Friday, August 15, 2003

Friday Notes 2.  An on-line resource for NEILSA Librarians EDITORS NOTE: Material in fine print has been published at least once before.  With a few exceptions new material will be in this size print.  Color is something I really think you should have a look at, except URL blue for links. EYE-OPENER: I strongly suggest that you read the EYE OPENER Bonnie & Chris are much more disciplined than I am as to what they include, by the time I edit out their local material the EYE OPENER has really good material you should know about. Other LSA blogs: SWILSA House blog at: http://www.swilsa.blogspot.com DEADLINES & DATES: I'll try to list all the upcoming dates of importance here, you will have to mine for the details.  Van service schedule change starts this next week ANNUAL SURVEY  The survey is due 10/31/03. To access the online survey go to http://www.silo.lib.ia.us, click on For and About Iowa Libraries, click on Annual Survey. The survey is due October 31, 2003. Public Libraries with Internet are required to submit the survey online. The link to Web Collect is also on the Annual Survey web page. Upcoming Grant Application Deadlines 1. The State Historical Society of Iowa has had the HRDP funding restored and is inviting applications for preservation projects in documentary collections, museums, and historic preservation. Deadline is January 15, 2004. For details see (categories of acceptable projects are under the eligibility bullet): http://www.iowahistory.org/grants/shsi_grants/hrdp/hrdp.html 2. Upcoming IMLS Deadlines Conservation Project Support grant applications for FY 2004 funding must be postmarked no later than October 15, 2003. For more information about this grant program, including applications and guidelines, please see: http://www.imls.gov/grants/museum/mus_cps.asp All deadlines for FY 2004 IMLS grant and award program applications can be viewed at: http://www.imls.gov/grants/dedln/index.htm Categories include: National Leadership Grants for Museums, Museums in the Community category; National Leadership Grants for Libraries, Continuing Education, Curriculum Development, and Training category; and Native American Library Services, Basic and Professional Assistance categories. 3. a couple sites with information on funding opportunities are: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/funding-info/ http://www.collectioncare.org/funding/funding.html 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 - October 21 at 7:30 Sumner      Buchanan County Meeting - Oct. 28 at 7 PM in Independence      Butler County Meeting  - October 7, 2003, in Allison. CE      Chickasaw County Meeting      Clayton County Meeting -Oct. 14, 2003 7:30   in Strawberry Point      Delaware County Meeting - Hopkinton Library on Nov. l8 at 7:00      Dubuque County - DALINC -      Fayette County Meeting - Oct. 23, 2003 @ 1:00 Haweye PL      Grundy County Meeting - 9:00 am 10/27 @ Reinbeck      Howard County Meeting   - Lime Springs on Tuesday, October 7, at 7:00 p.m. CIPA WS     Winneshiek County Meeting - November 6, 2003 @ 7:00 Decorah CE:     CLASSES in NEILSA:     OTHER CE: You must register with the listed provider.  "Learning Activity Written Summery" may be found at: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/online-learningactivitywrittensummary.htm                                 GATES FOUNDATION GRANTS WORKSHOPS: See way below for details on getting credits. SPECIAL WORKSHOPS: One & two hour workshops at Fall county meetings, CIPA Classes. County Meeting Format:    CIPA/NCIPA Requirements - 1 Hr. CE         and        Review of required policies - 1 Hr. CE For the 2nd session you will have to have your Internet policy & AU or other computer policy(s) with you.   Bring note taking materials there will be no handouts since there are no fees for the We have a go on all of the Summer Library Project workshop dates and locations for 2004! They will be as follows:  Feb 4 - Methodist Church - Mount Pleasant, Feb 5 - Coralville Public Library,  Feb 6 - Fayette Public Library,  Feb 9 - Everly Community Center, Feb 10 - Arthur Public Librarym Feb 11 - Elliott Public Library, Feb 12 - Urbandale Public Library, Feb 13 - Fisher Community Center - Marshalltown, Feb 19 - Music Man Square - Mason City, Feb 20 - Fort Dodge Public Library Preservation 101: Keeping collections safe ICN sessions will be August 27 (Environmental control) and October 21 (Storage) , both 2-5 pm, the hands-on session will be November 14. ICN sites will be Bettendorf, Boone, Cedar Rapids, Charles City, Clinton, Decorah, Dubuque, Ft. Dodge, Grinnell, Hudson, Iowa City, LeMars, Marshalltown, Mt. Pleasant, Pella, Spencer, Vinton, Urbandale. The hands-on session will be at the Murray Conference Center, Living History Farms. Disaster Recover Workshop to be held at the University of Iowa on Sept. 15-16, 2003. Upper Midwest Conservation Association and the University of Iowa Collections Coalition are cosponsoring "Disaster Response: Salvaging Museum, Library and Archival Collections," a two-day workshop, Sept. 15-16, 2003, that will stress hands-on participation in salvaging collections after a disaster (primarily water and fire damage). Iowa