LISNews: Librarian News

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: It may seem a little out of order.

But Sandra Treadway became Virginia's state librarian July 1 before she ever had a library degree. Treadway learned about library operations the old-fashioned way -- climbing the ladder to the top one rung at a time.

She'll pick up a master's degree in information and library sciences from the University of Tennessee in August. Her master's thesis, "State Libraries in the United States: Identifying and Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century," also gave her an opportunity to examine what will be required for state libraries to survive and prosper.

In recent years, state libraries in Florida, Washington and Minnesota came under severe threat of being eliminated. The Minnesota State Library closed but subsequently reopened. How's the health of your state library?

Louisiana Rebirth: Restoring the Soul of America is the name of the initiative to drive the rebuilding of Louisiana's tourism and cultural industry.

To help accomplish these goals, Landrieu and Davis designated the State Library to serve as a clearing house, offering people a gateway to information that will put them in contact with resources available to rebuild their lives;

Story at the Baton Rouge Advocate.

An Alaska Department of Education and Early Development press release reports:

Education Commissioner Roger Sampson has named Kay Shelton Director of the Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums. The appointment also gives Shelton the title of Alaska State Librarian.

Kay Shelton is the first permanent director of the Alaska State Library since the departure of Karen Crane in December 2002. Kay had been in acting director status since February 2005.

The staff of the entire division cheered Kay's appointment when it was announced this morning and look forward to her continued leadership.

BC writes "What a great service! I know what Talking Books mean to many people but the State of Washington considers what else their users need:
Reports The Seattle Times
Let your eyes dance over the words. Maybe this is the first newspaper you've read today. Maybe it lingered on your coffee table for a day or two before you got to it. Maybe you read the sports first, took a peek at local news and then dove into the supermarket ads to see what was on sale.

But what if you couldn't see at all? What would you do then?"