Chicago, NY, Hawaii on Obama Library's Short List

The Barack Obama Foundation, which is developing and raising money for the massive legacy project, announced Monday that it has selected four universities to compete for the library, culled from an initial list of 13 applications submitted earlier this year. The University of Hawaii, in Obama's birthplace Honolulu, made the cut, as did New York's Columbia University. The University of Chicago, where Obama used to teach, and the University of Illinois at Chicago round out the list.

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President Obama Wins Reelection - Find Results by State

President Barack Obama won the 2012 Presidential election. According to major news outlets, he captured 303 electoral college votes, and won important battleground states like Ohio and Virginia.

Find a map of election results or results by state.

Obama will begin his second-term in office when he is sworn in at a public ceremony taking place on January 21, 2013. Learn more about the President and the inauguration.

President Obama Honors Paul McCartney

The President hails Paul McCartney’s contribution to popular music and song during a ceremony to present the singer with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize on Wednesday evening, June 2.

And the President gives props to the Librarian of Congress.

The full program will air on Wednesday, July 28 at 8 pm EDT on PBS with performances by Stevie Wonder (who won the Gershwin Award last year), Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, Jonas Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill, Corinne Bailey Rae, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, and Jack White of the White Stripes.

NATIONAL INFORMATION LITERACY AWARENESS MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, A PROCLAMATION

Every day, we are inundated with vast amounts of information. A 24-hour news cycle and thousands of global television and radio networks, coupled with an immense array of online resources, have challenged our long-held perceptions of information management. Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation. This new type of literacy also requires competency with communication technologies, including computers and mobile devices that can help in our day-to-day decisionmaking. National Information Literacy Awareness Month highlights the need for all Americans to be adept in the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age.

Though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it. Over the past decade, we have seen a crisis of authenticity emerge. We now live in a world where anyone can publish an opinion or perspective, whether true or not, and have that opinion amplified within the information marketplace. At the same time, Americans have unprecedented access to the diverse and independent sources of information, as well as institutions such as libraries and universities, that can help separate truth from fiction and signal from noise.

Our Nation's educators and institutions of learning must be aware of -- and adjust to -- these new realities. In addition to the basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic, it is equally important that our students are given the tools required to take advantage of the information available to them. The ability to seek, find, and decipher information can be applied to countless life decisions, whether financial, medical, educational, or technical.

This month, we dedicate ourselves to increasing information literacy awareness so that all citizens understand its vital importance. An informed and educated citizenry is essential to the functioning of our modern democratic society, and I encourage educational and community institutions across the country to help Americans find and evaluate the information they seek, in all its forms.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2009 as National Information Literacy Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the important role information plays in our daily lives, and appreciate the need for a greater understanding of its impact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

Obama Nominates Research Librarian to Head National Archives

A New York librarian has been chosen to become the next archivist of the United States.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday announced the nomination of David S. Ferriero to the run the National Archives and Records Administration.

The 63-year-old Ferriero is currently the director of research libraries at the New York Public Library.

See Also:
New York Librarian Chosen as U.S. Archivist
News Release About Ferrieo from 2004
David Ferrieo’s Wikipedia Entry

2009 New York state title for the National Book festival

From NYLINE:
Hudson Talbott's "River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River" has been selected to represent New York State on the National Book Festival's free USA map which will be distributed to children at the National Book Festival on September 26th, 2009 in Washington D.C.

Hudson Talbott is a local author from Cairo, New York and his book is an excellent choice to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's maiden vovage up the river that now bears his name. Thank you to all the Youth Services Librarians who voted for this year's winner.

The National Book Festival will include The President and Mrs. Obama as honorary chairs and will also feature bestselling authors David Baldacci, John Grisham, John Irving, Julia Alvarez, Judy Blume, Ken Burns, Gwen Ifill and Jodi Picoult. Now in its ninth year, the festival celebrates the joys of reading and lifelong literacy.

MORE.

National Volunteer Effort Update from ALA

By early next week, an announcement will come from the White House asking partners, including libraries, to post their local volunteer opportunities online. Since the initiative will then officially launch on June 22, you'll want to have any information on volunteer opportunities at your library ready to go in anticipation of this quick turnaround. We recognize that this doesn't give you much time, but we
hope you will consider being a part of this important initiative.

Please visit www.ala.org/summerofservice to find a one page fact sheet on the initiative from the Corporation for National & Community Service.

Volunteer opportunities can be posted right now by visiting www.serve.gov, and I encourage you to do that as soon as you are able.

The ALA will keep you informed as this initiative progresses, and the next time you hear from us will be after President Obama has announced it publicly. The ALA will also be providing tips and resources for volunteer ideas, best practices, and ways to contribute your own information, ideas and stories, all of which you can access at
www.ala.org/summerofservice.

Prior to the public launch of the service initiative, the Corporation for National & Community Service is looking for volunteer opportunities that will take place on June 22nd to use as potential examples. If you do have such a volunteer opportunity going on in your library, we encourage you to fill out the form posted at www.ala.org/summerofservice and send it back to library@ala.org no later than June 17.

Sincerely,

Keith Michael Fiels
Executive Director
American Library Association

Libraries and the President’s Summer of Service

June 3, 2009

The American Library Association has just been contacted by the White House in partnership with the Corporation for National & Community Service to get libraries involved in the President’s Summer of Service program, scheduled to launch on June 22, 2009.

