Fri Jan 2 04:31:02 PST 2004
Letter To Libraries Online
An Electronic Newsletter of the
Oregon State Library
Volume 14, Issue 1 January 2004
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LIBRARY BOARD NEWS
State Library Board Adopts Database Licensing Rule
New Advisory Committee Members Elected
LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Statistics Review Time
Gates Foundation December Transition Seminars
E-Rate Discount Application Deadline
Statewide Database Licensing Program:
Oregonian Training
OTHER LIBRARY NEWS
Measure 30 Has Potential Impact On State Library
Budget
Open House and Learning Fair a Big Success
FUND DEVELOPMENT
New Year's Goal Setting
PS. (FROM THE STATE LIBRARIAN)
STATE LIBRARY CONTACT INFORMATION
LIBRARY BOARD NEWS
====================
STATE LIBRARY BOARD ADOPTS DATABASE LICENSING RULE
At their meeting at the West Linn Public Library on December 12, 2003,
the State Library Board adopted a permanent Oregon Administrative Rule
for the Statewide Database Licensing Program. The rule included several
changes to the temporary rule adopted in August, 2003, that were
suggested by the Statewide Database Licensing Advisory Committee. The
permanent rule should be posted on the Secretary of State's website
within a few weeks. The Board also approved a plan to celebrate the
State Library's centennial in 2005 and made appointments to Board
advisory councils.
Two requests for unprogrammed LSTA funds were considered by the Board.
The Salem Public Library requested $12,000 to undertake survey research
related to their efforts to form a library district that would bring
public library service to 44,000 unserved residents of Marion and Polk
counties. The other request was from the Jefferson County Library
District for $38,500 to work with citizens in Wheeler County to explore
the possibility of annexing Wheeler County to the Jefferson County
Library District. The Board approved both requests, adding $500 to the
Jefferson County project to fund an evaluation. The next meeting of the
State Library will be on February 20, 2004, at the State Library in
Salem.
NEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ELECTED
The Oregon State Library Board elected new representatives to two
advisory groups at its December 12, 2003 meeting.
The Talking Book and Braille Services Advisory Council Senior Citizen
Patron-At- Large representatives are Sharon Baker of Milwaukie and Sara
Long of Salem. Mrs. Baker is an avid reader and is the leader of
several low-vision support groups in the Portland area. Ms. Long has
been a volunteer in TBABS and is an active member of the Oregon Chapter
of the American Council of the Blind. The parent-at-large
representative is Leisa Sekhon of Portland. Mrs. Sekhon has a
seven-year-old son who is a voracious reader of talking and Braille
books, and she herself has been a user of Talking Book and Braille
Services since 1986. Daniel Long is new to the TBABS Advisory Council
also as a representative of VisionNorthwest, an organization dedicated
to providing adaptive aids to people with low vision.
The Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Council filled four
vacancies. The Public Library Representative is Gary Sharp of North
Bend. Mr. Sharp is Director of Library Services of North Bend Public
Library and has experience with public libraries since 1984. He has
served on a variety of Oregon Library Association committees, including
a term as secretary to the executive board, and conference treasurer,
and has been an LSTA Peer Evaluator.
The Special Library Representative is Gretchen Leslie of Lattice
Semiconductor. Ms. Leslie has over 25 years experience in special
libraries, working with high tech corporations. Her previous employers
include Intel, Washington State Energy Office, the Washington State
Library, and WLN (Western Library Network.).
The Academic Library Representative is Patty Cutright of Eastern Oregon
University. Ms. Cutright spent two years as the Director at Myrtle
Point Public Library and from 1986-current as an academic
librarian/director. She has been responsible for securing a number of
grants for Eastern Oregon University Library, Pioneer Library System,
and the College of Micronesia.
The new Library User Representative is Carol Ruggeri of Newport. Ms.
Ruggeri is President of the Newport Library Board of Trustees,
Treasurer of the Rotary Club of Newport and on the Small Business
Development Advisory Committee, and is a long- time library user and
supporter.
We welcome each of these individuals to our advisory committees and
look forward to working with them.
LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT NEWS
===========================
STATISTICS REVIEW TIME
With statistics in from all public libraries except for Banks, Cottage
Grove, and Woodburn, we are beginning to sift through the data for
anything that looks out of the ordinary. The explanatory notes everyone
has attached to data are extremely helpful and save a lot of time! We
appreciate the increasing efforts of directors to scrutinize the data
before submission, as it reduces errors such as a small library
reporting "-,910" books added, or 16,000 children's programs with 30 in
total attendance. We will begin work on the 2003-2004 statistical
survey in February and any suggestions for improvement are always
welcome.
GATES FOUNDATION DECEMBER TRANSITION SEMINARS
Completing its State Partnership Program for Oregon public libraries,
the Gates Foundation presented three transition seminars in early
December to review libraries' tools to support the Gates computers and
help libraries learn about resources for sustaining library technology
in the future.
