Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Leadership Program in Gainesville

There are still a few seats available for this program. Please read the eligible participants section before registering.

2009 Leadership Symposium - Leading In Shifting Environments

Program Description

This one-day session, presented by DeEtta Jones, is designed for library leaders who are challenged to support and sustain staff through changing environmental realities. Today's high customer expectations, changing technological demands, and shifting resource allocations require new energy and new commitment from our staffs. The challenge for library leaders is to find ways to tap the best within their current staff, in spite of challenges facing the organization.

This session will focus on the expectations of leaders for articulating a desired future, communicating and managing performance expectations, supporting and renewing staff engagement levels, and increasing staff focus on service excellence. Participants will be able to apply learning to such areas as organizational change, recruitment and retention, organizational effectiveness, and organizational responses to the internal and external worlds.

Eligible Participants

  • Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute and Sun Seekers Leadership Institute graduates who do not currently hold a position as a library director
  • New library directors who have not graduated from either Institute
  • Library administrators nominated by their library director


May 15, 2009
Alachua County Library District Headquarters
401 E. University Ave.
Gainesville, FL
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Cost: Free

Register for this Session


Monday, March 30, 2009

New FEL Databases and CONTENTdm

The Florida Electronic Library has added three new databases, and free access to a scaled down version of CONTENTdm.

Check out the announcement I received. I did make use of a "black highlighter", so you can contact me for information about getting your library's own authorization and password.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Library Tour: FCCJ Deerwood Campus

Join us for a tour of new high-tech high-touch Library Learning Commons at Florida Community College Jacksonville - Deerwood Center which opened January 2009. The 30,000 square foot learning space includes:

*a circular computing hub featuring 100 iMac desktop computers
*an Academic Skills Center with four large tutoring labs for Math, English, Foreign Language and Science
*sixteen enclosed group study spaces
*a large computer instruction room that seats fifty students with two instructor stations and dual-projection capabilities
*an Adaptive Technology room for assistive learning technology, and
*a Multimedia/Faculty Resource Room for special digital media projects outfitted with clusters of higher-end multimedia computers to support wireless technology, group computing, podcasting, laptop/video camera checkout and other learning technologies.

Host: Jametoria Burton, Library and Learning Commons Manager
Date: Friday, May 29
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 am
Location: FSCJ Deerwood Center, 9911 Old Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville

Register for the tour today

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hurricane and Disaster: Preparedness and Response


Public libraries play an essential role in helping their communities prepare for and recover from hurricanes and in assisting evacuees as they wait to return from a hurricane threat. This half-day workshop will focus attention on 6-8 public library disaster responder service roles. These are roles that public libraries may adopt to improve their communities' hurricane response. Instruction will include how to use the Institute’s Public Library Hurricane Response website. Participants will leave the workshop with specific, low cost, practical, ideas that public libraries can implement to better assist their communities during hurricane season.

Trainer: Joe Ryan, Project Manager, Hurricane/Disaster Preparedness and Response

Date: Thursday, April 16
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: NEFLIN in Orange Park
Free for all.

Google Voice

Google is about to roll out a new service called Google Voice. A Cnet review describes Google Voice, "It allows you to choose a local phone number, which will simultaneously ring up to six phones such as your cell phone, home phone, office phone, and the phone at your vacation home.

In addition to forwarding your calls, it also takes voice messages that you can listen to on the Web, from a phone, or read, thanks to a new feature that transcribes voice messages and sends them as e-mail and text messages."

Lifehacker's tour of Google Voice provides even more detail.

One of the ways you can keep up with emerging technologies is by visiting the Google Labs site. It is interesting to see what Google is working on. They are no longer just a search engine.



Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Art of the Tutorial

Thank goodness for RSS. Without it I would never be able to keep up with articles in my field, let alone outside my field.

I've been following Guy Kawasaki's blog
How to Change the World since I read a couple of his books.

Anyway, if you have a product or service that needs explaining, read The Art of the Tutorial.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

State Library's Economic Recovery Wiki

The following information was sent out by Judi Ring, State Librarian of Florida.

