Contents of January/February 2008 American Libraries

News Fronts

12  ALA

• Public TV, ALA Launch Consumer Education Effort 
• PBS Cancer Education Partnership Announced 
• AASL Longitudinal Survey Released

20  USA and International 

• Golden Compass Accused of Anti-Catholic Bias 
• Leaky Branch’s Future Uncertain 
• Book Talk Flap Followed by Librarian’s Dismissal 
• Ottawa’s Outrage May Save 10 Branches 
• Global Reach

30  Tech News

• Amazon Releases Kindle  
• Techlistmania

38  Newsmaker

        ALFONSO AGUILAR, Chief of the Office of U.S. Citizenship

Features

44  Design Thinking

      A design approach to the delivery of outstanding
      service can help put the user experience first.
      BY STEVEN J. BELL 

50  Librarians in the Jury Box

      Why do information professionals make
      such desirable jurors?
      BY NANCY KALIKOW MAXWELL

56  Putting Students First

      To be effective school library advocates,
      we must focus our messages on learning. 
      BY DEBRA KAY LOGAN

62  Midwinter Meeting Planner:
     Welcome to Philly

      Highlights on the agenda. 

63  From Hoops to Ink

     In an exclusive interview, KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR
     reveals how he has takem aim at passing on
     his passion for the written word. 

66  Revisiting a Historic Relic:
     The Liberty Bell

      BY CHRISTOPHER H. WALKER 

70  From Cozy to Funky

      Philadelphia’s diverse dining choices.
      BY EVELYN MINNICK, SARA MORAN,
      ELLIOT SHELKROT, and KEVIN VAUGHAN 

86  ALA Annual Conference
      Advance Registration

Departments

3    From the Editor

      “Change Is Good, Service Is Better”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

6    ALA President’s Message

      “Circle of Diversity”
      BY LORIENE ROY

8   Letters and Comments

32  Technically Speaking

      “ A New Chapter”
      BY ANDREW K. PACE

34  Internet Librarian

      “Worth the Effort”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

36  Technology in Practice

      “What Friends Are For”
      BY MEREDITH FARKAS

40  Public Perception

42  On My Mind

      “The ‘i’ in Libraries”
      BY MICHELLE BOULE 

74  Currents

76  Youth Matters

      “The Next Big Thing”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

78  Working Knowledge

      “Be It Resolved . . .”
      BY MARY PERGANDER

80  Librarian’s Library

      “Dangerous Minds”
      BY MARY ELLEN QUINN

82  Rousing Reads

      “Best of 2007”
      BY BILL OTT

83  Solutions and Services 

103  Career Leads from ALA Joblist

120  Will’s World

      “It All Stacks Up”
      BY WILL MANLEY