Proposals for ACRL 14th National Conference contributed papers, panel sessions, preconferences, and workshops are due May 12, 2008.

"Pushing the Edge: Explore, Engage, Extend," to be held March 12-15, 2009 in Seattle, will offer a forum for an exciting and energizing exchange of ideas on research, practices, developments, and visions in the field of academic and research librarianship. The ACRL National Conference Executive Committee invites submitters to send their edgiest, most "out-there" proposals, to help make for a truly groundbreaking conference.

Complete details about the conference, including the online submission form, are available at http://www.acrl.org/seattle.

The new issue of Library Administration & Management (Spring 2008) is now available online for all LAMA members. Note that you must sign in to the website before you can view the content. Of particular interest are the exclusive color photos of all winning entries in this year's John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award. The magazine's publication schedule, which had become somewhat disjointed during the ALA move to a new online content management system, now appears to be running on time.

Eric C. Shoaf
LA&M Associate Editor
ecs@brown.edu

The 2008 President’s Program from the Libraray Administration and Management Association (LAMA) will feature David Magellan Horth speaking about “Visual and Verbal Literacy - Skills for Contemporary Leadership.” The program will be presented Sunday, June 29, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the American Library Association’s annual conference in Anaheim, Calif.

“Leadership is about your ability to see, move, and be moved by people and things in ways that capture and expand yours and their imaginations,” said Mr. Horth. “This presentation will help you both think about, and practice leadership in ways that might surprise you - creative leadership as thinking and acting beyond boundaries.”

Mr. Horth is a Senior Enterprise Associate at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is co-author of the award winning book: The Leader’s Edge: Six Creative Competencies for Navigating Complex Challenges. His fluency with the technical and administrative aspects of business, deep knowledge and practice of creativity processes, and his own creative and artistic flair combine to make him much sought after as a unique keynote speaker, presenter, and workshop facilitator. As an innovative designer, facilitator, and coach, Horth focuses on the confluence of design, creativity and leadership development.

Horth’s background experience includes 21 years in the computer industry; where he began as a research and development engineer and emerged as a strategist specializing in creativity and innovation. Horth describes himself as an artist-in-training. He enjoys drawing and writing poetry. His special passion is music. He plays a variety of instruments.

Founded in 1970, The Center for Creative Leadership is a nonprofit, educational institution with international reach. Ranked among the world's top institutions for executive education by the Financial Times, the Center annually serves leaders from more than 2,000 organizations - both public and private, including two-thirds of the Fortune 500. Headquartered in Greensboro, NC, the Center also has locations in Colorado Springs, Colorado; San Diego, California; Brussels, Belgium and Singapore.

The mission of the Library Administration and Management Association (www.ala.org/lama) is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association.

Molly Raphael, Vice President/President-elect of the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA), and the Director of Libraries for Multnomah County, Oregon, has been awarded the Arthur Flemming Civil Rights Award for her efforts to increase diversity in library employment, collections and programming. This award is given by the Managers of Color affinity group of Multnomah County.

According to the nomination, Raphael has been outstanding in her "commitment to increasing diversity in the library's workforce to better reflect and serve the community … she has been an active voice and supporter of creating more bilingual and bicultural positions and services."

Since Raphael's arrival at the library in 2003, diversity of library staffing as measured by the number of employees of color who work at the library has increased by 50 percent, while the number of bilingual positions has increased by 209 percent, from 11 to 34.

Similarly, Raphael's dedication to increasing the library's cultural competency has been reflected in improved services to Multnomah County's growing immigrant community. Culturally appropriate programming for speakers of Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese has expanded from 13 programs in 2004 to 162 programs in 2007, drawing
thousands to bilingual storytimes, annual celebrations such as Lunar New Year, and other events.

The Arthur Flemming Award was created in 1996 by the City-County Affirmative Action Office. It is named for the late Dr. Arthur Flemming, former provost of the University of Oregon and the first chair of the Federal Rights Commission. The award is given to an employee or group of employees who exemplify the commitment of Arthur Flemming, recognizing initiatives and/or efforts designed to promote diversity, take risks, and demonstrate a commitment to equity of opportunity and services to all.

The Managers of Color group has been a recognized affinity group within Multnomah County since 1992. The group is dedicated to developing and maintaining organizational diversity, equity and opportunity; and promoting customer-focused, culturally competent services.

The mission of the Library Administration and Management Association (www.ala.org/lama) is to encourage and nurture current and future library leaders, and to develop and promote outstanding leadership and management practices. LAMA is a division of the American Library Association.