ALA's Midwinter Focuses on Jobs, Funding

Job Shadow, a yearlong recruitment effort, was launched at the American Library Association's midwinter meeting to help attract new blood to the profession. The project gives students a chance to "shadow" a mentor in the workplace.

"Inviting young people behind the scenes is the best way to open their eyes to all of the wonderful aspects of being a librarian," says Jo Ann Pinder, president of the Public Library Association, which launched the program (www.jobshadow.org) along with the American Association of School Librarians and the Association of College and Research Libraries.

About 11,730 librarians, including 3,000 exhibitors, attended ALA's midwinter meeting in Philadelphia, January 24–27, surpassing last year's midwinter gathering in New Orleans by more than 1,000. The conference kicked off with librarians turning up at the Philadelphia Convention Center to rally for more national library funding. ALA President-elect Carla Hayden told supporters, "We don't have to be quiet anymore. We have to make sure America's libraries survive and thrive."

Efforts to preserve users' privacy in the aftermath of September 11 were also still on everyone's minds, as librarians must cooperate with the USA Patriot Act, which gives FBI agents easier access to library records. Although there is a gag order preventing librarians from discussing the issue, there appears to be no evidence that federal agents are abusing their authority, says Tom Susman, an attorney with Ropes & Gray.

Meanwhile, ALA's new advocacy arm, the American Library Association/Allied Professional Association (APA) passed its bylaws and continues to work on issues related to certification, recruitment, and pay equity. Unlike ALA, which is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, ALA/APA has a 501(c)(6) status, which permits advocating for salary increases.