BCALA Connecticut Affiliate

Save the Date! CLA 2012 Conference, May 7& 8

2012-01-31T12:48:00.001-05:00

Registration is now OPEN for the 2012 “Meeting the Challenge” CLA Conference!

Save the dates: Monday, May 7th and Tuesday, May 8th at the Mystic Marriott in
Groton!

Tuesday’s Keynote:
A conversation with Jon Michaud, the head librarian at The New Yorker magazine and author of the novel When Tito Loved Clara, and Kee Malesky, NPR Librarian and author of All Facts
Considered: The Essential Library of Inessential Knowledge.

Follow this link to read more about the conference including the “Conference at a Glance” program list and registration details:

http://ctlibraryassociation.org/meetinginfo.php?id=41&ts=1326820541

BCALA Announces the 2012 Literary Award Winners

2012-01-26T12:09:00.005-05:00

JCLC 2012

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Inc. (BCALA) announces the winners of the 2012 BCALA Literary Awards during the Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association in Dallas, TX.

The awards recognize excellence in adult fiction and nonfiction by African American authors published in 2011, including an award for Best Poetry and a citation for Outstanding Contribution to Publishing. The recipients will receive the awards during the 2012 Annual Conference of the American LibraryAssociation in Anaheim, CA.

******
In the Fiction category BCALA recognizes two Honor Books: Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (Algonquin) and The Taste of Salt by Martha Southgate (Algonquin).

The winner in the Nonfiction category is The Indignant Generation: A Narrative History of African American Writers and Critics, 1934-1960 by Lawrence P. Jackson (Princeton University Press). Honor Books for Nonfiction are: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable (Viking) and Heat Wave: The Life and Career of Ethel Waters by Donald Bogle (Harper).

The BCALA Literary Awards Committee presents the Outstanding Contribution to Publishing Citation to Teenie Harris, Photographer: Image, Memory, History by Cheryl Finley, Laurence Glasco, and Joe W. Trotter (University of Pittsburgh Press).

The inaugural winner for BCALA’s new category Best Poetry Award is Mule & Pear by Rachel Eliza Griffiths (Western Michigan University Press). Honor Books for Poetry are: The Armageddon of Funk by Michael Warr (Tia Chucha Press) and The New Black
by Evie Shockley (Wesleyan University Press).

Members of the BCALA Literary Awards Jury are: Gladys Smiley Bell (Chair), Hampton University; Jennifer Baxmeyer, Princeton University; Tracy Crawford, Queens Library’s Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center; Makiba Foster, Washington University in St. Louis; Carolyn Garnes, Atlanta, GA; DL Grant, San Antonio Public Library; and John Page, Washington, DC

In Memory of James Clifton Welbourne, Librarian

2011-09-01T13:38:00.007-04:00

James Clifton Welbourne

August 10, 1942 - August 22, 2011
View James Welbourne's Obituary by New Haven Register

Historical Documents Relating to the African Americans of Chicago Soon to be Online

2011-08-18T16:40:00.004-04:00

The historical collections of 14 museums in the Chicago area will be digitized and made available online through what will be called the Chicago Portal. The new effort to make the collections of the 14 museums more accessible to the public is financed by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Included among the historical documents that will be available at the new portal are special collections from the libraries of the University of Chicago, Columbia College, DePaul University, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Readers of JBHE will be particularly interested in the fact that included among the collections will be the Chicago Jazz Archive, the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Collection and the papers of several University of Chicago sociologists who conducted extensive surveys and studies of the city’s ethnic populations.

Source: JBHE.COM 8/18/11 Weekly Bulletin

Documentary: Behind Those Books

2011-05-28T12:09:00.003-04:00

New documentary premiered last night 5/27 at the Tribeca Cinemas in NYC called Behind Those Books.
BTB website
BTB Press release

Produced by cousins Kaven Brown and Mills Miller. The film is billed as " the first and only comprehensive documentation on film of this controversial genre. " Behind the Books follows the evolution of street lit through a series of interviews with insiders, authors, editors, literary agents ...."

source: Publisher's Weekly, May 9, 2011
"A New Film Looks at Controversy Over Street Lit"

2011-02-28T09:58:00.003-05:00

"A new book by Kenneth W. Warren, the Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor of English at the University of Chicago. In the book, What Was African American Literature?, Warren provocatively asserts that that label belonged to a specific category of writing from a specific time that has passed. This genre called “African American Literature,” he says, was the umbrella for creative and critical work written by black Americans within and against the strictures of Jim Crow America. As Warren says in a podcast that you can hear below, “Black writers during this period knew that their work would be read in terms of whether it challenged or justified racial segregation.” Given that this defining characteristic no longer applies to literature written by Black Americans, Warren calls for moving past the term in ways that will enable us to recognize and appreciate the vast and varying concerns and content of literature written by Black Americans since the legal dismantling of Jim Crow."

Podcast

Source: HarvardUniversity Press Blog

Little Known Black Librarian Facts 2011

2011-02-28T09:37:00.008-05:00

An annual compilation of facts relating to African American Librarianship and library services compiled and edited by Michele T. Fenton, MLIS, CBWD, Librarian II/Cataloger at Indiana State Library.

Little Known Black Librarian Facts 2011

Connecticut

If you would like to add this title to your collection, please feel free to do so. Two serial records have been created on OCLC (for the print version see OCLC #652446801 ; for the electronic version see OCLC #652447275).

This document is also accessible from the Indiana Black Librarians Network homepage: http://www.indianablacklibrarians.org/

CLA Scholarships -deadline Feb. 11, 2011

2011-01-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

The Career Development Committee offers scholarships annually to CLA members enrolled in MLS or LTA degree programs. This year, two MLS scholarships in the amount of $1,600.00 and one LTA scholarship in the amount of $550.00 will be awarded.

Materials must be postmarked by February 11, 2011 in order to receive consideration. In addition to the monetary award, scholarship winners receive complimentary 1-day registration and lunch at the 2011 CLA Annual Conference.

Application forms are available at: http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/scholarship.htm
Not a CLA member? Don't worry! A student membership is only $25.00. Read about the benefits of membership.

For more information or questions, please contact Kimberly Farrington (farringtonk@ccsu.edu or 860-832-3403).

BCALA-CT Program at CLA 2011

2010-12-02T12:25:00.004-05:00

The 120th CLA Annual Conference, will be held Monday, May 2 & Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at the Stamford Hilton
in Stamford, CT.

Good Movies Still Matter: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 2:40PM. Room TBD.

Guest Speakers:

Carolyn Aucella, Ferguson Library, Film specialist
Adam Birnbaum, Director of Business Development and Film Program for the Avon Theatre

26th Annual Langston Hughes Kwanzaa Celebration@ Queens Library

2010-12-02T11:05:00.003-05:00

The Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center is celebrating their 26th Annual Langston Hughes Kwanzaa Celebration! Admission is Free. www. queenslibrary.org

When: Saturday, December 4
11:00AM - 4:00PM -- Pre-Kwanzaa

10AM - 6:00PM --2nd Annual Authors and Publishers Fair
Author readings by Rita Willams-Garcia, E.J. Antonio and David Mills

And much more on Saturday, December 11th!

View Schedule of Events (.pdf)

Where: Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center
100-01 Northern Blvd
Corona, 718-651-1100
Train: 7 to 103rd St/Corona Plaza. Walk 5 blocks to Northern Blvd.
Bus: Q23, Q66, Q72
Car: Grand Central Parkway to Northern Blvd.

REFORMA Spanish Materials Book Fair - Hartford (CT) Public

2010-10-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

SPANISH MATERIALS BOOK FAIR

PURCHASE SPANISH LANGUAGE BOOKS, DVD's, & CD's FOR ADULTS, TEENS &
CHILDREN
Date: Friday, October 22, 2010
Time: 12:00-6:00 p.m.
Where: Hartford Public Library
500 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
860-695-7500
FREE ADMISSION

For Directions and Parking Information, go to:

http://www.hplct.org/branches/downtown.shtm

This event is in collaboration with Reforma Northeast Chapter, the
Hartford Public Library and the Puerto Rican Studies Association

For more information, please contact book fair co-chairs:

Leticia Cotto, Hartford Public Library (860-695-7500)
lcotto@hplct.org mailto:lcotto@hplct.org>

Tess Tobin, REFORMA Northeast Chapter (718) 260-5499
ttobin@citytech.cuny.edu mailto:ttobin@citytech.cuny.edu>

ALA Annual 2010 -Soul City! African American Cultural Tour of Washington DC

2010-05-28T12:06:00.001-04:00

You are cordially invited to attend a special 2010 Annual Conference Excursion in Washington, DC benefitting BCALA’s Seventh Annual NCAAL Conference.

Monday, June 28, 2010/8 am-1:15 pm
Soul City! African American Cultural Tour of Washington DC
This not-to-be-missed tour of our nation’s Capitol brings you up close and personal with the people, the stories, and the flavors that have shaped the District of Columbia and our entire nation. Driven in an air-conditioned motor coach, we’ll see the home of the great abolitionist, orator, and publisher Frederick Douglass; from there we will make a brief stop at the Anacostia Community Museum where the critically-acclaimed African Presence in México exhibition is on display; next, we’ll drive through fabled LeDroit Park and the U Street Corridor where early African American civil rights pioneers, entrepreneurs, and entertainers lived and worked; and we will also visit the legendary Howard University, once considered the “Harvard” of Black America. We will hear about Washington DC’s Civil War soldiers’ contributions and learn about the recently discovered African Burial Ground near DC’s Adams Morgan neighborhood. We will end this fascinating jaunt through DC’s history with lunch at the one and only Ben’s Chili Bowl, a favorite of comedian Bill Cosby and where a certain President has been known to take the occasional lunch. Featured on Food Network’s “Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations” and “Man Versus Food” television series, and cited as one of the nation’s legendary spots for chili and casual fare by Gourmet Magazine, The Washington Post, and the New York Times; lunch at Ben’s Chili Bowl is vegetarian-friendly and best of all—included in the price of the ticket! We told you, you won’t want to miss this tour!!

Ticket Price: $64 per ticket or two tickets for $118

Make Checks payable to “BCALA”.

