Wednesday, November 30, 2011

RRLC Linking Libraries Newsletter

The Rochester Regional Library Council publishes its newsletter Linking Libraries approximately four times a year. As part of RRLC efforts to "go green" it is no longer producing a paper copy, but is posting the newsletter to the website.
To read the December 2011 issue go HERE.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

WorldOMeters

Real time world statistics. Us, by the numbers, in the world, and in the United States.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Mid-Hudson Library System seeks Automation Coordinator

The Mid-Hudson Library System, located in Poughkeepsie, New York, is seeking an experienced librarian to lead and administer automation services to sixty-six public libraries, which serve communities ranging in population from several hundred to 70,000.

The Automation Coordinator, with a salary range of $56,000 to $61,000, is a member of the System’s senior management team and includes the supervision of a small staff. The position is responsible for ensuring the reliability and integrity of the integrated library system (ILS), which is Innovative's Millennium. The ILS is used by all sixty-six member libraries of the System and manages 300,000 patrons and collections of 2.4 million items. System-wide circulation totaled 4.7 million items in 2010.

The Coordinator will have the opportunity to lead the transition from Millennium to Innovative’s new ILS, Sierra, which is planned for the spring of 2013.

The Coordinator also assists member libraries in identifying, implementing and evaluating resource sharing standards, and developing and analyzing the effectiveness of the system-wide catalog.

The ideal candidate can provide evidence of strong customer service, effective written and oral communication, project management, and the ability to collaborate as well as lead. The ideal candidate treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; inspires and motivates others to perform well, and can meet challenges with resourcefulness and good humor.

There is a strong expectation that the individual appointed to this position will participate in local and regional workshops and conferences, and maintain a high level of professional recognition. Travel within the systems is required.

Minimum qualifications are a Master's degree (MLS, MIS) from an ALA accredited institution and two or more years of related full-time experience, including one year of supervisory experience. Personal experience and the supervision of others in cataloging and classification, LC authority control, the management of MARC records, and the application of AACR2 rules are essential.

Resumes, statements of interest, and lists of three professional references can be sent to search@midhudson.org until December 31, 2011. Review of candidates begins January 3, 2012.

Mike Nyerges
Executive Director
Mid-Hudson Library System
http://director.midhudson.org
http://www.midhudson.org
845.471.6060 Ext 217
Fax 845.454.5940

Saturday, November 26, 2011

ALA calls for Penguin Group to restore e-book access to library patrons

From November 22, 2011:

WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Penguin Group (USA), announced it was discontinuing the lending of new e-book titles to library patrons. In addition, library patrons with the Amazon Kindle e-reader will no longer be able to check-out any Penguin titles from libraries.


American Library Association (ALA) President-elect Maureen Sullivan released the following statement regarding the abrupt change in e-book access:


"Penguin Group's recent action to limit access to new e-book titles to libraries has serious ramifications. The issue for library patrons is loss of access to books, period. Once again, readers are the losers.


"If Penguin has an issue with Amazon, we ask that they deal with Amazon directly and not hold libraries hostage to a conflict of business models.


"This situation is one more log thrown onto the fire of libraries' abilities to provide access to books - in this case titles they've already purchased. Penguin should restore access for library patrons now."


The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 60,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Cyber Security is our Shared Responsibility

From New York's Libraries Information Network offers this advice from the Office of Cyber Security

1.Use Strong Passwords: Passwords should have at least eight characters and include letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and special characters. It is important to maintain separate passwords for different accounts to reduce the likelihood of one password being compromised, which may make other accounts vulnerable as well. Developing good password practices will help keep your personal information and identity secure.

ALSO
2.Limit the Use of External Devices
3.Avoid Phishing and Social Engineering Attempts
4.Be Cautious When Shopping Online
5.Limit the Use of Administrator Accounts
6.Update Your Software
7.Protect and Secure Mobile Devices
8.Enable Your Firewall
9.Use Anti-virus and Anti-spyware Programs
10.Secure Wireless Networks

Friday, November 18, 2011

New Lending Library Is for Kitchen Tools, Not Books

Have you ever gotten excited about a new recipe then realize it requires a special tool you don't own? It's not worth it to go buy a fancy new kitchen gadget just for one recipe — but it might be worth renting. That's why a Portland, OR, neighborhood plans to open a kitchen tool lending library.


More HERE.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Survey of Library Use of Cloud Computing

Primary Research Group has published the Survey of Library Use of Cloud Computing, ISBN 157440-191-2.

The report looks closely at how academic, special and public libraries are using cloud computing services and plan to use them in the future. The study gives detailed data about the use of specific services from Amazon, Google, DropBox and many others, as well as presenting an objective look at the benefits and costs of cloud computing, and the opinions of librarians on data security, cost, reliability, impact on staff time and other issues about cloud computing.

