Author Archives: Mary Jo Ryan

Join American Library Association (ALA) President Barbara Stripling in promoting the “Declaration for the Right to Libraries” by hosting a signing ceremony in your community! The Declaration is the cornerstone document of Stripling’s presidential initiative, Libraries Change Lives, which is designed to build the public will and sustained support for America’s right to libraries of all types – academic, special, school and public. Local “Declaration” events can focus on transformative library practices in literacy, innovation and community engagement.  These signing events can be held at the library and/or any community event. The petitions will be presented to Congress by library supporters during National Library Legislative Day activities from May 5 – 6, 2014.  Stripling recently encouraged local action with this statement: “The Declaration will serve as an advocacy tool to help communities take action and illustrate the value of their libraries and library staff. Our hope is that library supporters will take advantage of this tool and present collected signatures to local leaders and legislators throughout the year.”

The “Declaration for the Right to Libraries” is based on the following assumptions:

1. Libraries Empower the Individual
2. Libraries Support Literacy and Lifelong Learning
3. Libraries Strengthen Families
4. Libraries are the Great Equalizer
5. Libraries Build Communities
6. Libraries Protect Our Right to Know
7. Libraries Strengthen Our Nation
8. Libraries Advance Research and Scholarship
9. Libraries Help Us to Better Understand Each Other
10. Libraries Preserve Our Nation’s Cultural Heritage

Informational resources and materials to help plan local activitie are available at:

www.ilovelibraries.org/declaration

www.ala.org/declaration

www.barbarastripling.org

www.ala.org/advocacy/declaration-right-libraries-toolkit

www.facebook.com/DeclarationforLibraries;

Twitter: #right2libs

www.flickr.com/groups/2255930@N20/.   

Goals of the Declaration for the Right to Libraries Project include:

1. Increase public and media awareness about the critical role of libraries in communities around the country.
2. Inspire ongoing conversations about the role of the library in community.
3. Cultivate a network of community allies and advocates for the library.
4. Position the library as a trusted convener to help in the response to community issues.

Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month with new downloadable tools and public service announcements (PSAs). Sample media tools are available to remind the public of all the resources available for free with a library card. Tools include a sample press release, op-ed, proclamation, PSA scripts and radio quality PSAs. To download free promotional materials, visit www.ala.org/librarycardsignup.

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time when libraries across the country remind parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Thousands of public and school libraries join together each fall in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for a library card. Also in celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month, a new slideshow featuring “60 Ways to Use Your Library Card” is now available on atyourlibrary.org. Librarians are encouraged to embed the slideshow, which scrolls through examples like “Learn how to write a business plan” and “Get help with homework,” on their own websites or blogs.

NBA All- Star Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls is the Honorary Chair of Library Card Sign-up Month. During this month, libraries will encourage the public to obtain a free library card that will save them money. According to a PEW Internet and American Life study, 58 percent of Americans age 16 and older have a library card and even more—69 percent—say the library is important to them and their families. A native of the Sudan, Deng has won the NBA’s sportsmanship award for the player who best exemplifies ethical behavior, fair play and integrity on the court. In 2008, Deng was honored with the UN Refugee Agency’s Humanitarian of the Year Award for his efforts to bring education and sports to millions of displaced children. Librarians looking to promote Library Card Sign-up Month locally can download a public service announcement (PSA) featuring Deng at www.ala.org/librarycardsignup. Free customization is available.

The Campaign for America’s is Libraries is the ALA’s public awareness campaign that promotes the value of libraries and librarians. Thousands of libraries of all types – across the country and around the globe – use the Campaign’s @ your library® brand. The Campaign is made possible in part by ALA’s Library Champions.

Library Card Sign-up Month is a time to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all. Free promotional tools for libraries, including the 60 Ways to Use Your Library Card Slideshow, are available at http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/card.