Arts Grant writing Workshop held September 23, 2003. The workshop is designed for artists, educators, communities and organizations who are seeking funding support for arts-related activities at benefit Iowans. This particular session will be directed at public libraries. Hear directly from grant program managers for the Iowa Arts Council and the Department of Cultural Affairs on what review panels expect to see in grant proposals. Learn about developing powerful grant proposals, the new E-Grant application system, new granting programs and changes to program guidelines. Tuesday, September 23, 2003 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Contact Hours: 3  Iowa Communication Network sites. Instructor(s): Iowa Arts Council staff,  No charge Sponsor: Iowa Arts Council and State Library of Iowa   Online registration form:  http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/cecat.htm#September If you have questions about the content, contact: Judy Jones, judy.jones@lib.state.ia.us NCLSA will be hosting a Children's Programming workshop entitled, "SNAP, CRACKLE, POP" on Thursday, August 28 from 1 - 4 p.m. at the Kendall Young Library in Webster City. Debb Green, Children's Services Coordinator, Iowa City Public Library, will present this exciting workshop. Debb has been a children's librarian for over 20 years working in public libraries of all sizes in Illinois, Florida and Iowa. Her passion is to do effective children's programming - getting the most bang for the buck. To register on line, click on: http://www.nclsa.lib.ia.us/wrkshp.htm and go to the Aug 28 selection. Complete details about recertfication are available at http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/recertification.html Self-Directed Learning Opportunities: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/Certification/alternate.htm http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1432 Blogs for Libraries [WebJunction] At ILA in Cedar Rapids this year - the pre-conference is the one to go to if you want to learn how. Pre-Conference - Steven M. Cohen, Assistant Librarian, Rivkin Radler, LLP, Steves blog is LibraryStuff at http://www.librarystuff.net/ A grand discussion of Keeping Current using Blogs/RSS/Web Site Monitoring Software/etc - reviews of each, setting up a blog, etc Learn how to use these Web tools, Web logs, RSS feeds, and many other cutting-edge methods that make communication between information professionals and keeping current with what is happening in our field as simple and as time-effective as possible.             - The one to go to to learn about Concurrent session - Steven M. Cohen, Assistant Librarian, Rivkin Radler, LLP blog LibraryStuff Information professionals attempting to keep current by attending conferences, reading trade journals, and subscribing to e-mail lists seem to fall steadily behind. In this session Steve suggests strategies for getting the most out of your online time and getting as much content as needed, or at least as you can stand, using as few contact points as possible. You will be introduced to  Web tools, Web logs, RSS feeds, and many other cutting-edge methods that make keeping current as simple and as time-effective as possible. ANNOUNCEMENTS: The University of Northern Iowa is offering an online children's literature class beginning September 29, 2003. The course is 3 semester hours college credit, the equivalent of 45 contact hours.  For more information, contact Joan Vandervelde, Email: vanderveldej@uni.edu Thanks to extra funding provided by the Greater Midwest Region of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, 4 locations in Iowa will host the Medical Library Association teleconference "Reading Between the Lines: Focusing on Health Information Literacy." Details about these sites are listed below. The teleconference will be held on Wednesday, September 10 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. For futher information about this program, visit the MLA website at http://mlanet.org/education/telecon/healthlit/index.html Hope Barton Hardin Library for the Health Sciences University of Iowa. PLA e-newsletter  Voulme 6, Number 11 -  8/13/03 This newsletter is available online under the News section of PLA's web page, http://www.pla.org OVER 150 PROGRAMS TO BE OFFERED AT PLA 2004 PLA FACILITATION SKILLS WORKSHOP-NEW ORLEANS, October 13-17, 2003 ALA CIPA DECISION RESPONSE ALSC SEPT. SYMPOSIUM LIBERTY DAY KIDS LAST CHANCE FOR 2003 AC FEEDBACK A suggestion for an ILL/OA Delivery Slip: Delivery Slip really good for Open Access returns would say From: (Accepting library) - use your property stamp Date: (Date accepted) To: (Owning library) Comments: * Now I never need the comments part myself because I WILL comment but it was pointed out to me that this is where you can say "Book missing section" or some such so that owning library will know it was damaged before it went into the delivery system. Maybe using the word "accepting" library will help. Your library accepts returns from other libraries, must note the date accepted, and returns the item to the owning library. Why the date accepted instead of just using the postmark? Not all is returned