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It has been documented that Florida libraries play a significant role in supporting the economy through a multitude of services including résumé building, online job searching, and free classes. In addition, Florida’s Return on Investment study found the following:

· Florida’s public libraries return $6.54 for every $1.00 invested.

· For every $6,488 of public support (federal, state, and local), one job is created.

· For every dollar of taxpayer support for public libraries in Florida, Gross Regional Product increases by $9.08.

· For every dollar of taxpayer support for public libraries in Florida, income (wages) increases by $12.66.

Visit the State Library and Archives of Florida’s
Economic Recovery Wiki for additional information to see how libraries are involved and to contribute information on what your library and community are doing.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Florida Electronic Library Onsite Training Update

This quarter I've been traveling around the NEFLIN region teaching "Florida Electronic Library: Overview of Components" to our public library system members and last week I presented my final class. The photos at the right and below were taken a few weeks ago at the Suwannee River Regional Library System in Live Oak.

It has been my pleasure to bring this training onsite to libraries and share the wealth of information available through the FEL. Over 250 staff attended the training and feedback has been very positive.

As part 2 of this project, Gale trainer Julie Pepera is doing onsite classes presenting "Gale's PowerSearch", going into the Gale Databases indepthly and giving marketing and outreach tips as well.

NEFLIN received an LSTA grant to provide training on the Florida Electronic Library to our members in public libraries. The FEL is administered by the State Library & Archives of Florida and funded by an LSTA grant.




Saturday, March 21, 2009

NEFLIN Assistant Director Position Available

NEFLIN is seeking an energetic, creative, customer service oriented professional to join our team. NEFLIN is a non-profit library cooperative whose members employ 2,300 staff at 540 public academic, K-12 school, and special libraries located within our twenty county service area.

Job Announcement and Application Information
.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Tip Jar

A Friday fun item. "Take a Tip. Share a Tip."

Tip Jar is a collection of money saving tips submitted and ranked by the web community.

4,668 people have submitted tips and cast 51,563 votes.

Two Florida Library E-mail Lists

Faye Roberts, FLA Executive Director, shared this recently and I thought I'd pass it on.

As a member of Florida’s library community, you should know about two email listservs. Are you on both?

This message is coming to you from the FLA email listserv, a service for members of the Florida Library Association. The FLA list is an unmoderated list for the discussion of issues relating to the Florida Library Association, libraries in Florida, and libraries in general. Subscribers may receive messages posted to it individually or in digest form.

A second listserv, fl-lib, is managed by the State Library and Archives of Florida. This list is devoted to messages and discussions relating to the library community in Florida. Participation in the list is open to anyone, anywhere. All library staff are encouraged to subscribe to the list.

Recently, the server supporting fl-lib had to be replaced and the original subscriber list could not be restored. If you were on this list, or if you’d like to join it, read the message below from Marian Deeney.

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Recently, the server that supports the State Library and Archives’ e-mail distribution lists crashed. We need to recreate and rebuild the various library lists that are used for announcements and messages to the library community.

We need your assistance to rebuild the subscriber list for the fl-lib listserv. We were unable to recreate the subscriber list to fl-lib, and as a result, we need all of you to re-subscribe to fl-lib.

The fl-lib listserv is a service provided by the State Library and Archives of Florida. It is devoted to messages and discussions relating to the library community in Florida. Participation in the list is open to anyone, anywhere. Membership is not required.

This list is used to post announcements from the State Library and Archives, funding opportunities for libraries, e-rate information, questions from library staff on services and programs, etc. It is not designed for vendors to promote their products.

Fl-lib is not a moderated list; however, you must subscribe to the list to post messages.

To subscribe to the list, go to https://list.dos.state.fl.us/mailman/listinfo/fl-lib. Follow the instructions to subscribe.

