News Archive for 2010    

Has your library been trying to serve community needs through your website? What website statistics are most important? Are users on internet explorer or firefox or another browser? Is traffic to your website coming from search engines, email messages, or direct referral?

Libraries are great places for people to access the internet, but how does the internet and all of its search engines know your library? Have you tried to search for your library on Google, Bing, or Yahoo like some potential library users might? Do you get the results you want? Is all of the information listed complete and accurate? What does your library’s profile look like? Have you read your user reviews? How do customers find your website?

How do local media websites list your library? Have you searched PennLive http://businessfinder.pennlive.com/PA-Harrisburg-17101?s=library

How do users know the content on your website? Do they know you have databases and other great information? How do you get traffic to your website? Here’s one idea: http://www.google.com/grants/new/index.html

Do you have other ideas? Please share them. There are a lot of questions.

You may have received an email recently: Excerpt: “2010-2011 Public Library Subsidy Payment Dates: Secretary of Education Tom Gluck in his July 22, 2010 letter outlined the State Aid to Public Libraries payment schedule of one-twelfth (1/12) of the total subsidy per month. The July 2010 payment was scheduled for payment August 3, 2010. Due to a congestion of payments being processed, the July payment will be made Friday, August 6, 2010. You can expect to receive the August monthly payment of one-twelfth (1/12) of the total subsidy by the end of August.”

Learn more about your recent state aid payment. Link to Webjunction list of payments made.

Learn other things at Webjunction too. Once you join and become a PA affiliate, you can take online courses for $5 for your staff and you’ll get access to information resources to help you to best support your local library in its operation: http://pa.webjunction.org/pa-resources

Try it. :)

Also on webjunction, follow the work of the e-content committee in the Capital Region. Notes from meetings are posted here in a group for the Capital Region as well. Use the new tools to be informed.

At a DCLS meeting, staff shared a great document of websites useful for providing Reader’s Advisory service to kids and teens.

Check it out and share it with your staff who work with children: Readers Advisory Websites for children

Check out this press release from Elizabethtown Public Library. http://www.etownpubliclibrary.org/etown/lib/etown/August_closing.pdf

Other library stories in the news include some changes in NJ too. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/08/09/129083757/camden-nj-libraries-get-lifeline

Here are some ideas to share diversity with your community or your staff.

Librarians from DCLS attended the National Diversity in Libraries Conference and brought back this link to a video: http://www.ouchthatstereotypehurts.com/
If you watch the preview of the video and want to use it with your staff or think the district library center should find and use funds to purchase it, please comment below.
Here’s what one librarian had to say: “a powerful reminder of the implications of what we both say and do not say. It is expensive (about $500), but it comes with training tools that could be used with staff.”

In other news, a library in Potter County was sharing words about acceptance and diversity and got this media coverage, and much community discussion over this film: Out in the Silence.
At least one library in our district has already ordered the title, and maybe more will be adding this dvd to their local holdings and may even pursue hosting a public screening.

Want more opinion on the topic? Ask your reference staff to do some research and add some links by using the comment space below:
-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-wilson-solovic/workplace-stereotyping-a_b_564233.html
- an article found using an H.W. Wilson link: http://www.camagazine.com/generations/

Sign up to view in your own office or let me know you would like to stay after the meeting and watch it with a larger group.

Click here to register: http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/
Live webcast: Advocacy for Libraries: In Our Own Interest
Duration: 60 mins
Presenter: Stephen Abram, MLS

As promised at the event on Capitol Hill in D.C. at ALA Annual 2010, SirsiDynix and Gale Cengage Learning present a webinar on advocating for libraries. Advocacy has two main goals – to promote the library and to gain support, funding and endorsement of libraries’ roles in our communities and society. Stephen Abram has been involved in both internationally for his entire career. This session will explore both tried and true methods as well as some of the emerging strategies that are gaining traction. As the world of information and technology changes rapidly, it is even more critical that libraryland positions itself well for the future. Libraries matter.

