Friday
Notes 2. An
on-line
resource for NEILSA Librarians
NEILSA closed November 11 - Veterans Day - Thanks to our Vets
Key
to colors:
New stuff
will be in
plain old black, as will section headings usually bold or Italic.
Old stuff will be in
purple.
Stuff I'm harping on will be
in Red.
Other colors will
be for making some kind of a point.
Maroon
& Bold are for my editorial comments/ jokes & "stuff".
Blog
Hints:
To print off a single
weeks blog (works for me at least):
Click on the little page icon next to the date in the upper left corner
Wait for the page to reload, and click on your browser print button
Expect 7 to 10 pages of printout.
To
reply to
editor or to view comments from others who have commented:
Click on the little envelope icon in the sidebar on the right
This will open an e-mail to the editor, comment and send
For private e-mails send directly to davenport@neilsa.org
Blog comments are public and may be used in blog
e-mail replies are private and permission will requested for use
County Meetings Scheduled:
If your county meeting
date is not on the schedule please contact Ken
at NEILSA
Allamakee County
Meeting -
Black Hawk
County Meeting - When called - seldom
Bremer
County
Meeting - ?????????????
Buchanan
County
Meeting - ?????????????
Butler County
Meeting - April 5, 2005 7:00 Dumont
Chickasaw County Meeting - ??????
Clayton
County Meeting - April
19, 2005 7:00 Elkader
Delaware County
Meeting
- Nov. 9 at 7:00 Colesburg KD
Dubuque
County -
Thursday, Nov. 18,
University of Wisconsin, Platteville
Fayette County Meeting
-
Grundy
County
Meeting - Jan. 24, 2005 9:00 am at the Grundy Center PL KD
Howard
County
Meeting - April 5, 2005
7:00 in Elma KD CE
Winneshiek
County Meeting
-
NEXT weeks
meetings
Your Sponsor reminds
County
Associations THAT: One & Two hour
CE
Workshops are available upon prior request, from the NEILSA
staff
person
in attendance, just call.
NOTE: Tentative
staff assignment: KD = Ken
(Consultant), ER = Eunice (Administrator)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
EYE-OPENER: (unedited)
Good
Morning! Today in EYE-OPENER:
1)
Libraries Missing Annual Reports
2)
Congratulations to Arthur Public Library
3) NWILS
Staffing Transition
4) Meetings
/ Events This Week
1)
Libraries Missing Annual Reports: As of Friday October 29th, 62
libraries statewide had not yet completed the FY2004 Annual Report. 17 of these
libraries land in Northwest LSA--and we know who you are:-) The State Library
extended the filing deadline from October 15th to October 31st this year. There
are consequences: without an annual report on file, your Direct State Aid money
is jeopardized. To see if your library is among the 400+ that have finished--or
among the 62 not yet completed--look at this link from the State Library's
website: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/statistics/annual-survey1.html Since I'll be out of the office at the end
of this week and early next week, please contact Gerry Rowland at the State
Library if you need help finishing. Thanks for your attention to
this.
2)
Congratulations to Arthur Public Library: Arthur Public Library is the
recent recipient of an award from the Governor's Office. The "Above &
Beyond Certificate of Appreciation," signed by Governor Vilsack and Lt. Governor
Pedersen, was given for "outstanding service to Iowa's children in the area of
literacy and reading." The award reads in part "...Pat Bell of Arthur has
demonstrated outstanding service toward improving the well being of Iowa's
children by encouraging children to view reading as a lifelong activity. Pat's
efforts in the small town of 245 combined fun activities with classic literature
at the library, offering the children a fun, productive way of spending their
summer hours..." Congratulations to Pat and the Board at Arthur Public
Library! And thanks to Pat for sharing this story.
3) NWILS Staffing
Transition: In light of Christine Rutherford's pending retirement,
NWILS Board has been studying various options to ease the staffing transition in
the coming months. At this time of year, the E-Rate program is most pressing.
And NWILS Board is committed to continuing our E-Rate management services for
the coming year. So I'm pleased to report that we've negotiated an E-Rate
services contract with Sue Kroesche of Orange City.
Many of you will remember
Sue from her days at Emmetsburg Public Library, first as Children's Services
Librarian, then as Library Director when Mary Ellen Leners retired from that
position. Sue's family moved to Orange City 1 year ago and she's been anxious
to get back into library work. And we're very happy that she'll be working on
your behalf in managing E-Rate services.
