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January 2000 cover

Contents of January 2000 American Libraries


News Fronts

8  ALA

  • Texas Woman’s University Chosen for
    Outsourcing Study
  • President Long Appoints
    Core Competencies Task Force
  • “Connect for Kids” Day to Start
    National Library Week
  • School Librarians Unleash Their Power at AASL
    in Alabama, by George M. Eberhart
  • Chapter Report, by Christine Watkins

20  Washington

  • Clinton Vows to Shut “Digital Divide”
  • President Signs Budget with Nonspecified Cuts
  • Supreme Coutr Considers Aid to Parochial Schools
  • President Renominates NCLIS Commissioners

22  USA

  • Michigan AFA Forces Votes on Filters
  • Detroit Public Library Staff Lacks Contract
    after 18 Months
  • Financial Bailout Hatched for Flint Public Library
  • Southern Connecticut State to Offer Online MLS

34  International

  • Librarians Bring Concerns to Global Trade Talks
  • Global Reach

Features

50  2000 Is Here! What Happened to the Visions?

      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
      A look back at some wondrous, improbable, and just-plain-wrong predictions about libraries in the 21st century.

54  Determining Our Digital Destiny

      BY ROY TENNANT
      The game has changed, and if libraries still want to play they’ll have to invent their own future.

60  Is the American Public Library Part of Everyone’s Life?

      BY BERNARD VAVREK
      A Clarion University survey director compares findings about the impact of libraries.

66  Why Outsourcing Happens, and What to Do about It

      BY HERBERT S. WHITE
      There’s no need to make a federal case out of contracting out if you are filling the information needs of your users.

72  From Petroglyphs to CD-ROMs: A Story about Information

      BY WALT CRAWFORD
      Just as ancient cave drawings told stories, so too do library resources.

76  After the War in El Salvador

      BY MARTHA E. McPHAIL
      Libraries help reconstruct a land split by a 12-year civil war.

80  To Be Black and a Librarian: Talking with E. J. Josey

      A pioneer African-American educator and activist reflects on nearly a half-century of librarianship.

86  ALA Heads for the Border: Midwinter Meeting Preview


Departments

7  ALA President’s Message

      “Questions We Must Ask Ourselves as the Century Turns ”
      BY SARAH ANN LONG

40  Money Matters

42  Thus Said

44  Reader Forum

46  Editorial

      “There’s Nothing to Be Learned from the Future”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

49  On My Mind

      “Socially Responsible Librarianship Champions Privacy”
      BY SARAH BRYAN

94  Currents

96  Internet Librarian

      “My Patron Wrote Me a Letter: The Joy of E-Mail Reference
     BY KAREN G. SCHNEIDER

98  Technically Speaking

100  Librarian’s Library

102  Quick Vids

      “Worlds Apart”
      BY GARY HANDMAN

103  Datebook

104  This Month

      “116 Years Ago”
      BY WAYNE WIEGAND

105  Career Leads

135  Index to Advertisers

136  Will’s World

      “The Third Annual Willie Award”
      BY WILL MANLEY

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