AL Direct
FAQ
About AL Direct
What is American Libraries Direct?
How often is it published?
What appears in AL Direct?
Does this replace American Libraries?
I prefer the online version. How do I stop getting the print magazine?
How do I contact AL Direct?
How do I get news about my library mentioned?
Subscription Information
Who gets AL Direct?
I am an ALA member, but I don’t receive AL Direct. How do I sign up?
I am an ALA member, my email address is correct, but I still don’t receive AL Direct. What next?
I am an ALA member. How do I change my email address?
I am an ALA member, and I have another problem with my membership.
I am not an ALA member. How do I subscribe?
I am not an ALA member. How do I change my email address?
How do I unsubscribe?
I unsubscribed accidentally. How do I resubscribe?
Email Issues
My email cuts off AL Direct in the middle. How do I fix this?
Links in AL Direct don’t work.
I use Squirrel Mail.
What domains should I whitelist?
What other options do I have?
Content Issues
I don’t have a password for the New York Times or Chronicle of Higher Education.
I have comments about a news story that I would like to share.
Can I share AL Direct with my colleagues?
Is AL Direct archived?
About AL Direct
What is American Libraries Direct?
AL Direct is an electronic newsletter sent to personal members of the American Library Association and others who wish to subscribe. It is a weekly supplement to American Libraries magazine that provides summaries and links to news, announcements, and other information of interest to library and information science professionals.
How often is it published?
AL Direct is emailed every Wednesday.
What appears in AL Direct?
AL Direct features news about libraries and librarians worldwide, ALA activities and products, library-related videos and podcasts, technology trends, books and publishing, intellectual freedom issues, legislation, continuing education opportunities, awards and grants, and special collections.
Does this replace American Libraries?
No. AL Direct is not a replacement for the fully featured American Libraries print magazine. A full-text version of the magazine is also available online back through 2003 (in PDF format) and will be on the AL website (in HTML format) beginning in 2009. AL Direct is a much faster way to get some kinds of news to ALA members. Although some of the news in AL Direct will eventually appear in the magazine, the content is essentially different. The magazine includes feature articles, columns, special reports, job listings, and (in some cases) more news analysis.
I prefer the online version. How do I stop getting the print magazine?
Log in to ala.org with your membership number and password. Select “update your profile,” and under “Communication Preferences,” select “by email (if available in that format).” Be sure to click “Save and Continue” at the bottom of the page to confirm your changes.
How do I contact AL Direct?
Send feedback to aldirect@ala.org. To inquire about advertising, contact Advertising Sales Manager Brian Searles.
How do I get news about my library mentioned?
Send the URL of a news story, press release, or blog posting about your library to aldirect@ala.org. There is no guarantee that it will be used, but it will be considered for the next issue.
Subscription Information
Who gets AL Direct?
All current personal members of ALA who have a valid email address in their membership records will receive AL Direct. Others may subscribe using the AL Direct sign-up form at the top of this FAQ.
I am an ALA member, but I don’t receive AL Direct. How do I sign up?
Make sure your email address is correct in the ALA membership database. Log in to ala.org with your membership number and password. Select “update your profile,” and under “Contact Information” add or update your email address. Be sure to click “Save and Continue” at the bottom of the page to confirm your changes.
I am an ALA member, my email address is correct, but I still don’t receive AL Direct. What next?
First, check your junk mail folder to make sure AL Direct is not automatically going there. Second, in your email program, whitelist ala@aldirect.ala.org as the sender, and ixs1.net as a domain name. Third, contact your local network administrator to see if a spam blocker or content filter has been installed on your institution’s servers. Some spam blockers misconstrue AL Direct emails as spam, and content filters sometimes misidentify AL Direct content as inappropriate. Inform them that AL Direct is sent every week from the domain ixs1.net. If this still doesn’t work, contact AL Direct (include your name and ALA membership number) and a staff member will attempt to identify the problem.
I am an ALA member. How do I change my email address?
Log in to ala.org with your membership number and password. Select “update your profile,” and under “Contact Information” add or update your email address. Be sure to click “Save and Continue” at the bottom of the page to confirm your changes. Or call ALA Member Services at 800-545-2433, ext. 5, with instructions.
I am an ALA member, and I have another problem with my membership.
Contact the ALA office at 1-800-545-2433, and press option 5 for a Member & Customer Service representative.
I am not an ALA member. How do I subscribe?
Fill in the sign-up form at the top of this FAQ and you will receive the next available issue.
I am not an ALA member. How do I change my email address?
Click on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any issue of AL Direct. Then sign up again with your new email address using the form at the top of this FAQ.
How do I unsubscribe?
Click on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any issue of AL Direct.
I unsubscribed accidentally. How do I resubscribe?
Email AL Direct to be taken off the unsubscribe list.
Email issues
My email cuts off AL Direct in the middle. How do I fix this?
This is a common problem with Outlook 2007. The only fix is to click on the link at the top of the email (“Having trouble reading this HTML email or seeing it in full?”) to view the email in your web browser.
Links in AL Direct don’t work.
If it is only the links in the “US & World News” and/or “ALA News” sections that don’t work, it may be that the ALA website is temporarily down. Try back in a couple hours. If none of the links work, it is probably due to the settings on your email program. Viewing AL Direct works best if you have email set to view HTML rather than text-only. Sometimes spam or content-control filters on your computer system prevent readers from accessing AL Direct properly. Check with your IT department to see if the newsletter is getting blocked, and ask them to allow it through.
I use Squirrel Mail.
This is the only program that has a known bug that AL Direct cannot work around. Try switching to another email program or email address to see if this resolves the problem.
I suddenly stopped getting AL Direct. What happened?
AL Direct uses an email service to send the newsletter to more than 50,000 people, which can cause it to get tagged as spam. Content filters can also prevent the newsletter from getting to your inbox. Check with your IT department to see if the newsletter is getting blocked, and ask them to allow it through. If you still experience problems, contact AL Direct.
What domains should I whitelist?
aldirect.ala.org
ala.org
ixs1.net
What other options do I have?
Change your email address to another that might be less restrictive, perhaps your home email. You might also change your email format to text-only, which sometimes will get through when an HTML message won’t.
Content Issues
I don’t have a password for the New York Times or Chronicle of Higher Education.
AL Direct provides links to whatever sources have the best coverage. Some news sources, like the New York Times, require you to sign up (for free) and obtain a password to see recent content. You are responsible for registering with these sites individually to access their content. Other sources, like the Chronicle of Higher Education, require a print subscription to obtain a password for online content. AL Direct identifies these sources by noting “(Subscription required).” AL Direct offers links as they are; you can choose whether or not to visit the sites.
I have comments about a news story that I would like to share.
Feel free to contact the editor. You may also post a comment on American Libraries Forum. Posters must first register on AL Forum and create a new topic if an appropriate one does not already exist.
Can I share AL Direct with my colleagues?
Certainly, but keep in mind that if someone to whom you forward the newsletter unsubscribes, you will be unsubscribed from the service. Encourage your colleagues to sign up for a subscription themselves using the form at the top of this page.
Is AL Direct archived?
Much of AL Direct consists of web links, some of which may be valid for only a short time. No print version of AL Direct exists. Although archival copies are maintained, issues are not posted on the ALA website. AL Direct readers are free to archive their copies for their institutions.
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