NETLS Information & Updates 4/14

Happy Library Week! … Spread the joy -- send us photos of your library week events

The Awards Committee met this week to cull through Awards Nominations and select winning nominations – support the fine work throughout the region at our May 4 Membership Meeting. Let us know you’re coming!

The TexShare Courier service is in the process of being rebid for the coming fiscal year(s). We don’t yet know what the cost for the service will be in the coming year – I’ll announce the cost to this list as soon as we are informed of the new rates.

A mailing list specifically for posting new developments in Interlibrary Loan has been created. Go to http://lists.tsl.state.tx.us/mailman/listinfo/ill_lists to subscribe to the list. The library community is welcome to post questions, comments and suggestions. A website is also available to obtain information from the ILL Task Force. http://www.texshare.edu/newsletter/resourcesharingprojects/

Keep your fingers crossed – at this point both the exceptional funding request for Lone Star Libraries and the Library Systems are included in the proposed state budget. If these provisions remain in the budget we may see in increase (!) in funding. The budget has been approved by the Senate and is out of the House committee (the House version is larger than the Senate version). Track the budget yourself at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB1

“Back Issues” of NETLS Information & Updates are located on the blog reached through the link above the coordinator on the Contact Us page.

This week in NETLS Libraries:

Ending April 15 Libri Foundation Books for Children for small libraries (under 10,000 service population) in rural areas (30 miles from city with population over 40,000). Match your fundraising up to $350 2:1 so max available to spend is your $350 + $700 grant = $1,050

Ending April 15 – New deadline for Books and Babies Matching Grants

Ending April 15 Citizenship Grant, partner with your city, county, school district, etc. Agencies indicate interest by April 15

Ending April 15 Early (discounted) registration deadline for Amigos Member Conference

April 16-17 KohaCon 2009, Plano

April 17-18 Author Joe Garner Turman, will be signing his award winning books, Getting On With the Going and Buddy at:Noonday Community Center Friday, April 17, from 12-3pm & Scroll Christian Book Store Saturday, April 18, from 11-2pm

April 17-18 Dallas Children’s Book Fair and Literary Festival

April 20 Romance author, Jody Thomas presents at Carrollton’s Josey Ranch Lake location. (See the flyer)

Learning Opportunities:

Attack Your Collection: Weeding with CREW http://www.netls.org/continuing-education

Registration opens for six online tutorials free through NETLS

§ These are Lifelong Education @ Desktop (LE@D) courses. DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THE COURSES THROUGH LE@D. You may take them for free only through NETLS.

§ Register online until Friday, April 24, at http://host.evanced.info/netls/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?ag=&et=In+Person%2C+Online+Tutorial%2C+Videoconference%2C+Webinar&dt=mo&mo=4/1/2009&df=calendar&cn=0&private=0&ln=0.

§ You may take as many of the six courses as you wish.

§ Course instructions will be emailed to you around May 1. You will have all of May and June to complete the tutorials.

§ CE Certificates will be mailed to you in early July.

Here is a list of the six courses NETLS is offering with a link to more information about each course. AGAIN, DO NOT REGISTER THROUGH LE@D!

Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults: Information and Free Registration Through NETLS
Reading Reluctant Readers Information and Free Registration Through NETLS
Reaching Teenagers: Information and Free Registration Through NETLS
Trends in Children’s Literature: Information and Free Registration Through NETLS
Leadership in Libraries: Becoming an Everyday Leader: Information and Free Registration Through NETLS
Weeding: It’s Not an Option: Information and Free Registration Through NETLS

Membership Meeting May 4! Let us know to expect you there!

NETLS Information & Updates 4/8

The TSLAC website, email, and Plinkit sites are currently experiencing intermittent difficulties. These problems have been reported and are being addressed.

Keep your fingers crossed – at this point both the exceptional funding request for Lone Star Libraries and the Library Systems are included in the proposed state budget. If these provisions remain in the budget we may see in increase (!) in funding. The budget has been approved by the Senate and is out of the House committee. Track the budget yourself at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB1

I know many of you have been concerned about the issue of lead in children’s books. There is a bill in the US Congress designed to exempt “ordinary books” from the CPSIA and requirement for testing books for lead.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.01692:

Coming up soon:

April 10 Deadline for grant application to National Book Fund grant to support adult literacy.

