THE ROAD TO OZ

AN EASIER TRIP THAN DOROTHY Charlton Heston and some young friends at Los Angeles Public Library's Frances Howard Goldwyn Hollywood Regional Branch didn't need to ride a tornado to Oz. They're touring a new exhibit (above, right). "The Road to Oz: The Life of L. Frank Baum," which opened May 15, the 134th anniversary of the author's birth. Made possible by the Samuel Goidwyn Foundation, the exhibit includes a walkthrough Emerald City, books, artifacts, and incarnations of Baum's characters as they were interpreted in books, films, theater, and television.

A.sked about her future plans, Henry said, "1 have no idea. I've been working hard for a number of years. I'm exploring options." Henry's resignation means CLA will appoint its fourth executive director in five years. Paul Kitchen, Cooney's predecessor, resigned in January 1986. after being suspended by the CLA executive board. Those event.s produced heated discussions at CLA's annual conference {AL, Sept. 1986. p. 598-600). CLA President Ernie Ingles, university librarian at the University of Alberta, told AL the search for a new executive director has begun. He is chairing a selection committee made up of representatives of CLA's five divisions and at-large members. Ingles said the committee hoped to make a decision on a new CLA head "in early October." —T.G.

FBI asks librarians to help locate fugitive The Federal Bureau of Investigation has targeted libraries in an effort to track down a man wanted for parental kidnapping. Public libraries in the Northeast were recently sent a circular with photographs and descriptions of the fugitive and his two sons. The flier says that the man "has taken his children to the library at least once a week in the past and may be continuing to do this." AMERICAN LIBRARIES

SEPTEMBER 1990

The circular asks libraries to examine their records to determine if the fugitive has ever used their facilities, and to make the photographs and background information available to library personnel. It warns that the fugitive is considered armed and dangerous, and requests those with information on him to contact the nearest FBI office. FBI spokesman Greg Jones said that the investigation is based in the bureau's Boston office, although the circular was issued by the Washington office. Jones told AL the mailing was directed to libraries in the Northeast, but he said he didn't know how many fliers were sent out. OIF's advice

"The circular received by libraries appears to be the kind that is routinely sent out by the FBI," said Judith Krug, director of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. "What makes it unique is thai for the first time of which we are aware it is directed towards libraries, because the 'fugitive' is a library user." "ALA's policies on confidentiality and statutes in 48 states wouid prevent librarians from investigating their circulation records to determine if the individual has used the services of the library," Krug continued. "Whether or not the library adheres to the other asf)ects of the FBI's request becomes a local determination according to the library's policies and procedures."

Police subpoena library records in hunt for NYCls Zodiac killer Complying with a subpoena issued July 3 by a Queens, N.Y., grand jury, the New York Public Library has released loan records to detectives who are trying to apprehend a gunman known as the Zodiac. Believed responsible for the shooting of four people since Mar. 8—one of whom has died—the killer has left notes suggesting that he plans to shoot one person for each sign of the zodiac. Investigators suspect he may be inspired by Aleister Crowley's 1904 Book of the Law. New York Post reports of the library's involvement in the investigation said initially that librarians had turned over borrowing records to police upon request, a statement which library officials denied and which the f^t later retracted. "It took a lot of pressure on our part to get that corrected, because the Past usually doesn't do follow-ups or corrections," Paul Fasana, Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Research Libraries, told AL. The library felt compelled to set the record straight, especially in view of the profession's recent opposition to the FBI's Library Awareness Program (AL, Mar., p. 245-248). "The records were released only after a proper subpoena was served," Fasana added, "in accordance with state law." The Post and the Daily News reported that a Manhattan stockbroker, whose signature on a library card resembled the Zo703

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diac killer's handwriting, was questioned by police, but he was later cleared of all suspicion. The names of 10 borrowers were turned over to police, Fasana said. They had all checked out books by AJeister Crowiey. Fasana told AL library records are subpoenaed an average of twice a year, but the iibrary does not necessarily comply. Subpoenas can be and often are contested. "The story is beginning to fizzle," Fa-

