The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association renaming contest deadline extended

Contact: Jenifer Grady,


Director ALA-Allied Professional Association


312-280-2424


jgrady@ala.org
For Immediate Release


January 10, 2006

The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association renaming contest deadline extended

CHICAGO - The American Library Association-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) has extended its renaming contest deadline to January 31, 2006, to provide additional time to suggest a new name that encompasses the organization's dual missions.

The ALA-APA was established in 2002 to offer certifications for library staff in specialized fields and to advocate for the status of - and better salaries for - library workers.

"With all the challenges it faces in improving the status and educational qualifications of library workers, the ALA-APA is definitely exciting," said ALA-APA Director Jenifer Grady. “Its name, however, is not.”

ALA-APA will continue to accept entries before, during, and after the Midwinter Meeting.

"Awareness of the organization and its purposes is steadily increasing, but the ALA-APA is still a long way from becoming a household word," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels." At this point, we need to increase its visibility and create greater awareness of its important work among ALA members and the library community. One way to increase this awareness is through a name more expressive of the organization's purposes."

ALA members and others interested in the status of library workers are invited to suggest names that capture certification of individuals in library specializations as well as advocacy and direct support of comparable worth, pay equity initiatives, and other activities designed to improve the salaries and status of librarians and other library workers.

To enter the contest, send an e-mail message to
jgrady@ala.org, a fax to 312-944-6131 or drop a suggestion into the ALA-APA Renaming Contest Suggestion Box, located in the Registration area during the Midwinter Meeting in San Antonio.