Friday, December 06, 2002

Friday Notes 2.  An on-line resource for NEILSA Librarians DEADLINES & DATES: New feature, I'll try to list all the upcoming dates of importance here, you will have to mine for the details.  Direct State Aid Status or Final December 15, 2002. February TBA - BYCA  (Before Your Computer Arrives), someone from your library MUST attend the BYCA workshop. County Meetings Scheduled: If your county meeting is not on the schedule please contact NEILSA Allamakee County Meeting Black Hawk County Meeting Bremer County Meeting - April 8, 2002 @ 7:30 in Readlyn Buchanan County Meeting Butler County Meeting Chickasaw County Meeting Clayton County Meeting Delaware County Meeting - May 13, 2002 @ 7:00 in Edgewood P L Fayette County Meeting Grundy County Meeting Howard County Meeting Howard County Meeting Winneshiek County Meeting CE: Special Workshops: One & two hour workshops at Fall & Spring county meetings, item specific workshops,  and 2 roundtables/year.      OTHER CE: You must register with the listed provider.  Check: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/continuing_ed/index.html The national teleconference, Safeguarding Our Patrons' Privacy: What Every Librarian Needs to Know about the USA Patriot Act and Related Anti- Terrorism Measures, will be available at 11 Iowa locations on Wednesday, December 11, 2002, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Time. For details and to register go to: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/continuing_ed/cecat.htm#Patriot The USA Patriot Act, passed by Congress on October 25, 2001, broadly expands the powers of federal law enforcement agencies investigating cases involving foreign intelligence and international terrorism. The teleconference will provide libraries and their governing institutions with an analysis of the implications of these recent anti-terrorism measures. This will include identifying steps that institutions need to take to comply with proper search warrants, subpoenas, and wiretap requests from law enforcement. Panelists will address the key legal issues and policy implications for libraries and address the impact of any legislative and regulatory proposals on the privacy and First Amendment rights of library users. The Association for Research Libraries (ARL) has just informed us that the handouts for the Dec. 11 teleconference on the Patriot Act are now available. See http://www.arl.org/patriot/patriot.pdf Since the handouts will not be mailed to the sites, you will need to print out a copy.     Self-Directed Learning Opportunities: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/Certification/alternate.htm ANNOUNCEMENTS: HOME OWNERSHIP BEGINS @ YOUR LIBRARY The Path to Home Ownership Begins @ your library(tm) is a multi-year public education and awareness campaign responding to the well-documented desire of the overwhelming majority of Americans to own a home. The program is a collaborative effort between the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), a division of the American Library Association, and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a leading provider of home financing. The initiative provides libraries nationwide with a list of targeted reference materials and Web sites that will help home buyers make well-informed financial decisions. http://www.ala.org/rusa/wellsfargo/ LD ONLINE CAN HELP SERVE CHILDREN WITH LD To help children with learning disabilities (LD) and their parents and teachers, WETA, the PBS station for the Washington DC area, produces LD OnLine, a web site dedicated to helping children with LD and Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The site contains up-to-date articles on LD and ADHD, creative forums for kids, and book reviews and recommendations. LD OnLine's goal is to provide the most current relevant information on LD and ADHD. For a specially designed library tour, visit LD OnLine at http://www.LDOnLine.org/library.html The State Library is required to submit a report to the Legislature by January 15, 2003 on the uses and impact of the Direct State Aid portion of the Enrich Iowa funding. So that we can prepare the report, we must require that either a Direct State Aid Status or Final Report be submitted to the State Library no later than December 15, 2002. The Direct State Aid Status and/or Final Report form is available at http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/enrich_ia/fy2003/report-form-direct-state-aid03.pdf To complete your report, you will need to know the amount of Direct State Aid your library received. This information can be found on the explanation of payments individualized for each library which was included with your check. If you cannot locate it, the information is available on the State Library's website at http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/enrich_ia/fy2003/dsa-fy2003.htm or contact your Library Service Area or the State Library. If you are certain how the Direct State Aid money will be used, submit a Final Report and there will be no additional report due in July.     In the EYE-OPENER from NWILSA: (Edited) This time in Eye-Opener: 1) DuPage Teleconference This Friday 2) Enrich Iowa and Infrastructure Status Reports Due 3) Answers to EBSCO Questions 1) DuPage Teleconference This Friday: This Friday, December 6th, marks the second in a series of 8 national teleconferences sponsored by the College of DuPage in Illinois. This Friday's program is entitled "Effective Web Design" and runs from 11:00AM--1:00PM Central Standard Time. These DuPage telecasts are widely recognized as top-notch programs, brought to Iowa through a partnership between the State Library and BCR. Here's a description of Friday's session: "...Today's Web sites need to offer more than just access to online catalogs and databases. Web sites need to anticipate the user's expectations with design elements that make it easy to find and use information. Organizations, especially libraries, need to take