If you have any questions, please contact the list facilitator, Marian Deeney, at mdeeney@dos.state.fl.us or (850) 245-6620.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

FLYP Forward

I was at the State Library earlier this week and learned there is more to their children and youth programs than meets the eye. I knew about the great Summer Reading Program they do, but didn't know this is now a collaborative program involving many states throughout the U.S.

What other resources are available for working with children, tweens and teens?

Read the latest issue of the FLYP Forward newsletter. It is full of book reviews, success stories from libraries, keys to successful programming, and much more. If you like it, you can subscribe and get this monthly e-zine in your e-mail.

Also, check out the Florida Library Youth Program Blog.

Contact Patricia Romig at the State Library for more information. Thanks Patricia for taking the time to show me these great resources.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Book Cart Drill Teams at FLA

Florida Library Association
Book Cart Drill Team Competition

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 3:00pm – 3:45pm
Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal
Orlando, Florida

1st Prize $250 DEMCO Gift Certificate
2nd Prize $150 DEMCO Gift Certificate
3rd Prize $100 DEMCO Gift Certificate

Trophies awarded for:
Best Costumes; Best Decorated Carts and WOW Factor

The 2nd Annual FLA Book Cart Drill Team Competition is set for Wednesday, May 6, 2009 3:00pm-3:45pm. The competition will be held during the 2009 FLA Conference at the Doubletree Hotel at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, Florida. If you don't know what to expect at a Book Cart Drill Team event check out this video from last year's FLA Competition. There are also many other videos under the search term “book cart drill team” available at www.youtube.com. If you are interested in participating be sure to read the Team Rules and Guidelines and complete an application. Both are available by clicking here.

Book Cart Drill Team members who are not attending any sessions, exhibits or events other than the competition, will not be charged conference registration fees and FLA is generously providing these individuals with a free pass to the vendors’ exhibition for the day of the competition.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Suggest New Titles for the MLL

We are going to add some new titles to the Multimedia Learning Library, and we are seeking recommendations. Send recomendations here, or leave a comment on this blog post.

The Multimedia Learning Library is a collection of DVDs, videos, and CD-ROMs that are available for loan to NEFLIN members. They can be used for staff training or individual learning.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

April Workshops from NEFLIN

Don't miss these workshops just a few weeks away in April. Register today!

Just for Babies: Programs for Little Ones
Wednesday, April 8, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at NEFLIN
Programming for babies has the capacity to be the most rewarding type of program for everyone involved: library staff, baby and caregiver. In this full-day workshop children’s library staff will learn how to prepare and deliver storytimes for infant children and caregivers. We will discuss physical setting, sample agendas, interaction with parents, interaction with infants, book selection, song selection, and more. In addition participants will have an opportunity for hands on participation. All children’s library staff interested in programming for Newborns to Two year olds should attend.
Pre-workshop Assignment: Bring 1 to 2 age appropriate books to share with the group.
Trainer: Kio Fuller, Storytime Traner

Hurricane and Disaster: Preparedness and Response
Thursday, April 16, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm @ NEFLIN
Public libraries play an essential role in helping their communities prepare for and recover from hurricanes and in assisting evacuees as they wait to return from a hurricane threat. This half-day workshop will focus attention on 6-8 public library disaster responder service roles. These are roles that public libraries may adopt to improve their communities' hurricane response. Instruction will include how to use the Institute’s Public Library Hurricane Response website. Participants will leave the workshop with specific, low cost, practical, ideas that public libraries can implement to better assist their communities during hurricane season.
Trainer: Joe Ryan, Project Manager, Hurricane/Disaster Preparedness and Response

Disaster Preparedness Interest Group
Thursday, April 16, 1:30 - 3:30 pm @ NEFLIN
It’s never too late to start working on your disaster plan. Following the morning workshop, we’ll then have the chance to informally discuss what preparations your library will implement or describe special situations that need a solution. Bring your plan if you would like someone to review and make suggestions, or just come to see what your colleagues have already done. If you haven’t written a plan, or need a place to start, come and join us.
Why reinvent the wheel when you can build on the work of others? We will provide web sites, lists of salvage companies and much more. Free for all.
Facilitator: Vicki Stanton, University of North Florida

