[Libs-Or] LTLO August 2010

[April Baker]

Letter To Libraries Online

An Electronic Newsletter from the Oregon State Library.......Volume 20, Issue 8, August 2010



Library Board News


STATE LIBRARY BOARD TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING IN AUGUST

The State Library Board will hold a special meeting by phone on Friday, August 6th. They had planned to take the summer off, but will need to convene to hear recommendations from the Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Council. The Council held a meeting on July 21st and discussed some additional expenditures of LSTA funds to exhaust a surplus caused by lower costs for the statewide database license, and a shift in funding for Library Development Services staff. Last year the State Library successfully negotiated a reduced cost for general reference databases from Gale. In addition the Legislature shifted funding for 2.5 Library Development staff positions from Federal funds to General funds in response to a threatened cut-off of LSTA funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. That has resulted in surplus LSTA funds that need to be spent by September 30th of this year or returned to IMLS. The LSTA Advisory Council is recommending to the Board that the surplus be used to provide additional funding to the Oregon Digital Newspaper Project at the University of Oregon, to purchase e-books and audiobooks for the Library2Go project of the Oregon Digital Library Consortium, and to purchase e-books for the Oregon School Library Information System. The Board will meet from 4 to 5 p.m. on August 6th. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting may come to Room 202 at the State Library where a speakerphone will be provided. The next regular meeting of the State Library Board will be on October 15th at the State Library in Salem.
State Library News


PARTICIPATE IN WEBINAR ABOUT OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS DATABASE

By now you know that the popular database, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC), was recently added to our statewide contract with Gale. Hopefully you already have links to it on your website. We postponed training because the interface used for OVRC and other Resource Center products like Student Resource Center Gold will be updated in early August. Interested in learning how to use this database and its new interface? Join us for a free, 1-hour webinar hosted by a Gale trainer on any of these dates: August 24th (8:30 am or 3:30 pm), August 26th (12:30 pm or 3:30 pm), October 12th (12:30 pm or 3:30 pm), and October 13th (8:30 am or 3:30 pm). No registration is required, and a PDF with information about how to access the webinars is available on OSL's Statewide Database Licensing Program page<http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/technology/sdlp/index.shtml#Statewide_Database_Training> and on both Gale support sites for Oregon libraries - academic<http://galesupport.com/oregonacad/> or public & tribal<http://galesupport.com/oregon/>. For a foretaste of the new interface, visit Gale's preview page<http://www.gale.cengage.com/InContext/>. Questions? Contact Ann Reed<mailto:ann.reed at state.or.us> or Jennifer Maurer<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us> in Library Development.

OREGON INDEX BIOGRAPHY CARD SCANNING REACHES 50% MARK

Work on the digitization of the bibliography card index at the State Library reached a landmark in July, with over half of the cards scanned. As part of the agreement with Ancestry.com<http://www.ancestry.com/>, the card index is the top priority and is moving along even faster than expected. Ancestry contractor and Library volunteer Janine Hunter has scanned over 95 drawers for over 114,000 cards. The State Library will receive indexed copies of the digital images for online use by State Library patrons. Additional materials may be scanned from high-use historical portions of the Oregon documents collection and as part of the Library's partnership with the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society<http://www.oregon.gov/OSL/GRES/genealogy.shtml>.

COMMUNITY-WIDE READS PROGRAMS AND TBABS

Now that the 2010 Community-wide READS events are distant memories, it's probably time to start planning for 2011. Talking Book and Braille Services wants to be sure that you are aware of exactly how we can help you serve all of the patrons in your service area with books for your programs. When it comes time to plan your Community-wide READS program, please contact us at Talking Books. We will do our best to make sure that we have your selected title on hand. Then, we will send letters to all of our patrons in your community, notifying them of your program and directing them to your library's website and contact information. We will then compile a list of those who want to participate and we will make sure that each one of them has a copy of your chosen book in time for the event. In order to do this, we must have your help. Please contact Elke Bruton at 503-378-5455 as soon as you've chosen a title for your READS program. Sometimes books are not yet published in our talking book format, but we can expedite their arrival if we have good reasons and enough notice.

