Hello, all -

Please see below for this week's ALA News. A couple of other notes...

1) ALA voting is open now! As others have noted, we have lots of great MI candidates to vote for. Thank you to Steve Bowers for compiling the attached list - resending so you have it here. Check your email for your ballot - you may receive a mailed ballot if ALA was not able to reach you by email. Polls close at 11:59 pm on Wed, 4/3.

2) The ALA Office for Library Advocacy (OLA) is urging all library advocates to contact their representatives to ask them to sign the LSTA and IAL letters. We are short of last year, and working to match last year's levels.

• Contact your Representative and ask them to sign the LSTA and IAL letters. The more calls from their home state and district, the more likely it is that a Member of Congress will sign the letters. You may participate by signing up for our engagement tool at https://cqrcengage.com/ala/?0

1. There are two Dear Appropriator Letters circulating in support of library funding and we note that your boss has not signed these letters.

2. One supports Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) which returns federal funds to our state libraries every year and is led by Representatives Raul Grijalva (Pronounced Gree-halva) and Don Young.

3. The second supports the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) in the Department of Education and is led by Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson, Don Young and Jim McGovern.

4. This may be the first time you are seeing these letters, but we are asking that your boss sign these letters and show support for the local public and school libraries in your district.

5. Please contact these offices today to add your name in support of library funding. We want to be able to tell the library community in your state that you support library funding!

• For LSTA: Marilyn Zepeda at Marilyn.Zepeda@mail.house.gov with Rep. Raul Grijalva or Truman Reed at Truman.Reed@mail.house.gov with Rep. Don Young
• For IAL: Nawaid Ladak at Nawaid.Ladak@mail.house.gov with Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson or Truman Reed atTruman.Reed@mail.house.gov with Rep. Don Young

Please read on for the news...

ALA launches executive director search with new search committee and Isaacson, Miller

The American Library Association (ALA) announced today it has opened its search for an executive director, in partnership with corporate executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, to succeed current ALA Executive Director Mary W. Ghikas. The search will be led by a new ALA Executive Director Search Committee comprising various member leaders and senior association staff. Read more

PLA opens Public Library Data Service survey for Fiscal 2018

All public libraries in the U.S. and Canada are invited to complete an important survey, which collects important information on public libraries' finances, resources, service usage and technology from Fiscal Year 2018. A summary of the survey data is published annually in PLA's Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report. Read more

2019 ALA elections are open

Voting in the 2019 ALA elections is now open.  Between March 11 and March 13, the ALA sent e-mails to voters, providing them with their unique passcodes and information about how to vote online. The polls will close on Wednesday, April 3 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. Read more

Nation’s libraries prepare for Money Smart Week®, March 30, April 6

Financial issues are a constant in our lives. They change as they reflect milestones in our lives. At every stage in life, we are faced with financial issues, whether it means spending our allowance wisely, obtaining loans for college, applying for a mortgage or saving for retirement.

Dav Pilkey shares 'Radical Ideas' in new AASL video

A new video featuring Dav Pilkey, the worldwide bestselling creator of Dog Man and Captain Underpants, is now available from the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as part of the 2019 celebration of School Library Month. In the video, Pilkey speaks to how “reading without judgment” was a turning point in his life. School librarian professionals and advocates for school libraries are encouraged to download and share the video throughout their communities in celebration of School Library Month.

Observed in April and sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), School Library Month celebrates school libraries as approachable, equitable, and personalized learning environments necessary for every student’s well-rounded education. Read more

ALSC invites applications for 2020 Arbuthnot Lecture with Neil Gaiman

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the 2020 May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Committee are proud to announce the opening of the application to host the 2020 event featuring author, Neil Gaiman.

The Arbuthnot Lecture is an annual event, announced at the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, in which an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature presents a paper that makes a significant contribution to the field. A library school, department of education in a college or university or a children’s library system may be considered. The lecture is administered by ALSC. Read more

Wellness in the Library Workplace two-week course starts in April

You’re a library worker. You are already helping those in your community find health information. But what are you doing to manage your own well-being?  Are you a supervisor? How are you helping to ensure your staff stays healthy (physically, emotionally, etc.)?

Individual and community well-being are inherently connected. Thus, it is critical that workplaces provide an environment of wellness for their employees. As part of her presidential theme on Wellness, ALA-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) President Loida Garcia-Febo has partnered with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) to bring a complimentary two-week course to library workers worldwide. The course begins April 15, 2019. Read more

ALA 2019 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

LITA ALA Annual Precons: Active and Engaging

AWARDS AND GRANTS

Public Library Association unveils 2019 award winners

Jim Duncan Receives Immroth Award

Susan Gauthier receives AASL Innovative Reading Grant

Oakleaf wins 2019 ACRL/IS Miriam Dudley Instruction Librarian Award

Arizona, New Hampshire, and Tennessee libraries win 2019 ALSC Bookapalooza Program

Holly Schwarzmann receives AASL Frances Henne Award

Apply now for the 2019 Teens’ Top Ten Book Giveaway

Megan Donnelly named recipient of NMRT’s 2019 Olofson Award

Shirley Simmons receives AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award

ECOURSES, WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS

LLAMA webinar helps you move forward in your career

PLA announces webinar series on cultural intelligence in libraries

A New Approach to Recruiting and Interviewing Library Staff

Practical Classification and Subject Access Cataloging

Library Programming for All Ages, Stages, and Sizes