NETLS
NEWS
NORTHEAST TEXAS
LIBRARY SYSTEM NEWSLETTER #135
Mar./Apr./May 2004
Online Newsletter Subscription Renewal
April and May have been very busy months at the NETLS office. We completed the new Plan of Service for SFY 2005 and the Biennial budget for 2006-2007 and began preparations for our final membership meeting of the year. If you have not done so already, make sure you have Wednesday, June 16th marked on your calendar to attend the System Membership Meeting and Annual Awards Luncheon, being held in Garland at the Atrium at the Granville Arts Center.
Come early and visit with several vendors from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.; then participate in the morning business meeting. At that meeting, members will elect four new Advisory Board members and hear brief presentations about motion picture site license agreements, volunteer opportunities, and new technology support programs that may be available to you in the fall.
The much-anticipated Annual Awards Luncheon will feature nationally known speaker and library consultant Pat Wagner of Pattern Research in Denver, Colorado. A delightful luncheon will be catered by the Branding Iron restaurant, followed by the presentation of NETLS Awards. You won’t want to miss this awards luncheon. This will be Roy Lewis’ last “official” NETLS meeting. Roy will be retiring on June 30th, after 16 years of outstanding service to NETLS member and non-member libraries. Roy has been there to advise, console, and cheer through some very challenging times in getting all of our members up and running with computers and automation systems. We will all miss his kind spirit and expertise.
Please come and help us wish Roy a fun-filled, exciting retirement! We will also be wishing JoAnna Lewis a fond farewell, as she joins Roy on their next adventure. JoAnna has been a true blessing to NETLS by volunteering her time and talents in so many areas and in particular, keeping Project Rotate, “rotating”. She will remain a “Friend” of Texas libraries as the current Chair of Library Friends, Trustees and Advocates Roundtable of TLA, but we will miss her special touch at the NETLS office. We will truly miss both Roy and JoAnna, but wish them the very best as they leave us and start this new phase of their lives.
NETLS Office Closed July 1-5
The Central Library building of NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (GARLAND), along with the NETLS office, will be closed July 1-5 as part of the City of Garland’s Fourth of July “Star Spangled Fourth” celebration. The NETLS office will reopen Tuesday, July 6. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our members.
Mark Your Calendars!
Future System Membership Meeting Dates:
SFY 2004
· Wed., June 16 — Garland, Atrium at the Granville Arts Center
SFY 2005
· Thurs., Oct. 7 — Quitman, Carrol Green Civic Center
· Thurs., Dec. 2 — Garland, Atrium at the Granville Arts Center
· Tues., Mar. 8, 2005 — Carthage, Texas Country Music Hall of Fame
Details on programs and speakers at future meetings will be announced closer to each meeting date. Reserve these dates on your calendar NOW!
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Upcoming NETLS Workshops
Providing Excellent Customer Service in a Multicultural Environment
This is the third online tutorial produced in a partnership between NETLS and the Univ. of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences.
· Registration: June
· Tutorial accessible: July
Create Effective Print Media with No Talent, Money or Time
Learn to create winning brochures, posters, bookmarks, flyers, newsletters, print ads and signs. Presenter is Pat Wagner, a Denver library consultant.
· Thurs., June 17 — Univ. of North Texas – Dallas Campus
· Fri., June 18 — LINDALE LIBRARY
Basic Reference
Providing reference service requires skills, knowledge, good humor and a strong dedication to service. In this workshop, participants will become familiar with basic print and electronic resources, understand the steps involved in conducting an effective reference interview and practice their reference skills through hands-on exercises. Presenter is Belinda Boon, an independent consultant who was formerly with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
· Tues., July 13 — TEXARKANA PUBLIC
· Wed., July 14 — ELLEN BROOKS WEST MEMORIAL (Forney)
Digitization
A representative from Northern Micrographics shows how to complete digitization projects, including newspapers and other historical artifacts.
Wed., July 21 — Site to be announced
Supervision: Are You a Square, Circle or Triangle?
