If you are planning on purchasing any computers this summer and haven't heard, Microsoft will be releasing Windows 7 on October 22. If you are interested in downloading a release candidate, you can do so here http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/default.aspx. This site gives an introduction and videos on the features of Windows 7.
From what I've read, the early reviews seem to favor Windows 7 over Vista.
Dell is offering a Windows 7 Upgrade Kit if you purchase a computer sometime this summer. However, if you order a kit, it will not be released until Oct. 22 at the earliest. I can't find a date to purchase by so if you are going to order a kit, please check with the vendor. The upgrade kit may be free to some so be sure to ask about prices beforehand - sometimes educational institutions like schools and libraries can get heavily discounted products. Dell's information on the upgrade is here: http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2009/06/03/dell-windows-7-upgrade-program.aspx .
I also found a Wikipedia article here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7 - although I do not endorse anything from Wikipedia. I was surprised that even Wikipedia is listing Microsoft products.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Union Pacific Railroad Grants
Union Pacific Railroad's Foundation offers grants (see http://www.up.com/found/grants.shtml) to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities. The foundation's mission is to assist community-based organizations and related activities that improve and enrich the general quality of life in the community. The map for Union Pacific communities is here http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/maps/sysmap.shtml and looks like it runs along highway 90,IH 35 and some additional towns in AALS.
Public libraries are included in the community and civic categories - although remember they give to 501(c)(3) organizations such as Friends, nonprofit libraries and other groups. Municipalities located on Union Pacific lines may apply for a one-time project that benefits the entire community. I checked for the average amounts that these grants cover and they seem to be less than $10,000.
Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2009. Only online applications will be accepted. To request an application form, visit http://www.up.com/found/request.shtml.
Public libraries are included in the community and civic categories - although remember they give to 501(c)(3) organizations such as Friends, nonprofit libraries and other groups. Municipalities located on Union Pacific lines may apply for a one-time project that benefits the entire community. I checked for the average amounts that these grants cover and they seem to be less than $10,000.
Applications must be submitted by August 15, 2009. Only online applications will be accepted. To request an application form, visit http://www.up.com/found/request.shtml.
Upcoming Library Events
Here's a look at some important library events happening in the fall:
September 26 - National Book Festival (Washington, D.C.) http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/NationalBookFes.htm
September 26/October 3 - Banned Books Week http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
October 12/October 16 - PLA's Results Boot Camp (Seattle) http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/plabootcamp/index.cfm see below
October 18/October 24 - Teen Read Week http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2009/home.cfm
October 24 - TLA District 10 (San Antonio Public Library) http://www.txla.org/groups/dist10/Index.htm
October 31/November 1 - Texas Book Festival (Austin) http://www.texasbookfestival.org/
More Information on PLA's Results Boot CampPLA is offering an intensive 5-day management training camp that is based on the Results series. Sandra Nelson and June Garcia will be the instructors.
The Results series consists of Planning for Results, Managing for Results, Creating Policies for Results, Staffing for Results and other titles.
From the Boot Camp site:By the end of the week, you will have the skills you need to develop and implement a strategic plan in your library. You will be able to:
Identify community needs Understand and explain the recently revised public library service responses Write goals and objectives that will enable you to measure progress toward achieving your strategic plan Incorporate outcome measures in your strategic plan Identify and select the most effective activities to support the priorities in your strategic plan Identify current staff workload and skills and determine the staffing requirements to accomplish your selected activitiesUnderstand the issues that affect the allocation of collection, technology, and facilities resources in a Results environment Review your current library policies, regulations, and procedures to ensure that they support the strategic plan Manage change in your library more effectively
Fees - Individual RegistrationIndividual applications must be submitted by July 1, 2009:
September 26 - National Book Festival (Washington, D.C.) http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/NationalBookFes.htm
September 26/October 3 - Banned Books Week http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm
October 12/October 16 - PLA's Results Boot Camp (Seattle) http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/plabootcamp/index.cfm see below
October 18/October 24 - Teen Read Week http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/trw/trw2009/home.cfm
October 24 - TLA District 10 (San Antonio Public Library) http://www.txla.org/groups/dist10/Index.htm
October 31/November 1 - Texas Book Festival (Austin) http://www.texasbookfestival.org/
More Information on PLA's Results Boot CampPLA is offering an intensive 5-day management training camp that is based on the Results series. Sandra Nelson and June Garcia will be the instructors.
The Results series consists of Planning for Results, Managing for Results, Creating Policies for Results, Staffing for Results and other titles.
From the Boot Camp site:By the end of the week, you will have the skills you need to develop and implement a strategic plan in your library. You will be able to:
Identify community needs Understand and explain the recently revised public library service responses Write goals and objectives that will enable you to measure progress toward achieving your strategic plan Incorporate outcome measures in your strategic plan Identify and select the most effective activities to support the priorities in your strategic plan Identify current staff workload and skills and determine the staffing requirements to accomplish your selected activitiesUnderstand the issues that affect the allocation of collection, technology, and facilities resources in a Results environment Review your current library policies, regulations, and procedures to ensure that they support the strategic plan Manage change in your library more effectively
Fees - Individual RegistrationIndividual applications must be submitted by July 1, 2009:
Fence in that Texana!
