Weblog of the Reference and User Services Association
a division of the American Library Association
View Article  Literary Tastes - A book lover's breakfast

At this year's CODES Literary Tastes breakfast program, we are expanding it to offer authors that will appeal to a variety of book readers. 

We are featuring authors from the well-known Notable Books Council List for America's Readers (fiction, non-fiction, poetry), Sophie Brody Medal list (of distinguished contribution to Jewish literature for adults) and new The Reading List Council ( list of best adult genre fiction in eight categories).

Attendees are invited to enjoy a tasty breakfast, and listen to wonderful stories.  The authors speaking are:

*Jon Clinch, author of Finn from the Notable Books Council:  http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/notablebooks/notablebooks.cfm

*Susan Elizabeth Phillips, author of Natural Born Charmer from The Reading List Council: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/readinglist/reading.cfm

*Ron Carlson, author of Five Skies from the Notable Books Council: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/notablebooks/notablebooks.cfm

*Joyce Antler, author of You Never Call! You Never Write! A History of the Jewish Mother from the Sophie Brody Medal Committee: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/protools/sophiebrodyaward/sbrodymedal.cfm

The authors will be available for book signings at the end of the program.

The ticket price is $36 per person.  To register, visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/annual/2008a/registration.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

 

View Article  Free Outreach Tooklit for “The Truth About Cancer” film available to libraries
ALA is working with WGBH Boston (Public Broadcasting Station) to offer free outreach toolkits for the film, "The Truth About Cancer," to libraries.   more »
View Article  RUSA Approves New Definition of Reference
At the January 14, 2008, meeting of the RUSA Board, a new definition of reference was approved. It was based ...   more »
View Article  Using Evaluation Data to Change & Improve Virtual Reference: Call for Virtual Poster Session Proposals
Using Evaluation Data to Change & Improve Virtual Reference: Call for Virtual Poster Session Proposals - How does your library (or consortium) use the results of evaluation to change and improve your Virtual Reference service? Share your successes and challenges via a Virtual Poster Session!   more »
View Article  Learning the basics of business reference
Learn the basics of business reference and research with the Business Reference 101 online course.   more »
View Article  Sixth Annual CODES Awards Reception Celebrating the Best Adult Reading
Come join your colleagues and members of the publishing industry at a cocktail reception honoring the adult literature of the year.   more »
View Article  A New Standard Definition of Reference?
A New Standard Definition of Reference? The definition of reference is the basis for measuring and assessing reference services in libraries. It is critical that the “standard” definition engender trust in order to be applied appropriately. With that in mind, we ask you to comment on this issue in the RUSA blog. Below, I have posted the current definition, as well as two other current standards and the two new alternatives.   more »
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View Article  The Colonial Age in Historical Philadelphia to Digital Genealogy Records
Historical Philadelphia will be the backdrop as you join other librarians in a quest for knowledge from the Colonial Age to the present. You will receive a private tour of the special collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.   more »
View Article  Why I Applied to be RUSA intern Spectrum Scholar

As I work towards completing my last six hours for my MLS, in applying to be the RUSA Intern Spectrum Scholar, I had/have three goals that I wanted to achieve.  First, to learn more about research, reference sources, and tools that I can use that reflects upon my African American Heritage. Secondly, to learn more about ALA’s committee appointments process as well as share my experiences within the book/publishing industry, and other ALA divisions/roundtables.  And lastly, to learn and become more astute at article writing for professional library publications. 

 

I understand that there is a need for more individuals to go into library work. I also understand clearly the need for more minorities to seek out opportunities in this most important profession. With friends, mentors, and peers in the field, I have come to appreciate the work that is done by a professional reference librarians.  As an ALA Spectrum Scholar I have committed to helping improve access to ideas and information.  Thanks to my background and education, and RUSA, I hoped to be well prepared to meet this challenge. 
View Article  Award Winning Reference Services Research
Past award-winning research articles, such as "Flying a Light Aircraft: Reference Service Evaluation from a User's Viewpoint," are available on the RUSA Awards webpage.   more »
View Article  Friendly reminder: RUSA/MARS still wants to hear from you
If you have not completed the RUSA/MARS survey we'd like to hear from you. The survey will be available on the MARS Website through Monday, October 22   more »
View Article  Second Call for the Louis Shore Greenwood Publishing Award

In August, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) issued its annual call for nominations for a range of RUSA Awards.

 

Among the prestigious awards that RUSA offers is the Louis Shores-Greenwood Publishing Group Award. This award is given to an individual, group, editor, review medium, or organization that has made a distinguished contribution to helping librarians make selection decisions through book or media reviewing. The award will be presented at the American Library Association Annual Conference in 2008 and includes a citation and a $3,000 cash award.