by post office or delivery system that includes a date processed, not every library sends accepted items to owning library same day items are accepted, and playing fair by the patron says they are not charged for time used in delivery or in library processes. If it's in the accepting library, it's returned no matter when the accepting library places the item in a delivery system or how long that delivery system takes. By the way, our problem family isn't doing anything techincally against the policies--borrow here and return there but has been overheard saying "Darn. We should have returned it to....... and missed the overdue charges." They know if they return to a particular library, they are not charged overdues and can count on an extra week's use of video and dvd's. I don't think they know it is because the accepting library is not entering date accepted on the delivery slip. Often these long overdue items are the newest and most in demand. Long ago we had additional purposes for the Delivery Slip. Life in that respect is much simpler now. THIS WEEK IN EYE-OPENER: Good Morning! This time in EYE-OPENER: 1) New Address for SILO I.L.L. 2) Early Bird Annual Reports 3) Lakeside Learning Registration and Hotels 4) Update on Sioux Center 1) New Address for SILO I.L.L.: Please note this new URL needed to access the SILO Interlibrary Loan system: http://ill.silo.lib.ia.us/ SILO technicians reported some hardware glitches last week and you may have noticed some "on-again-off-again" problems, but everything seems stable now. Though the address has changed, your SILO Locator code and password remain the same and the I.L.L. system looks just the same. So please remove your previous bookmarks to the old SILO I.L.L. address and bookmark this new one instead. 2) Early Bird Annual Reports: If there were a prize for the earliest returns of FY2003 Annual Reports, 7 Northwest libraries would be in the running! As of August 7th, 36 libraries statewide have submitted their annual reports online. Among the Northwest overachievers are Albert City, Arnolds Park, Cleghorn, Kingsley, Sheldon, Sioux Rapids, and Washta:-) A reminder that all libraries with Internet access are required to complete the FY'03 Annual Report online. Do this by using the WEB COLLECT software, accessible from this link on the State Library's website: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/statistics/webcollect/index.html The online form displays FY'02 data in one column. You fill in the blanks with FY'03 numbers and the software does the math for you. WEB COLLECT is really quite easy to use and the website provides full instructions. Before you begin, you can first watch a slide show which serves as a tutorial. Then simply log in using your library's WEB COLLECT login and password. These were mailed to each library directly from the State Library; if you're unsure of your login, you can contact NWILS [or NEILSA] or Gerry Rowland at the State Library. The deadline for completing the Annual Report is October 31st. And don't forget to include the listing of Board members (that page you fill out on paper...) One favor--please: NWILS asks that Northwest libraries print a paper copy of your completed Annual Report and mail it to us. Obviously, the online version goes electronically to the State Library, but NWILS keeps paper copies for our files. If each library prints its own completed report and sends us a copy, it saves us from printing 116 of them! Thanks for your help with this effort. 3) Lakeside Learning Registration and Hotels: (clipped local material) 4) Update on Sioux Center: Karen Bjorkman and her staff are back in business--as best they can be following a major fire 3 weeks ago. The library's operation has moved into temporary quarters within the community center. Many hundreds of books that were checked out before the fire are coming back in, so there is a book selection for patrons to choose from. Email and Internet service has not been re-established yet, but that's expected to follow soon. My apologies for being remiss in reporting what we understood to be a sizable staff layoff. At this point, it looks as though most of the veteran support staff are still in place, so that's very good news too. Countless libraries across the state have been emailing our office to extend sympathies and offers of help. If you are among them--thanks so much! And all libraries liked my idea of saving duplicate copies of books, videos, etc.; instead of trading these items on IOWALIB, agreeing to send them to Sioux Center instead. Believe it or not, Karen says she's ready to accept them:-) So whenever you're ready, you can send duplicate titles or other quality donations to the library's temporary address: Sioux Center Public Library, 102 South Main Ave., Sioux Center, IA. 51250. I suggest you include a card or note inside, so that the staff knows the "where's and why's" behind the shipments and avoid confusion. You can also send back any I.L.L. books or Open Access items that belong to Sioux Center. Thanks again for your many kind wishes and offers of help! Bonnie McKewon Director, N.W. Iowa Library Services New LINKS of interest: Clearly, I think, your friendly editor