Ralph Buchan from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Technical
Support Team made presentations at three libraries for librarians and
technical support staff: Beaverton Public Library, Douglas County
Library (Roseburg), and Pierce Library (Eastern Oregon University),
with a video feed and videotape recording via the Pioneer Library
System to Blue Mountain Community College, Harney County Library
(Burns), and Treasure Valley Community College library.
The Gates Foundation technical support program to Oregon libraries
ended December 18, 2003. The transition seminar reviewed unique
features of the Gates public access computer, such as security and
profiles, and gave an overview of how to design and build a low-cost
public access computer with Gates level security. Also addressed were
troubleshooting tips and tricks (e.g., imaging or ghosting the
hard-drive), upgrading software and hardware on the Gates models, and
licensing and re-purposing granted computers.
The Gates Transition Seminar PowerPoint presentation is linked from the
State Library Web page at
http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/libdev/gates.htm. Contact Pam Horan for
more information, pam.horan at state.or.us, 503-378-2112, ext. 224.
E-RATE DISCOUNT APPLICATION DEADLINE
The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) closing date for Form 471 for
Funding Year 2004 is February 4, 2004. Form 471 is the second step in
the E-rate application process.
Considering the February 4th deadline, the last possible filing date
for Form 470 (the first form in the application process) would be
January 7, 2003. Libraries must submit a Form 470 and allow it to be
posted to the SLD Web page for no fewer than 28 days before filing the
Form 471. You won't want to wait until January 7th to file, as you
would only have one day to open bids, evaluate proposals, sign
contracts, and file your 471 inside the window. By posting your 470
earlier, you would have time to complete all of these tasks (a much
more realistic timeline). The 28 day posting requirement ensures the
integrity of the competitive process for service providers, a
fundamental tenet of the program.
For more information about the program you may visit the Schools and
Libraries Division Web page at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/ or
the Oregon E-rate Web page at http://www.ode.state.or.us/erate/. Both
are good resources and are linked from the State Library Web page at
http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/libdev/grants.html. Contact Pam Horan
for more information, pam.horan at state.or.us, 503-378-2112, ext. 224.
STATEWIDE DATABASE LICENSING PROGRAM: OREGONIAN TRAINING
Four training sessions on the Oregonian database were presented by
Michele Klinowski of NewsBank for Oregon libraries December 17th and
18th. The sessions were held at Southwestern Oregon Community College,
Springfield Public Library, Linn-Benton Community College and Chemeketa
Community College, with a video feed to Southern Oregon. A total of 31
library staff from academic, public and school libraries attended the
sessions, and videotapes for future use and loan were made for the
State Library, Pioneer Library System, Clatsop Community College, and
PSU's educational media program. For more information contact Pam
Horan, pam.horan at state.or.us , 503-378- 2112, ext. 224.
OTHER LIBRARY NEWS
====================
MEASURE 30 HAS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON STATE LIBRARY BUDGET
The State Library has received guidance from the State Budget Director
about how the defeat of Measure 30 could affect the budgets of state
agencies. The Legislative Assembly adopted a plan to cut the State
Budget if voters fail to approve Measure 30. About three-quarters of
the estimated $800 million that would need to be cut is stipulated in
HB 5077. The State Library is not one of the agencies targeted in this
legislation. However, the State Library General Fund budget would be
subject to across the board cuts that are mandated in HB 2148 to close
the rest of the budget gap. The State Budget Director estimates that
across the board cuts could amount to as much as 5- 10 percent of
General Fund budgets. For the State Library this would amount to
approximately $132,000 to $264,000. The General Fund is the funding
source for Talking Book and Braille Services and the Ready to Read
Grant program. The rest of the State Library budget is funded with
Federal LSTA funds and by an assessment on state government agencies.
OPEN HOUSE AND LEARNING FAIR A BIG SUCCESS
The Government Research and Electronic Services team (GRES) held an
Open House and Learning Fair for its state agency customers on December
12. This event was held in partnership with Administrative Services
Statewide Training and Development and Chemeketa Community College.
The GRES staff decorated the library's first floor conference room and
setup a large number of displays that featured library services,
special collections, and products available to state agency employees.
DAS Statewide Training and Chemeketa Community College also exhibited a
broad array of certification programs, formal classes, and seminars
that support employee professional development needs. An estimated 135
customers representing more than 30 state agencies attended.
The Open House and Learning Fair was a wonderful opportunity to
showcase library resources and services as well as to get acquainted
with customers in a warm and informal environment. A state agency
employee who had driven over from Bend to attend summed up her
appreciation: "This was definitely worth the drive!" Our partners also
expressed the value of being event participants and look forward to
planning a similar, cooperative activity next year.
FUND DEVELOPMENT
====================
NEW YEAR'S GOAL SETTING
Resolving to raise more money for your library ought to be on your list
of things to do in 2004. The first step is compiling and telling your
own story. Once someone understands the importance of the library's
services and programs, and the dependence on private contributions to
make it all happen, it's easier for you to ask, and easier for the
individual to give!