Drupal for Librarians
Thursday, April 23, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm @ NEFLIN
Are you into Drupal? This workshop is for you! We’ll cover:
*Drupal Basics (What is Drupal? Why use Drupal over another content management system?
Drupal terminiology -core, contrib, regions, blocks, users, roles, nodes, etc...)
*Installation (Developer requirements, Server requirements, How to identify a good Drupal host and administrator)
*Adding Basic Content (Users, Nodes (including custom content types), Blocks)
*Best Practices (Useful contributed modules, User roles, Security)
*Questions and Answers
While this class is designed for those who have some experience with Drupal, the inclusion of the "Drupal Basics" section will allow anyone looking for an introduction to Drupal to participate. Optional: Bring your laptop with Drupal already installed to follow along on your laptop.
Trainers: Mike Anello and Ryan Price, Drupal Easy

Young Adult Interest Group
Friday, April 24, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm @ NEFLIN
The Young Adult Interest Group meets for informal discussions on topics of interest to library staff that serve teens and tweens. This month the discussion will include finding non-fiction books for teen readers, and working as a team to develop local book awards.
Facilitator: Diane Colson, Alachua County Library District

Think "Smart": Implementing Interactive Technology Tools in the Media Center and Library
Wednesday, April 29, 1:00 - 4:00 pm at Bradford County Public Library, Starke
Come, learn, and have hands on opportunities that can be used in the media center to enhance instruction. Participants will practice using the Smartboard and Classroom Performance System (CPS) to enhance instruction. Participants will have a firsthand look at various media lessons design to integrate these technology tools.
Trainers: Vance Edeker and Rose Kebe, Media Specialists, St. Johns County Schools

Your Personal Learning Plan
Thursday, April 30, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon @ NEFLIN
Imagine you had a place to learn online that was so cool you'd visit it every day. It's built especially to fit your learning style in all your favorite colors. Even the content is just for you - your chosen learning topic brought to you like front page news. Suddenly you are in charge of your own informal training and experiencing learning like never before. You are the star of your own Personal Learning Environment! A Personal Learning Environment (PLE) can take many, many different online forms. This hands-on workshop will analyze the various theories defining a PLE and explore different types of models used in the process. Ultimately, attendees are able to choose the best way to fit learning into their daily experience using common, free web tools. If you can ‘copy and paste’ you can easily build your own interactive PLE to help manage and revitalize your learning.Attendees should be comfortable with Internet browsing and have an email address they can access during class.
Trainer: Marianne Lenox, Huntsville Madison County Public Library

Keeping Up with Technology Without Getting Overloaded
Thursday, April 30, 1:00 - 4:00 pm @ NEFLIN
How do you find relevant, professional information quickly without become overwhelmed? It is important to seek out new and appropriate information, but it's also important to filter it through the funnel of common sense before taking action. This hands-on workshop will explore the various tools and methods for persistently accessing items that are pertinent to your job. We'll demonstrate how to how to pull these resources into your work life and stay on top of your field by ferreting out the quality information. While we discuss the pros and cons of online tools such as email, list serves, RSS and aggregated database searching, attendees will have an opportunity to learn (and play!) with these resources to find their best fit. Attendees should be comfortable with Internet browsing and have an email address they can access during class.Trainer: Marianne Lenox, Huntsville Madison County Public Library

Virtual Training:

Diversity Beyond the Obvious: College of DuPage
Friday, April 3, 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm on your DESKTOP
Karen E. Downing, Foundation & Grants Librarian & Doctorial Candidate at the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan and other experts will discuss how diversity in all its manifestations can make the library profession stronger and more vital. Our panel will investigate and discuss the following questions: How can we create inclusive library environments in which all types of learners and types of people feel a part? How do we foster an environment within our profession to include representatives of all of our constituencies?
Virtual Trainer: Karen E. Downing, University of Michigan

