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Presents updates pertaining to libraries in the United States as of November, 1998. Sentencing of Hardy Franklin, former director of the District of Columbia Public Library for double-billing the city's library system and the American Library Association; State librarian Virginia Lowell's cancellation of Hawaii's controversial contract with Ameritech Library Services, suppliers of the library's Dynix computer system; Appointment of Bart Kane as director of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Reports on status of the District of Columbia Public Library as of December 1997. The library's attempts to recover from harsh criticism of its services; Details of its 1998-1999 budget requests; The series of public forums taking place to publicize the library's needs.

Presents a guide to the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference taking place in Chicago, Illinois, from June 22 to 28, 1995. List of talks arranged by topic. INSETS: Dining with the authors.;Notable special events.;First forum.;Anniversary bashes.

Presents news that may be of interest to librarians and libraries in the United States. Arson at Los Angeles Public Library in California; Proposal to convert a vacant building in Chicago, Illinois' Loop into a central library; Closure of Santa Monica Public Library in California.

Presents news items related to public libraries in the United States, as of November 1987. Denial of subscriber access to Dun and Bradstreet's Financial Records database; Hearing on access charges; US Federal Bureau of Investigation's campaign asking librarians to report library use by persons hostile to the US.

Focuses on the Newark (N.J.) Public Library's partnership with the Prudential Foundation and the Newark Public Schools to reintroduce Saturday branch hours and support a library-skills curriculum. Amount of the Prudential Foundation's grant; Impact of educator's focus on research-based student assignments.

Reports on the victory of Los Angeles, California school-library advocates in convincing the board of education to begin funding the purchase of library books at the district level and to bolster staffing of elementary-school libraries.

Outlines the case of Patricia Doyle, a Jacksonville (Florida) Public Library branch manager suspended after a dispute with the National Association for the Advancement of White People (NAAWP). Background of the dispute; Contested reasons for Doyle's suspension; Doyle's response; Response of representatives of NAAWP; Hearing date.

Reports that librarians at the Boulder Public Library in Colorado have modified a selection policy by adding Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Bobbsey Twins titles to the children's collection. Acquisition of Sweet Valley High and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series; News story that ran in the "Rocky Mountain News" and caused public reaction to a library policy that will not carry "racist, sexist" books; Remarks from library director Marcelee Gralapp.

Reports that a conflict over the use of the name U.S.S. Liberty Memorial Library has tainted efforts to raise private funds for the construction of a public library building in Grafton, Wisconsin. Cost of the building; Detractors' claim that the name signals anti-Jewish sentiment; Grafton Public Library's need for a new building; Move by fundraisers to grant naming privileges to whoever donated at least 250,000 dollars.

Reports that people who were angered by the removal of the sex-education books 'It's Perfectly Normal' and 'It's Absolutely Amazing' from the Montgomery County Library System in Texas have formed a grassroots organization called Mainstream Montgomery County. Number of people in support of the books; Remarks from Mainstream cofounder Ann Bayerkohler.

Discusses plans by patrons of the Lincolnwood, Illinois Public Library to run a candidate against library board president Barbara Balbirer. Firing of director Kellie Flynn by the board of trustees; Attempts by residents to have Kellie Flynn reinstated; Coverage of the personnel debate in local media; Statement from Balbirer about Flynn.

Reports that the .us Internet country domain was released for sale to the American public. Concerns of the American Library Association about commercializing .us domains to relieve the overcrowding of the .com domain; Comments of Claudette Tennant of the .US Policy Council; Consideration by Congress of bills to create virtual neighborhoods where content could be segregated by subject.

Focuses on the launch of the North American Campaign to Protect Children Online by the Internet Content Rating Association (IRCA). Effort to encourage Web sites to allow ICRA to rate their content; How the ICRA system works; Reservations expressed by Judith Krug, director of the American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom; Erroneous blocking of SafeSurf URL by TeleGlobe; Challenges to the Children's Internet Protection Act by ALA and others.

Reports on lawsuits brought against public libraries in Florida and North Carolina by the legal defense group Liberty Counsel which allege breach of First Amendment rights. Decision of Liberty Counsel founder Mathew Staver to take legal action because the libraries did not allow faith-based programs in their meeting rooms; Order of Pensacola City Manager Tom Bonfield to remove the West Florida Regional Library's restrictions on religious and political meetings.

Reports on complaints against the United States Department of Defense for subscribing to school-district Internet-use logs amassed by N2H2 to compile information on students surfing habits. Filing of a Freedom of Information Act by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC); Opinion that the act is an invasion of children's right to privacy; Comments by N2H2 that it compiles information on Internet usage to help teachers use the Internet in education.

