UpNext: The Future of Museums and Libraries
In these tough economic times, strategic thinking is a wise investment in the future. Whether you work in, partner with, study, volunteer, visit or are just plain interested in museums and libraries and passionate about how they can continue to thrive in their service to the public—you have an opinion to be shared!
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites you to help invent the future of museums and libraries through your participation in
UpNext: The Future of Museums and Libraries Wiki. IMLS’s first-ever wiki is a platform where individuals inside and outside of museums, libraries, and related fields can discuss, dissect, expand, and inform the issues outlined in the Future of Museums and Libraries: A
Discussion Guide. IMLS will use the knowledge shared in the wiki to help shape the agency’s strategic plan, research directions, publications, convenings, and grant making. The wiki officially launched March 3 and is an opportunity to share resources, examples of what works, and vexing questions. It's sure to be a thought-provoking five weeks for all participants and provide food for thought for your career, your institution and the choices you face.
Nine discussion themes and one theme on next steps will each be featured on the wiki for a two-week period, introduced by expert discussion leaders. The themes and discussion leaders include:
Happening NOW! - March 3-161. Changing Definitions & Roles of Museums and Libraries
Martín Gómez, City Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library
2. Shifts in Power & Authority
Beth Takekawa, Executive Director, Wing Luke Asian Museum
Cassie Chin, Deputy Executive Director, Wing Luke Asian Museum
March 17 - 303. Museums & Libraries as the “Third Place”
Susan Hildreth, City Librarian, Seattle Public Library
4. Technology & Policy Development
John Wilkin, Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology (LIT), University of Michigan, Executive Director of HathiTrust
March 31-April 135. 21st Century Learning & Information Use
Tom Scheinfeldt, Managing Director for Center for History and New Media at George Mason University, OMEKA Project Director
6. New Models & Structures for Collaboration
Mark Wright, Director of Partnerships, National Children's Museum
April 14-277. Planning for a Sustainable Future
Emlyn Koster, President & CEO, Liberty Science Center
8. Metrics for Evaluating Service & Impact
John Fraser, Director, Institute for Learning Innovation-New York
April 28-May 129. The 21st Century Museum & Library Workforce
Joanne Marshall, Alumni Distinguished Professor, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
10. UpNext: Where Do We Go From Here?
Larry Johnson, CEO, The New Media Consortium
May 19Last official “Wiki Wednesday” IMLS will post wiki final summary.
Each theme will have a unique wiki page describing the theme and posing questions for discussion. Wiki users will be able to respond and comment on the questions, as well as pose new questions and thoughts particular to that theme. Wiki users will also be able to build a collaborative bibliography on the wiki and share existing projects at their own institutions or others, which are relevant to the discussion themes. A unique page will also exist for educators and students to share how the wiki, the Discussion Guide, and other resources on the future of museums and libraries are or can be used in professional education. If you have any questions or comments regarding the wiki or the Discussion Guide, please feel free to contact Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov or Erica Pastore, epastore@imls.gov.
08 March 2010 - 13:39
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Garnavillo Library Wins TechSoup Help
Each month,
TechSoup selects a public library or nonprofit group to win an hour with one of their tech consultants. The topic is left up to the winner and the hour is spent on the phone answering questions. And how about this: the March winner was Garnavillo Public Library in northeast Iowa!
Library director Mary Fran Nikolai applied and was so pleased to win. In a population of 754, Garnavillo Library has 5 public computers and 2 staff computers. From TechSoup’s news release “…being able to afford tech support is one of their top technology challenges, so this was a great opportunity to get some answers. Mary Fran asked very specific questions about the library’s network, bandwidth issues, scheduling updates, and a scanner that wasn’t working properly. Out intrepid tech analyst answered all of her questions, offering solutions and new ideas to try…”
If you have tech challenges—and who doesn’t, right?—you too can enter for a chance to win an hour of TechTime with TechSoup. Visit their website for the application form. And congrats to Mary Fran at Garnavillo!