is attempting to provide more information about some of the links, do you think it is an improvement or should I quit it? Ken (:-{}}} http://slate.msn.com/id/2086800/ Steal This Book [Slate] Paul Graham: Filters that Fight Back "As I mentioned in Will Filters Kill Spam?, following all the urls in a spam would have an amusing side-effect. If popular email clients did this in order to filter spam, the spammer's servers would take a serious pounding. The more I think about this, the better an idea it seems. This isn't just amusing; it would be hard to imagine a more perfectly targeted counterattack on spammers." http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/10/1619206 The Battle for the Books: The Library of 2015 "Librarians hope to maximize the advantages of both traditional books and technology in a strategic alliance. Instead of an unwieldy card catalog, they foresee efficient networked databases, with access to the reserves of libraries around the world. Yet the old-school stacks will remain, including the " smell of the first few chapters of a new book" and all the other tactile elements. Ideally, both will be stored in an aesthetically pleasing space -- a library that can serve as a social meeting place." http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1446_A_941790_1_A,00.html  [Deutsche Welle] For geeks only - English & Computer.  Flavor vs. Flavour http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/10/2253256 Spam filters that work -- Comparison of Bayesian POP3 Spam Filters – "Both products performed very well and managed to filter out almost all spams. As we can see from the graph of missed spams where the "unsure" spams from SpamBayes are included the basic bayesian filter engine in both products seem to be about equal. What really separates the two products is the "unsure" classification feature of SpamBayes: with POPFile, you can never be sure that an important e-mail is not classified as spam, and you really have to manually look over the mail classified as spam to be sure." http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/11/0226234 Kiddie Porn - The Virus may have Done It  "The scary thing is not that the defense might work," said Mark Rasch, a former federal computer crime prosecutor. "The scary thing is that the defense might be right," and that hijacked computers could be turned to an evil purpose without an owner's knowledge or consent. "The nightmare scenario," Mr. Rasch said, "is somebody might go to jail for something he didn't do because he was set up." http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/11/0251235 TAM 5 Has landed –  the-little-plane-that-could  http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/11/1332250 http://www.infotoday.com/newsbreaks/nb030811-1.shtml UCITA Stopped, But Librarians and Consumers Remain Vigilant [Information Today] "August 11, 2003 — On Aug. 1, 2003, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL; http://www.nccusl.org) discharged the standby committee of the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA). Lobbying by library and other groups (including many state attorneys general) had been so effective that no state has adopted UCITA in the last legislative term. In fact, four states (Vermont, Iowa, North Carolina, and West Virginia) have passed anti-UCITA legislation—called "bomb shelter" legislation—to prevent vendors from applying the law of Maryland and Virginia (the only two states to adopt UCITA) in their states." "UCITA was the first uniform law governing information contracts. It adopts accepted and familiar principles of commercial contract law, and provides fundamental rules for licensing contracts between users and vendors." CONSORTIA: If our library does not want to receive e-rate for Internet, but would like to receive e-rate for POTS, do we need to filter the computers? NO!  For you CIPA/NCIPA does NOT exist.  It is still a good idea to look at your policies in light of the NCIPA requirements, they are very mainstream and the kind of things you should have anyway.  By the way if you used the "Addendum" published here when CIPA/NCIPA first came out you are covered, but it is time to review that policy anyway.     CIPA – We have been notified that "selected" libraries will be audited for compliance with the NCIPA law, if your policies do not contain the correct wording & a childrens Internet Safety policy as required two years ago there may be a problem. ALA CIPA Decision Response Visit http://www.ala.org/Content/ContentGroups/Press_Releases2/Press_Releases_2003_July/CIPA_Decision_Response__A_statement_from_ALA_President_Carla_D__Hayden_and_the_ALA_Executive_Board.htm to see ALA President Carla Hayden's response to the CIPA decision. For your CIPA library - Links From: http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/archives/000412.html 4. GETTING A HANDLE ON CIPA Here are some important developments on the CIPA front as Crossroads [The Newsletter of WebJunction.org A project of OCLC and its partners] August 2003-- http://www.webjunction.org  goes to press on August 5, 2003: August 1: IMLS Releases Statement The IMLS has provided a legislative update indicating that Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds will be tied to CIPA compliance. http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/leg/protection_act.htm July 25: ALA Board Releases Statement A statement from ALA President Carla D. Hayden and the ALA Executive Board outlines ALA's plans regarding the CIPA decision. Go to: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&;template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=39847 July 24: FCC Sets Compliance Deadline of July 1, 2004   An article on the FCC ruling from ZDNet.  