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<H1><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><A name=Top></A>Letter To
Libraries Online</FONT></H1>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">An Electronic Newsletter from
the Oregon State Library.......Volume 18, Issue 10, October
2008</FONT></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<DIV align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><B><A
name=Board></A>Library Board News</B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">LSTA COUNCIL
RECOMMENDS 13 LSTA GRANT AWARDS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At their October 17th meeting in
Salem, the State Library Board will be considering a recommendation from the
LSTA Advisory Council to award 13 competitive grants in 2009 totaling over
$820,000. Among the grants being recommended is one to test and implement an
open source integrated library system for the Sage Library System in Eastern
Oregon, and another to begin the Oregon Digital Newspaper Project at the
University of Oregon Libraries. Another project at the Deschutes Public Library
would extend their successful partnership with K-12 schools to more schools in
the county, and the Oregon Association of School Libraries is requesting a third
year of support for the statewide Oregon Battle of The Books project.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In other business the Board will
conduct the biennial evaluation of the State Librarian and will consider
recommendations from the Talking Book and Braille Services Advisory Council
about the purchase of digital talking book players for TBABS users. The Board
will also take up the Library’s Affirmative Action Plan for 2009-11 and set new
performance targets for the Oregon School Library Information System. An Open
Forum will be held at 1:30 p.m. Anyone may address the Board on any topic at the
Open Forum. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 102 of the State
Library.</FONT><BR></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR></FONT></P>
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<DIV align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><B><A
name=OSLNews></A>State Library News</B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">GOVERNOR AND TOP STAFF
WILL MOVE TO THE STATE LIBRARY</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The fire at the Oregon State
Capitol on August 30th resulted in serious smoke and water damage to the offices
of Governor Ted Kulongoski and about 20 of this top staff. Restoration of the
space has been delayed while the Legislature decides whether to have the
Governor and his staff move back, or possibly move to a new executive building
that has been on the drawing board. In the meantime, the Governor and his staff
will move from their temporary quarters where they moved after the fire, to the
State Library building. State Library staff, including the State Librarian, will
be moved to the 3rd floor to allow the Governor and his staff to occupy premium
space on the 2nd floor of the Library. The Governor will occupy the State
Librarian’s office. The moves should be completed in November. The Governor and
his staff will be located at the State Library for at least a year, and possibly
longer, if the Legislature decides to fund a new executive building which would
take several years to construct.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">SAVE THESE DATES: BCR
ANNOUNCES 2008-2009 FREE WEBCAST SERIES</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The following College of DuPage
webcasts are being made available free of charge to staff from Oregon libraries
through a statewide membership to <A href="http://www.bcr.org/">BCR</A>, paid
for by the Oregon State Library with LSTA funds. All teleconferences are 90
minutes in length - 9:00 am to 10:30 am Pacific Time.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Soaring to Excellence
2009: Back to Basics</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Reversing the Ratchet: Basic
Technology Adoption Strategies for Library Workers, <BR>November 7, 2008
<BR>Targeting the Ages: Programming that Hits the Mark, February 13, 2009 <BR>An
Ounce of Prevention: Health Reference Basics, April 16, 2009 </FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR>Library Challenges
and Opportunities</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Information Literacy for Life,
November 21, 2008 <BR>Diversity Beyond the Obvious, April 3, 2009 <BR>Webcasts
will be available live via the web and satellite downlink free of charge on the
dates and times listed above. They will also be available on DVD after the
webcast, libraries may purchase their own copy or ILL it from the State Library.
