Monday, February 27, 2012

New OCLC Project - Websites for Small Libraries

OCLC Website for Small Libraries project makes getting on the Web easy and fast for small libraries.

The Website for Small Libraries project, which began as an OCLC Innovation Lab experiment in 2011, is now available as a beta service for any library wishing to set up its own website.

By participating in the project, libraries will be able to quickly and easily set up a website that provides basic functionality for making small collection information available on the Web, setting up users, checking materials in and out, placing holds, and providing library contact, location, service and event information.

"The goal of the Website for Small Libraries project was easily stated, but not so easily realized," said Mike Teets, OCLC Vice President, Innovation. “We wanted small libraries with collections of 20,000 items or less to be able to have a simple, inexpensive yet functional presence on the Web."

Four South Dakota libraries, as well as the South Dakota State Library, were part of the project’s pilot. "Many of our libraries have a staff of just one or two, and small budgets," said Dan Siebersma, South Dakota State Librarian. "A product that makes it easy for these libraries to have a website with a minimum amount of effort and at a low cost is very desirable. The inventory feature that would allow people to access a library’s collection from the comfort of their home is the icing on the cake."

In order to make the site as easy to use as possible, the site relies on simple editing of predefined templates to populate the Web presence. It can take just a few minutes to have a library site up and available to patrons on the Web, as well as on mobile and tablet devices. The service uses a set of wizards to import collection and user information in a wide variety of formats. It uses statistical algorithms and WorldCat to determine structure and field contents to ease the import processes. Complexity is kept to a minimum by focusing on the minimum fields necessary to make collections accessible.

Tip House, Chief Architect, Global Infrastructure for OCLC, and one of the lead programmers on the project, explained the basic features: "Libraries can provide and promote basic information about their locations, content, events and services using a set of easily updated templates and widgets. Users can create an account, search for materials, place and delete holds, and see their history. It is, essentially, a very basic inventory model for libraries."

Mr. Teets stressed that this is not a full-featured library management service, but an option for those small libraries that have not been able to take advantage of traditional library systems due to size, cost or technological restrictions.

"If a library already has an ILS, this will not replicate that kind of system. It’s not meant to," said Mr. Teets. "Our research suggested that as many as half of the libraries with one or two employees had, essentially, no Web presence. This project hopes to positively impact those libraries and their users."

"WebJunction has worked with small and rural libraries since its inception," said Jennifer Peterson, WebJunction Community Manager. "Many of these libraries don’t have the time, money or technical background to implement a full-scale, online management service. This project will enable them to reach their users on the Web in an entirely new way. And because the sites are optimized to run well on mobile devices, they’ll be able to connect to users for whom the mobile Internet is now the main way of getting online."

"We hope this is a useful, affordable option for small libraries that want to establish a Web-based connection to their communities," said Mr. Teets.

Libraries interested in signing up can do so at http://beta.worldcat.org/lib/. Participation in the project costs $500 per year and comes with a 90-day trial period. Libraries are free to import and export their collection and patron data as they try the service, as well as through the product life.

State library organizations, consortia and other library groups interested in group rates should contact their OCLC Library Services consultant.
(ResourceBlog, Febraury 24, 2012)

Greenwood Public Library Opening for the Position of Library Director

Greenwood Public Library has an opening for the position of Library Director

The Greenwood Public Library is accepting applications for an outgoing, energetic, and organized individual who enjoys working with children and the public.  Applicants must have computer knowledge and be eligible for a Grade 3 Wisconsin Public Library Certification, (requiring 54 semester credits of which ½ must be in the Liberal Arts and Sciences) and be prepared to take the appropriate courses for the State of Wisconsin certification. 