Bethany Ponder and Kathryn Brown, directors at Louisiana parish libraries, examine supervision on all levels and what it is, what makes it work and how to do it effectively.
· Mon., Aug. 16 — MCKINNEY MEMORIAL PUBLIC
· Tues., Aug. 17 — SULPHUR SPRINGS PUBLIC
· Wed., Aug. 18 — LONGVIEW PUBLIC
Hollywood Librarian: Our Professional Image and Self-Esteem
Ann Seidl, an independent library consultant, uses film clips, humor and critical analysis to help us examine our image as librarians. Themes such as censorship and intellectual freedom, children and librarians, pay equity and funding issues, medical librarianship, and the value of reading appear in the most surprising ways in the cinema and provide ample opportunity for reflection and discussion.
· Fri., Aug. 27 — Allen City Hall
For additional information or for online registration, library staff members may visit the NETLS Web site at <http://www.netls.org>, or contact Special Services Consultant Steve Seale at 972.205.2570, <sseale@netls.org>.
Other CE Opportunities
Finding Graphics and Other Multi-media on the Web: From Copyright Awareness to Free Graphics & Multi-media Archives”
Cost: $100
This is a Web-based workshop presented by Web-teacher Diane Kovacs. Library staff members may register at any time to work at their own pace during 2004/2005.
This hands-on workshop will teach participants to find images on the Web and use them to add style to their own Web pages and print publications. A discussion of copyright guidelines and Web etiquette will allow students to understand which graphics may be copied freely and which may not. Participants will learn about and visit graphics mega-sites and archives and also learn to download and use graphics software (those programs that offer free demonstrations) to edit and create Web graphics.
Participants should know how to use email and a current standard Web Browser, e.g. Mozilla/Firebird, Netscape 7.0, or IE 5.5 or higher is preferred. Some HTML or HTML editor experience will be useful. Registrants will receive a certificate confirming 8 hours of continuing education contact hours on completion of this workshop.
Course syllabus is available at <http://www.kovacs.com/pictures.html> ; register at <http://www.kovacs.com/register.html> .
LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY
Editor’s NOTE: NETLS Automation Consultant Roy Lewis will be retiring at the end of June. This is his final Newsletter article.
Memories of NETLS Automation
In the 16 plus years that I have served as an Automation Consultant at NETLS, there have been many changes in public libraries and especially in our NETLS libraries. When I joined the NETLS staff in 1988, there were 76 member libraries and an office staff of nine people. Among them were Elizabeth Crabb, Peggy Rudd (now State Librarian), dona weisman, Dan Ellerthorpe, Valerie Villarreal and Eunice Branch. We now have 104 member libraries and an office staff of 10 people. Times do change.
When I started, there was no fax machine in the NETLS office. We had an IBM Word Processor system that emulated a PC, but none of the files were compatible with anything else. For my position as Automation Consultation, I had a Compaq lunchbox style computer and five Compaq suitcase-sized portable units that had two floppy drives.
We taught computer classes on Introduction to PCs, Introduction to Word Processing (using PFS Professional Write), and Introduction to Databases (using PFS Works). Today it is hard to imagine hauling those five, 30-pound, suitcase-sized Compaq computers from library to library. The black and white Compaq monitors had nine inch screens.
In 1988, the “big” library automation questions were:
· Should libraries have FAX machines?
· Why are MARC records important?
· Why in the world would a library need a computer? (Surely not more than one)
· Managing overdues, could a computer do it?
· What program could be used to print shelf lists and card catalog cards?
In 1988, the NETLS automation grants that were available were:
Ø Project Automate offered $20,000 for library automation projects and required matching funds. This was used exclusively for retrospective conversion because of the bid and ownership problems with purchasing mainframe and mini-computers with state money.
Ø Project Micro put at least 2 and up to 26 computers into those libraries that could justify why they needed them. Often these computers were the first computers in a town, and city administrators would attempt to hijack them into city hall. Many times, the fact that NETLS, rather than the local library, retained ownership was the only thing that kept the computers in the library building. More than once, I was asked to explain why the City Manager or Mayor could not take the computer away from the library.
