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I want to be in the Spotlight!
The Green Knight: Sustainability @ the Library
By Casey Schacher
A library wears many hats: information center, life-long educational institution and community advocator, to name a few. Now, it seems, that environmental activist can be added to that list. And for good reason: libraries, by reputation as well as by practice, are leaders in the information landscape, from the early adoption of emerging technologies to the active defense of intellectual freedom. As words like ‘green living’ are increasingly entering the public consciousness, libraries are once again rising to the challenge. Through the use of several practices aimed at environmental sustainability, libraries are helping to lead their communities toward better living. MORE
Indianapolis (IN) Librarians Use Patience to Win Union Battle
By Doug Cunningham, Labor Radio: April 20, 2009
Because Indiana law does not give collective bargaining rights to public employees, workers at the Indianapolis Marion County Library waged a four-year battle with the library board to pass a resolution allowing collective bargaining. With the aid of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the 225 library employees organized and won board approval, and in April 2009 they signed a collective bargaining contract. MORE
Budget Roundup: Seattle (WA) Library to Close for a Week To Save Money
By Norman Oder, Library Journal: April 17, 2009
As a part of efforts to reduce its budget by $13.3 million, the City of Seattle City Council will close the Seattle Public Library [AFSCME Local 2083] for the last week of August. MORE
Library Locals (NY) Slam Post Lies
The presidents of three New York City library locals firmly reject recent claims that retired NewYork library employees receive disproportionately large pensions. MORE
I want to write about Career Advancement!
Coping with Changes in Job Descriptions: A Survival Guide
By Melissa Mallon
While those of us lucky enough to have jobs might feel guilty complaining about workplace stress, employees throughout the nation face the strain of changing job descriptions. Restructuring of employee organization, reduction in work hours or even downsizing may shift the balance in an organization. My library, which is a small organization to begin with, lost one of our full-time staff members to a career change. Budget issues have not allowed for a replacement and, as a result, each librarian and staff member has seen a change to his or her job description. Regardless of the reasons for change, all of the aforementioned issues can cause an undue amount of work-related stress and insecurity. Fortunately, a variety of coping methods are available to library workers as they face unexpected (and even expected) changes to their daily routines. MORE
I want to write about Certification!
Becoming a Better Public Library Manager with CPLA®
The American Library Association (ALA) wants to help. In addition to the myriad of professional development offerings from ALA divisions and units, ALA is the sponsor of a national certification program for public librarians who want to improve their management skills. The Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA®) is a key tool for librarians who envision management in their futures, who are already managers but need to acquire or refresh their skills. Candidates and graduates cite many benefits to the program such as networking, finding solutions to problems, and being promoted and appointed as directors. Cathy Hakala-Ausperk said, “My CPLA classes are helping me be better at what I do, at a time when we all need to be at our best.” MORE
Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA®) Seeks Courses and Instructors
The American Library Association is the headquarters for the Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA®) which is a national certification program. The CPLA® program model focuses on giving public library managers competency in nine standard areas. MORE
I want to write about HR Law!
Gender Pay Gap Narrows among Federal Employees
A new study indicates that the long-recognized pay gap between men and women is shrinking, at least among employees in the public sector.
Between 1998 and 2007, the pay difference between male and female federal employees decreased from 19 cents to 11 cents on the dollar.
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I want to write about HR Practice!
Ethics, Chocolate and Beer
By Mary Anne Craft
We all deal in business ethics so often that we don’t give it much thought. However, in this time of bailouts, bonuses and economic mess-ups, when ethics tend to attract scrutiny, it is refreshing to stop and note those who early on gave ethics their full commitment. Though the producers of chocolate and beer are rarely given as case studies in ethics, the stories of Hershey Chocolate’s founder Milton Hershey, and the Trapist brewers in Westmalle, Belgium, provide excellent examples of ethical business practices.
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I want to write about Recruitment!
Learning Online: A Report on Distance Education in LIS Programs
By Christine Jackson
With the advent of increased technology and better means for appropriating that technology, online LIS programs have become increasingly viable for library school students and increasingly valued by the employers who hire those students. Students may now attend schools with fewer limits on where the school is located and whether they have the time and physical means to attend traditional classes. MORE
I want to write about Statistics!
National Library Workers Day Statistical Wrap-Up
By Jamie Bragg
National Library Workers Day worked because you did! ALA-APA received 735 Stars nominations this year, an increase of 150% over last years’ tally, 490. Library employees and patrons from across the country and around the world shared the stellar qualities of their local library workers. This year submissions of great supervisors and students were encouraged. In fact, a library school student at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information, Rachael Medina, was our public relations expert. MORE
I want to write about Support Staff!
Thelma
By Doris Bragg
Editors’ note: In celebration of National Library Workers’ Day and the bonds library workers form with their communities, we profile library paraprofessional Doris Bragg. Her story illustrates how the library brings together those with different needs—and, sometimes, with different numbers of legs.
In October of 1999, I began work as a clerk at the Madison County Library in Danielsville, Georgia. It is a small library in a mostly rural area with a very friendly population. In the past five years, our library visits have gone up 227 percent and computer use has risen 114 percent. The numbers are up but the people are the same. They want a good learning environment for their children, computer lessons, sewing group meetings, art display areas and their questions answered by a caring and informed staff. MORE
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want to write about Work/Life!
National Library Workers Day: How Did Your Library Celebrate?
By Jamie Bragg
Thank you for dedicating time, money, resources and thoughtfulness to celebrating National Library Workers Day! This year ALA-APA received 150 percent more Stars submissions than 2008 (a record 735, up from 490!). In addition, we received emails describing ways that libraries around the nation celebrated employee contributions on Tuesday, April 14th. Below we profile the ways libraries chose to make merry. Whether NLWD is a time-honored tradition at your library (this is the sixth celebration year), or whether you would like to initiate a NLWD celebration at your institution for next year, we hope these stories will inspire you. MORE
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Editors: Jenifer Grady, Jamie Bragg
Index of all articles from volume 1, no. 1, though volume 6, no. 4.
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