http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105_2-5053614.html Cites and Insights: Coping with CIPA This special edition of Walt Crawford's library and technology 'zine examines CIPA and its impact in detail. It includes thoughtful commentary on the decision, reactions to it, and options ("coping mechanisms") for libraries. http://cites.boisestate.edu/civ3i9.pdf Open Source Filtering Software?  Blogger Ed Felten makes A Modest Proposal. Be sure to read the follow-ups. http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/archives/000412.html Looking for ideas about how to cope with CIPA? Have a filtering success story to share? Please email us at content@webjunction.org.  GATES FOUNDATION GRANTS WORKSHOPS: [GFGW] see below for how to get your credits In case you missed it - I repeat myself: Sandy Dixon at SLI writes: Just a reminder about the CE for the Gates training. My understanding is that the LSAs are providing the attendance certificates. [clip] Here's what we [SLI] came up with for number of hours: 1 and 2 Computer Grants     Application Training, Day One - 4 contact hours     Applications Training, Day Two - 4 contact hours     Installation and Systems Administration Training - 3 contact hours 4 and 6 Computer Grants     Day One - 6 contact hours     Day Two - 6 contact hours Content Server Class     Day One - 5 contact hours     Day Two - 4 contact hours And my favorite...the FUT (Follow-Up Training) - 6 contact hours Sandy Dixon NEILSA GFGW PROCEDURE for getting workshop credits for NEILSA libraries. After you are finished taking the classes you are going to take:     1. Contact Ken by fax or e-mail telling me         which classes and how many ce's you get (see above).     2. Ken will make up the certificate and         3. Put it in your van bag for the next delivery, for Keystone (AEA-1) libraries this means it may take some time. END PLATE: Long Announcements, Supporting Documents, & other "stuff" Ken's introductory comment: Christine Rutherford, the consultant in the NW LSA, is writing a series of CIPA related "letters" to her libraries and has agreed to post them to the LSA mail list for others to use.  I will reproduce them here without any editing.  Christine and I may disagree on some interpretations of the requirements, but you may be certain that her interpretation is main stream where as mine are more likely to be strongly libertarian [http://www.libertarian.org/] in nature.  My suggestion is that if you do not have time to study the original documents you should carefully read Christine's comments and ask questions about anything you do not understand, if you ask I will give you all three positions {Censorware, main stream, libertarian} on any subject, but in the end almost everything not required by the CIPA/NCIPA law is a local decision.  Suggestion for Board education - reproduce and handout this material, the Board is going to have to make some decisions and this is the best way for them to get up to speed on this topic. V. Christine Rutherford wrote: In the interest of "fair and objective reporting," today's message brings you sample fragments of the "point/counterpoint" debate over Internet filtering. The following quotes come from a pair of articles in the February 2003 issue of American Libraries, "Who Pays for Free Speech: The Cost of Defending the First Amendment is Diverting Scarce Resources from Library Services" by Mary Minow and "Filters Work: Get Over It," by Hampton (Skip) Auld. "(F)iltering software is imprecise and blocks far more than illegal sites. ‘If filters could screen out only obscenity and other illegal materials, libraries would use them,' said June Pinnell-Stephens, treasurer and past-president of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF).' 'The artificial intelligence necessary to predict which sites will be illegal is so far beyond anyone's capability, I can't imagine it in my lifetime…' she added." "'I was among the Public Library Association board members to approve a $50,000 contribution to the CIPA challenge…I've even been a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union. So why on earth would I exhort the benefits of Internet filters, or "blacklists" as some of our more passionate colleagues call them? It's simple: Despite the on-slaught of reports denying their effectiveness, filters, when managed properly, can and do achieve a virtually pornography-free environment while only minimally affecting access to constitutionally protected speech. In fact, our experience at Chesterfield County (Va.) Public Library (CCPL) is that filters can be significantly more effective than any other methods