Ø Project DATA – collected MARC records from our book vendor contract and paid $0.20 each for them. This was an attempt to establish a computerized union catalog for NETLS libraries to use when they eventually automated. This project was doomed because it was not a live database and had no way to delete discarded records; additionally the cost for annual storage on big reel to reel tapes was prohibitively expensive.
At the time I joined NETLS, about 10 of our libraries were automated; now I am proud to say that with 104 member libraries, ALL of them are either automated in some way or in the final stages of becoming automated.
I would like to thank the member libraries of the Northeast Texas Library System and the staff of the NETLS office for all of the wonderful years we have enjoyed together. I hope that my work as Automation Consultant (and all of those computers!) has helped to make the daily grind of library life faster, smoother, and more efficient for everyone. I know that all of you have made my life enjoyable.
THANK YOU,
Roy C. Lewis, Jr.
Automation Consultant
Northeast Texas Library System
Windows Security and Automatic Updates
One of the many tasks that demands attention from library staff members on a regular basis involves updating the software on our computers. Some large libraries are fortunate to have an IT department or a computer technician whose job is to maintain computers for the city or county. Smaller libraries may not be so lucky. System maintenance is usually at the bottom of most library staff members’ “to-do list” and one of the most likely chores to be neglected.
Updates are vital, however. Many updates from Microsoft® are security patches that help to protect computers from the many new viruses and worms that exploit program vulnerabilities. Users who ignore them do so at considerable risk.
Microsoft® has included a Windows Update option with the regular Windows operating system that alerts a single user when to update their operating system or Web browser. Completing this task requires having administrative privileges on the user’s computer. Unfortunately, the update service does not include notifications for updates to Microsoft Office® even though many of the Windows security alerts pertain to the software in this product line.
A search on the Google Web site for “patch management software” will reveal a large number of solutions. Microsoft® also provides a free tool called System Update Service (SUS). A limitation to using SUS is that it only works with updating Windows. However, Microsoft® will soon release a newer, possibly better, version of SUS called Windows Update Service (WUS) which should also handle updating Microsoft Office®.
Alternatively, many large organizations use Microsoft® Systems Management Server, available at a discount through state contract pricing. Anyone who wishes to learn more about patch management software should probably read the latest review of those products in “Group Test: Patch Management”, SC Magazine, Apr., 2004, p. 54.
I’m always looking for tools and utilities that might make life easier for those of us who maintain and manage library networks. I recently discovered a software product called Desktop Authority™ from a company called ScriptLogic®.
The interesting thing about Desktop Authority™ is that not only can it be used to automate the patch management process, but it can do many other things as well. Security is one of those things. Desktop Authority™ makes it easier to manage group policies for a better set of security rules.
Library staff members familiar with the Gates Grant computers know that the desktop is reset back to a default each time someone logs on, no matter what changes have been made by a previous user. With Desktop Authority™ this type of rule could be pushed out to every public computer as needed. It can also be used to update any software product through the use of scripts or batch jobs. The scripts can be set to occur when your employees log on, when they log off, or at night to avoid interruptions in service.
Additionally, in the event a staff member needs help, a remote control session can be established that allows someone at another location to help. After the NETLS office purchases Desktop Authority™, Library Technology Consultant Jerry McCulley will be able to assist libraries that have also purchased the product, by being able to remotely view the library user’s desktop. He can assist with basic troubleshooting and help to explain confusing error messages. Should they choose to, NETLS libraries will be able to use TANG Grant funds or local money to purchase Desktop Authority™.
If any of this sounds interesting, be sure to attend the TANG seminar, “Maintaining Wireless Networks and Windows Networks”, taking place in several NETLS member library locations in June (see <http://www.netls.org/Technology/TANG/2004/NetSecurityTANG.htm> for details and registration). The instructor will be discussing various tools and utilities for maintaining Windows networks.
Additionally, there will be a short presentation by a ScriptLogic® sales representative at the NETLS Membership Meeting in Garland on June 16th.
