Contents of September 1999 American Libraries
News Fronts
6 ALA
- GetNetWise Makes Surfing Safer
- ALA Joins USPS in Fraud-Prevention Effort
- Banned Books Week
- Chapter Report, by Christine Watkins
12 Washington
- Federal Court Upholds E-rate
- Filtering Mandate Introduced in House
- Moving Beyond the Beltway: An Interview with
Outgoing Washington Office Executive Director
Carol C. Henderson
16 USA
- Michigan Library Charges $100 for Unfiltered
Internet Access
- Atlanta Library Trustees’ Hiring Process Questioned
- Blind Protestors call for Librarian’s Reinstatement
- Library Scofflaws Face Arrest and Jail
- Special Report: ALA Black Caucus Hits the Jackpot in Las Vegas, by AL Managing Editor Gordon Flagg
32 International
- Zimbabwe Fair Offers Window into Africa
- Global Reach
Features
44 Bibliographic Good vs. Evil in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
BY GRACEANNE DECANDIDO
Knowledge prevails over the forces of darkness, thanks to TV’s Rupert Giles, school librarian.
48 Compared to What? Or, Where to Find the Stats
MARY JO LYNCH
Statistics can toot the library horn or make the case for more funding.
52 Everything Old Is New Again
BY DOUGLAS RABER
The public library inquiry is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.
56 Part of the Solution: Librarians Work to Stop Gun Violence
BY ROBIN TREMBLAY-MCGAW
A librarian-activist sees an emerging role for information professionals.
59 Quantifying Library Quality: A Homework Center Report Card
BY JOHN P. BAILEY
Libraries can pry open the door to more support by closing the statistics gap between programming input and outcomes.
64 Great American Public Libraries: HAPLR Ratings, Round Two
BY THOMAS J. HENNEN JR.
New federal data supplies more evidence of excellence.
69 Public Library Circulation Dips As Spending Continues to Climb
BY LISA A. WRIGHT
Juvenile circulation up 7% while adult circulation drops 2%.
71 Up to Speed on DVD
BY WALT CRAWFORD
It could—and should—be your library’s next medium.
75 Conference Call: To Fine or Not to Fine
Public librarians DUSTY GRES and KAREN HICKLIN debate the finer points of overdues management.
80 Excellence in Action: 1999 ALA Award Winners
Plus: Fyan Grant Yields High Returns, BY ERIC HANSEN.
Departments
36 Money Matters
38 Reader Forum
39 ALA President’s Message
“The Spectrum Initiative Needs You”
BY SARAH ANN LONG
40 Editorial
“Mouths Wide Open”
BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
43 On My Mind
“The Tyranny of Professionalism”
BY NED KEHDE
88 Currents
92 Internet Librarian
“First Search in Your Nighty”
BY KAREN G. SCHNEIDER
96 Librarian’s Library
101 Quick Bibs
“The Kennedys”
BY ILENE COOPER
99 This Month
“81 Years Ago”
BY WAYNE WIEGAND
113 Career Leads
142 Index to Advertisers
144 Will’s World
“Keeping Up with the Times”
BY WILL MANLEY