Send Payment and the name(s) and email(s) of the individuals registering for the tour to the following address by June 20:
Soul City Tour/NCAAL 2010
c/o Élise Browne
J. Eugene Smith Library
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham Street
Willimantic CT 06226
(860) 465-5539
BrowneE@easternct.edu

BCALA-CT Program at CLA 2010

2010-04-16T20:00:00.003-04:00

The 119th CLA Annual Conference, "Our Common Ground" will be held Monday, April 19 & Tuesday, April, 20, 2010 at the Mohegan Sun

Engaging Teens @Your Library: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 10:15-11:15 co-sponsored by CLA YA section

Guest Speakers:

Lambert Shell, Coordinator of Youth Enrichment Services, Queens Library, NY
Dr. William H. Foster, III, Comic Book Historian and Professor of Englisha and Communication at Naugatuck Valley Community College

More

Registration is Open! - 7th National Conference of African American Librarians

2010-03-17T12:10:00.002-04:00

Registration is open! for the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s

*7th National Conference of African American Librarians*

August 4–8, 2010

Sheraton Conference Center, Birmingham, Alabama

*“Bridging the Divide with Information Access, Activism, and Advocacy”*

Please follow the conference link below for information on conference and hotel registration,

tours, local attractions, program tracks, preliminary program, etc.

http://www.bcala.org/NCAAL_7/bcala_conf/index.html

*Highlights include: *

Opening keynote speaker for the John Tyson Memorial Lecture is Dr.
Terrence Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine who desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. He is the author of /Lessons from Little Rock/ and /Simple, Not Easy: Reflections on Community, Social Responsibility, and Tolerance/. Roberts and his fellow Central High students received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1958, the Congressional Gold Medal and other awards and acknowledgements for their contribution to civil rights history. Roberts received a bachelor’s degree from California State University at Los Angeles, a master’s degree in social work from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a doctorate in psychology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
Comedienne Kim Wayans, of the Wayans comedy family, and her husband, Kevin Knotts, authors of the children’s book /All Mixed Up! (Amy Hodgepodge, No. 1),/ published by Grosset and Dunlap, 2008, one in a series of Amy Hodgepodge novels, will speak at one of the author luncheons.
Join us for a memorable half day bus excursion of historic Birmingham which will include a visit to the renowned Birmingham Civil Rights District, the home of the City’s most famous landmarks: The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church-the site of the 1963 bombing where four little girls were killed and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. In close proximity to these landmarks is Kelly Ingram Park. The park served as a gathering place for demonstrations during the 1960s including the infamous ones where police dogs and fire hoses were turned on marchers.
Other sites on the tour will include Angela Davis’ home and the Vulcan, the world’s largest cast iron statue which overlooks the “Magic City”.

2010-03-15T11:30:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to BCALA-CT member Scott Hughes and fellow Connecticut Librarians as this year's 2010 Library Journal Movers and Shakers!

Lisa Carlucci Thomas http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6721893.html
Gretchen Caserotti http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6721892.html
Ramona Harten http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6721866.html
Scott Hughes http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6721864.html

Meet the 2010 Movers & Shakers. Now in its ninth year, Movers & Shakers spotlights librarians from all corners of the library world and several nations. Each year brings numerous nominations of those who work in the library field from colleagues, friends, bosses, and just plain admirers. We know there are thousands more Movers out there, making libraries better and taking them into the future. With this year's group of 50, the Movers cohort now numbers some 450. We're proud to recognize their achievements—and to encourage you to keep an eye on them. My thanks to contributing writers Sarah Bayliss, Jen Pinkowski, and Lynn Blumenstein. Check out the Movers & Shakers site at www.libraryjournal.com/movers2010, sponsored by OCLC, for the complete list to date.

2002-2010 Former CT Librarians Movers & Shakers

CT Library Association 2010 Scholarship

2010-01-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

The Connecticut Library Association Career Development Committee offers scholarships annually to members enrolled in MLS or LTA degree programs. This year, one MLS scholarships in the amount of $1,500.00 and one LTA scholarship in the amount of $700.00 will be awarded. A CLA membership is required. For more information on the benefits of joining: http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/member.htm

Materials must be submitted by February 12, 2010 in order to receive consideration. In addition to the monetary award, scholarship winners receive complimentary one day registration and lunch at the 2010 CLA Annual Conference at Mohegan Sun. For more information check out: http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/scholarship.htm

E. J. Josey, Legendary Activist Librarian and Leader, Dies at 85

2009-07-06T21:54:00.006-04:00

CHICAGO – Dr. E.J. Josey, professor emeritus, University of Pittsburgh, and past American Library Association (ALA) president (1984-85) passed away July 3 in Washington, N.C.

In 1964 Dr. Josey authored an ALA resolution forbidding ALA officers and staff from participating in state associations that denied membership to black librarians. This action led to the integration of the library association of several Southern states, and he became the first black librarian to be accepted as a member of the Georgia Library Association. .......MORE

Cards and contributions can be sent to the Foundation's address below:
The E.J. Josey Foundation for Justice and Peace
526 W. 2nd Street
Washington, NC 27889

Sources:7/6/09: ALA

and Library Journal;

ALA Connect

I am deeply sadden to read the news of Dr. Josey passing. My condolences to the family. He will be missed. -PB

BCALA-CT @ CLA 2009 Pics

2009-06-08T13:35:00.010-04:00

Thanks to everyone for celebrating this day with us!

1. Our three Panelists for ""Reel World Films" with Guests, (middle) Terry Francis, Yale Film Studies & African American Studies; (right) Carolyn Aucella, Ferguson Library and (left) Patrica Dawson, Albertus Magnus Collee Library.

2. 10th Anniversary Celebration BCALA-CT Affiliate Cake

3. Some Affiliate members (L-R): Josephine, Pat, Astoria, Phara, JaTara and Debra

BCALA National May/June 2009 Newsletter

2009-06-08T13:27:00.003-04:00

Don't miss the latest issue of the National BCALA newsletter (vol. 37/No. 3). This issue has a announcementt about BCALA-CT 10th Anniversary celebration at the 118th CT Libraries Annual Conference 2009. Also for those of you attending ALA 2009 Annual Conference (July 9-15) in Chicago, check out the list of BCALA Sponsored events on page 3 and much more.

BCALA National March/April 2009 Newsletter

2009-04-15T17:43:00.004-04:00

Don't miss the latest issue of the National BCALA newsletter (vol. 32/No. 2). This issue has a great profile of former BCALA-CT President Astorial Ridley. Also check out the column from the international relations committee "Ngoma" written by former BCALA-CT President, Vivian Bordeaux and Eboni M. Stokes (committee chairs).

page. 14 "Where We Have Been and Where Are We Going: Covering the Progress of 2008, the Plans for 2009, and Beyond"

page. 14 "Astoria Ridley Law Librarian

BCALA-CT at CLA 2009

2009-02-28T14:06:00.003-05:00

Connecticut Library Association 2009.-- Omni New Haven Hotel

Wednesday, April 29th 6PM. 10th Anniversary Reception (room-Presidential Suite)
Thursday, April 30th, 2:15-3:30 - "Reel World Films" with Guests, Terry Francis, Yale Film Studies & African American Studies; Carolyn Aucella, Ferguson Library and Patrica Dawson, Albertus Magnus Collee Library. (room-York)
Thursday, April 30th, 10:15am - co-sponsored program with the CLA College and University Libraries Section (CULS): "Cultural Competence: Diversity's Next Step with Guest, Lana W. Jackman, Melange Information Services, Inc. (room-George A)

CLA MLS & LTA Scholarship 2009 Announcement

2009-01-13T18:27:00.001-05:00

Connecticut Library Association’s Career Recruitment & Mentoring Committee offers scholarships to CT residents who are enrolled in MLS or LTA degree programs.

This year two MLS scholarships in the amount of $1,500.00 and up to two LTA scholarships in the amount of $700.00 will be awarded.

Application forms and guidelines are available on the CLA website (http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/scholarship.htm). Materials must be submitted by the February 1, 2009 in order to receive consideration.

In addition to the monetary award, scholarship recipients receive a CLA membership as well as complimentary registration at the CLA Annual Conference.

For more information, please contact Debbie Herman (hermand@ccsu.edu, 860-832-2084) or Kim Farrington (farringtonk@ccsu.edu, 860-832-3408).

2009 Marks the 40th Anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Award

2009-01-13T17:24:00.002-05:00

Given to African American authors and illustrators for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions, the Coretta Scott King Book Award titles promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream.

The award is designed to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.
To learn more about the award, click here.

Source: Simon&Schuster

Best Careers 2009: Librarian [US News and World Report]

2009-01-09T12:56:00.002-05:00

Best Careers 2009: Librarian
By Marty Nemko

Overview.Forget about that image of librarians as a mousy bookworms. More and more of today's librarians must be clever interrogators, helping the patron to reframe their question more usefully. Librarians then become high-tech information sleuths, helping patrons plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records, often starting with a clever Google search but frequently going well beyond. Read More

Source: US News & World Report

CLA Announces 2009 Conference Rates

2008-12-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

The 2009 conference will be held at the Omni New Haven Hotel in New Haven, CT on Wednesday, April 29 through Friday, May 1, 2009. The 2009 Conference Co-chairs Alice Knapp and Janet Woycik and CLA President Kathy Leeds are hard at work planning the next conference. Any additional information will be posted on the "Upcoming Event" conference page.

View Rates here!

Registration does not include lunch but does include parking. Every 4th participant from an institution will receive free registration. In the case where members and non-members are registering, the free registration will go to a member (i.e. CLA will take the higher fee). Please address any registration questions to the CLA 2009 Conference Co-chairs, Alice Knapp and Janet Woycik

African American Views: 40 Titles for Black History Month

2008-12-01T21:17:00.002-05:00

African American Views: 40 Titles for Black History Month
By Ann Burns -- Library Journal, 11/1/2008

Source: Library Journal

2009 E.J. Josey Scholarship Award~ Deadline Dec. 12, 2008

2008-12-01T21:11:00.002-05:00

The E.J. Josey Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the topic for the 2009 Award competition. The E. J. Josey Scholarships are two (2) unrestricted grants of $2,000 awarded annually to African American students enrolled in or accepted by ALA accredited programs.

Persons Wishing to Apply Must:
Be an African American Citizen of the United States or Canada.
Be enrolled or accepted by ALA-accredited graduate program leading to a degree in library and information science at the time of application.

Please submit an essay of 1,000 - 1,200 words relating to the following Statement:
"In Alabama, Blacks are 26 % of the population but make up 69% of all new HIV/AIDS cases. In Detroit, Michigan HIV infection rates are higher than Rwanda and Kenya-who has one of highest rates in the world. In Jackson, Mississippi, 84% of those living with AIDS are Black. In New York City the rate of infection among African Americans is higher than in Nigeria. And in Washington, DC, the nation's capital, more than 80% of HIV cases are among Blacks - that's one in 20 residents!"
Source: Black AIDS Institute, 1833 W 8th St. Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90057

The theme for the 2009 BCALA E.J. Josey Scholarship Essay:
What is the library's role in promoting an awareness of critical health issues confronting the African American community? Specifically, what is the role of the library in the dissemination of preventative information to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community?