Look for further announcements in LTLO, the libs-or email list, and Library
Development’s <A
href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Robin/My%20Documents/INTRANET/Library/Technology%20Development">Technology
Development</A> webpage.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MANY 2009 BATTLE OF
THE BOOKS TITLES ARE AVAILABLE AT TBABS!</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Talking Book and Braille Services
has most of the books for 2009's Battle of the Books on recorded cassette. Some
titles are even available in Braille format. We have copies on hand and ready to
loan to registered patrons so call to reserve your student's books today. You
can reach us Monday through Friday at 800-452-0292. A friendly Reader's Advisor
is on hand now waiting to take your book order.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">If your student isn't registered
yet for Talking Books, download an <A
href="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Robin/My%20Documents/INTRANET/Library/application">application</A>
at <A href="http://www.tbabs.org/">http://www.tbabs.org</A> and mail in the
original. We'll process the application and get materials in your student's
hands within a few days. </FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">If you
have any questions call or leave a message at 800-452-0292.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">NON-PARTISAN VOTER'S
GUIDE IS AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This Fall, the Non-partisan League
of Women Voter's guide is available in large print, cassette, and CD thanks to
the Secretary of State, Talking Book and Braille Services, and the League of
Women Voters. To order a copy of the Voter's Guide for a patron, just contact
Talking Books at 800-452-0292. If the individual is already receiving Talking
Books, they may already be on the list to get the Voter's Guide. This guide is
available to anyone needing the Voter's Guide in an alternate format as part of
the Help America Vote Act. <BR></FONT></P>
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<DIV align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><B><A
name=OtherNews></A>Other Library News</B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">NUMBER OF TEACHER
LIBRARIANS REBOUNDS IN LATEST ODE DATA</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In the latest <A
href="http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=227">Oregon School
Directory</A>, published online by the Oregon Department of Education, the
reported number of teacher librarians in the 2007-08 school year took an
unexpected 17% jump from the prior year. In 2007-08 there were 454 teacher
librarians (“library/media specialists”) working in 1,311 Oregon schools, an
increase of 65 from the previous year. In 2006-07, the number of teacher
librarians hit a record low of only 389. The report also indicates that there
are 492 “library/media assistants” working in school libraries. This number is
down significantly from just three years ago when the ODE reported 808
library/media assistants. The data is reported annually by individual school
districts, so inconsistencies in reporting could explain some of the swings in
the data. The State Library hopes that the increase in teacher librarians in
2007-08 may indicate an upward trend for the future. In June the State Board of
Education voted to require students demonstrate proficiency in reading and math
beginning in 2012 in order to graduate. Currently only two out of three students
in Oregon are able to pass the 10th grade reading test. Schools may need to
reinvest in their school libraries, beginning in the early grades, as an
important part of their strategy to enable all students to get a high school
diploma.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MULTNOMAH COUNTY
LIBRARY SELECTED FOR “JOHN ADAMS UNBOUND”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Multnomah County Library is one
of only 20 libraries nationwide that were selected by the American Library
Association to host a new traveling exhibition based on a recent exhibit at the
Boston Public Library. The National Endowment for the Humanities provided major
funding for “John Adams Unbound” which explores Adams’ personal library — a
collection of 3,500 books willed by Adams to the people of Massachusetts and
deposited in the Boston Public Library in 1894. The Multnomah County Library
will have the 1,000 square foot exhibit for six weeks and will receive a $2,500
grant from NEH for attendance at an exhibit planning workshop and other
exhibit-related expenses.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ORBIS CASCADE ALLIANCE
RECEIVES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Orbis Cascade Alliance has
received one of 44 National Leadership Grants for 2008 from the Institute of
Museum and Library Services. The Alliance will partner with several of its
academic library members on “Planning for Northwest-Wide Access to Digitized
Primary Sources.” The $38,844 grant from IMLS will assist the partners to plan
for the future of the <A href="http://nwda.wsulibs.wsu.edu/">Northwest Digital
Archives</A> program of the Alliance, which serves archives in Oregon,
Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana with a database of finding aids for its
members’ archival collections. The outcome of the project will be solutions to
problems that are currently impeding the development of sustainable digital
programs. <BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR></FONT></P>
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<DIV align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><A
name=PS></A><B>P.S. (From the State
Librarian)</B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We have had some interesting
discussions recently with the Statewide Database Licensing Committee and the
LSTA Advisory Council about the future of <A
href="http://www.oregonlibraries.net/">L-net</A>. The L-net Coordinator, Caleb
Tucker-Raymond, has been working on a proposal to have Oregon libraries share in
the cost of L-net, at the request of the State Library Board. Up until now,
L-net has been funded through a grant of LSTA funds to the Multnomah County
Library. The bulk of the grant covers the cost of two staff to lead the project
and the software to run L-net. The cost of staffing L-net is borne by over 30
public, academic, school and special library partners and even some free-lance
volunteers.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">L-net is now a pretty mature
service that does a good business (an average of about 60 questions a day in
2007-08 and growing). Most of the users are K-12 students and college students.