Stephen Abram, MLS, is past-president 2008 of SLA and the past-president of the Canadian Library Association and Ontario Library Association. He currently serves as vice president for strategic partnerships and markets for Gale Cengage. Prior to Gale, he was vice president for innovation for SirsiDynix and chief strategist for the SirsiDynix Institute. He was electronic information publisher at Thomson after managing several libraries. Stephen was listed by Library Journal as one of the top 50 people influencing the future of libraries. He has received numerous honours including the 2009 Roger Summit Award, and speaks regularly internationally. His columns appear in Information Outlook, Multimedia & Internet@Schools and OneSource. He is the author of ALA Editions’ bestselling Out Front with Stephen Abram and contributed to ALA’s 2010 Boomers and Beyond. His blog, Stephen’s Lighthouse, is a popular blog in the library sector.

Helping job seekers in using electronic tools and Federal resources is the primary focus of this free webinar. In order to join in this informative resource, registration is necessary. Registration information can be found at: eventsignup.asp?ID=1661

Booktalking 2.0: Trends and Techniques for Reaching Teens is a
multidistrict Workshop sponsored by the Pittsburgh and Aliquippa District Centers on Tuesday, August 17th from 9:00-3:30 at Green Tree Municipal Center-Sycamore Room in Pittsburgh.

Recreational reading shouldn’t end when Summer Reading does. Want to keep teens excited about reading? Want to find out what’s hot and new in teen lit? Join Dr. Joni Richards Bodart, also known as “The Booktalker,” as she takes us on a tour of what’s hot in teen lit and shows us ways to promote reading to this hard-to-reach audience.

For a information and registration brochure go to:Booktalking_2.0_info[1]

Activate, Collaborate, Succeed! Relationships that Work is the topic of this multi-district (Lebanon, Lancaster, and Reading) on Wednesday, August 18 at the Lancaster Campus of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC).

How do we identify potential supporters of library funding? What makes
library funding possible? This presentation will answer these questions
and explore the shifting perception of the library from “information” to
“transformation.” Learn how to activate probable supporters including
local elected officials.

The dealine for registration is August 10th. An information and registration brochure can be obtained at:get_file?folderId=101621387&name=DLFE-27720009.pdf

This is a Multi-District workshop (Scranton, Pottsville and Wilkes-Barre) on Tuesday, August 17th from 8:30-3:30 in Kingston, PA. Public and School Librarians will gain knowledge of how students and younger collegues view ahd use technology in the learning process. Using techniques learned in this program, librarians will be able to assist teachers in using technology appropriately to enhance the learning experience and increase academic achievement.

For complete information and registration brochure go to:
get_file?folderId=101621252&name=DLFE-27720005.pdf

This workshop will be on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Registration is at 9:00 AM with the workshop starting at 9:30 until 3:30 PM. Lunch will be provided. The workshop is at the Holiday Inn-Grantville, PA. If accomodations are needed, go to the website: meetingsConventions.html

Information and registration at:
get_file?folderId=100962475&name=DLFE-27520002.pdf and

2010&df=calendar&EventType=ALL&Lib=&AgeGroup=ALL&LangType=0&WindowMode=&noheader=&lad=&pub=1&nopub=&page=&pgdisp=

“Grant us the serenity to accept things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

Members of the district are all members of PANO (ask district consultant Carrie if you don’t have a password or need to learn to use PANO’s resources)

Lobbying & Advocacy: The Most Important Tool In Your Mission Toolbox
with Joe Geiger, CAE, PANO Executive Director will be the topic for this informative public policy workshop at the PANO Building in Harrisburg on Friday, August 20th from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM with registration starting at 8:30 AM.

Board members are the fundamental component of nonprofit sustainability and it is imperative that nonprofit leaders understand and utilize public policy rights to support their cause. Now more than ever, board members must become further involved in lobbying and advocacy opportunities.

As you may already know, we have a multitude of public policy trainings starting in August. The training was established to create valued relationships between nonprofit leaders and elected officials. Nonprofit leaders will benefit from this half-day workshop that will provide tools and tips to help you engage in conversations with elected officials at all levels of government and to help you promote, protect, and advance your cause. It is vital that your board members are informed. You need to know how to articulate your issues so your organization can endure the coming challenges. We urge you to bring your Board Members so they may take part in this essential training opportunity.

A strong, informed, successful board is the backbone of nonprofit endurance, and training in lobbying and advocacy will ensure our survival and growth. It is too late to make that a reality once the crisis has descended. Learn to become a valued partner with your elected officials and ensure your organization has a voice. Join us at our lobbying and advocacy training. Unite as a sector that will not be disenfranchised anymore!

