FAFLRT President

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/officers/ebdocuments/20082009boarddocuments/EBD12.4combined.pdf

Type of Library Employment for all respondents (slide 8 of 47)

40% Public

38% Academic

13% School

3% Special

2% Government

0% Armed Forces

3% Other

1% Prefer not to answer

Age breakouts of ALA membership for all respondents (slide 10 of 47)

1% Under 25 years old

13% 25-34

16% 35-44

23% 45-54

32% 55-64

6% 65-74

1% 75+

MS NBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28165432#28165432  (Note: I am planning an event for the D.C. area for the Feb/March 2009 time frame. The topic will probably be “Libraries in Tough Economic Times”. These types of stories would be welcome as part of that event, so please email me if you have stories to share). 

 Items from the District Dispatch http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/

• Nov 18, 2008 ALA’s letters to President-elect Obama and Vice President -elect Biden on broadband access
• Dec 2, 2008 President-elect Obama’s remarks on library closures 
  Dec 4, 2008 C-SPAN’s Communicator series interview with Emily Sheketoff

From the December 5, 2008 article by Leslie A.M. Smith in the Grunion Gazette (Long Beach) entitled Librarian Helps Soldiers Read to Children news from Camp Blackhorse in Afghanistan.

Virginia is quoted as saying “Right now, the service members are using camcorders and mailing the recordings home, or using Skype, Yahoo or other instant messaging services to read to their children.”

You’ll be interested to see the number of organizations that are sending books, camcorders, mini CDs and DVDs.  Thanks to Operation Paperback, Books for Troops, Navy and Marine Corps Moms of Quad Cities, IL, and USO’s United Through Reading (UTR) program.

From Virginia Sanchez: “Hi Nancy! My greatest apologies for not responding sooner.  Connectivity, missions, and other issues have me very far behind on my email! 

And here are the stories featuring Virginia Sanchez:

From December 5, 2008 Knight Ridder/Tribune Business Week reprinted from the Grunion Gazette, Long Beach, CA http://tinyurl.com/5m437e  As a Navy reservist, Virginia is “sharing her passion for literacy by expanding the library at her base, Camp Blackhorse. With a little help from her hometown, she can expand the children’s section.”

From the August 22, 2008 Press-Telegram (Long Beach), http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_10280504?IADID=Search-www.presstelegram.com-www.presstelegram.com Virginia took time to write local officials who were considering closure of public libraries 

The FLICC General membership, Board, and Committee meeting will be held 1/25/2009 Sunday from 08:00 am - 10:00 am in the Crown Plaza City Center (in their Museum room).

You’ll want to hear about the mini-Careers events held at library schools around the country, FLICC Career & Job Fair, long-term sponsorship offers, sign up to participate in the National Federal Librarian liaison network, the work of the FAFLRT Committee on Legislation and the Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group.

A continental breakfast will be provided.

Let us know if you want items added to the agenda, and come prepared to share your stories!  Attendees always want to hear from the librarians —– your issues, questions, conquests, and celebrations.  We keep the business meeting short so we have time to learn from each other.

“A Review of the Department of Defense’s National Security Personnel System” can be found at http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/97xx/doc9705/11-26-NSPS.pdf  This report gives some good background and overview the NSPS as well as the differences between it and the GS system.  It also includes a look at the objectives, issues and concerns and whether it has achieved its goals so far.

This personnel system impacts many FAFLRT members, so we would be interested to know if the report rings true with your experiences in NSPS.

Two universities (Florida State University and San Jose State University) held mini-Careers in Federal Library events in November.  FAFLRT officers worked to arrange speakers, provide slides, and consult with the event planners.  If your school would like to arrange a local event, we will arrange a federal librarian to help you with the details.  And if you want to learn from the hosts, we’ll put you in touch with Alma Quinn and Michelle Demeter.

The Nov. 17, 2008 Washington Post article by Carol D. Leonnig details Candidate Barack Obama’s letters to several agencies.  Of particular interest to you, may be his statement on the EPA libraries.  His letter to AFGE President John Gage includes this language:

“In addition, EPA was established to be the nation’s leader in environmental science, research, and education – yet these are the three fields which have been damaged by politics and ideology. I strongly oppose attempts by the Bush Administration to thwart publication of EPA researchers’ scientific findings, as well as the attempt to eliminate the agency’s library system. In an Obama Administration, the principle of scientific integrity will be an absolute, and I will never sanction any attempt to subvert the work of scientists.“

It’s time to gather a few good people on the FAFLRT Nominating Committee to create a slate of officers to run in the ALA Elections in 2009.  There will be an opportunity to elect an Armed Forces Director, a Federal Director, a Treasurer, and a Vice-President/President Elect.    Let us know if you would like to participate on the committee (short-term task) or nominate yourself or others for an office.  Submit your input to the FAFLRT feedback form.

An article about “Careers in Federal Libraries” was written by Kim Lyall, NMRT liaison to FAFLRT, and posted to the ALA New Members Round Table online newsletter, Footnotes.  Read it here:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/news/footnotes/november2008/federal_libraries_lyall.cfm