For
questions regarding this article, or any other technology used in public
libraries, contact Library Technology Consultant Jerry McCulley at
972.205.2569, <jmcculley@netls.org>
MEDIA
Christmas Packets to be Discontinued
As of Sept. 1, all Christmas-related titles in the NETLS Media Collection will be available to our video users for regular online booking on a first come-first served basis.
Traditionally, individual library bookings on Christmas titles have not been allowed between the months of November and January. A chronic shortage of sufficient copies and titles of Christmas materials made it necessary for the NETLS Media staff to use all the material to create Christmas Packets that would allow participants in the packet program equal access to some amount of Christmas video programming.
For a variety of reasons, the number of libraries participating in the Christmas Packet program has been dropping steadily for the last few years. Therefore, the NETLS Audiovisual Committee, with the approval of the NETLS Advisory Council, recently voted to discontinue the program and allow individual library bookings to be made on Christmas titles.
Please note that the titles will not be available for booking until 10 a.m. Sept. 1. Due to our booking system protocols, any bookings on Christmas titles attempted before that date will not be accepted by the system. Fax or phone bookings of Christmas titles will not be accepted before that date.
Also, we ask our users to remember that NETLS has limited numbers of Christmas titles available in the Media Collection. Although packet participation has dropped, we still expect heavy booking traffic on the more popular titles; PLEASE DO NOT BOOK CHRISTMAS TITLES UNLESS YOU PLAN TO USE THEM, and please respect return dates! One late video return can cancel as many as 10 other bookings. We have 104 member libraries in NETLS; with that many folks, sharing is always a good idea.
To request additional information on the NETLS Media Collection or for any questions, library staff members may contact Media Consultant Barbara Rhodes at 972.205.2573, <brhodes@netls.org>.
BWI Discount Offer
Currently BWI is currently offering NETLS member libraries discounts on various media formats. No minimum order is required and shipping is free.
Regional Account Manager Jay Blint has requested that libraries that are interested in purchasing any audiovisual materials contact him by email at <jblint@bwibooks.com> to allow him to set them up with an account and check to be sure that discount prices are properly programmed to avoid any pricing errors.
Additionally, library staff members may use Titletales, BWI’s search mechanism, to search for materials, access full text reviews, place orders, store lists and assist in other ordering chores.
Available discounts are listed below:
· Audio Books (abridged) 40%
· Audio Books (unabridged) 30%
· Read-a-long Kits 25%
· DVD film fiction 25%
· DVD film non-fiction 25%
· VHS feature film 25%
· VHS non-fiction film 25%
· Music on CD 25%
· MUSIC on cassette 25%
To request further information contact Jay Blint, Regional Account Manager; BWI; 800.888.4478 ext. 303; fax 800.888.6319; <jblint@bwibooks.com>.
Video Bread Goes to DVD
Stephan J. Ryan, the owner of the Video Bread production company and the producer of Video Bread and several other instructional videos on baking and bread making has a special offer for public libraries.
Libraries that purchase any of Ryan’s titles in the DVD format will receive a VHS copy of the same title at no extra cost.
Interested library staff members may view the titles in the Video Bread collection at <http://www.videobread.com> .
NOTEWORTHY
Names in the News
Sherrie Allison has resigned as Library Manager at ROYSE CITY LIBRARY.
Vickey Baker has been appointed as acting director at LEE PUBLIC (Gladewater).
Lorraine Bingham is taking part time position at NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (Garland) as Cataloging Librarian. She previously retired from the Texas Tech Univ. Libraries in Lubbock.
Carol Dumont, Manager of the Children’s Center at DALLAS PUBLIC, retired in April after almost 28 years of service.
Ann Harper, Manager of Casa View and Pleasant Grove Branches of DALLAS PUBLIC, retired in March after 20 years of service.
Carol Herrington has been named the new director of PALESTINE PUBLIC. She has been serving as interim director since February.
Monica Irwin is joining the staff of NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (Garland) as the new Juvenile Collection Specialist.
Ellen Ko, of WILLIAM T. COZBY PUBLIC (Coppell), has been selected to take part in the 11th Annual Tall Texans Leadership Development Institute to be held in May at Canyon Oaks Ranch.
