Idaho Commission for Libraries

O.K., I'll address the "blog topic of the moment" in hopes that others will too. The ICFL Community blog has so so much potential -- Let's all use it! As I write this, there are eight "guests" who are at this moment visiting the community blog. After you've read, log in and post what you're reading. Please? And all of you other community members -- log in and post! Rah Rah Rah!

We have set a tentative target of June May for the next major upgrade of the Drupal software behind our e-Branch web site hosting project for Idaho libraries.

Well, it’s that time of year again: time for the dreaded New Year’s Resolution. I actually don’t mind making resolutions, because I purposely keep them easy to I can actually achieve them and not feel bad about myself (things like cleaning the storage room of my house or don’t kill my sister if she comes to live with me).

Monika Antonelli provides an excellent overview regarding progress and initiatives focusing on the "greening" of libraries in the most recent Electronic Green Journal.

Antonelli's article "The Green Library Movement: An Overview

If you're thinking about participating in Teen Tech Week 2009 (March 8-14, 2009)check out the resources available at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw09/home.cfm

Everything from a wiki for sharing ideas, publicity materials, and booklists will make planning and implementing a successful program so much easier.

After numerous delays, we can now announce the results of the 2008 RFP for replacement databases to LiLI-D. Some of the databases in LiLI-D will be changing on January 1, 2009.

The Gale databases will be replaced with:

From the ALA Code of Ethics: We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession.

The online Annual Report Form for FY08 is now ready and available. This year we have a new form. You will find it here: http://collect.btol.com Usernames and passwords are the same as last year, but if you do not know, or have forgotten them, please call us and we will get that information to you. If we are not in the office you can leave a message on our answering machine and we will return your call.

Some of the improvements with this new version of Collect are that you can now access your previous reports back to FY2000, the program does not take over your computer screen, you can easily move back and forth between pages and the totals on each page show up as you enter them. No more having to click the UPDATE button. Also, you now can use Internet Explorer or Firefox to access your form.

I have a strong preference for reading books on my iPod Touch. Using the free Stanza app, I've been downloading and reading books in the public domain like crazy. Now a bookstore has been added to the Stanza eBook reader, and I'm thinking of buying books.

Here is a pathfinder providing information for libraries who may be experiencing tough economic times. It can be found on WebJunction Idaho.

You know how sometimes an idea takes hold of your imagination? That happened to me when I was introduced to Everett Roger’s Technology Adoption Lifecycle model at the 2006 PLA conference.

MaintainIT Cookbooks ... learn from the experiences of others! Designed for use in small and rural libraries, these practical "how-to" resources provide valuable technology information from troubleshooting to setting up wireless networks or solving technology issues.

The Idaho Board of Library Commissioners will meet in a regularly scheduled conference call meeting on Friday, December 12, 2008, at 10:00 AM MST at the Idaho Commission for Libraries.

Agenda items are available from the office of the State Librarian or this site at http://libraries.idaho.gov/boarddoc/bymeeting/2008-12-12

For those libraries participating in Every Child Ready to Read and Read to Me First Book, the parent evaluations and surveys are now available in Spanish. They can be accessed on each program's individual webpage (Programs and Services/Read to Me/First Book or Every Child Ready to Read)

Last night, the Twin Falls Public Library hosted our last Let's Talk About It! program. I, for one, am excited. This means I get my life back: my schedule goes back to normal and I get to read what I want (although the books we picked this year were very good, they weren't my usual, and I really really really really need a good bodice ripper right about now).

…Marjean Rogstead! Come on down!

Marjean is a librarian aide at Spirit Lake Elementary. She won $500 in books for her library from Titlewave, generously donated by Follett Library Resources.

If you've written your tech plan (which is necessary for everything except basic telephone service), or have an approved plan which runs through June 30, 2010 and have filed Form 470, then the next step is Form 471. The application window will open next week at noon EST on December 2 and will close on Feb. 12, 2009 at 11:59 EST.