ALA would  like to hear what you have planned for Library Card Sign-up Month or answer your questions. Contact Megan McFarlane, Campaign Coordinator, mmcfarlane@ala.org. For more information visit the
Campaign For America’s Libraries

Reply to this RFP soon! The deadline to apply for this partnership effort is August 16. Libraries with a good relationship with a movie theatre could work with them to create a dynamite public program. Any library or other organization is welcome to submit a proposal in response to this RFP, though Nebraska is targeted for the 2014 tour.
From: [mailto:CReich@imls.gov]
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 9:06 AM
To: Carolyn Ashcraft; gerald.maginnity@library.ca.gov; jring@dos.state.fl.us; Linda Lord; robertsonn@michigan.gov; jwalker@mlc.lib.ms.us; Wagner, Rod; Devon Skeele; saldrich@pa.gov; Ed Seidenberg; rand.simmons@sos.wa.gov
Subject: Message from IMLS about Film Forward

Good morning! IMLS is a partner in an international exchange program called Film Forward, which brings independent films to communities throughout the United States and the world in an effort to enhance the appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures. Film screenings are followed by audience dialogue and IMLS is particularly interested in identifying museums and libraries as venues for these programmatic opportunities. We are soliciting your assistance in sharing the information below and the attached overview and RFP with your constituents. Any museum or library or other organization is welcome to submit an RFP, though the project is targeting the following states for the 2014 tour: Arkansas, California, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. I will also be contacting state museum associations in those particular states.

Please feel free to call me (or contact Meredith Lavitt at the email below) with any questions and thanks so much for your help.

Chris Reich

 July 22, 2013

Dear Executive and Program Directors and Professors,

Attached please find a Request For Proposal (RFP) for your consideration. We are seeking potential Program Collaborators around the US to collaborate with the Sundance Institute to host a FILM FORWARD program in 2014. FILM FORWARD is an international cultural exchange program designed to enhance cross-cultural understanding, collaboration and dialogue around the globe by engaging audiences through the exhibition of film and conversation with filmmakers. FILM FORWARD is an Initiative of Sundance Institute and The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. FILM FORWARD launched in 2010. Prior to that time, the AFI in association with the federal governmental agencies ran the program as AFI 20/20. In the last three years FILM FORWARD has visited 21 locations around the world from China, Morocco, India, and Turkey to Tennessee, California, Arizona and Puerto Rico. 26 independent films including WINTER’S BONE, AMREEKA, BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD and ON THE ICE and documentaries including CHASING ICE, LAST TRAIN HOME, BUCK and SENNA have screened to diverse communities, students and filmmakers. Over 30 filmmakers associated with these films have participated in engaging local audiences in question and answer sessions, workshops, roundtable discussion and meet and greet opportunities.

FILM FORWARD’s goal is to reach audiences that do not have access to independent film and create cultural conversations to break down barriers and bridge similarities between cultures. Our experiences have reinforced the very reason that we believe in this program: We saw this in Nashville, Tennessee as homeless youth told us they felt empowered to tell their stories after seeing LA MISSION and in Imperial Valley, California as audience members said they appreciated seeing aboriginal people being celebrated and not stereotyped. In short, we have seen the power of storytelling to connect with audiences here and abroad, and to light the fires of curiosity about other cultures and new ways of thinking. The experience is enriching for both the local audiences and the filmmakers – who are all learning and benefiting from these cultural interactions.

“We’ve been blessed to host Film Forward three times…Needless is to say that Film Forward made the PRFS a better organization, teaching us how to connect with audiences and spark profound conversations around independent film.”– Guillermo Vazquez, Co-Founder, Puerto Rico Film Society

For more information on FILM FORWARD, please visit sundance.org/filmforward and read blogs by filmmakers, collaborators and audiences, browse through the photo galleries and watch the film trailers. We hope this program is of interest to you and look forward to your proposal. Please feel free to address any questions to Meredith Lavitt via email at  meredith_lavitt@sundance.org

Kind Regards, Meredith Lavitt

Associate Director, Film Forward, Sundance Institute