Library Worklife

Volume 2, No. 8 • August 2005

ALA-APA News

ALA Member Demographics Still Needed

The ALA Office for Research and Statistics (ORS) Survey of Member Demographics is open until the end of September. The Web-based survey, which has only six questions and takes a few minutes to answer, is being conducted by a task force of t he ALA Committee on Diversity and the ALA Membership Committee. By undertaking this member survey, ALA is taking a big step toward knowing itself and being able to describe itself to others. Your individual response remains confidential, and ALA only will report about total responses. ORS thanks you in advance for your participation. http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/researchstatistics.htm

Loan Forgiveness Now Extends to Librarians Working in Low Income Area

Washington D.C. (July 21, 2005) -- Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva presented an amendment today during the House Education and Workforce Committee’s markup of H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act to expand loan forgiveness to highly qualified teachers in low‑income communities, bilingual teachers, librarians and child welfare workers.

The amendment passed by voice vote.

The amendment will extend Section 428K of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include loan forgiveness to first responders in low‑income communities, highly qualified teachers in low‑income communities, bilingual teachers, and child welfare workers. The current law does allow for the cancellation of educational loans in low-income areas. However, this amendment will expand the language of the section in order to provide up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness for those individuals that have completed a baccalaureate or advanced degree and served for 5 consecutive years in “areas of national need” as designated by the Secretary of Education.

The expansion of the loan forgiveness program will offer better incentives for bilingual teachers, child welfare workers, and librarians who work in low‑income areas.

“Librarians are facing a dire shortage across the nation”, said Grijalva. “The numbers represent that 47 percent of our national librarians are expected to reach retirement by 2008. The amendment would provide substantial incentives for tomorrow’s leaders to help educate and assist America’s children who live in some of the poorest, most impoverished communities in our country”

The American Library Association supported the amendment.

See: http://www.house.gov/grijalva/press/press_releases/pr_072105_2.html

U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush Wants Kids to Get in the “Zone” of Information about Congress and Scholarships with Addition of New Student Section on His Web Site.

School may be out but students can log on and learn how a bill is created, where to find scholarships and how to stay safe on the ‘net.’

WASHINGTON (July 2005) - To ensure even his youngest constituents have the opportunity to learn and instantly gain access to the inner workings of the federal government on the information highway, Congressman Bobby L. Rush in partnership with the Metropolitan Library System, a regional library consortium providing consulting, advocacy and continuing education for all types of libraries in Chicago and southern Illinois suburbs, recently launched the Student Zone section on his enhanced Web site at http://www.house.gov/rush/student.shtml.

Designed to assist the growing demand of kids interested in government, the Student Zone also provides parents and teachers with referral sites, which gives tips on how to keep kids safe while surfing the Internet. College bound students can obtain access to scholarships, information on universities and colleges in Illinois, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to secure a military academy appointment from Congressman Rush.

“The Internet is a powerful research and informational tool for students today, and I chose to work with the Metropolitan Library System because of their expertise on age appropriate content and navigation,” said Rush. “I’ve always been committed to responding to the innate, intellectual curiosity of young people, and the Student Zone section on my Web site accomplishes that goal.”

"Can’t find what you need? Don't worry. Call or e-mail an information savvy librarian at your local library who is ready and waiting to assist with any and all information needs at a library near you. "

Some reference sites located in the Student Zone are password protected and available only to patrons affiliated with that school or public library, but most of these resources can be accessed from any public or school library within the Metropolitan Library System, which includes academic, public, special and school libraries in Chicago and parts of Cook, Will and DuPage counties.

“Our librarians work daily to assist students on a wide range of research topics as it relates to the federal government, including homework assignments on political figures such as Congressman Rush,” said Veronda J. Pitchford, MLS advocacy liaison. “We are pleased that we can extend our services and provide one of the most comprehensive research and information centers through Congressman Rush’s web site, which targets students and parents who are seeking legislative information.”

For more information and to access the Student Zone, please visit http://www.mls.lib.il.us/rush/.

For more information please contact: Veronda J. Pitchford, Advocacy Liaison, Metropolitan Library System, (630) 734-5024, pitchfordv@mls.lib.il.us or Tasha Harris, Press Secretary, Office of Congressman Bobby L. Rush, (773) 224-6500, tasha.harris@mail.house.gov.