The deadline for the essays will be December 12, 2008
Essays should be submitted in Word 2003 or later to bbeal@mcc.cc.ms.us. Billy C. Beal Meridian Community College

The winning essays will be announced at the mid winter meeting of BCALA in Denver, CO during the Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association in January, 2009

Special Instructions:

Include a cover letter providing the applicant's name, address, phone number, graduate program, and name of school and anticipated date of graduation.
Essay submissions must be in plain text, Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect format to be mailed electronically as an attachment. Only essays submitted electronically will be considered.
The essay must be typed, doubled-spaced.
Essays will be judged on the basis of good argument development and critical analysis, clear language, conciseness, and creativity.

NYT- From the Streets to the Libraries

2008-10-26T15:49:00.003-04:00

Urban fiction titles still growing in popularity in libraries......read the latest NYT article "From the Street to the Libraries"by Anne Barnard.

Sister Souljah's sequel to Coldest Winter Ever, Midnight to be released November 4, 2008.

Hartford Seminary Library 175th Anniversary

2008-10-10T10:58:00.001-04:00

Honor the Past. Celebrate the Present. Envision the Future.
at JAZZ IN THE STACKS
A Festive Illumination of Hartford Seminary’s Art and Archives

Wednesday, October 22
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Hartford Seminary Library
77 Sherman Street
Hartford, CT

We invite you to mix and mingle to the accompaniment of Hartford’s young jazz musicians and celebrate with us the launch of our 175th year. Enjoy our newly restored portraits of some of the Seminary’s early leaders, along with a selection from the fascinating collection of our Archives.
The evening will provide a look into the history of this great institution.

RSVP to 175th@hartsem.edu
FAITHFUL TRADITIONS IN DIALOGUE: PREPARING PEACEMAKERS FOR 175 YEARS

Survey for African American Male Librarians - ends October 22, 2008

2008-10-03T17:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Colleagues:

As noted at ALA-Anaheim’s program on Black (African American) male librarians*, the significant dearth of representation in this group is critical.

In order to more accurately inform future LIS advertising, recruitment, marketing and education efforts, I invite you, the African American male librarian with an ALA- accredited Master’s degree in Library and Information Science/Studies/Service to participate in an online survey that seeks

1. To find out the internal and external factors that influence African American male librarians choose librarianship as a career; 2. To understand their career path plans and the factors that influence their career planning efforts; and 3. To find out to what degree African American male librarians are satisfied in their jobs.

Please visit
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB2282GNA94M9 to learn more about or take part in the study. Your participation and interest is very important and is sincerely appreciated!

* See
http://www.presentations.ala.org/index.php?title=Saturday%2C_June_28#Saturday_8am_Start_Time

Please forward to colleagues who may be interested in this study...thank you!

Sincerely,
Kaetrena D. Davis, MSLS
Learning Commons Librarian
Principal Researcher

source: ILI Listserv 10/1/08

Richard Wright, Centennial Celebration at Bridgeport Public Library

2008-09-09T15:07:00.002-04:00

September 4th marks the 100th year of the birth of author Richard Wright (Black Boy; Native Son). Join us for this celebration in word, poetry, and song.

BRIDGEPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY (www.bportlibrary.org)
QBR/HARLEM BOOK FAIR (www.QBR.com)
& HBF/Word (www.hbfpublishers.com)

Invite You to: RICHARD WRIGHT (September 4, 1908 - November 28, 1960)
In BLACK and WHITE - A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Thursday, September 11th, 2008, 6-8pm
Fine Arts Room of the Bridgeport Public Library, 925 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT. 06604

Participants:
Scott A. Hughes, City Librarian for the Bridgeport Public Library

Max Rodriguez (Master of Ceremony), Publisher/Founder, QBR The Black Book Review, the Harlem Book Fair, and HBF Publishing

Richard Fewell, Playwright & New Play Advisor for Prometheus Fire, a Stamford, CT based not for profit professional theatre company (www.prometheusfire.org)

Jeanette Harris, Actress and Storyteller

Cordina Nielsen, Vocalist

Nancy Kuhl, Curator of the Richard Wright Papers at the Beneicke Library of Yale University

Bryan Norwood, Chief of Police of the City of Bridgeport Police Department

Jamaal St. John, New York City-based Spoken Word Poet

THIS EVENT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 203.576.7777

Wiley Mullins (Celebrity Chef for the Richard Wright Menu) is an entrepreneur and founder of Uncle Wiley’s, Inc., a marketer of the largest African American Brand of blended spices and seasonings in the country.

Off Street Parking is available directly behind the Main Library or in the Aquarion lot directly across the street from the Library (on the corner of Broad Street and Cesar Batalla Way).

Bridgeport Public Library
www.bridgeportpubliclibrary.org
925 Broad Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Book Discussions ~Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Library

2008-06-20T16:12:00.005-04:00

Join others in reading and discussing two notable Native American works that hightlight issues about race and indentity in Indian Country today. Attached is a flyer for two book discussions to be held this summer at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Library.

July 9
Joyce Vincent will lead a discussion on Sherman Alexie’s Indian Killer

August 13
Ron Welburn discusses Joseph Bruchac’s memoir Bowman’s Store: A Journey to Myself.
Download Flyer

The sessions are free and are followed by a one-hour tour of the traveling exhibit “RACE: Are We So Different?” Join others in reading and discussing two notable Native American works that highlight issues about race and identity in Indian Country today. Please see attached flyer.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Library

Submit Your Vote!~ Slate of Officers 2008-2009

2008-06-13T18:00:00.002-04:00

It’s Time to Vote for BCALA Connecticut’s New Slate of 0fficers!
Deadline: No Later than Wednesday, June 25 th, 2008.

The slate shall become effective when ratified by two-thirds of the vote. Votes can be submitted in three ways to Astoria H. Ridley by:

1. E-MAIL: astoriar"at"yahoo.com || OR
2. FAX to: 203-789-6499
3. MAIL to: New Haven Law Library at New Haven Courthouse, 235 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510, Attn: Astoria H. Ridley

This is the slate of Officers presented for the 2008-2009 Term. (word doc)

South African Children's Literature Seminar

2008-05-19T19:03:00.003-04:00

South African Children's Literature Seminar

Saturday, July 12, 2008
8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Simmons College
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA

Co-Sponsored by Simmons College Graduate School of Library & Information Sciences Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature and South Africa Partners

Lectures and breakout sessions will include topics such as: Historical and contemporary South African children's literature

Reading African children's literature critically
Children's literature and society
Books in a globalized world
Storytelling tradition of Southern Africa
Introduction to the South Africa Partners' Masifunde Sonke: Let Us Read Together book project

In addition, your $50 registration fee includes: a continental breakfast, box lunch, and wine and cheese reception

Special Guest Speakers include:
Sindiwe Magona:
is a South African author, poet, playwright, story-teller, actor, and
inspirational speaker who recently retired from a career with the United
Nations. She is the author of 30 children's books including The Best Meal
Ever! and Life is a Hard but Beautiful Thing.

Elinor Sisulu:
is a South African writer and human rights activist. Her biography of her
mother and father-in-law Walter and Albertina Sisulu won her the 2003 NOMA
award for publishing in South Africa. The need for preserving history
through stories was her main motivation for writing the children's book
The Day Gogo Went to Vote, which won numerous awards, including the African
Studies Association's Best Children's Book Award.

Donnarae MacCann:
is a critic and scholar, specializing in African and African diaspora
children's literature. She co-authored Apartheid and Racism in South
African Children's Literature, 1985 - 1995 and African Images in Juvenile
Literature: Commentaries on Neocolonialist Fiction, among many other
relevant works.

To Register: Please visit www.sapartners.org<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=y6ew6mcab.0.vg5zvubab.ey6pvbbab.3836&ts=S0339&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sapartners.org%2F>
or call 617-443-1072.

Call for BCALA-CT Executive Board Nominations

2008-05-09T16:44:00.002-04:00

It's time again for the membership of BCALA-CT to begin to think about the selection of nominees for the 2008 - 2009 Executive Board offices. The mission of the Nominating committee is to reach out to the BCALA-CT Affiliate membership to solicit candidates for the office of Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

If you know of someone who might be interested in serving as an officer, please complete this form and e-mail it to phara.bayonne "at" uconn.edu or FAX to: ( 203) 251-8501, Phara Bayonne, Chair- Nominating Committee.
Self-nominations are accepted.

All nominations must members in good standing. Nomination Deadline: May 31 st, 2008

CLA 2008 Conference - BCALA-CT Program

2008-04-09T20:36:00.003-04:00

The 2008 Conference Committee presents the 117th Annual Conference:

Innovation, Transformation & Beyond @ CLA

April 28 - April 30, 2008.
Register today by clicking on the link below.

Online Registration: click HERE!
Program: download the complete program brochure (PDF)
Paying with one check for multiple attendees? Download quick instructions (PDF)
Online registration deadline: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Join us for the BCALA-CT Program: Urban Lit: the Hot New Genre on Tuesday, April 29th, 10:30- Noon

The Dr. Spencer G. Shaw Scholarship Announced

2008-02-01T18:28:00.000-05:00

New Scholarship Launched--released by BCALA-Connecticut Chapter Dr. Spencer G. Shaw Scholarship Committee.

The BCALA-Connecticut Affiliate would like to announce a scholarship in honor of Dr. Spencer G. Shaw. Dr. Shaw is a retired public librarian, educator and world renowned expert on storytelling and library services to children. He was also the first African American librarian to be hired at the Hartford Public Library in 1941. The Dr. Spencer G. Shaw scholarship will be available to a Connecticut resident and African-American student accepted in an MLS degree program from an ALA accredited Master’s Program in Library and Information Studies. The $500 award will be given for the first time this Spring at the Connecticut Library Association annual 2008 conference. The Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2008.
Download Application Now!

For more information about the scholarship, please call the committee chair, Josephine Fulcher Anderson at 203-351-8281 or email janderson 'at' fergusonlibrary.org.

Congratulations to SD Harris, BCALA Newsletter editor

2008-01-17T18:57:00.000-05:00

Sherelle Harris, past president of the BCALA-CT affiliate, recipient of numerous literary awards and progressive foreward thinker has been named editor of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association's newsletter.

On behalf of the executive board of the Ct. affiliate, I congratulate you Sherelle, on a well deserved acknowledgement of your talents and dedication!!

