Idaho Commission for Libraries Blog

Transparency & Libraries

Shirley Biladeau — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:25:42 -0700

An open conversation between Jan Klerk Librarian at City Library of Haarlem Netherlands and Michael Stephens from Tame the Web -- talks about the key elements of a transparent library: open communication, adapting to change, and scanning the horizon. And that Library 2.0 comes down to a philosophy of service built on constant change,participatory service, and mindful evaluation. Although a very simplistic approach ... and realizing change takes time and effort ... how transparent is your library?

Go to Tame the Web to read more...

What a Deal: Tax Credit for Contributions to Public Libraries

Teresa.Lipus — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:49:06 -0700

The “What a Deal” fact sheet, designed to help you promote donations to your public library or library district is now available on the ICFL website at http://libraries.idaho.gov/page/public-library-contribution-tax-credit. To receive a deduction for 2009, individuals or corporations must give to the library by December 31, 2009.

You can also access the fact sheet by going to the Highlights sidebar and clicking on Public Library Contribution Tax Credit. Please copy the fact sheet freely and use it to encourage members of your community to donate to your library.

If you have questions, check with your accountant or the Idaho State Tax Commission for complete information.

District libraries - 2010 trustee election

jan.wall — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:37:51 -0700

Yes, you will be responsible for any elections that are held in 2010. (The 'election reform' bill that passed in last year's legislative session won't take effect until January, 2010.) At the election, which will be held on May 25, 2010, you will elect a trustee who will serve until 2015. (You might have to elect a trustee to fill out a term they were appointed to as well.)

According to Idaho code 34-1405(2), you need to notify your county clerk about your trustee election by the last day of November. (Many county clerks send out a reminder, but don't let it catch you by surprise!)

ICFL won't be mailing out an election calendar this year, but it can be found under 2010 District Library Trustee Election Calendar

I will send out reminders to both LibIdaho and post on this blog as the time gets nearer, but for now, keep March 5 - 12 in mind as the first date(s) you need to be aware of (publish notice of petition availability and filing deadline.)

Summer Reading 2009 Materials

eric.hildreth — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:36:40 -0700

Each year, the Collaborative Summer Library Program provides us with materials to use in our Summer Reading programs. As a participant in this program, we have access to these items for a predefined time period and that time has passed for 2009. All Be Creative @ Your Library and Express Yourself @ Your Library imagery or promotional videos that you used from the CSLP program should be removed from your websites.

If you are an e-Branch in a Box participating website, the Summer Reading GrandCentral Theme Skins have been automatically removed from your sites. You shouldn't need to reconfigure, or reset anything as far as the look and feel of your site goes, but please double check your summer reading pages. If you have any questions, or need any further clarification on this, please don't hesitate to leave a comment and we will try to assist you further.

Changes

aubrey.ellis — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:22:16 -0700

Seems like changes come in waves. Or maybe I just don't notice the subtle ones. Right now we are changing a few things on the ICFL site. The Web Advisory Group has decided that it is time to retire the community blog, and that domino effected into a revamp of how user interaction happens on our site.

So here's where we landed. Once the community blog is gone, there really isn't any reason for users to log into the site. It just doesn't make sense. So we set up a new commenting system that will allow users to use their social networking profiles to comment on our site. This saves them the hassle of maintaining yet another username and password, and saves us from maintaining all those user accounts. It really feels like a good solution.

There will also be some slight aesthetic changes, and some things may be moved around. But, at the end of the day, all of our users should be able to do all of the same things and have access to all (er . . . most) of the same information on our site.

2010 LSTA Draft Competitive Grant Applications

sonja.hudson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:00:01 -0700

Friday November 6, 2009 is the deadline for Idaho's Draft 2010 Library Service & Technology Act Grant applications. Applications must be complete and post marked no later than 5 PM on the 6th. Incomplete applications and/or those post marked later than 5 PM will be returned to the sender without review.

Application materials can be found at http://libraries.idaho.gov/page/library-services-technology. If you have questions or concerns please contact me at sonja.hudson@libraries.idaho.gov, (800) 458-3271 or (208) 639-4136

Technology Survey Deadline Extended to November 13

Teresa.Lipus — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:45:27 -0600

Responses to the 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey at www.plinternetsurvey.org increased significantly in the last week. A big thank you to those who have completed it!

The response rate nationwide is at about 55%, so the survey deadline has been extended to Friday, November 13, 2009 to increase that rate. You can see how libraries in Idaho and other states are doing at http://survey.pnmi.com/states.

If you haven’t yet completed the survey, please make some time to help the Idaho library community document our growing needs for technology and connectivity by participating. State and national information from the most recently completed study is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/2008_2009/librariesco..., but if you browse the 2009 State Summaries, pages 77-123, you’ll notice there is no entry for Idaho because we didn’t meet the minimum 60% response rate needed to have enough data for a state summary.Upon completion of the survey, you can register to win an Amazon Kindle.