2010 READY TO READ GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE AUGUST 31

Ready to Read Grant application packets were mailed to public library directors and children's librarians at the end of June. The application is also available on the State Library website<http://oregon.gov/OSL/LD/youthsvcs/aboutready.shtml> to download, complete, and mail. Applications must be postmarked August 31, 2010 to qualify for the grant. For more information contact Katie Anderson<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us> (503)378-2528). In May of this year, Governor Kulongoski ordered agencies to plan for across the board cuts of their General Fund budgets. On June 11th the State Library Board approved our plan which includes reductions to the Ready to Read Grant Program of 15% from the amount granted to qualifying public libraries in the first year of the 2009-11 biennium. Because smaller libraries are guaranteed a $1,000 minimum grant, most larger libraries will see a 17% reduction in 2010-2011 under this plan. The overall grant budget is $611,352, a reduction from 94¢ per child to 79¢ per child.

2010 PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICS COLLECTION NOW OPEN

The 2010 Public Library Statistical Report is now open at collect.btol.com. Please be sure to update your links to http://bibliostat.btol.com as you will be locked out of the survey otherwise. Please call or email Ann<mailto:ann.reed at state.or.us> for help early and often at 503-378-5027, or check out the FAQ<http://libdev.plinkit.org/faqs-for-state-statistical-reports>.
Other Library News


HOOD RIVER COUNTY LIBRARY WILL TRY AGAIN TO PASS DISTRICT

On July 13th the Board of Commissioners of Hood River County voted to place a new special library district measure on the November 9th ballot. In May 54% of voters in the County defeated a measure to create a special library district with a permanent tax rate of 70 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. As a result, the library in Hood River and the two branches in Cascade Locks and Parkdale closed at the end of June. The permanent rate proposed for the November measure will be determined over the next few weeks when the Commissioners hold hearings on the measure. It is likely to be less than the rate requested in May. The Hood River County Library, so far, has been the only public library to close entirely during the Great Recession in Oregon. Several libraries have had to reduce their operating hours, including the libraries in Corvallis, West Salem, and Newberg.

OREGON PUBLIC LIBRARIES STILL #2 IN CIRCULATION IN THE US

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has published the latest compilation of public library statistics for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report<http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/pub_detail.asp?id=130> for 2008 shows that Oregon public libraries have maintained their second place ranking for per capita circulation. As has been true for many years, Ohio public libraries check out the most library materials per capita. For 2008 they widened their lead over Oregon with 16.71 circulations per capita versus Oregon's 15.43. Oregon is well ahead of 3rd place Indiana (13.72) and 4th place Utah (12.97). Oregon also continued to rank 2nd in interlibrary loans borrowed per 1,000 population (984). Wisconsin is first in this category with an amazing 1,400 interlibrary loans per 1,000. Ohio dominates in most categories because they have the best public library funding of any other state. In 2008 Ohio libraries spent $62.77 per capita on average. Oregon ranked 12th in this category with expenditures of $46.56 per capita. Oregon's worst showing is in reference transactions per capita (33rd), state funding support (42nd) and Internet computers per 5,000 population (40th). Oregon might move up in the latter category because of the impact of the latest funding for computers from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That funding support was just beginning in 2008.

OREGON LIBRARIANS PARTICIPATE IN LIBRARY ADVOCACY DAY

On June 29th the American Library Association sponsored the first ever Library Advocacy Day rally on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Nearly 2,000 librarians and library supporters wearing red "Vote for Libraries" t-shirts and holding signs rallied for better library funding, support for school libraries, and open access to government-funded research. Oregon was well-represented by about twenty librarians and supporters, including ALA President-Elect Molly Raphael, Oregon Library Association President-Elect Rob Everett and Oregon Association of School Libraries President Ruth Murray. Before and after the morning rally, State Librarian Jim Scheppke and Oregon Association of School Libraries Past-President Carol Dinges led a delegation of school, public, and academic librarians to visit all seven offices of Oregon's Representatives and Senators. The librarians met with Senator Jeff Merkley, Congressman Kurt Schrader, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and with key aides in the other offices. They reinforced the messages of Library Advocacy Day to increase funding for LSTA, include school libraries in the reauthorization of ESEA, and provide open access to all Federal government funded research, including Congressional Research Services reports.

CLACKAMAS LIBRARIES WILL BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL BROADBAND GRANT

On July 2nd Governor Kulongoski announced that Oregon had been awarded $16 million in federal broadband technology grants. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded the grants through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program. The largest grant of $7.8 million will go to Clackamas County to build a fiber optic network in the eastern part of the county. The Library Information Network of Clackamas County provided a letter of support for the grant and libraries are among the 32 community institutions that will potentially benefit from improved broadband connections. The grant will also improve service to 250,000 residents and 3,500 businesses.