Roy Lewis, NETLS Automation consultant is retiring after 16 years of service.
Jaclyn Malach, recent graduate from Texas Women’s Univ., is joining the staff of NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (Garland) as a Children’s Librarian.
Mark Marchand is the new director of THE LIBRARY OF CEDAR CREEK LAKE (Seven Points).
Caroline Moses is new Library Manager at ROYSE CITY LIBRARY.
Davin James Pate, formerly with PLANO PUBLIC, is joining the staff of NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (Garland) as Senior Librarian, Electronic Resources Specialist.
Ben Pensiero, formerly with San Marcos Public, is joining the staff of NICHOLSON MEMORIAL (Garland) as the new Adult Collection Specialist.
Barbara Perkins, previously retired from IRVING PUBLIC, is the new director of SACHSE PUBLIC.
Beth Perry has resigned as director of PALESTINE PUBLIC to take the position of director at Burleson Public.
Rhonda Perry has resigned as director of LEE PUBLIC (Gladewater).
Carolyn Starks, Asst. Manager of Skyline Branch of DALLAS PUBLIC, has retired after 25 years of service.
Congratulations to Loren Zawodny of FRISCO PUBLIC. She is the recipient of the 2004 Laura Edwards Memorial Scholarship.
Happenings at Area Libraries
ALLEN PUBLIC; Barbara Buehler, director; 972.727.0190
Using funds from a NETLS Marketing Grant, library clerk Reggie Burns assisted in producing a teen volunteer recruitment video that was shown on Allen’s channel 6 in April. The western-themed production was planned, scripted, and shot by teens themselves.
CARROLLTON PUBLIC; Lucile Dade, director; 972.466.3362
On Apr. 3, library staff members, city officials, library supporters and patrons celebrated the opening of a new CARROLLTON PUBLIC facility, located at Josey Ranch Lake. The date also marked the 40th anniversary of library service in the city of Carrollton.
COMMERCE PUBLIC; Priscilla Donovan, director; 903.886.6858
The staff and supporters of COMMERCE PUBLIC celebrated the library’s 50th anniversary in April.
Additionally, Altrusa International Inc. of Greenville awarded the library $100 worth of books to be used in connection with the upcoming Texas Reading Club, and filmmaker James MacDonald used the library for several scenes in his new production, The Photograph.
WILLIAM T. COZBY PUBLIC (Coppell); Kathleen Edwards, director; 972.304.3655
In February, the library began a remodeling project that will remap the building to allocate more space for public service. Service desks are being replaced and positioned to better serve the public and to better allow for displays and self-service. Staff areas are also being reconfigured. Construction is due to start after the Texas Reading Club and last for several months.
GRAND SALINE PUBLIC; Helen Hale, director; 903.962.5516
The city of Grand Saline was recently designated a Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission. First Lady of Texas Anita Perry joined the citizens of Grand Saline in March for the dedication ceremony. GRAND SALINE PUBLIC will be part of the project.
RUSK COUNTY LIBRARY (Henderson); Pam Pipkin, director; 903.657.8557
A Loan Star Libraries Grant has enabled RUSK COUNTY LIBRARY to replace six computers. The computers have been placed at circulation desks at the central building and several of the branch libraries. The branches at Tatum, Overton and Mt. Enterprise are now able to access the library’s network through the Web server.
Additionally, a Verizon Foundation Grant has allowed Tatum Public to receive software for English as a Second Language training, and the Friends of the Morrow Branch are involved in fund-raising for a new library building in Mt. Enterprise.
BERTHA VOYER MEMORIAL (Honey Grove); Mary Fowler, director; 903.378.2206
In April, BERTHA VOYER MEMORIAL suffered major water damage to the library’s reference room and several public access computers housed in that room when city utility work caused a backflow that flooded a restroom and the area adjacent to it. Water ran in the building overnight. The reference room has been closed indefinitely.
