e-newsdec2001

First, I must apprise you of a situation involving the NCLA administrative office. Administrative Assistant Maureen Costello has resigned. Secretary Martha Davis has volunteered to take on the duties of acting administrative assistant. Martha is reconstructing the membership database while Treasurer Diane Kester reorganizes the association's financial records. The office should be back in business soon and able to respond to member requests, especially long-delayed ballots for a couple of sections. Meanwhile, I must express my deep gratitude to a cool-headed and clear-thinking crew who assisted in this difficult transition: Vice-President/President-Elect Pauletta Bracy, Operations Committee Chair Irene Laube, webmaster Bao Chu Chang, and, of course, Martha and Diane.

If you need assistance with general NCLA matters while the office is closed, please contact me (rholt@ncsl.dcr.state.nc.us or 336-318-6806). To get an invoice paid or for other NCLA financial matters, contact Diane (kesterd@mail.ecu.edu or 252-328-6621).

The good news is that the main work of NCLA goes on, and planning for the new biennium is underway in all quarters of the organization. Alas, there's another departure you should know about: Frances Bradburn has stepped down as editor of North Carolina Libraries after more than 15 years (she served longer than any other editor since the journal's founding in 1942). During Frances's tenure, NCL won three national awards for excellence. Words cannot adequately describe her level of commitment to the journal and to NCLA; suffice it to say that her contribution has been immense. Getting out one issue of the journal is a major undertaking; getting out four per year at a consistently high level of quality for those 15 years requires a huge commitment of time and energy. Frances, all NCLA salutes you, and marvels at your achievement.

Upon Frances's recommendation, I have appointed Past President Al Jones as editor of NCL. Al has served more than 10 years on the editorial board. In addition to his service on the NCL board, Al is an accomplished author and the perfect person to take over NCL; indeed he would have been my first choice had Frances not made a recommendation!

As a result of the regular NCL planning retreat in November, Al has some big news about the future of NCL. I'll let him fill you in -- see his report below.

On another front, an ad-hoc task force is being formed to explore off-year mini-conferences, and to consider the possibility of annual conferences. The group hopes to make a recommendation to the Executive Board in April about some kind of overnight mini-conference in fall 2002 as an experiment of sorts to see how this idea would be received. If you would like to serve on the task force, or have suggestions, contact Pauletta Bracy (pbracy@slis.nccu.edu or 919-560-6401).

Finally, I would be remiss in not announcing the names of those who graciously have agreed to serve as committee chairs for 2001-2003. They are: Jean Rick, Archives; Robert Burgin, Commission on the Future of Libraries and the Book; Pauletta Bracy, Conference; Phil Barton, Constitution, Codes & Handbook Revision; Ben Speller, Continuing Education; Elizabeth Laney, Development; Catherine Wilkinson, Finance; Peggy Hoon, Governmental Relations; Mike Sawyer, Intellectual Freedom; Robert James and Elisabeth Leonard, Leadership Institute; Mark Pumphrey, Literacy; Robert Canida II and Teresa Wehrli, Membership; Beverley Gass, Nominations; Irene Laube, Operations; Sue Williams, Scholarships; and the Marketing and Publications team -- Suzanne White, chair; Bao Chu Chang, Webmaster; Kevin Cherry, Tar Heel Libraries; and Marilyn Schuster, E-News.

Their contact information – along with contact information for all the section and round table chairs – is posted on the website, http://www.nclaonline.org. To volunteer, just look them up!
--Ross Holt, President, NCLA

NEWS

News from the NCLA Treasurer

Many of our loyal membership have paid for their dues and their conference registration using a credit card - either their own or their institution’s. The former administrative assistant had extreme difficulty in using the new software for these transactions, ICVERIFY. Several attempts failed in recording the transactions.

I have now downloaded the software at my home and will be processing charges as quickly as possible. It took me several hours working with their tech support, but I think it is working smoothly now.

If you paid either dues or conference registration with your credit card, these charges will be appearing in your December statement. Please let me know if you have any questions - kester@soe.ecu.edu.

I will be accepting check requests via email or snail mail at 105 Longview Drive, Goldsboro 27534 and working on the financial business of the association from there.

