Friday, October 23, 2009

NETLS Updates & Information 10/23

Tomorrow, Saturday!

· District V meeting in Mount Pleasant

· Grand Re-Opening of the expanded Rube Session Memorial Library in Wells 10am – 1 pm

· Book and Office Equipment Sale in Troup, 9am – 1 pm

· Frisco Friends of the Library Book Sale 10 am until sell-out

In November… Regional Planning Meetings

Join us in small group settings throughout the region to get representation from NETLS area libraries. We’ll review our current activities and plan for the future! I look forward to seeing you..

Monday Nov 2 10a-12p Howe

Wednesday Nov 4 2p-4p Honey Grove

Thursday Nov 5 10a-12p Gladewater

Friday Nov 6 10a-12p Jacksonville

Monday Nov 16 10a-12p Seven Points

Tuesday Nov 17 10a-12p Grand Prairie

Wednesday Nov 18 2p-4p Atlanta

Thank you to our host libraries. We are planning another series of meetings in January. If you are interested in hosting a small group, please contact me.

NOTE…

Our podcast Using Discover Stations in Public Libraries, is about a no-fuss public computing solution used by several NETLS libraries. While on the Librarian Live website, explore all the great content. Let us know what’s missing.

Resume Maker invoices have been sent. If you are expecting to participate and have not received an invoice or have other invoice concerns, contact Robin.

Custom furnishings for libraries are available from Agati … we have their sales brochure if you are interested we can send to you.

Pick up some free Kirkus reviews, subscribe to email newsletters here.

We’re updating our supply discount page soon. We have a new discount offer from Demco and a new offer from The Library Store. See our discount page for additional offers.

Congratulations! Broadband applications filed by Corsicana, Honey Grove, and Lancaster have been forwarded by Texas reviewers with recommendations to fund their projects. Okay, everyone – cross your fingers, now.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Don’t miss the Emergency Preparedness in Libraries webinar with Dr. Julie Todaro on November 10. More about the webinar and an interview with the presenter are here. Visit the Library Development blog to read about the Nacadoches Public Library’s Emergency Management Role .

Go the NETLS website for a look at two local responses to staff absences in these continuity plans.

WOW! Library Journal Design Institute in DALLAS!

December 11^th, 9 – 6, free – register NOW! Limited to 100 attendees, the seminar is for those considering a new building project or renovation, in the fundraising or pre-bond stage, or in the early building process. Learn more and register for the institute here.

OPTIONAL TOUR OF DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NEW LEED LIBRARIES coinciding with Design Institute

SCHEDULE (Thursday, December 10)
9:30-10:00 AM: Check in at Central Library (address above). Continental Breakfast provided.
10:00-5:00 PM: Guided tour of various LEED libraries (Lochwood Library, NorthPark Center, Bookmarks Library, Bachman Lake Library, and Dallas Central Library).
Lunch will be arranged, attendees are responsible for payment.

To RSVP for the tour, please email: David Darnell, (or call 214-670-7936) by November 20th.

OPPORTUNITIES…
Bus-eum3 is expected in Texas December 10, 2009 through January 6, 2010. To book a visit to your community contact: BUSeumtour@yahoo.com or call 651.646.0400.

OPPORTUNITIES…Online
Registration is currently underway for online tutorials through UNT’s LE@D project. Register through our website to get the classes offered for free.
A dozen ways to two-step; essential web 2.0 training for Texas librarians is currently underway (12 CEUs)

OPPORTUNITIES…Webinars
Unlike online tutorials, webinars are scheduled sessions with opportunities for participant interaction with the presenter (usually through a text feature) and sometimes with other participants. Due to their live broadcast, audio and video qualities of webinars are frequently not as polished as online tutorials. Many webinars are archived for independent viewing.

Frequent training webinars are offered by online database providers. Heritage Quest and Proquest are offering sessions next week.

Scroll down this page for information about these sessions:

t October 28 (2-3 pm) Genetics Home Reference and My Family Health History (National Library of Medicine)
t October 28 (11am-noon) Thinking On Your Feet: What to Say When You’re at a Loss for Words (American Management Association)
t October 30 (11 am – noon) Developing a Training Plan for Change (BCR)

OPPORTUNITIES…In Person Classes
New ROSA workshops coming to DFW area, read all about them on the Library Developments blog.

