SRRT Statement to ALA Council, 6/28/06

[reprinted with permission from the Library Juice blog]
The Action Council of the Social Responsibilities Task Force made the decision that we could not leave New Orleans without issuing a statement bearing witness to what we have seen, heard and experienced while here during ALA’s annual meeting.

We have witnessed that the spirit, hospitality and creativity of New Orleans is alive and well. So too is the generosity of all those who have traveled from all points of the globe to lend a hand in cleaning debris, in restocking shelves, rebuilding homes and in bringing rays of hope to a community of people, many of whom feel largely abandoned and forgotten.

We have also witnessed that New Orleans and surrounding regions remain terribly broken and languishing nearly one year after hurricanes and political negligence inflicted horrible injuries from which the area continues to suffer.

We urge all our fellow ALA members and friends to return to our homes and libraries ready to share what we have witnessed and to pressure the federal government to mobilize the financial, organizational and human resources necessary to make this region and its people whole again. SRRT also wishes to note that the greatness of the United States lies, not in its military power, mammoth bank accounts, mighty corporations and culture of consumption, but rather in the simple humanity, generous hearts and helping hands of its ordinary people. These are the forces that can heal this region, and they must be given the resources and opportunity to do so.

librarian finds peace, leaving New Orleans

Just got an update that New Orleans Public Library resumed circulation of books today at the Nix and Hubbell Branches. Weekly bloggish updates of the recovery efforts are on this page. This all, however, just a feel good intro to this heartwarming librarian story Evacuated librarian lends hand, finds peace

When Xavier University’s library director decided to leave New Orleans hours ahead of Hurricane Katrina, fate put him on the road to a mutually beneficial relationship with a library miles away.

the Cita Dennis Hubbell Library in NOLA

The Cita Dennis Hubbell library is one of three public libraries to have reopened in the city of New Orleans since Katrina. A team of volunteers have set up a website for the library’s specific community, posting news and local information in an easy to use format. For a library system that has had to lay off 90% of their staff, this is no small accomplishment. [mefi projects]

job opening for displaced librarian, pass it on

ALA President Michael Gorman posted this to the Council list and I made a web page for it using pasta. Please pass this information, or this idea, on.

Temporary Librarian Position, For Librarian Displaced by Hurricane Katrina

In order to offer support to those in our profession who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina, the Henry Madden Library of the California State University, Fresno would like to hire one librarian with an ALA accredited M.L.S. or equivalent who was displaced and/or unemployed because of the hurricane.