Contents of January 2004 American Libraries

News Fronts

8  ALA

• Hayden Is a Ms. Magazine Woman of the Year
• Jenifer Grady Named ALA-APA Director
• 2004 Executive Board Nominees Announced
• Research Maven Mary Jo Lynch Retires after 27 Years

16  Washington

• Judge Hears First Legal Challenge to Patriot Act 
• Major Owens Says He’ll  Seek Final Term
• First Steps Taken toward Nixon Library 

18  USA and International

• Referenda Roundup, 2003: Many Celebrations
• Harvard, Cornell Slash Journal Subscriptions
• Regina Public Library to Close Three Branches, Art Gallery 
• Is Milwaukee’s County System Doomed?
• Global Reach 

Features

50  Cover Story:
       Why Libraries Matter

      BY JIM HIGHTOWER
      What’s more American than Mom and apple pie? You guessed it.

54  Thank You, Barkman Library

      BY CHRYSTINA MARTINEZ
      Giving credit where it’s due for one boy’s love of learning.

56  Libraries Mattered Then—
       and They Still Do Now

      BY ROSS LaBAUGH
      The public library may not be the refuge it once was,
      but that’s not a bad thing.

60  An Amazing Bookstore

      BY NANCY BARR
      How the Friends of the Juneau Public Libraries turned an annual
      one-day book sale into a successful year-round business.

64  Respite Along the Shore

      BY CHERYL GUNSELMAN
      Multnomah County librarians find peaceful sanctuary and
      rejuvenation through an indirect gift from one of their own.

66  Getting Started in Library Publication

      BY RACHEL SINGER GORDON
      Advice on finding your place in library literature.

Midwinter Preview

70  Warm-Weather Attractions
       Await Conferees in San Diego

      New APA director, CIPA follow-up top
      full Midwinter Meeting agenda.

78  Eating Well in the Gaslamp

      BY BRETT COFFEE
      Culinary delights await ALA attendees in San Diego.

Departments

5  ALA President’s Message

      “Libraries Matter Because People Believe in Them”
      BY CARLA D. HAYDEN

42  Thus Said

44  Reader Forum

46  Editorial

      “Maybe We Should Shush”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

48  On My Mind

      “The FBI and America’s Libraries”
      BY ROBERT S. MUELLER III

84  Currents

89  Grassroots Report

      “A Warm, Central Place”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

90  The Crawford Files

      “Starting a Bicycle Club: Weblogs Revised”
      BY WALT CRAWFORD

92  Internet Librarian

      “Books Are for Use”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

94  Technically Speaking

      “Profiles in Hi Tech”
      BY DAVID DORMAN

96  Working Knowledge

      “Knowing How to Say ‘Thank You’”
      BY ELISA F. TOPPER

98  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

100  Quick Bibs

      “Editor’s Choice”
      BY BILL OTT

102  Datebook

111  ALA Annual Conference 2004

129  Career Leads

143  Index to Advertisers

144  Will’s World

      “Willie Award Goes to Cold Extremes”
      BY WILL MANLEY