The Library Director’s position is full time, 40 hours per week with benefits and salary is negotiable.  Please submit your resume along with references by MARCH 19, 2012 to:  GREENWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY, P. O. BOX 100, GREENWOOD, WI  54437.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

National Archives Announces Release of 1940 Census on April 2, 2012

National Archives Announces Website for Free 1940 Census Release Online on April 2, 2012: 1940census.archives.gov

Tomorrow Starts the Countdown of ’40 Days to the ’40 Census’

Today the National Archives, with its partner Archives.com, launched its new website www.1940census.archives.gov in preparation for its first-ever online U.S. census release, which will take place on April 2, 2012, at 9 a.m. (EST). The public is encouraged to bookmark the website now in order to more quickly access the 1940 census data when it goes live. No other website will host the 1940 census data on its April 2 release date.

The National Archives has teamed up with the U.S. Census Bureau to celebrate “40 Days to the ’40 Census.” Using social media channels to post videos, images, facts, and links to workshops nationwide, the National Archives is getting its researchers ready for the online launch on April 2. Be sure to follow us on Twitter (using hashtag #1940Census), Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, YouTube, and subscribe to our blogs: NARAtions and Prologue: Pieces of History.

On April 2, 2012, users will be able to search, browse, and download the 1940 census schedules, free of charge, from their own computers or from the public computers at National Archives locations nationwide through the new 1940 census website: www.1940census.archives.gov.

A National Archives 3:13 minute video short on its YouTube channel (http://tiny.cc/1940Census) and on www.1940census.archives.gov provides a “behind-the-scenes” view of staff preparations and gives viewers tips on how to access the data once it is launched on April 2. This video is in the public domain and not subject to any copyright restrictions. The National Archives encourages the free distribution of it.
(National Archives, February 21, 2012)

Monday, February 20, 2012

BadgerLink's Teaching Books Enhancement

TeachingBooks.net has materials to help you implement Common Core Standards for ELA and Literacy! 

Ready-to-use instructional materials to support three Common Core ELA & Literacy evidence-based pedagogical shifts:

Shift 1: Balance informational and literary reading in all grades by emphasizing informational texts and the Common Core Appendix B Text Exemplars.
Shift 2: Emphasize reading in many K–12 disciplines, including history, social studies, and science, with thoughtfully selected supplemental booklists.
Shift 3: Require knowledge and direct consideration of the text to support students' evidentiary argument skills at all grade levels.

Thousands of resources • Vetted for quality • Easy to locate by grade level • Ready to use to save you time • Supporting both Common Core text exemplars and supplemental reading lists

To access Common Core Resources on TeachingBooks.net:

Go to the BadgerLink webpage at www.badgerlink.net

Scroll down and click on TeachingBooks.net

Scroll down and click on “Use Common Core E.L.A. & Literacy Resources

(Kara Ripley, Reference and BadgerLink Training Librarian
Department of Public Instruction  kara.ripley@dpi.wi.gov   (608.224.6165))

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Library's Facebook Challenge Draws Big Response

 Readers' Advisory On a Snowy Day!

A small staff of librarians led by Kitsap Regional Library digital branch manager Sharon Grant weren’t sure what to expect as 3 p.m. rolled around on Jan. 19. KRL libraries were closed that day because of the snow that disrupted all of Kitsap. But the planned “Facebook Challenge” readers’ advisory event was going to happen anyway.

The idea of a Facebook Challenge came from other library systems that have used the social networking site to encourage readers and librarians to interact. The basic idea was that readers would post on the KRL Facebook page the names of a few books they had enjoyed reading, and KRL Librarians would respond by suggesting other books they might like to read.

All fears that we had scheduled a party but no one would come were erased in the first five minutes of the event as homebound readers from across Kitsap County started posting the titles of books they’ve read and liked. So many people came to the KRL site that the library staff could not respond to all of them in the allotted two hours.

By the time the dust settled on the event at 5 p.m. that afternoon, a total of 267 people had posted on KRL’s Facebook page seeking reading suggestions. KRL staff worked over the next five days to respond to each and every request, much to the satisfaction and surprise of the participants. KRL received more than 60 messages of thanks for the dedication shown by the staff in responding to the requests.

In addition to providing the people who posted with recommendations for good reads, the posts on the page created a virtual reading list. Many people commented about all the interesting books that were being mentioned by the readers who posted.

