Friday, March 14, 2003

Friday Notes 2.  An on-line resource for NEILSA Librarians DEADLINES & DATES: I'll try to list all the upcoming dates of importance here, you will have to mine for the details.  Late spring/early summer workshops. March 24, 25, and 26 Upcoming Grant Application Deadlines National Leadership Grants for Library/Museum Collaborations: April 1, 2003. http://www.imls.gov/grants/l-m/l-m_lead.asp All IMLS grant and award program deadlines can be viewed at: http://www.imls.gov/grants/dedln/index.htm     County Meetings Scheduled: If your county meeting is not on the schedule please contact NEILSA •    Allamakee County Meeting •    Black Hawk County Meeting - When called - seldom •    Bremer County Meeting - April 8, 2003 @ 7:30 in Readlyn •    Buchanan County Meeting - April 22, 2003 @ 7:00 in Fairbank PL •    Butler County Meeting  - April 1, 2003 7:00 Shell Rock PL •    Chickasaw County Meeting •    Clayton County Meeting - April 22 @ 7:30 McGregor PL •    Delaware County Meeting - May 13, 2003 @ 7:00  Edgewood P L •    Dubuque County •    Fayette County Meeting -  April 10th at 10:00 @  Fayette Library •    Grundy County Meeting - All meetings start at 9:00 am - 2003 schedule         4/28 @ Dike, 6/28 @ Grundy Center, 10/27 @ Reinbeck •    Howard County Meeting   - April 7, 2003 @ 7:00 Elma PL •    Winneshiek County Meeting - November 6, 2003 @ 7:00 Decorah CE: Special Workshops: One & two hour workshops at Fall & Spring county meetings, item specific workshops.     OTHER CE: You must register with the listed provider.  Check: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for_ia_libraries/continuing_ed/index.html Reader's Advisory ICN Workshop Featuring NoveList Register NOW for one of the ICN sessions April 1, either 9:30-11:30 OR 1:30-3:30 on the CE catalog web page: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/cecat.htm The reader's advisory service that librarians provide encompasses a large percentage of their time. With a librarian's guidance, people are encouraged to read new authors, themes and genres, and works of great quality. The dramatic success of Oprah's Book Club is a good example of how readers today want recommendations.         Self-Directed Learning Opportunities: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/Certification/alternate.htm ANNOUNCEMENTS: Message from Director Martin - IMLS During the past two weeks Congress has acted in two major areas supporting the work of libraries and museums. I am pleased to report that Congress passed an Omnibus Appropriations bill providing funding for Fiscal Year 2003. The President signed the bill on February 20, which provides $28,637,000 for museums programs (an increase from $26,899,000) and $208,733,000 for library programs (an increase from $194,977,000). This budget contains nearly $10,000,000 for an initiative to recruit and train new librarians. And on March 6, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 13, by a margin of 416-2, to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act, which provides federal support for libraries and museums across America. These actions demonstrate that libraries and museums are working effectively and in partnership with communities to provide outstanding service. Museums and libraries support learning in schools and throughout the lifetime, they preserve our cultural heritage and use technology to expand service, they are cornerstones of economic development and centers of civic engagement. Congratulations to the nation's libraries and museums! From: P R I M A R Y S O U R C E, IMLS' Monthly E-mail Newsletter March 2003  - Volume 5, Number 3     You can also read a Web version of the newsletter at:  http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/pscurrent.htm GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS: An ILA/GODORT website has been created and can be found at http://www.public.iastate.edu/~lindstro/ilagodort_home.htm. Laurie Hews will be creating a link to this website from the ILA home page. The most recent annual reports and newsletters, as well as some additional basic information has been posted. We are seeking suggestions for additions and enhancements. Please let us know what you would like to see included. ILA/ACRL Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 1, March 2003 Information Literacy Forum Wondering about assessment? General Education requirements? Tutorials? To join the conversation about information literacy, go to http://www.iren.net/acrl/il/forum.html. Here you will find opportunities to participate in an online forum with colleagues around the state. The Ad Hoc Information Literacy Committee has posed some questions and invites responses from librarians involved in information literacy programs. We encourage you to take a look at the ideas already posted by others and to post your ideas as well. You may want to bookmark the URL and check back from time to time to see new ideas or to add your own thoughts. Special Libraries Association Establishes Iowa Chapter In October 2002 the Special Libraries Association board of directors granted the petition of 25 Iowa members to establish an Iowa chapter. Susan Lerdal, Drake University Law Library reference librarian, is serving as the first president of the chapter. Dru Frykberg, librarian at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University, is newsletter editor and public relations chair. The first annual meeting of the SLA-Iowa Chapter will be in Cedar Rapids on May 9, 2003 at the History Center. For more information, contact Sue Lerdal at susan.lerdal@drake.edu. FROM: ILA/ACRL Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 1, March 2003 has just hit the streets at - http://www.iren.net/acrl/newsletter/0303.html     In the EYE-OPENER from NWILSA: .) Virtual Backup Reference: There's a new alternative for Iowa public librarians to obtain help with reference questions they can't answer locally: Virtual Backup Reference (VBR). This service is in addition to the backup reference service already provided by LSAs. VBR is a state-wide demonstration project funded by the Southwest Iowa Library Service Area, with partial LSTA funding through a grant administered by the