08 March 2010 - 10:03
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Notes from the Snowpack!
The sun is shining right now, but who knows how long it will last. The kids are even tired of snow days and for those of you who remember him -- I think Jim might even be tired of shoveling by now.
Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference Summary
Though it was an icy January day the Library Service Areas’ third annual Iowa Small Libraries Online drew record numbers to keynote and concurrent sessions, poster sessions and the virtual exhibit hall.
Keynote speakers Sarah Houghton-Jan (The Librarian in Black) and George Needham (OCLC) shared ideas and perspectives on making good, if tough, choices in tough times. Concurrent session topics included customer service, emerging trends in youth services, adult programming, social media marketing, using appreciative inquiry for dealing with change, and friends groups. Poster sessions featured screencasts, trustee training videos, and “going green” at the library. In the virtual exhibits, participants could visit with automation vendors, summer library program providers, and more.
The conference was held entirely online, in Adobe Connect Pro classrooms, provided to the Library Service Areas by the State Library of Iowa. Total attendance for all the sessions was 659, and at one point the exhibits had more than 120 people in the virtual hall. All the sessions were recorded, and can be viewed at anytime, following the link on the Conference’s Resources page:
http://www.swilsa.lib.ia.us/isloc/resources.htm
“I haven't done too many of these but it's very nice to be able to sit in the comfort of your office!”
“This was an amazing program!”
“Great virtual conference, good idea to hold it. :) “
“I'm needing to change automation systems and was delighted to find the links in the exhibits!”
“There were so many great ideas today - I think I need someone to do a program on organizational skills to keep all this information organized! ”
Upcoming CE
You should have received a copy of the
CE Roundup last week, but if you need another it can be downloaded at
http://www.neilsa.org/classes/CEroundupfebmar2010.pdf. Remember, all online classes are open to librarians across the state. They are a joint project.
Watch for
Summer Reading Warm-Up later next month. We're still working out the location details on 2 sessions, but it should be up in the Statewide CE catalog soon.
The next
Library 101 has been scheduled for April 13th.
If you have any requests or suggestions for CE, let Denise or Eunice know. We're working on extending the schedule right now.
Legislative Day - March 3rd
Denise is taking reservations for van rides. Call or email if you want to be added to the list.
If you'll be driving yourself and are open to taking passengers, let us know and we'll put you in touch with people needing rides.
Around the LSA
Lobby Display at the Robey Memorial Library
Jewelry Collection of Callie Irons - http://www.waukon.lib.ia.us/archive/2010/02/ld-2-2010
Wii Sports Resort Swordplay Tournament - at the James Kennedy Public Library in Dyersville
Anyone 12 and older is invited to participate in a single elimination tournament of Wii Sports Resort Swordplay. Bring your friends and play against each other. Equipment will be provided by the library and the games will be played using the projection system and big screen. Competition will begin at 1:00 pm and continue until all matches are complete. Ages 12 and up are welcome. Come for fun, “fighting”, and food. Registration is recommended as participation is limited to 24. Walk-in’s are welcome if space is available. Sign up by calling 875-8912 or visiting the library. Feb. 27, 2010
Used Book Sale - Elkader Public Library
Join us for this used book sale at the library sponsored by the Friends of the Elkader Public Library.
THIS IS BAG SALE DAY. WE'LL PROVIDE THE BAGS YOU JUST HAVE TO FILL THEM! Mar. 20, 2010
Special Story Time Help at the Kothe Memorial Library in Parkersburg
The library was privileged to have some very special guest presenters for last Thursday morning’s Story Time. Nate Houts (age 11), of rural Dike, volunteered to lead our morning along with sisters Katie (6) and Izzy (3). They belong to the Home School Assistance Program and earned leadership credit for their involvement in the library. Nate read some silly stories about one of his favorite subjects: dogs. That’s because he has two of his own that he loves. Not only did he do an excellent job reading to the boys and girls, he also sang an interactive song about waking up the animals that his sisters assisted with.
