March 2007

March 2007 cover
Contents of March 2007 American Libraries

News Fronts

8 ALA

Libraries Receive Oprah’s Poitier Pick
Target to Sponsor Día
Petition Candidates Seek Council Posts
Military Library Making a Difference

13 USA and International

President’s Budget Increases Library Funding
May Levy Set for Jackson County Libraries Closing in April
Senate Committee Questions EPA Actions
Minneapolis Library May Join County System
Having a Cow in Reference

23 Special Report

BY CHARLES SEAVEY
LIS Educators Aim to Prepare Reflective Professionals

24 Newsmaker

HENRY JENKINS, popular culture scholar

26 Tech News

Windows Vista Debuts: Library Techies Wary
Princeton and Texas Join Google Project
Gates Foundation Renews Initiative

Features

40 Mattering in the Blogosphere:
Cybrarians Speak Frankly about Their Online Lives

      Librarians eager to make professional connections are out there,
      on the lookout for the next big post. But once a blogger has
      gained an audience, what does it take to keep the clicks coming?

46 Search Fatigue

BY JEFFREY BEALL
Finding a cure for the database blues.

52 Seattle Fish Throwers
Inspire Conference-Goers

The ALA Midwinter spotlight shines on emerging leaders,
library education, and transformation.

64 Official Candidates’ Statements

2008–09 presidential contenders Nancy Davenport and James Rettig;
2007–10 treasurer candidates Rod Hersberger and Jo Ann Pinder.

68 Candidates’ Forum

Highlights of the Midwinter Meeting debate.

72 ALA Council and Executive Board

     Federal focus in the forefront for Council, while Executive Board,
     hears of D.C. turnaround.
     BY GORDON FLAGG

Departments

3 From the Editor

“Rhapsody in Blog”
BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

5 ALA President’s Message

“Transforming Reference ”
BY LESLIE BURGER

6 Letters and Comments

28 Technology in Practice

“An Outlet for Creativity”
BY MEREDITH FARKAS

30 Technically Speaking

“What’s the Big Deal?”
BY ANDREW K. PACE

34 Internet Librarian

“Life on the Island”
BY JOSEPH JANES

36 Public Perception

38 On My Mind

“The Freedom to Select”
BY CRAIG GABLE

77 Currents

79 Youth Matters

“Blooming Booklovers”
BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

80 Working Knowledge

“Let’s Meet in the Middle”
BY MARY PERGANDER

82 Librarian’s Library

“The Peoples’ Choice”
BY MARY ELLEN QUINN

83 Vital Viewing

BY GARY HANDMAN

84 Calendar

85 Rousing Reads

“Forget Me Not”
BY BILL OTT

88 Career Leads from ALA Joblist

96 Will’s World

“When We Were Hawks”
BY WILL MANLEY