SLA Military Libraries Blog

Army Library Training Institute Registration Now Available

Registration for the Army Library Training Institute (ALTI) 2009 is open! The ALTI '09 will be held at the DoD Executive Management Training Center (EMTC) http://www.cpms.osd.mil/jldd/southbridge/emtc_homepage.aspx in the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center from 20 to 24 April 2009 in Southbridge, MA. Registration is open until 1 April 2009.

We have a very full agenda prepared for everyone! Attendees will earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) for attending training conducted by the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in appreciative inquiry, marketing, writing a business case, and developing information literacy training. Training sessions are also scheduled on DTIC, copyright, and GLIS along with updates on AKO and career program issues. Back by popular demand is a full day of database training provided by MyLibrary vendors on Friday.

To register for ALTI '09, go to

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=713535. The web site also includes the program agenda along with information on registration, airport shuttles, the hotel, and local attractions. In order to reserve a free hotel room at the EMTC, one must register for

ALTI. Please use your .mil email address when you register on the

site.

Additional information is also available on the Army Library Program AKO page at https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/136583.

Greta's LInks--DSB Report: Understanding Human Dynamics

The Defense Science Board (DSB) has posted it latest report.  The report, 'Understanding Human Dynamics" can be found directly at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2009-03-Human_Dynamics.pdf or from their reports page at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports.htm

This report looks at understanding human dynamics as an essential aspect of planning and necessary for success across the full spectrum of military and national security operations.  The report focuses on the following areas

*importance of human dynamics in future US military operations

*coordination and leadership

*interagency and civil interactions

*education, training, and career development

*human dynamics advisors

*science and technology investments

*data, tools and products

SLA Early Bird Conference Rate Ends 3 April

Only 3 Weeks Left for Early Bird Rate!

Are you planning to attend THE premiere conference for Information Professionals? Not yet registered for the SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO?

There are only three weeks left until the early bird rate expires! Go to: http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2009/registration/index.cfm  and save at least US$ 180!

The early bird rate expires 3 April 2009, so register now! 

For session information, check out the online planner for session information.  http://www.sla.org/content/Events/conference/ac2009/planner/index.cfm

The Military Libraries Division has a full slate of activities planned.  On Saturday, we have a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetary at 1:15.   Two of our own military vets will be part of the wreath laying ceremony.  Meanwhile in Washington, DC at the West Dining Room at the Library of Congress, we have a session on How to Become a Federal Library.  Five federal librarians or HR specialists will discuss tips on the different personnel systems, where to search for federal jobs, intern opportunities.etc.

Air Force Has a New Blog

From the Government info Marie Kadell writes about U.S. Air Force Live

"U.S. Air Force Live is a relatively new government blog, just starting up in the Fall of 2008. Here's a brief description from the blog's About page:

The official blog of the US Air Force, US Air Force Live, is a blog maintained by the Air Force Public Affairs Agency.  The site is intended to be used as a conduit between the Airmen of the Air Force and online readers.  This site is designed to have posts written by any Airman, anywhere at anytime.  The site is a reflection of the men and women serving in the Air Force. [About U.S. Air Force Live]

And if you are on Twitter, U.S. Air Force Live remind you that you can follow the Air Force on Twitter.

ALA Tough Economy Toolkit

Recently, several news outlets have carried stories about the increased use of libraries.  As the economy worsens, users are now checking out newspapers, books, videos and using library computers instead of purchasing these things.   To help libraries cope with the increasing demands and the decreasing resources to meet those demands, ALA announced the release of its Tough Economy Toolkit in January 2009.

Although not all of the information will be pertinent to military libraries, it may provide you with some tools or insights that you can use in your own particular situation.  The toolkit includes talking points, making the case, outreach to patrons and public, talking to the media, etc.  The Library checklist is particularly helpful with things you can do to promote you library.

Tips on Washington, DC--The Metro

SLA is in Washington, DC this year.   ALA will be in Washington, DC next year.  Many people will have an opportunity to visit the nation's capitol.   One of the easiest ways to get around DC is to use the Metro.  Driving can be a nightmare, where the only thing worse is trying to find a place to park.  Just when you think you understand the streets (alphabet vs number), you realize that the street names seem to repeat themselves (M St NW, M St SW)  The state streets (like Pennsylvania Avenue) are on the diagonal, which can wreck havoc with the street grid you thought you understood.

Metro (which includes Metro Rail and Metro Bus) is a simple solution.  The Metro site has a Metro Trip planner that allows you plan you trip by rail, bus or both.  You put in your starting location, preferred time of departure, and date of departure.  The planner will tell you how long it will take,  how much it will cost and options.  You can then plan your return trip.

If you are unfamiliar with Metro, there is a New to Metro section

Metro Fare:

Regular fare (In effect on weekdays from opening to 9:30 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. and weekends 2 a.m. to closing)

• $1.65 minimum
• $4.50 maximum

Reduced fare (All othertimes)

• $1.35 minimum
• $1.85 mid-range
• $2.35 maximum

Metrobus fare for regular routes is $1.25 using SmarTrip® or $1.35 using cash. The fare for express routes is $3 using SmarTrip® or $3.10 using cash. Senior/Disabled fare is 60¢.

And one final local tip--if you are on the metro escalator--stand to the right if you do not want to climb the escalator.  The left hand side of the escalator is used by the commuters who want to climb the moving stairs.

Greta' LInks--Aghanistan Reports and Websites of Interest

Since we are working towards removing troops from Iraq but moving more into Afghanistan, i thought a reminder of some of the recent or updated reports on the situation in Afghanistan might be useful. 