Just a few of the report's many findings are:

22.54% of libraries sampled use paid subscription software as a cloud computing service, including just 13.64% of libraries outside the United States.

Major cloud computing services have been used for hosting and/or distributing special collections by 2.82% of libraries in the sample.

63.04% of libraries categorize Google as trustworthy and 8.7% as highly trustworthy. The remaining 28.26% say that Google is usually trustworthy and none consider it untrustworthy.

66.67% of libraries agree that, while data and file losses are possible with major cloud computing services, these losses would not be any worse than those occurring with traditional storage systems.

Less than 3% of libraries currently use platforms as a service (PaaS), which enable end users to build their own applications online.

2.82% of libraries are considering using Rackspace in the future, including 5.56% of public libraries and 2.44% of academic libraries.

15.38% of libraries with budgets between $750,000 and $5,000,000 use server space rented from cloud computing services,

16.9% of libraries have adopted Google Apps as their default means of word processing.

The report's conclusions are based on data from 72 academic, public and special libraries predominantly from the USA, Canada, Australia and the UK. A pdf version of the report is currently available for $95.00 and a print version will be available on December 9, 2011. To view a table of contents, list of participants and excerpt, or to place an order in any format, visit out website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.

ALSO FROM PRIMARY RESEARCH GROUP:

Primary Research Group has published Library Use of eBooks 2012 Edition, ISBN 157440-184-X

The report looks closely at library eBook purchasing and deployment policies and includes data on overall spending, spending on particular products, the break down of spending between aggregators and individual publishers among thousands of other data points. The study include exhaustive information on library eBook purchasing plans in particular subject areas and for particular types of technologies.

Library Use of eBooks 2012 Edition also gives detailed data on current and future spending plans on tablet computers, eBook readers, edirectories, etextbooks, eAudio books and many other forms of eBooks. In addition the report examines information eBook issues relating to information literacy, cataloging, interlibrary loan, course reserves, consortium relations and use and other pressing issues in eBook development and deployment. The study is based on survey data from more than 90 public, higher education and special libraries.

Just a few of the report's many findings are that:

Libraries in the sample will spend a mean of $118,453 on e-books in 201l and anticipate spending a mean of $128,712 in 2012.

Libraries sampled have a mean of 3.62 existing e-book licensing contracts with individual publishers and e-book aggregators.

College libraries will renew a mean of 89.4% of their e-book contracts, while corporate and legal libraries will renew a mean of 67.78%.

Among public libraries sampled, a mean of just 0.5% of e-book orders are made direct from the publisher. In comparison, 35% of orders made by corporate and legal libraries and 32.22% of those from government libraries are made this way.

46.48% of e-book purchases by college libraries and nearly a quarter of those made by government libraries were made through library consortia.

Only 6.93% of libraries in the sample have ever developed a video to explain any facet of e-book use.

Libraries in the sample have MARC records for a mean 66.01% of e-books in their collections.

29.11% of libraries have taken some measures to integrate e-books searches into journal article searches.

27.63% of libraries in the sample say that patrons use e-books about psychology occasionally and 26.32% say that they use them significantly.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites

Source: Pew Internet and American Life Project

As social media use has become pervasive in the lives of American teens, a new study finds that 69% of the teenagers who use social networking sites say their peers are mostly kind to one another on such sites. Still, 88% of these teens say they have witnessed people being mean and cruel to another person on the sites, and 15% report that they have been the target of mean or cruel behavior on social network sites.

Adult social network users are less likely to say they witness or experience this type of behavior, but they still report that it is prevalent: 69% of adults who use social networking sites say they have seen people be mean and cruel to others on those sites.

More HERE.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Library to get a hackerspace

The Fayetteville, NY Free Library is installing a hackerspace/fablab with 3D printers, CNC routers and other equipment, available free to the public as a community space for making. The project is led by librarian Lauren Smedley, who is basically MADE OF AWESOME.

More HERE.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

A second chance to attend NYLA?

Unable to attend the 2011 NYLA Conference in Saratoga Springs earlier this month? Library staff and trustees will find all of the State Library fact sheets, handouts and other current information about statewide library services and programs posted in one convenient location on the State Library’s website.

Jeffrey W. Cannell, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education and Acting State Librarian encourages library staff and trustees to share this information with colleagues and with the public, as appropriate. Highlights include:

*Creating the Future – The Regents Advisory Council on Libraries disseminated a first draft of “Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision and Plan for Library Service in New York State; Preliminary Recommendations of the New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to the New York State Board of Regents” in October. Some 125 people attended an open meeting at the NYLA conference to learn about and comment upon the initial recommendations. Written comments may be submitted up until November 15.

*Libraries and the Education Reform Agenda - Education Commissioner Dr. John B. King encouraged NYLA Conference attendees to visit “EngageNY, Our Students, Their Moment” (SED’s go-to site for technology and learning resources) to see the latest information related to implementation of the Common Core Standards. Commissioner King emphasized that libraries of all types have critical roles to play in helping New Yorkers of all ages be career and college ready.