State Library of Iowa. Twenty-one libraries across the state of Iowa have volunteered to staff the virtual reference desk—from right inside their own libraries. Iowa public librarians can log on to the VBR system via the Internet and "chat" live with a reference librarian. The VBR librarian can send web pages directly to your computer while you're chatting. Or she may answer your question using her own library's print collection and e-mail or fax you an answer. Here's how it works. When you log on as a customer, you'll be asked for contact information, including your library's SILO code. This info verifies that you are an Iowa librarian. The reference interview is confidential; the transcript you'll see online is later deleted from the system. In addition to assisting with backup reference, the VBR project gives all participants a chance to experience virtual reference service--from both sides of the reference "desk." Your feedback is vital to the project. So when you leave a session you'll see an online survey screen. Please take a moment to complete the survey; we'll use your feedback to make improvements and to evaluate the project. Some details about VBR: · It's for Iowa public library reference questions that can't be answered locally. · It is NOT for the general public so DO NOT give out the link to the public. (There just aren't enough resources to offer VBR to other types of libraries, nor to the public.) · All transactions confidential. · Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. · Link to login: http://www.ilsa.lib.ia/VBR/VBRlogin.htm The way you've always submitted backup reference questions is still available (i.e., submitting to the LSA via phone, fax, etc.), but we hope you'll give this service a try. Remember: When you log on to VBR you'll be in a "chat environment" with the reference librarian. She will greet you, ask you about your question, and walk through the searching with you, "live". So, stay connected for the "chat" real-time reference transaction!             New LINKS of interest: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/134638079_gates21.html Investing in libraries connects us to the future [The Seattle Times] http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20030221&;Category=NEWS&ArtNo=302210348 Swimsuit issue is not an issue for many libraries [Tuscaloosa News] ................................................................ FROM:  Library Link of the Day http://www.tk421.net/librarylink/ U.S. Government - Executive Branch Links listed below are for the official web site(s).  Available on the sites are e-mails (mail lists) that come directly from the Whitehorse, the Cabinet Departments and the official Cabinet Department web sites. President George W. Bush, The Whitehorse http://www.whitehouse.gov/email/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/ http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/ Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, US Department of State http://www.state.gov/ Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, US Department of Defense http://www.defenselink.mil/news/dodnews.html#e-mail http://www.defenselink.mil/ http://www.defenselink.mil/news/dodnews.html Secretary: Governor Tom Ridge, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/ Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice http://www.justice.gov/ Secretary Don Evans, US Department of Commerce http://www.commerce.gov/ There are many offices that are part of Executive Office of the President and are not separate Cabinet departments, for example: Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, of the National Security Council http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/ YOU WROTE: snippets from your e-mails: All Iowa Reads: IF you are doing an All Iowa Reads session PLEASE let the LSA know of your plans so we can forward it on to the database. FEEDBACK:     Survey Question: A. In your opinion what is the major problem facing Public Libraries today? B. What do you think your customers think is the major problem facing Public Libraries? [It is OK to ask them.] When you respond please send replies to Ken at davenport@neilsa.org or use the "comments" link at the bottom of the blog     REPLIES - CHANGES: Updates – Addresses & such - Please change my email address from clib@acegroup.cc to clib@oneota.cc We now have wireless Internet service. Thanks  Anna Houdek Calmar Public Library       CONSORTIA NEWS & E-Rate: We have an AARP trainee working with Ken on e-rate so if you get something from "Susan" you know she is working at the LSA. CIPA (Copied & edited from ERTF mailing). A few of you have asked me (ALAWON) about last week's oral arguments in the CIPA case. I thought I'd share these points with you: - Opinions of the oral arguments vary widely. And, remember, this half-hour session is but a fraction of the actual proceedings of the case. - It can be dangerous to predict the Supreme Court, but most people that I've talked to believe the decision will be very close - 5 to 4 one way or the other. - ALA has collected much of the news coverage of the arguments, which can be accessed here: http://www.ala.org/pio/presskits/cipa/cipa_stories.html - The Supreme Court recesses in late June or early July. They almost always decide a case within the term that it is heard, but they are not required to. END PLATE: Long Announcements, Supporting Documents, & other "stuff" I have recommenced this site before - if you are interested you should sign up at their site. AdVanced Consulting On the web at: http://www.advocacyguru.com The Advocacy Tipsheet – March 10th, 2003 Note from the Editor: Please check out our upcoming Budget and Appropriations Workshop on March 28th! To learn more or to register, go to http://www.advocacyguru.com/advocacyclassroom.htm EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY TIP The Armchair Advocate, Or, Five Things You Can Do From The Comfort Of Your House To Be An Active And Effective Citizen: I've been inspired by the particularly difficult winter here in DC (both in terms of snow and potential terror attacks) to think about what people can do from the safety of their couch to be effective and active citizens. Following