Sue has already joined us for staff meetings
and training; she'll continue to work with us on-site here in Sioux City for the
next 3 weeks. But eventually, Sue will be doing much of this work
from home. The beauty of E-Rate--assuming there is any beauty in E-Rate!--is
that much of the work is online filing. Of course, there's phone calls and
mailings to consider, too, and we're working through those very issues. Future
EYE-OPENERS will include explanations of "who 'ya gonna call?" when you have
E-Rate questions, along with instructions for getting in touch with Sue when the
time comes. At any rate, please know that E-Rate services will continue, at
least in the short-term, with Sue stepping in and Janie and myself pitching in
too.
NWILS Board and the Advisory Council will
continue discussing future service options. We're already in the early stages
of planning a series of informational meetings around the region this
winter/spring to talk with you about staffing and service issues. Future
EYE-OPENERS will continue to share this news as well. We'll make every effort
to keep you informed and welcome your questions and comments. Thanks for your
patience as we work to bring about these and other changes!
And don't forget: Christine's retirement
party is scheduled for Wednesday, November 17th, here in Sioux City at the
downtown (Wilbur Aalfs) public library. The reception will be held in the
Gleeson Room from 2:00--4:00PM; we'll appreciate an RSVP.
4) Meetings
/ Events This Week: The Clay County Library Association meets this very
afternoon, 2:00PM over the ICN. I'll be taking a few vacation days at the end
of this week and early next, so Chris will bring you the EYE-OPENER next
Monday. Thanks for reading!
Bonnie
McKewon
Director,
Northwest Iowa Library Services
The 2005 Dragons, Dreams and Daring Deeds
Summer Library Program manual will be shipped in the next few weeks along with
the 2005 Incentive Order Form. A notice will be sent on the list serves when
they have been shipped.
This year Upstart will again have a
graduated shipment schedule. If you order early, you will receive your
merchandise earlier. The schedule is as follows:
Orders Received by: Will Ship
by:
November 19,
2004
March 1, 2005
January 1,
2005
April 1, 2005
After January 1, 2005 May 1,
2005 or as product is available
If you have any questions regarding these
orders, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Mary Cameron or Karen
Day.
xx: end of Blog
2005 town meeting dates.
Tuesday, September 20 - North Iowa Area Community College, Mason
City
Wednesday, September 21 - Waterloo Arts and Recreation Center,
Waterloo
Thursday, September 22 - Iowa City Public Library, Iowa City
Tuesday, September 27 - Southwestern Community College, Creston
Wednesday, September 28 - Buena Vista University, Storm Lake
Thursday, September 29 - Urbandale Public Library
Friday, September 30 - Urbandale Public Library
CHANGES: None reported
Advocatvs
Diaboli: This term
has come to mean anyone who argues a position that he does not believe
in, simply for the sake of
arguing and/or promoting discussion; or to present a counter argument
for a position he does believe in to another debater, for the purpose
of testing the
quality of the counter argument and identifying weaknesses in his own
argument.
Q&A:
New
LINKS of interest:
Keeping Old Computers Alive
There are many reasons to replace your computers before they
could reasonably be called old. Of course there are good reasons to keep
older machines around, too. Maybe you just don't have the money to buy
a new one. Or you're in a part of the world where replacement computers
are not only expensive -- they're hard to come by. Perhaps you want to
wait as long as possible before sending lead, mercury, and other toxic
materials into the
environment. Whatever the case may be, read our article to
find out how to get the most out of your older systems.
What's the Difference Between a Hub and a Switch?
We have four computers connected to a router and want to add
two more machines to our network. Do I buy hub to connect to the router
or go for a switch instead? What's the difference anyway?
Review: Anti-Spyware Programs Clean But Don't
Disinfect
How does spyware get on PCs? User carelessness; the
overwhelming
majority of spyware requires you to click somewhere on
something that
says you agree to install the application to your PC.
Spyware authors
(also known as "vermin," and other phrases I will not use in
this
wholesome environment) take all sorts of measures to trick
or coerce
users into agreeing to install the wares. We've got a list
of tips to
help you keep your PCs spyware-clean.
User Carelessness Blamed For Spyware Scourge
Also: Users recount their horror stories about spyware
attacks, and
vendors and ISPs are struggling to provide tech support for
infected
users.
