Idaho Commission for Libraries

ICFL staff is prepared to "Beat the Heat" with hats and sunglasses for TBS Awareness Day. 20 public libraries statewide are planning activities during the week of August 17-21. Activities will:

• Raise Idaho's citizens awareness about this free, statewide service
• Highlight resources available in local libraries for persons unable to read standard print
  

The FY 2010 LSTA Grant Application Kit is available for libraries looking for funds to support library programs or projects. Draft Competitive Grant Applications are due November 6, 2009. Applications hand delivered to the Commission must be received by 5 PM on November 6, 2009. For those hand delivering, please request the receptionist stamp your application with the date of receipt.

Position: Digital Repository Librarian
Organization: Idaho Commission for Libraries
Closing date: August 16, 2009

The LiLI Steering Committee operates in partnership with the ICFL staff to plan, initiate and evaluate LiLI services. Members of the Steering Committee serve a 4-year term, and they participate in meetings 3-4 times each year and electronically between those meetings.

The meeting notes from the June 24, 2009, meeting of the LiLI Steering Committee have been posted.

The meeting included a length discussion regarding broadband infrastructure, reports on the status of LiLI Programs, and updates from participants about activities in their region of the state.

I hope you are having a great summer! The 2009 summer reading survey is now available online at: http://libraries.idaho.gov/landing/summer-reading (just click on the link in the first sentence). When your summer reading program is completed, please take a few minutes to provide feedback on how your summer program went. This enables us to continue funding the program.

The March 2009 issue of the One-Person Library newsletter provided as its swan song a list of many resources for those of you who find yourself in such a situation! The important thing to remember is you are not alone -- there is a wealth of information available at your fingertips. Here are just a few you might consider reviewing:

Books on Solo Librarianship

A special meeting of the Idaho Board of Library Commissioners will be held via conference call at the Idaho Commission for Libraries, 325 W. State, St., Boise, ID 83702 on Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. MDT, in the Tablerock Room on the main floor. Copies of agenda items are available from the office of the State Librarian or http://libraries.idaho.gov/boarddoc/bymeeting/2009-07-16.

If you have received your funding commitment letter for 2009-2010, you can file Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation Form) at any time. The deadline is October 28 (or 120 days after you receive the funding commitment, whichever is later), but why wait until the last minute? It can be filed online at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp.

Here are some great e-tools regarding "Fair Use / Copyright" usage. Produced by the American Library Association Office of Information Technology Policy" they are online and available 24-7!

Just discovered this website -- a great compilation of many web tools -- a wonderful follow-up to SPLAT 101 http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Webtools4U2Use

Thank you Fred Meyer Fund! A $15,000 grant provided Idaho libraries with over 6,200 free paperback books to distribute to children participating in their summer reading programs. See which libraries received books:
click here.

Have you taken advantage of the WebJunction Idaho Courses? Here is why you should:
1. They are free to affiliated WJ Idaho members (anyone working in or with an Idaho library [public, school, special, other] is eligible).
2. They provide a wealth of training in all skills areas for anyone who is working in a library.
3. They are free.
4. It is a great way to access content and learn.

The LiLI Portal is about to get some structural improvements. While the content accessible through the Portal will remain consistent, the interface that leads users to the LiLI Databases, Idaho digital content, and the LiLI Unlimited statewide catalog is going through some changes this summer.

This 8 minute video clip takes all the fear out of using the WebJunction online courses. If you have not taken advantage of the free courses as an affiliated member of WebJunction Idaho, make some time to do so!