[Libs-Or] Letter to Libraries Online - September 2010

[April Baker]

Letter To Libraries Online

An Electronic Newsletter from the Oregon State Library.......Volume 20, Issue 9, September 2010



Library Board News


BOARD APPROVES ADDITIONAL LSTA EXPENDITURES IN AUGUST

In a special meeting of the State Library Board on August 6th, the Board approved recommendations of the LSTA Advisory Council to spend surplus LSTA funds for three projects that benefit all libraries in Oregon. The 2009 funds must be spent by the end of September or be returned to the Federal government. The Board voted to make a supplemental grant of $50,000 to the Oregon Digital Newspaper Project at the University of Oregon Libraries, a $50,000 supplemental grant to the Oregon Digital Library Consortium to purchase e-books, audiobooks and videos for Library2Go, and $40,000 to purchase reference e-books for the Oregon School Library Information System. The Board met by phone and approved the Council recommendation in an unanimous vote. The next regular meeting of the State Library Board will take place on October 15th at the State Library in Salem.

BOARD WILL MEET SEPTEMBER 13 TO DECIDE ON BUDGET REDUCTIONS

The State Library Board will hold a special meeting by phone on September 13th to finalize a plan to make additional reductions to the 2009-11 budget. In June the Board approved reductions totaling $156,780, including a $115,987 reduction to Ready to Read Grants that will be made in December. After the August 26th state revenue forecast showed a further decline in state revenue, the Governor indicated that he plans to order a second round of across the board General Fund budget reductions in September. At press time the State Library had not been informed about the amount of the reduction target. The meeting will begin at 4 pm. Anyone wanting to listen to the meeting can attend in Room 202 at the State Library.
State Library News


STATE LIBRARIAN ELECTED TO SERVE ON THE LYRASIS BOARD

State Librarian Jim Scheppke has been elected by the LYRASIS<http://www.lyrasis.org> Board of Directors to a term on the Board beginning October 1, 2010. LYRASIS now serves the eleven western states that were formerly served by BCR. LYRASIS is the largest regional library network in the US, and now covers 33 states in the eastern and western US. The mission of LYRASIS is to support library and information professionals by providing opportunities for networking and collaboration and member services including education, group purchasing programs, digitization, preservation, consulting and advocacy. The State Library has purchased a one year trial membership in LYRASIS for all Oregon libraries so that librarians can learn about the advantages of becoming a LYRASIS member. Go to the transition website<http://www.lyrasis.org/Membership/Member-Enrichment-with-BCR.aspx> to learn more about LYRASIS and to activate the one year trial membership for your library. "I see real advantages for Oregon to affiliate with 32 other states in LYRASIS, and I hope to be able to help with LYRASIS' expansion in the western states," commented State Librarian Jim Scheppke.

AGENCY CONVERSATIONS PROJECT CONNECTS LIBRARY WITH CUSTOMERS

The Government Research Services Team at the State Library held five focus sessions with 35 state employees in April/May 2010. Discussions evolved from four key questions that were presented to these groups regarding their research activities, technology preferences, barriers to research and what role the library plays in their research. Findings from these conversations affirm some assumptions the library has made based on working with patrons and feedback provided from the May 2008 Needs Assessment Survey. Results from focus sessions also offered insights into shifts in use of technologies, the internet, resource needs, generational differences, and preferred information formats and platforms. This project was also an opportunity for the library to identify individuals who may wish to aid us in spreading the word about our services. Next steps include creating a plan to recruit and maintain agency champions to fulfill this important role. For more information on this project contact Kate McGann<mailto:kate.e.mcgann at state.or.us>, 503-378-5010.

2010 PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS COLLECTION NOW OPEN

The 2010 Public Library Statistical Report is now open at Bibliostat Connect<http://collect.btol.com>. Public libraries should be sure they have the current link so they will be able to log in to the survey. For assistance please call or email Ann Reed<mailto:ann.reed at state.or.us>, early and often, 503-378-5027 or check out the FAQ<http://libdev.plinkit.org/faqs-for-state-statistical-reports>.