To put the event in context, a library system serving the county where Cleveland, Ohio, is located sponsored a similar Facebook event. In a much larger urban area, over a six-hour time period, that library system drew the participation of about 200 readers. In just two hours, and in a smaller population center, KRL prompted 33 percent greater participation.

KRL now has more than 2,600 fans on Facebook, after adding 231 new fans just in the week of the Facebook Challenge. More than 3,850 people came to KRL’s Facebook page that week.

For more information, contact Sharon Grant, 360-405-9036.
(Port Orchard (Wash.) Independent, February 10, 2012)

ALA Publicity Tools for Teen Tech Week - March 4-10, 2012

School and public libraries can promote Teen Tech Week™ (March 4-10) with online resources offered by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Teen Tech Week is a national initiative sponsored by YALSA and is aimed at teens, their parents, educators and other concerned adults. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks and videogames. Teens need to know that the library is a trusted resource for accessing information and that librarians are the experts who can help them develop the skills they need to use electronic resources effectively and efficiently.

YALSA has created a number of publicity resources for you to use to promote your library's Teen Tech Week involvement. The toolkit includes templates for: press releases; public service announcement scripts; sample letters to the editor (one from teens, one from parents); and a proclamation.

The standard Teen Tech Week Get Connected logo is also available for download.
Free Download Teen Tech Week PSAs featuring Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants, are also available. The six PSAs were provided by Galaxy Press. Download all six PSAs  (zip file containing six MP3 files).

The 2012 Teen Tech Week theme of “Geek Out @ your library” fosters teen creativity and positions the library as a physical and virtual place for safe exploration of the many types of technology available at libraries, including DVDs, music, gaming, video production, online homework help, social networking, tech workshops, audiobooks and more.

Teen Tech Week partners are ALA Graphics, Audio Publishers Association, AudioGO, Figment.com, Hackasaurus, Peachtree Publishers and Tutor.com.

For more information, please visit the Teen Tech Week website.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens. For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists .
(ALA Direct. Febraury 15, 2012)

New OverDrive Help Website

Ever wonder how to install OCM (OverDriveMediaConsole) on a Blackberry? Are you getting user questions about how to return an eBook? Well the new OverDrive Help makes it a whole lot easier to find those answers! The fully searchable website– now linked from the main Help page of each of your OverDrive-powered ‘virtual branch’ websites (English language sites first; bi-lingual sites to come) – contains hundreds of newly written Help articles available to you and your users.

From eBooks and audiobooks to music and video, OverDrive Help covers everything users need to get started and enjoy your OverDrive service. These image-rich articles contain screenshots, download links and links to related articles. Plus, each article can be printed, emailed or shared via Facebook, Twitter and other sites using the ‘Share this page’ button available at the top of most pages.

Each section of OverDrive Help is designed to help you and your users find what you’re looking for, no matter what method is preferred:

§ Search – Type in what you’re looking for to view articles that match your search terms.
§ Get Started With… – Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPad, Sony Reader or whatever you have.
§ Most Popular Articles – This section shows the articles that are being read the most. Three are displayed on the homepage; click ‘view more…’ to see additional articles.
§ Recent Searches – This tag cloud shows you what other users are searching for.
§ Recently Added Articles – When new articles are added to OverDrive Help, they’ll show up here.

OverDrive Help replaces the FAQ that was formerly linked from your OverDrive-powered site at ‘Help.htm’. Going forward your ‘Help.htm’ page now contains links to OverDrive Help, the Device Resource Center, Digital Books Tour, Library Lending Policies and Support.