espoused by ALA, such as educating parents and children.'" "In the fight against CIPA, the lion's share of the money comes from us librarians and library supporters. Communications Decency Act: ALA was represented by a private law firm, Jenner and Block. Costs rose to over $1.3 million. Children's Internet Protection Act: ALA litigation costs to fight CIPA are expected to reach about $1.5 million." "I hope to convince ALA to revise or revoke its unwavering condemnation of blocking software." "As Bruce Ennis [the Jenner and Block attorney who argued the CDA case before the Supreme Court] said, ‘This is the legal birth certificate for the Internet." "Who ever said filters need to be perfect? ALA's expectations of filter accuracy constitute a standard of perfection far beyond the expectations of most people who use Internet stations…" "The Internet, of course, is a great leveler that allows even the poorest library to offer the same online content as libraries in affluent communities. But ironically, installing filters requires the library to pay higher costs in order to reduce its collection." "…(A) week after the Supreme Court handed down the CDA decision, ALA Council resolved: "the American Library Association affirms that the use of filtering software by libraries to block access to constitutionally protected speech violates the Library Bill of Rights"… In essence, this policy obfuscated (confused or beclouded) the intellectual freedom issue by implicitly castigating libraries that use filters as part of their Internet-access management. In fact, it actually jeopardizes the Library Bill of Rights as a useful document by casting our profession as completely out of touch with reality." As you can see, there is heated debate even within the ranks of ALA. Now here's what I'm left wondering about, "In a state where libraries are receiving multiple free computers that require faster, oft times more expensive Internet connections, and during a "Reinvention" budget slashing climate, might turning down E-rate money amount to de facto blocking the First Amendment Rights of its patrons because the library can no longer afford to buy books?" And here's something else I'm wondering about, "Would ALA's $2.8 million dollars spent fighting legal battles have been better spent devising professionally workable filters?" -- Christine Rutherford Reference & Internet Services SURVEY: From: "Lynn Spaight" <lynn-spaight@uiowa.edu>; Subject: [iowalib] Reading and Discussion programs Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 09:28:24 -0500 X-Original-Message-ID: <000d01c36270$522c4cc0$2801a8c0@inav.net>; x-recipient:<davenport@neilsa.org>; Hi Librarians, Humanities Iowa is considering a total re-do of its Library Reading and Discussion program. Or possibly eliminating it altogether if there is no need for it. I'm looking for input from librarians. If you have time to answer the following questions, I'd appreciate hearing from you. Please feel free to expand on your answers or to write a narrative about your experiences with reading/discussion programs for adults. 1. If you don't currently offer a reading/discussion program for adults, what is reason? a) Don't have staff time or interest to develop and run it b) Don't have community interest c) Don't have funds d) Other ______________ 2. What is the hardest task for staff in running reading/discussion program for adults? a) Getting the books (either through inter-library loan or purchasing) b) Getting a discussion guide/study questions c) Getting a discussion leader d) Marketing/advertising the program to get enough participants e) Other __________ 3. What is the greatest benefit in having a reading/discussion program for adults? a) Increases number of patrons using the library b) Creates a sense of community and increases a sense of ownership for the library with patrons c) Other __________ 4. How important is it to have a scholar (someone with credentials and leadership experience) to lead the discussion? Very __ Helpful but not essential ___ Not at all helpful and a pain in the neck ___ 5. What was your experience with the All Iowa Reads book, Peace Like a River a) Good, had good participation, good discussion, etc. b) Bad, poor turnout, poor discussion, etc. c) Couldn't get the books (did you know Humanities Iowa has 50 copies of the book for free loan/no paperwork?) d) Had no interest in having a discussion so didn't offer one 6. If you were designing an adult reading/discussion program to be run by Humanities Iowa, how would it operate? Again, thanks for your help. Feel free to call if you'd like to talk about your experiences and ideas rather than writing them. Lynn Spaight, Program Director Humanities Iowa 100 Oakdale Campus Northlawn Iowa City, IA 52242-5000 (319) 335-4152 fax: (319) 335-4154 lynn-spaight@uiowa.edu For the latest information on applying for a Humanities Iowa grant, go to our web site at http://www.humanitiesiowa.org 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:CorelwpdocsFridayNotes0613.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 .... 11:56:22 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Ken Davenport. Last update: 9/5/2003; 11:29:15 AM.