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please e-mail support@plinternetsurvey.org or call (301) 405-9445.

Will Idaho libraries be represented in national debate for funding?

Teresa.Lipus — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:39:53 -0600

Please help the Idaho library community document our growing needs for technology and connectivity by participating in the 2009-2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study online survey, open through November 6, 2009 at www.plinternetsurvey.org.

What is this study?
Conducted by the American Library Association (ALA) and the Center for Library & Information Innovation at the University of Maryland and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the study gathers important data regarding public library Internet connectivity, use, funding, and services.

Why does this matter?
The findings of data-gathering surveys like this are used for advocacy efforts on behalf of libraries, decision making regarding critical resources, and support for the Library Services and Technology Act and other initiatives. At the local level, the data can help you plan services, assess your library’s needs, identify your library’s contributions to your community, and educate your stakeholders and funders.

What about Idaho?
State and national information from the most recently completed study is available at www.ala.org/ala/research/initiatives/plftas/2008_2009/librariesconnectco... but if you browse the 2009 State Summaries, pages 77-123, you’ll notice there is no entry for Idaho. Why Not? A minimum 60% response rate is needed to have enough data for a state summary and the researchers didn't receive enough survey responses from our state to include a breakdown.

Be heard, then register to win an Amazon Kindle
Earlier this fall, ALA sent a letter to public library directors requesting participation in this 2009-2010 study. If your library has already completed the survey, thank you. If not, please make it a priority so Idaho libraries are represented in the national debate for funding. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please e-mail support@plinternetsurvey.org or call (301) 405-9445.

Upon completion of the survey, you may register to win an Amazon Kindle.

LiLI Databases - Changes for 2010

gina.persichini — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:35:13 -0600

With the economy on all our minds and recent media coverage of Idaho’s budget situation, many individuals have been wondering about the status of the LiLI Database (LiLI-D) program. This presents a very good opportunity to share the current plans regarding LiLI-D.

The current suite of LiLI Databases are due for renewal at the close of 2009. It is the intent of the Idaho Commission for Libraries to renew the current suite, with one exception, through June 30, 2011. The Commission has made the decision to cease statewide access to the Art Museum Image Gallery, provided through H.W. Wilson Company, at the close of the current subscription. What this means:

December 31, 2009, will be the last date Idahoans can access the Art Museum Image Gallery through the LiLI Database program.
All other LiLI Databases currently available through www.lili.org will be renewed through June 30, 2011. This action will align the program with the academic calendar avoiding some of the challenges experienced when changes to the lineup, if any, take place during the regular school year.
Libraries will need to make arrangements to adjust links, if any, to the Art Museum Image Gallery on local web pages or computer workstations.
The Idaho Commission for Libraries will make any needed adjustments to the LiLI Portal to reflect the changes.
Libraries wishing to continue access to the Art Museum Image Gallery are urged to contact the H.W. Wilson company’s Chris Kennedy to make arrangements to do so with local funds. Additionally, you may wish to investigate options for discounts available through BCR.

If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact Gina Persichini.

LiLI eAudiobooks: End of Service, Final Notification

gina.persichini — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:12:16 -0600

As previously announced, the statewide access to the eaudiobooks through NetLibrary will end September 30th at Midnight. That is TOMORROW.

Users may download and check out eaudiobooks any time through September 30th. Their accounts will be closed as of 12:01am October 1st.
Eaudiobooks already downloaded as of 12:01am October 1st will continue to work through the book’s check-out expiration date. That means that a book downloaded on September 29th will remain active/usable in the user’s portable player through October 19th.
The link to the eaudiobooks on the LiLI Portal (www.lili.org) will be removed on September 30th.
It is recommended that libraries remove links from your websites/computers to NetLibrary at that time.

If your customers are looking for free access to eaudiobooks from other resources, I encourage you to take a look at the list below. Many thanks to the Boise Public Library for making this list available on their website:

FreeAudio (eAudio) http://www.freeaudio.org/
Librivox (eAudio) http://librivox.org
Million Book Project (eBooks) http://www.ulib.org/
Project Gutenberg (eBooks/eAudio) http://www.gutenberg.org
Feedbooks (eBooks) http://www.feedbooks.com/
International Children's Digital Library Foundation (eBooks)http://www.childrenslibrary.org/index.shtml

If your library is planning to continue to subscribe to the eaudiobook service through NetLibrary, there will be no interruption in your service. All accounts (user and the library’s administrative account) will remain as they are.

The Commission for Libraries is working with a small group of libraries and NetLibrary to arrange continued service for those libraries at their own expense. It is currently too late in the process to make any further additions or deletions to the group. We hope to arrange an option for libraries to join in the group at a later time. If and when that happens, information will be communicated via LibIdaho and the ICFL Website.