Spyware Epidemic Runs Rampant
Vendors, ISPs Struggle To Deal With Spyware
CONSORTIA
Consortia Documents for Funding Year July 2005 - June 2006 posted:
http://neilsa.org/erate/consortdocs05.html
DEADLINE: 12/01/2004
You need to have the Letter of Agency approved by your Board, with the
action recorded in the Board minutes, before we can file for your
discounts. You must have all the needed paperwork back to the
Consortia office by 12/01/2004. upon receipt of the documents we
will send you the instructions for completing "The Database".
The Database is a list of your monthly phone bills for:
1. the last year
2. the current year
It will be used to determine how much your library will be applying for
in the next funding year. Your monthly amount will be an average
of the figures you enter.
DEADLINE was Nov. 1
MONDAY
FCC
Registration Numbers
-- You must have an FCC Registration
Number before 11/1/2004 or we will not be able to apply for e-rate for
you. IMMEDIATELY. If you have not sent in your EIN by noon
on
Monday 11/1/2004 then you may be denied e-rate funding. After
the FCC deadline 16 libraries still had not replied.
Q&A
Q How long do we have to keep e-rate records?
A: Practically for 6 calendar years.
The Fifth Report and
Order (FCC 04-190, released on August 13, 2004) requires
both applicants and service providers to retain all records related to the
application for, receipt and delivery of discounted services for a period of
five years after the last day of services delivered for a particular Funding
Year.
If you have
specific
questions about your e-rate "account" call Glen,
9:00 - noon at NEILSA office.
Glen
tells me that ALL
486's are now in.
EVERYONE who is not
currently getting discounts from last years credits
should contact us via e-mail
at: assist@neilsa.org ; we will check
and see if you are part of the 486 problem or on the B.E.A.R. list and
get back to you.
The
following libraries are NOT filed as part of the
Consortia and are therefor not on the:
Technology Plan
Form
470 and all subsequent filings
FCC Registration Number
Cedar Falls, Evansdale,
Elkader, Guttenberg, Hawkeye, LaPorte
City, Waterloo, Waverly.
IF
you feel you should not be on this list let us know
(in writing please), if you wish to start doing your own e-rate let us
know in writing also.
CE: {That
would be classes with credits toward recertification.}
EBSCO
Stumpers. Send an answer to the current Stumpers question
from iowalib to riesberg@neilsa.org before the answer is posted
on Friday and receive CE credit. Individuals can receive up to 5
contact hours continuing education credit for participating in EBSCO
stumpers (4 answered questions for each hour of credit).
ALA launches on-line Continuing Education Clearinghouse
CHICAGO
- The American Library Association (ALA) has launched a new online
Continuing Education (CE) Clearinghouse at www.ala.org/ce. It is
designed to meet the professional development needs and career
interests of library staff and boards.
http://www.ala.org/ala/pr2004/september2004/OnlineCEClearinghouse.htm
SPECIAL
WORKSHOPS:
ICN session
scheduled by the State Library. Sandy Dixon is presenting the program
"Funding for your Library: The Special Tax Levy. The Date/time for
this session is Thursday, November 18 18:00 to 19:30
New
DuPage Teleconferences Announced: A brand new series of teleconferences sponsored by the College of DuPage Illinois is ready for the 2004--2005
season. Again this year, the State Library and BCR are partnering in
bringing these satellite teleconferences to Iowa, beamed into ICN rooms across
the state. Here's a preview of the DuPage programming, beginning in
November:
November 19, 2004: "The Role of
Teaching in Modern Libraries"
January 21, 2005: "Dealing with
Difficult People"
February 18, 2005: "Library
Marketing"
March 11, 2005: "Reference Tools
for the Information Age"
March 18, 2005: "Library
Transformation: Library as Place"
April 29, 2005: "Library Hot
Topics for Today and Tomorrow"
June 3, 2005: "Information
Literacy"
For full details about the
DuPage teleconferences, visit their website at: http://www.cod.edu/teleconf/ To
register for the first in the series, coming up November 19th "THE
ROLE OF TEACHING IN MODERN LIBRARIES," go to the State Library's website: http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/cecat.htm
WebJunction Iowa's
Learning
Center courses. These courses are available to all Iowa library staff at no
charge.
To
take
a course:
1) You must be registered on the site;
2) You must sign in when you are ready to take a course. If you
go to WebJunction Iowa's Learning Center without signing in, the system
will not let you enroll in a course.