Our pride is only surpassed by our anticipation of your future accomplishments!!!

Congratulations again Miss Harris!!!!

Debra A. Willliams
Co-president, BCALA-CT Affiliate
New Haven, CT. 06511

Renew your BCALA membership 2008

2008-01-08T17:21:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all of you from the BCALA Connecticut Chapter.

We appreciate all that you have done in the past for this Chapter. Please refer to our website www.bcala-ct.org for the Membership Renewal form. We are looking forward to your continued support. Thank you.

From Awful to Awesome: Effective Time Management Strategies

2008-01-02T16:57:00.000-05:00

Check out some great tips by Veronica L.C. Stevenson-Moudamane about effective time management strategies for Info Career Trends, a library related online publication.

Create a plan to get organized

Create a positive habit

Time Management Tips

Managing Paperwork

Tips for staying professionally current

Info Career Trends- LISjobs.com career development newsletter

Positions: Diversity Residents, PurdueUniversity Libraries

2007-12-17T14:08:00.000-05:00

The Purdue University Libraries Diversity Residency Program is seeking two early career library and information science professionals who are committed to a career in academic librarianship. The Residency Program is designed to encourage and promote professional development and research contribution of entry-level librarians and to increase the diversity of professionals who will become partners in leading a transformation within the field. The two-year residency provides a broad-based awareness of foundational principles and practices in academic research librarianship as well as specialization experiences. For further information about the program, visit http://www.lib.purdue.edu/diversity/residency08.html

Requirements: Masters degree in library / information science (ALA-accredited), received within the past three years and by August 31, 2008. Possess a strong interest in developing a career in academic librarianship; demonstrated commitment to and knowledge of diversity through study or life experience; strong service orientation and commitment to library user needs; excellent communication and presentation skills; strong analytical skills and organizational abilities. Interest in and desire to develop research skills and methodologies. Candidates must be motivated, flexible team players, self-directed, comfortable with change.

Desired: Experience in a library environment, teaching, or in public service. Experience in developing and implementing programs to diverse users groups. Fluent in a second language.

Application process: Letter stating interest and briefly discussing your ability to meet the requirements of the position, résumé, and list of references should be sent by e-mail or surface mail to: Thomas L. Haworth, Human Resources Administrator, Purdue University Libraries, 504 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2058, Phone: (765) 494-2899; email: thaworth "at" purdue.edu Review of applications begins February 15, 2008; start date August 11, 2008.

Purdue University is an equal access/ equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer
fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce.

2008 CLA MLS and LTA Scholarships

2007-12-05T12:04:00.000-05:00

Each year CLA's Career Recruitment Committee offers scholarships to CT residents enrolled in MLS or LTA degree programs. This year, up to two MLS scholarships in the amount of $1,500.00 and up to two LTA scholarships in the amount of $700.00 will be available. Materials must be submitted by February 1, 2008 in order to receive consideration. In addition to the monetary award, scholarship winners receive a CLA membership as well as free registration and lunch at the 2008 CLA Annual Conference.

For more information and to apply, please visit the following URL:
http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/scholarship.htm

Niineteen National African American Read-In~ Feb. 3 & 4, 2008

2007-12-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

The Nineteenth National African American Read-In

Sponsored by the Black Caucus of NCTE and by NCTE

Join over a million readers in the
Nineteeth National African American Read-In

Sunday, February 3, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008, for schools

http://www.ncte.org/prog/readin/107901.htm

Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.

Conn.Affiliate Membership Reception Tonight Nov. 29

2007-11-29T11:49:00.000-05:00

Join BCALA-CT members to tonight at the New Haven Free Public Library for a reception to meet, greet, and learn about the organization. Refreshments will be provided.

When: Thursday, November 29, 2007

Where: New Haven Public Library
133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT.

time: 6:00 PM -8:00PM

RSVP to: Debra Williams dawilliams61 "at" yahoo.com
or call 203-946-8130 ext. 310

directions: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/library

Download Flyer

ARL Hosts Fourth Annual Leadership Institute Jan. 10-13, 2008

2007-11-28T13:27:00.000-05:00

ARL to Host Fourth Annual Leadership Institute, Philadelphia, January 10–13, 2008—Register by December 28, 2007

Washington DC—In January 2008, in conjunction with the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) will host its Fourth Annual Leadership Institute for MLS graduate students. The Leadership Institute will focus on issues related to transitioning into, and building career networks in, research libraries. The program will include presentations by library leaders and former ARL Diversity Scholars.

The Leadership Institute will provide:

a theoretical overview of macro-level issues facing research libraries;
advice on career opportunities in, and transitioning into, a research library;
opportunities to develop a community of learners amongst the participants;
opportunities for both formal and informal mentoring; and
opportunities to network with ARL library leaders.

The Leadership Institute has two tracks: the ARL Diversity Scholars Track, which begins on Thursday, January 10; and the Public Track, which begins on Saturday, January 12. The institute concludes on Sunday, January 13.

The Public Track is open to any MLS student or librarian who is interested in transitioning into an ARL library.

Register by December 28, 2007

Registration is free of charge. The institute agenda and registration form are on the ARL Web site at http://www.arl.org/diversity/leadinst/.

The Leadership Institute is one component of ARL’s Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce—funded by ARL member institutions and the Institute for Museum and Library Services—which includes leadership development training, a strong mentoring relationship with a professional librarian, career placement assistance, membership in professional associations (including the five ALA ethnic caucuses), and a stipend up to $10,000 (over two years). The Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce reflects the commitment of ARL members to create a diverse research library community that will better meet the new challenges of global competition and changing demographics. The Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce is located on the Web at http://www.arl.org/diversity/init/.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of 123 research libraries in North America. Its mission is to influence the changing environment of scholarly communication and the public policies that affect research libraries and the diverse communities they serve. ARL pursues this mission by advancing the goals of its member research libraries, providing leadership in public and information policy to the scholarly and higher education communities, fostering the exchange of ideas and expertise, and shaping a future environment that leverages its interests with those of allied organizations. ARL is located on the Web at http://www.arl.org/.

BCALAmember in the News: SD Harris

2007-11-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

Congratulations again to S.D. Harris, our BCALA-CT Past President and Head of Children's Services at the Norwalk Public Library on her receiving a Community Action Award!

"On Friday, October 19, 2007, children's librarian Sherelle Harris was surprised with a community action award from the anti-poverty agency Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, or NEON. The award included a plaque which reads “For Outstanding Service to the Community and Making a Difference in the Lives of Others.” The award was accompanied by an official citation from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and a public leadership citation from Connecticut State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier.

This is Sherelle's second award this year. In August she received the BCALA national award for library advocacy serving multicultural communities."

Source: CLC CONNtext November 2007 newsletter
<www.ctlibrarians.org/news/newsletter.html>

CLASS -Conn.Library Assoc. Support Staff Section Program

2007-10-09T12:58:00.001-04:00

Conn. Library Association Support Staff Section (CLASS) presents:

CLASS: Career Renewal 2007

Manchester Community College in Manchester, Conn.

Friday Nov. 2, 2007

for more information email Kris Golden at kgolden@cslib.org

download registration form

CLA calendar of events

ACRL releases White Paper on “Achieving Racial & Ethnic Diversity ...."

2007-09-18T16:26:00.000-04:00

ACRL releases “Achieving Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Academic and Research Librarians”

CHICAGO —The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the release of “Achieving Racial and Ethnic Diversity among Academic and Research Librarians: The Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Librarians of Color,” a white paper commissioned by the ACRL Board of Directors working group on diversity, chaired by Dorothy Washington of the Purdue University Black Cultural Center Library in Lafayette, Ind. The paper was authored by Teresa Neely of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., and Lorna Peterson of the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y.

The white paper and a companion piece authored by ACRL President Julie Todaro, of the Austin Community College in Austin, Texas, can be found online at
www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/whitepapers/whitepapersreports.cfm.

Read Full Press Release
Source: American Libraries Association (ALA)

St. John’s University to offer Scholarships for MLS Master's Program

2007-09-04T15:53:00.000-04:00

Library and Information Science Division Receives Funding from Institute for Museum and Library Services to Help New York's Underserved.

To address the staffing needs of the New York metropolitan area’s poorest school and community libraries, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded the Division of Library and Information Science in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences a grant of nearly $1 million under its “Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.” St. John’s was the seventh-largest beneficiary of the Bush program, which issued 43 grants to institutions across the country this year.

The total award of $988,419 will support a newly-minted St. John’s master’s program designed to prepare students for short-term careers within New York’s traditionally underserved populations. Beginning next year, 40 incoming students will receive full-tuition scholarships to enter St. John’s Master of Library Science program. Upon graduating, they will be expected to spend the next three years of their career serving the metropolitan area’s lower-income libraries in some capacity. Read More

Those interested in applying for this program should contact Dr. Stacy Creel at creels@stjohns.edu for an application.

Source: http://www.stjohns.edu/ --St. John's News

BCALA member in the News: SD Harris

2007-09-04T14:03:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to S.D. Harris, our BCALA-CT Past President and Head of Children's Services at the Norwalk Public Library on her receiving the Library Advocacy Award!

"Sherelle Harris of Norwalk Public Library won the Library Advocacy Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. The award recognizes a nominee who demonstrates a commitment to library and information services to black and ethnic communities."

Read Related Norwalk Advocate 8/16/07 story here

Source: September CLC CONNtext pg. 3

Position: Youth Services Librarian- The Ferguson Library

2007-08-21T17:13:00.000-04:00

Youth Services Librarian – Stamford, CT – The Ferguson Library.

Immediate opening for a highly motivated, service-oriented youth librarian. Join a team committed to providing outstanding customer service to the youth of a diverse community. Be part of our innovative programming that includes strong outreach connections.

Responsibilities include reference, and reader’s advisory, collection management and programming activities for all ages. Ability and willingness to carry out assignments independently encouraged. Proficiency in computer technology required, and the ability to converse with patrons for whom English is a second language desirable. Requires an MLS. Salary range $47,877 - $58,765 commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits package. Please send resume and references to George N. Nichols, Director of Human Resources, either by email (gnichols@fergusonlibrary.org), or by regular mail (The Ferguson Library, One Public Library Plaza, Stamford, CT. 06904) not later than September 4, 2007.

BCALA member in the News: Blanche Parker

2007-08-21T17:08:00.000-04:00

Blanche Parker: Darien Librarian Visits With Volpicelli

Source: Darien Times, The (CT)
August 9, 2007
Author: Lou Volpicel
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/darien.shtml

Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered week an weary..."

