================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 104 ISSN 1069-7799 November 26, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (156 lines) -ELIZABETH SYWETZ NAMED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF IMLS OFFICE OF LIBRARY SERVICES -UPDATED UNIVERSAL SERVICE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM SLC _________________________________________________________________ ELIZABETH SYWETZ NAMED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF IMLS OFFICE OF LIBRARY SERVICES Elizabeth Sywetz, executive director of the Western New York Library Resources Council in Buffalo, NY, has been appointed to the position of Deputy Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the Office of Library Services. She will assume her new position on January 5, 1998. In 1996 Sywetz was president of the New York Library Association and has also served as president of the School Library Systems Association. She has served on the Library Services and Construction Act Advisory Council and the Library Services and Technology Act Council of the New York State Department of Education. She is an ALA member with division memberships in the Library and Information Technology Association and the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. In assuming this position, Ms. Sywetz will become part of the senior management team at the agency, responsible for development and formulation of Institute policy with direct responsibility for the Office of Library Services. She will play a significant role in the implementation of the Library Services and Technology Act, providing policy recommendations to the director and executing these policies through her role as supervisor of all library program staff. IMLS was created by the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, P.L. 104-208. IMLS is an independent federal grantmaking agency serving the public by strengthening museums and libraries. IMLS consists of an Office of the Director, Office of Museum Services, Office of Library Services and Office of Research and Technology. For more information, including guidelines, contact: Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506, 202/606-8536, Internet: www.imls.fed.us/. _________________________________________________________________ UPDATED UNIVERSAL SERVICE DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FROM SLC Schools and Libraries Corporation CEO Ira Fishman has released three new public documents on universal service(see ALAWON v6, n101, November 19, 1997). The documents, available at www.neca.org/funds/slc.htm, include "A Letter from Ira Fishman, CEO," "Nine Steps You Can Take Now to Prepare for the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program" and "Questions and Answers on Implementation of the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries." The text below is excerpted from the "A letter from the SLC CEO Ira Fishman," dated November 20. "...As the information reflects, the Schools and Libraries Corporation has put in place a series of policies and activities that are intended to enable schools, libraries and providers to take care in preparing for participation in the universal service program. We want to make sure that all eligible schools and libraries have the time to take the steps necessary to apply for funding in 1998 and to make effective use of that funding. In particular, I want to emphasize: 1) We have established a one-time 75 day filing Window so that all applications filed within the Window are treated the same. That way, all applicants will have a fair opportunity to participate. (Please see Question 5 [online at www.itc.org/edlinc/publications/slcqas.html] in the enclosure for additional details on the Window). We will let you know as soon as possible the date upon which the Window will commence; 2) Final funding commitments will be retroactive to January 1, 1998 for qualified existing contracts, or to the start date of a school or library's contract with its provider for new contracts, whichever is later. That way, a school or library has the opportunity to fill out its application carefully, and the Schools and Libraries Corporation can review applications in an orderly fashion. (Please see Questions 6 and 8 [online at www.itc.org/edlinc/publications/slcqas.html] for information on existing contracts and retroactivity). 3) We will distribute via mail the applications, instructions, and accompanying materials several weeks ahead of the opening of our web site. That way, schools and libraries have a running start to plan and prepare; 4) We are establishing a Client Service Support System that will enable you to communicate with us in a number of ways (for example, telephone hotline, on-line, and facsimile) offering full guidance on the program and application requirements; and, 5) We will continue to work closely with national, state, and local education and library organizations so that you can consult with your colleagues about the program. The 75 day Window will begin on the date that the web site is up and running. Our systems contractor is working full-out to finish the web site. They believe the week of January 12th is the earliest time they can finish their work. It of course is critical that when the web site opens, we have done all that is reasonable to ensure that it is accurate and reliable. Part of my commitment to open communications is candor. I will keep you posted regularly about progress on the web site, the availability of our Client Service Support System, and the date upon which applications will be distributed. Please keep in mind the program is effective January 1, 1998 and applications will be available before that time. I know you share my commitment to making the universal service program a success and hope you will share with me any questions or suggestions. I look forward to working with you." _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/ washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================