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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 19, Issue 11, November
2009</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">STATE LIBRARY BOARD
AGREES TO PAY FOR GALE, NOT TO CHARGE FOR L-NET</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR>At the October 19th
meeting of the State Library Board of Trustees, the Board heard recommendations
from the Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Council about the LSTA
program in 2010. The Board agreed with the Council that LSTA funds should
provide a 100% subsidy for Gale databases in 2010, given the low cost that the
Library was able to negotiate. They also agreed, after some discussion, that the
Library would not seek partial support payments from public and academic
libraries for L-net e-reference services in 2010-11. Had the Board wanted to do
this, they would have had to adopt a temporary Oregon Administrative Rule in
December. Instead they passed a motion to set the partial support payments at $0
in 2010-11. They do plan to revise the Administrative Rule next year so that
partial support payments may be levied in the future, if the Board were to
decide to do so. In other business the Board awarded competitive LSTA grants to
16 applicants. The 2010 grant awards totaled $921,270. The Board also approved
goals for the State Librarian in 2009-10 and authorized funding for the Horner
Library Staff Exchange project in 2010. The next meeting of the Board will take
place on December 3rd and 4th at the State Library in Salem. The meeting on
December 3rd will be the Board's biennial planning retreat.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR>LSTA COMPETITIVE
GRANT AWARDS FOR 2010</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR>At their October
19th meeting the State Library Board of Trustees awarded the following LSTA
competitive grants for 2010:<BR><BR>Oregon State University Libraries, <I>Oregon
Digital Library Project</I> $69,373<BR><BR>Tigard Public Library, <I>Bridging
the Gap: Gaming for All Ages through the Public Library</I>
$5,525<BR><BR>Eastern Oregon University of behalf of Sage Library System of
Eastern Oregon, <I>Test and Implement an Open Source Integrated Library
System</I> $102,359<BR><BR>Deschutes Public Library District Library, <I>Linx;
Bringing the Public Library to Schools </I>$36,380<BR><BR>Oregon Council of
County Law Libraries, <I>Oregon County Law Library Consultant Grant</I>
$72,880<BR><BR>Lewis and Clark College, <I>Oregon Poetic Voices</I>
$34,150<BR><BR>University of Oregon Libraries, <I>Oregon Digital Newspaper
Project</I> $90,880<BR><BR>Multnomah County Library, <I>Preparing Black Children
for Kindergarten: A Library Planning Grant</I> $45,901<BR><BR>Oregon College of
Oriental Medicine, <I>Healing Through Collaboration</I> $58,362<BR><BR>Multnomah
County Library, <I>Kaboom! Knowledgeable and Active Boomers</I>
$52,793<BR><BR>Western Oregon University, <I>Cooperative Library Instruction
Project 2</I> $95,629<BR><BR>Portland Community College, <I>Expanding Library
Continuing Education Opportunities for All of Oregon</I> $66,297<BR><BR>Hannon
Library, Southern Oregon University, <I>Images and Education: A Southern Oregon
Perspective</I> $69,163<BR><BR>Shaw Historical Library at Oregon Institute of
Technology, <I>Seniors to Seniors: Creating Local History</I>
$32,587<BR><BR>Tualatin Public Library, <I>Creating Civic Engagement Through
Volunteerism</I> $11,440<BR><BR>Oregon Council of Teachers of English,
<I>Libraries as Community Research Centers</I> $77,554</FONT><BR><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">STATE LIBRARY CO-HOSTS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR TRIBAL LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES AND MUSEUMS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">On October 19-22 about 550
librarians, archivists, museum professionals and others gathered at the Red Lion
on the River in Portland for the fourth National Conference of Tribal Archives,
Libraries and Museums. The conference was co-hosted by the Tamastslikt Cultural
Institute of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla and the Oregon State
Library, and sponsored by the Western Council of State Libraries through a grant
from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Tribes from all across the
U.S. were represented. The conference combined inspirational keynote speakers
like Russell Means, leader of the American Indian Movement, with many workshop
sessions where participants learned how to preserve their heritage and lifeways.
