http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012FebLibGuides

This PDE/Commonwealth Libraries Professional Development Workshop will apply traditional collection development methodologies to the “curation” – selection, organization, and professional presentation – of digital content, services, and tools.

Designed for school and public librarians who work with children and teens, this workshop will focus on the application of LibGuides, a media-rich, easy-to-use platform that can become your virtual library “parking lot” to present web resources, both content and tools.

Specifically, participants will learn to:

All trained workshop participants will receive free access to LibGuides through September 2012 (it is a commercial, licensed web product, currently paid by PDE.) Resources for this workshop—Powerpoint, handouts, and online resources—will be made available online via WebJunction. Workshop participants will be expected to download all materials and may need them in order to create a LibGuides electronic pathfinder.

Please join us at the Central Dauphin High School Library (437 Piketown Road, Harrisburg) on Friday, February 17 from 7:20 AM to 2:50 PM.

Trainers Carolyn Blatchley and Brenda Blackburn-Foster will teach you to use LibGuides, and you will obtain free access for your school or public library through September 2012. The workshop is designed for six hours of instruction and practice over two consecutive evenings.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, within the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will award 6 hours of Act 48 credit to those who complete the workshop, and it will count as Continuing Education for public librarians. Participants must complete a workshop evaluation to obtain credit.

This post is a reminder that libraries in our district should have a completed annual report submitted to the consultant’s office on or before April 1, 2011.

As always, let me know if you would like a one-to-one consult on your annual report (which can reduce error checking times) or if for some reason you will not be able to meet that deadline date.

For many libraries, having the board review and sign the annual report at the March meeting is advisable. It’s good to get the final information from 2011 wrapped up so you can proceed with all of your success for 2012.

These deadlines are of the utmost importance because Commonwealth Libraries must report all data to the federal government by the first week in June. Because of these deadlines some libraries will not be able to refer to their audits when completing the annual report.  In such cases the end-of-the-year treasurer’s report/financial statement should be used.

Here are some useful documents for completing the Annual Report:

• Additions and Changes to 2011
• Documentation Checklist for libraries
• Consultant Review Guidelines (these are the things that will get double-checked on your reports!)
• Tips and Hints for Completing the PA Public Library Survey (this is an excellent document with detailed information for many of the questions)

The Annual Report Signature Sheet, Application for State Aid Signature Page, and the Certification of Estimated Costs (Green Sheet) are all available as links within the online survey.  These pages are to be printed, completed and submitted by mail with original signatures.

Audits: Please submit audit or financial review by October 1, 2012.  Failure to comply will result in either a delayed payment or loss of State Aid.

If you have questions about filling out the annual report online, please contact your district library consultant.  In a separate email, your district consultant will send a note to signatories and those who are responsible for submitting the online report and collecting documentation with more local detail, including how to count statistics for ebooks and other electronic resources.

Registration:  Register online here or just let your Library Director know you plan to attend so we can have an accurate count for the meal.

Who should attend:  Library trustees and directors from each of the four Perry County libraries are the primary audience.  Other interested staff are also invited.  Our goal is to have a minimum of 4 trustees from each library in attendance—but more would be even better!

When:  February 7, 2012.   The event begins at 6p.m. with dinner and will be completed at 8:30.   Drop in whenever you can make it!   (If the weather is inclement, check with your library director or view the PeCoInfo website for updates to our plans.  A tentative snow date is scheduled for Feb. 21.)

Where:  Espresso Yourself  (Dinner will be soup, wrap, drink, and dessert.)  8 South 2nd Street, Newport, PA 17074

What and Why: 

At this gathering of library leaders throughout Perry County, we will:

• Get to know each other, share ideas, and celebrate the success of cooperation between our libraries. 
• Watch parts of a newly released DVD from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries called “Getting on Board”
• Review orientation materials that help library trustees further understand the board’s responsibilities.
• Complete worksheets and activities that are custom designed to help your libraries plan for a great future.
• Ask and answer questions to further the development of our libraries.

All trustees will receive a binder of materials with the “Getting on Board!: Tools for Board Development and Assessment”.   The binders will be packed with detailed information, some of it customized for Perry County.

Cost: FREE for all trustees and staff to attend.   This event is supported with continuing education funds by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.

If you have questions, feel free to contact me or ask your library director.

Tentative Agenda to be confirmed by Perry County Library Directors.

When: January 17 from 2-4

Where: ESA (likely meeting room A, could be B or lab–waiting confirmation)

Note:  If you can’t attend in person, tell Carrie and then feel free to phone call in.  We can also set up a conference phone or skype connection if you’d prefer.