OPPORTUNITIES .. For books
We the People Bookshelf
Great Stories Club
Books Across America (schools)
Big Read (application process is not yet open, applications will be due February 2, 2010)

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

Ongoing A dozen ways to two-step

Ongoing E-Library training – see blog post here

Also available: Archives of SirsiDynix Institutes

Librarian Live Podcasts

Ongoing through January 29 We People Bookshelf grant application accepted for A More Perfect Union 17 books.

October 24 2009 TLA District V Workshop Northeast Texas Community College Mount Pleasant, Texas. Open to everyone interested in libraries! (First time users and non-members look for the NEW USER button on the registration page. Fee covers program and lunch.)

By October 31 All Loan Star Libraries (LSL) 2009 reports (final deadline)

By October 31 Plan of Action form due for LSL 2010 funds (final deadline)

October 31 - November 1, 2009 - Texas Book Festival - State Capitol Building

November 1 End daylight saving time more info from WebExhibits

By November 2 – Entries for Best Small Library in America (under 25,000 pop)

By November 2 Entries due for participation in the Great Stories Club Grants, funded by Oprah’s Angel Project

November 2 Howe Regional Planning Meeting

November 3 Texas Special Election, Constitutional Amendments

November 4 Honey Grove Regional Planning Meeting

November 5 Gladewater Regional Planning Meeting

November 6 Jacksonville Regional Planning Meeting

Due November 6 2009 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access (don’t know your access code, click here) Upon completion of the survey, register for a chance to win a Kindle!

November 13 Millenials in the library see this posting for viewing options

November 16 Seven Points Regional Planning Meeting

November 17 Grand Prairie Regional Planning Meeting

November 18 Atlanta Regional Planning Meeting

November 19 The Art of Grant Writing and Fundraising Online Conference (NOT free $69 per person or $99 for a group)

By November 20 Books Across America Library Books Awards for Pre K-12 School Libraries

December 1 Save the date – NETLS Membership Meeting and Vendor Fair Garland

By December 12 J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Award application due for libraries serving under 20,000. Information here

Below the line –

Enjoy this recap of PubLib postings of last week.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Great Article 10/20/09

Check out the comments, too.
Many job seekers in Dallas County head to the library first Source: dallasnews.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

NETLS Updates & Information 10/15

Don’t Miss…

Listen to our new podcast featuring a Using Discover Station in Public Libraries, a no-fuss public computing solution used by several NETLS libraries. While on the Librarian Live website, explore all the great content. Let us know what’s missing.

Survey one – if you haven’t already replied take time to complete the products and services survey. It is hoped the combined purchasing power of NETLS/NTRLS libraries can result in savings to all.

Survey two - 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey will close November 6. The results of this important annual survey are used to communicate the role and needs of libraries in technology. Results are shared with the media as well as funders. You will need an ID number, which you may look up on the website. Questions regarding the survey should be directed to support@plinternetsurvey.org or 301.405.9445.

TLA District V meeting is Saturday, October 24 in Mount Pleasant. Don’t miss the free TLA webinar October 20, Building Relationships and Influence That Will Help Your Library (more below).

Cute idea – Cash for Clunker Books (forgive the commercial)

JOB HUNTING AIDS

In addition to the vast (and sometimes scattered) array of free offerings on the web, several vendors are offering subscription services designed to help job seekers. Among services stressing job hunting search or preparation are:

• Live Homework Help from tutor.com – offers review of resumes, cover letters, etc. by certified teachers (NETLS offers consortia)

• JobView – offers kiosks (in some areas) and desktop job search, includes many jobs not listed by the Workforce Commission and identifies jobs appropriate for ex-offenders (NETLS negotiated favorable pricing)

• ResumeMaker – provides forms for resume writing, job search feature, interview sample questions, variety of guides and video clips (NETLS offers consortia) Libraries may join at a later date for the remaining portion of the subscription term, contact Robin/Connie for your quote.