a fresh look at their Web sites in light of usability and accessibility issues. Large, medium, or small— school, public, academic, or special—all libraries and organizations need to keep up-to-date with what's happening in Web design. This teleconference brings fresh ideas to the Web environment. Experts will present and discuss user-centered design benchmarks, practical usability testing techniques, the do's and don'ts of writing for the Web, and targeting search results for the user while providing for efficient site management..." Attendance is worth 2 c.e. credits. Register online by going here: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/continuing_ed/effectivewebdesignd ec6reg.htm Check out the program's resource listing and webliography by going here: http://www.cod.edu/teleconf/design/resources.htm 2) Enrich Iowa Status Reports Due: A reminder that some paperwork is due on December 15th.  By then, libraries need to file mid-year status reports for the Enrich Iowa programs. This status report asks you to indicate how you intend to spend your library's share of the money. Not to worry: you actually have until June 30, 2003 to spend it. In the meantime, the State Library compiles your reports to share with the legislature, explaining how Iowans, using their public libraries, are benefitting from this important state appropriation. Enrich Iowa Report forms were mailed to all public libraries this summer. 3) Answers to EBSCO Questions: As you know, NWILS staff now joins county association meetings over the ICN. This fall, one of the county meeting topics was a quick review of EBSCO. Many people in attendance raised a number of good and thoughtful questions about using EBSCO. At each ICN county meeting, I kept tabs of the questions that really deserved more complete answers than I had time to provide on-the-spot. So for everyone's benefit, here are more detailed answers to EBSCO questions raised by library staff and trustees alike: QUESTION: How do our local customers log onto EBSCO from home or work? EASY ANSWER: First, local libraries should bookmark the EBSCO website using this address: http://search.epnet.com Then people can log on by using their town's name (littleport) as the authorization/user id and then use the word "library" (without quotes) as the password. For the vast majority of Northeast libraries, this approach will work. MORE COMPLICATED ANSWER: Those libraries with high-speed Internet access (56K, T1, DSL, etc) have the option of setting up automatic log-ons to EBSCO through the library's IP address. For more information about this option, you're welcome to contact Eunice in our office or Judy Jones at the State Library. QUESTION: Are there any press releases or promotional materials out there so we can better "advertise" EBSCO's availability in our town? ANSWER: yes, LSA's have a copy of a press release (originated from the State Library) that we'll be happy to send. In addition, there are flyers and bookmarks promoting EBSCO available in WORD, WORD PERFECT, and PDF files at the website below. Plus, EBSCO is developing new table tents that libraries can order directly from the company. For promotional materials, click here: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/databases/ebsco/promotional-mater ials.htm QUESTION: Are there ways we can track EBSCO's usage in our library? ANSWER: yes, there are several usage reports that you can print specific to your library's usage each month. It may be easier said than done, though, because this usage activity is accessed in the ADMINISTRATIVE MODULE. NEILSA has conducted only limited  training yet in using the ADMIN MODULE. In the meantime, once in the ADMIN MODULE, choose "Reports and Statistics." Then choose "Session Usage" to find total searches by site, by user group (in-library-users or remote users) or by profiles (those interfacing with EBSCOHost as opposed to those interfacing with Searchasaurus) You can choose a time period: October-to-October would show usage for the entire month of October. October-to-November would show usage for the entire months of October and November. There are online help screens as well. Give it a whirl and experiment with different reports. Judy Jones at the State Library is the resident whiz-kid and she's happy to help. Chris, Janie, and I are ramping up to learn all this better ourselves, but right now we're all living in E-rate purgatory until early January. QUESTION: Can our library still sign up to participate in EBSCO? ANSWER: Yes. Remember, EBSCO access is not free--but it is very affordable: for public libraries, a base price of $25.00 plus $.02cents per capita. NWILS has participation forms here or you can print them from the State Library's website. Once the State Library receives your form, they'll send an invoice. And please note, the price will not be pro-rated for the remainder of this fiscal year. If signing up now in December, your library will pay the full amount and then pay again in early July for a full-year's access. Even at a 1/2 year, EBSCO is a bargain for libraries large and small! QUESTION: Will there be more EBSCO training opportunities for Northwest libraries? ANSWER: NO, not unless there is a groundswell of demand that has not, as yet, exibited itself. In the meantime, the State Library maintains a website listing of EBSCO training going on around the state...maybe somewhere close to you. Go to: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/databases/ebsco/training_opportun ities.htm FEEDBACK: Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (and answers!) about your Gates grants: Q: I expected to get a computer, not a check. Does this mean we just turn around and send them money back? A: No. The check is from the Gates Foundation, and you will use that money to purchase the computer(s) from Gateway. (Though their names are similar they are completely different entities!) If you opted to purchase a computer other than a Gateway you will use the money to