After the stories were completed, Katie gave instructions for making a dog puppet. She cut out all the pieces at home before bringing everything along to organize for our craft time.
We want to thank the Houts’ for doing a FANTISTIC job!
Ideas
Humanizing your Facebook Pages | David Lee King
Why do these Pages have more friends? Glancing through them, it looks like they are doing one thing – they are humanizing their Facebook Pages. What do I mean by that?
They’re “doing stuff.” Stuff like this:
- Posting regular status updates
- Interacting with visitors in the comments of status updates – some status updates have 20-30 comments, as well as “Likes”
- Pointing to stuff that’s happening in the library (ie., lectures)
- Regularly add photos and videos – sometimes hundreds of them.
- They use Facebook’s Events feature to list events.
Theme Kits available
Theme Kits are available for two age groups, from 18 to 24 months and 24 months to age 5. Kits provide a teaching web, manipulatives, books, activities for art, social studies, science, and more! We also offer storytelling aprons, storytelling props, oversized books, and more!
To see a list of themes available in kits, additional storytime props and fun activity helpers, visit http://www.sls.lib.ia.us/sls-services/early-childhood-literacy-kits.
From the Eye-Opener
The Winter Olympics got underway last Friday Feb.12 with opening ceremonies in Vancouver. Always great TV viewing, so libraries could bring TVs front and center for people to watch some of the broadcasts. And when not watching the coverage, the TV will still be handy to hold Olympic contests of your own with a new Wii game Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. This Wii game includes downhill skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding, hockey, and more—27 events in all. And if you don't have a game like that, be creative. Even bowling was an Olympic Demonstration Sport in 1988.
17 February 2010 - 14:38
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Iowa's ARRA Grant Opportunities: Government and Vendor Collaboration
The State of Iowa is encouraging collaboration between prospective applicants for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding.
This website is designed to help prospective applicants for ARRA funding find broadband project partners, so interested parties can contact each other to partner in potential projects.
Use this website to find broadband project ideas and partners, find complementary resources, combine expertise, and create stronger proposals to apply for potential ARRA funding.
http://collaboration.iowa.gov/
03 February 2010 - 09:42
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
January 29, 2010
Wi-Fi
We've still got some w-fi window clings available. If you want one, call or email Denise. We'll send the leftovers to libraries that asked for multiple copies.
You can see and example here - http://www.neilsa.org/consulting/XYZ/xyzlist.html.
Driftless
Our paperback sets of Driftless are almost completely booked for the year. It's great to see so many book discussions going. You can check for changes to the schedule on the website (http://www.neilsa.org/airmaterials.html) as well as other titles we have in group sets. And if we can't provide a set when you need it, you might be able to borrow from one of the other LSAs. This is a cooperative project.
Website Chat
Many of you have been using the chat widget on the website to contact me and that's a great thing. Your question pops right up on my desktop and you can even leave a message. I'd like to remind you though to let me know who you are. Unless you put your name in the text of the message or click on "edit nick" and enter your name, all I get is a bunch of numbers to identify you. If I'm on the phone and can't get to it immediately that's frustrating.
I'm also available through regular chat clients. If you use one of them, let me know and I'll get you my contact information.
Upcoming CE
New Children's and Young Adult Literature
Feb. 24, 2010. Register for an ICN room near you on the statewide catalog.
Google Tools
In March. This is a hands-on class. It will be in the statewide catalog as soon as all the details are set.
