Contents of December 1999 American Libraries
News Fronts
6 ALA
- Claudia B. Sumler, John W. Berry Seek ALA Presidency
- Year 2000 Council Nominees
- Building Refinancing Gives ALA $3-Million Windfall
- Chapter Report, by Christine Watkins
12 Washington
- Judge Questions COPA Constitutionality
- Filtering Amendment Deleted from Bill
- New Day, New Leadership at ALA Washington Office
16 USA
- Library Referenda Meet with Mixed Results
- Report Says Philadelphia School Libraries Inadequate
- Ameritech Library Services Sold to Investment Group
- Virginia Librarian Is Third to Leave in Six Years
- Valdosta State University Launches MLIS Program
28 International
- U.S. Librarians Show Their Stuff at Frankfurt Book Fair
- Global Reach
History Features
38 100 of the Most Important Leaders We Had
Carrying the imprint of Melvil Dewey, they lived and died in the 20th century, leaving their mark on libraries.
50 Books, Billiards, and Bowling
BY MARTIN GOLDBERG
The athletic facilities in Carnegie’s first libraries ensured that patrons exercised their bodies as well as their minds.
54 Atomic Wives and the Secret Library at Los Alamos
BY LISA BIER
Amid wartime secrecy, a small library played a key role in the development of the atomic bomb.
58 A Blueprint of His Mind: Reconstructing the Jefferson Collection
BY AUDREY FISCHER
LC’s wish list for its 200th birthday includes reassembling the Jefferson library from which it grew.
61 Liu Guojun’s American Studies
BY LOUISE S. ROBBINS
A Chinese student travels to the Midwest in 1922, hoping to better his country’s libraries.
66 It’s an Honor: Fifty Years of Beta Phi Mu
BY RON CHEPESIUK
For half a century, the library honor society has recognized students who show scholarly and leadership ability.
70 Inventoried Treasures: The Vatican Archives Revealed
BY JAY JACKSON
A high-tech team of this century’s finest tackles a meillenium’s worth of documents.
74 Gay Liberation: From Task Force to Round Table
Early activist Barbara Gittings recalls the bad old days.
78 The Way We Were: A Photographer’s Gallery
BY ART PLOTNIK
Departments
30 Money Matters
32 Reader Forum
34 ALA President’s Message
“Come to Midwinter for a Pan-American Experience”
BY SARAH ANN LONG
36 Editorial
“Read and Learn, Two Words That Still Say It All”
BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
37 On My Mind
“The Public Library and the Problematical Pogo Perplex”
BY STEVE SCHAEFER
86 Currents
88 Internet Librarian
“In Your Dreams: A Y2K Fantasy”
BY KAREN G. SCHNEIDER
93 Librarian’s Library
94 Quick Bibs
“Slow Starters”
BY BILL OTT
96 This Month
“106 Years Ago”
BY WAYNE WIEGAND
97 Career Leads
129 Index to Advertisers
131 Will’s World
“The Penis Decade”
BY WILL MANLEY