Contents of May 2008 American Libraries

News Fronts

12  ALA

• Study on Library Service to New Americans 
• Librarians to Converge on Capitol Hill 
• Groundbreaking for New Choice Office

18  USA and International 

• Victoria Library Labor Dispute Resolved 
• Library Worker’s Firing Sparks Firestorm 
• $1-Billion NYPL Expansion to Add Branches 
• Memphis Mayor Draws Fire for Branch Closings 
• Global Reach

31  Newsmaker

        JON SCIESZKA
       National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

32  Tech News

• Music Downloading Looks to Big Labels 
• Houston Launches Wireless Network

Special Reports

18  First Lady Laura Bush

         Reveals post-White House agenda
         BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

32  Skype as Conference Tool

         An easy-to-use technology
         BY PAUL SIGNORELLI

64  Let’s Meet over Books

         Public Library Association National Conference
         BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

Features

44  The Elusive E-Book

      Are e-books finally ready for prime time? Hope springs
      eternal as Sony and Amazon launch new platforms.
      BY STEPHEN SOTTONG 

50  Killed by Kindness

      How well-intentioned nostalgia
      harms today’s libraries.
      BY JULIA KELLER 

54  Minds at Play

      Teens gain 21st-century literacy skills
      designing their own computer games. 
      BY BRIAN MYERS

60  Information Invigoration

      The 2008 list of outstanding reference sources
      indicates a new interest via print and online. 

Departments

3    From the Editor

      “Agreeing on Advocacy”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

6    ALA President’s Message

      “Working Well Together”
      BY LORIENE ROY

8    ALA Treasurer’s Message

      “Money Watch”
      BY RODNEY M. HERSBERGER

10   Letters and Comments

38  Dispatches from the Field 

      “Digital Defense”
      BY PRISCILLA CAPLAN

40  Technology in Practice

      “Syndicate to Communicate”
      BY MEREDITH FARKAS

41  Internet Librarian

      “Spring Awakening”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

42  Public Perception

43  On My Mind

      “Spurning Burning”
      BY SUSAN THOMPSON 

66  Currents

68  Youth Matters

      “Trusting in the Answers”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

69  Working Knowledge

      “Living the Dream”
      BY MARY PERGANDER

70  Librarian’s Library

      “Why We Are Librarians”
      BY MARY ELLEN QUINN

71  Rousing Reads

      “Stalking Your Favorite Authors”
      BY BILL OTT

72  Solutions and Services 

75  Career Leads from ALA Joblist

80  Will’s World

      “Librarian, Inform Thyself”
      BY WILL MANLEY