Contents of December 2003 American Libraries

News Fronts

8  ALA

• RUSA Criticized for Pulling Website Content
• PLA Seeks Best Practices Data

14  Washington

• Billington Issues Narrow DMCA Exemptions
• IMLS Awards First Librarian-Recruitment Grants 
• Supreme Court to Hear COPA Appeal 

15  USA and International

• California Libraries Offer Fire-Recovery Assistance 
• School Libraries Feel State Funding Losses 
• NYU Shaken by Suicides at Bobst Library 
• Two State Bills Affect Minors’ Reading Privacy
• Global Reach 

Special News Reports

30  Reprieve for the State Library of Florida

      BY GLORIA COLVIN and LAWRENCE WEBSTER
      A case study in grassroots advocacy.

34  Proof That “Information Matters” in Kansas City

      BY AMY JORDAN
      A wrapup of AASL’s National Conference.

36  The Year in Review

      The Top 10 Library Stories of 2003.

Features

48  Cover Story:
       Bill Gates: Why He Did It

      An exclusive American Libraries interview with Microsoft’s CEO
      about the computerization of America’s libraries.
      Plus: When Stars Fell on Alabama, BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

58  What Ails Access to Government Health Information?

      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE
      Is it science or supposition that is infusing the federal approach to
      medical advice?

64  Serving Seniors: Dos and Don’ts at the Desk

      BY CELIA HALES MABRY
      Older adults—the most diverse group of patrons that librarians
      may face—present specific challenges.

66  One Librarian’s Fight Against AIDS

      BY JANE KINNEY MEYERS
      An American librarian works to raise awareness of an epidemic
      that is plaguing Africa.

69  Conference Call: Should Libraries Play Tag with RFID?

      Jackie Griffin and Karen Schneider discuss the benefits
      and problems of using this hot new technology.

ALA Features

72  The Frankenstein Allure

      BY SUSAN BRANDEHOFF
      Libraries join medical institutions to brew partneships
      through a monstrous ALA traveling exhibition.

76  Association, Know Thyself

      BY MARY JO LYNCH
      ALA embarks on a mission to document its demographics.

Departments

5  ALA President’s Message

      “Something for Everyone @ Your Library”
      BY CARLA D. HAYDEN

41  Thus Said

42  Reader Forum

44  Editorial

      “As Library School Struggle, Change Happens Anyway”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

46  On My Mind

      “CD-ROMs: Ready for a Comeback”
      BY PAUL VAN LINDEN TOL

78  Executive Board Quarterly Report

80  Currents

83  The Crawford Files

      “The Philosophy of Joint-Use Libraries”
      BY WALT CRAWFORD

84  Internet Librarian

      “The Right Tool for the Right Job”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

86  Technically Speaking

      “RFID Poses No Problem for Patron Privacy”
      BY DAVID DORMAN

88  Working Knowledge

      “Putting Networks to Work”
      BY ELISA F. TOPPER

90  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

92  Quick Bibs

      “Finding First Novels”
      BY BILL OTT

94  Datebook

97  Career Leads

111  Index to Advertisers

112  Will’s World

      “Retirement on the Job”
      BY WILL MANLEY