Idaho Commission for Libraries
Address: 325 W State St., Boise, ID 83702Phone: (208) 334-2150 | In-State Toll Free: (800) 458-3271
Printed from the Idaho Commission for Libraries website: http://libraries.idaho.gov
Blog Posts by gina.persichini
Genealogy Guys
Here’s something for your patrons doing genealogy research. The Genealogy Guys have a weekly podcast to discuss genealogy. The podcast is a 30-minute long mp3 file. The two genealogy guys, George G. Morgan and Drew Smith, have a conversation that includes helpful hints, research ideas, reviews of genealogy software, and much more. It’s very easy to listen to: listen through your Web browser plugin or download the file to experience on your portable mp3 playing device.
- Continue Reading
Refresh your OCLC skills!
Need a refresher on using OCLC’s CatExpress or Interlibrary Loan tools? OCLC has a number of free, online tutorials that are easy to use and don’t take much time to complete.
Topics include:
- CatExpress
Introduction to MARC Tagging, and
WorldCat Resource Sharing (ILL)
Do consumers recognize the library?
“More than 60 percent of all respondents, regardless of geographic region, are extremely familiar, very familiar or somewhat familiar with search engines. Just 1 percent of all respondents surveyed have never heard of search engines.
In the 12 years that search engines have been in existence, they have achieved a familiarity that is slightly high than that of physical libaries and considerably higher than that of online libraries.”
This is from OCLC’s newest publication “Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources,” which reports the findings of an extensive research study of consumers. Read this report. It is informative and important as we consider delivery of library services to our users and those we hope will be our users in the future.
LiLI Unlimited is Growing!
We are pleased to welcome aboard the Phase 3 participating libraries to LiLI Unlimited Resource Sharing. There are now 115 libraries in Idaho participating in this fantasic program.
Participating libraries have raved about the faster processing times and the increased access for resource sharing–all resulting in better service for library users.
To see which libraries are participating, see the list (with their OCLC symbols) on the LiLI Website at http://libraries.idaho.gov/lili-u-participating-libraries.
Gates PCs - Saving the game software
Libraries that received Gates Public Access Computers 5 years ago are probably aware that they do not have the CDs for all the software on those computers. As the computers are upgrades and/or replaced, libraries may be wondering how they can upgrade and still keep the children's educational programs that have been so popular.
Barriers to resource sharing services
On November 14th and 15th, I had the opportunity to participate in a forum to discuss the future of resource sharing. Twenty-five people representing all sizes, types, and geographic locations of libraries were present. One of the goals was to consider the challenges we encounter in providing resource sharing services and think beyond current services to what we think resource sharing might be in future decades. The whole experience got me to thinking more about barriers.
One activity had us listing both problems and solutions for resource sharing. All the while, we wanted to stay user focused. So many of the problems we listed, though, seemed to lead back to policies, libraries, and staff issues. I found myself wondering, ‘what if WE are the problem?’ Our rules, policies, practices, need for control, barriers, multiple systems, confusing procedures, and all the checks in place for those just-in-case/exception situations are making it difficult to provide convenient library service to our users.
Library 2.0
Read this: http://www.publish.com/article2/0,1895,1881893,00.asp.
Excerpt: “So at the Internet Librarian conference last week, over 100 library professionals speculated about how to survive in a world of Web-based, user-created content. They’ve dubbed their initiative Library 2.0. ”
Also in the article, Jessamyn West is quoted, “Many libraries I work with are in towns where they can’t get high-speed access,” she explained. “How can [libraries] be obsolete when people out here aren’t even fully using them yet?”
Basic Book Repair
I finally got the time to read through the Fall issue of PNLA Quarterly. If you haven’t read it yet, do so soon! You can find it online at http://www.pnla.org/quarterly/index.htm.
On page 18 (and continuing on pages 34-36) is an article on Basic Book Repair by Leslie Twitchell. The article gives some step-by-step instructions, with pictures, and a list of resources for those new to mending.
DaVinci Institute: Future of Libraries
The DaVinci Institute has released a report titled “The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation.” Written by Thomas Frey, Executive Director of the DaVinci Institute, the report notes 10 trends affecting the future of libraries and lists 4 recommendations for libraries.
From the report: “The role of a library within a community is changing. The way people interact with the library and the services it offers is also changing. For this reason we have put together a series of recommendations that will allow libraries to arrive at their own best solutions.”
Discounts for LiLI Unlimited participants
As if that great access to OCLC cataloging and interlibrary loan weren’t enough, Idaho libraries that participate in LiLI Unlimited are also automatically members of OCLC and the OCLC Western Service Center. This means that you can participate in the cooperative purchasing discounts available through the OCLC Western Service Center. Companies providing discounts to OCLC Western members are listed at http://www.oclc.org/western/cooperative/default.htm. Companies include:
Highsmith
Brodart
Kapco
Facts on File
McGraw-Hill
and many more!
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