Register your board & staff:

DynamicPage.aspx?Site=PANO&WebCode=EventDetail&FromSearchControl=Yes&&evt_key=631de2bf-0a9d-49d2-9b01-d21d3a90498f

Some demos of vendors who provide downloadable audio and books will be scheduled at Lancaster as a part of the regional project.

For details, ask the district consultant in your district.

Do you ever catch yourself saying I have no idea how technology works somedays?
Check out this awesome graphic that helps you understand:
Via: Online Schools

Thanks to Stephen Abram’s Lighthouse blog for bringing it to our attention.

And, if this post was interesting to you, dig into the information to understand library technology even deeper at webjunction. Read, discuss, and share for free. Attend $5 classes when you sign up to join the PA community. Ask your district consultant if you have questions.

Read this update from the PA Library Association: palibraries.org for detail on the funding needed for a balanced PA state budget.

A balanced budget in PA and funding for many programs (possibly including public libraries) hinges on the successful passage of FMAP funds.
Here are some information resources about FMAP provided as a resource:

or just learn about the health care system and the different points of view: from The New Republic or this one from a .gov.

Be informed and provide information. If your reference staff have time to do more research, feel free to post new links in the comments below.

Speak your mind as a citizen about what matters to you. Libraries enhance democracy by helping to create an informed citizenry of people able to educate themselves about issues of finance, health care, technology, government services, living well together in a shared nation and world and so much more.

Office of Commonwealth Libraries encourages you to use Webjunction to find information on a number of topics that are relevant to your library.

Take a look at all of the resources for grants and special funds that are collected here: http://pa.webjunction.org/pa-fundingresources

When you have an outstanding project that meets community needs in mind, and need to find the dollars to fund it, there are many opportunities.

If you are not a member of webjunction yet, sign up today. If you have questions about it, dedicate some time to navigating the resource, understand the structure of content and topics, and then send your questions or ask for help.

FRE will be closed outside their regular schedule to host an annual fund-raising event, mini-golf inside the library, Birdie for Books.

Pay to putter around the library instead…

Want to try an event like this at your library? Here’s a thought: http://libraryminigolf.org/about/company.html

If you’re interested in attending and listening to plans about broadband technology, and to have the opportunity to share public library perspective, post a comment below or email the consultant!
http://outreach.psu.edu/programs/pa-broadband/registration.html

The Medical Library in the The Commonwealth Medical College in Scanton is seeking a web services librarian. The Web Services Librarian is primarily responsible for developing, maintaining and supporting the TCMC Medical Library website. By working collaboratively with librarians, faculty and students on the Medical Library website’s contents, this position will provide support to the TCMC curriculum and instructional program components. A primary responsibility is ensuring that high quality online materials and a wide array of electronic and print collection resources are readily available to virtual medical library users on a variety of platforms. This position will also lead evaluation efforts such as administering surveys and evaluating EZ Proxy data. The Web Services Librarian will also work closely with librarians and library staff on a variety of projects and initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Content Creation for the Medical Library Website: collaborate with library units and content providers to create websites that support organizational strategies and goals. Create, or coordinate as a member of the medical library team, the online instructional components to support the library’s information literacy and informatics programs, such as tutorials, podcasts, blogs and wikis; design, develop and manage the virtual medical library website by performing webpage programming and providing technical maintenance; develop technical documentation related to the virtual medical library website to ensure quality control of projects and compliance with standards recommended by TCMC; provide leadership and recommendations for new technologies, such as handheld devices, and web-based applications, and assist with implementation of these new technologies.

2. Assist with Management of Electronic Resources: manage the A to Z e-journals and e-books lists; Troubleshoot technology problems for library clientele; Assist in the evaluation, selection and promotion of electronic resources; Identify, evaluate and contribute relevant content for the library’s website including high-quality, relevant documents and site links, and new e-resources; train, or arrange training for, end-users and staff in the use of electronic resources; assist with promoting alternative publishing models such as PubMed Central.

3. Public Services: The Web Services Librarian will participate in public services delivery to faculty and students both on the TCMC main campus and at the regional campuses. This position will engage in both formal and informal communication methods to learn about and meet user needs; assist students with research papers, troubleshoot electronic resources access issues and provide other direct public services via e-mail, phone or in-person.