Early feedback on OverDrive Help

Before releasing OverDrive Help, we asked the experts (OverDrive Library Advisory Council) for feedback and here’s what they had to say:

§ 93% of library staff surveyed agree that OverDrive Help is an improvement over the existing FAQs.
§ 93% of library staff surveyed agree that the OverDrive Help website is clear, well-organized, and attractive.
These same users think that the articles are clearly written and easy to understand.
§ “I love the new look and feel of OverDrive Help over the current help pages. I think the screenshots will be very helpful in illustrating what could take a thousand words.” – Ruth Ann Copley, Director of Davidson County Library System
We’re writing more articles all the time, so let us know what information you’d like to see next. For more information about the OverDrive Help website, please visit http://help.overdrive.com/about-overdrive-help.
(OverDrive Digital Library Blog, February 16, 2012)

Monday, February 13, 2012

WVLS Update - February 2012

January 2012 WVLS Board of Trustees Meeting – Highlights
·         Officers and Executive Committee members were elected.  Officers include:  PRESIDENT - Alice Sturzl (Forest County); VICE PRESIDENT – Douglas Lay (Marathon County); and TREASURER – Michael Otten (Marathon County).  Other members of the Executive Committee:  Audrey Ascher and Kris Uhlig (Marathon County); Tom Brobofsky (Clark County); and Paul Knuth (Oneida County).
·         Also, an appropriation was approved to help cover unexpected costs associated with the V-Cat Council’s project to migrate the online catalog to a new ILS (integrated library system) later on this year.
·         An appropriation was approved to provide collection development grants to public libraries that plan to pay their share of the WPLC (Wisconsin Public Library Consortium) Million Dollar Digital Content Buying Pool Initiative in 2012. The WVLS grant will cover the cost of each library’s allocation plus an additional 10%.  Libraries which have thus far notified us of their intention to participate include:  Abbotsford, Antigo, Greenwood, Laona, Loyal, Medford, Merrill, MCPL, Minocqua, Owen, Rhinelander, Rib Lake, Stetsonville, Thorp, Three Lakes, Tomahawk and Withee. 

WVLS will cover the cost for those libraries that have chosen to not participate in the WPLC Buying Pool in 2012. 
NOTE:  While all 17 public library systems agreed to participate in the WPLC Buying Pool last fall, we recently received results of a survey sent to public library systems which indicated…

       … Libraries in 8 systems (Arrowhead, Eastern Shores, Kenosha, Lakeshores, Manitowoc-Calumet, Nicolet, Outagamie-Waupaca and Winnefox) are paying 100% of the WPLC Buying Pool allocation. No system funding is being used.
       … 5 systems (Indianhead, Milwaukee, South Central and Winding Rivers and WVLS) are covering a percentage [50% or less] of their libraries’ total allocation.
      … 3 systems (Mid-Wisconsin, Northern Waters, Southwest and WVLS are paying 100% of their libraries’ allocation.  
      … 1 system did not respond to the survey.

Staff Update
· Northcentral Technical College student Juan Quintero began his 10-week internship with WVLS on January 31st.  He will primarily assist the Tech Team with in-house technology projects.
· The WVLS Technology Support Special position was recently reposted.  Interviews are anticipated to occur over a two-day period next week.
· WVLS continues to contract with Elizabeth Scully to provide cataloging assistance and clean up some of the backlog.

LSTA Grants – 2012
  • The Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning (DLTCL) has budgeted $300,000 in 2012 LSTA funds toward the $1,000,000 WPLC digital content buying pool. The purpose of this grant is to support and encourage expanded e-content to be made available to libraries and individuals statewide. 
  •  A $10,000 LSTA Public Library Director Orientation grant will be awarded to one library system - but shared cooperatively amongst all 17 library systems - to provide two one-day “boot camps” for new library directors and other library staff.  
  •  WVLS received a $27,300 LSTA Technology Grant to implement a unified wireless and wide area network security enhancement; make virtual desktop access available to interested members; and purchase mobile devices for all public libraries.
Annual Reports Projects
WVLS is very busy auditing public library annual reports and also working to complete the system annual report.  Thus far, almost 50% of our member libraries have completed their reports.  Under Wis. Stats.  43.58(6) public library annual reports need be completed and filed with DLTCL by March 1st.  Any questions about the annual report should be directed to annual.reports@wvls.org

Public Library Directors – Mark Your Calendars!
The next WVLS Public Library Directors’ Retreat is slated for THURSDAY, APRIL 19th.  This event is a great opportunity for directors to share their library stories, hear what’s happening in neighboring libraries and at the system, and learn from experiences of others.  Please plan to attend.  The more the merrier!