Reports on an ordinance passed by the Jefferson Parish Council in Louisiana which tightens penalties for viewing obscene or sexually explicit material on library computers. Possibility of a fine or jail sentence for those convicted; Procedure by which librarians are to report the patron, including confirmation by a co-worker that the material is offensive; Possibility that the ordinance will be argued against.

Reports on policy changes in the Bedford Park Library District in Illinois and the Pauline Haass Public Library in Sussex, Wisconsin. End to a Bedford Park policy, which barred visitors under the age of sixteen after three in the afternoon unless they were cardholders; Modification of a Pauline Haass policy, which now bars unescorted minors who require continual staff intervention.

Presents several briefs pertaining to library censorship of materials. The decision of the executive board of the Emily Willston Memorial Library in Easthampton, Massachusetts to retain its age-neutral video lending policy; How the school board of the Limestone County School District in Alabama voted against banning the novel 'The Catcher in the Rye,' by J.D. Salinger; Decision of Arlington Independent School in Texas' District Superintendent Mac Bernd to limit circulation of the book 'We All Fall Down'; Others.

Discusses remarks made by Janet Parshall of the Family Research Council regarding documentation of pornography access on library computers. Her opinion that the American Library Association (ALA) is attempting to hinder such information from being accessed; Similar comments made by David Burt at ALA's Freedom of Information Day festivities; Comments by ALA President-elect Nancy Kranich.

Focuses on the petition drives of two Michigan chapters of the American Family Association concerning filtered Internet service. Controversy of whether public libraries in Holland and Hudsonville should filter material considered harmful to minors from every workstation but one; Background on passage of the two bills in November 1999.

Mentions how 4th-grader Kirstin Shipp collected thousands of books for an Oklahoma school library that was destroyed by a tornado. Arrangement of the delivery to the Orlando-Mulhall School from Columbia, Maryland; Role of Kirstin's mother, Roberta, in helping her develop the project.

Focuses on the efforts by Filtering Facts President David Burt to force libraries to turn over documentation of complaints about library patrons accessing pornographic or sexually explicit material on public Internet terminals. Freedom of Information Act requests received public libraries to release incident reports; Surveying done by Bert; Possible funding for the survey including the Family Research Council; Outlook for other surveys.

Focuses on the Censorware Project's report, `Censored Internet Access in Utah Public Schools and Libraries,' on the SmartFilter blocking software. The number of sites blocked from September 10 to October 10, 1998; Sites such as the Hasbro toymaker Web site and the Starr Report.

Focuses on the San Diego, California voters' defeat of Proposition L on March 2, 1999. How the measure would have financed the holdings and technology of the San Diego County Library system; Speculation on reasons for the defeat; Other finance news in California counties affecting school and local libraries.

Reports on the indictment of Sharon Roxan Hobbs, the former business manager of the Kurth Memorial Library in Lufkin, Texas. Charges of embezzlement; What will happen if she is found guilty; Comments from the library's attorney Walter Borgfeld.

Comments on the plans in California to build a joint university-main public library facility on the San Jose State University Campus. Plan opposed by university faculty; Protest rally organized by Save Our University Library organization; Comments of professor Bruce Reynolds to `American Libraries.'

Reports that Jane Rustin, director of the Allegany County, Maryland, Library has submitted her resignation. Reasons for her resignation being the approval of filtering software on children's computers; Installation of the filtering software stemming from a complaint filed by Pastor Lee Capper.

Focuses on the lack of interest libraries across the nation are reporting concerning the Internet release of Kenneth Starr's report on the investigation of United States President Bill Clinton. The September 11, 1998 release of the report over the Internet by the House of Representatives; The significant delays in accessing the report attributed to non-library use; Inquires librarians have reported receiving from media; The Oklahoma state library offering a downloadable Zip file of the report. INSET: Report Draws Record Numbers to LC's Web Site, by G.F..

Presents news briefs pertaining to libraries in the United States as of November, 1998. Increased mold and humidity forcing the closure of Bonita Springs Public Library in Florida; Fall auction advertised for the Des Plaines Public Library building in Des Plaines, Illinois; Phillips University's sale of its collection, furniture and equipment to the Zollars Memorial Library and the education curriculum lab; The New York Public Library's receipt of a $1.75-million commitment from the State Assembly for renovations.

Presents information on the controversy over the `Religion and the Founding of the American Republic,' exhibit of the Library of Congress. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State stating that curator James Huston was offering a partisan perspective; Comments from Barry Lynn of Americans United; Huston's paper describing Thomas Jefferson's position on nonsectarianism and the reaction of conservative Christian leaders.

States that the Nebraska Library Association, as one of some 30 organizations forming the Nebraskans for Good Life (NGL) coalition, filed a suit to keep a proposed budget-capping constitutional amendment off the November 3, 1998 ballot. Concerns of NGL members; Details about the Business Summit measure.