LSTA ADVISORY COUNCIL TO MEET SEPTEMBER 10

The LSTA Advisory Council will meet in the first floor conference room (rooms 102 and 103) at the State Library at 9:00 am on September 10, 2010. The Council will be reviewing and making recommendations on FFY 2011 funding for seventeen competitive grant proposals, continuing funding for five statewide projects, and two Extending Library Service to the Unserved grant proposals. An open forum will be held at 1:00 pm and anyone may address the LSTA Advisory Council at that time. Funding recommendations will be sent to the Oregon State Library Board for action at their October 15, 2010 meeting. The Extending Library Service to the Unserved grants are the result of a State Library Board initiative to create new opportunities for providing library service to unserved Oregonians.

DESCRIPTIVE VIDEOS ON DVD AVAILABLE FROM TBABS

For several years, Talking Book and Braille Services (TBABS) has offered descriptive VHS videos to patrons who are visually impaired. The video titles include popular movies, classics, and documentaries. During action portions of the movie there is an audio track that describes the events taking place on the screen. This year, TBABS has been able to start adding DVD movies to the descriptive video collection. The movies are available for loan to registered TBABS patrons and are "menu driven" which means that some sighted assistance will be necessary in order to activate the movies. In addition to Descriptive Videos, the TBABS collection still includes Digital Audio Books, Analog (cassette), Audio Books, and Braille books. For more information about how to get your patrons access to any of the formats offered from TBABS download an application<http://www.tbabs.org> today at the TBABS homepage.

FREE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE WEB TRAININGS BEGIN

The Library Futures: Staying Ahead of the Curve 2011 webcast series will begin in September. All webcasts will be from 9:00am - 10:30 PT.

September 24, 2010: Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape
November 12, 2010: Redesigning Today's Public Services: Focus on Reference
February 4, 2011: Free Content for Library Collections
April 8, 2011: Cataloging: New Perspectives

These webcasts will give library staff a solid framework for problem-solving in today's complex library environment. They are cost-effective ways for staff to stay current and informed on libraries' use of technology. You and your staff can maximize these opportunities by bringing a group of interested staff together to watch, organize discussions about the impact of the shows' content on your library, and brainstorm follow-up actions suitable for your library environment. Please visit the College of DuPage website<http://www.dupagepress.com/library-learning-network/> to learn more. Register now for one or more webcasts by completing College of DuPage's online registration form<https://www.cod.edu/secure/software/registerteleconf.htm>. This series of webcasts is being made available free of charge to staff from Oregon libraries, paid for by the State Library with LSTA funds. Also, DVDs of previous webcasts are available via ILL from the State Library<http://catalog.willamette.edu/search/X?SEARCH=college+of+dupage&SORT=D&searchscope=2>.

FINAL YEAR OF READING FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES BEGINS

September 2010 marks the beginning of the third and final year of the Reading for Healthy Families (RFHF) early literacy training project. On September 9-10 the last train the trainers sessions will be conducted. Four of the librarians and Healthy Start staff who participate in the train the trainers sessions will then go on to conduct the Every Child Ready to Read @ your library training component of RFHF. Prior to RFHF there was only one Every Child Ready to Read trainer in Oregon. One of the four goals of RFHF is to increase the number of trainers from one to 12. The project has sparked great interest statewide among other professionals who work with at-risk children and families. With permission from the funders, Oregon Community Foundation and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the RFHF train the trainers sessions have been opened up to include staff from Head Start, Department of Child Care, Child Care Resource & Referral, and a kindergarten teacher. After the train the trainers sessions in September there will be over 30 Standardized Every Child Ready to Read Trainers certified by the Oregon Registry in Oregon. Access to qualified trainers is key to sustaining early literacy education efforts in Oregon libraries and communities.

2010 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OREGON INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM CLEARINGHOUSE COMING SOON

The 2010 Annual Report will soon be available online at Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse<http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/intellectual.shtml>. The report is a compendium of 24 challenges to library material in one school library and three public libraries between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse (OIFC) collects reports about formal, written challenges to library material from all types of Oregon libraries. The information is reported to OIFC by Oregon libraries on a voluntarily basis. OIFC compiles the reports from libraries into an annual report each year; all previous reports are now available online at Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse<http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/intellectual.shtml>. An email announcement will go out on the libs-or electronic discussion list<http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or> when the 2010 Annual Report is available online.
Other Library News


CHECK OUT ENERGY SAVINGS WITH ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER

Oregon public libraries are teaming up with Energy Trust of Oregon to bring to their communities information and tools that can increase energy awareness and drive energy savings. Nearly 50 libraries, large and small, now have Kill A Watt monitors and information to check out to library users. Kill A Watts measure how much electricity electric appliances and devices are consuming when plugged in, such as refrigerators, microwaves, computers, TVs, phone chargers, game consoles and cable set-top boxes. Kill A Watt monitors can also be used to measure "phantom" energy loads: the amount of energy an electronic device will draw, even when in standby mode. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off. Included with the Kill A Watt monitors are helpful tips and information on next steps to save energy at home based on what is learned by using the monitor. Libraries that did not choose to participate in the first round of the project will have another chance to sign up and receive Kill A Watts and information from Energy Trust. Eventually the State Library hopes that every Oregon public library will participate in the project to help their communities save energy. The project was modeled on a successful project at the Eugene Public Library that began two years ago.
P.S. (From the State Librarian)


There are many benefits to hanging out with state librarians. I actually belong to two associations of state librarians. The Chief Officers of State Library Agencies is our national association that concentrates mainly on looking out for our interests with our federal partners like the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. We also have a Western Council of State Libraries that includes all of the states west of the Mississippi. Western Council is a more informal group that is good at sharing best practices and collaborating from time to time on special projects.

The fact that the Plinkit content management system now serves hundreds of public libraries across the U.S. is due to the fact that Eva Miller and I made a presentation at a Western Council meeting some years ago. Colorado and Texas sat up and took notice at that meeting, and the rest is history.

I believe it was at that same meeting where I first learned of the wonderful historic newspaper digitization projects that state libraries in Colorado and Utah had helped to get started. After that meeting I was determined to help get a similar project going in Oregon. I started talking to Deb Carver and Mark Watson at the Knight Library at UO. It was logical that they should take the lead, since for decades UO has been responsible for collecting and preserving newspapers in our state on microfilm. Deb and Mark were enthusiastic about getting started on this and we held a summit of key stakeholders to begin to build support.

Of course money is always the key issue. For that UO Libraries successfully competed for a two-year LSTA grant to get started. That grant has leveraged two grants from the Oregon Heritage Commission. And all this local support helped to attract major (hopefully ongoing) support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. UO hired Karen Estlund who worked on the Utah project to lead the Oregon project, and we were underway.

You can understand how excited I was when the first fruits of this effort were announced a few months ago. While our state website is being developed, UO has loaded the first content into the Library of Congress Chronicling America website: the Klamath Falls Evening Herald<http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99063812/issues/> from February, 2008 to December, 1918. I got on the site and did a keyword search for the first Oregon State Librarian, Cornelia Marvin. What a thrill to bring up several articles recounting trips that Cornelia had made to Klamath Falls, including one to promote school libraries in 1908.

While NEH funds and other grant funds will support a portion of the digitization work that needs to be done, the project will be turning to local communities to come up with the funds to digitize their local papers. The ultimate goal of the Oregon Digital Newspaper Project is to include all Oregon newspaper content in the public domain. I hope we will see cooperation from everyone in the Oregon library community to work with local heritage organizations and others so we can meet this ambitious goal. - Jim Scheppke
Contacts at the Oregon State Library


Library Development: 503-378-2525, MaryKay Dahlgreen<mailto:marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us>, Mary Mayberry<mailto:mary.l.mayberry at state.or.us>, Darci Hanning<mailto:darci.hanning at state.or.us>, Ann Reed<mailto:ann.reed at state.or.us>, Jennifer Maurer<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>, Katie Anderson<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>.

Talking Book and Braille Services: 503-378-5389, Susan Westin<mailto:susan.b.westin at state.or.us>.

Government Research Services: 503-378-5030, Robert Hulshof-Schmidt<mailto:robert.hulshof-schmidt at state.or.us>.

State Librarian: 503-378-4367, Jim Scheppke<mailto:jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us>.

LTLO Editor: 503-378-2464, April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>. Letter to Libraries Online is published monthly by the Oregon State Library. Editorial office: LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950, 503-378-2464, editor: April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>. Letter to Libraries Online is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form on the publications page at the Oregon State Library's homepage: http://www.oregon.gov/OSL. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Oregon State Library. News items or articles should be sent to April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>, or mailed to LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.

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