• Career Resource Center (Gale|Cengage) – all-in-one workflow, begins with interests, career or job fit to interests, training resources, etc.

WOW! Library Journal Design Institute in DALLAS!

OPTIONAL TOUR OF DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S NEW LEED LIBRARIES coinciding with Design Institute

10 Questions to Ask Every New Employee…

You’ve probably already thought of these questions for staff but how about asking the same of your board or FOL groups?

From LJ Transparent Library,

The Road Ahead recommendations from Michael Casey & Michael Stephens

H1N1
A huge thank you to Liz Gant, Director of the Seagoville Public Library and Alice Coleman, Director of the Texarkana Public Library for sharing their library pandemic contingency plans. Check it out on our website.

OPPORTUNITIES…
1. Join our group purchase of ResumeMaker. Very favorable terms for two years of service (pay for one year, get two years). Contact Connie for more information.

OPPORTUNITIES…
2. On TSLAC’s Library Development Blog

A dozen ways to two-step; essential web 2.0 training for Texas librarians –currently underway (12 CEUs)

OPPORTUNITIES…
3. New ROSA workshops coming to DFW area, read all about them on the Library Developments blog

OPPORTUNITIES…
4. TLA STRATEGIC INITIATIVES CE SERIES - Communication

OPEN TO ALL, NO CHARGE FOR THIS GROUP OF SESSIONS - The new TLA CE program that combines journal articles by top subject experts with live online webinars will be launching on October. The fall series will focus on communication. Later seasons will cover collaboration (winter), leadership (spring), and innovation (summer).

(Public Library Topic) Tuesday, October 20, 2:00-2:45pm

Susan Mann, “Building Relationships and Influence That Will Help Your Library”

Susan Mann, director of Hillsboro City Library, will provide "in the trench" training on cultivating and influencing elected officials and making sure libraries, librarians, and friends groups are at the decision-making table. Having skillfully negotiated the art of being heard, Mann offers a unique, creative, and practical program for the taking charge of your library's future. Mann follows up with a live online discussion on building relationships and "making a good friendship count": dealing with controversial matters, using relationships to support PR, and reviewing examples of when things go right and wrong.

To register: Please visit www.txla.org/ce (TLA members can also register on the Members Only section of the TLA web site - if you do so, the system will automatically populate the registration form with data).

Email will be sent to registrants with detailed information on how to log in to the webinar before the event.

People who are unfamiliar with webinar technology are asked to log in 10 minutes early to make sure there are no technical problems.

Please note that participants will need to log in to BOTH a conference call and a web site. The conference call is toll free. The web site requires no downloads.

If you are concerned about your ability to connect to an outside webinar, please visit https://www.callinfo.com/test.html?host=readytalk to instantly test your computer. If you see green dots, you're good to go!

Participants will be able to print certificates of CPE credit for the live events. Non-credit recordings of the webinars will also be available for viewing at a later date.

For more information, please contact TLA CE Specialist Ted Wanner at tedw@txla.org or 800-580-2852.

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

Ongoing A dozen ways to two-step

Ongoing E-Library training – see blog post here

Also available: Archives of SirsiDynix Institutes

Librarian Live Podcasts

Ongoing through January 29 We People Bookshelf grant application accepted for A More Perfect Union 17 books.

October 18 – 24 Teen Read Week (toolkit here)

October 20 Building Relationships and Influence That Will Help Your Library, TLA webinar, more information (.pdf)

October 20 Doing more with less, “training up” in tough economic times free webcast on customer service issues

By October 31 All Loan Star Libraries (LSL) 2009 reports (final deadline)

By October 31 Plan of Action form due for LSL 2010 funds (final deadline)

October 31 - November 1, 2009 - Texas Book Festival - State Capitol Building

November 1 End daylight saving time more info from WebExhibits

By November 2 – Entries for Best Small Library in America (under 25,000 pop)

By November 2 Entries due for participation in the Great Stories Club Grants, funded by Oprah’s Angel Project

November 3 Texas Special Election, Constitutional Amendments

Due November 6 2009 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access (don’t know your access code, click here) Upon completion of the survey, register for a chance to win a Kindle!