Summer of Service is a “national coalition of major youth-serving organizations that are committed to engaging youth in service during the summer months and recognize the potential of youth to identify issues, develop projects, and provide lasting benefits to the communities in which they live through volunteer service.” Libraries and other organizations that work with youth ages 5 to 21 are encouraged to
participate.

Beginning the week of June 8, 2009, libraries and other organizations will be invited by the White House to list their local volunteer opportunities online. On June 22, the White House will announce the initiative to the public at large. The initiative will conclude on
September 11, 2009.

Although this timetable doesn’t provide much time to plan, we know that most libraries already have active volunteer programs, and wanted to provide a little bit more advance notice for libraries interested in participating in this exciting national initiative. Summer of Service presents a great opportunity for libraries of all types to involve young people as volunteers. This will also be a great opportunity to educate the public about the importance and vitality of America’s libraries, and gain new supporters advocating for your library.


The American Library Association will be disseminating information and resources as they become available. Stay tuned for volunteer ideas, best practices, resources, and ways to contribute your own information, ideas and stories at www.ala.org/summerofservice.

You can learn more about Summer of Service at http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/initiatives/summer.asp.


Sincerely,

Keith Michael Fiels
Executive Director
American Library Association

President Obama’s Inauguration Topic of Albany Public Library Program on March 17

Albany Journalists, Councilman to Recall Their Experiences

The historic inauguration of the United States’ 44th president is the focus of a March 17 program at the Albany Public Library (APL). "Relive the Historic Day: Reflections on the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States" takes place at 12:15 p.m. in the large auditorium of the Main Library at 161 Washington Avenue. The public is invited to this free event.

Local journalists Paul Grondahl and Dennis Gaffney, who is also president of the APL Board of Trustees, and Albany Councilman Corey Ellis will share their experiences from the January 20 inauguration of President Barack Obama. All three men attended the inauguration in Washington, DC, and have many stories to tell about their experiences. The program will include a video presentation, produced by Grondahl, about the historic event.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Albany Public Library and is part of the Friends weekly "Noon Talk" programs, which feature book reviews, panel discussions, and programs of current interest to the community.

The Albany Public Library (APL) operates six locations serving the residents of Albany. Each month, more than 55,000 people use the libraries to borrow materials, attend programs, access computers, and research information. More than 90,000 books, DVDs, and other materials are circulated each month. APL is creating five new branches to better serve customers.

Obama Temporary License Plates Newest Collectors Item

by Lynn Sweeton February 13, 2009 1:01 PM
Chicago Sun Times

WASHINGTON--The Land of Lincoln is joining the crowd making a buck off the popular son of Illinois, President Obama. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is selling Obama plates--good only for 60 days--for $50 a pair.

The Illinois Library Association will use the profits to help fund materials for library run summer reading programs for students.

In the first wave, the plates will be sold only to people from Illinois who have autos. For people who don't have cars--no matter where they live-- the souvenir plates can be purchased for $50 after April 17.

Six Tips to Preserve Your Election Collections

Across the nation, Americans are saving newspapers, posters, buttons, and bumper stickers to commemorate the historic election and inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s first African American president. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), encourages citizen-collectors to make sure that their presidential inauguration collections will be preserved long into the future.

“The election day newspaper – cared for properly — will still be there years from now to remind us and future generations of this singular moment in American history,” Radice said. “This is a great time to raise awareness of the need to protect election and inauguration-related items from common threats such as high temperature, humidity, and light exposure.”

More here.

Inauguration Day

You are cordially invited to join us and your neighbors at the Main Library for this nation's Historic Presidential Inauguration broadcast live on the large screen.

Don't sit at home alone or in front of your computer screen at work - gather with APL in this celebration of our democracy! It certainly promises to be a great afternoon!

Tuesday, January 20th, 11am - 12:30pm
Main Library Auditorium
Swearing In Ceremony & Presidential Address

Also, the Howe Library at 200 South Pearl Street
will be broadcasting live at 11am too.

Then at 12:30pm at Main
Join the Friends of APL at the Main Library for a special Noon-Time Presentation
Jazz Dance Program, presented by The Egg. This free, multimedia program exploring the history of jazz dance through dance demonstrations and historic video footage features Tap Dancer and Lindy Hopper, choreographer, writer, and dance preservationist Rusty Frank.

Barack Obama on libraries

President Elect Barack Obama has indicated his understanding of the important role libraries play in times of economic depression to assist people with job searches, job training and jobless benefits by including support to public libraries in his proposed massive economic stimulus package.

Here's the speech he made in 2005 to the annual national conference of the American Library Association.

Bound to the Word
Guardians of truth and knowledge, librarians must be thanked for their role as champions of privacy, literacy, independent thinking, and most of all reading.
by Barack Obama

"If you open up Scripture, the Gospel according to John, it starts: "In the beginning was the Word." Although this has a very particular meaning in Scripture, more broadly what it speaks to is the critical importance of language, of writing, of reading, of communication, of books as a means of transmitting culture and binding us together as a people.

More than a building that houses books and data, the library represents a window to a larger world, the place where we've always come to discover big ideas and profound concepts that help move the American story forward and the human story forward...

Inauguration Day 2009

You might have heard that there's some event taking place next Tuesday in Washington, DC. Where to Watch on TV, Radio, and Online

Obama transition website

Here in the U.S., at long last, we have a new President-Elect. And, for the first time, this means a new presidential transition website. Simple but elegant and still under construction — Change.gov. At the top left, you’ll see a countdown, in days, until the January 20, 2009 inauguration.