The Board's Role in Human Resources
An online series of classes of special interest to library boards. Beginning Tuesday Feb.2, Northwest LSA presents “The Board’s Role in Human Resources,” a 5-part series examining the influence and decision-making that boards have in personnel issues. From hiring and evaluating the director, to setting salaries, to adopting personnel policies, Iowa’s boards do have an important role to play. Part 1 in the series is “Recruitment & Retention” What knowledge, skills, and abilities should boards look for when hiring a library director? We’ll include tips for advertising the job, sorting through applications, and developing appropriate interview questions. Don’t need to hire a director right now? That’s cool—there’s still plenty to talk about with a discussion of job descriptions—there’s always room for updated job descriptions! And we’ll round out the evening with some ideas for what boards can do to ensure a healthy and productive workplace. Part 1 starts the series on Tuesday evening February 2, 6:00PM—7:30PM. While aimed at trustees, library directors and staff are welcome—come one, come all. Please pre-register in the c.e. catalog; once you register, you’ll receive a link to Northwest LSA’s Adobe Classroom. Join us for Part 1 of “The Board’s Role in Human Resources!”
NEIBORS
NEIBORS libraries have probably seen the announcement that we've started adding ebooks to the collection. They'll be readable on computer, Nook, Sony Reader and several others. Not the Kindle though. Watch for the announcement that they're live soon.
If you're not currently involved in NEIBORS, but would like to be, give Eunice a call. We're able to add new libraries on a quarterly schedule. It's never too late.
OCLC Reporting
It's been brought to our attention that our website form for reporting OCLC titles received and returned was not working properly. If you've used it in the last few weeks, you might want to check with Mary to make sure we got the message. It is working now at http://www.neilsa.org/oclcupdate.cfm.
Thanks for your help
Facebook
I love seeing all your library activities on your Facebook updates. If you have a page that I'm not a fan of, please let me know. If you haven't seen it yet, NEILSA has a page at www.facebook.com/northeast.lsa. Would you believe NEILSA was already taken? I've started using it to post the pictures I take in libraries around the area. Now, if the weather would just allow me to travel...
We've also developed a page for the LSAs statewide so you can see our joint projects. It's at www.facebook.com/ilsa.
Around the LSA
Winter Fest 2010 - NEW HAMPTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Saturday February 20, 2010
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
JOIN US FOR A DAY OF FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES.
MAIN LIBRARY: Board games for all ages including
Cranium, Pictureka, and others
Bring your favorites as well
(No cut throat competition—just fun)
Drawings throughout the day
KID’S ROOM: Penguinstory hour and activities at 10:30
Kid’s board games
MEETING ROOM : Penguin Movie
Jr. Duck Stamp Exhibit- Guttenberg Public Library
Prize-winning pictures of ducks on display
Come to the library and see the amazing drawings of students who were prize-winners of the Jr. Duck Stamp Competition in Iowa.
Feb 04, 2010 10:00 AM to Feb 26, 2010 12:00 PM
Coffee House February 2010 - Murphy Memorial Library, Monona
At next Coffee House on Tuesday, February 2nd, Bookworms will host Linda Christofferson from The Natural Gait. Linda will speak about this local get-away and describe what activities are available. Please mark your calendars for this special event. Everyone is welcome!!
Feb 02, 2010 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm
29 January 2010 - 14:55
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Welcome to 2010!
Wish I could say it was a warm welcome.
Our copies of the 2010 All Iowa Reads Book, Driftless, have finally started to arrive. Contact Denise to reserve your set. You can check the availability calendar at http://www.neilsa.org/airmaterials.html.
While you're on our website, please check the van delivery schedule for changes. You can find it at http://www.neilsa.org/vanschedule.html.
We've already received a call asking how many Waterloo phone books we need this year. We usually get enough for all of you and send them out, but we're wondering if you still use them or if they just gather dust. Could you please indicate your choice on a very brief survey at http://neilsa.org/neilsasurvey.html.
You should have already received the January edition of
The Boardroom to acompany your
Trustee Trouble DVD. If not, or if you had problems with the attachment, you can download a copy here - http://neilsa.org/trustees/boardroomjan2010.pdf.
