Index
- BadgerLink changes implemented
- SCLS launches YouTube Channel
- New Glarus receives Big Read grant
- Computer Tutorials added to LearningExpress Library
- Member/Staff News
- ‘Health Information for the Elderly and Their Caregivers’ workshops scheduled
- OverDrive adds iPod compatibility to WPLC Digital Download Center
- NoveList user interface updated
- LibLime Users' Group to kick off at ALA conference
- IMLS Launches ‘Libraries to the Rescue’ podcast series
- Will Manley on why libraries will survive
- WebJunction announces bilingual storytimes webinar
- MDA seeks library partners to help promote annual telethon
- Continuing Education Calendar
BadgerLink changes implemented
Previously announced changes in the databases available to Wisconsin libraries through BadgerLink have been implemented. The biggest change is the expanded package of EBSCO databases, including expanded newspaper coverage.
While the EBSCO newspaper coverage is expanded, the ProQuest newspaper databases will no longer be part of BadgerLink. If you have patrons who are particularly fond of the ProQuest newspaper databases and interface, you may want to make them aware of this change. Libraries will not lose access to any Wisconsin newspapers because of the change. However, the Wall Street Journal, which was available in the ProQuest database, is not included in the EBSCO package.
The EBSCO package includes the following:
- Academic Search Premier
- Alt HealthWatch
- Auto Repair Reference Center
- Book Collection: Nonfiction - Elementary School Edition
- Book Collection: Nonfiction - Middle School Edition
- Book Collection: Nonfiction - High School Edition
- Business Source Premier
- Consumer Health Complete
- Education Research Complete
- Educational Administration Abstracts
- Encyclopedia of Animals
- ERIC
- Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia
- GreenFile
- Health Source: Consumer Edition
- Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition
- History Reference Center
- Humanities International Complete
- LISTA
- Literary Reference Center
- MAS Ultra - School Edition
- MasterFILE Premier
- MEDLINE
- Middle Search Plus
- Military & Government Collection
- Newspaper Source Plus
- NoveList
- NoveList K-8
- Primary Search
- Professional Development Collection
- Regional Business News
- Science Reference Center
EBSCO offers a great deal of information on its Support pages to assist with training and promotion of databases.
- Promotion: http://support.ebscohost.com/promotion/promo.php
- Training: http://support.ebscohost.com/training/index.php
- Online Tutorials: http://support.ebscohost.com/training/tutorials.php
The new BadgerLink package will continue to include LitFinder, TeachingBooks, and NewspaperARCHIVE.
In an effort to provide wider access to SCLS video resources, we’ve created a new YouTube Channel. You can bookmark www.youtube.com/user/SCLSUTube for easy access to this new resource.
Featured on this channel right now are two videos: the 2009 SLP School Visit Video and a papermaking demonstration featuring Monona’s Karen Wendt.
New Glarus receives Big Read grant
New Glarus Public Library has received a $4,500 Big Read Grant to develop a program around Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451.” In one of literature's most haunting denunciations of censorship, Bradbury uses the materials of science fiction to tell the story of Guy Montag, a fireman forced to burn books.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young.
The Big Read aims to address this crisis squarely and effectively by providing citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. The initiative includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature, an ambitious national publicity campaign, and an extensive website providing comprehensive information on authors and their works.
Each community event lasts approximately one month and includes a kick-off event to launch the program locally, ideally attended by the mayor and other local luminaries; major events devoted specifically to the book (panel discussions, author reading, and the like); events using the book as a point of departure (film screenings, theatrical readings, and so forth); and book discussions in diverse locations and aimed at a wide range of audiences. Programs must be conducted between September 2009 and June 2010.
Computer Tutorials added to LearningExpress Library
As part of our 2009 LSTA "Jobs: Searching, Training, and Support" grant, SCLS has subscribed to an addition to LearningExpress Library, which makes computer tutorials available. For more information about the new tutorials, download the pdf flier.
They are now available by clicking on "Computer Skills" on the left hand side of the screen, in the list of "Learning Centers." The tutorials do require Adobe Flash Player 8.0.
If you have technical difficulties using any of these new resources, please contact Rose Ziech.
After polling libraries to see which will be open on Saturday, July 4, the only responses were confirmations that the library is closed. Since there don’t appear to be any SCLS member libraries that will be open that day, SCLS Automation will not have the Weekend Operator on duty to provide support on Saturday.
Lauren Blough, SCLS Automation Project Manager, has announced that she will retire at the end of December 2009.
The July issue of WSLL @ Your Service has been published at http://wilawlibrary.gov/newsletter/0907.html.
