Contents of March 1998 American Libraries

News Fronts

6  ALA

• List Grant Approved for Lawyers for Libraries
• IFLA Lodging in Amsterdam
• ALA Candidates Forum Live Via Satellite
• Help Plan Symons' Presidential Initiatives
• Members, Get a Member
• Chapter Report, by Christine Watkins

13  Washington

• Bill Ties Universal-Service Funds to Internet Filters
• Clinton Budget Boosts Education
• Consumer Office Challenges Library Rate Increase
• Clinton Names Two Librarians to NCLIS

14  USA

• Rainstorm Floods Stanford University's Main Library
• Ex-District of Columbia Public Library Chief
  Indicted for Theft
• Surpluses, Budgets May Help Libraries Cash In
• Librarian Sues City in Family Leave Dispute
• Special Report: Experts Examine Shortage of Information Technology Workers, by Rick Weingarten
• Special Report: Surviving the Unabomber Experience; an interview with Sherri Wood

29  International

• Vatican Opens Secret Archives
• Queens Borough Partners with Beijing

Features

40  What If You Ran Your Library Like a Bookstore?

      BY STEVE COFFMAN
      What's wrong with more service hours, bigger collections, and great coffee?
      Plus: What Public Library Users Are Really Buying, by Bernard Vavrek

48  The Good Professional: A New Vision

      BY SHEILA S. INTNER
      A library educator examines what professional practice has become and how effective librarians will act in the future

52  Internet College: The Virtual Classroom Challenge

      BY RON CHEPESIUK
      Libraries need to get online resources to students--wherever they are. Plus: A Dissenting View on Distance Learning, by Michael Gorman

56  Backing Up the Gates Millions: TRI Life in the Fast Lane

      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
      The Technology Resource Institute crew provides technical support for the Gates Library Foundation's mighty commitment

59  Conference Call: Keeping the Library in Library Education

      Library educators Kathleen de la Peña McCook and June Lester tackle the issues and trends in education for librarianship

64  Saving Family Heirlooms and Treasures

      BY DIANE NESTER KRESH
      Would-be preservationists are eager for the know-how your library can offer

68  A Big, Easy Midwinter

      In the city that care forgot, ALA members leave the controversies behind.
      Plus: Council and Executive Board reports, beginning on p. 83

77  Statement from Candidates for ALA President

      Plus: "The Difference Is in the Details"--an exclusive interview with ALA presidential candidates Martín Gómez and Sarah Long

Departments

31  Money Matters

32  Reader Forum

33  ALA President's Message

      "Lifelong Learning: Global Reach and Local Touch"
      BY BARBARA J. FORD

36  Editorial

      "Twenty-seven Excuses for Not Taking That Computer Class"
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

38  On My Mind

      "Libraries, Class, and the Poor People's Policy"
      BY SANFORD BERMAN

66  Technically Speaking

      "Mining for Gold at the Midwinter Exhibits"
      BY DAVID DORMAN

88  Currents

90  Internet Librarian

      "Net-Based Continuing Education: What It Takes" 
      BY KAREN G. SCHNEIDER

92  Librarian's Library

93  Quick Bibs

      "Sex and Politics"
      BY BILL OTT

94  Datebook

96  This Month

      "266 Years Ago . . . "
      BY WAYNE WIEGAND

99  Career Leads

126  Index to Advertisers

128  Will's World

      "Theories on the Disappearance of Children's Librarians"
      BY WILL MANLEY