Friday, October 10, 2008

Going Green Institute - December 4, 2008

From the Library Journal Going Green Institute Website:

Going Green Institute

December 4, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building


"The fourth Library Journal Design Institute moves to Connecticut for a one-day think tank on green design. We will bring together leading architects, designers, librarians, and vendors to hone in on the challenges and solutions we face in making libraries sustainable. As previous Green Design institutes have shown, there is much more to sustainability than making our libraries green. With every Green Design Institute, we've taken a leap forward in knowledge and understanding, but there is so much more we can learn from these experts and each other. Join us for a day-long series of green-themed presentations, panels, and breakout sessions, and learn the latest developments, options, costs and strategies being adopted.

We'll also reprise one of the most successful features of the day: hands-on breakout sessions with architects. Each librarian attendee will have a chance to have their design challenge be the focus of one of the six architect-led breakout sessions. The design challenges do not have to focus solely on going green, but the breakout session will incorporate green solutions into the design.
Limited to 100 attendees, the seminar is for those considering a new building project or renovation, in the fundraising or pre-bond stage, or in the early building process."

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Coffee Bars, Computer Blogs, & Cybrarians

A big thank you to Bonnie Isman, Director of the Amherst Libraries, and guest presenter of today's inspiring WMRLS Continuing Education Workshop titled Coffee Bars, Computer Blogs, and Cybrarians, Oh My! It’s Not your Grandmother’s Public Library.

This presentation was originally conducted for the Greenfield Senior Symposia series and to other local organizations. The content was designed for community groups with the hope of stretching their minds about the kinds of things that libraries can do. Using slides, websites, and a special DVD presentation, Bonnie gave participants a whirlwind tour of the history of American libraries and concluded by showcasing 21st century libraries and the incredible services and programs that they provide their communites.

Posted below is a sampling of the material that Bonnie shared with us.

YouTube Presentation: Jones Library English as a Second Language (ESL) Tutoring



Carnegie Libraries -
http://wmrls.blogspot.com/2008/01/catalogue-of-photographic-exhibition-of.html

Cerritos launches "The Experience Library" - http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/experience_library.html

From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America © 2008 OCLC -
http://www.oclc.org/reports/funding/default.htm

In Search of Solutions: How People use the Internet, Libraries, and Government Agencies to Find Help - http://pewresearch.org/pubs/677/in-search-of-solutions

Libraries with Coffee Shops - http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php/Libraries_with_Coffee_Shops

The Library History Buff (Look for "The First Bookmobile")- http://www.libraryhistorybuff.org/

Library pioneers strove for a place in history. Republican, The (Springfield, MA) - July 28, 2008 Author: STAN FREEMAN Edition: ALL Section: NEWS Page: A01

Number of Libraries in the United States -
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/hqops/library/libraryfactsheet/alalibraryfactsheet1.cfm

The Peterborough Town Library:The Oldest Free Public Library in the World Supported by Taxation - http://www.libraryhistorybuff.org/peterborough.htm

Wyoming Libraries - http://wyominglibraries.org/

Nikki Giovanni at STCC

On Friday, October 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the gymnasium of Scibelli Hall, the College will welcome world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni.

This is the first program in a series of Diversity Speakers/Art events sponsored by the Diversity Council for the 2008-2009 season. This event is also being sponsored by: Mass Mutual, Mass Mutual Center, Baystate Health, Black Men of Greater Springfield, Springfield Health & Human Services, American International College, PeoplesBank, The Point of View, Unity First, Springfield College and WNEC.

Ms. Giovanni, who is one of the most widely read American poets, is considered a National Treasure. Oprah Winfrey recognizes Ms. Giovanni as one of Oprah's twenty-five Living Legends. Ms. Giovanni calls herself "a Black American, a daughter, a mother, and a professor of English". Her focus is on the individual, for she believes in the power one has to make a difference in oneself, and thus in the lives of others.

Ms. Giovanni has written 30 books for adults and children, some of which have been on the New York Times Bestseller list. Her most recent children's book, Rosa, illustrated by Bryan Collier (and which our library has, among other books of hers, in its children's collection,) was a Caldecott Medal Honors book and won the Coretta Scott King award. She has received numerous other awards. Click on http://nikki-giovanni.com/awardsnhonors.shtml to get that list.

Ms. Giovanni is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Attached is You-tube video clip of how she rallied the Virginia Tech community after the tragedy in April, 2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrJhtH-SHY.
The text she composed can be read at: http://www.vt.edu/remember/archive/giovanni_transcript.html

Lynn Coakley
Coordinator of Technical Services & CLGS coordinator
Library
Springfield Technical Community College
One Armory Sq.
Springfield, MA 01102
413.755.4565
fax: 413.755.6315
lcoakley@stcc.edu

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Summary of Technical Services Roundtable

Yesterday the latest technical services roundtable was held at the North Adams Public Library.  At the meeting:

The attendees stated that they would like to see more activity on the CWCAT message board. Janet Schrader encouraged us to use CWCAT to communicate with each other about all tech services topics – whether or not C/W MARS cataloging is involved.  The attendees agreed that if we have more continuous activity on CWCAT, then we can send fewer messages to WMRLS and CWINFO.

The MLA Technical Services Section is seeking a candidate for Vice-Chair (2 and a half year committment) to fill an immediate vacancy, as well as candidates for Vice-Chair (3 year), Secretary (2 year), and Member-at-Large (2 year) to be elected at this year's conference in Springfield.  If interested please contact Cecile Bianco (Cecile.Bianco.umassmed.edu)

Libraries were reminded that they are obligated to follow the street dates for materials provided to them by their distributors. 

C/W Mars is actively working on customized templates for libraries seeking to print spine labels from Millenium Cataloging.  If you are interested and your library uses a laser printer, please contact Janet Schrader (jschrader@cwmars.org), if you use a continuous feed printer please contact Tom Corbett (tcorbett@cwmars.org).  It is also recommended that you send C/W Mars an example of your label stock along with its item number.  Click here for further information.

Libraries are strongly urged when adding items containing multiple parts to clearly label on the container what parts are included.  When cataloging these items it is recommended that you only use one barcode for the set as a whole. This is intended for items that circulate throughout the network and on which patrons/staff can place holds. The single barcode is so there will not be multiple item records for what is actually a single item.

A list of all current itypes has been posted to the C/WMars website for quick reference. 

Carolyn Platt wanted to know which products we prefer for attaching book jackets.  Some libraries like fiber or filament tapes, and no one worries about covering up information!

Laura Dankner of the Milne Public Library in Williamstown has volunteered to compile a list of commonly used supplies for covering books.  Please post your supply lists to the CWCAT list for this project. 

Jeremy Goldstein gave a talk on LibraryThing and LibraryElf, and will be happy to answer any questions on either topic (jgoldste@cwmars.org).

The next meeting will be held at the Westfield Athenaeum in February.