A focus of the conference was on preserving tribal languages, many of which are
endangered. Experts like Professor Phillip Cash Cash from the University of
Arizona demonstrated the use of new technologies to revitalize the use of tribal
languages. In the closing session Russell Means made a plea for “total
immersion” education programs to teach tribal children their language. MaryKay
Dahlgreen from the State Library worked with Malissa Minthorn Winks from the
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla for the past year to plan and present the
national conference in Portland.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">30,000 BOOKS ON THEIR
WAY TO FUJIAN</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">On October 15th, 15 members of the
Oregon National Guard came to the State Library to load nearly 1,000 boxes of
surplus library books into a 40 foot ocean-going container. The State Library
and the International Relations Roundtable of the Oregon Library Association
have been collecting the books from libraries, companies and individuals since
the beginning of the year. The books will travel to the port of Xiamen in
Oregon’s sister province of Fujian, China. The Xiamen University Library will
receive the books and distribute them to libraries throughout the province. “I
want to thank all of the Oregon libraries that answered the call and donated
books for this worthwhile effort,” said State Librarian Jim Scheppke. The
project was motivated by Xiamen University Library Director Dehong Xiao, who
traveled to Oregon last fall and encouraged the donation project. Because of the
millions of English-language learners in Fujian there is a severe shortage of
English-language books in Fujian libraries.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">ONLINE OREGON LIBRARY
DIRECTORY LAUNCHES</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The State Library has developed a
new online Oregon Library Directory. The old dowloadable library directories
were not searchable and there were three separate directories. They were
difficult to use to create address labels for mailings, and were only updated
quarterly. The new online directory is searchable and includes all types of
libraries. You can update your library's information online so it will be
updated continuously, you can create customized contact lists, and more easily
create address labels for mailings for libraries on your customized lists.
Please check out the <A href="http://libdir.osl.state.or.us/">Oregon Library
Directory</A> and make sure your library information is up-to-date. We hope this
will be a more effective tool for you and your colleagues.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">FREE BCR WEB TRAININGS
BEGIN </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The "Library Futures: Staying Ahead
of the Curve 2010" webcast series will begin in November. All webcasts will be
from 9:00a - 10:30 PT.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">November 13. 2009: Millennials in
the Library <BR>January 29, 2010: Making the Best of a Shrinking Budget:
Creative in a New Economy <BR>February 19, 2010: Cataloging: Where Are We Now?
Where Are We Going? <BR>March 12, 2010: Information Literacy Education: A
National Overview <BR>April 9, 2010: Technology Trends in Libraries: Tools,
Skills, Staffing, Training <BR><BR>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.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Register now for one or more
webcasts by completing <A
href="http://www.bcr.org/training/partners/teleconferences/registration.html">BCR's
online registration form</A>. This series of webcasts is being made available
free of charge to staff from Oregon libraries through a statewide membership to
BCR, paid for by the Oregon State Library with LSTA funds. Also, DVDs of
previous webcasts are available via ILL from the <A
href="http://catalog.willamette.edu/search/X?SEARCH=college%2Bof%2Bdupage&SORT=D&searchscope=2">Oregon
State Library</A>.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MORE OREGON BATTLE OF
THE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE AT TBABS THAN EVER BEFORE</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Talking Book and Braille Services
has more than 75% of the books for 2010'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. If your student
isn't registered yet for Talking Books, download an <A
href="http://www.tbabs.org/">application</A> and mail in the original. We'll
process the application and get materials in your student's hands within a few
days. 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">VISIT A GREAT LSTA
GRANT PROJECT - OHSU’S MEDLINEPLUS GO LOCAL OREGON</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><A
href="http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/library/research-assistance/oregon-health-go-local.cfm">Oregon
Health Go Local</A> is coordinated by the Oregon Health & Science University
Library. It's an online directory of health service providers throughout Oregon.
Users can browse by health topics, health providers, or location to find the
services they need. As part of MedlinePlus Go Local, the Oregon Health Go Local
database is integrated with the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus
database. From MedlinePlus users will be able to find health service providers
in Oregon based on specific health topics. </FONT><BR></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">MULTNOMAH COUNTY
LIBRARY RECEIVES NATIONS HIGHEST AWARD FOR LIBRARY SERVICE</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Multnomah County Library has been
named one of five library recipients of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and
Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries. The
annual award, made by the Institute of Museum and Library Services since 1994,
recognizes institutions for outstanding social, educational, environmental or
economic contributions to their communities. Multnomah County Library will
receive the National Medal at a ceremony held later in Washington, D.C., and a
$10,000 award in recognition of its extraordinary contributions. Each day more
than 13,000 people visit the library, library staff answer more than 2,100
inquiries, and patrons check out or renew 57,000 books and other materials. In
response to changing demographics, Multnomah County Library has established
programs, services and outreach to Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese
speakers and increased the collection of books and materials in these languages.
