Contents of September 2005 American Libraries

News Fronts

6  ALA

• Needed: Courses for Librarian Certification 
• ACRL Receives $93,000 IMLS Grant 
• PLA Offers “Grow Your Own” Grants
• COA Announces Accreditation Actions
• ALA Committee Volunteers Sought 

10  Washington

• Community Partnerships Help Reading Power the Mind:
  Library of Congress 12-State Workshop 
• Senate Passes Patriot Act Reauthorization
• Groups File Amicus in National Security Letters Challenge 
• Washington Briefs 

12  USA and International 

• Denver Reconsiders Fotonovela Collection 
• Buffalo Plans to Close 20 of Its 52 Branches 
• Accused Rare Map Thief Pleads Innocent
• Global Reach 
• Interview: Straight Answers from Margaret Spellings,
  U.S. Secretary of Education 

Features

38  Cover Story:
      Why School Libraries Won’t Be Left Behind

      BY BEVERLY GOLDBERG
      Librarians are teaching budget makers a lesson:
      Students can’t make the grade without strong school libraries.

42  A New Look at Lifelong Access

      BY DIANTHA DOW SCHULL
      Innovative projects tap the interests and skills of a growing
      population of active, older adults.

46  Digital Library Services for All

      BY LORI BELL and TOM PETERS
      Innovative technology opens doors to prnit-impaired patrons.

50  Online Book-Clubbing Made Easy

      BY NEAL STARKEY
      Technology allows libraries to capitalize on the citywide book
      craze sweeping the nation.

ALA Feature

52  Learning from Experience:
      2005 ALA Award Winners

Departments

5  ALA President’s Message

      “Why Library Education Matters—Part Two”
      BY MICHAEL GORMAN

30  Thus Said

32  Reader Forum

33  Editorial

      “From Cradle to Grave: A Lifetime in Libraries”
      BY LEONARD KNIFFEL

36  On My Mind

      “Support the Cultural Communities Fund”
      BY BARBARA IMMROTH

72  Currents

75  Grassroots Report

      “A Manager’s Motto: Be Perpared”
      BY JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE

76  Internet Librarian

      “What Does Google Know That We Don’t?”
      BY JOSEPH JANES

78  Technically Speaking

      “If You Can’t Beat ’Em, Join ’Em”
      BY ANDREW K. PACE

80  Working Knowledge

      “Banishing Boredom on the Job”
      BY ELISA F. TOPPER

82  Librarian’s Library

      BY CATHLEEN BOURDON

84  Quick Bibs

      “Looking for Adventure in All the Weird Places”
      BY BILL OTT

86  Datebook

94  Career Leads

103  Index to Advertisers

104  Will’s World

      “Love Reigns at the Reference Desk”
      BY WILL MANLEY