Placitas Community Library: "Una placita para todos"

I've been fortunate to make a number of library visits. These include the Biblioteca Jaume Fuster (Library Visit #12; Barcelona, Spain), Spanish National Library (Library Visit #13; Madrid, Spain); Killeen (Texas; Library Visit #14) Public Library; Millwood Branch of the Austin Public (Library Visit #15), and the tribal community library at the Pueblo of Cochiti (Library Visit #16). I made return visits this past week to the libraries at the Pueblos of Sandia and Santa Domingo.

Yesterday I was fortunate to visit the new Placitas (New Mexico) Community Library (Library Visit #17). Now, in its third year of operation, the Placitas Community Library serves a community of over 6000 individuals. The library's mission is "to provide a hub for library services and activities connecting our community to the world in a warm and friendly environment." Staffed by an able corps of volunteers (including two librarians with MLS degrees, one of whom also has a PhD), the Library offers a full range of services including summer reading program, ILL, reading clubs, public access comuting. The library's located in an unincorporated area and thus receives no tax support. Placitas has a Board and Friends group. They are in the process of locating funds to construct their own library building; the library currently is located in a former transmission shop and is welcomed by its users.

This brings to mind a number of questions:
How many US libraries are staffed entirely by volunteers? How are public libraries in unincorporated areas funded? How do such libraries raise funds for construction projects? What sources fund general operating expenses?

Some activities in July

July is quickly flying by and here's a brief overview of work and activities over the past month. First, here's a list of most of the events I attended at ALA/NO. I secured funding to support at least part of the attendance of four of my graduate students and was also accompanied by my sister, Della Nohl.

Thursday 22 June
1. Orientation to Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)
2. FTRF Board meeting
3. Spectrum Leadership Institute. (I gave a 1 1/2 hour presentation, "Our Stories Make Us Strong.")
4. Reception: ALA Past Presidents and ALA Staff
5. Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Steering Committee I

Friday, 23 June
1. ALA Executive Board I (audience member)
2. International Relations Round Table Preconference
3. Library Journal Movers & Shakers Lunch
4. Forum on International Library Education
5. OLOS Preconference, "Reaching Out to Serve Older Adults." (I Havave a presentaiton on White House Conference on Aging Recommendations Impacting Services to American Indian Elders)
6. Reception for Library Champions
7. WebJunction Reception
8. Many Voices, One Nation event.
9. LRoy'S President-Elect Reception

Saturday, 24 June
1. Breakfast with ALA Chapter Leaders
2. White House Office Update Session
3. RUSA Publications Committee
4. Program on evaluating distance education LIS programs
5. Staffing SRRT booth
6. Poster session: Honoring Generations (with Sandy Littletree)
7. Council Committee on Education
8. Education Assembly
9. ALA Opening General Session
10. Scholarship Bash

Sunday, 25 June
1. Meeting with International Relations Round Table
2. Meeting with Library History Round Table
3. Meeitng with Council Committee on Rural, Native & Tribal Libraries
4. Coucil/Exec Board/Membership Info Session
5. ALA-APA Info Session
6. Co-Presenter at AILA program, "I Don't Know Any Indians."
7. ALA Council I
8. Poster Session: Bridge to TexShare for Rural/Small Public Libraries (with Sandy Littletree)
9. Bok Cart Drill Team World Championship (judge)
10. "Form Outreach to Equity" Program.
11. "Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship at 30 years" Program
12. AILA Business Meetign
13. Exhibits: touring
14. ALA President's Program Reception
15. CALA Awards Banquet
16. REFORMA Fundraiser

Monday, 26 June
1. Joint Conference of Librarians of Color All Volunteers Meeting
2. Joint Conference of Librairans of Color Steering Cmmittee II
3. Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros meeting
4. Meeting about "The Electronic Library" special issue about the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color"
5. Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Fundraiser
6. LeROy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund Reception & Fundraiser
7. International Children's Digital Library meeting
8. Printz Program
9. ALAPlayers reception/social event

Tuesday, 17 June
1. Conference final speaker (Cokie Roberts)
2. ALA Council II
3. Staffing Joint Conference of Librarians of Color Booth
4. Awards Reception
5. Inaugural Banquet
6. Reception for Leslie Burger

Wednesday, 18 June
1.ALA Council III
2. ALA Exec Board III

Library Visit #11; Library Science Collection at Texas State Library and Archives

It's easy to forget that state library agencies predate many types of libraries in the US, including public libraries. I attended Friday's meeting of the TexShare Advisory Board meeting. This year we'll see an increase in the number of databases from 19 to 50. Many school districts are also coming on board with the new K-12 database services. Sara Albert (2005 iSchool graduate and my new Assistant to the ALA President-Elect) and I stopped by the Library Science Collection Library on our way out to browse new titles and scan a few of the most recent LIS journals.

Reading and Listening Circle

Some recent reads include: "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (Tracy Chevalier), "Bridget Jones's Diary" (Helen Fielding), "A Fine Balance" (Rohinton Mistry), and "July, July" (Tim O'Brien). Recent listening includes "The Lighthouse" (P.D. James) and "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress" (Dai Sijie).