When you're in the Learning Center, click on "Course
Details" for a description of the course and the time estimated to
complete it. After finishing a course, print out an attendance
certificate - you'll need to fill in your name and the date you
completed it. The State Library will accept these certificates
toward public librarian re-certification.
If you have any questions, let me know.
Sandy Dixon
Consultant
State Library of Iowa
CLASSES in
NEILSA:
PLEASE NOTE: NEILSA
classes that are taught by non-NEILSA staff are subject to CANCELLATION
3 to 7 days ahead of presentation if registration will not support the
class session. If you are interested in a class, such as Get
Organized or Pathfinder, you need to sign up in plenty of time to
insure the class takes place.
Library
101 next Dec. 10 --
Registration: http://www.neilsa.org/classes/library101.cfm
Get Organized, Dec 8, 8:30
4:00, Oelwein --
Limited enrollment
Get Organized
This was so popular at
ILA Annual meeting last year that the room was
FULL and people were turned away. We also had a full house this
year at ILA.
Description:
Get Organized examines areas of
your work life to identify ways you can be more efficient, ordered, and
organized. You'll learn how to:
* Organize your work
space.
* Eliminate the clutter in drawers, closets, and on shelves and
bookcases.
* Throw away stuff you aren't using.
* Buy office products that will help you stay organized.
* Buy software that will help you organize your calendar, to-do lists,
and address book.
* Reduce the amount of paper that you accumulate.
* Stay ahead of filing.
Getting
organized and staying organized is a great way to
reduce the stress in your life and feel more confident about yourself
and the work you are doing.
Workshop
Outline:
* Welcome and
Introductions
* Why Should You Get Organized?
* Clean Up Your Work Space
* File That Paper or Throw It Out
* Manage Your "Incoming"
o Mail
o Phone Calls
o Tasks
* Set Your Schedule
* Get Your Work Done
o Interruptions
o Priorities
o Projects You Hate
* In Conclusion
o More questions and answers Evaluation
Workshop
Objectives:
By the end of this
workshop, participants will be able to
meet the following objectives.
* Understand how
getting organized can reduce stress and
allow you to function more effectively.
* Identify areas of your work space that could be better organized.
* Identify useful office products that will help you stay organized.
* Create a filing system and identify those items worth saving vs.
those that should be discarded.
* Create a work schedule to increase productivity.
* Manage mail (including faxes and e-mail), phone calls and assignments.
* Identify techniques for dealing with interruptions.
* Recognize how to set priorities and reduce procrastination.
For more
information and to register go to: http://neilsa.org/classes/getorganized.cfm
OTHER CE: You must register with the
listed provider.
PLM dates scheduled for spring. We won't be taking registrations
for awhile - we'll probably wait until late November or December.
PLM 1 - Tuesdays, April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 2005
PLM 2 - Fridays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6, 13, 20, 2005
Or see
Free ICN Training Session!
Leary
of the technology?
New to
teaching in Iowa and unfamiliar with ICN?
Want to know what the ICN room is all about and how you
can use it?
November 16, 4:15 - 5:00
p.m.
"How to Use the ICN
Room"
Host
Locations:
-
Waterloo - Hawkeye Community College (Origination Site)
-
Fort Dodge - Iowa Central Community College
-
Cedar Rapids - AEA
10
-
Creston Community Hospital
-
Des Moines - Department of Public Health
-
Des Moines - State of Iowa Library
-
Shenandoah High School
-
Southeast Polk High School
-
Urbandale Public Library
Please
contact Jeannie Patterson at jeannie.patterson@iowa.gov or call
877-426-4692 to make a reservation for one of the listed sites. All authorized
users are welcomed to attend.
"Learning Activity
Written Summary" may be found at:
http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/continuing-ed/online-learningactivitywrittensummary.htm
GRANTS:
Support Staff
Grant. will make it possible for an eligible individual
(or
individuals) to attend ALA Annual in Chicago
in June 2005.
Eligibility
Requirements: Currently employed in
a
full time support staff position; Minimum of three years of experience
in an
area of technical services (acquisitions, cataloging, collection
development/management, preservation of library materials, serials); No
previous attendance at an ALA annual meeting Successful
candidates will be required to
submit a brief report describing their
experiences at the annual conference. This report will be
published
in the post-conference issue of the
ALCTS
Newsletter Online and will also
be shared with
the sponsor. The ALCTS Membership
Committee will provide mentoring support for each candidate.