That’s all the news for now.  Please keep in touch!
Marla

Marla Sepnafski, Director
WISCONSIN VALLEY LIBRARY SERVICE
300 N First Street
Wausau, WI    54403
Telephone:  715.261.7251

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

LibraryLab is Up - Check it Out!

  
boing boing logo

Have you heard about LibraryLab? The first LibraryLab post is up at Boing Boing.

What’s LibraryLab? From Boing Boing – “This is the first post from the fine folks of the American Library Association, which recently launched a member interest group called Library Boing Boing. They will be posting now and again as LibraryLab.”

The goal with LibraryLab is simple:  “[LibraryLab is] a collaboration between ALA and the fabulously amazing Boing Boing folks to highlight all of the great new things libraries are doing. The most visible result will be regular posts about those great new things on the Boing Boing site itself.

On the other hand, Library Boing Boing: The Group has its own goals to help happy mutants in local communities connect with their happy mutant librarians to do good, work together on our shared interests, and make the world more better.” (from the ALA Marginalia blog).

Make sure to read more about the interesting ALA interest group here and make sure to subscribe to LibraryLab and Boing Boing too!
(David Lee King, February 7, 2012)


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Top Tech Trends in Materials Handling - Even In Libraries!

Free Webinar "Top Tech Trends in Materials Handling" February 14, 2012

Title: Top Tech Trends in Materials Handling
Presenter: Lori Bowen Ayre
Format: Webinar
Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Start Time: 12 Noon Pacific
1PM Mountain
2PM Central
3PM Eastern
This webinar will last approximately one hour. Webinars are free of charge and registration is ONLY done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No Passwords are required. For Tips and Registration Information, please go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/tips.html
For more information and to participate in the Tuesday, February 14, 2012 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/top-tech-trends

Does your heart sink every time you walk into the back room and see rows of full book carts waiting to get checked in or shelved?
Ever wish there was a small, affordable sorter that would work for your library?
Are you under the mistaken assumption that you need RFID to use automated materials handling systems?
Are the lines at the circ desk getting longer and longer as more people rely on the library for their books, magazines and DVDs?
Ever considered putting in vending machine in your community but weren’t sure how they work or what they cost?

With the economy in such bad shape, more people are turning to the library for services and material. To deliver services, libraries need staff. To circulate material, libraries need staff … or do they?
There are affordable technologies on the market today that can reduce the number of library staff that need to be involved in basic materials handling functions. Some technologies help staff be more efficient. Other technologies take the workflow out of the staff’s hands entirely.

From self-check in and self-check out machines to vending machines and sorters, there’s a solution out there for libraries of every size and for every budget. Self-check in machines with small sorters can get your library staff out of the back room and out onto the floor where they can deliver services to patrons. Vending machines don’t need staff at all but provide another way (and location) for getting material to patrons. And self-checkout machines aren’t just one trick ponies anymore.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:
Learn about five new low cost solutions for supporting materials handling functions
Be able to identify at least three types of self-service technologies that patrons like which also reduce materials handling work for staff
Learn the pros and cons of six different materials handling solutions
Understand that sorters are NOT just for big libraries with large spaces
Learn that routing slips pre-sorting can be eliminated when using a central sorter for interlibrary delivery
Be able to identify at least ten vendors that provide automated materials handling products
Understand that RFID is not necessary for implementing automated materials handling
Learn about the materials handling systems that are becoming common in libraries

This webinar will be of interest to library directors and managers and other staff involved in materials handling.
Webinars are free of charge and registration is only done on the day of the event on the WebEx server. No passwords are required.
Do you require an accommodation for an Infopeople webinar? For this service, please complete and submit a request form at least 72 hours before the webinar: Request Form
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://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived

(WISPUBLIB, February 7, 2012)