Contents of December 2005 American Libraries

News Fronts

6  ALA

• Crowe, Roy Seek 2007–2008 Presidency
• Dues Increase Proposed to Council 
• Katrina Funds Distributed
• SirsiDynix Continues ALA-APA Award
• ALA Receives Oprah Book Club Award

11  Washington

• Appeals Court Hears Connecticut Patriot Act Case
• Sanders Amendment Dropped from Spending Bill
• Defendant Denied Access to Prison Library 
• Washington Briefs 

14  USA and International 

• Google Makes Public Domain Books Available Online 
• Earthquake Crevasse in Kashmir Swallows Public Library 
• Amazon, Random House, Microsoft Announce
  Online-Books Initiatives
• Interview: Straight Answers from RICHARD H. CARMONA

Special News Reports

28  The Year In Review:
      The Top 10 Library Stories of 2005

34  Books and Serials Face an Uncertain but Exciting Future

      BY GEORGE M. EBERHART
      The 25th Charleston Conference.

Features

42  Cover Story:
      Listening As an Act of Love:
      StoryCorps Oral History Project

      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL
      Public radio producer Dave Isay wants to spark a communication
      revolution using the wisdom of age and the stories friends and
      relatives tell one another.

46  Saving the Stories

      BY JUNE PNINELL-STEPHENS
      Alaska libraries rescue two Native oral history resources.

48  ¿De dónde eres? [Where Are You From?]

      BY TRAVIS DUNCAN
      An innovative initiative documents Colorado’s Hispanic history.

50  Christian Fiction Labels:
      Help or Hindrance?

      BY PETER RALPH and JAMES LaRUE
      A public library trustee and director weigh the worth of making
      genre judgment calls.

53  Library Lust (with Apologies to Nancy Pearl)

      BY NANCY KALIKOW MAXWELL
      Finding real passion amongst the stacks.

73  Librarian Salaries:
      Revised Survey Yields Broader Results

      BY DENISE M. DAVIS and JENIFER GRADY
      New data-gathering techniques paint detailed regional,
      state pictures.

Departments

5  ALA President’s Message

      “Time to Pay for Excellence”
      BY MICHAEL GORMAN

36  Thus Said

38  Reader Forum

39  Editorial

      “The Haunting Sound of a Voice”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

41  On My Mind

      “Video Libraries: More Than a Lure”
      BY MYRA MICHELE BROWN

54  ALA Executive Board Quarterly Report

      “Board Calls for Dues Increase to Fund Strategic Plan”

56  Currents

58  Grassroots Report

      “Retired, But Still Circulating—Part II”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

60  Internet Librarian

      “All in the Family”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

63  Technically Speaking

      “Does Choice Matter?”
      BY ANDREW K. PACE

65  Working Knowledge

      “Watching Workers’ Web Use”
      BY ELISA F. TOPPER

66  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

68  Quick Bibs

      “Waiting Patiently”
      BY BILL OTT

70  Datebook

74  ALA Annual Conference 2006

87  Career Leads

94  Index to Advertisers

96  Will’s World

      “Seeking Myself in an OPAC Near You”
      BY WILL MANLEY