Contents of December 2006 American Libraries

News Fronts

8  ALA

• Davenport, Rettig Seek 2008–2009 ALA Presidency  
• Treasurer Candidates
• ALA Receives $2.6 Million Gates Grant
• FTRF Joins in Texas Brief Filing
• Teens “Get Active” @ the Library

16  Washington

• Senators Request Delay in EPA Library Closings
• Opening Arguments Presented in COPA Challenge

17  USA and International 

• Referenda Roundup 2006
• D.C., Chicago Libraries Add Hours  
• School Becomes “Mindful” of Newspaper Readers  
• Man Charged with Utah Library Bombing
• StoryCorps Oral Histories Capture Human Toll of 9/11

31  Newsmaker

     Straight Answers from MARTIN GOMEZ,
     President of Urban Libraries Council  

Special News Reports

32  Top 10 Library Stories of 2006

36  A Tribute to Leaders We Lost

38  Technology in Tennessee

      BY EMILY LYNEMA
      Ninth LITA National Forum.

39  Libraries Can Serve As
     Key Out-of-School Time Players

      BY PEGGY BARBER and LINDA WALLACE
      First After-School Programming Conference.

54  ALA Executive Board Quarterly Report

Features

44  My Alma Mater

      BY DAVID MAMET
      A paean to the Chicago Public Library.

48  Public Library Rebirth

      BY VIRGINIA H. MATHEWS
      A historical look at serving the poor and underserved.

Departments

2    Editorial

      “Looking Back on the Year of the Blog”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

4    ALA President’s Message

      “Transforming Our National Agenda”
      BY LESLIE BURGER

6    ALA Executive Director’s Message

      “The ‘New’ Advocacy: Making Your Dues Work Harder”
      BY KEITH MICHAEL FIELS

40  Thus Said

41  Reader Forum

43  On My Mind

      “Don’t Just Read—Read Good Books”
      BY DAVID ISAACSON

56  Currents

59  Grassroots Report

      “The Unkindest Cuts of All”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

61  Internet Librarian

      “Silence Is Golden”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

63  Technically Speaking

      “Freedom: A Year in Review”
      BY ANDREW K. PACE

65  Working Knowledge

      “What Are You Waiting For?”
      BY MARY PERGANDER

67  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

69  Quick Vids

      “Views from the Front (Part II)”
      BY GARY HANDMAN

71  Datebook

73  ALA Annual Conference Registration

85  Career Leads

96  Will’s World

      “This Way to Paradise”
      BY WILL MANLEY