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

"To be or not to be, that is the question..."

"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?"

These are just a few thoughts penned in the past, by some of our peers in the world of the written word.

The lady who has stored in her mind many of these immortal words is Blanche Parker, assistant head of information services at the Darien Library. Ms. Parker is the able assistant to Mary F. Freeman, head of information services.

"Blanche is the face of our information desk," Ms. Freeman told me.

Ms. Parker is most helpful to our young people.

During her many years at the she - plus our library - has grown with the modern technology that is ingrained in the library's operations.

She helps youngsters use e-mail and computers. And teaches them the many short cuts to help further their education.

Ms. Parker has taught us all. Her knowledge of where to find anything is amazing!

"I was born in Farmville , N.C. ," Ms. Parker told me. "I lived with my grandmother until I was 20 years old. My mom and Dad, like many blacks, moved to Norwalk when I was 10. They went north to get a job to support the family.

"Two things stirred my desire for book knowledge," Ms. Parker said. "A grammar school teacher introduced me to the Weekly Reader, a weekly educational classroom magazine designed for children in pre-kindergaten through sixth grade. We had no library in Farmville. The first library I used was the Bookmobile that would come around in the summer months when I was in elementary school.

"When I said good-bye to my grandma, I joined my mom, Cerlene, and dad, Freddie, in Norwalk . They helped me receive a master's degree in library science at Southern Connecticut State. Twenty-five years ago, I started here as an apprentice. Each day I find my job most fulfilling."

Ms. Parker's southern heritage is expressed on a daily basis by her wonderful wardrobe choices.

"We all feel that Blanche must have the largest closet in the world - she wears new colorful outfits daily," Theresa Ritche, a fellow librarian said. "This petite lady has a regal, classic bone structure. That face especially expresses itself when she greets small children and seniors with tenderness."

Ms. Blanche Parker, evidently your dream has not been deferred!

Lou Volpicelli, a longtime Darienite and Emmy Award winning television producer, has covered title bouts, the Olympics, presidential inaugurations and produced documentaries across the world. Each week, he shares his visits with the people who make Darien run.

Caption:
Darien librarian Blanche Parker. (Darien Times/Laureen Vellante photo)

Section: News
Page: A002
Index Terms: story
Copyright, 2007, The Darien Times

Congratulations to Blanche and many thanks to SD Harris for sharing the article.

Position: Teen Librarian at West Hartford Public Library

2007-07-26T16:39:00.000-04:00

Teen Librarian - West Hartford Public Library, CT has an immediate opening for a full-time librarian (36 ½ hours/week). Creative opportunity for an energetic individual to finalize the design of a new teen space and plan services and programs to encourage the use of the library by young adults. Maintain teen collections in the Main and two branch libraries. Continue established outreach with schools and community organizations. Provide reference and reader's advisory service to customers of all ages.

Requires a strong interest in working with teens, knowledge of young adult literature, an excellent customer service attitude, and an M.L.S. Previous experience working with teens and/or older children, and in a library setting, preferred. Must be able to work evenings and a Saturday rotation. Fluency in a second language is a plus. Salary Range: $48,282 - $60,450. Excellent benefits package.

Applications may be obtained from the Department of Employee Services, Room 221, Town Hall, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107 or by calling (860) 561-7480, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or by accessing Municipal Job Listings on the Town's website: www.westhartford.org. Applications must be postmarked or on file with the Department of Employee Services no later than Friday, August 17, 2007 unless the Director of Employee Services extends such date.

NYT Essay: Writers Like Me

2007-07-17T12:10:00.000-04:00

BOOKS / SUNDAY BOOK REVIEW | July 1, 2007
Essay: Writers Like Me
By MARTHA SOUTHGATE
For most black authors, the writing life rarely unfolds the way it does for so many white writers you could name.

I am a 46-year-old writer of “literary” fiction. I’ve had three novels published — the first for young people, the last two for adults. All have won minor prizes, been respectfully reviewed and sold modestly. I’ve been awarded a few fairly competitive fellowships and grants. The business is full of fiction writers like me. With one difference: I’m black, born and raised in the United States. At the parties and conferences I attend, and in the book reviews I read, I rarely encounter other African-American “literary” writers, particularly in my age bracket. There just don’t seem to be that many of us out there, and that’s something I’ve come to wonder about a great deal. more...

Webinar: Core Competencies for Library Staff Free via WebJunction's Live Space

2007-07-17T11:45:00.000-04:00

In this one hour webinar, we will explore competencies for library staff - how defining core competencies builds a foundation for identifying skills and knowledge gaps and leads to targeted training that will help keep libraries viable in the 21st century.

Presenters:
Sarah Houghton-Jan, author of the recent ALA/Library Technology Report publication Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries, will share her knowledge on the subject.

Karen Strege of the Western Council of State Libraries will discuss her organization's competencies and the resulting Library Practitioner Certificate Program.

**Learning Webinars are now closed captioned! Captioning will be available for both the live event and when viewing the recording**

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Online Webinar

Visit the Learning Webinars Instructions page at http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=15203 for the details of how to attend.

Kris Abery
Continuing Education Coordinator
Connecticut State Library
Division of Library Development
1320 Main Street
Suite #25
Willimantic, CT 06226
Tele: (860) 456 - 1717 or
(800) 253 - 7944
Fax: (860) 423 - 5874

Gwendolyn Prellwitz, Program Officer at the ALA Office for Diversity & Spectrum

2007-06-12T09:52:00.000-04:00

Cool Video interview by ALA Manager for Membership Development John Chrastka interviewing Gwendolyn Prellwitz, Program Officer at the ALA Office for Diversity & Spectrum.

In this segment of "ALA in Focus," Gwendolyn Prellwitz, Program Officer at the ALA Office for Diversity & Spectrum, chats with ALA Manager for Membership Development John Chrastka about what her office is up to, their search for a new director, the various grants they are working on, the exciting Spectrum Scholarship program - mentioning along the way some of Gwendolyn's favorite Spectrum Scholars - and how she ended up at the American Library Association. Produced by American Libraries magazine.

Learn more about the Spectrum Scholar 10th Anniversary Luncheon at ALA Annual Conference June 21-June 27, 2007

Source: AL Direct 6/6/07

Early Bird Discounts for BookExpoAmerica Ends May 11th

2007-04-27T13:34:00.000-04:00

BookExpo America 2007 will take place at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City on the following dates:

Educational Program - Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 3 Exhibition Halls - Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3 International Rights Center - Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3

Make sure to register for BookExpo before May 11th to receive the Early Bird Discounts! You can register online at www.bookexpoamerica.com or call 800.840.5614.

CLC is finalizing details on the three CT buses to be underwritten by Holtzbrinck publishers. More info on bus signups will be in the March CONNtext. For the latest info on BookExpo, check

www.bookexpoamerica.com.

State of CT LTA Exam closing date

2007-04-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

The State of CT LT exam is currently being offered with a closing date of 4/30.

This exam is necessary for Library Technician work in some CT state institutions.

Tinyurl: http://tinyurl.com/2lplx7

The Toni Trent Parker MultiCultural Children's Book Festival 2007

2007-04-06T13:30:00.000-04:00

Meet Your Favorite Authors and Illustrators!
Saturday, May 5, 2007 10:00 am - 3:00 pm University of Connecticut, Stamford Campus

One University Place, Stamford, CT 06901
(Corner of Broad Street & Washington Blvd.)

Directions to UConn Stamford Campus

BOOKS FOR ALL CHILDREN
Over 400 titles
Toddlers thru Teens
African-African American- Asian -Caribbean-Latin- Middle Eastern - Native American
View Flyer(pdf)

Produced by Kids Cultural Books in Collaboration with Childcare Learning Centers, Inc. A portion of the sales will benefit CLC, an early childhood education program serving Stamford for 105 years. For more information call 203.359.6925.

History of Blacks in Libraries on ALA Blog

2007-03-29T17:39:00.000-04:00

Early Diversity (?) Efforts: The "Work with Negroes Round Table," 1922-23

At the 1922 Annual Conference in Detroit, about 100 librarians attended the first annual meeting of the Work with Negroes Round Table, chaired by Ernestine Rose of the New York Public Library.

The reports on the Round Table's meetings published in the ALA Bulletin are a bizarre mix of overt racism, progressive ideas, and overt racism masquerading as progressive ideas. They make for lively, if often unsettling, reading.
Read more at the CentenniAL Blog
3/27/07—Greg Landgraf, Editorial Assistant, American Libraries

Congratulations to Dr. Shaw & James C. Welbourne

2007-03-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to our BCALA-CT Members for their achievements! Check out the latest issue of Connecticut Library Consortium's March 2007 Newsletter "CONN-text", Page 2 Library Happenings & Member News section for their mentions of Dr. Spencer Shaw and James C. Welbourne about their contribution to the community.

http://www.ctlibrarians.org/news/archive/conntext200703.pdf

Library Happenings and Member News CLC CONNtext March 2007 Page 2

Dr. Spencer Shaw received a Lifetime Achievement from the NAACP on
February 3. Dr. Shaw was the first African American Librarian in Hartford in 1941.

James C. Welbourne, City Librarian, and Keith Bradoc Gallant, Esq., President, Board of Library Directors, received the 2007 Reverend Howard Nash Community Leadership Award for the key role the New Haven Free Public Library plays in promoting civic engagement and dialogue in the New Haven area.

African American Pavilion @ BookExpo America 2007

2007-02-22T11:51:00.000-05:00

Save the Date
May 31-June 3rd.
Jacab Javits Conference Center
New York City
Info

This year’s 2007 African American Pavilion at BookExpo America Reception and Awards Program Keynote Speaker is none other than the legendary Max Rodriguez, Founder of the Harlem Book Fair and Publisher of QBR: The Black Book Review..

Other speakers include: Vickie Stringer, national best-selling author, Publisher, Triple Crown Publications; Relentless Aaron, national best-selling author, Founder, Publisher, Relentless Content, LLC; Karen Thomas, Executive Editor, Warner Books; Calvin Reid, Senior News Editor, Publishers Weekly; Marcella Smith, Director, Small Press and Vendor Relations, Barnes and Noble; Lynette Velasco, President, Black Americans in Publishing; Heather Covington, national best-selling author, Literary Divas: The Top 100+ African American Women In Literature 2007 NAACP Image Award Finalist, CEO Disilgold Magazine; Sonia L. Booker, national best- selling author, Real Estate and Wealth: Investing in the American Dream; Renee Flagler, national best- selling author, President/CEO, Aspicomm Media and Steve Rosato, Director of Industry Development, BookExpo America. More speakers and performers TBA.

