<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.5897" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#caeeff border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD bgColor=#b3cbff>
<DIV align=center>
<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 20, Issue 1, January
2010</FONT></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD borderColor=#cccccc bgColor=#cccccc>
<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">BOARD MAKES AWARDS
GRANT FOR OPENING DAY E-BOOK COLLECTION</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At their meeting on
December 4th in Salem, the State Library Board awarded a $100,000 Library
Services and Technology Act grant to the Oregon Digital Library Consortium
(ODLC) to purchase an “opening day” collection of e-books for Library2Go.
Library2Go is a shared collection of downloadable audiobooks and videos that
serves about 3 million Oregonians through public and some community college
libraries. The ODLC will match the grant with $26,000 from their own budget and
continue to devote 20% of their collection budget to keep the collection
growing. The e-books will be in the EPUB format which can be read using most
e-book reading devices. In other business the Board granted the appeal of four
public libraries who were late in submitting their Ready to Read Grant
applications. They also approved the submission of a proposal from the
Government Research Services team to the state Budget and Management Division
for their 2011-13 state agency assessment. The proposal would adequately fund
electronic resources and also fund a one-time project to preserve deteriorating
state documents and other rare items in the Library collection. The next meeting
of the State Library Board is scheduled for February 26, 2010, at the State
Library in Salem.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">PLANNING BEGINS FOR
THE 2011-13 BIENNIUM</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The State Library Board’s planning
process for the 2011-13 biennium kicked off with a day-long retreat with Library
management on December 3, 2009. The Board heard reports from staff on their work
in the current biennium. Then they revisited the Library’s mission and long
range goals. They brainstormed strategies that might be needed in 2011-13 to
accomplish their long range goals. The ideas from the retreat will be handed off
to the Board Budget Committee that will be chaired by Board member Beth
Pearl-Gent. Two other Board members will serve on the Committee along with
library managers and a representative of library teams. The first meeting of the
Board Budget Committee will be held at the Oregon Commission for the Blind
offices in Portland on February 16, 2010.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">BOARD ELECTS NEW
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">At their December 4th Board meeting
in Salem, the Oregon State Library Board elected four new representatives to the
LSTA Advisory Council. The new Council members will serve a three-year term from
January 2010 – December 2012. The new Council members are:<BR></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">John Russell from Eugene,
representing academic libraries.<BR>May Garland from Scio, representing library
users.<BR>Perry Stokes from Baker City, representing public libraries.<BR>Pamela
Osborne from Portland, representing special libraries. </FONT></P>
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#cccccc border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<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 MOVES OUT,
LIBRARY STAFF MOVE BACK TO 2ND FLOOR</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In mid-January, Governor
Kulongoski and about 20 of his top staff will vacate the 2nd floor of the
Library return to their offices in the State Capitol. The Governor and his staff
moved to the Library several months after a fire on Labor Day weekend, 2008, did
a great deal of smoke and water damage to the Governor’s offices in the Capitol.
The Governor has been occupying the historic State Librarian’s office. The
offices in the Capitol have now been renovated after a project that has taken
most of 2009 to complete. The State Library staff that were displaced will
return to their former offices in late January. At the State Library Board’s
December 4, 2009, meeting, Chip Terhune, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, thanked
the Board for allowing the Governor to occupy part of the Library in 2009. The
location of the Library, just across the street from the Capitol, and its fine
meeting facilities made for an excellent temporary location for the Governor and
his top staff.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">STATE DATA
COORDINATORS AND IMLS TEAM UP TO PRODUCE MORE TIMELY NATIONAL DATA</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Every year, more than 9,000 public
libraries are surveyed in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, answering questions on
population, library collections, services and programs, staff numbers, revenues
and expenditures. The Public Libraries Survey's 97.5 percent response rate makes
the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which oversees the survey,
the envy of all other federal agencies, commented IMLS Director Anne-Imelda
Radice at the annual meeting of the state data coordinators in Washington, D.C.,
Dec. 2-3. Working together, IMLS and the State Data Coordinator’s efforts have
made data available more quickly than in previous years. For example, FY 2008
PLS data files will be released in spring 2010, eight months earlier than in
previous years. At the conference, 45 State Data Coordinators received the
Keppel Award for submitting prompt, complete, and high-quality public library
data for FY 2008 data submissions, including Ann Reed, State Data Coordinator
for Oregon.</FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">MORE STUDENTS
LOGGING-IN TO TALKING BOOKS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In the month of December, more
print disabled students signed up for Talking Books than ever before. The
increase in enrollments is due mostly to the advent of downloadable digital
talking books. In addition to the new, downloadable, digital talking books
school-aged TBABS patrons can play their RFB&D (Recordings for the Blind and
Dyslexic) materials on the brand new digital talking book players. If you have
patrons who are school aged (K-12) who qualify for Talking Book and Braille
Services, help them get signed up today. When they sign up, TBABS will help them
get logged on to BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), direct them toward
RFB&D, and send them a shiny new advanced digital audio player. Visit us <A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/TBABS/registration.shtml">online</A> for an
application. Remember: any librarian can serve as the certifying signature on
TBABS’ applications. <BR></FONT></P>
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#cccccc border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<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">WASHINGTON COUNTY
PUBLIC LIBRARIES EXCEED 10 MILLION CIRCULATION IN 2009</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">On Friday, December
11th, Washington County readers achieved a milestone in the Washington County
Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) thirty-three year history – they reached
their 10 millionth check-out in a single calendar year. Judy Stuebe, a patron of
the Hillsboro Main Library, was the lucky WCCLS customer to put the count over
the top to reach the record for the Cooperative’s fourteen member libraries.