Once of Prevention: Health Reference Basics: College of DuPage
Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM on your DESKTOP
Rising health care costs, economic instability, and the proactive nature of today’s society are contributing to more and more individuals seeking out health information online and in print. Are you and your library ready to meet the diverse needs of these health information seekers? Are you effectively marketing your health-related services and resources? This program will emphasize quality print and electronic resources as well as the roles and responsibilities of patients, library information professionals and health care professionals in the information seeking process. Join us in exploring various aspects of the health reference experience including the need to respect patient privacy, how to accommodate the cultural diversity of our clientele, matching the right types of resources to specific clients, and ways to successfully navigate tricky health reference situations. We’ll also look at ways to promote the health resources and services that you have to offer.
Virtual Trainer: Debra Kakuk Smith

20 Questions: Art Resources: Live Online
Wednesday, April 15, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon on your DESKTOP
Students will explore 20 of the best free online resources available for reference work in art and art history. You’ll learn about online art resources librarians use to answer questions like “Where would I find a definition of patina?’” and “Can you tell me where to find the full story of how Van Gogh cut off his own ear?” Students will then have the opportunity to explore art reference resources further in an after-class exercise.
Virtual Trainer: Russell Palmer, Solinet

Trends in Technology: Live Online
Wednesday, April 29, 2:00 - 4:00 pm on your DESKTOP
“Trends in Technology” will keep you up-to-date with the latest technology developments and how they may impact libraries. In this two-hour online session, Tyler Walters, Associate Director for Technology and Resource Services at the Georgia Tech Library and Information Center, will key in on important technology trends and new developments in areas such as networking and infrastructure; portable devices and wireless technologies; social software and communications; searching and find-ability; open access, repositories, and digital preservation. He will discuss how libraries are using these new technologies to make them leaders in the web dissemination of information. At Georgia Tech, Walters provides leadership, vision, and technical expertise for acquisitions services, information control and management (cataloging), systems, digital initiatives, and university archives and records departments, combining modern information services with emerging information technologies. He leads innovative initiatives that involve managing university-based digital intellectual output through repositories, integrating scholarly information systems with digital learning environments, coordinating the shift to licensing, acquisition, and technological management of electronic resources, and leading GT Library involvement in national and state-level technology and resource management initiatives.
Virtual Trainer: Tyler Walters, Georgia Tech Library & Information Center


See all NEFLIN Continuing Education at http://www.neflin.org

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Need assistance with Programming?

The ALA Public Programs Office is pleased to announce a new online resource to assist libraries of all types and sizes in creating cultural and community programs. The website, ProgrammingLibrarian.org, includes a resource library, live learning opportunities and a blog to keep librarians informed of upcoming opportunities and provide inspiration for new library programs. As the site continues to develop, users will find more resources, ideas, and opportunities to network with peers and programming experts.

Monday, March 9, 2009

NEFLIN's Spring Schedule is Online

The Spring Schedule is up - check it out here. Highlights include
  • Drupal
  • Facebook for Librarians
  • Two workshops from Deborah Ford
  • Family History for Librarians
  • Management 101 series in Gainesville
  • Hurricane Preparedness
  • Many VIRTUAL classes
  • Much more!
Virtual Training

20 Questions: Art Resources

20 Questions: Music Resources

Demonstrating Value: Evaluating Library Services

Basic MARC Tagging for Books

Basic MARC Tagging for Serials

Trends in Technology

Gaming in Libraries

Get to Know Google

Library Technologies Interest Group


College of DuPage Teleconferences

Diversity Beyond the Obvious

Ounce of Prevention: Health Reference Basics


Face to Face Workshops include:

Management 101 series

Just for Babies: Programs for Little Ones

Drupal for Librarians

Hurricane and Disaster: Preparedness and Response

Disaster Preparedness Interest Group

Young Adult Interest Group: Best Books Survey

Your Personal Learning Plan

Keeping Up with Technology Without Getting Overloaded

Think "Smart": Implementing Interactive Technology Tools in the Media Center and Library

