Contents of May 2003 American Libraries

News Fronts

8  ALA

• Executive Director Testifies in Support of District of Columbia Public Library 
• Mayor Daley, Chicago Public Library Honored at Benefit 
• Web Site Redesign Gets Mixed Reviews 

12  Washington

• Bill Introduced to Terminate E-Rate Program 
• GPO Unveils Sweeping Reorganization 
• Rep. Steve Horn Receives James Madison Award 
• Bush Delays Document Declassification until 2006 

14  USA and International

• Ohio Avoids Massive Cuts 
• NYC Directors Warn of Dire Service Reductions 
• California Governor Cuts $11.6 Million from School Libraries 
• Libraries Cope Creatively with Patriot Act  
• Global Reach 

26  Special Report

      On the Cutting Edge of the News, by RON CHEPESIUK
      The library behind USA Today, America’s most widely read newspaper.

Features

36  Getting into the Spirit

      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
      Boston’s new Mary Baker Eddy Library is dedicated to the betterment of humanity and the quest for meaning.

42  Faith at the Front Desk:
      Spirituality and Patron Service

      BY MIKE WESSELLS
      Of course there’s a place for religion at the reference desk.

44  The Best of the Best Reference Sources

      BY VICKI D. BLOOM
      The 2003 RUSA recommendations of distinguished reference works selected by public and academic librarians.

50  The Great Reference Debate Continued—with a Manifesto

      BY MICHAEL GORDON JACKSON
      Real reference librarians aren’t ready to roll over and disappear.

53  Fred Rogers and Libraries:
      A Partnership in Caring

      BY MARGARET MARY KIMMEL
      Pittsburgh library educators carry on the legacy of their good neighbor Fred.

54  In Time of War

      BY PATTI CLAYTON BECKER
      When the nation is in crisis, America’s libraries respond.

58  Public Library Staff: How Many Is Enough?

      BY MARY JO LYNCH

60  Mickey Mouse, Miss Piggy, and the Birth of ALA Graphics

      BY PEGGY BARBER
      Read posters become the basis for library promotion.

Departments

5  ALA President’s Message

      “Guns and Butter”
      BY MAURICE J. FREEDMAN

30  Thus Said

32  Reader Forum

34  Editorial

      “A Children’s Room with No Children’s Librarian”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

35  On My Mind

      “Universal Design and Public Libraries”
      BY MELORA RANNEY NORMAN

64  Executive Board Quarterly Report

66  Currents

69  Grassroots Report

      “A Head Start for Everybody”
      BY CHRISTINE WATKINS

70  The Crawford Files

      “ALA and Free Speech"
      BY WALT CRAWFORD

72  Internet Librarian

      “Counting What Counts”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

74  Technically Speaking

      “Using Information: The New Frontier”
      BY DAVID DORMAN

76  Working Knowledge

      “Judging Books by Their Covers”
      BY ELISA F. TOPPER

78  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

80  Quick Bibs

      “Crime Novelists of the Future”
      BY BILL OTT

82  Datebook

87  Career Leads

95  Index to Advertisers

96  Will’s World

      “Baseball, Boomer, and Censorship”
      BY WILL MANLEY