Scheduling now – series of geographic planning meetings. November 2-6 and 16 & 17.

November 19 The Art of Grant Writing and Fundraising Online Conference (NOT free $69 per person or $99 for a group)

By November 20 Books Across America Library Books Awards for Pre K-12 School Libraries

December 1 Save the date – NETLS Membership Meeting and Vendor Fair Garland

By December 12 J. Frank Dobie Library Trust Award application due for libraries serving under 20,000. Information here

Below the line –

Jazz it up!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

From Rains County

Summer Reading Promo -- Lyn Baldwin and Misty Harmon

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NETLS Information & Updates 9/23

WHAT ARE YOU BUYING?

NETLS and NTRLS are exploring consortia or group purchasing discounts for our member libraries. We expect to identify products and negotiate terms in FY2010 and provide group pricing in FY2011 (September 2010). The first step in the process is this survey.

I’ve been peeking at the results of this survey, THANK YOU for participating. This is also a good time to remind you of our current discounts page since some of the vendors we have listed are being requested in your responses. We will not be able to arrange discounts for the categories of books and media on the statewide purchasing contract (.pdf). If you have questions or problems with the statewide contract, please contact me. Maybe we can work out the kinks!

JOB HUNTING AIDS

in addition to the vast (and sometimes scattered) array of free offerings on the web, several vendors are offering subscription services designed to help job seekers. Among services stressing job hunting search or preparation are:

• Live Homework Help from tutor.com – offers review of resumes, cover letters, etc. by certified teachers (NETLS offers consortia)

• ResumeMaker – provides forms for resume writing, job search feature, interview sample questions, variety of guides and video clips (NETLS offers consortia)

• Career Resource Center (GaleCengage) – all-in-one workflow, begins with interests, career or job fit to interests, training resources, etc.

We have 41 libraries participating in the ResumeMaker consortia – there is “room” for more, contact me for more information.

HELP!

The staff of the Palestine Library is carefully investigating options for recovery from the extensive damage to the building. Work is underway to shore up the north wing in order to remove materials from the facility. The catalog home page is kept up-to-date with notices and photos.

NETLS staff made two deliveries of borrowed book trucks and book boxes to the library and assisted in packing the genealogy collection (in the stable, historic portion of the library). If you have skills, resources or ideas to offer, contact Library Director, Carol Herrington at 903 729-8087. All help is appreciated, contact Carol before visiting or sending help or materials so that efforts can be coordinated and scheduled as needed.

News stories of the first collapse here and about the recent collapse here and here. The library is keeping their catalog home page up-to-date with notices and photos.

While Palestine’s library is closed, the Jacksonville Library is serving Palestine residents. More about the cooperation between the cities here.

___________________________________________________

One of the NETLS nonprofit libraries is hoping to stay competitive in their total compensation for employees. If you have a document or link you can provide to show salary scales and benefits packages, please send to me at mailto:cmoss@netls.org?subject=Salary/Benefits%20Question

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. The current survey tallies your intent to participate in the courier service. Please respond to all surveys, even if your answer is “No, thanks!”

LOOKING FOR LITERACY INFORMATION.. TRY:
Adolescent Literacy Development in Out-of-School Time: A Practitioner's Guidebook Carnegie Corporation of New York Moje, Elizabeth Birr; Nicole Tysvaer Published: September 2009

A companion report to Carnegie's Time to Act, describes types of literacy support offered in afterschool, weekend, and summer programs. The report includes outlines promising programs and practices, elements of success, and strategies for planning and implementation. (More reports available on the Foundation Center’s PubHub)

OPPORTUNITIES
1. 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. Libraries with broadband and not eligible for the new program may also be invited to the summit to share their experiences.

OPPORTUNITIES…
3. Making the most of broadband stimulus funds, Tuesday, October 13th, 1 pm CDT Presented by: Motorola
Focused on wireless services, this free webinar (presented by industry insiders) will discuss how entities – think cities or counties -- looking for funds can drill down beyond the marketing hype and find the right partner to move through the bureaucratic, funding and procurement process. Municipal wireless planning guide (pdf).