The African American Pavilion Reception and Awards program sponsored by Amber Communications Group, Inc. (June 2nd, 3-5pm) will celebrate the achievements of these African American publishing professionals.

The African American Pavilion at BookExpo America was founded in 2004 by: Tony Rose, Amber Communications Group, Inc., Adrienne Ingrum, Adrienne Ingrum, L.L.C. and Niani Colom, Genesis Press.

Updates about the African American Pavilion at BEA from DisilgoldSoul

2007-02-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

Latest issue of American Libraries Magazine
February 2007

*Race and Place: A Personal Account of Unequal Access
by Tracie D. Hall, pg. 30-33.

*Historically Black Colleges and Universities

*Spectrum Turns 10

Source: AL Direct 2/21/07

Early Registration for CLA 2006, April 16-18

2007-02-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

The Annual Connecticut Library Association's Conference for 2007 will take place on April 16-18, 2007, Hartford Convention Center [directions].

Get a sneak peak at the events for the 2007 CLA Conference - "Libraries: The Third Place"

Early Registration Deadline is March 16th! Download the Registration Form

More Conference details can be found in the latest CLA February Newsletter issue! [download]

***

BCALA-CT Program will take place on Wednesday, April 18th entitled-
Black Books: Black Culture, American Experience
Books by and about African-Americans everyone. They can help develop positive self concepts
in all children and young adults, promote communication, cross-cultural understanding
and sensitivity to racial issues.

ALA | Coretta Scott King Book Award 2007 Winners

2007-01-25T10:05:00.000-05:00

ALA | Coretta Scott King Book Award

SEATTLE – Sharon Draper, author of “Copper Sun,” and Kadir Nelson, illustrator of “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom,” are the winners of the 2007 Coretta Scott King Awards honoring African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults. Traci L. Jones, author of “Standing Against the Wind,” is the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award winner.

The awards were announced today at the American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.

Press Release 1/22/2007

And the Winners Are....2007 Children Book Awards

2007-01-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

The following Children Book Awards were announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle >>>

Caldecott Medal
Honors the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book for children published in the U.S. during the preceding year.

Winner:
David Wiesner, Flotsam

Honors:
David McLimans, Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet
Kadir Nelson (illustrator), Carole Boston Weatherford (author) Moses

Newbery Medal
Honors the year's most distinguished contribution by a U.S. citizen or resident to American literature for children.

Winner:
Susan Patron, The Higher Power of Lucky

Honors:
Jennifer L. Holm, Penny from Heaven
Kirby Larson, Hattie Big Sky
Cynthia Lord, Rules

Coretta Scott King Award
Honors a black author and a black illustrator for an outstanding, inspirational, and educational contribution to literature for children and young people published during the preceding year.

Winner (Author):
Sharon Draper, Copper Sun

Honors (Author):
Nikki Grimes, The Road to Paris

Winner (Illustrator):
Kadir Nelson (illustrator), Carole Boston Weatherford (author) Moses

Honors (Illustrator):
Christopher Myers (illustrator), Walter Dean Myers (author), Jazz
Benny Andrews (illustrator), David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad (editors), Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes

Winner (John Steptoe New Talent Author):
Traci L. Jones, Standing Against the Wind

BCALA-CT Participation in Peabody Museum's MLK Celebration 2007

2007-01-16T17:00:00.000-05:00

“You’re here!” ,“I love this table” and “Where can I send a thank you?!” were just some of the grateful comments that the Ct. affiliate of BCALA received on a misty Monday in New Haven at the Peabody Museum. For 5 years, our chapter has participated in this multicultural, performance packed and enlightening event honoring Dr. King and his commitment to equality and justice. Read more

first picture: Immediate Past-president of BCALA National, Andrew P. Jackson (Sekou Molefi Baako), Executive Director of
the Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, Queens Borough Public Libraryand BCALA-CT President, Celestia Simmons, Community Librarian, Hartford Public Library-Albany Branch. Second picture: The BCALA-CT Table filled with donated African American book titles at the Yale Peabody Museum Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2007.

WSJ Article: The Changing Role of Librarians

2007-01-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

The librarian with cat's-eye glasses, a faded cardigan and gray hair twisted into a bun is getting a makeover.....Read Full Story

The Changing Role of Librarians - WSJ.com
by Aja Carmichael
pg. B8
01/02/2007

Three Rivers LTA Courses Spring 2007

2006-12-27T11:35:00.000-05:00

Three Rivers Community College Norwich CT

Library Technology Program -- Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes

LIB K123 Library Technical Services

Tuesday 6:30-9:15 pm KNTEC rm.208

Faculty: Hali Keeler

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the purpose, function, structure, and concepts of a technical services department.

LIB K201 Electronic Resources in Libraries*

Thursday 6:30-9:15 pm MOH rm. 311

Faculty: Marie Shaw

This course covers the theory and practice of web sites, internet searching, electronic databases, and networking

*This class has a prerequisite of CSA K105.

Classes start January 19

Students not pursuing a certificate or degree are welcome!

To register, call the registrar (860-892-5756)

For course information call Hali Keeler (860-445-0392)

College information available online at www.trcc.commnet.edu

(click on “Library”, then “Library Tech Certificate Program”)

Contact for more information:

Hali R. Keeler
Director
Bill Memorial Library
240 Monument Street
Groton CT 06340
860-445-0392
hkeeler@billmemorial.org

LTA Courses Offered for Spring 2007

2006-12-27T11:28:00.000-05:00

For the Spring 2007 semester, Capital Community College, located in Hartford, Connecticut is offering the following courses as part of its Library Technical Assistant Program. Courses can be taken for professional development as well as enrolling in the certificate or degree program.

View course list here

Classes begin on January 22, 2007. Returning students can register online. Walk- in registration for new and returning students is until January 20. Registration times are as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am-5 pm, Tuesday from 9 am-6 pm and Friday from 9 am-3 pm. On Saturday January 20, registration is 9 am-12 noon. You can also register during the add/drop period from January 22- January 29. The Spring 2007 course schedule is at http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/docs/scheduleBook.pdf. You can view the college catalog online at http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/docs/catalog.pdf.. Directions to the college can be found at http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/directory/map.htm. All registration activities are on the 2^nd floor and the library is located on the 5^th floor. For registration information, please call the Registrar's office at 860-906-5120.

Contact for more information:

Karen DeLoatch
LTA Program Coordinator
Capital Community College
950 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 906-5022
E-mail kdeloatch@ccc.commnet.edu

US News & World Report

2006-12-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

Best Careers 2007: Librarian-Executive Summary

"Forget about that image of librarian as a mousy bookworm. Librarians these days must be high-tech information sleuths, helping researchers plumb the oceans of information available in books and digital records. It's an underrated career. Most librarians love helping patrons dig up information and, in the process, learning new things. Librarians may also go on shopping sprees, deciding which books and online resources to buy. They even get to put on performances, like children's puppet shows, and run other programs, like book discussion groups for elders. On top of it all, librarians' work hours are reasonable, and the work environment, needless to say, is placid."

NYT announces winners of the 2006 Librarian Awards

2006-12-10T18:06:00.000-05:00

THE NEW YORK TIMES ANNOUNCES 25 WINNERS OF THE 2006 LIBRARIAN AWARD

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2006 – The New York Times announced today the names of the 25 winners of the 2006 New York Times Librarian Awards. Now in its sixth year, the program honors librarians from around the country who have provided outstanding public service and have had a strong and positive impact on their nominators. This year’s winners represent 17 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, NewJersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

http://www.nytco.com/community/2006LibrarianAwardsWinners.pdf

Love Your Library Fundraiser This Weekend Dec. 1-3

2006-12-01T12:47:00.000-05:00

Today is the day. Love Your Library at Barnes & Noble (with your voucher) & up to 20% of your purchases go to Connecticut's libraries! December 1!

Who: Connecticut Libraries & their supporters

What: Love Your Library Book Fair
Where: Connecticut Barnes & Noble Stores
When: Friday, December 1st
Saturday, December 2nd
Sunday, December 3rd

What can you do to help statewide library programs, like InfoAnytime? Shop at a participating Barnes & Noble store with your Love Your Library voucher (vouchers available at your local library or online) on Love Your Library days. Print out a voucher and bring with you to your Local Barnes & Noble and Support your local library!!

(click on image to retrieve printable vouchers)

Author Bebe Moore Campbell Dies

2006-11-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

Bebe Moore Campbell, 56, a best-selling author who wrote and spoke about racial and social inequalities and mental illness with keen insight into the human condition, died Nov. 27 of complications of brain cancer at her home in Los Angeles. Read Full Story Here

Books By Bebe Moore Campbell

Author's Website

Source: Washington Post, 11/28/06

By Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 28, 2006; Page B06

LJ: Better Together: The Joint Conference

2006-11-27T14:45:00.000-05:00

JCLC is the cover story of the November 15th edition of Library Journal, with cover photos and inside shots with a two page story.

Better Together: The Joint Conference

A successful first conference of librarians of color builds solidarity.
Read More

Applications for 2007 Spectrum Scholarships Available

2006-10-30T19:47:00.000-05:00

In 2007, the Spectrum Scholarship Program will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary, and funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), will be awarding over 60 scholarships for 2007-2008. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2007. See our website for more information:
http://www.ala.org/spectrum

INTRODUCING THE SPECTRUM DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP, LEADERS WANTED
Applications for the Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship are available online and must be received in full by January 12, 2007. See our website for more information:
http://www.ala.org/spectrumphd

ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT ALA
For scholarship opportunities across the Association visit:
http://www.ala.org/scholarships

National Library resource diversity study released

2006-10-18T19:38:00.000-04:00

Diversity Counts, a comprehensive study of gender, race, and age in the library profession, uses 1990 and 2000 Census data (the most current available), and finds that the nearly 110,000 credentialed librarians were predominantly ages 45–54, female, and white. The number of racial and ethnic minorities receiving accredited MLIS degrees grew to around 13% in 2000 from 9% in 1990....Read more
Office for Research and Statistics and the Office for Diversity

To review the study in its entirety, please visit www.ala.org/diversitycounts.

Source: American Libraries Direct 10-18-06

iCONN Wish List Survey

2006-10-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

The iCONN Database Committee requests your participation in a brief survey to help create and prioritize a wish list of potential resources provided through iCONN. The resulting wish list will be used to justify increased state funding for additional iCONN resources.

This survey will be open from October 6 - 19. It is the committee's hope that librarians across the state and from all types of libraries will participate.