*Resources for JobSeekers - The State Library now offers JobNow, which provides expert résumé help, real-time interview coaching, career and job search advice and an Adult Learning Center, in English and Spanish. JobNow and the Adult Learning Center are products of Brainfuse and all New Yorkers have access to them from home, work or the library through NOVELNY. Library staff will also find tips and resources on helping the unemployed and underemployed on the State Library’s Job and Career Information page.

*NOVELNY (New York Online Virtual Electronic Library) is on Facebook! Check out the Facebook page and databases freely available to New York libraries and residents at NOVELNY. Use of NOVELNY continues to grow with 5,600 libraries participating statewide and more than 42 million searches in 2011. Tell us your library’s NOVELNY success stories!

*2012 Summer Reading at New York Libraries -- Dream Big - Read and Own the Night -- New York has teamed up with 49 other states in the national Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP). Over 1.6 million young people participated in summer 2011 – a ten percent increase!

*2012 Teen Video Challenge – For teens ages 13 to 18. Eligible videos will be 30-90 seconds long and feature the teen’s interpretation of the 2012 Summer Reading at New York Libraries slogan, “Own the Night.” Winners will receive $275 and gain national exposure when their video is posted on the CSLP website, as well as another $150 for their library! Visit www.summerreadingnys.org for more information and an entry form. Entry deadline is March 5, 2012.

*Research Library Digital Collections Put History on Parade! New Digital Collections of the New York State Library include a large array of 18th and 19th century historical materials from many subject areas, including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Native American materials, and New York State laws and natural history. While books make up the core collection, Digital Collections also include primary source materials such as letters, diaries, and rare manuscripts as well as historic photographs, illustrations, maps, broadsides, drawings, and music scores. New York State government documents are also featured and include current 21st century materials along with rare 18th and 19th century documents.

*TBBL Digital Books And Players Are Popular! TBBL (Talking Book and Braille Library) Digital Books and Players continue to be distributed to new and registered borrowers who qualify for talking book services in New York State. Digital audio books are in high demand, and are sent FREE to eligible borrowers at their home or affiliated institutions, such as schools or health facilities. About 4,000 titles on digital cartridge are available from TBBL in Albany, and the collection is growing. Borrowers can now also download many more titles (over 20,000) from BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download), which is a Library of Congress National Library Services website. Institutions and public libraries may also now apply for a BARD account.

*Do you need career information? Online graduate programs? Job listings, or opportunities for professional development? Click on librarycareersny.org for Professional Development and More. Click on the Calendar Menu to see upcoming training opportunities for library staff available across New York State.

*New York State Adult and Family Literacy Grants Awarded – The State Library is announcing grant awards made for 2011-2013. Projects in public libraries and public library systems focus on basic literacy for adults and early learning as well as success in school for families. Grant awards for Adult Literacy and for Family Literacy.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Citizens for Public Transportation meeting

Citizens for Public Transportation will meet on Wednesday, November 16th from 5:30 PM to 7:30PM, at the main branch of the Troy Public Library, 100 Second Street, next to the County Courthouse, Troy, NY.
Bus riders are invited to come and state their concerns about issues of public transportation. Representatives of legislators at all levels are being invited and a representative of CDTA is planning to be present.

Friday, November 11, 2011

New JLAMS issue

The Fall 2011 issue of JLAMS, the peer reviewed electronic journal from the Library Administration and Management Section of the New York Library Association, is available on the LAMS web site.

If you think you might be interested in submitting an article to JLAMS, please send Richard Naylor an email at naylorr@uhls.lib.ny.us or give him a call at 518.810.0316 to discuss it. At the web site you can also find out how to submit articles, volunteer to be a Referee, and about other LAMS initiatives.

Articles in the issue include:

* How Copyright Theory Affects Practices: a Primer For Information Professionals by Robert Weiss and Katherine M. Shelfer

* RFID Materials Circulation and Handling: A Model for Improving Customer Service By Christine McDonald

* Digitizing Everything? Part II: Piloting Metadata Creation By Kimmy Szeto

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Library Hours in November

Please note these changes in the Albany Public Library's schedule:

Closed Thursday, Nov. 10, for staff development day. But OPEN Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Early closing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Closed Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25, for Thanksgiving holiday.

Monday, November 07, 2011

Mozart in Albany

Hear Mozart by joint Presbyterian choirs Sunday, November 13, 3 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, NY. Read more HERE.

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

5 Reasons To Support the Chicago (and Your Own) Public Library

From Gordon Dymowski's Blog THIS, Pal!

If you have been following the local news, you've heard that the Mayor is planning a series of budget cuts, including funding for the Chicago Public Library. Already, there's been a great outcry about it, with an online petition being circulated, and Chicago librarians are going all #OccupyWallStreet in response.