Last week, Mary Bushing did a workshop for AALS on collection analysis. It was wonderful. If you missed it, you really missed one of the best workshops I have ever attended. We expect to have her back next fiscal year.
One of the points that came out concerned local history, Texana and genealogy. Many of you know I usually advise people not to weed anything in this area. It is almost impossible to replace copies due to limited print runs from the publishers.
However, Mary had a different point of view on Texana and I thought that I should share it with everyone. Her idea is that you need to build a fence around Texana and really look into the depth (or quality) of your collection as opposed to the quantity. Mary also suggested that with a specialized regional Texana collection, you could go to ILL for any items that you don't own, but patrons are requesting. I'm not sure that ILL will work with Texana materials - we all know how hard it would be for any library to offer those items for loan. However, I must admit that lately I see really large Texana collections sitting on shelves and they don't seem to be moving. If your Texana titles are checking out (or being read if you consider them to be in-house only), great! If they aren't, and you need the shelf space, maybe you should consider moving part of your collection to storage. I honestly can't recommend to anyone to weed or discard Texana, but I can see where storing items in a work room may free up some much-needed shelf space for those popular titles that do circulate.
You may want to take a look at your Texana titles. Do they reflect South Texas, regional agriculture, history, ranching or geography? If you have titles on wheat crops in the Panhandle, politicians from East Texas or weather in the Permian Basin, and they do not circulate or have never been read, you might want to consider moving those to storage.
If you do move titles to storage, be sure to note their location on your catalog.
And my apologies to Barbara Moore in Devine who asked about keeping a 4th copy of a Texana title. I said to keep it. Now I think probably storing 3 of those copies would be better.
One of the points that came out concerned local history, Texana and genealogy. Many of you know I usually advise people not to weed anything in this area. It is almost impossible to replace copies due to limited print runs from the publishers.
However, Mary had a different point of view on Texana and I thought that I should share it with everyone. Her idea is that you need to build a fence around Texana and really look into the depth (or quality) of your collection as opposed to the quantity. Mary also suggested that with a specialized regional Texana collection, you could go to ILL for any items that you don't own, but patrons are requesting. I'm not sure that ILL will work with Texana materials - we all know how hard it would be for any library to offer those items for loan. However, I must admit that lately I see really large Texana collections sitting on shelves and they don't seem to be moving. If your Texana titles are checking out (or being read if you consider them to be in-house only), great! If they aren't, and you need the shelf space, maybe you should consider moving part of your collection to storage. I honestly can't recommend to anyone to weed or discard Texana, but I can see where storing items in a work room may free up some much-needed shelf space for those popular titles that do circulate.
You may want to take a look at your Texana titles. Do they reflect South Texas, regional agriculture, history, ranching or geography? If you have titles on wheat crops in the Panhandle, politicians from East Texas or weather in the Permian Basin, and they do not circulate or have never been read, you might want to consider moving those to storage.
If you do move titles to storage, be sure to note their location on your catalog.
And my apologies to Barbara Moore in Devine who asked about keeping a 4th copy of a Texana title. I said to keep it. Now I think probably storing 3 of those copies would be better.
Wireless Policy
The XYZ Public Library offers (filtered, unfiltered?) unsecured wireless access to the public. The library is not responsible for any damage or theft to your hardware, software or personal data. There is no guarantee for Internet speed or quality. This service is available only during library hours.
The printer is not available for wireless network users.
Library staff will not provide any technical assistance with network settings or configurations. Library staff will not assist with any technical problems concerning wireless access. Users are responsible for their own anti-virus, security and privacy protection.
Users must provide their own laptop, PDA or other wireless-capable device. Users must provide their own electrical power; use of the library’s electrical outlets is prohibited. User must provide headphones if sound is necessary.
It is illegal to view, transmit, receive, print or distribute child pornography or harmful materials. Users may not access or display obscene language or sexually explicit graphics. Users may not gain unauthorized access to another user’s files or devices. Users may not alter any settings on the library’s networks.
Users must comply with copyright law. Users may make only authorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software/data found on the Internet.
Any violation of this policy will result in the loss or suspension of Internet privileges.
The printer is not available for wireless network users.
Library staff will not provide any technical assistance with network settings or configurations. Library staff will not assist with any technical problems concerning wireless access. Users are responsible for their own anti-virus, security and privacy protection.
Users must provide their own laptop, PDA or other wireless-capable device. Users must provide their own electrical power; use of the library’s electrical outlets is prohibited. User must provide headphones if sound is necessary.
It is illegal to view, transmit, receive, print or distribute child pornography or harmful materials. Users may not access or display obscene language or sexually explicit graphics. Users may not gain unauthorized access to another user’s files or devices. Users may not alter any settings on the library’s networks.