IMLS TO CREATE PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTING STANDARDS

The National Broadband Plan<http://www.broadband.gov/plan/> released in March 2010 presented a vision of pervasive and affordable broadband that will provide every American an equal opportunity to engage in the educational, economic, and social life of the nation. Recommendation 9.3 of the Plan instructs the Institute of Museum and Library Services to "develop guidelines for public access technology based on populations served and organization size. These guidelines would help libraries and community-based organizations assess their needs for public access workstations, portable devices, and bandwidth." In response, IMLS has issued a Request for Proposals to develop a framework of the principles, elements, or characteristics of organizations and communities that foster digital inclusion. This framework is the first step in the development of final guidelines that will be used as the basis for benchmarks, evaluation tools, or performance measures. The ultimate purpose of this work is to provide policy makers and community leaders with the tools they need to build the capacity of public libraries and community-based organizations to meet the public's information needs.
P.S. (From the State Librarian)


The Great Recession has caused devastation to a lot libraries nationwide. Library Journal is working with others to create a website<http://www.losinglibraries.org> to map the closures and cutbacks. If you look at the map you'll see that Oregon has been less affected than some other states. Much of that is owing to the creation of our library taxing district laws in the early 1980's and the establishment, since then, of 24 library taxing districts that provide permanent, dedicated funding to 55 libraries, about 40% of all the public libraries in Oregon.

As far as library closures go, we have had one, the Hood River County Library in Hood River along with its two branches in Cascade Locks and Parkdale. The defeat of a library district measure in May and the closure of the three libraries at the end of June is seen as a tragedy and an embarrassment to many in the community there. Thankfully the county commissioners have decided to try again for a district in November, this time with a somewhat lower tax rate.

If you are one of those "glass half full" people, like I try to be, you might reflect on the fact that though three Hood River County libraries were closed this year, three brand new public libraries opened, in Multnomah County and Beaverton. The new Murray Scholls Branch of the Beaverton City Library is that library's first branch. It opened on June 25th. And the new Troutdale Branch of the Multnomah County Library opened on July 12th. In March, Multnomah County Library opened its new Kenton Branch. All three of these new libraries are bringing library service to growing communities that have, up until now, been without convenient service.

I have been to the Kenton Branch and I really like what I see there. MCL is trying out a lot of new ideas. They are really pushing self-service with ample RFID checkout stations and only one small desk that sends a message to patrons that library staff is there to help, but not to "serve." Instead staff is encouraged to roam around and assist library users proactively at the point of need. There is a wonderful "Lucky Day" collection with stacks of popular fiction and non-fiction that aren't used to fill reserves. The collection rewards people who come to the library to browse (a behavior we may need to encourage again). There is a program space that doubles as a reading room when there are no programs going on. There are laptop computers to use when the desktop computers are all taken.

I love the fact that the Kenton Branch is located in an converted storefront on an old "main street" block that is being revitalized. There's no parking lot. There's street parking. The location is very walkable and bikable from the surrounding neighborhood, and it's just a block from a light rail stop.

In its modest way the Kenton Branch is a public library of the future: compact, self-service, friendly, flexible, accessible. Go see it, and see what I mean. And be sure to take the Yellow Line. - Jim Scheppke
Contacts at the Oregon State Library


Library Development: 503-378-2525, MaryKay Dahlgreen<mailto:marykay.dahlgreen at state.or.us>, Mary Mayberry<mailto:mary.l.mayberry at state.or.us>, Darci Hanning<mailto:darci.hanning at state.or.us>, Ann Reed<mailto:ann.reed at state.or.us>, Jennifer Maurer<mailto:jennifer.maurer at state.or.us>, Katie Anderson<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>.

Talking Book and Braille Services: 503-378-5389, Susan Westin<mailto:susan.b.westin at state.or.us>.

Government Research Services: 503-378-5030, Robert Hulshof-Schmidt<mailto:robert.hulshof-schmidt at state.or.us>.

State Librarian: 503-378-4367, Jim Scheppke<mailto:jim.b.scheppke at state.or.us>.

LTLO Editor: 503-378-2464, April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>. Letter to Libraries Online is published monthly by the Oregon State Library. Editorial office: LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950, 503-378-2464, editor: April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>. Letter to Libraries Online is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form on the publications page at the Oregon State Library's homepage: http://www.oregon.gov/OSL. 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 April Baker<mailto:april.m.baker at state.or.us>, or mailed to LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.

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______________________
April Baker
Oregon State Library
250 Winter St. NE  Salem, OR 97301
Library Administrative Services | Administrative Services Coordinator & HR Assistant
*: (503) 378-2464 | 7: (503) 585-8059 | *: april.m.baker at state.or.us

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