Storytelling and the Adolescent Audience

AACR2 and MARC for Sound Recordings

Family History for Librarians

Word 2003 Training

Facebook for Librarians: Connecting with Your Customers

Free Your Mind and Your Data Will Follow: Open Source for Librarians

Persuasion Power: Styles of Influence and Reframing

Book Blitz III

Summer School: Prepare this Summer for the Fall Ahead

Scary Gross and Enlightening: New Books for Boys K-12

Staff Development Interest Group


See all NEFLIN has to offer at http://www.neflin.org/

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Tech on a Shoestring - Webinar

Library Journal is putting on a webinar, Technology on a Shoestring: Big Tools for Small Budgets. They state it is the first in their new "Economic Survival Series". If you view this webinar, please return and leave a comment to let us know what you thought.

Tuesday, March 24, 2:00pm EST.

More than ever, communities across the country are relying their local libraries for support in these tough economic times. From helping patrons convert old resume files to enabling military families to connect overseas, libraries are challenged with offering more services on smaller budgets.

This one hour webcast will walk through over a half dozen free solutions that can help with some of the library’s toughest patron services challenges, including:
  • Zamzar – file conversion service
  • Drop.io/Senduit – file sharing services
  • Skype – free VOIP service
  • Delicious – social bookmarking application
  • Ning - online platform for user-created social websites and social networks
  • VoiceThread – collaborative multimedia application
  • Google Suite/Zoho – documents, reader, calendar, and more
  • ChunkIt! – web browsing tool
Panelists:

Christopher Bell is the library media specialist at Castle View High School (CO), as well as its head of technology and director of e-media and business. He also runs his own Website, writes for SLJTeen, and consults on technology purchases for educational organizations.

Phil Goerner is a teacher librarian at Longmont’s Silver Creek High School in the St. Vrain Valley School District (CO). Phil teaches graduate classes for the School Library Program at CU Denver and also is an adjunct instructor with Lesley University.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Technology Grants - Webinar

A new webinar from the folks at MaintainIT. Stephanie Gerding has been a speaker at a number of NEFLIN workshops and webinars. She always has practical, knowledgeable advice to share.

Technology Grants for Libraries 101

Thursday, March 12, 2009 from 2:00 - 3:00pm Eastern


Discover the confidence and knowledge to successfully receive library grant funding. Find out where to easily locate grant opportunities, learn a step-by-step method for writing grant proposals, and discover real library grant success stories. Stephanie Gerding, an expert at providing practical advice, will facilitate this webinar (ideal for new grant writers).


Stephanie is a library consultant and author, presenting workshops around the country on grants, training, collaboration, leadership and technology topics. She has in-depth knowledge and practical experience with grants, having worked as both a grant writer and a grant reviewer. She co-wrote the book, Grants for Libraries, published by Neal-Schuman, which received a starred review in Library Journal. She co-authors the Library Grants Blog, a free resource for library grant announcements, and has written dozens of articles on library grants and fundraising, including the Nov/Dec 2008 cover feature article for Online.

(NOTE: A recording of the program will be available at http://www.maintainitproject.org/events/archive following the live program.)

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Jamie Lee for America's Libraries

I was pleasantly surprised to see this full page ad on the back cover of this week's TV Guide. Jamie Lee Curtis is promoting National Library Week, April 12-18.

In case you missed it, TV Guide is now a full-size magazine and not the odd-sized publication from all those years past.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

NEFLIN Member Library Blogs or RSS Feeds

NEFLIN has a webpage that allows member libraries to let others know of their library blogs. I would like to add other blogs that we may be missing.

If your library has a blog, and is a NEFLIN member, please send us the URL. (Note: This is not for personal blogs created during the 23 Things program.)

If your library does not have a blog, but we can read your library news via RSS, please pass on the feed address.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Upcoming Conferece in Tallahassee

Florida State University and PLAN will be hosting a conference on collection development and resource sharing in libraries on March 26-27, 2009 at the Florida State University Alumni Center.

Please see the conference website for more details, agenda, and hotel discounts.