Users must comply with copyright law. Users may make only authorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software/data found on the Internet.
Any violation of this policy will result in the loss or suspension of Internet privileges.
Online Book Reviews
I'm one of those librarians who really likes to read reviews in print. If you have lost your subscription to Booklist, Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly or School Library Journal, there are some free online options for reviews. Unfortunately, most of those noted below are not packaged as well as they are in a paid print subscription.
First, many of the vendor sites such as Baker & Taylor www.btol.com, Ingram www.ipage.com and Brodart www.bibz.com have reviews built into their titles. Also, Amazon.com www.amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com www.bn.com have reviews listed for many titles.
I couldn't find any reviews for the online Booklist http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm, but Library Journal http://www.libraryjournal.com/and School Library Journal http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/do offer some reviews.
One library that I do recommend for reviews done by librarians and patrons is Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Library www.plcmc.org/readers_club/ which maintains a very active book club section.
There are also several general book review sites that are well known. (These are not necessarily professionally reviewed; some are reviewed by readers.)
Allreader.com www.allreader.com
Book Browse http://www.bookbrowse.com/
Book Review.com www.bookreview.com
Book Spot http://www.bookspot.com/reviews/
New York Times www.nytimes.com/pages/books
For genres (again these are not necessarily professionally reviewed):
Mystery http://www.themysteryreader.com/
Science Fiction www.sfsite.com and www.sfreader.com
Romance www.romantictimes.com
First, many of the vendor sites such as Baker & Taylor www.btol.com, Ingram www.ipage.com and Brodart www.bibz.com have reviews built into their titles. Also, Amazon.com www.amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com www.bn.com have reviews listed for many titles.
I couldn't find any reviews for the online Booklist http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm, but Library Journal http://www.libraryjournal.com/and School Library Journal http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/do offer some reviews.
One library that I do recommend for reviews done by librarians and patrons is Charlotte Mecklenburg County Public Library www.plcmc.org/readers_club/ which maintains a very active book club section.
There are also several general book review sites that are well known. (These are not necessarily professionally reviewed; some are reviewed by readers.)
Allreader.com www.allreader.com
Book Browse http://www.bookbrowse.com/
Book Review.com www.bookreview.com
Book Spot http://www.bookspot.com/reviews/
New York Times www.nytimes.com/pages/books
For genres (again these are not necessarily professionally reviewed):
Mystery http://www.themysteryreader.com/
Science Fiction www.sfsite.com and www.sfreader.com
Romance www.romantictimes.com
OCLC Offers a Free ILS to First Search Subscribers
There's been some recent buzz about OCLC's offer for a free ILS (integrated library system - the catalog and circulation system) to libraries that subscribe to First Search. First, if you have the TexShare databases, you subscribe to First Search so your library is eligible.
According to the OCLC Web site, "WorldCat Local 'quick start' offers libraries a locally branded catalog interface and simple search box that present localized search results for print and electronic content along with the ability to search the entire WorldCat database and other resources via the Web."
In other words, their new catalog/circulation system would have a local look with local records and also offer access to all MARC records through WorldCat. It offers a simple search box along with access to all of WorldCat and their discovery tools. I can't find anything about advanced searching capability.
Now this is where I kept wondering what the catch was. This is it:
You are eligible to receive the free ILS, however, your local MARC records must exist in WorldCat before this works. And it costs money to put your MARC records in WorldCat annually.
If you already have your records in WorldCat, this may be a deal for you.
If you are still interested in this offer, here are a few sites:
Introduction to "quick start" http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/quickstart/default.htm
FAQ to "quick start" http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/quickstart/faqs/default.htm
Webinar link http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/support/registration.htm
Video from ALA Midwinter where OCLC staff discuss the implementation http://www.oclc.org/multimedia/2009/alamw2009_worldcatlocal.htm
According to the OCLC Web site, "WorldCat Local 'quick start' offers libraries a locally branded catalog interface and simple search box that present localized search results for print and electronic content along with the ability to search the entire WorldCat database and other resources via the Web."
In other words, their new catalog/circulation system would have a local look with local records and also offer access to all MARC records through WorldCat. It offers a simple search box along with access to all of WorldCat and their discovery tools. I can't find anything about advanced searching capability.
Now this is where I kept wondering what the catch was. This is it:
You are eligible to receive the free ILS, however, your local MARC records must exist in WorldCat before this works. And it costs money to put your MARC records in WorldCat annually.
If you already have your records in WorldCat, this may be a deal for you.
If you are still interested in this offer, here are a few sites:
Introduction to "quick start" http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/quickstart/default.htm
FAQ to "quick start" http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/quickstart/faqs/default.htm
Webinar link http://www.oclc.org/worldcatlocal/support/registration.htm
Video from ALA Midwinter where OCLC staff discuss the implementation http://www.oclc.org/multimedia/2009/alamw2009_worldcatlocal.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)