Thank you for your patience as the administrative office once more goes through a transitional time.
--Diane Kester, Treasurer, NCLA

* * * * * *

Membership and Dues News

The Operations team is working diligently to update the membership database. In doing so, we have discovered that we need to include a date somewhere on the membership form. Most of the membership is still on the Jan-Dec membership year and dues will become payable early in 2002. Please be sure to use the new form when you submit membership renewals. The URL for the membership form is http://www.mindspring.com/~ncla/memapp.pdf.

Also, the Operations team has recognized that the usual membership cards had not been sent for 2001. Since it is so close to the end of most membership years, we will not send out cards for 2001 but will be ready to do so for 2002.

This newly appointed team has received its charge from President Ross Holt. It has already been at work evaluating the processes and operations of the administrative office. Early in January, it will meet to establish strategies and suggest policy changes for the administrative functions of our organization.
--Diane Kester, Treasurer, NCLA

* * * * * *

North Carolina Libraries

As of the new year, I will assume the editorship of North Carolina Libraries, the statewide journal for the membership of NCLA. The last issue under Frances Bradburn, our editor extraordinaire for almost two decades, will be the Conference Issue, which should be in your hands in January.

The Conference Issue will be the last print quarterly issue of North Carolina Libraries. The journal is going electronic as of 2002. The journal will be a dynamic publication to which will be added articles on any topic of interest to North Carolina librarians and reviews of books and any other media on topics with a North Carolina connection. Articles will no longer be solicited to focus on a single predetermined theme. News items, information about the NCLA Endowment, calendar of events, and other items of timely interest will have separate Web pages.

At present, the Editorial Board is composed of representatives appointed by the chair of each round table and section. This has proved to be a cumbersome organizational structure. I will put forward a motion at the January quarterly meeting of the NCLA Board to have the Editorial Board of North Carolina Libraries purely voluntary. Bylaws of various sections and round tables will have to be modified to accommodate this change in policy.

The Editorial Board will be composed of the following NCLA members, all of whom have volunteered to continue as the transition from print to electronic is underway:

Al Jones, Editor
Joline Ezzell, Associate Editor
Mike Van Fossen, Associate Editor
Dorothy Hodder, Book Review Editor
Ralph Scott, Wired to the World (Web Site Review Editor)
Michael Cotter, Indexer
Paula Hinton
Page Life
Joan Sherif
Suzanne Wise

Articles to be considered for publication on the North Carolina Libraries Web Site should be sent on disk or via e-mail attachment to:

Al Jones, Editor
North Carolina Libraries
LTDI, School of Education
East Carolina University
122 Joyner East
Greenville, NC 27858
252-328-6803
jonesp@mail.ecu.edu

All articles will be refereed by myself and two other members of the Editorial Board, including at least one of the Associate Editors. Articles approved for publication will be proofread and edited by board members online. Since we are not tied to a quarterly publication schedule, we will post articles as soon as they have been accepted and edited.

We are hoping that the NCLA Board will approve an annual print publication to include the articles and reviews posted on the North Carolina Libraries Web Site.
--Al Jones, Editor, North Carolina Libraries

* * * * * *

North Carolina Periodicals Index

The North Carolina Periodicals Index, a Web-based index of approximately fifty magazines and journals published in North Carolina, most of which are not indexed by commercial indexing services, has been listed as an example of a local indexing and abstracting service in the eighth edition of William A. Katz’s Introduction to Reference Work, volume 1 (Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002). Produced by the North Carolina Collection at East Carolina University’s Joyner Library, the index is, as Katz says, “free to one and to all.” Libraries throughout the state, including those at most of the UNC System schools, Duke University, and some public libraries, have a link to the Index on their websites. The URL is http://www.lib.ecu.edu/NCCollPCC/scope2.html.

The North Carolina Periodicals Index, now in its tenth year of publication is compiled by Barry Munson and edited by Nancy Shires.
--Maury York, East Carolina University

* * * * * *

Library and Information Technology Curriculum

The Library and Information Technology curriculum at Central Carolina Community College begins its fifth semester in January. To date, 70 students have enrolled in the program which offers a balance of library and computer technology courses. All library-related courses are available online and other courses in the curriculum may be taken through Distance Education or in a traditional classroom setting.