James Kennedy Public Library - Dyersville
Musical Sundays @ Your Library presents "My Fair Lady"
When
Jan 10, 2010
Where
Hofmann Room
This classic musical stars Audrey Hepburn as Eliza, a London flower
girl who wants to learn to be a proper lady. One of the all-time great
movie musicals, featuring classic songs and the legendary performances
of Rex Harrison, this film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor,
and five other Oscars. Intermission is planned as film is 172 minutes
in length. Rated G.
Guttenberg Public Library (I wish I'd been at this New Year's party!)
Solve the mystery event!
Join us at the Guttenberg Library for a mystery party:
"My Grandma's Gonna Kill Me!"
Dec. 31, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Participants must be in 4th, 5th, or 6th grades.
A fun New Year's Eve snack buffet will be served after the mystery is solved.
Please call the library at 252-3108 to register for this event.
05 January 2010 - 15:49
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
The Notes for Dec. 4th
Library 101
Just a reminder that we’re offering another session of Library 101 next Thursday, Dec. 10th. This class is offered online, in Northwest Library Services Adobe Classroom, from 9:00AM to 12:00PM. Hear about the services available to you from the LSAs and the State Library. Learn about some of the public library service standards that libraries are expected to meet to qualify for Direct State Aid. And there will be lots of time for questions you might have about any statewide programs that you’d like to learn more about. Register online at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/.
Library Automation
It seems that many of you have recently or plan to soon, made a change in your automation system. I need to update our list of who has what. Please drop me a line at riesberg@neilsa.org and let me know what you’re using.
E-rate
You may have already seen notices that the “window” has opened for filing. If you’re in the consortia, we’ve got the 470s under control and will be filing the 471s as soon as we’re able. We’ll be in touch if we need any information. Keep an eye on the blog for general announcements.
Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference
January 21, 2010. Save the date!
Get Through Tough Times @ your library
In some ways, this brief list oversimplifies all the things the library offers, but that is kind of the point.. .to provide a reminder of the basic but important services libraries offer at little or no cost. So, without further adieu, here are eight ways our library can help you get through qur country’s economic slowdown:
- Try it before you buy it. Money is tight. Don’t buy a CD, DVD, or book without “testdriving” it first. Come to the library and borrow it to see if it’s a purchase that is right for you. If we don’t have it, we’ll try our hardest to get it for you
- Two words FREE INTERNET
- Bolster your business. We have access to databases and research tools that will help you reach new and different markets, even during tough times.
- Get the skills you need. Libraries offer classes on a variety of topics. Pick up your library newsletter, visit our website, or check The Guttenberg Press for library news.
- Find entertainment. Libraries offer classes, events and activities for children and adults, almost always at no cost.
- Hold meetings that get results. The library offers a low-cost meeting space. Whether you’re a school group trying to develop a fundraiser or a CEO trying to launch a business, stop in to see if you can hold your meeting at the library.
- Find a new job, a better job, or a different job. Use computers, books, newspapers, and more to find a employment and build resumes and cover letters.
- Regain a sense of community. Feeling a bit disconnected during tough times? Libraries are places where communities come together. Stop in and take a moment to take in the action... you’ll find it abuzz with information, people, and possibilities!
From the Guttenberg Public Library Fall 2009 Newsletter
Thanks for saying it so well!
Connecting Kids with Great Web Sites
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 7 p.m. CST.
Sessions take place in an ALA OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries) room, which can be accessed from the ALSC Web site.
Learn how to find, evaluate and use Web sites for kids! This presentation features the chairs of the ALSC Great Web Sites for Kids Committee who evaluate 100s of sites every year to find fun and educational tools for children and families. They'll show you what the committee does to come up with their widely used "Great Web Sites for Kids" list and how you can incorporate these resources into your library programming.
ALSC Student Sessions are basically FREE online workshops that run about an hour and are lead by ALSC members from across the country. All you need to participate is a computer with speakers and an interest in children's services. This is also a great opportunity to network with other students and ALSC members without leaving the comfort of your home.
