teen demanding lunch money from a smaller, less mature victim. In spite of this more common image of bullies and bullying, it is now also recognized as a major problem in the workplace, and employers and employees must understand some of the issues surrounding bullying, and be prepared to address them in their own workplace. MORE
I want to write about HR Practice!
Turning Over a New Leaf in the New Year: How to Get Chronically Late Employees to Report to Work on Time
By Christine Martin
Is your New Year’s resolution to "never be late again?" Do you wish your employees would make such a vow? Tardiness may not matter in some professions, but in libraries, where customer service is so important, being at one’s work station on time and ready to work matters a lot. Chronic tardiness often means present co-workers must scramble to cover for missing employees. Customers may eventually complain about sub-optimal service, although they probably will not realize the cause. MORE
I want to write about Salaries & Pay Equity!
Librarians Fight for Higher Salaries
By Valerie Nye
A salary survey conducted by the New Mexico State Library staff in the summer of 2005 found that workers employed by the State Library are severely underpaid. The 2005 study, titled "Pay Inequity at the New Mexico State Library: Study and Recommendations," can be found online at: www.stlib.state.nm.us/files/NMSLSalaryReport.pdf. MORE
Librarian Salaries 2005: Revised Survey Yields Broader Results
By Denise M. Davis and Jenifer Grady
The 2005 salary survey represents a break in the methodology used for the 1982-2004 surveys. For a number of years ALA members and researchers have asked for state-level salary data instead of—or in addition to—regional data. The 2005 survey was designed to meet that need.
The sample of public and academic libraries was stratified by region AND at the state level. MORE
I want to write about Statistics!
Libraries Nationwide Will Soon Receive Non-MLS Salary Survey
As you know, ALA has collected and published salary information on librarians with ALA-accredited masters degrees since 1982. In 2005, that survey was expanded to address the request by the library community to have state-level data. In 2006, we are conducting the first annual non-Masters degree in Library Science (non-MLS) Salary Survey! MORE
I want to write about Support Staff!
Paraprofessional of the Year Award Nominations: Nominations due January 6, 2006
Library Journal will honor one support staffer with its seventh annual Paraprofessional of the Year award in its March 1, 2006, issue. Sponsored by Brodart Library Supplies & Furnishings, which underwrites the $1500 cash prize and a reception to honor the winner at the American Library Association conference in June, the award recognizes the essential role of paraprofessionals in providing excellent library service. MORE
 I want to write about Work/Life!
Librarian Trading Cards: Putting a Face with More Than a Name
By Gwyneth Mibeck
Where else can you see librarians wearing a parrot mask, flexing muscles like Rosie the Riveter or smiling sneakily behind heavy books? Librarian trading cards are fun, creative and important. The colorful mini-profiles demonstrate how technology can promote your profession and your library. Library student Amy Pelman launched the first set of cards this past November through her Librarian Trading Cards Blog. MORE
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