purchase that. Q: So, should we go to Gateway and order a computer? A: No. Eight to ten weeks before your computer is scheduled to arrive you will get a packet of materials which will include a purchase order (already filled out for you) to copy on your library's letterhead and fax to Gateway. Q: What do we do with the check? A: When you have signed the agreement, the check should be deposited--in most cases, in the general fund of the city or in a trust and agency account that has already been set up. You should talk with your city clerk, however; s/he will know what is the appropriate action in your city. The clerk will need to know that you may be spending the money this fiscal year (in which case, a budget amendment may be necessary--check with the clerk) or next year. If you end up not spending the money until next year there has to be a mechanism to make the money available next year--again, check with your city clerk. Make certain the interest gained is credited to your account also. Gates has not yet scheduled the implementation for everyone, so you don't know yet whether you will be expending the money before July 1, or not until the next fiscal year. The key is to talk to your city so they know what the situation is. Q: When will we get our computer(s)? A: Implementation is scheduled from May to September but the schedule of individual libraries has not been made. When you attend the BYCA (Before Your Computer Arrives) workshop you will get details about the process of getting your computer, training, etc. Remember, someone from your library MUST attend the BYCA workshop. Q: When will the BYCA workshop be? A: We don't know yet. It will be in February, but exact dates and locations have not been set. We asked Gates to schedule around the Summer Library Program workshops. (Note: We do not set the schedule--Gates Foundation does.) Q: Is it appropriate to send a thank you to the Gates Foundation, now that we have received the check from them. A: Yes! CHANGES: Updates – Addresses & such - NONE submitted   CONSORTIA NEWS & E-Rate:     END PLATE: Long Announcements, Supporting Documents, & other "stuff" The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office is now accepting grant applications from libraries wishing to host the traveling panel exhibition, Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend. This new exhibit commemorates the 400th anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England and will encourage audiences not only to reacquaint themselves with the Queen, but also to become more familiar with the historical and cultural forces that shaped her personality and her time and examine the mixture of history and legend that continues to surround her today. The traveling exhibition is based on a major exhibition of the same title, which will open at the Newberry Library of Chicago on September 30, 2003. Two copies of the exhibit will each travel to 20 libraries (for a total of 40 libraries) around the country between October 2003 and March 2006. Each copy consists of six colorful, freestanding photo panels incorporating representations of artifacts from the Newberry's exhibition and new text written for the exhibition by the curator, Clark Hulse, professor of English and art history at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The sections of the traveling exhibition investigate Elizabeth's life and career as a head of state, reveal the political workings of her court, examine the cultural and diplomatic worlds of England and Europe in the late 16th century, and explore the legacy of Queen Elizabeth from the time of her death to today. Libraries of all types interested in hosting the exhibition can download the application and guidelines at http://www.ala.org/publicprograms/elizabeth/ or request a copy by sending an e-mail message to publicprograms@ala.org . Applications must be received by December 20, 2002. Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend is organized by the ALA Public Programs Office and the Newberry Library with major support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information about Elizabeth I: Ruler and Legend, please visit www.ala.org/publicprograms/elizabeth. ALA Public Programs Office Linking Libraries, Communities, and Culture www.ala.org/publicprograms publicprograms@ala.org The fine print stuff blogs - Friday Notes 2 AT -  http://radio.weblogs.com/0108327/     SOME MISCELIANEA AT: http://fridaynotes2.pitas.com NOTICE – DISCLAIMER - pick one, any one will do. MY disclaimer: Basically my opinions are my own, shared by no one else (sometimes), and are not the opinions of my agency, my board, my co-workers, my parents, siblings, relatives, my dogs or most any other know life form.  Except, of course, those very bright concerned, sensitive, perceptive &, in general, well educated, widely read and cultured individuals who wish to share this peculiar road to ruin, as well as a couple of down & out drugged out beatniks from the good old days. OK?  The "Prime Directive" applies. Edited by: Ken Davenport - NEILSA Consultant davenport@neilsa.org COPYLEFT NOTICE 2002: THE INFORMATION IN THIS PUBLICATION IS FREE. It may be copied, distributed and/or modified under the conditions set down in the Design Science License published by Michael Stutz at http://dsl.org/copyleft/dsl.txt © COPYRIGHT Please note: material found on the web should be assumed to be under copyright and is presented here for purposes of education and research only. NOTE: If credited [via ???] or [from so & so] it is their material and not covered by my "Copyleft" notice.  Ken SOURCE: {Consultant} D:CorelwpdocsFridayNotes1201.wpd  August 2, 2002 BOILER PLATE FOOTNOTES: 1. WARNING: I will be able to give you about a 5 working day warning on deadlines (by e-mail, less otherwise) I have 10 days to reply, if I miss the deadline, well I won't miss, if you miss  ... I'll send it in late but ... 1:31:40 PM    comment []

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