April 12 - 18 National Library Week Explore the resources (an image of the print ad is attached)

-- National Library workers day is April 14

By April 15 Libri Foundation Books for Children for small libraries (under 10,000 service population) in rural areas (30 miles from city with population over 40,000). Match your fundraising up to $350 2:1 so max available to spend is your $350 + $700 grant = $1,050

By April 15 – New deadline for Books and Babies Matching Grants

By April 15 Citizenship Grant, partner with your city, county, school district, etc. Agencies indicate interest by April 15

By April 15 Early (discounted) registration deadline for Amigos Member Conference

April 16-17 KohaCon 2009, Plano

April 17-18 Dallas Children’s Book Fair and Literary Festival

April 20 Romance author, Jody Thomas presents at Carrollton’s Josey Ranch Lake location. (See the flyer)

By April 20 (Expanded deadline) PLDS If you participate in the Public Library Association's (PLA) annual Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report, please note the extended the deadline for receipt of completed questionnaires.

April 24 Irving Para Los Niños

April 30 ROSA - Reaching our Spanish-Speaking Audience 6CEUs Denton, 9:00am - 4:30pm (Registration starts at 8:30am)

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/workshops/rosa/index.html

By May 1 - Payment for Membership Meeting Luncheon(s) due in NETLS office.

May 4 -- NETLS Membership Meeting, Garland

An area library is looking for a used microform reader – if you have a working model that is not being used, let me know and I’ll connect you with that library’s director.

Stay current with ALA (and division) Grants

The Forest Hill Public Library (in the I20 corridor near Ft. Worth) is seeking a library director and library page. Advertised closing date is April 27. Contact jerline@netzero.net for more information.

Many of the programs offered at TLA Conference 2009 have handouts posted online.

More May dates

May 6-7 Amigos Membership Conference

May 14-15 Small Library Management Program, Lewisville

May 14 – 16 Book Sale, Garland South Branch

By May 18 Woman's Day article contest for your library users

May 18-21 Innovative Users Group Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA

May 20-22 Evergreen (ILS) International Conference, Athens, GA

By May 22 Applications due for Save America's Treasures Program

By May 22 Advanced registration deadline for ALA Conference

By May 29 Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine

Bottom of the page treat:

Now turn on the speakers for silliness in this book club review.

NETLS Updates & Information 3/29

FINAL! FINAL!

Submit nominations for NETLS Awards by Tuesday! The process is easy and the goodwill created by this recognition is immeasurable. If you have a problem with the form or want to confirm that we have received your nomination, please call us. It is also not too early to register for the meeting.

MARCH 31 Annual Reports are due Tuesday. If you don’t have your Bibliostat login or password, don’t panic – we have those on file. This online annual report is the information needed by TSLAC to accredit libraries for system membership. The application for membership is signed by your governing authority and received by TSLAC by April 30.

March 31 -Loan Star Library Interim Financial Status Reports due

More dates below….
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Info You Can Use … This link is from a 2007 article describing the strategic role that libraries can play in a community and how the manager's leadership can contribute to the success of libraries..
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About Lead in Children’s Books… According to ALA's District Dispatch U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) has introduced a bill to amend the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to exempt ordinary books from the lead limit within the act.
Concerned parties may also be interested in this notice to PubLib regarding the proposed legislation
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Free Color Printer … Of course there is a catch (purchase supplies directly from the vendor) but it still might be a good offer for your library.
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Check Your TexShare Benefit … The reports here show the cost of TexShare databases to your library and the license fees your library would pay for these benefits if not part of the database consortium.
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TLA Annual Conference March 31 – April 3, Houston

March 30 – April 1 Computers in Libraries Conference, Arlington VA

April 3 Webcast Diversity beyond the obvious

April 6-8 SirsiDynix Users Groups Joint Conference, Dallas

By April 7 Dreyer's Foundation Small Grants and Product Donation, Requests must be made at least 8 weeks prior to event.

April 10 Deadline for grant application to National Book Fund grant to support adult literacy.

