Contents of March 2000 American Libraries

News Fronts

8  ALA

• ALA Sues School for Banning
  Banned Books Week Brochure
• Library Lions Leap from Their Lair
  April 3 on PBS, by Peggy Barber
• Chapter Report, by Christine Watkins

12  Washington

• Clinton Budget Proposes Modest Boost for Libraries
• LC, GPO Present Budget Requests

14  USA

• China Frees Dickinson College Librarian
• Broward County Library Sued over Cybersmut
• New York Gov. Seeks Control of State Library
• Educators Look Inward and Outward at ALISE,
  by John M. Budd

24  International

• Brindley Is Named New British Library Head
• Global Reach

Theme Features

35  All the Basic Issues Come Back to . . . Money

      Guest Editor KAREN G. SCHNEIDER examines the bottom line.

36  Can't Get No Satisfaction: Library Pay in the 21st Century

      BY JAMES LaRUE
      Library workers are held in high regard—except by mortgage brokers.

40  The World Online: IT Skills for the Practical Professional

      BY JOYCE LATHAM
      Technical literacy is a survival skill for all librarians.

43  Why We Should Establish a National System of Standards

      BY THOMAS J. HENNEN JR.
      America's public libraries must move forward to basics, not back.

46  Hanging Out My Shingle: From Librarian to Consultant

      BY GRACEANNE A. DeCANDIDO
      A downsized library journalist transfers her skills to a new context.

Other Features

50  Here's the Content—Where's the Context? 

      BY WALT CRAWFORD
      What vendors won't tell you about online texts.

53  Are Bibliophiles Endangering Rare Books? 

      How Online Auctions Threaten Library Collections, by Lisa A. Benihoff; and Do Librarians Treat Books as Second-Class Citizens? by Steven Cox.

56  ALA Midwinter Finds Sunny San Antonio Muy Simpático

      The Association holds a border-spanning meeting and launches an ambitious action plan. Plus Council and Executive Board reports, beginning p. 76.

66  Statements from Candidates for ALA President and Treasurer

      Plus: The candidates speak out on filtering, finances, and the future.

Departments

7  ALA President’s Message

      “Two Afterschool Programs ASPIRE to Take the Initiative ”
      BY SARAH ANN LONG

25  Money Matters

28  Thus Said

30  Reader Forum

31  Editorial

      “We've Buttered Our Bread, Must We Lie in It? ”
      BY GORDON FLAGG

32  On My Mind

      “They're the DJs, We're the Rappers”
      BY TROY A. SWANSON

73  Technically Speaking

      “Midwinter Exhibits: Taking an Early Look”
      BY DAVID DORMAN

81  Currents

83  Internet Librarian

      “Look Ma, No Wires!”
      BY KAREN G. SCHNEIDER

84  Librarian’s Library

85  Quick Bibs

      “Tipplers”
      BY BILL OTT

86  Datebook

87  This Month

      “106 Years Ago”
      BY WAYNE WIEGAND

89  Career Leads

119  Index to Advertisers

120  Will’s World

      “Death Sentence”
      BY WILL MANLEY