President's Report for Mo Info
- February 2002
Missouri Library Day was a success thanks to the leadership of Liz Cashell and Paul White of MLA's Legislative Committee, Sara White of the State
Library, Randy Scherr, our legislative representative, Executive Director,
Jean McCartney, and the librarians, trustees and friends who spent February
5th in Jefferson City sharing our contributions and needs with legislators.
Thanks to all who participated. Please stay in touch with your legislators,
and, if possible, involve them in an activity at your library.
The past, present and future MLA presidents met in Columbia February 6th to plan together. We also met with Jean McCartney to review activities and
association needs. Both sessions were so helpful that we agreed to continue
the practice prior to each Board meeting.
The Board met in Columbia on February 15 at Daniel Boone Regional Library. This year's budget was approved, a procedure was agreed to assure MLA awards
publicity, it was agreed to update the Handbook with input from all constituent groups, and reports were shared by each group. We sadly
accepted the resignation of Webmaster Carolyn Branch who has performed so beautifully for us. Anna Sylvan accepted Carolyn's role and is grateful
that Carolyn will work with her for a smooth transition.
Joel Jones, Conference Coordinator, led a lively and encouraging conference
planning session. Here as in the Board meeting we experienced the enthusiastic commitment of so many members whose hard work is the foundation
of our success.
Frances Benham, MLA President
Books & Libraries in the News
ReadMOre
Project Invites all Missourians to read
Farewell to Manzanar
In a new statewide initiative called ReadMOre,
all Missourians are invited to read and discuss the book Farewell
to Manzanar. Missouri
is one of the first states to ask all of its citizens to read the same
book at the same time.
Modeled after projects in cities such as Chicago and Seattle, participants
across the entire state will have an opportunity to read and discuss an
important book. “This book is immensely readable yet very
pertinent to the events we are currently experiencing”, says Kathleen
Nigro, project coordinator. “It will spark lively discussions
across the generations. This project can bring our people together
through the healing quality of shared ideas and expression.”
Farewell
to Manzanar, written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D.
Houston, tells the true story of a Japanese–American family’s
placement in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.
Many of the themes that are concerning America today are underlying
themes in Farewell to Manzanar
MLA President Margaret
Conroy says “ this book will lend itself to many points of
discussion—parent and child conflict, the immigrant experience in
general, rebellion of teenagers, as well as the obvious issues confronting
America today.”
The Missouri Humanities Council will provide information about ReadMOre on its website, including discussion questions, lists of
other books and films on the same topics, and planned events occurring
throughout the state. Copies of Farewell
to Manzanar will be available at all libraries and bookstores
including bookstores on-line. The
authors will be invited to tour Missouri and meet with book discussion
groups. Kathleen Nigro, Ph.D,
Scholar-in-Residence at the Kirkwood Public Library, is the statewide
project coordinator.
Internet Filters
The National Coalition Against
Censorship (NCAC) has published a Public
Policy Report on Internet filters.
In the spring and summer of 2001, the Free Expression Policy Project of
the National Coalition Against Censorship surveyed all of the studies and
tests that it was able to locate describing the actual operation of 19
products or software programs that are commonly used to filter out World
Wide Web sites and other communications on the Internet. This report
summarizes the results of that survey.
2001 Missouri
Building Block
Picture Book
Award Nominees
The Missouri
Building Block Picture Book Award, administered by the Children's
Services Round Table of MLA, is presented annually to the author and
illustrator of the picture book voted most popular by preschool children
in Missouri's public libraries. Designed to encourage reading aloud to
children from birth through kindergarten age, the award was first given in
1996. Parents and other caregivers are encouraged to read aloud to
children from a list of ten titles selected annually by a group of
Missouri children's librarians. Colorful posters, bookmarks, activity
sheets, and a manual of great ideas add to the fun.
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