Stuebe is a life-long resident of Hillsboro and frequent library user. She even
remembers attending summer reading programs as a child at the old Hillsboro
(Carnegie) Library on Lincoln Street in downtown Hillsboro. After raising four
children to be library users, she is now instilling a love of reading in her
four young granddaughters. Eva Calcagno, Cooperative Library Services Director,
notes, “10,000,000 checkouts is an incredible milestone, but it’s just one of
many indicators of increased community use of libraries. Circulation, visitors,
program attendance have all increased at double-digit rates over the last five
years.” The fourteen WCCLS member libraries have experienced a whopping 43%
increase in circulation over the past five years, increasing over 16% in the
last year alone. The passage of a WCCLS local option levy in 2006 allowed
libraries to restore previously-reduced open hours, rebuilt book budgets and
added library programs for children and adults, contributing to the surge in
library use. <BR></FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">PRELIMINARY NUMBERS
SHOW PUBLIC LIBRARY CIRCULATION WAY UP</FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In late December the
State Library posted the first <A
href="http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/LD/statsploregon.shtml">Oregon public library
statistics compilation</A> for the 2008-09 fiscal year. While public libraries
are still checking their data for accuracy, preliminary totals show that public
library circulation was up 8% statewide. That compares to an average annual
growth of 2.7% in the past five years, and confirms that the recession has led
to a large increase in public library use in Oregon. Oregon public libraries
circulated 55.9 million books and other library materials in 2008-09, about
153,000 per day. That’s about twice the circulation total of only 15 years ago.
Fifty-two Oregon libraries had double-digit circulation increases in the
preliminary 2008-09 data.<BR><BR></FONT></P>
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#cccccc border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<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">As we begin 2010 it is worth noting
that this will be a big year for elections. There is an important election
coming up on January 26th, and then in the May primary and November General
Election we will be choosing a new Governor for the first time in eight years.
There will no doubt be some important public library elections this year,
including a library district election in May in Hood River County. If voters in
Hood River County decide to create a new library district it will be the 25th
library district in the state.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The State Library has been closely
tracking public library funding elections since 1997, and it’s interesting to
see what the results have been over the past 13 years. There have been a total
of 122 public library elections to create library districts, pass local option
levies, or pass general obligation bonds. The average number of library
elections per year is nine, but the number varies quite a bit from year to year.
In 1998 there were 23 library elections, but in 2005 there were none. Over the
13 year period 52% of the library measures passed. Because of the “double
majority” law that passed in the mid-90’s (now modified by a measure passed in
2008) there have been 18 elections that drew a majority vote in favor but lost
due to low turnout. If you add those 18 to the total that passed, the number of
elections in which a majority voted in favor of the measure increases to
68%.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In recent years the number of
library elections has decreased. Last year there were only two; in 2008 there
were seven, and in 2007, only six. I think this probably signals a trend for the
future. One reason we are seeing fewer elections may have to do with the fact
that we have already passed a lot of bond measures to build new public libraries
all over the state. The need for new public library construction has diminished.
Also, with 24 library districts, some funding a number of libraries in
Clackamas, Umatilla and Coos counties, the need for libraries to pass local
option levies is not as great as it once was. In 1998, when we had 23 elections,
fifteen of those were for local option levies.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I wonder what other local
government services in Oregon have as good a track record as libraries for
winning elections? In recent years, when it comes to passing library districts
and local option levies, the keys to success appear to be having a solid case
about the need for funding and having your elected officials as vocal proponents
of the measure. The last three library districts to be formed in Oregon, in
Wasco County, Clackamas County and in the Ontario area bear this out. The
Clackamas County district measure that passed in November, 2008, with a 61%
‘yes’ vote, provides a model for how to win a library district election. Anyone
considering a library district election on the future would do well to talk to
librarians in Clackamas County about their approach. As far as I can tell, they
and their supporters did everything right. – Jim Scheppke</FONT><BR></P>
<TABLE width="100%" bgColor=#cccccc border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<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>
<P><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">To unsubscribe from libs-or, either
send an 'unsubscribe' message to <A
href="mailto:libs-or-request@listsmart.osl.state.or.us">libs-or-request@listsmart.osl.state.or.us</A>,
or visit the website: <A
href="http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or/">http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or/.</A>
All materials may be reprinted or distributed
freely.</FONT></P><BR></BODY></HTML>