Focuses on protest mail sent to American Library Association (ALA) Executive Director William R. Gordon. The messages asking him to change the ALA stance against using Internet filters to protect children in libraries; The number of letters from Florida and California; Description of the computer-generated mailing of form letters; Brief description of Coral Ridge Ministries President D. James Kennedy's efforts to persuade Gordon.

Discusses the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee concerning the University of California/Berkeley Library. The decision to increase funding for the library over the next three years; How the library ranks according to the Association of Research Libraries; Why the committee felt that the library's budget was not consistent with its goals; Debate over how the money will be spent.

Focuses on Hardy R. Franklin, for theft and mail fraud in January 1998, only a year after retiring from his directorship of the District of Columbia Public Library. Details of the charges; Comments from his lawyer, Lawrence Barcella; How Franklin has also been named in a civil sexual harassment suit by Assistant Director for Library Services Brenda Johnson and Head of Branch Services June Sweeney.

Reports on the resignation of Brighton Michigan Area District Library Director David Pauli. Pauli being the fourth director of that library district to resign in a five year time period; Pauli's resignation being related to micromanagement by two of the library trustees.

Reports how police are able to trap e-mail as a way of locating suspects who use e-mail. The capture of two fugitives; Tracing e-mail to public library computers.

Reports on the problems of the District of Columbia Public Library as of June 1996. The investigation of retired director Hardy Franklin for the misappropriation of travel funds; Federation of Friends President Melissa Kundstadter's denouncement of the library system; The presence of many long overdue bills; Procurement problems; Kundstadter's recommendations for improving the library.

Announces the April 8, 1997 government audit of the District of Columbia Public Library's, in Washington, D.C., financial books despite the board's refusal. Comments from Melissa Kunstadter, president of the 26-branch system's Federation of Friends; Why Kunstadter initiated the audit.

Reports on the retirement of Hardy Franklin as director of the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL). Community response; Response from the `Washington Post' newspaper to allegations of sexual harassment against Franklin; Comments from DCPL board president Joyce Clements-Smith and DCPL attorney Greg Lattimer about the allegations; Clements-Smith's recruitment of a successor for Franklin.

Looks at the damage done to Olympic College Learning Resources Center in Bremerton, Washington as a result of harsh weather in December 1996. The collapse of a roof; Comments from Assistant Director Ruth M. Ross; Efforts to repair the damage; Details on less serious damage suffered by other libraries in nearby states.

Reports on the reaction of the telephone industry in the United States to the Federal Communications Commission Joint Board (FCC) recommendation to discount Internet service to libraries and schools. The question of who will pay; Comments from FCC chair Reed E. Hundt; The policy of California on so-called e-rates.

Focuses on the impact on school libraries of a well-intentioned California legislation which was designed to create extra classroom space. Details of the Class Size Reduction Act; The exile of some school libraries from the quarters in order to make more classroom space available; Response from Susan Choi, president of the California School Libraries Association.

Looks at the public indignation aroused when Liz Stroup, the popular director of the Seattle Public Library, resigned. Her eight-year tenure that critics admit should get an A for advocacy; Patrons publicly calling for the resignation of the entire library board; Details of her tenure.

Explains that the labor-and capital-intensive effort of installing cable-modem access to the Internet is forcing schools with personal computers into an indefinite installation mode. Decline of National Cable Television Association (NCTA) President Decker Anstrom to estimate the overall costs for the initiative; Comments of Andrew Magpantay of American Library Association's (ALA) Office for Information Technology.

Reports that several libraries in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California have had microchips stolen from computers in 1996. No arrests made; Speculation on the methods used; Comparison to a rash of thefts at West Coast university; Possible preventive methods to be used.

Reports that John O. Hemperley, former Library of Congress budget officer, committed suicide after he was named in a press report as part of a Justice Department probe that alleges unwarranted travel by congressional clerk Edward Lombard. Highlights of Hemperley's career; Reaction of colleagues and friends.

Tells how the University of Michigan has shortened the name of its School of Information and Library Studies to the School of Information. How the name change reflects the need to encompass the entire spectrum of information provision; The school soliciting the input of librarians for the name change; The view that changing the name is a good marketing tool for the program, attracting students who negatively perceive the title `librarian.'

Relates that Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP) Director Elliot Shelkrot was questioned by City Council members over the ethics of a year-old, $25-million public/private initiative. How the `Changing Lives' campaign teams public monies with private donations; Details of the questioning.

Focuses on the controversy at Wayne County (Ohio) Public library (WCPL) over the unexplained, forced resignation of director Ted Allison on December 2, 1995. Details of the issue; Another unrelated incident arousing the public's interest; The WCPL staffers concern about the system's reputation; The comment of the recruiter hired to seek Allison's successor.