April 12 - 18 National Library Week

-- National Library workers day is April 14

By April 15 Libri Foundation Books for Children For small libraries (under 10,000 service population) in rural areas (30 miles from city with population over 40,000). Match your fundraising up to $350 2:1 so max available to spend is your $350 + $700 grant = $1,050

By April 15 Citizenship Grant, partner with your city, county, school district, etc. Agencies should notify by April 15 www.grants.gov Search by Funding Opportunity Number - DHS-09-CIS-010-001

By April 15 Early (discounted) registration deadline for Amigos Member Conference

April 16-17 KohaCon 2009, Plano

By April 20 (Expanded deadline) PLDS If you participate in the Public Library Association's (PLA) annual Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report, please note the extended the deadline for receipt of completed questionnaires.

April 24 Irving Para Los Niños

April 30 ROSA - Reaching our Spanish-Speaking Audience 6CEUs Denton, 9:00am - 4:30pm (Registration starts at 8:30am)

By May 1 - Payment for Membership Meeting Luncheon(s) due in NETLS office.

May 4 -- NETLS Membership Meeting, Garland

May 6-7 Amigos Membership Conference

May 14-15 Small Library Management Program, Lewisville

May 14 – 16 Book Sale, Garland South Branch

By May 18 Woman's Day article contest for your library users

May 18-21 Innovative Users Group Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA

May 20-22 Evergreen (ILS) International Conference, Athens, GA

By May 22 Applications due for Save America's Treasures Program

By May 22 Advanced registration deadline for ALA Conference

By May 29 Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine

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Got news, book sales, special events or collections? Let us know and we’ll share your news as we can.

Libraries circulate books for average of 3 years?

Excerpt regarding library books and lead in children's materials...

Link to the entire letter from Acting Chair of Consumer Product Safety Commission to Congress

NETLS Updates & Information 3/20

Library staff -- remember, lay representatives and supporters (board, FOL, foundation members) are welcome - and encouraged - to sign up for the NETLS News listserv.

Listserv registration is here.
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NOW is the time to nominate your outstanding individuals and programs for recognition at the May 4 Membership Meeting. Use our online nomination form.

Award categories are:

• Citizen of the year
• Library employee of the year
• Library director of the year
• Government official of the year
• Library project of the year (with redistributed size categories)
• Library volunteer of the year
• Lifetime achievement award
• Library leadership award

SEEKING nominees for NETLS Advisory Council - three terms end August 31. We will elect three individuals, two for 3-year terms and one alternate for a 1-year term. Current members with terms ending are eligible for nomination (there is a limit of two consecutive terms). Nominees must be NETLS lay representatives, not staff or alternate lay reps.

REGISTRATION is open, register online and mail your check or money order meal payment. Lunch is a Tex-Mex meal catered by Desperados and is $15.

ENJOY featured speaker, Rose-Mary Rumbley and the company of your favorite library supporters.

INVITE people in your community who have made a mark on your library or NETLS. Retired directors, former library and NETLS staff, vendors, performers, former Lay Representatives -- invite them all!

SEE YOU at the Atrium at the Granville Arts Center, Garland on Monday, May 4 Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. -- Meeting 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Over the next few weeks you will see several grant opportunities that refer you to the online process on http://www.grants.gov/. These applications require prior registration that may take several weeks. Ask your 501(c)(3) or local government to register now. The opportunities will likely involve libraries as partners rather than applicants.

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TODAY -- deadline for Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship, which will enable a library school student or new professional to attend ALA's 2009 Annual Conference.

TODAY -- application deadline for Literacy and Gaming initiative grants funded by Verizon. /

TODAY -- participate in ALA's survey of the library's role in providing electronic links to government services

By March 23 Register for EBSCO's Public Library Database Luncheon *April 2, Noon*, Hilton Americas-Houston, Grand Ballroom C, 4th Floor 1600 Lamar Houston, TX 77010

March 24 Technology on a Shoestring: Big Tools for Small Budgets Webcast sponsored by Polaris Library Systems, 1:00 PM. Scroll down to register

