NETLS Updates and Information: 2009-08-30

ABOUT THAT LOAN STAR MONEY
Loan Star Grant contracts state that local funding support is not to be replaced by this state aid. This issue and service to non-residents is addressed in the General Terms & Conditions section (Section VIII):

The Grantee will comply with the Title 13, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter C, Division 8, Rules 2.810 - 2.815 regarding the Loan Star Grant Program and Title 13, Part 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter C, Division 1, Rules 2.110 - 2.119 regarding General Grant Guidelines. Loan Star Libraries Administrative Rule 2.815 (c) states, "If a library has certified that it provides service to non-residents without charge or it has elected to participate in the TexShare card program, the library must maintain these services for the duration of the contract that it received." This means the library shall provide the same library services and may impose the same restrictions on non-resident customers as it does for those customers who live locally. Texas Government Code, Section 441.138(c), states, "State aid to a free tax-supported public library is a supplement to and not a replacement of local support."

LOAN STAR AWARDS SFY2010
The list of 2010 Loan Star Awards is posted here on the TSLAC website. Funding for this project was increased in the recent legislative session.

STARTING SURVEYS
As we begin our new fiscal year we’ll be sending a series of quick surveys, primarily to confirm your intention to participate in our group purchases or subsidy. Please respond promptly to all surveys, even if your answer is “No, thanks!” (Remember us when your email address changes … if you don’t get an email at least once a month, please check the email address we have on file.)

SPECIAL PROGRAMS LISTINGS
We are happy to share your announcements of special events. Just send us the name of the event and a link to your online flyer or program page. This program was well received and is highly recommended by Cheryl Lawson (newly awarded her doctorate! – Congratulations, Cheryl) in Sulphur Springs.

NEW NETLS PODCAST
Listen to a 5-minute Librarian Live podcast about a program any library can do for no money that will get books into the hands of children and young adults in your schools, your community and beyond. Recycle-a-Book Day is an annual collaboration between the Friends of the Allen Public Library and the Allen ISD Parent Teacher Association. Basically, school students bring two or more books, then choose one book from those the other students contributed. The remaining books are distributed to other agencies in need of reading materials.

JOB POSTINGS
The City of McKinney has a job opening for Public Services Supervisor.

OPPORTUNITIES…
1. “HeirLoom: Something Worth Saving, Something Worth Sharing” Project through Texas A&M University – Commerce. This oral history and archives project for rural communities targets African-American WWII veterans and increases the participation of African-Americans in the collection, preservation, and sharing of local community history. The blog is here. Browse the collection, change the collection to be viewed in the drop-box just below the green bar at the top of the page. Don’t miss the images from the music box collection in Sulphur Springs. If your rural community is interested in joining the project contact

OPPORTUNITIES
2.    The ILL/Courier Working Group has vacancies for two public librarians. Please send your nominations to the TexNet Database Coordinator, Sue Bennett by September 15, 2009.   You may make your nomination (may nominate yourself) by phone (512.463.7406), fax (512.936.2306).

Please include:
    Nominee's name
    Library
    Position
    Full contact information
    A brief statement of a nominee's qualifications.
    Written assurance that the nomination has the support of the nominee's library director.

Working group members should participate in the group's meetings, generally held two to four times annually (with one of the meetings in-person and the others by conference call), and follow through with assignments. Potential members must have the support of their institution for travel to at least one in-person meeting each year. Travel costs are not reimbursed by TexShare or the Texas State Library.

Potential members should have experience or an interest in the program area, a desire to enhance multi-type library resource sharing in Texas, and an interest in designing innovative programs to enhance library services to Texans.

OPPORTUNITIES…
3. The Gates Foundation's Opportunity Online Broadband Grant Program is looking for high-impact stories directly from patrons, commentary from library staff about the services they are able to provide or would provide if they had a broadband connection, and what patrons have done with the increased connection speed if they have gotten a high-speed connection. A video team is planning to be in the state for a week in September to try to get film stories in as many sites as possible. If you are interested in participating in this project please read this blog post and contact Dawn Vogler at (512) 936-4449.

Libraries not currently subscribing to broadband service should have received invitations to the Opportunity Online Summit in San Antonio next month. Library directors are encouraged to invite one community decision leader to attend the event as well, all costs are borne by the Gates Foundation.

OPPORTUNITIES…
4. The Long Island Coalition Against Censorship is selling banned book week display materials for $40.00.

OPPORTUNITIES…
5. On TSLAC’s Library Development Blog

Free Online CE during September 2009 Library Related Courses Management Related Courses

PLINKIT project wins national award (Texas Plinkit page)

Ongoing Gale database training webinars(newest products are listed first)

Ongoing E-Library training – see blog post here

Also available: Archives of SirsiDynix Institutes

Librarian Live Podcasts

September 1 New leased book contracts. Contact B&T or Brodart/McNaughton representatives for more information.

September 9 – October 8 Richardson Reads

By September 11 Nominations for EIGW due to Russlene Waukechon

September 11-13 ARSL Conference