IRVING PUBLIC; Patty Landers, director; 972.721.2606
The City of Irving and the Dallas Community College District have agreed to discontinue the partnership under which the two authorities operated the North Lake Community Library. The North Lake College will assume management of the library on June 19. Staff members employed by IRVING PUBLIC will continue to work at the library through the end of the summer to allow summer reading club activities and other programming to go on as planned. City officials are looking for a new library branch location.
QUITMAN PUBLIC; Delene DelaRosa, director; 903.763.4191
QUITMAN PUBLIC received a Verizon Foundation Grant which has allowed for the development of the library’s Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Project. An English as a Second Language class has been added to the currently running GED program and Adult Literacy “One-on-One” Tutoring.
TERRELL PUBLIC; Rebecca Sullivan, director; 972.551.6663
The Carnegie Public Library in Terrell first opened its doors on March 15, 1904. In March, the Terrell Heritage Society and the Friends of the Terrell Public Library marked the centennial of that event with a program and reception in the building, now the Terrell Heritage Museum.
The reception, attended by city officials, State Librarian Peggy Rudd, State Representative Betty Brown and an aide to Senator Bob Deuell, served as the kick-off event for a year-long celebration of 100 years of library service in Terrell.
2006 Texas Reading Club Manual Request for Bids
Do you have great ideas for library programs for children of all ages about sports and games, athletics, athletes, and sports legends? Would you like to share them with librarians throughout the Lone Star State?
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) is inviting library staff members to submit a bid to write program chapters, puppet shows, reader's theater scripts, stories, create craft illustrations, and/or edit the 2006 Texas Reading Club Manual. The theme for 2006 will be Reading: The Sport of Champions!
Each chapter will include suggestions for age-appropriate books, songs and fingerplays, crafts, games and activities, videos and CDs, an annotated bibliography, and rough drafts or sketches of craft illustrations and patterns. Authors will retain copyright for their work.
Interested library staff members are invited to bid upon one, two...or all of the following Manual components:
· Toddler Programs Chapter
· Pre-school Programs Chapter
· Elementary Programs Chapter
· Young Adult Programs Chapter
· Kick-off and End-of-Summer Celebrations Chapter
· Bilingual Programs Chapter
· Puppet Play Scripts (2)
· Reader's Theater Scripts (2)
· Stories for Telling Orally or Flannel Board Stories (2) Creating Patterns and Illustrations Suitable for Reproduction for all Manual Chapters
· Compiling, Editing, and Formatting of all Chapters, Components, and Bibliography
Proposed Timeline for Submission of Work are as follows:
Nov. 5, 2004: Detailed outlines of scripts and chapters due
Dec. 17, 2004: First drafts of scripts and chapters due
Feb. 11, 2005: Second drafts of scripts and chapters due
April 8, 2005: Final drafts of scripts and chapters due
May 13, 2005: Editor and Craft Illustrator receive manual
July 29, 2005: Craft Illustrations and patterns due.
Due dates may be changed by mutual agreement of the Performing Agent and TSLAC.
Interested staff members should request detailed project specifications, timeline, and a Bid Submission Form by contacting the Purchasing Section at TSLAC. Please call, fax, or e-mail your request to Senior Purchaser Sandi Jowers; TSLAC; 512.463-5443; fax 512.475.3393; <purchasing@tsl.state.tx.us>
El día de los niños/El día de los libros Tool Kit
The El día de los niños/El día de los libros Task Force has announced the completion of a tool kit designed to increase the awareness and participation of the El día de los niños/El día de los libros celebration. The tool kit is designed as a "how to" manual for librarians/teachers who want to prepare such a celebration. Some librarians/teachers may use the ideas to supplement general celebrations in their communities. Others will use the programming suggestions for their own El día de los niños/El día de los libros celebrations focusing exclusively on children and their literacy.