March 25 Collaborative Text Message Mobile Reference Information Session

Alliance Library System and Altarama will cohost an informational meeting for libraries interested in the possibility of joining InfoQuest(IQ), a six-month collaborative text message reference service. The online meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 25 from 10:00 am central - 12 noon. Participants will need to log into an online site and call into a teleconference number. If you would like to attend, please contact Lori Bell at ALS at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com. The meeting will include an introduction to the Altarama software, an overview of the project, and timeline and expectations of participants.

~~~ Want the entire announcement? Let Connie know and she'll forward it to you. ~~~

March 27 Ebsco database training - Balch Springs

By March 27 Complete TLA's Automation & Technology Round Table Survey of Top Technology Trends in Texas Results will be presented at April 2 TLA session 12-12:50 Rm 370

By March 30 NETLS AWARDS NOMINATIONS DUE

March 31 -Loan Star Library Interim Financial Status Reports due

By March 31 - Due date for submitting the Annual Report and the Application for System Membership.

Libraries submitting application forms after April 30 will NOT be eligible for system
membership (Rule §1.85). The instructions for filling it out are on the survey website or through TSLAC's website The Application for System Membership form is also on this webpage.

March 31 - April 3 -- TLA Conference, Houston

By April 1 Books for Babies Matching Grants

April 2 TLA Program Using the Data You Didn't Know You Had: TLA's Public Opinion Poll Results. 10:30-11:50 Ways to use the poll's results in grant writing

April 2 TLA EBSCO's Public Library Database Luncheon Noon, Hilton Americas-Houston, Grand Ballroom C, 4th Floor 1600 Lamar Houston, TX 77010

April 3 Webcast Diversity beyond the obvious

By April 7 Dreyer's Foundation Small Grants and Product Donation, Requests must be made at least 8 weeks prior to event.

April 10 Deadline for grant application to National Book Fund grant to support adult literacy.

April 12 - 18 National Library Week

Quick, someone tell Hallmark -- National Library workers day is April 14

By April 15 Libri Foundation Books for Children For small libraries (under 10,000 service population) in rural areas (30 miles from city with population over 40,000). Match your fundraising up to $350 2:1 so max available to spend is your $350 + $700 grant = $1,050

By April 15 Citizenship Grant, partner with your city, county, school district, etc. Agencies should notify by April 15 Search Grants.gov by Funding Opportunity Number - DHS-09-CIS-010-001

April 24 Irving Para Los Ninos

April 30 ROSA - Reaching our Spanish-Speaking Audience 6CEUs Denton, 9:00am - 4:30pm (Registration starts at 8:30am)

By May 1 - Payment for Membership Meeting Luncheon(s) due in NETLS office.

May 4 -- NETLS Membership meeting, Garland

May 14-15 Lewisville Small Library Management Program

By May 18 Woman's Day article contest for your library users

By May 22 Applications due for Save America's Treasures Program

By May 29 Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine

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Bottom of the page treat...

Dominoes!!

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Just Fun!

NETLS Updates & Information 3/16

Just the new things are listed here!

OPPORTUNITIES -- Citizenship Grant, partner with your city, county, school district, etc. Agencies should notify by April 15 Search by Funding Opportunity Number - DHS-09-CIS-010-001

TLA PRECONFERENCES --

• If you plan to attend TLA and a preconference, please register ASAP to help planners. If not enough early registrations, preconferences may be cancelled.
• Don't miss the "Baby Boomers Back in the Library" -- $75 for full day preconference with the "Aging Guru" Allan Kleiman
• "Connecting to Collections: Constructing the Future" is $65 with the possibility of stipend to attend. A limited number of stipends (ranging from $65-$400) are available to assist attendees from small institutions with travel and registration costs. To apply, send an email to Danielle Plumer, danielle.plumer@tsl.state.tx.us, including your name, the institution you represent, and a short description of how attendance at this workshop would benefit your institution and region. Please also include a short budget with the funds you are requesting, including travel, workshop registration fee, and up to one night's lodging. Recipients will be asked to complete a short report on the workshop within six months of attending, describing their experiences and how they have shared their knowledge with others. Reports may be included in the project website or other publications.

Live Homework Help from tutor.com is being revamped into a suite of learning tools, with the addition of GED, ESL, and other adult learning topics. Register for a webinar to get the scoop.


March 19 Rural Business Enterprise Grants - ARRA link goes live

April 16 Webcast An Ounce of Prevention: Health Reference Basics 11 - 12:30 (1.5 CEU)

May 22 Closing of applications for Save America's Treasures For list of previously awarded projects

The bottom of the list

• ... and find some good ideas (and bad) here
• .... some have a story I'm sure