Library Worklife

Volume 2, No. 10 • October 2005

ALA-APA News

ALA-APA Needs an Extreme Makeover - For Its Name!

CHICAGO - The American Library Association -Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) is in search of a new name. The American Library Association established the ALA-APA in 2002 to advocate for the status and to better the salaries for library workers, and to offer certifications for library staff in specialized fields. With all the challenges ALA-APA faces in improving the status and educational qualifications of library workers, the association is in need of a name that reflects its mission.

"Awareness of the organization and its purposes is steadily increasing, but the ALA-APA is a still a long way from becoming a household name," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. "At this point, we need to increase its visibility and create greater awareness of its important work among ALA members and the library community. One way to increase this awareness is through a name more expressive of the organization's purposes."

ALA members and others interested in the status of library workers are invited to suggest a more appropriate name for ALA-APA that captures its two purposes:

Certification of individuals in library specializations
Advocacy and direct support of comparable worth, pay equity initiatives, and other activities designed to improve the salaries and status of librarians and other library workers.

Send all entries via e-mail to Jenifer Grady at jgrady@ala.org, or fax to 312-944-6131. All entries must be submitted by Friday, October 28, 2005. Telephoned entries cannot be accepted.

Maurice J. Freedman, Director of the Westchester (NY) Library System, Retires

Maurice "Mitch" Freedman retired August 31st, after 23 years as Director of the Westchester Library System. Mitch's prolific career has been chronicled and celebrated both locally and nationally. And it's not over - Mitch will continue to speak and consult, as well as hone his skills as a photographer. He's already had an exhibit of his work! Mitch will also work on his publishing company, the U*N*A*B*A*S*H*E*D Librarian. On August 8th, Barbara Livingston Nackman of the Journal News, the paper of Westchester, Rockland and Hudson, New York, listed three of Mitch's most powerful accomplishments:

Instituted computerized catalog system of materials for Westchester libraries.
Introduced online computer access at the library and from home terminals.
Fought legislation against Internet filters to limit individual access to Web sites.

In addition to these, Mitch, a write-in candidate, served as American Library Association President from 2002-2003. Library Journal took a more forward-focused approach in its interview with Mitch in the June 15th issue, asking him about the state of Westchester Library System, the American Library Association, and the salaries initiative. During Mitch's presidency, salary improvement was a major focus on his agenda, along with access, which is why we thank and congratulate Mitch.

Siobhan A. Reardon, formerly Deputy Executive Director of Brooklyn Public Library, has succeeded Mitch as the new Director of the Westchester Library System.

Librarian Extreme Makeover

ABC's television show, Extreme Makeover, is looking for a variety of candidates to be featured and given the opportunity of a lifetime. Among the stories they are seeking? A cancer survivor or a librarian between 21 and 40 years of age. These two categories are listed on the same line. Divorcees, small town girls, and prosthesis owners have their own paragraph descriptions.

http://abc.go.com/primetime/extrememakeover/casting.html

"Desk Set" Star Dina Merrill to Appear in Librarian Documentary

MADISON, WI - The producers of the "The Hollywood Librarian: Librarians in Cinema and Society" announced today that Dina Merrill has agreed to be interviewed for the documentary about librarians.

The actress, now vice chairman of RKO Pictures, starred as "Sylvia Blair" in one of Hollywood's more positive portrayals of librarians, together with Katharine Hepburn, Joan Blondell and Sue Randall. "Desk Set," released in 1957, was Ms. Merrill's film debut vehicle after nearly 10 years on Broadway. In the movie, all four women are seen as competent and professional research librarians as they navigate the reference department in the wake of a newly-installed, 1950's computer.

Since her film debut, Ms. Merrill has acted in dozens of motion pictures, television shows and miniseries, as well as establishing her position as a leading philanthropist.

Ann Seidl, the writer and director of the documentary, says she was thrilled to talk with Ms. Merrill and delighted with her participation in the film. "'Desk Set’ contains some of the most recognizable librarians in American cinema," said Seidl. "And the issue of technology in libraries is one of the major themes of the movie and of the time period. Being able to talk with one of its stars on camera will add greatly to the documentary."

Seidl plans to interview Ms. Merrill about the film set, her co-stars and the movie's adaptation from the stage sometime in late summer or early fall in New York, where Ms. Merrill resides. Financing is being sought from documentary grantmakers and library corporations to fund this and other scheduled interviews with librarians and location shoots.