To
apply: Send a
cover letter, resume and a brief essay (ca. 250 words) summarizing the
reasons
why attending the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Library
Association
would be beneficial. A letter of reference from the
applicant's
supervisor, indicating the employer's support for the
application is also
required.
Applications should be
sent by December
1, 2004
to: Dale Swensen
email: Dale_Swensen@byu.edu
Successful applicants
will be notified in January. All
necessary travel arrangements will be handled by ALCTS.
The American
Library
Association (ALA) and the National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are accepting applications for the We The People Bookshelf on
"freedom" grants. Part of the NEH's We the
People initiative, the annual grant project will award sets of 15
classic books for young readers to 1,000 libraries across the country.
Libraries interested in receiving the collection are required to
develop and host a program to introduce the collection and its theme of
freedom to students and/or patrons.
Guidelines
and
applications for Round One are
available online at www.ala.org/wethepeople
until October 20, 2004.
Applications for Round Two will be
accepted from December 16, 2004 to February 16, 2005.
Building Consulting
Grants
The
State
Library
allocates Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds to provide
Iowa libraries with building consultation. These grants allow
librarians to get professional advice from impartial consultants who
provide
guidance and recommendations to library staff, city officials and the
community on the extent and complexity of a building project. The
building consulting grants have been funded by the State Library since
fiscal year 1994. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded as funds
are available. A library that has
received the entire $2,500 grant is not eligible for another one.
http://www.silo.lib.ia.us/for-ia-libraries/LSTA/building-consulting-grants.htm
END PLATE: Long Announcements, Supporting
Documents, & other "stuff"
Other blogs:
SWILSA
House blog at: http://www.swilsa.blogspot.com
Blogs
for Libraries
[WebJunction] http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1432
On line Newsletters:
Regional Rag. http://www.sls.lib.ia.us/rag.htm OR
Go to http://www.sls.lib.ia.us - click
on
"Regional Rag" and then the issue you wish to read.
2005 Summer
Library Program Workshops
Sponsored by the State Library of Iowa and the Iowa Library Service Areas
Mark
your calendars now:
February 9 Grundy Center Community
Center
February 10 Johnston Public Library (two sessions)
February 14 Southern Prairie AEA, Ottumwa
February 15 Anamosa Public Library
February 16 Northeast Iowa Comm. College, Calmar
February 17 North Iowa Area Comm. College, Mason City
February 18 Algona Public Library
March 1 Cherokee Community Center
March 2 Churdan Community Center
March 3 Elliott Community Center
Plan
now to attend one of the Dragons, Dreams
and Daring Deeds Summer Library Program workshops in 2005. The State Library of Iowa and the Iowa
Library Service Areas will sponsor eleven free workshops. Registration will begin at 8:30
a.m.
with the program from 9:00 a.m. 12:00 noon. Morning refreshments will be served.
This
years presenters will be Marilyn Tilley from the Churdan Public Library and Linda
Fox from the Oskaloosa Public Library.
They will show how to create an outstanding summer library program in
your community. Registration
information will be sent at a later date.
Three
(3) hours of continuing education will be available.
We will also be presenting a Young Adult workshop to
accompany the YA manual on Thursday, March 10 from 9:30 11:30 a.m.
This workshop will be held over the Iowa Communications Network at
multiple ICN sites across the state.
Maria Levetzow, author of the YA manual, will present this marvelous workshop. Two (2) hours of continuing education will be
available. Site and registration
information will be sent out over Iowalib at a later date.
This
year we will be offering a new ICN session to present the Planning and
Programming portion of the manual. This
session will be held on Thursday, March 17 from 9:30 11:30 a.m. This session will also be held over the Iowa
Communications Network at various sites around the state. Sally Van Dorin, from the Indianola Public
Library will present this interesting promotional session. Two (2) hours of continuing education will be
available. Site and registration
information will be sent out over Iowalib at a later date
The fine print stuff
blog - Friday Notes 2 AT
- http://radio.weblogs.com/0108327/
EDITORS NOTES:
"x" & "xx" are catalogers shorthand for: x = See &
xx = See also
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:Data File MiscFriday
Notes 20213a.wpd
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 ...
| 