But what does the future hold for L-net and for e-reference service in general?
This question lurks in the background when we begin to talk about Oregon
libraries having to begin to make a cash contribution to the service.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At the LSTA Council meeting I
shared my vision for the future of L-net and e-reference service. I start from
the premise that now and in the future the #1 destination by far for information
will be the Web. And if people go to the Web for information, that’s where
libraries have to be. There is really no alternative. If you look at it this
way, the distinction between reference and e-reference goes away, as it should.
L-net ceases to be a sideline for reference librarians (and an optional skill
set). E-reference becomes the main event.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">What I would like to see five years
from now is that every library offers e-reference service for its own clientele
through a variety of channels (email, chat, IM, text, VoIP, whatever is next)
and that the service is heavily promoted and widely utilized. L-net can help by
providing state-of-the-art software tools to enable libraries to do this. L-net
has already developed an open source tool, replacing OCLC QuestionPoint, that
they may make available to Oregon libraries in the near future. Because very few
libraries can offer e-reference service to their own customers 24/7 on their
own, this is another way that L-net can help by providing back-up service for
busy times and night and weekend service. I envision all Oregon reference
librarians being on call for e-reference (their local/campus service and
occasionally for L-net) for a good bit of their workday, and having the skill to
integrate e-reference with their other work.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">It’s time for all library managers
to finally let go of the past and embrace the collaborative, Web-enabled future
of reference service. E-reference is reference. And the sooner everyone gets on
board with that idea, the sooner we will arrive at a future where libraries are
able to reclaim a significant market share in the information business. – Jim
Scheppke<BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR></FONT></P>
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<DIV align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><B><A
name=Contacts></A>Contacts at the Oregon State
Library</B></FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Technical Assistance:
503-932-1004.<BR><BR>Library Development: 503-378-2525, <A
href="mailto:marykay.dahlgreen@state.or.us">MaryKay Dahlgreen</A>, <A
href="mailto:mary.l.mayberry@state.or.us">Mary Mayberry</A>, <A
href="mailto:darci.hanning@state.or.us">Darci Hanning</A>, <A
href="mailto:ann.reed@state.or.us">Ann Reed</A>, <A
href="mailto:patty.sorensen@state.or.us">Patty Sorensen</A>, <A
href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us">Katie Anderson</A>.<BR><BR>Talking Book
and Braille Services: 503-378-5389, <A
href="mailto:susan.b.westin@state.or.us">Susan Westin</A>.<BR><BR>Government
Research and Electronic Services: 503-378-5030, <A
href="mailto:robert.hulshof-schmidt@state.or.us">Robert
Hulshof-Schmidt</A>.<BR><BR>State Librarian: 503-378-4367, <A
href="mailto:jim.b.scheppke@state.or.us">Jim Scheppke</A>.<BR><BR>LTLO Editor:
503-378-2464, <A href="mailto:april.m.baker@state.or.us">April
Baker</A>.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><I>Letter to Libraries Online</I>
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: <A href="mailto:april.m.baker@state.or.us">April Baker</A> </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><I>Letter to Libraries Online</I>
is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form on the
publications page at the Oregon State Library's homepage: <A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL">http://www.oregon.gov/OSL</A>. 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 <A
href="mailto:april.m.baker@state.or.us">April Baker</A>, or mailed to LTLO,
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.</FONT></P>
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