Lance Armstrong's Foundation and ALA Team Up

via e-mail from the American Library Association this afternoon:

Lance Armstrong Foundation and ALA team up to deliver cancer survivorship notebooks to libraries

AUSTIN – The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) recently announced it is collaborating with the American Library Association (ALA) to provide libraries across the country with reference materials to better serve those seeking health-related information, specifically cancer. Recently, the LAF began shipping LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks to more than 14,200 libraries across the United States.

"Libraries as places of opportunity that make information affordable, available and accessible to all people," said American Library Association President Loriene Roy. "We are pleased to work with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to bring this information to our libraries and to highlight our efforts in keeping our communities healthy and well-informed."

The LAF created the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook to give cancer information access to everyone, especially low-income or uninsured citizens who don’t have access to a computer or are denied follow-up care after completing cancer treatment.

“As a cancer survivor and someone who grew up in a city where more than 95 percent of families use the public library, I recognize the importance of providing access to cancer resources through libraries,” said Doug Ulman, president of the LAF. “We created the Survivorship Notebook to help cancer survivors be inspired and empowered to live life on their own terms. I am proud that the LAF is partnering with the ALA on such a critical initiative.”

The LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebooks are a free resource and are designed to help cancer survivors, their families and caregivers organize, keep and access important information related to their cancer experiences. The Notebooks are divided into four sections:

• Survivorship Tools – These tools help cancer survivors organize physical and emotional health concerns; maintain a list of medications; keep track of medical, financial and insurance records; and keep a record of medical history after treatment.
  
  
• Survivorship Stories – This section contains a booklet of stories told by real survivors about their experiences with cancer.
  
  
• Survivorship Topics – This section features information about the physical, emotional and practical challenges cancer survivors and their loved ones may face throughout their battle with cancer. Topics addressed in this section include: the aftereffects of cancer treatment, the emotional effects of cancer, planning your financial future and how to communicate with your health care team.
  
  
• Survivorship Updates – Cancer survivors can use the information in this section to request additional information about cancer survivorship to add to their notebooks. They can also add to this section information they receive from their own health care team, family members, support groups, caregivers and friends.

Individuals, groups and organizations can order the free LIVESTRONG Survivorship Notebook at LIVESTRONG.org.

This is fantastic. And I'm certain Elizabeth Edwards would approve.

To honor this initiative, here's the video of Lance and JRE from last summer riding together at RAGBRAI, and Lance said hello to EE.

Elizabeth Edwards Live Blogs on Kos--and Answers My question

My question to Elizabeth Edwards on the Kos:

Mrs Edwards your message to Librarians?

You had to cancel an engagement due to the campaign demands from speaking at the American Library Association. If you had been able to be there, what few things would you say about the value of public libraries and how they will play a part in our country's future?

Thanks.

Mrs. Edwards' Response:

Libraries are essential to democracy

Recommended by:

benny05

My mother had a library degree, which she got later in life and which she used working at a non-profit as their librarian. John and I helped build a children's library in the small rural town where John was raised. Libraries are the repository of our collected knowledge and particularly in a society of economic inequity are essential to assuring access to information for a community. And information and an informed electorate is the lifeblood of an effective democracy.

I was sorry to have to cancel, but I have expressed my desire to be at the national meeting of the ALA in March.

(from Benny: she meant the PLA meeting in March next year, but that's a small detail).

Mrs Edwards rocks!

Al Gore Wows the SLA Crowd

Many BW readers may know that I am a librarian by profession. This year, I missed an opportunity to see Al Gore speak at the Special Libraries Association, and by all accounts, he was a smash with the librarians.

A few snippets from the SLA blog:

Al Gore gave an impassioned and engaging talk at this evening’s opening general session. He really tailored his talk to our group by specifically mentioning the role of libraries and information technology/info mgmt in regards to the environment, government, politics, etc. He called himself a “recovering politician” and of course he was asked the big question about running for President. (Basically said that he hasn’t ruled it out and emphasized that with our current political structure that he can do more good outside of public office.) He really gave a great presentation and worked in the kinds of things important to special librarians (freedom of information, saving libraries, etc.) He received standing ovations and smatterings of applause throughout his speech. It was like a librarian revival meeting. He talked about Iraq, personal stories, anecdotes and kept information technology/information management as the important link to addressing critical issues like the climate crisis and government issues.

And this I got through an e-mail:

Speaking before a full room of some 4,000 information professionals Gore said, "What you're doing (as info pros) is so crucial to the future of our country."

Gore concluded his inspirational, and often humorous, presentation by urging audience members to become deeply involved in helping countries around the world with navigating matters of information access. He asked that they continue to participate with SLA in shaping sensible information policies involving the Internet, including issues of net neutrality and free access. Speaking about the future of information, Gore said America's strength and competitiveness in the 21st century will depend largely upon a free flow of information that will ensure the best policy choices possible. At the conclusion of his talk, Gore received a standing ovation from the audience.

I had looked forward to seeing Elizabeth Edwards speak at ALA on Monday, but the campaign switched her schedule. It's too bad. She would have been a good speaker and her appearance had been publicized for months as well as in this month's American Libraries. I guess I'll be seeing her on Jay Leno instead.

Elizabeth Edwards to Speak at ALA This Summer

This is a good news day.

Elizabeth Edwards to speak at American Library Association meeting this summer.

CHICAGO – Susan Hildreth, president of the Public Library Association (PLA), is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Edwards will deliver the keynote address to the PLA President’s Program and Awards Presentation at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The program will take place Monday, June 25, 2007, 5 – 6:30 pm in the Washington Convention Center.

A passionate advocate for children and families, as well as an accomplished attorney, Elizabeth Edwards has been a tireless advocate for many important causes. Both Edwards and her husband are strongly committed to strengthening communities and expanding educational opportunities for all children. She charmed America with her smart, likable, down-to-earth personality as she campaigned for her husband, then vice-presidential candidate John Edwards. She inspired millions as she valiantly fought advanced breast cancer after being diagnosed only days before the 2004 election. She touched hundreds of similarly grieving families when her own son, Wade, died tragically at age 16 in 1996. She shared her experiences in “Saving Graces,” an incandescent memoir of Edwards’ trials, tragedies, and triumphs, and of how various communities celebrated her joys and lent her steady strength and quiet
hope in darker times.

PLA is pleased to present Elizabeth Edwards as part of the ALA Auditorium Speakers Series. Following her talk and the awards presentation, attendees are welcome to join PLA President Susan Hildreth for a gala, music-filled reception. For more information on the PLA President’s Program, contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s Web site at www.pla.org.

PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.

If only SLA had listened to my suggestion to invite EE to speak at its conference. Oh well.

ALA just regained their membership back from me.