4. Information Literacy and Informatics: The Web Services Librarian will participate in information literacy and medical informatics training and initiatives in partnership with TCMC librarians, the office of Academic Informatics and the office of Medical Informatics. These functions include supporting faculty development and medical informatics training and educational classes; and helping to troubleshoot access to library resources.

5. Service: Contribute to the Medical Library team and serve on TCMC internal/external committees by working cooperatively on library-wide initiatives as appropriate to position functions. Participate in statewide, regional and national library organizations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
• This position reports to the Director of the Library.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:
• Master’s degree in library and information science (MLS or MSLS) from an ALA accredited program.
• Experience in developing and building websites and in providing technical maintenance.
• Commitment to a user-centered approach to web-based services, including web interfaces that meet the needs of
library clientele.
Desired:
• Previous experience in an academic library preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Proficiency using HTML and web editors such as Dreamweaver and FrontPage.
• Proficiency using graphics editors, such as Photoshop and Visio.
• Knowledge of website and information architecture principles.
• An understanding of graphic design elements.
• Knowledge of current and emerging technologies in digital and web-based library services.
• Knowledge of current digital library standards and best practices.
• Knowledge of web-based instructional design principles and technologies.
• Knowledge of standard Windows packages, including PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel and MS Access.
• Strong Internet searching skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, and to set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt to new and changing situations, priorities and technologies.
• Excellent communication skills in articulating the library’s online vision.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Detail oriented, with excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty and staff.
• Strong initiative and ability to function independently and as a contributing member of a team.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize, ability to demonstrate innovation and flexibility.

Please submit a cover letter and CV to: Human Resources, The Commonwealth Medical College, 150 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 or electronically to hr@tcmedc.org.

For electronic submissions, please include the title of the position in the subject line of the response.

The Medical Library in the Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton has a full-time, entry level position for a Public Services Librarian. The Public Services Librarian is primarily responsible for coordinating the full range of public service functions such as Information Services Desk services and staffing; document delivery and interlibrary loan, reference, tours and research assistance. A strong public services perspective, experience and enthusiasm for delivering library services both to campus-located and distant clientele, and an interest in developing new and innovative services are required. There will be a strong focus on medical informatics and expansion of library public services as the college continues to grow. The Public Services Librarian supervises a part time library assistant and a part time library volunteer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
1. Public Services; coordinate and deliver public services to faculty, staff and students both on the TCMC main campus and
on the regional campuses; engage in both formal and information communication methods to learn about and meet user
needs; assist students with research papers; and provide other direct public services via e-mail, phone or in-person.
2. Participate in medical informatics training and initiatives in partnership with TCMC librarians, the Office of Academic
Informatics and the Office of Medical Informatics. These functions include supporting faculty development and medical
informatics training and educational classes; and helping to troubleshoot access to library resources.
3. Participate in the Library Outreach Services Program, by delivering library services and resources to our outreach services
partners, as well as facilitating access to our library services and resources when our outreach partners are on-site.
4. Coordinate document delivery and interlibrary loan services;
5. Collect, maintain and report usage statistics related to all library services and resources;
6. Special Projects: lead or participate as a member of team on special projects that are developed as library goals.
7. Service: contribute to the TCMC Medical Library team and serve on TCMC internal/external committees by working
cooperatively on library-wide initiatives. Participate in statewide, regional and national library organizations.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
• This position reports to the Director of the Library.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:
• Master’s degree in library and information science (MLS or MSLS) from an ALA accredited program.
• Working knowledge of both print and non-print library resources, including Internet resources and electronic journal, bibliographic and citation databases.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with a variety of people within a team framework.

Desired:
• Experience working in an academic medical library.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Knowledge of current and emerging technologies in digital and web-based library services.
• Knowledge of current digital library standards and best practices.
• Knowledge of standard Windows packages, including PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher and MS Access.
• Strong Internet searching skills.
• Excellent communication skills in articulating the library’s vision.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups of individuals, including students, staff and faculty.
• Strong initiative and ability to function independently and as a contributing member of a team.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize; ability to demonstrate innovation and flexibility.

Work Schedule: We are seeking an individual who is willing and able to work daytime, evening and weekend hours.

Please submit a cover letter and CV to: Human Resources, The Commonwealth Medical College, 150 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 or electronically to hr@tcmedc.org.

For electronic submissions, please include the title of the position in the subject line of the response.