Please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=224712595696

Love Your Library Fundraiser 2006

2006-09-30T09:43:00.000-04:00

The Love Your Library holiday bookfair with Barnes & Noble is coming up! This year's event will take place Friday, December 1st through Sunday, December 3rd at all Barnes & Noble stores in Connecticut.

This year, the event's proceeds will go toward the statewide virtual reference project - InfoAnytime. This cutting edge service puts the librarian back into the virtual library by offering 24x7x365 online chat-based reference.

Barnes & Noble locations are:

Canton
Danbury
Enfield
Farmington
Glastonbury
Manchester
North Haven
Norwalk
Orange
Waterbury
Westport

Please remember to promote Love Your Library among your patrons and - if you're planning on doing your holiday shopping at B&N this year - consider doing it on the weekend of Dec.1-3! http://www.iconn.org/LYL/index.htm

Harlem Book Fair-Hartford 9/23/06

2006-09-22T15:41:00.000-04:00

Harlem Book Fair Program
"Building Communities, Building Readers"
Hartford Public Library -Central Library, 500 Main Street (enter on Arch Street), Hartford, CT 06103
www.hplct.org

Saturday, September 23, 2006
11:00-5:00p.m.

Program Flyer

EBSCO ALA Conference Scholarship Award: $1,000

2006-09-18T12:39:00.000-04:00

EBSCO ALA Conference Sponsorship provides ten $1,000 awards for actual reimbursed expenses to help librarians attend ALA's Annual Conference. To apply for this award, applicants must submit an essay of no more than 250 words addressing, "How will attending this ALA Conference contribute to your professional development?" The award is donated by EBSCO Subscription Services. For more information and application information please visit the ALA website.

Harlem Book Fair Comes to Hartford!

2006-09-07T21:24:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars and join BCALA-CT members as we enjoy the festivities of two great events at the Hartford Public Library on September 22 & 23, 2006!! BCALA-CT will be manning a table at the Harlem Book Fair Hartford, Saturday morning, so stop by to see us!

One Book for Greater Hartford: "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere" by ZZ Packer
engaging the community in a shared experience, the reading of one book

Author Event- September 22, 2006
Author Talk and Q & A - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Book Signing and Reception - 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Directions

The Harlem Book Fair Hartford
nationally known book festival, showcasing books and authors
Saturday, September 23, 2006
11:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m
Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street, Hartford, CT
Directions

View PDF Flyer

For more information call 860-695-6324 or visit the website:
http://onebookforgreaterhartford.org
www.hplct.org

West Hartford Public Library-Main Branch-Closing for Renovations

2006-09-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

The Noah Webster Library, the main branch of the West Hartford Public Library located at 20 South Main Street, will close for renovation and expansion following regular hours on Friday, September 1, 2006. Work is expected to take about one year. All regular library services will be available seven days a week at both the Faxon and Bishops Corner branch libraries during the time the main building is closed.

Updates Can be found here

Both the Bishops Corner and Faxon libraries will be open the following hours beginning September 5, 2006:

Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun. 1 a.m. - 5 p.m.

These expanded hours will continue through the entire renovation period.

The main telephone number for the West Hartford Public Library will remain 860-561-6950. The branches may also be dialed directly at 860-561-8200 (Faxon Branch) or 860-561-8210 (Bishops Corner Branch).

Source: CLC Listserv 9/1/06

LJ: Going Back to New Orleans

2006-08-29T09:21:00.000-04:00

Going Back to New Orleans
By Ronald Gauthier — August 28, 2006

A librarian, displaced by Katrina, reflects on returning to the city for ALA

Source: LibraryJournal.com

SCSU Lecture: Cultural Institutions & Memory with Dr. Enes Kujundzic

2006-08-26T11:50:00.000-04:00

The Southern Connecticut State University
Office of Academic Affairs
and The School of Communication, Information and Library Science are pleased to present:

Dr. Enes Kujundzic
Professor of Folk Literature at the University of Tuzla,
Director Emeritus of the National and University Library of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo

who will give a lecture entitled: Cultural Institutions and Memory

Thursday September 21, 2006
1:50 pm – 3:05 pm
Engleman Hall C112

Dr. Kujundzic is Professor of Folk Literature at the University of Tuzla and served as Director of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1992 until September 30, 2005. His service as Library Director began during the siege of Sarajevo when the National library was shelled and over 2 million books, journals and archival documents were burned over the course of two days, August 25 and 26, 1992. During his tenure Dr. Kujundzic devoted himself to restoring the library's infrastructure and its holdings. Dr. Kujundzic received his Master of Arts in Humanities from the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilization from the University of Chicago in 1973, and his Doctorate of Librarianship from the University of Sarajevo in 1989. Dr. Kujundzic is the author of several books in the fields of librarianship and the cultural history of Bosnia, including Bosnian Memory: References for Research and Study, Sarajevo: International Peace Center, 2003. Dr. Kujundzic’s current areas of specialization and research are in Islamic studies, librarianship, and the cultural history of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and
The School of Communication, Information and Library Science
Supported by the Office of Faculty Development

Contact David Pettigrew: 203-392-6778, pettigrewd1@southernct.edu for further information. RSVP Ann Demsky: 203-392-5701, demskya1@southernct.edu

Flyer

Nyack Library African-American Author Conference & Book Fair

2006-08-17T10:51:00.000-04:00

FREE !!!!
The Nyack Library is a New York State Non-Profit Organization.

2nd Annual Nyack Library African-American Author Conference & Book Fair 2006
website

Nyack Library African-American Author Conference Panelists 2006

Topic: The Rules of Romance in African-American Literature
Anita Diggs, former editor at Random House & publicist at Penguin Books USA. She is the author of The Other Side of the Game, A Meeting in the Ladies Room, and more!

If you would like to reserve your seat please contact me at: stephanie@itsinny.com

Teri Woods, True to the Game, C.E.O. of Teri Woods Publishing Victoria Christopher Murray, Testimony, Grown Folks Business, Blessed Assurance
Stephanie Johnson author of She’s Got Issues, Rockin Robin Relentless Aaron, Platinum Dolls, Extra Marital Affairs plus 50 more! Janine A. Morris of Diva Diaries, Jihad, Street Life*

Nyack Library African-American Author Book Fair - Saturday, September 30th, 2006 Palisades Center / Mall - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. West Nyack, N.Y. 10994

Book Fair @ Palisades Center (Buses Welcome) Come & Meet Deborah Gregory, Cheetah Girls Stephanie Johnson, She’s Got Issues, Rockin’ Robin Jihad, Street Life* Therone Shellman, Love Don’t Live Here Tim Hampton, Holding My Own, Still Holding My Own Rosalind McLymont, E.I.C. of The Network Journal & author of Middle Passage Karoline Bethea-Jones, Someone to Love Sandra L. Gittens, The Granny Sanny Poster Collection (Children’s) Q-Boro Books - Dynah Zale, Anna J., and Erick Gray Ted -David Mizingou, Darkened by the Sun Triple Crown Publications Gina Cox, Vigil And more authors to be confirmed!!!

Library Connection’s “John Doe” Court Records Released

2006-08-09T18:35:00.000-04:00

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ordered August 2 the full disclosure of court records related to Doe v. Gonzales—the challenge to the FBI’s 2005 demand that Connecticut’s Library Connection consortium turn over records of patrons’ computer use. Read More

Source: American Libraries Online 8/04/06

African American Genealogy Symposium, Maryland

2006-08-02T18:27:00.000-04:00

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will present a two-day African American Genealogy Symposium on September 8-9, 2006 from 10:00 AM to 3:45 PM (doors open at 9:00 AM). Archivists and genealogists will discuss how to get started on your family research, Government documents and African Americans, Five Civilized Tribes, slavery and the census, Black migration, Blacks in the Navy, WW1 draft registrations, the U.S. Colored Troops, Buffalo Soldiers, Southern Claims Commission records, Freedmen’s Bureau records, and other primary sources available to trace your family history, DAR sources and the newest finding regarding DNA. The symposium will provide information and guidance for seasoned genealogy professionals and novices alike. Learn more....

New York Times Public Librarian Award 2006

2006-08-02T00:11:00.000-04:00

Promote your colleagues! The New York Times is now accepting nominations for their annual Public Librarian Awards. Deadline is September 15th.

New iCONN Logo : Connecticut's Research Engine

2006-07-28T12:42:00.000-04:00

In addition to color changes, the tag line “Connecticut’s Research Engine,” replaces the old tag line of “Connecticut Digital Library.”

The logo was created by Miranda Creative in consultation with iCONN staff.

Source: iconn news

[BCALA] IFLA-Durban, South Africa-2007

2006-07-13T16:48:00.000-04:00

Join the BCALA delegation to IFLA in Durban, South Africa. This is only the second time in history that IFLA has met in Africa. Meet and interact with librarians from the entire continent of Africa, the African Diaspora, and indeed the whole world. After the Conference, learn more about the history and culture of South Africa as we explore Cape Town and Johannesburg. August 17 - August 31, 2007. For travel details, cost, payment plan, etc. See the Black Caucus Web Site. www.bcala.org

Source: BCALA Listserv 7/13/06

Authors Loung Ung, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Bertice Berry to speak at JCLC

2006-07-13T10:38:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release
July 11, 2006

CHICAGO - Authors Loung Ung, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez and Bertice Berry will speak at the first-ever Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC). The conference, October 11-16, will bring hundreds of library staffers from all types of libraries and backgrounds, diversity advocates and educators to Dallas to network and exchange ideas on how to better serve increasingly diverse communities.

On Thursday, October 12 Loung Ung will kick-off the conference during its Opening General Session. Ung is a survivor of the killing fields of Cambodia, one of the bloodiest episodes of the 20th century, and has devoted herself to justice and reconciliation in her homeland. The World Economic Forum selected Loung as one of the "100 Global Leaders of Tomorrow." Her best-selling memoir, "First They Killed My Father: a Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" (HarperCollins 2000), was the recipient of the 2001 Asian/Pacific American Librarians' Association award for "Excellence in Adult Non-fiction Literature" (APALA).

JCLC will also host best-selling authors Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez and Bertice Berry.

Time magazine has named Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez (author of "The Dirty Girls Social Club, Playing with Boys" and "Make Him Look Good") as one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America. Latina magazine named her Woman of the Year and Hispanic Business magazine has twice named her among the 100 most influential Hispanics in the nation. Alisa's first young adult novel, "Haters," will be released this fall.