Please contact Ellen Dickey at Central Carolina Community College at 919-718-7439 or edickey@gw.ccarolina.cc.nc.us for additional information.
--Ellen Dickey, Central Carolina Community College

* * * * * *

News from UNC’s School of Information and Library Science

School Welcomes New Development Director

Shawn Jackson has begun work as the new development director at SILS. Jackson, a graduate of the University of South Carolina at Columbia, comes to SILS from the Charlotte-based Foundation for the Carolinas, where she most recently served as associate vice president of development and donor services. She replaces Ruth Monnig, who left the SILS staff in April to pursue her Ph.D. at the school.

- - - - - -

Professor Earns Kudos for Best Paper

SILS Professor Dr. Robert Losee has been awarded the 2001 Best Paper Award by the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST). The award was presented to Losee at the society’s recent annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Losee’s paper, “When Information Retrieval Measures Agree About the Relative Quality of Document Rankings,” appeared in the July 2000 edition (Vol. 51, No. 9) of JASIST, the society’s scholarly journal. The award includes a cash prize and money for travel to the meeting.

Losee, who joined the SILS faculty in 1986, focuses his research on information retrieval, information reasoning systems, information organization and decision-making.

- - - - - -

Globetrotting Professor Will Teach in Finland

SILS Associate Professor Dr. Diane Sonnenwald has been awarded a Fulbright grant to conduct research and teach in Finland during the spring 2002 semester. During her five-month stay, she will be based at the University of Tampere’s Department of Information Studies.

Sonnenwald recently gave the keynote address at the 2001 International Conference on Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning at Feng Chia University in Taiwan. She also gave a presentation at the National Taiwan Library.

- - - - - -

May Grad Garners Pratt-Severn Award

Brian Hilligoss, a May graduate of SILS, was awarded the 2001 Pratt-Severn Student Research Paper Award at the recent annual meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIST) in Washington, D.C.

The award includes registration to the annual meeting and up to $500 in travel expenses. The purpose of the award is to encourage student research and writing in the field of information science. Papers are judged on technical competence, significance of findings, originality and clarity of expression. Hiligoss is the third SILS student to win the Pratt-Severn Award.

- - - - - -

Online Course to Examine Consumer Health Information

SILS is proud to announce the introduction of a new online course for students and professionals. “Consumer Health Information,” led by SILS Associate Professor Dr. Claudia Gollop, will be offered as a distance education course during the spring 2002 semester. The ten-week program will begin February 1 and run through April 12, 2002. The registration fee for the course is $250. Those interested may register online at http://ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/chi by check or credit card (Mastercard and VISA only).

The course will explore resources and services to be selected and evaluated when providing consumer health information (CHI) in various types of libraries and information centers. The course will cover the evolution of the CHI movement, current trends and future projections, as well as the impact of CHI on different segments of society (i.e., adolescents, older adults and patients with specific illnesses). Continuing education credit from the Medical Library Association for the course has been requested.

- - - - -

Commencement Speaker Garners Grant

Dr. Brian Sturm, an assistant professor at SILS, has received $20,000 from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center to support his research into the effects of storytelling on MRI-related stress. Sturm will use the scholar development grant to begin research on the use of storytelling to reduce anxiety in newly diagnosed cancer patients who are undergoing their first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure,

Sturm will also serve as keynote speaker at this month’s commencement ceremony for August and December graduates.

- - - - - -

Workshop Examines Dynamic E-Business

SILS held a special workshop, “From Enterprise Application Integration to Dynamic E-Business” on Friday, November 16. Dr. Michel Bezy, program director for IBM, led the workshop, which provided an overview of how the Internet has accelerated the adoption of electronic collaboration and commerce among enterprises (B2B), as well as with consumers (B2C).

Bezy is responsible for the IBM software strategy for the B2B market. He joined IBM in 1985 and has been involved in international support of information management systems since 1989, helping customers develop and implement information strategies.
--David MacDonald, SILS, UNC-Chapel Hill

* * * * * *

News from Rockingham County Public Library

The Rockingham County Public Library is losing two long term supervisors due to retirements. Barbara Bolden, Technical Services Librarian, leaves December 21 after 31 years with the library. Sarah Pell, Librarian for the western branches of Madison, Mayodan, and Stoneville, retires at the end of the month leaving with 24 years of service. Both were instrumental in building library services to today’s level. The Library Board of Trustees recognized the contributions of each on December 11 with the presentation of a special certificate of appreciation and a book in her honor.
--Sue Williams, Rockingham County Public Library

* * * * * *

News from New Hanover County Public Library

Paynter Named Library Director of the Year

The North Carolina Public Library Directors’ Association named David M. Paynter Library Director of the Year at their annual awards banquet, held December 6 in Chapel Hill. The annual award recognizes library administrators who have shown significant leadership in developing library services either locally or statewide. Mr. Paynter was praised for securing support for two major New Hanover County Public Library building projects, his role in developing electronic resources for libraries in North Carolina, and the high level of services offered by the New Hanover County Public Library. He accepted the award on behalf of the library staff, the Friends of the Library, and the Library Advisory Board, all of whom have worked tirelessly on behalf of the library.