Why:  Our group is discussing online resources.   We have most of our discussion and interaction on a wiki, but this is a chance to meet in person. 

Who:  Our committee is composed of representatives from all libraries in our area.  Ask your manager if you can attend/contribute if you have strong opinions about online resources and databases.

Please see the attached registration brochure for more detail and to register.   They would like registrations ASAP, before Dec. 29, 2011 if possible.   2012 Summer Reading Workshop Registration Brochure

There is a $15 cost for attending this workshop.

When:  Thursday, January 26 from 1:30-2:30, though the representative will be around before and after for additional Q & A.

Where:  ESA, likely Room A, pending final room confirmation

What:  Scott Lea will host a session to get your staff excited to use the resource so that our library customers can the most value from our subscription.   After attending the workshop you will:

• Know the answers to any questions you have about the resource
• Have completed 1 hour of Continuing Education 
• Understand many of the ways you can use ReferenceUSA to help job searchers
• Understand better how to use the resource to help customers interested in small business developmetn and market research. 
• Be able to share the tips and tricks to success with other staff in your library
• Know how to better promote the use of this resource with library clientele.

Before the session, check out the new ReferenceUSA Resource Center.  Here you can order marketing materials and bookmarks, view the webinar schedule, and link to a video tutorial library on YouTube to learn more about the resources. 

No Cost, District Workshop, 1 hour of Continuing Education Credit for attendees.

Register Today:  Walk-ins would be welcome, but to have an accurate count of how many to expect, please register:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ReferenceUSATraining

There will be no delivery on either route on Thanksgiving.

There will be no delivery on either route on Labor Day.

There will be no delivery on either route on Independence Day.

There will be no delivery on either route on Memorial Day.

Most CCLS libraries are listed as open (except SIM).  There will be delivery on the Cumberland route.

Most CCLS Locations are open, and as such, the Cumberland route is likely to run as scheduled.

The Capital Area Library District purchased a site license so librarians from our area can gather in one room to learn and discuss during a virtual conference.  Here’s the registration link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechSummitPowertoPatron

What: Virtual Tech Summit: Power to the Patron, From Systems to Services: Library Journal presents our first virtual technology summit, Power to the Patron: From Systems to Services. This full-day event will examine the technologies that empower users on the front end (what they see) and the behind-the-scenes systems that make such self-service and digital delivery possible. The day will offer a keynote presentation and panels covering what people are using, what they want, and how the self-service option helps people discover their place in the library or simplifies the library/user connection.

When: Thursday Dec. 8, 10am – 6pm EDT. The room will be open at 10a.m. for orientation, setup and local discussion. 11a.m. is the first official “presentation” of the day. Breaks occur throughout the day and discussions will be held before and after speakers/presenters. Feel free to drop in for any part you can attend that interests you for the future of your library. Here’s the program: http://www.thedigitalshift.com/events/tech-summit/program/

Where: Kline Library (in Harrisburg, PA) Need directions: Click here

Who Should Attend: If you work for a library and are interested in learning about how system technologies interact with customer needs, you can attend. The speakers are well known professionals with lots of good information and we’ll have some great local discussions. Feel free to invite someone else in your professional network of librarians to tag along with you too.

Why?: The program is full of exciting content and ideas for the future of technology used by customers in libraries of all types. Find your digital inspiration!

How much does it cost?: This virtual conference event is FREE for staff and invited guests of the Capital Area Library District. The district purchased a site license so we can fill the room. We’ll be watching it together as a group and can discuss things during breaks.

Will I get CE Credits?: Attendees can report 5 hours of CE credits for attending this day. If you can’t attend the whole day, feel free to drop by the classroom at any time to join the discussion. You’ll get CE credits for active time spent in class.

Will you feed me?: Brown Bags are encouraged; bring your own lunch or choose to bring a snack to share. At KL, there is a very small place to keep foods refrigerated for the day as needed.

For more information and to register today: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechSummitPowertoPatron

For more information go to the sponsor site: Meet David Baldacci at Wine and Words reception

Friday, October 21, 2011
7 pm to 9 pm
Wine & Hors d’oeuvres
$60 pp
Limited to 75 tickets

For tickets, fill out the form click here, $60 per ticket, and send to Beth Coolidge, P O Box 730, Carlisle, PA 17013. No phone calls please. Adults only. Limited to 4 tickets per person. Checks payable to Friends of Bosler Library. Hurry, first come, first serve.