Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) Newsletter

CAL Readers’ Advisory Interest Group
Red Hot Reads
by Tara Bannon, Chair
•Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg
Larson and Reg Keeland (2008)
An instant bestseller in Europe, this thrilling novel
is the first in a trilogy all to be published posthumously.
Translated from the original Swedish, the novel takes the
reader on an intriguing international trip in search of the
truth behind a mysterious disappearance, which turns out
to be the mere tip of the iceberg as far as family scandals
go.
•How to Talk about Books You Haven’t Read by
Pierre Bayard (2007)
The terms "read" and "unread" are meaningless;
one should speak of books in terms of Heard of, Skimmed,
Forgotten, or Unknown. Much as a mathematician, without
having seen the splash occur, can determine the size,
weight and trajectory of the object that created it; one can
know a book without reading it by observing the affect it
has on society, incorporating trusted opinions and probing
its connection to other works you are familiar with. What
matters, then, about reading, is the book's effect on you,
and it's impact on your internal library, those books that
you carry with you in your heart and mind, either because
you believe their importance in the cultural collective
library or due to your personal connection with them.
•Research Based Reader's Advisory by Jessica
Moyer (2007)
Moyer intertwines theory and practice in the
excellent book on readers’ advisory. The history and
context for readers advisory are explored in essays written
by some of the big names in readers' advisory - Joyce
Saricks, Barry Trott and David Wright to name a few.
Chapters on non-fiction readers’ advisory, book groups,
romance and genre readers, tools and more are all
prefaced by a research review of the relevant literature in
the field.
•Hot Topic - “Locavore”
With the popularity of such works as The
Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, The End of Food
by Paul C. Roberts and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by
Barbara Kingsolver, the term locavore has achieved
cultural consciousness and was named the 2007 Oxford
American Dictionary’s Word of the Year. For more titles
and a brief history of the movement see the article “Close
to Home: A Fresh Look at Local Eating” by Tara Bannon
available on the NoveList Plus database.
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Thanks to the Colorado Library Consortium board and
staff for providing CAL’s with office space.
Have a change of address? Let us know!
Email: cal@cal-webs.org
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Paralibrarian Division
Update
by Lynda Hoffmann, Paralibrarian Division Reporter
Thank you to those of you who attended the Paralibrarian
Business Meeting at the CAL conference. Our new officers
are:
•Chair: Stephanie Boaman (SBoaman@weld.lib.co.us)
•Chair-elect: Jennifer Luper (jluper@rangeviewld.org)
•Past Chair: Ruby Nugent (Ruby.Nugent@ucdenver.edu)
•Secretary: Linda Vincent (lvincent@dclibraries.org)
•Reporter: Lynda Hoffmann
(lynda.hoffmann@colostate.edu)
It’s not too early to start thinking about the Spring
Workshop. It will be held at the Aurora Community College
again this year, the date and theme to be announced
soon. Don’t forget that the Paralibrarian Division awards
two scholarships for members to attend!
Please let us know if there is a topic you would like
to see covered. Also, watch the CAL Web site for
information to be posted soon on scholarships and
submitting proposals for presentations. We are always
looking for fresh ideas and new topics.
http://cal-webs.org
Congratulations to Eva Anderson, recipient of the
Lucy Schweers Award!
ALA Certification for Paralibrarians Begins in 2010
By Jenny Luper, Chair-Elect
“I want recognition that my job is important, that
my work is valued, that I am valued as a human being.
This is more important than money. I want to be trusted
that I will do what I’m paid for. I need pride in myself and
my job.” – http://www.ala-apa.org/lsscp/
The concept of a national certification program for
library support staff has shifted around, been discussed
and debated for over 15 years. However, a new day has
finally come; the Library Support Services Certification
Program (LSSCP) begins January 1, 2010.
The news of this tremendous undertaking and
sooner-than-expected rollout came at the Colorado
Association of Libraries Conference 2008 workshop hosted
by Nancy Bolt of the American Library Association and
Diana Reese of the Colorado State Library. During the
session, they discussed the reasons why the ALA and the
Western Council of State Libraries are partnering in this
mission for voluntary national certification and the steps
being taken to bring this venture to fruition. All the
attendees, including Jim Rettig, ALA president, were
surprised to hear that ALA would accept applications for
the LSSCP as soon as January 1, 2010.
According to the ALA site, the overall philosophy
of the LSSCP project is that it is a “voluntary certification
program for public and academic library support staff
based on a set of competencies.” The program will be
individually based and portable from state to state, but it
does not guarantee a pay raise or promotion, the site is
careful to mention. Cost of certification hasn’t been
verified yet, though Nancy said they want the program to
be affordable.
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