The Tool Kit, which can be accessed in its entirety at <http://www.texasdia.org/toolkit.html>, contains the following sections: (click on a link to go to that section)
· A brief history of El día de los niños/El día de los libros
· Celebrating El día de los niños/El día de los libros
· Programming for El día de los niños/El día de los libros
· Teatro de lectores/Readers Theater
· Contando cuentos/Storytelling
· Visitas de autores/Author Visits
· Appendices
· Terms
Día minigrant recipients this year were: Aldine ISD School Libraries; ALLEN PUBLIC; Arlington Public Library; Arlington ISD, Roquemore Elementary; Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD Middle School Library; ZULA B. WYLIE LIBRARY (Cedar Hill); Corpus Christi Public Libraries; Dallas ISD; Denton Public Library System; Denton ISD Billy Ryan High School; East Central ISD; Grapevine-Colleyville ISD; Houston, Elizabeth Ring Branch; IRVING PUBLIC; Irving ISD; LaMarque Public Library; Lazbuddie ISD; MELISSA PUBLIC; Little Elm Community Library; Presidio Library; Seguin ISD Sequin High School; Spring Branch ISD; Weslaco Public Library.
Information about the Día projects at all these libraries is available at <http://www.texasdia.org/2004_grants.htm>.
Do-It-Yourself READ
The American Library Association (ALA) is looking for the best do-it-yourself READ poster created with the new READ CD from ALA Graphics. Participants have a chance to win a $100 ALA Graphics gift certificate and to have their READ Poster featured in the September issue of American Libraries.
Entries may feature adults, children, students, families, local celebrities or staff. Entries must be postmarked by July 31 to be eligible for consideration.
For additional READ Poster Contest information, please contact Trish Cleary, ALA Graphics Marketing Manager, <tcleary@ala.org> , 312.280.2426.
New Traveling Exhibit Available
The American Library Assoc. (ALA) Public Programs Office, in collaboration with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, has announced a new traveling exhibition celebrating the lives and achievements of women in medicine since they first gained admission to American medical schools 150 years ago. The exhibit, Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians, is available to 40 host libraries throughout the country.
The traveling exhibition has been made possible by the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women's Health, with additional support provided by the American Medical Women's Association.
Public, academic, and medical libraries are invited to apply to host the exhibition. Libraries selected for the tour will host the exhibition for a six-week period. Participating libraries are expected to present at least one program for library patrons and community members that features a lecture/discussion by a scholar on exhibition themes. All showings of the exhibition will be free and open to the public.
To download an application and guidelines or find out more about the exhibition, please visit <www.ala.org/ala/ppo/currentprograms/changingthefaceofmedicine/changingmedicine.htm>.
Applications must be received by the ALA Public Programs Office by Sept. 1.
ALA’s Register to Vote @ your library® Initiative
Libraries are essential to our democracy and, thanks to a new partnership, libraries throughout America will have an opportunity to make it easier than ever for people to become registered voters. Through Register to Vote @ your library®, the American Library Assoc. (ALA) and Working Assets will co-sponsor a voter registration page, <http://www.yourvotematters.org/ala>, where indi-viduals can register to vote or update their registration information. Voters in all states except New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wyoming are eligible to complete registration via this Web site.
The Your Vote Matters site was created and customized by Working Assets for participating non-partisan, non-profit organizations. When citizens register to vote through <http://www.yourvotematters.org/ala>, they also help raise funds for the ALA, thanks to a generous grant from Working Assets. All donated funds will be used to support ALA’s library advocacy efforts nationwide.
"Libraries have always served their communities by providing the information resources needed to be informed citizens," said ALA President Carla Hayden. "Libraries are community centers offering information on voter registration, hosting forums, and providing resources about issues of concern in the community and the nation. Our public libraries are a perfect fit for this critical civic activity. We are delighted to have Working Assets' support in this effort."
ALA will highlight Register to Vote @ your library® on its home page and via press releases and member publications. Through these efforts, ALA will not only encourage members to become registered voters, but also will ask librarians to promote voter registration through this site in their local libraries.
ALA will award a grant of $1,000 to the library that registers the largest number of voters through the site and grants of $500 to the first five libraries that register 500 individuals.
In addition to helping to support advocacy at ALA, Working Assets has underwritten the costs of producing tip sheets, bookmarks and buttons for library workers to use in promoting voter registration in their communities. These materials can be requested online at <http://www.ala.org/requestmaterials> by any library interested in participating in this voter registration initiative and grant contest. Materials were mailed to libraries beginning in April and will be available until early September.