AL ASIDES

ALA

ALERT

QUICK GUIDE FOR MEMBERS ••Council voting record: p. 757-769. • "Opportunities and Honors"—ALA's awards program for 1991, complete with details and a fast-approaching Dec. 1 deadline for most: p. 819-822. ^Encore reports on ALA's recordbreaking 1990 Annual Conference in Chicago: p. 793-806. ••Midwinter Meeting preregistration forms: 814-818. ••ALA's first minority intern plans to build a tribal library network—an interview with Robin Kickingbird: p. 808-809. ••Kansas City Public Library and Dupre Library at tbe University of Southern Louisiana receive $2,500 Benton Foundation "rigbt to know" grants: p. 808. •• "Voices & Visions" poetry discussion series will continue at 20 new library sites: p. 808, ••Nancy H. Evans is first program officer for ALA's Library and information Technology Association: p. 808. ••Special offer brings Unesca Courier free to new library subscribers to American Libraries: p. 808. •• Bell Atlantic/ALA Family Literacy Project offers new literacy fact sheet: p. 809. ••Video guide to choosing the best in children's videos is hosted by actor Christopber Reeve: p. 809. ••Annual awards roundup. 1990: p. 810-812. ••Film director John Waters is scheduled to speak at tbe Public Library Association's fourth national conference. Mar. 20-23 in San Diego: p. 8i2. •-JoAn Segal is new associate executive director for programs: p. 812. • Barbara Macikas is new director of conference arrangements: p. 8i2. ••Susan Carton gets permanent post as AL assistant editor: p. 8i2. ••Video & Special Projects office reorganizes and expands: p. 813. ••ALA Help Excbange: p. 813.

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American Libraries Washington Wire ALA members, Ralph Nader testify on GPO Sales Program. Catherine Lucas, San Diego County (Calif.) librarian, testified on bebalf of ALA at a July 27 hearing on the Government Printing Office (GPO) Sales Program. Lucas told tbe House Subcommittee on Procurement and Printing that libraries, as well as the general public, are dependent on tbe sales program for obtaining government publications. Depository libraries must purchase extra copies of high-use documents {such as Statisticai Abstracts and tbe U.S. Zip Code Directory), as well as having to purchase nondepository items and materials sent out in an unsuitable format, sucb as microfiche. She said ALA supports the concept that tbe pricing formula for government publications shouid beip the sales program break even, not make a profit. Lucas's suggestions for improving the sales program: explore alternatives to disposing of publications (such as remaindering them or offering them to nondepository libraries); modernizing tbe sales program through the use of technology: include all sales program publications in the depository program; keep publications in stock for a longer time and in greater quantities; accept macbine-generated orders from libraries; and provide a singie, comprehensive source for all federal publications. James Veatcb of the Nashville {Tenn.) State Technical Institute library told tbe subcommittee that the GPO shouid begin using ISBNs and bar coding. He also recommended that tbe GPO offer a better discount and return to jobbers and bookdealers, and that the charge for GPO sales tapes be waived for private sector vendors who want to use them to include GPO sales items in such publications as Books in Print. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader and economist James Love expressed concern to the subcommittee over policies that restricted tbe public's access to government information. Their joint testimony cited dramatic increases in the prices of such publications as the Congressional Record and the Federal Register. GPO's wasteful policy of destroying unsold publications; excessively high prices for electronic data; and policies at other agencies that bave bampered citizen access to information. "It is unfortunate that GPO does not have a more open dialogue with taxpayers and consumers over its product line and prices," Nader and Love conciuded. "It would be beipfui if GPO would systematically provide the reading public with opportunities to comment on the need for new products, as weli as voice its opinions on GPO's current level of service."

flep. iim Bates (D-Calif.) of the House Subcommittee on Procurement and Printing (second from left) and Ralph Nader (third from left) join ALA members Catherine Lucas and James Veatch on the Capitol steps after the subcommittee's July 27 hearing.

House appropriations bill omits WHCUS. On Juiy 19 tbe House of Representatives passed its Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations biil for FY 1991. Tbe bill (HR 5257) provides a total of $140.8 miliion for Department of Education library programs, up 3% over FY90. The amount indudes $1 miilion in first-time funding for the Library Services and Construction Act title V, which provides grants directly to public iibraries for acquiring foreign-language materials. However, tbe bill omits the remaining $1 miiiion needed for next year's White House Conference on Library and information Services. Tbe committee report on the biii does not mention WHCLIS or give any reason for leaving out the funding. ALA's Washington Office urges library supporters to contact members of tbe Senate LaborHHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee and ask them to provide the remaining WHCLIS funding. —Gordon Flagg (Washington Wire draws on ALA Washington Office news and other sources, but is written by the AL editors, who are soiely responsible for its contents.)

AMERICAN LIBRARIES

SEPTEMBER 1990

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Sana said. "They've predicted twice now that he Ithe killer] will strike again, but it's been quieting for about a month now because he hasn't." —L.K.