 

This is the second call for nominations. If you or someone you know deserves extraordinary recognition for contributions to book or media reviewing please consider making a nomination to the Louis Shores-Greenwood Publishing Group Award Committee.

 

The committee is seeking to identify individuals or groups (librarians, editors, reviewers, review sources, or organizations) who have accomplished significant achievement in the book reviewing process.

 

All kinds of reviewing are considered, from a library review blog, to a significant body of work as a reviewer, to those employed as book review editors and publishers. Online and in-print work is considered equally.

 

To submit a nomination, please send a letter to:

 

RUSA

Eileen Hardy/The Louis Shores Award

The American Library Association

50 E. Huron

Chicago, IL 60611

 

The letter should outline the nominee's contribution to the reviewing of books and other materials for libraries. Please include examples, links, and other supporting documentation if possible.

 

Additional information is available online:  

http://www.ala.org/RUSATemplate.cfm?Section=rusaawards&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=136889

 

All letters and documentation must be received by December 15, 2007.

 

Please pass this message on to all interested colleagues.

 

View Article  Call for Nominations for the 2008 Genealogical Publishing Company Award
Call for Nominations

Nominations are solicited for the ALA History Section/Genealogical Publishing Company Award, 2008.  The award, established in 1992, consists of $1,500 cash, with a citation, to a librarian, library, or publisher who has achieved excellence in historical reference and research librarianship.
Sponsored by Genealogical Publishing Company, this award may be a career achievement award for persons who have made ongoing contributions to the local history and genealogy fields over many years and who have been active in the History Section.  Current membership in RUSA and the History Section is required.  The nominations will be evaluated for exceptional accomplishment in such fields as bibliography, book reviewing, indexing, professional association leadership, programs, and training.  The list of previous winners can be viewed at

http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=awards&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=54578


To nominate an individual, please follow the format below, detailing the individual's accomplishments and service to the field.  The GPC Award Committee understands that not all fields may be relevant for all nominees.
Nominations must be received by December 15, 2007.  Nominations should be sent via mail to the Chair:

Lou Vyhnanek
Humanities and Social Sciences Collection Development Manager and History Subject Specialist
Holland and Terrell Libraries
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-5610

or via email to:

louv@wsu.edu
****

Name of nominee:

Present title:

Present employer:

Contact information:

Past positions:

Service to History Section:

Service to RUSA:

Service to ALA:

Service to allied organizations:

Awards received:

Publications:

Anything else the Committee should know:

Nominator:

Nominator's Contact Information:

*****

 Accompanying materials are welcomed.   Nominations will remain active for

 two years. Individuals nominated this year who do not receive the award

 will automatically be reconsidered for the 2009 award.

View Article  TELL US MORE! BRIEF CE SURVEY FROM RUSA/MARS
The MARS Task Force on Continuing Education and Publications invites you to complete an eight item survey.   more »
View Article  BRASS Thomson Financial Student Travel Award

The BRASS Thomson Financial Student Travel Award would like to encourage library school student’s ...   more »

View Article  The Louis Shores-Greenwood Publishing Group Award
Here is a great opportunity to recognize the colleagues who help review and suggest great books and core titles.   more »
View Article  Excellence in Academic Libraries Award
Do you know the next "Excellence in Academic Libraries Award" winner? It could be you and all you need to ...   more »
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View Article  Speakers' Presentations from RUSA President's Program 2007

Presentations from two all four speakers are available!

The first from Genevieve Bell (Director, User Experience), who is an anthropologist with Intel, concerns the nature and meaning of libraries with an emphasis on their significance even as the size of personal digital collections keep growing.

The second is from Lee Rainie (Director, Pew Internet & American Life Project) whose research examines how the internet affects families, communities, health care, education, civic and political life, and work places. His presentation concerns public policy issues including what kind of internet we develop, the role of information policy and how our identities are shaped by the internet.

The third is from Allen Renear (Professor of Library and Information Science at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) whose provocative contention is that researchers increasingly use various indexes, bibliographic databases, and other tools not to find articles, but to avoid reading.

The fourth is from Wendy Schultz (Director of Infinite Futures and Executive Board Member of the Association of Professional Futurists) who argues for a holistic approach to environmental scanning that encompasses education, technologies and societal changes.

Podcasts of the Program are also available.

Enjoy!

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View Article  Digitization Projects for Local History (RUSA-HS)
"All History is Local in a Digital World." Our program at ALA Annual in 2007 launched the content for this blog. Join us in the discussion and development of listing the digital projects.   more »
View Article  "Are You A Robot?" And Other Serious Questions, by Sean Eads & Karen T. Pardue of AskColorado
Who or what do patrons expect to interact with? For instance, are they expecting a live person or an automated message? Do they expect detailed help or just a referral? How are patron expectations discovered and how are they met? What are proper standards for expectations and how are they maintained? In short, how do we chart, understand and respond to patron expectations?   more »
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