Mr. Paynter also accepted an award from the Directors’ Association honoring the Northeast Regional Library for fine design in the category of remodeled facilities over 26,000 square feet. Bill Gage of Smith/Gage Architects was the architect, Jennifer France of BigSky Design was the interior designer, and Hale Construction was the contractor for the Northeast Regional Library, which opened to the public in late September of 2000.

David Paynter has been Director of the New Hanover County Public Library since August of 1982.

- - - - - -

“Whether the Weather”

Check out the weather in the Northeast Regional Library’s meeting room on Friday, January 11, at 10 AM. Bryan Yeaton, Educational Outreach Coordinator for the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire, will present a free educational program titled “Whether the Weather.”

“Whether the Weather” takes a look at the natural forces behind weather, beginning with the sun’s energy. Mr. Yeaton will discuss how weather observations are taken, giving a series of demonstrations including a Van de Graaf generator, which is used to make lightning. This high-energy, interactive program includes video and slides, and has been popular with audiences ranging from preschools to Elderhostels.

Mount Washington, in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, presents the most severe combinations of wind, cold, icing and storminess available anywhere in the world where people are on hand to take measurements. The summit lies in the path of the principal storm tracks and air mass routes affecting the northeastern United States. Because of its elevation (6,288 feet) it is biologically and ecologically similar to the subarctic zone. The lowest temperature recorded there was -47 degrees F. Winds exceed hurricane force (75 MPH) on an average of 104 days a year, with a world record of 231 MPH set on April 12, 1934. Average annual snowfall is 256 inches, with a record 566.4 inches recorded in 1968-69. The first regular meteorological observations on Mount Washington were conducted by the U.S. Signal Service which was a precursor of the Weather Bureau from 1870 to 1892. To learn more, go to http://www.mountwashington.org.

- - - - - -

World Events

World events will be the focus of two public forums scheduled in January at the Northeast Regional Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road. Dr. Lisa Pollard, Assistant Professor of History at UNCW, will speak on “Unveiling Myths About Women in the Middle East” at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 17. Dr. Herbert Berg, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion, will speak on “Islam vs. Islamic Extremism: Roots of Hostility Towards America” at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 24. Both programs will include time for questions and discussion.

Both programs are free, and registration is not required. Joining with the New Hanover County Public Library to sponsor these events are: the Friends of the New Hanover County Public Library; the North Carolina Center for the Book, a program of the State Library, Department of Cultural Resources; the Humanities Extension/Publications Program at North Carolina State University; the North Carolina Center for the Study of South Asia; the Triangle South Asia Consortium; and the Triangle Institute for Security Studies.

- - - - - -

“Worlds of Wonder”

Bring the family to the library on Saturday, January 19 at 3 PM and let local storyteller Gwen Jones transport you the rest of the way to the Far East. Gwen will don her best kimono for a journey by imagination to the Land of the Rising Sun, sharing Japanese stories, songs, and games. This entertaining and educational program is free and fun for all ages, and will take place in the meeting room at the Northeast Regional Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road.

Gwen has been performing her “Worlds of Wonder” program for 15 years. She became interested in Japanese culture when she lived across the street from a Shinto shrine in Ohio and began teaching English as a second language to her Japanese neighbors.
--Dorothy Hodder, New Hanover County Public Library

* * * * * *

SECTION NEWS

Documents Section

The Documents Section will hold its spring workshop on Friday, May 17th, 2002, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. More information will be forthcoming later from Laura West, section chair-elect. Please mark your calendars now to reserve the date!
--Paula Pearce Hinton, Chair, Documents Section

