Comments on: Second ALA Life

By: Mary W. Ghikas

Mary W. Ghikas — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:04:56 +0000

We hear you. Several years ago, ALA established the ALA-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) to do just that. The ALA-APA — through salary studies, Library Worklife, the National Library Workers Day, the CPLA certification, and other programs — focuses on the needs and interests of librarians and other library workers. The ALA-APA works with other organizations — both professional societies and unions — with similar focus. The ALA-APA works for all ALA members.

At the same time, ALA’s mission remains “the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession for librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”

The U.S. tax laws, which significantly shape the way in which non-profit associations (like ALA and ALA-APA) may accomplish their missions, make it necessary to pursue these complementary missions through different legal organizations. We talk to each other, though.

Through ALA, for instance, we have supported parents in Washington State who believe that their children’s and their community’s ability to compete in the global economy is compromised when their schools lack school library media centers directed by certified school librarians. ALA has supported them with data and other advocacy support. ALA-APA has focused on the individual professional needs of librarians and other library staff, and pushes for improved salaries, recognition, enhanced worklife and continued professional growth.

I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly — or through this blog.

By: P. Librarian

P. Librarian — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:37:33 +0000

I would appreciate it of the ALA would spend some time advocating for librarians rather than focusing entirely on libraries. Where was the ALA’s reaction to the firing of the Wisconsin librarians and rehiring for $10K less? The NEA would have had something to say if teachers were being treated that way. The ALA needs to stop talking about Banned Books Week and start talking about things that help librarians “put food on their families”.

By: Jenny Levine

Jenny Levine — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:42:06 +0000

Hi, Margaret – we very much do realize this, and it’s one reason our Washington Office works so hard on lobbying for appropriate bandwidth for libraries in this country. Second Life is just like our blogs, wikis, etc., where it’s one parallel channel for interacting with ALA. There is no exclusive content on ALA’s island in SL, so you can access that same information elsewhere on the open web.

ALA is trying to give a voice to these kinds of issues around access (both to the content and the infrastructure to support access), but that doesn’t mean we won’t explore these new venues at the same time. We can do both to help illustrate and resolve the problem.

Jenny Levine
jlevine@ala.org

By: carter-Cleveland Public Library

carter-Cleveland Public Library — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:47:48 +0000

It is outstanding, I love it

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:31:56 +0000

I hope people realize that not everyone has access to SecondLife. My computers at home and at work cannot run it because of the high-end video card that the software requires to run SecondLife. I cannot afford a new computer at home on my library salary and my library is also strapped for funding.

Web 2.0 is creating Digital Divide 2.0.

By: Hamilton - Cleveland Public Library

Hamilton - Cleveland Public Library — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:36:21 +0000

Great! Looks very good… Outstanding! YCH