Get out from behind your desk and do something fresh and invigorating:
1. Visit with community members who are not necessarily library users;
talk about your favorite subject, the library. Invite people to participate
in an upcoming library event.
2. Ask people what they likeabout the library; ask people what they would
like to see different in the library. If the change is a simple one, great;
however, if the change is major, ask if they would be willing to help the
library obtain their wish.
3. Speak to groups or individuals--formally or informally. Build relationships
with community members; ask them to share their favorite library story.
4. Use every opportunity you can to educate/inform/entertain people about
what's happening at the library. Explain how donation funds are used
to expand service.
5. Make your own significant contribution to the library, and while it might
be a stretch to your comfort zone, ask others to donate to the library. 6.
Repeat steps 1-5.
Happy New Year!
For more detailed fundraising assistance, resolve to contact Kathy
Thomas, Oregon State Library Fund Development Consultant,
Kathryn.Thomas at state.or.us, 503-378-2112 x 264.
PS. (FROM THE STATE LIBRARIAN)
==============================
It is very disheartening for the State Library Board and staff to
witness the disinvestment in school library media services that is
occurring in Oregon public schools. Part of the original mission of the
State Library was to promote and establish school libraries in the
state. When the State Library was designed and built in the late
1930's, part of the original design was a "model school library." We
have pictures of the model school library that occupied a room in the
southeast corner of the first floor, where a conference room is now.
The idea was that school principals and superintendents could come to
Salem and see for themselves what a school library looked like and how
it operated.
As we have reported, the number of school media specialists dropped
12%, to only 510 for the entire state, between 2001 and 2002. We expect
to see another drop when statistics are published for 2003. In 1980
there was one media specialist for every 547 students in Oregon
schools. Today there is one media specialist for every 1,027 students.
There are now entire school districts with only one media specialist,
and some that have none. While we don't have data on this, the
anecdotal evidence is that it has become the norm for most Oregon
students not to have a media specialist in their elementary school,
though it seems that most middle schools and high schools still have
media specialists. I have often thought that it might be more important
to have media specialists in elementary schools than in the higher
grades.
What makes the problem worse for our students is that unlike other
types of libraries, school libraries don't scale very well. When a
public library loses funding, or an academic library loses funding,
services can be scaled back. Public libraries can reduce their hours;
academic libraries can cut back on their acquisitions. Budget
reductions, even severe ones, can be managed to do the least harm to
library services. This tends not to be true in school libraries. The
typical scenario is that an administrative decision is made to
eliminate the media specialist from a school, and the library soon
languishes and becomes ineffective. Untrained, low-wage aides run the
library (basically a circulation function), or maybe even volunteers.
In either case, the library is on the path, at that point, to becoming
of little value to student learning.
Short of a miraculous turnaround in the funding for Oregon schools,
maybe it's time to think about organizing school library services that
do scale. Reforming school library organizations might be a
constructive first step, if we ever are able to build back our school
libraries. What this might look like is a more traditional library
organization, with a library director at the district level, and what
are essentially branch libraries in the schools. If a district could
afford media specialists in all the schools that would be great. They
would all work with the library director in a collaborative and
efficient service delivery system, as most public and academic
libraries do. But if this was not affordable, there could still be
well-trained library paraprofessionals in the school libraries that
worked collaboratively with what librarians there were in the district
to still deliver a consistent standard of quality service in every
service outlet, again, like most public and academic libraries do.
It's time for the Oregon Educational Media Association to look ahead to
better days for our schools, and explore new organizational models for
the delivery of quality school library media services in every school.
If we get the chance to do it over again, let's invent a better future,
and not just return to the past.-- Jim Scheppke
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STATE LIBRARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Technical Support 503-378-4246
MaryKay Dahlgreen
marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 239
Denise Davis
denise.davis at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 225
Pam Horan
pam.horan at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 224
Ernest Perez
ernest.r.perez at state.or.us 503-378-4243, ext. 257
Ann Reed
ann.reed at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 254
Jim Scheppke
jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us 503-378-4367
Robin Speer
robin.d.speer at state.or.us 503-378-4243, ext. 221
Kathy Thomas
kathryn.thomas at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 264
Val Vogt
val.t.vogt at state.or.us 503-378-2112, ext. 222
OSL's home page
http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/
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LETTER TO LIBRARIES ONLINE (ISSN 1059-3195) is published monthly by the Oregon
State Library. Editorial offices: LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter Street NE, Salem,
OR 97301-3950. Editor: Robin Speer, 503-378-4243, ext. 221 or e-mail
robin.d.speer at state.or.us
LETTER TO LIBRARIES ONLINE is available free of charge and is available only in
electronic form at the Oregon State Library's Homepage:
http://www.osl.state.or.us/home . Opinions expressed in the articles are those of
the authors and not necessarily those of the Oregon State Library. News items or
articles should be sent to Internet address: robin.d.speer at state.or.us, or mailed to
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