The library has also increased the diversity of its staff to better reflect and
serve the community. Multnomah County Library is also a leader in the area of
early childhood services. “We have known for years that Oregon’s oldest and
largest public library was among the best in the U.S.,” said State Librarian Jim
Scheppke. “This award from the IMLS really validates that.”</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">OREGON READS COMMITTEE
ISSUES FINAL REPORT</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The Oregon Reads Committee of the
Oregon Library Association issued a final report showing that the project
involved more Oregonians than any other Sesquicentennial event held this year.
The Committee estimates that at least 80,000 Oregonians of all ages, and in
every county of the state, participated in the project. At least 40,000 people
read the Oregon Reads adult book selection, <I>Stubborn Twig</I> by Lauren
Kessler and another 10,000 read the junior book selections <I>Bat 6</I> by
Virginia Euwer Wolff and <I>Apples to Oregon</I> by Deborah Hopkinson. Oregon
Reads related programs in libraries totaled 473 with over 34,000 attending. Over
10,000 copies of <I>Stubborn Twig </I>were available for check out from Oregon
libraries and circulation is estimated at 25,000. Leah Griffith, Director of the
Newberg Public Library, made the final report on Oregon Reads to the Oregon 150
Board of Directors at the end of September. <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">This year I will have been a
practicing librarian for 30 years. And in all those years, mostly spent working
in state libraries in Texas and Oregon, I can’t remember a time when public
libraries nationwide were under more stress. You can’t pick up a <I>Library
Journal </I>or <I>American Libraries</I> these days without reading about
funding cuts, branch closures, layoffs and furlough weeks, or serious threats of
these from powerful elected officials. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At the same time the demand for
public library services is greater than it’s ever been since public libraries
began in this country more than a century and a half ago. My heart goes out to
dedicated public library staff that are faced with this situation, and I hope we
can come out of it soon. The only silver lining I can see is that no one seems
to be talking anymore about how public libraries have been made unnecessary by
the Internet. Public libraries have proven themselves to be one of the most
important public services we have in this recession.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">But the odd thing about this is
that despite the terrible national news, Oregon public libraries seem to be
holding their own. With just a few exceptions, Oregon public libraries have not
experienced cutbacks and closures in the current recession. One exception is the
Hood River County Library which has taken a 30% budget cut this year, due to the
county’s reliance on timber revenue from county forests that has nearly dried
up. This is an unusual case since most libraries don’t rely on this funding
source. Another exception is the Josephine County Library which is still trying
to bring back services by relying on donations in the absence of ongoing county
funding. But aside from these two libraries, most Oregon public libraries have
been able to maintain their funding pretty well.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">There are two reasons for this that
occur to me. One is that we now have 24 public library taxing districts with
permanent tax rates. When I came to work at the State Library at the beginning
of 1986 there were only six districts in the state. Several of these districts
fund multiple libraries in a county (e.g., Coos, Umatilla, Clackamas) so the
impact in providing stable funding for many Oregon libraries is even greater
than it may seem.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">A second reason is the effect of
property tax limitation measures that were passed by Oregon voters in the
1990’s. Measure 50, in particular, resulted in property taxes being levied on an
artificially low assessed value, not the higher real market value. On page six
of the latest <I>Oregon Property Tax Statistics</I> <A
href="http://library.state.or.us/repository/2009/200908311203001/">report</A>
there is a graph that shows the significant difference between assessed value
and real market value in 2008-09. I believe that in other states library funding
has been reduced due to falling property values, but in Oregon, our libraries
have been shielded from this so far because real market values still have not
fallen below assessed values. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">So even though Measure 50 was
opposed by most librarians, and had some bad effects on library funding back in
the 1990’s, today it is helping to sustain library funding. This just goes to
show you, if you didn’t already know, that public policy changes often have
unintended consequences. – Jim Scheppke</FONT><BR></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"><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:jennifer.maurer@state.or.us">Jennifer Maurer</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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