ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

National Library Week—making it happen

By Linda K. Wallace Director ALA Public Information Office

ALA’s 1992 “Your Right to Know: Librarians make it happen” campaign presents an exciting opportunity for academic librarians to speak out for their profession and for the American public.

America’s libraries are unique in their dedication to serving the public’s Right to Know information they need to live, learn, work, and govern effectively. And no one plays a more important role in making that happen than academic librarians.

Plan now to use the ALA theme for National Library Week (April 5-11,1992) and as an umbrella to promote your services throughout the year.

What you can do

1. Host a Great American Read Aloud/Night of a Thou- sand Stars. ALA will again spon- sor the nation’s largest proliteracy event on Wednes- day, April 8, 1992, with guest readers rallying around librar- ies and their Right to Know. Many college libraries, includ- ing Michigan State University, Bowling Green (Ohio) State University, and White Pine (N.H.) College have been among the thousands of librar- ies hosting successfulevents.

2. Participate in the “Call for America’s Libraries” radio rally being launched on Freedom of Information Day, March 16, and running through National Library Week (see sidebar, page ??).

3. Expand the library’s regular bibliographic instruction or orientation program to include the right to know.

4. Identify major issues of concern on your campus—drugs, free speech, the homeless, rape, the environment. Plan a series of Right-to-Know forums, booklists, and exhibits around these topics. Invite faculty and administrators from departments such as health services and campus security to participate. Involve foreign students in planning programs to focus on cultural diversity.

5. Organize an election year “Right to Know” campaign to provide voter registration and information for students.

6. Develop fact sheets and booklists with the Right to Know logo. Spotlight federal and local government docu- ments, reference works, video- tapes, and other specialized li- brary resources available to help faculty and students exercise their Right to Know.

7. Conduct workshops for college students and faculty on information literacy and the Right to Know.

8. Post ALA posters with the campaign theme in caf- eterias, campus bulletin boards, and other gathering points outside the library. Ask to have the message posted on outdoor marquees.

9. Invite your library users to share how librarians have helped them exercise their Right to Know and how that made a difference in their lives. Award prizes—gift cer- tificates for campus book, record, or clothing stores— for the best entries.

10. Publish regular updates announcing new articles/materials of special interest imprinted with the Right-to-Know logo. Send to faculty and administrators. Provide a column for the student newspaper.

11. Talk to student groups about the special study and career resources your library offers to help them plan their futures.

12. Provide “Right to Know” public service ads available from the ALA Public Information Office to the student newspaper and faculty publications. Provide radio and television public service advertisements available through the ALA Graphics Catalog.

Ed. note:The artwork on the cover of this month’s CLRL News is available as a poster from ALA Graphics. The poster is available separately or as part of the National Library Week theme kit that includes 3 posters, 200 bookmarks, and a campaign book including clip art. The kit sells for $25 and may be ordered from ALA Graphics, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; (800) 545-2433, press 8.

C&RL News staff member has a winning idea

Reggie Prim, C&RL News editorial assistant, has a way with words. When ALA staff were asked by the Communications Department to think of slogans that conveyed ALA’s purpose to the general public, the ACRL staff went into action.

At ACRL’s weekly staff brainstorming session, the staff generated a number of possible slogans. One of them was Reggie’s suggestion, “The more you read the better we feel.”

These were forwarded to ALA’s Communications Department. While a final slogan has not been selected, Reggie’s proposed slogan was so good that ALA’s Graphics Department could not pass up the opportunity to produce a button.

White text on a green background, the buttons are available in bundles of 10 for $4.00 plus $2.00 for shipping and handling. Orders totalling less than $30 must be prepaid. Send order to: ALA’s Graphics Department, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; fax (312) 440-9374.

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