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CODES Conversations: Genre: Friend or Foe? Join the online discussion December 4-6

Join RUSA CODES Readers Advisory Research and Trends Committee for a three-day CODES Conversation on the subject of genre: what it means and how we use, or don’t use, the genre designation, what genre means to you, etc.  This free, moderated, focused e-mail discussion takes place December 4-6, 2012.  It’s open to all — just subscribe to the discussion at http://lists.ala.org/sympa/subscribe/codes-convos, then follow and contribute to the conversation via e-mail over the three days of the discussion.

Please join us!

CODES Conversations are focused electronic conversations on current issues facing collection development and readers’ advisory librarians—or anyone interested in those areas.  The conversations are open to all who wish to participate (or lurk)!  

 

 

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Nominate an outstanding book reviewer for RUSA’s Louis Shores Award

Know someone(s) who should be recognized for their work in book reviewing?

RUSA is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Louis Shores Award. The deadline for all nominations is Dec. 15, 2012.

The Louis Shores Award recognizes an individual reviewer, group, editor, review medium or organization for excellence in reviewing books and other media for libraries. The winner receives a citation.

Recent past winners include:

  • Sarah L. Johnson, professor of library services at Eastern Illinois University and author of the blog Reading the Past.
  • Bill Ott, editor and publisher of Booklist magazine, was selected for his outstanding contributions to the field of reviewing.
  • Heather McCormack, managing editor of Library Journal’s Book Review section and creator and editor of Book Smack!
  • Blogging for a Good Book, Williamsburg Regional Library

For a nomination form and submission instructions go to http://www.ala.org/rusa/awards/shores

Questions?
Contact Barry Trott, Louis Shores Award Committee Chair, btrott – at – wrl.org.

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New issue of Reference and User Services Quarterly is now online!

Dear RUSA Members and RUSQ Subscribers,

Welcome to the first issue of Reference and User Services Quarterly, Volume 52.

As I take over as editor, I would like to once more thank Diane Zabel for six outstanding years at the helm of the journal. Her work, and the work of the RUSQ Board, column editors, and authors has set the bar high, and I look forward to the challenge.

In addition to the feature articles and continuing columns, this issue introduces a new column that I am excited about: “Taking Issues“.  This column focuses on dialog between librarians on important topics in reference librarianship.

I hope to hear from RUSQ readers about how we can make the journal valuable to your work. Please feel free to contact me with ideas and comments at btrott@wrl.org.

Barry Trott

Editor, RUSQ

Read the new issue now.

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Below are some highlights of this quarter’s valuable content.

Columns

From the Editor: A Tough Act to Follow    Barry Trott

From the President of RUSA: Carnegie Awards: A New and Important Addition to the Book Scene    Mary Pagliero Popp

Taking Issues: Welcome to “Taking Issues”    Karen Antell and Molly Strothmann

Accidental Technologist: Librarians and Code Year    Eric Phetteplace with Andromeda Yelton, Guest Columnist

Readers’ Advisory: You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello    Laurel Tarulli with Barry Trott, Guest Columnist

The Alert Collector: Polacek Sacred Books in English Translation    Kelly Myer with Wayne Bivens-Tatum, Guest Columnist

Information Literacy and Instruction: What They Didn’t Tell Me (or what I didn’t hear) in Library School: Perspectives from New Library Instruction Professionals    Lisa O’Connor with Julie Vanhoose, Bridget Farrell and Emily Rae Aldridge, Guest Columnists

Management: One Hundred and Eighty Years of Great Statistical Collections from the U.S. Census Bureau: A Retrospective    Marianne Ryan with Mark Anderson, Guest Columnist

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Features

Self-Service Holds in Libraries: Is Patron Privacy Being Sacrificed for Patron Convenience? Ruth S. Stevens, Patricia Bravender, and Caralee Witteveen-Lane

Professional Preparation for “Text a Librarian”. What Are the Requisite Competencies? Lili Luo

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Departments

From the Committees of RUSA

•             Best Free Reference Websites MARS: Emerging Technologies in Reference Section

•             RUSA Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections Local History Committee of the History Section

Sources

•             Professional Materials Karen Antell, Editor

•             Reference Books Tammy J. Eschedor Voelker, Editor

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Interested in submitting an article or contributing to RUSQ?  Guidelines and submission instructions can be found here.

Get tech support: Need to activate your subscription to RUSQ?  Access information is at the RUSA website. Contact Metapress directly at support@metapress.com for any technical hiccups or questions about your subscription.

Like RUSA on Facebook | Follow RUSA on Twitter | Forward to a Friend

Keep in touch! Keep your contact information current with ALA so that important member communications will reach your inbox–almost all of our outreach is done via e-mail. Update your member profile by logging in at www.ala.org, e-mailing membership@ala.org or calling (800) 545-2433, option 5.

________________________________________

RUSA is a division of the American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611.

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Don’t Miss These Events in Dallas!

Dear RUSA Members:
 
With the beginning of a brand new year, I invite you to participate in upcoming events at the Midwinter 2012 conference, if you will be in Dallas. We are starting the new year off right with some fun and interesting events:
 
RUSA Midwinter Social at Midwinter Conference, Dallas
What better way to kick off the new year than having an opportunity to eat, drink, catch up with old friends, make new friends, and learn more about RUSA!  Past, present and future RUSA members are all invited to this event, which will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Adolphus Hotel, Century Ballroom A. Appetizers and drinks will be available, and RSVPs are not required. This event is generously sponsored by Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, and Endnote. More information is available at www.endnote.com.
 
Book and Media Awards at Midwinter Conference, Dallas
The Book and Media Awards reception is one of RUSA’s signature events at Midwinter, co-sponsored with our CODES section. We will share the results of our member volunteers’ hard work selecting the best publications of the year and honor those who have won awards relating to book reviewing, promotion, or publishing. The reception is a lovely event, a great party and our way to thank member volunteers for their hard work and a celebration of the best books and resources of the year. The reception will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2012, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the Fairmont Hotel in the Oak Room. Past, present and future RUSA members are invited!
               
Town Hall Session at RUSA Board Meeting 1, Midwinter Conference, Dallas
Don’t miss our Town Hall at the beginning of RUSA board meeting, Session I. All RUSA members are invited to come and share constructive insights, perceptions, comments, and thoughts about RUSA at the first RUSA Midwinter board session, which takes place at the beginning of the meeting on Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm at the Dallas Convention Center (DCC), room D161. We want to hear from you and will use what we hear to help plan the strategic direction of RUSA. Both board meetings are open to all and take place at the following times:

  • Session I, Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Dallas Convention Center (DCC) – D161
  • Session II:  Monday, January 23, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, Dallas Convention Center (DCC) – D161

 
If you’re not able to attend in person, we plan to have chat rooms open in ALA Connect and monitored by volunteers during the Town Hall session, who will be conveying ideas and comments from members using the chat rooms. The public chat rooms are here: http://connect.ala.org/node/64406.
 
More than one chat room will be available to accommodate all who wish to participate, so please participate at the beginning of the meeting and share your thoughts!
 
If you will be in Dallas, I would love to hear from you while at conference so don’t hesitate to say hello!  I wish you all a 2012 filled with happiness and good health!
 
Best Wishes,
Susan Hornung
RUSA Executive Director
shornung@ala.org