Bertice Berry is a motivational speaker, sociologist and former standup comedian. She is also the author of four works of nonfiction and three previous novels, including "Redemption Song," "The Haunting of Hip-Hop," "Jim and Louella's Homemade Heart-Fix Remedy" and, most recently, "When Love Calls, You Better Answer."

With the theme "Gathering at the Waters: Embracing Our Spirits, Telling Our Stories," the conference will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on how to better serve diverse populations. Its 100 programs will focus on literacy, equity of access, diversity best practices, multicultural collection development, recruitment, service delivery and much more.

JCLC early bird registration will end on July 14. To register online, or to receive forms to register by mail please visit the JCLC Web site at www.ala.org/jclc. The JCLC is sponsored by the five ethnic caucus associations affiliated with the American Library Association (ALA): the American Indian Library Association (AILA); the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA); the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA); the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.

Source: ALA News, 7/11/06

Position: Fairfield University (2 Year Appt.)

2006-07-12T16:04:00.000-04:00

Fairfield University Library
Academic library invites applications from creative, flexible, self-motivated librarians with strong public services commitment and a vision and enthusiasm for the future of electronic technologies to join collegial team. The successful candidate will be hired at the Librarian I level. This position is a two-year appointment. The position may include some evening and weekend hours.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Plays a key role in the library instruction program. Creates and maintains web-based and print instructional resources. Provides Reference Desk coverage. Participates in the Library Liaison program.

REQUIREMENTS:

MLS from ALA accredited program. Recent experience or course work in reference. Evidence of potential in teaching. Must be self-directed, well organized, and able to meet deadlines and multiple demands. Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences. Creative approach to the development of new services; commitment to responsive and innovative service is essential.

Highly Desirable:

Teaching experience using active learning techniques; demonstrated competence in using web-based tools and software in the design and delivery of instruction are highly desirable. Science background; demonstrated technological competencies; second Master’s degree.

CAMPUS AND LIBRARY:

Fairfield University is a highly selective, independent, small comprehensive Jesuit university located in a suburb 50 miles outside of New York City. DiMenna-Nyselius Library has 330,000 volumes in a recently expanded and renovated building.

TO APPLY:

Submit letter of application, resume, and telephone numbers/e-mail addresses of three references to Christina McGowan, Head Reference Librarian, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195, or directed electronically to cmcgowan@mail.fairfield.edu. Preference given to applications received by August 4. Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Fairfield strongly encourages applications from women and minorities.

Online Courses Offered for YA Librarians

2006-07-11T09:52:00.000-04:00

Registration now open for two online courses from YALSA:
(1) New Technologies & New Literacies for Teens and
(2) Power Programming for Teens.

Courses will run from July 17th to August 17th, 2006. Registration for the courses is available online from July 10 through 17th at www.ala.org/yalsa. Each course is the equivalent of a one day face-to-face workshop. Class size is limited to 25 participants.

New Technologies & New Literacies for Teens: will run for four weeks and participants will become familiar with the tools and techniques teens use to communicate and collaborate online, learn how to inform their own community about best practices that support teen's technology-based print literacies, have the opportunity to talk with others about teen use of technology and how that use improves literacy skills, and create framework for a program or service at their library that supports teen technology-based print literacy. The course will be
taught by Linda Braun. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for non members.

Power Programming for Teens: will run for four weeks and will help participants attain a higher level of service to teens at their library or school. This course is designed for library staff who would like to expand their teen programs. Participants will learn how to develop and implement more programming ideas that will work at their facility and will be taught by Amy Alessio. The cost is $135 for YALSA members, $175 for ALA members, and $195 for non members.

Additional courses will be offered in October. More tips on taking
online courses can be found on the YALSA Web site at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/onlinecourses/info.htm. For more information about YALSA, please contact us via e mail, yalsa@ala.org; or by phone at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4390.

Source: BCALA Listserv 7/11/06

Position: PT Reference Librarian, WallingfordPL

2006-06-22T22:56:00.000-04:00

Wallingford Public Library is seeking a part time reference librarian who loves working with teens and adults to join our experienced professional team. A $12 million expansion is underway and the library will provide service during construction. Flexibility and tolerance for noise will be necessary! Library renovations will be completed in fall 2007.

Position requires: MLS from an accredited library school; ability to deal effectively with the public; Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Schedule includes 2 nights and weekends in rotation. Approximately 22 hours per week.
Compensation:$21.85 to $27.80 depending on qualifications and experience No benefits.
Contact: Assistant Director Amy Humphries amyh@lioninc.org for complete job description. Send resumes to Directors, Wallingford

Source: CLC listserv 6/20/06

WebJunction Learning Center

2006-06-19T22:14:00.000-04:00

Check out the Webjunction Learning Center, the source for library staff training and continuing education.

JCLC Conference Early Bird Registration Extended to July 14th

2006-06-08T10:16:00.000-04:00

The Joint Conference of Librarians of Color is the first-ever national conference to be held and sponsored by the five caucus associations of color—AILA, APALA, BCALA, CALA, and Reforma—at the same time (Oct. 11–15) in the same place (Dallas). Registration deadline extended to July 14.
jclc2006

Soure: American Libraries Direct 06-07

CT librarians speak on Patriot Act case

2006-06-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

New York Times article: Four Librarians Finally Break Silence in Records Case By ALISON LEIGH COWAN
Four Connecticut librarians had been barred from revealing that they had received a request for patrons' records from the government.

BCALA-CT Diversity Conference Slideshow

2006-05-24T13:16:00.000-04:00

The slideshow for our first annual Diversity Conference held at Souther CT State University back in October is now posted on the Connecticut Affiliate's webpage.

BIBR Article on Toni Trent Parker's Legacy

2006-05-24T12:05:00.000-04:00

Get Your Copy!

I just received my May-June 2006 issue of Black Issue Book Review and saw a wonderful piece about Toni Trent Parker and Black Books Galore(BBG).

The article is entitled "Keeping on"...Toni Trent Parker's Legacy is the vast array of books now available to balck children and all children by Wilma Jean Emanuel Randle. The article touches on her life and how BBG came to be and the impact of the book festival, now called the Toni Trent Parker Multicultural Book Festival.The interview took place back in August 2005.

Randle, Wilma Jean Emanuel. "Keeping On" Black Issues Book Review May/June 2006: 20-21.

BCALA Connecticut Affiliate

Save the Date! CLA 2012 Conference, May 7& 8

BCALA Announces the 2012 Literary Award Winners

In Memory of James Clifton Welbourne, Librarian

Historical Documents Relating to the African Americans of Chicago Soon to be Online

Documentary: Behind Those Books

Little Known Black Librarian Facts 2011

CLA Scholarships -deadline Feb. 11, 2011

BCALA-CT Program at CLA 2011

26th Annual Langston Hughes Kwanzaa Celebration@ Queens Library

REFORMA Spanish Materials Book Fair - Hartford (CT) Public

ALA Annual 2010 -Soul City! African American Cultural Tour of Washington DC

BCALA-CT Program at CLA 2010

Registration is Open! - 7th National Conference of African American Librarians

CT Library Association 2010 Scholarship

E. J. Josey, Legendary Activist Librarian and Leader, Dies at 85

BCALA-CT @ CLA 2009 Pics

BCALA National May/June 2009 Newsletter

BCALA National March/April 2009 Newsletter

BCALA-CT at CLA 2009

CLA MLS & LTA Scholarship 2009 Announcement

2009 Marks the 40th Anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Award

Best Careers 2009: Librarian [US News and World Report]

CLA Announces 2009 Conference Rates

African American Views: 40 Titles for Black History Month

2009 E.J. Josey Scholarship Award~ Deadline Dec. 12, 2008

NYT- From the Streets to the Libraries

Hartford Seminary Library 175th Anniversary

Survey for African American Male Librarians - ends October 22, 2008

Richard Wright, Centennial Celebration at Bridgeport Public Library

Book Discussions ~Mashantucket Pequot Museum Research Library

Submit Your Vote!~ Slate of Officers 2008-2009

South African Children's Literature Seminar

Call for BCALA-CT Executive Board Nominations

CLA 2008 Conference - BCALA-CT Program

The Dr. Spencer G. Shaw Scholarship Announced

Congratulations to SD Harris, BCALA Newsletter editor

Renew your BCALA membership 2008

From Awful to Awesome: Effective Time Management Strategies

Create a plan to get organized

Create a positive habit

Positions: Diversity Residents, PurdueUniversity Libraries

2008 CLA MLS and LTA Scholarships

Niineteen National African American Read-In~ Feb. 3 & 4, 2008

Conn.Affiliate Membership Reception Tonight Nov. 29

When: Thursday, November 29, 2007

Where: New Haven Public Library133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT.

time: 6:00 PM -8:00PM

RSVP to: Debra Williams dawilliams61 "at" yahoo.com or call 203-946-8130 ext. 310

directions: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/library

ARL Hosts Fourth Annual Leadership Institute Jan. 10-13, 2008

BCALAmember in the News: SD Harris

CLASS -Conn.Library Assoc. Support Staff Section Program

ACRL releases White Paper on “Achieving Racial & Ethnic Diversity ...."

St. John’s University to offer Scholarships for MLS Master's Program

Library and Information Science Division Receives Funding from Institute for Museum and Library Services to Help New York's Underserved.

BCALA member in the News: SD Harris

Position: Youth Services Librarian- The Ferguson Library

BCALA member in the News: Blanche Parker

Position: Teen Librarian at West Hartford Public Library

NYT Essay: Writers Like Me

Webinar: Core Competencies for Library Staff Free via WebJunction's Live Space

Gwendolyn Prellwitz, Program Officer at the ALA Office for Diversity & Spectrum

Early Bird Discounts for BookExpoAmerica Ends May 11th

State of CT LTA Exam closing date

The Toni Trent Parker MultiCultural Children's Book Festival 2007

History of Blacks in Libraries on ALA Blog

Congratulations to Dr. Shaw & James C. Welbourne

African American Pavilion @ BookExpo America 2007

Early Registration for CLA 2006, April 16-18

ALA | Coretta Scott King Book Award 2007 Winners

And the Winners Are....2007 Children Book Awards

BCALA-CT Participation in Peabody Museum's MLK Celebration 2007

WSJ Article: The Changing Role of Librarians

Three Rivers LTA Courses Spring 2007

Three Rivers Community College Norwich CT

Library Technology Program -- Spring 2007 Schedule of Classes

LIB K123 Library Technical Services

Tuesday 6:30-9:15 pm KNTEC rm.208

Faculty: Hali Keeler

Where: New Haven Public Library
133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT.

RSVP to: Debra Williams dawilliams61 "at" yahoo.com
or call 203-946-8130 ext. 310