Prop. 111 passage may pump up California iibrary revenues California voters passed Proposition 111 in June, adjusting tbe state's 10-year-old spending cap that at times has threatened delivery of needed library services. According to State Librarian Gary Strong, the legislation should make more money available for libraries statewide. Voters imposed the spending cap in 1979 during the "taxpayers revolt." The infamous Prop. 13 pegged expenditures either to rises in the Consumer Price Index or growth in the state's per capita income, whichever was less. Backers of Prop. Ill emphasized it as the salvation of the state's transportation nightmare, since it would push through an increased gasoline tax, providing monies for new freeway, road, and mass transit construction. First revenues won't actually be seen until a year after voter approval, however. Strong warned that the legislation may not solve libraries' funding woes. "The state's revenues are off $3.6 billion—$4 million was cut from public library foundation program and $1 million from the California literacy campaign, effective July 1," he noted. He said the library has not had a cost-of-living adju.stment in over six years. "The axe can fall at any time," Strong said. "The governor can trigger reductions of up to 4% of the operations budget without having to notify the legislature." —E.McC.

Smithsonian Goiiath yieids to smaii-town iibrary David Following a highly publicized three-year dispute, the Smithsonian Institution agreed early last month to share a multi-milliondollar bequest with the Rockport (Mass.) Public Library. The settlement between the Washington, D.C., museum, with its $353 million annual budget, and the library, with its $147,000 annual budget, resolves the estate of Franz Denghausen. The sculptor/poet left in his will an estimated $5.8 million to the Smithsonian and $1 million to Rockport for a new library. The disagreement centered on interpretation of the language of the will and an appended codicil, with the Smithsonian asserting that the library's plan to convert an old elementary school building into the 708

ART ON WHEELS CELEBRATES 14TH YEAR. Miami Daae KUDMC LDrary systems Artmobile. blending in witb its animal soulmate at the local zoo, bas been providing visual literacy and expanding tbe imagination of more tban 500,000 Florida viewers since il bit the road in 1976. New York artist Lowell Nesbitt belped restore its exterior tbree years ago. Barbara Young, wbo was the Artmobile's firsl librarian, told AL tbat hundreds of original works displayed inside bave included pbotograpbs, prints, textiles, and antique toys. "Sucb people as painter Robert Rauscbenberg and environmental artist Christo bave made work avaiiable for us to use because tbey become excited by tbe notion of reaching people who often don't have access to museums and libraries," sbe said. Tbe library will mount a large Nesbitt exbibit next May to mark tbe Artmobile's 15tb year

new town library would violate the wishes of the deceased. The settlement was approved by the Essex County Probate Court following meetings with Rockport lawyers and Massachusetts Attorney General James M. Shannon, who filed papers in support of the town. It allows Rockport to proceed with its conversion plans. Paul B. Sargent, lawyer for the Denghausen family and executor of the estate, told the Nev,' York Times the museum had changed its position because "they had the heat of a lot of publicity." Madeleine .lacobs, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian, calls the entire incident a "most unfortunate legal technicality" She told AL that the Institution was not trying to bilk the town out of its million, but had merely acted in accordance with its "legal duty to ensure that the terms of the bequest were fulfilled." In 1986, the Smithsonian also received a $3.8 million bequest upon tbe death of Luisita Denghausen, Franz's wife. Ted Reed, chair of the Rockport library trustees, told the Washington Posl that the Smithsonian was "vigorously trying to prevent the town of Rockport from being able to accept this gift." Library Director Stephen Rask agrees. "We believe they wanted to find out how they could residually gain the other miilion," he told AL. "They found a legal loophole in the will, and they apparently thought they had a good run at it." Rask described a series of delays and demands placed on the library by squads of Smithsonian attorneys, but added, "In the

end, we got the million and some of the interest on it. Bygones are bygones, and we don't care any more. We've arrived at a mutually agreeable solution." —L.K.

Cuts in NUC records shouidn't affect iibraries The Library of Congress has announced that the 1990 edition of the National Union Catalog (NUC) will not contain reports for books included in the OCLC, Research Libraries Group, and Western Library Network databases. Treatment of audiovisual and cartographic materials will be unchanged in their sections of NUC. The publication schedule and microfiche format will remain the same. The decision to change NUC was recommended by LC's Management and Planning (MAP) Committee to make possible the redeployment of some 40 staff members to work on the library's arrearage problem. MAP chair Ellen Hahn told AL "substantial consultation" with NUC users determined that the change would not have a significant impact on libraries. Hahn added that public and technical services librarians were consulted. Janet Swan Hill, assistant director for technical services at the University of Colorado libraries told AL, "We don't expect it [the change] to have any impact." She added that redirecting 40 LC staff to the arrearage would be a "profitable exchange" and that smaller NUC volumes would be easier to use. —T.G. AMERiCAN LiBRARIES

SEPTEMBER 1990