The Decline: The Geography of a Recession
Kind of depressing, but a fascinating image. http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html
H1N1 Resources
Free from EBSCO -- http://www.ebscohost.com/flu/
Assistive Technology for Public Computers
Date: Dec. 10, 2009
Time: 11:00 am Pacific
Register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=sdgr4n0k0a03
Are you concerned about creating computer access for everyone? If so, you may want to consider using assistive technology. Not sure what this is or how its applicable to a public computer setting? This is the webinar for you! Kami Griffiths from TechSoup will interview Jane Vincent from Center for Accessible Technology. We will discuss hardware and software solutions, their costs and what it takes to get started.
This webinar is ideal for anyone who manages or volunteers in a public computer center, either in a library, housing development, or social service agency. This is also applicable to IT managers looking to better address staff needs.
04 December 2009 - 14:19
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Notes for Nov. 25
Happy Thanksgiving!
The NEILSA Office will be closed Thursday and Friday. We hope it's a great week for all of you.
E-rate Consortia
Check the blog at http://www.neilsa.org/weblogs/consortia.php for updated lists of participating libraries.
Webinar: Writing a Library Behavior Code
Title: Writing a Library Behavior Code
Date and time: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 12 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time
This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar. Pre-registration is not required.
For more information and to participate in the December 10 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/345/index.html
- A teen in the library is bothering other library users.
- A woman is breastfeeding her baby in the children's room.
- A man asks for help looking up N1H1, says he has it and then sneezes loudly.
Are these behaviors prohibited by the library's code of conduct? If so, what can library staff legally do to address the situation?
This webinar will benefit participants by helping them draft legally enforceable behavior codes. It offers guidance on reasonable behavior rules, distinguished from restrictions on user's free speech rights. What type of notice must the library give its users about its behavior policies? When is an appeals process required, and what should it entail?
The webinar also looks at the emerging issue of library user behavior at library spaces online in chat, text, blog comments as well as third party spaces like library myspace and flickr pages.
Speaker: Mary Minow. Mary Minow is an attorney, consultant, and a former librarian and library trustee. She has taught library law at the San Jose State School of Library Science. She was President on the board of CALTAC in 2002, the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners, and now serves as its Policy Analyst. She is the first recipient of the California Library Association's Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award, given in 2004.
If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check our archive listing at:
http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived
Getting Books to People
Here’s an idea I’d like to share.
We are a very small rural library in an isolated area of northern California that has no bookmobile so one of my staff had an idea that we might be able to have library books delivered along with the meals on wheels.
We contacted the director of the meals on wheels program and sent interest questionnaires to their clients. The clients were interested in the program but were concerned that delivering books would delay the meal delivery. The interested clients then filled out a request form that listed the authors, titles, genre, etc. that they would like to receive.
We’ve made the process easy for the delivery person by limiting the clients to 2 books at a time. The books are placed in large envelopes with the client’s name so that they can be delivered along with the client’s meals.
Linda Kaufmann
Library Manager
Del Norte County Library
Check Out Readlyn's Newsletter
http://www.readlyn.lib.ia.us/archive/2009/11/1109news
COD Library & Information Technology - Spring 2010
Classes are now forming for the Spring 2010 semester of the College of DuPage Library & Information Technology program. Spring classes begin on Jan. 14, 2010. Take classes on the Internet, or via two-way television broadcast. Registration for new students begins Nov. 13, 2009. Please contact Carol Sturz, Coordinator, with questions. Call 630-942-2597 or e-mail sturzc@cod.edu. Additional information may be found on the College of DuPage Library & Information Technology webpage: www.cod.edu/lta
25 November 2009 - 11:31
riesberg - notes -
-
§ ¶
Last Comments
Mary Fran Nikolai… (Want to Learn abo…): I think it would a great …Linda Adams (NOTES for 09/15/2…): Great hearing from our LS…
Barb Sowers (NOTES for 09/15/2…): For the software specific…