are my top five ideas – what are some of yours? o Educate yourself: Thanks to the world wide web, there are a tremendous range of opportunities for the effective citizen to learn more about how government works and the ins and outs of the policy process. For those of you in touch with your inner child, you can take the fun and easy route through the Clerk of the House's website designed to help kids understand government (http://clerkkids.house.gov/). Anyone who misses their high school civics teacher can learn more about government through the Dirksen Center's CongressLink site at http://www.congresslink.org. This site is designed by and for secondary school teachers. Or, for a mere $8, you can take a course on American Government at http://www.legal-classes.com/courses/usagov.htm. o Read, read, read: If you're going to effectively advocate about something, you probably should know a little bit about it, right? Yes, it is possible to advocate without knowing much about your topic (and I've seen it happen often), but it's much more effective to know what you're talking about. So, find out what both the supporters and, more important, the opponents of your issue are reading. Make a list, check it twice, and start gathering those resources. To find links to virtually every newspaper on the planet, check out http://www.onlinenewspapers.com.   One great resource for trade press and magazines is http://www.magazine.org. You can identify supporters and opponents of your views through a google search. o Watch, watch, watch: I'm referring to the news, not sitcoms. Although I am the first one to agree that the news media may not always give the most accurate portrayal of what's going on in the world, short of ESP, it's the best thing most of us have. In addition to watching the evening news, check out public interest shows on public television and cable as well as your options for watching government at work through the Internet. C-span, for example, webcasts the House and Senate floor on an ongoing basis, as well as important congressional hearings. Check it out at http://www.C-span.org o Think, think, think: Hey, the world is a thought-provoking place (and sometimes it's just provoking). Take some time as we emerge from winter into spring to really evaluate your views. Are you sure you still really believe what you did 5 years ago? Or are you sticking with old perspectives and old views out of habit? It's OK to change your mind. Life experiences happen to the best of us – if you don't learn from these experiences then you're really just standing still. A couple of great sites I've found to help me think about things in a new light are Fathom at http://www.fathom.com and the Barnes and Noble University at http://www.barnesandnobleuniversity.com, where you can take free courses on everything from Ben Franklin to Buddhism. o Take action: Put all that educating, reading, watching and thinking into action by writing a letter to an elected official on something you care about – whether it's the pothole in front of your house or the war in Iraq. Readers of the advocacy tipsheet can download a PDF version of the "effective letters" section of my book, "Government by the People: How to Communicate with Congress" at http://www.advocacyguru.com/effectiveletters.htm. Most important: HAVE FUN! Remember this is citizen advocacy, not a trip to the dentist. Being an active and effective citizen should be a pleasure, not a chore – especially when you can make your views known and be a couch potato at the same time! INTERESTING WEB SITES The Congress Online Project recently released a report on Congressional websites, awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze "mice" for outstanding sites. I'm pleased to announce that my old boss, Congressman Blumenauer, received a GOLD mouse! One of the reasons sited by the study for his success was an effective advocacy page on the site, that, if you go to the site and read it, might sound awfully familiar to readers of the tipsheet J. To view the report, go to http://www.congressonlineproject.org/webstudy2003.html. To see the effective advocacy page on Congressman Blumenauer's site, go to http://www.house.gov/blumenauer/advocacy.html. Billed as bridging the gap between scholarship and public knowledge about the use of the web in politics, http://www.politicalweb.info offers a range of resources of interest to that interesting breed of "political and internet junkie" (you know who you are). Check it out, especially the website features grid at http://www.politicalweb.info/2004.html. The Institute for Interactive Journalism has come up with a list of "cool stuff on media websites, which you can check out at http://www.j-lab.org/coolstuff.html. Some of the city planning games, in particular, are really fun! If you're still confused about what happened in the last election, check out the Library of Congress' archive of 2002 election sites at: http://www.loc.gov/minerva/collect/elec2002/index.html. They have done an excellent job of preserving some of the best (and the most odd) of the 2002 campaigns. My friends at the National Priority Project want you to know that NPP has added a 'trade-offs' section to the NPP Database. With a few quick clicks, you can compare what residents in your state will pay for some aspect of military spending with what that money could buy instead to meet social needs. Examples include what the cost of going to war in Iraq or jet fighters would buy in health care coverage for children or more elementary school teachers. To find out about your state's trade-offs click at http://www.nationalpriorities.org/database and click on the trade-offs icon to the left. Finding this newsletter so useful you can't live without it? Check out the full use subscription option at http://www.advocacyguru.com/Products.htm Definition: deja moo -- that's the sense you get when you're pretty sure you've heard this bull before. The fine print stuff blogs - Friday Notes 2 AT -  http://radio.weblogs.com/0108327/ 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:CorelwpdocsFridayNotes0314a.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 ...

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