* * * * * *

Library Administration and Management Section

Problems with the state mail center and the recent developments in the NCLA Administrative office have meant the delay in delivering the Library Administration and Management Section ballots for officers to the Board. Dale Cousins, Chair-Elect, is the current Board and eagerly awaits having a newly-elected forum with which to plan and execute the upcoming biennium, and she appreciates your patience with this matter! The resolution to this problem should be forthcoming, sooner rather than later, and section members will be receiving ballots as soon as possible. Questions may be directed to Dale at gcousins@co.wake.nc.us or by calling 919-856-6726.
--Dale Cousins, Chair-Elect, Library Administration and Management Section

* * * * *

North Carolina Association of School Librarians Section

Ross Holt has appointed me chair of the Section for the 2001-2003 biennium. I would like to have a school librarian work with me this biennium as Vice Chair and be able to assume leadership of the section during the 2003-2005 biennium. Together the two of us can appoint a board to resume activities of the Section. I will not be able to do this alone, but I will do all that I can to rejuvenate the section if there is interest among our NCLA members who are school librarians.
--Al Jones, Chair, North Carolina Association of School Librarians Section

* * * * * *

North Carolina Public Library Trustees Association

Holiday Greetings to all!

The Public Library Trustees Section has made great strides this year, but looks forward to more progress and participation from more trustees in 2002. Please remember a public library director, staff member or local volunteer on your holiday gift list. This token of appreciation may be made by your monetary donation to your local public library.

Best wishes during this special season and may peace on earth by our common goal!
--Theron Bell, Chair, North Carolina Public Library Trustees Association

ROUND TABLE NEWS

Round Table on Special Collections

The SCRT board will be hosting a planning meeting for round table members early in 2002. Members should receive meeting notices in January -- but they can begin thinking now about workshop topics. Do special collection librarians need more information on digitization? How to work with school teachers in creating teaching packets? Preservation basics? How to create exhibits? Reference skills in an online age? We want to know what you need. Members (and non-members) are invited to send suggestions to Jan Blodgett (jablodgett@davidson.edu) if they cannot attend the meeting.
--Jan Blodgett, Chair, Round Table on Special Collections

* * * * * *

Technology and Trends Round Table

The Technology and Trends Round Table had a productive biennium and we are looking to do even more over the next couple of years. For those of you not familiar with TNT (as we like to call ourselves), our primary objectives are “ … to unite in this group North Carolina Library Association members interested in the advances and uses of technology, to provide an opportunity for discussion and activity, and to seek to fulfill the purposes of the North Carolina Library Association.” (from our bylaws, available through the TNT Website at http://www.lib.co.rowan.nc.us/tnt/).

To meet these objectives, we offer several programs and workshops each year as independent events and as part of the NCLA Biennial Conference. Our highlights from the past few years include the “E-Toys or Geek Toys?: Tools for 2000” workshop, co-sponsored with MUGLNC Microcomputer Users Group for Libraries in North Carolina), and the “LITA Regional Institute on Database-Driven Web Sites,” where we collaborated with the State Library and ALA’s Library & Information Technology Association.

During this past year our main focus was on planning and presenting quality programs during the Biennial Conference. The Z. Smith Reynolds Library at Wake Forest University hosted our full-day pre-conference workshop, “Web Tools for Librarians.” It included four separate tracks - Web Authority, Libraries on the Web, Tips & Tricks for Great Web Sites, and Taking Your Site to the Next Level. We also planned two conference programs and the TNT Business Meeting/Luncheon.

Over the next few years we will continue to provide exciting and informative programs. And since the programs of other NCLA Sections and Round Tables often focus on technology issues, we hope to provide our support by co-sponsoring them where appropriate.

If you have any suggestions on programs or workshops that you would like the TNT Round Table to consider, please drop me a note. I can be reached at twbrands@uncg.edu or at 336-256-1218. Thank you for your participation and support.
--Terry W. Brandsma, Chair, TNT Round Table

LINKS OF INTEREST

North Carolina Library Association		State Library of North Carolina
Calendar of Events		NC Live
Treasurer's Report		Southeastern Library Association
Employment Opportunities		American Library Association

========================================================================================================

DESCRIPTION: NCLA E-News is a publication of the North Carolina Library Association, published six times a year. Please submit news, conference or workshop information, and other items of interest to the Editor or Assistant Editor below.

EDITOR:
Marilyn Schuster
Local Documents/Special Collections
UNC Charlotte
mbschust@email.uncc.edu