‘Health Information for the Elderly and Their Caregivers’ workshops scheduled
Public libraries are often “first responders” in the quest for authoritative health information. Finding and collecting appropriate resources to address the community’s health-related information needs can pose many challenges.
Join us for the next round of workshops in the “Health Information for the Elderly and Their Caregivers Series.” Upcoming programs will be online and approximately one hour in length. Each will focus and expand upon specific content introduced in initial face-to-face workshops held in April 2009 and mentioned in assessments/evaluations.
Upcoming online programs, available via GoToWebinar, are:
- July 30 at 1:30 p.m. – “Legal & Financial Resources for the Elderly and Their Caregivers” will identify and locate legal and financial health information for the elderly and their caregivers, online and in print, to support reference and collection development activities. The session will highlight web links to Medicare information, Social Security, end-of-life issues , guardianship, related services, finding support and more.
- Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. – “Drug/Medication Information Resources for the Elderly and Their Caregivers” will focus on information related to drugs and medications for the elderly and their caregivers. The discussion will include online and print resources to support reference and collection development activities. The session will highlight authoritative and interactive websites, print resources, related services, how to find support and more.
- Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. – “Finding Local/Regional Resources for the Elderly and Their Caregivers” will identify and locate contacts offering local/regional information, services and support for the elderly and their caregivers.
- Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. – “Your Library and Health Information for the Elderly and Their Caregivers” is an opportunity to share your stories, best practices, successful events and other information around this topic. This will be an interactive program to help us all benefit from the “wisdom of the crowd” and better serve the information needs of the elderly and their caregivers.
These workshops are made possible by an LSTA grant, which is made available through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.
OverDrive adds iPod compatibility to WPLC Digital Download Center
OverDrive has updated the WPLC Digital Download Center to enable 1,000 WMA audiobook titles for download to Apple devices, including the iPod. Patrons must be using the latest version of the OverDrive Media Console (3.2), with additional software, to take advantage of this new functionality.
The 1,000 titles enabled for transfer to Apple devices are among the 3,776 WMA titles that WPLC has had in its collection. (Note that not all 3,776 WMA titles are compatible with Apple devices.) Individual publishers decide which of their titles may be offered with this feature. The 189 MP3 Audiobook titles in the WPLC collection are a different format and should not be confused with this sub-category of the WMA category.
OverDrive Media Console 3.2 (available for Windows only) and additional software (iTunes and QuickTime) make it possible to transfer WMA audiobooks to Apple devices. More information about software requirements can be found on the WPLC Digital Download Center.
Apple devices and Zune players cannot be used with library patron computers because of the security problems presented by the additional software these players require.
NoveList user interface updated
Based on feedback, the following changes have been made to the NoveList user interface.
- Series Searching -- A series search using the “Series Title” radio button will now bring up either a series master record, which contains the full information for a series including the series title list in reading order, or a list of all series that match your search terms. For example, a search from the NoveList homepage for "Harry Potter" with the Series Title radio button selected will pull up the master record for the Harry Potter series. (view screen shot) From the series master record you will find the list of titles in reading order with links to each title record, as well as author information and additional information about the series. You can still easily print a series list to hand to your patron. Just click the “Print” link at the top of the series master record. At the Print Manager, select “Detailed Citation and Abstract” from the “Standard Field Format” drop-down menu, then click the “Print” button.
- What We're Reading Display – “What We're Reading” columns are now sorted by date descending, to bring the newest listings for each contributor to the top of the list. For example, from the “Browse” column select “What We're Reading” under the “Adults” heading. Now select the "What Georgine Olson is Reading" link. You will now find Georgine Olson's May 2009 column at the top of the list.
- Popularity and First Chapters Available in Title Record -- Popularity stars and links to “First Chapters” and “Tables of Content” are now available on the right side of the title record (under the book jacket image, if available).
- Custom Folders Display -- When you log in to your “My NoveList” account, you will now find your custom folders listed in alphabetical order. When you add a new custom folder, it will also be placed in the list alphabetically.
Please let NoveList know if you have any questions or comments, by using this Send Feedback link, also located in the top right corner of the NoveList screen.
More information is available at the EBSCO Support Site at http://support.ebsco.com, where you can to learn about all of EBSCO's products, search among thousands of FAQs, or download Flash tutorials, Help Sheets or User Guides.
LibLime Users' Group to kick off at ALA conference
With over 500 customers worldwide, you thought it was time LibLime customers had a users' group of their very own. Now they do, and the first official LibLime Users Group meeting will take place at ALA Annual 2009.