REPORTS 

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction [SIGAR]

http://www.sigar.mil/Default.aspx

·         SIGAR Quarterly Reports to Congress http://www.sigar.mil/reports/Default.aspx 

Brookings Institute - Afghanistan Index: Tracking Progress and Security in Post 9/11 Afghanistan [this is a statistical compilation that is updated regularly]

http://www.brookings.edu/foreign-policy/afghanistan-index.aspx

CSIS

Afghanistan and Pakistan On The Brink: Framing U.S. Policy Options http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/090221_barton-afpakonthebrink.pdf 

Department of Defense (DoD) reports

·         Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan [Report to Congress in accordance with the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1230, Public Law 110-181)]/P>

o    January 2009 http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/OCTOBER_1230_FINAL.pdf

o    June 2008  http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/Report_on_Progress_toward_Security_and_Stability_in_Afghanistan_1230.pdf

·         United States Plan for Sustaining the Afghanistan National Security Forces [June 2008 Report to Congress in accordance with the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1231, Public Law 110-181)]

http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/United_States_Plan_for_Sustaining_the_Afghanistan_National_Security_Forces_1231.pdf

Department of State

2008 Human Rights Report - Afghanistan

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119131.htm  

NATO report - Progress in Afghanistan: Bucharest Summit 2-4 April 2008

http://www.nato.int/ISAF/docu/epub/pdf/progress_afghanistan.pdf'

 WEBSITES 

Air University Library

Afghanistan: Current Issues [February 2009]

http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/afghancurrent.htm 

Center for Defense Information

Afghanistan Update

http://www.cdi.org/program/index.cfm?programid=39  

Department of Defense

Defend America - Afghanistan Update

http://www.defendamerica.mil/afghanistan/

 Department of State

Afghanistan

http://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/af/index.htm  

Human Security Report Project

Afghanistan Conflict Monitor

http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/

 Human Rights Watch

Afghanistan

http://www.hrw.org/asia/afghanistan  

International Crisis Group

Afghanistan

http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1266&l=1  

International Monterey Fund

Afghanistan

http://www.imf.org/external/country/AFG/index.htm  

Library of Congress

·         Country Studies – Afghanistan
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aftoc.html

·         Portals to the World  - Afghanistan
http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/amed/afghanistan/afghanistan.html 

National Defense University (NDU) Library

Military Policy Awareness Links (MiPALs) - Afghanistan

http://merln.ndu.edu/index.cfm?secID=102&pageID=3&type=section 

NATO in Afghanistan

http://www.nato.int/issues/afghanistan/index.html 

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection [U of TX- Austin]

Afghanistan Maps

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/afghanistan.html 

Relief Web

Afghanistan

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc104?OpenForm&rc=3&cc=afg 

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan [UNAMA]

UNAMA Website

http://www.unama-afg.org/ 

US Central Command:

Afghanistan

http://www.centcom.mil/en/countries/aor/afghanistan/ 

US Embassy Vienna

US Policy and Issues - Afghanistan

http://www.usembassy.at/en/policy/afghanistan.htm 

US Institute of Peace

Afghanistan

http://www.usip.org/library/regions/afghan.html 

USAID

Afghanistan

http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia/countries/afghanistan/

 World Bank

Afghanistan

http://go.worldbank.org/EEXQKXSB00

 World Health Organization

Afghanistan

http://www.who.int/countries/afg/en

Link to Greta's own Blog Greta'sLInks  http://gretaslinks.blogspot.com/  

Greta's Links--Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan

This Commission isn't expected to put their interim report put until May but if you get questions about them and want to follow their hearings you can find out more information at:

Home page http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/default.htm
Public hearings - http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/hearings.htm 

Information about the Commission:
"On July 18, 2007, Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced a bill to establish an independent, bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting to study U.S. wartime contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill was inspired by the work of the "Truman Committee" which conducted hundreds of hearings and investigations into government waste during and after World War II that resulted in an estimated savings of more than $178 billion (in today's dollars) to the American taxpayer...

To achieve its objectives, the Commission is empowered to hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence, and provide for the attendance and testimony of witnesses as well as the production of documents. The Commission is able to secure from any agency of the federal government any information or assistance that it considers necessary to enable it to carry out its mandate to study, assess, and to make recommendations to Congress on wartime contracting. The Commission is also empowered to refer to the U.S. Attorney General any violation or potential violation of law it identifies. The Commission is required to provide two annual reports to Congress: an interim due on May 1, 2009, and a final report is due no later than August 2010. " http://www.wartimecontracting.gov/background.htm 

Greta's Links--International Journal of Defense Acquisition Managemetn

The International Journal of Defense Acquisition Management (IJDAM, ISSN 1940-3445),  a new, free online journal that is being jointly published by the Acquisition Research Program here at NPS and Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. 

You can find out more about the journal and download articles at http://www.acquisitionjournal.org/. 

Greta's Links--New Korean White Paper

The Republic of Korea, Ministry of National Defense has published their latest defense white paper/master plan.  The report "Defense Reform 2020: The Way Ahead" can found at http://www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng/DefensePolicy/MasterPlan/ebook/index.jsp . 

The main site is http://www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng/DefensePolicy/MasterPlan/ebook/index.jsp 

Previous Defense White Papers can be found at http://www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng/DefensePolicy/Whitepaper/index.jsp 

Numerous related news stories can be found on this through Google News http://news.google.com/, Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/  and other news sources.