Thursday, July 9, 2009

NETLS Information & Updates 7/9

BROADBAND NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY

WEBINAR is archived here

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) have announced the first series of public workshops about the application process for $4 billion in broadband grants and loans under the Recovery Act. NTIA and RUS gave extensive consideration to the workshop locations: they selected locations representative of rural and urban needs, as well as a diversity of regions, populations, topographies and city/metropolitan-area sizes. They also considered the travel needs of attendees. Online registration for the Workshops Fax your registration for the Workshops (This from an attendee at an early session.)

Workshop Presentations

Presentation - Overview of the Broadband Program

Presentation - BIP Program

Presentation - BTOP Program

Presentation - BIP Accounting and Auditing

Presentation - Infrastructure Part 1

Presentation - Infrastructure Part 2

Presentation - BTOP Sustainable Adoption

Presentation - Public Computer Centers

Presentation - Compliance


RECYCLING THE WEEDS
Okay, how do we get rid of all the unneeded library materials or donations?

The answer depends on what you have that is unwanted. Are the unneeded items new, published in the past 5 years and in great condition? If they are relatively new and in good shape offer them to a local hospital, school, community center or neighboring library or try Half Price Books. Some older (and new) materials can be shipped off to a program such as BetterWorld Books to be sold online or donated overseas. If the items are no longer useful as books because they are damaged, falling apart, or otherwise unwanted, the materials can be recycled – paper shredded and used in recycled paper products.

Patricia Davis of Vista Fibers recycling plant in Garland suggests libraries contact Boy Scout Troops to collect and deliver the excess materials (by appointment) to Vista Fibers at Garland Road & 635. The Boy Scouts offer a Pulp & Paper merit badge, one of the badge requirements may be filled by a visit to a recycling center. In cooler months Vista Fibers offers tours of their facilities by appointment only. At this time there is an abundance of paper being recycled so there would be no compensation for the books but they will not be in a landfill and will have been disposed of responsibly. Ms Davis can be reached at 214 878 4292.


HUMANITIES TEXAS GRANTS
Applications for major grants ($1,500+) offered by/through Humanities Texas are due twice a year : March 15 and September 15. Applications for Humanities Texas minigrants (under $1,500)are due at least six weeks before the start of the planned project. For an idea of projects funded, see the current calendar of Humanities Texas events. Links to a sample minigrant grant application and sample major grants are here.


BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is committed to improving communities and impacting lives by supporting programs throughout the United States that address the needs of children and families, animals, and the environment. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000, with an average of $2,500. Build-A-Bear Workshop also provides gift certificate donations


7 MEETING IN TYLER
Next week we’ll be releasing registration information and further details about the August 7 workshop and regional meeting at the Ornelas Activity Center on the UT Tyler Campus. This event will feature representatives from several of our jobbers to demonstrate how to use their search tools and catalogs to serve special populations or address specific needs. Leased books plans and the new NETLS leased book agreements will be presented by representatives from McNaughton (Brodart) and Baker & Taylor. We’ll have some “meet the Coordinator” time and lots more... everyone is welcome!


LIBRARY DEVELOPMENTS Blog
For a variety of training options, check the Library Developments blog on the TSLAC website.!


TEXAS READING CLUB AND THE TEXAS TEENS READ! SURVEYS
Christine McNew (TSLAC) is asking for your input with two surveys each of which require about 2 to 5 minutes to complete, depending on the length of answers you give to open-ended questions. Your comments and suggestions are valued and appreciated.
Texas Reading Club Reading Log Survey

Texas Teens Read! Reading Log Survey


UNTIL THEY ARE GONE..
Refurbished computers from the Garland Independent School District are listed on Ebay for $85. including monitor, mouse, keyboard, with Windows XP Professional operating system and Open Office installed. Guaranteed not to be DOA (dead on arrival, should work when you get it but no further guarantees.)


By July 15 Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of important collections and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology.

July Helping Your Community Get Back to Work – Community members welcome!

  • July 16 – Aubrey, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • July 17 – DeSoto, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • July 22 – Greenville, 12 to 4 p.m.
  • July 23 – South Garland Branch, NMLS, 12 to 4 p.m.
  • July 24 – Coppell, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

July 21, Webinar: Open Source Library System Software: Libraries Are Doing it For Themselves 2 – 3 pm

By July 24 Register to win 60 books from Sterling Publishing (read the rules - a .pdf)

July 28-30 TLA Annual Assembly Austin

Now through July 31 Everyone Wins -- When School and Public Libraries Cooperate!Online 4 CEUs for school and public librarians.

July 31 Deadline for submitting Loan Star Library Program Revision Requests (.doc), if needed.

August 7 Tylersave the date for this regional meeting and workshop – details to follow

August 7 Spanish-Language Collection Development, webinar 2:00 p.m. This session is part of a new series of webinars from Small Library Management, and everyone is invited to attend.

August 14 Selecting the Right StuffAllen Registration for the symposium is booming, register now!

By August 15 Humanities Texas (Major) Grant letters of interest/grant applications due

By September 15 Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant applications due

By September 15 Humanities Texas (Major) Grant applications due

By September 15 Building Healthy Communities Grant application to Home Depot

By September 18 Hooked on Hydroponics~ offers hydroponic equipment to expand exciting indoor gardening opportunities for students.


Below the line

Library quiz answers from Middle Schoolers