For more information about Register to Vote @ your library®, please contact Lainie Castle at 800.545.2433, ext. 5050. Contact Your Vote Matters at 877.205.VOTE(8683) with technical or voter registration questions. For more information about Working Assets, visit <http://www. workingassets.com>.
From Don Wood <dwood@ala.org> via publib <publib@sunsite.berkeley.edu>
Teen Read Week 2004
“IT'S ALIVE! @ your library®” during Teen Read Week 2004. What is big and read and is for 12 to 18-year-olds? It is the intersection of horror, suspense, black and white movies from the '50s, and even modern concepts like genetic engineering. It is programming and reading and ways to increase adolescent literacy all rolled up into a weeklong celebration known as Teen Read Week. Teens will be reading for the fun of it as public libraries and school library media centers across the country celebrate Teen Read Week, Oct. 17 - 23, 2004. Hundreds of libraries, schools and bookstores are encouraging teens to celebrate this year's theme, "IT'S ALIVE! @ your library®".
Celebrate Teen Read Week with teens. There are many ways for teens and their librarians to discover that “IT'S ALIVE! @ your library®”:
· Join a book discussion group at the school or public library.
· Attend a program where science fiction and modern science converge.
· Stage a mystery night at the library.
· Host an intergenerational B-movies night for teens and their families.
· Read what you want to read, just for the fun of it.
Teen Read Week is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Assn., a division of the American Library Assn. An updated sponsors and supporting organizations list can be found at the YALSA site <http://www.ala.org/teenread> .
For libraries that are celebrating Teen Read Week for the first time, YALSA has produced a manual, Teen Read Week: a Manual for Participation, that includes programming and marketing ideas as well as promotional hints and information on teen reading habits. More information about the manual is available at the ALA On-line Store, at <http://www.alastore.ala.org/SiteSolution.taf?_sn=catalog&_pn=product_detail&_op=1223>.
Adapted from Esther Murphy <emurphy@ala.org>.
IMLS UPDATES NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has updated its National Leadership Grant program. Program categories have been renamed and clarified to improve cross-agency consistency. The new structure helps build the capacity of libraries and museums to extend learning throughout the lifetime.
Under the National Leadership Grant, the three categories for museums, three categories for libraries, and one joint category have been streamlined to three parallel categories across the museum and library programs. These are "advancing learning communities," "building digital resources," and "research and demonstration."
Dr. Robert Martin, Director of IMLS, said, "This change will allow IMLS to open up new opportunities as well as encourage the exemplary projects supported in the past."
National Leadership Grants for Libraries:
Advancing Learning Communities supports the development of learning networks and services for people of all ages. Projects will support learning throughout the lifetime, whether that learning takes place in communities, in schools, or in the workplace.
IMLS will support programs based on current research in cognitive science; learning and literacy partnerships among early, adult, and community learning providers; development of innovative learning technologies using library (and museum) content; and exploration of new ways to integrate digital and physical services and programs.
Building Digital Resources supports the creation, use, and preservation of significant digital resources as well as the development of management tools. IMLS will support projects that preserve and enhance access to valuable library resources; support the development of tools to help libraries (and other collection holders) manage and share digital assets; address the challenges of preserving and archiving digital media; and enhance interoperability, integration, and seamless access to digital assets, particularly projects that are of statewide, regional, thematic, or national scope.
Research and Demonstration supports basic and applied research and demonstration projects to test potential solutions to problems in a real-world environment. IMLS will support research to enhance libraries' understanding of learning within and across different age groups; improve the effectiveness of library and museum services and their impacts on users; fulfill users' needs and expectations; address knowledge integration, digital preservation, or the integration of physical and digital experiences; and develop new methodologies, standards, or practices.
National Leadership Grants for Museums:
Advancing Learning Communities supports the development of museum- and library based-learning networks and services for people of all ages with a broad variety of learning goals. A learning society requires a new vision in which learning is seen as a community-wide responsibility, supported by both formal and informal educationa