It's a chance for you and your library to get in on the ground floor of agenda making and planning. LibLime will provide meeting space, beverages and a company representative -- the rest is up to you!
Join Vicki Teal Lovely (South Central Library System), and John Stromquist, Rob Karen and Becky Bell (WALDO) for the LibLime Users Group kick-off meeting at ALA. The meeting will take place at Hyatt McCormick Place on Monday, July 13, from 10:30 a.m. until noon in Room 11b (Level 1).
An RSVP isn't necessary, but would help for planning purposes. If you have agenda ideas, or if you’d like to RSVP, contact Tina Burger.
IMLS Launches ‘Libraries to the Rescue’ podcast series
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal funding for the nation’s 123,000 public libraries and 17,500 museums, has launched “Libraries to the Rescue,” a series of five podcast episodes.
Library use is on a steady rise and the economic downturn has resulted in even greater need for library services. IMLS introduced “Libraries to the Rescue” to share the steps that other libraries have taken to help their communities.
“Libraries have emerged as one of the go-to place for people looking for work or filing for unemployment, starting new businesses, or learning how to use computers for the first time,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, IMLS Director. “Libraries are proving just how important they are to their communities. In these episodes, library leaders share their expertise so others don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
“Libraries to the Rescue” provides valuable insights from:
- Mary Boone, State Librarian of North Carolina;
- Bernard Margolis, State Librarian of New York;
- Sheryl Mase, Michigan Library’s Director of Statewide Services;
- Jan Walsh, State Librarian of Washington, and Randall Simmons, Program Manager for Library Development in Washington; and
- Kendall Wiggin, State Librarian of Connecticut
The five episodes cover a range of topics, including how libraries are increasing access to key information through virtual libraries, the importance of broadband access, and new partnerships between libraries and state and federal agencies to help citizens access all types of assistance. The “Libraries to the Rescue” episodes are short (12-15 minute), digestible audio episodes designed to educate IMLS’s library audience.
Accompanying the series is a list of online resources for libraries that are still navigating the new terrain. To view the list of resources, visit www.imls.gov/news/2009/062409_list.shtm. If you have additional online links to share, please email them to IMLS Public Affairs Officer Jeannine Mjoseth.
“Libraries to the Rescue” can be accessed and enjoyed at the listener’s convenience. Audio can be accessed on the IMLS website or through iTunes.
Will Manley on why libraries will survive
You’ve heard the predictions before. You know, the ones about how libraries are no longer relevant and will soon be unnecessary. That view has been shared by many individuals over the years, but here we are in the midst of one of the worst economic slumps in our history and libraries are more vital and vibrant than ever.
Columnist Will Manley makes the point in the June/July 2009 issue of American Libraries that libraries will survive, and thrive, because they are very adaptable to society’s changes.
WebJunction announces bilingual storytimes webinar
Join your colleagues on July 29 for a free one-hour webinar titled Bilingual Storytimes: Building Early Literacy and Community.
The Mission Branch of the San Francisco Public Library recently added to its popular Bilingual Toddler Tales Program (300-400 attendees) hands-on literacy activity stations for caregivers to explore. Seattle Public Library has expanded its Summer Reading Program to include bilingual storytimes in Chinese, Vietnamese and Spanish. Both libraries have had great success in their early literacy programming and continue to build deep connections with caregivers in their communities.
Join Laura Tarango, children's librarian at the Mission Branch, and Valerie Wonder, immigrant and refugee programs manager at Seattle Public Library, as they describe how they assessed the community’s needs, developed, and adapted the programs. They’ll also provide practical steps for you to apply to your outreach and programming efforts. Register online for this and other WebJunction events.
For more information, contact Shawn Brommer.
MDA seeks library partners to help promote annual telethon
As the 2009 Labor Day weekend approaches, one of television’s longest running traditions -- the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon -- will continue its mission to collect donations to fight muscular dystrophy. The Milwaukee Office of MDA is reaching out to the South Central Library System and its 52 member libraries to get involved.
MDA is asking libraries to display a poster that encourages patrons to tune into the Telethon. Also, in order to promote awareness of neuromuscular disease, MDA is asking libraries to consider creating a book display during the month of August featuring “Journey through Heartsongs,” a collection of poems written by The New York Times Bestselling author Mattie J.T. Stepanek. While Stepanek, a former National Ambassador for MDA, lost his battle against neuromuscular disease, his message of hope and peace still lives on today.
MDA materials such as the Telethon posters, Journey books, bookmarks, a suggested reading list and additional information on MDA will be provided. Additional information on Mattie is also available on his official website.
If your library is interested in participating, contact Brianna Keddell at (414) 535-9700.