Info Newsletter Index

From the Editor: In this issue of SIS INFO, we bring you information about our next meeting, important election information, and notes from our last meeting. I invite you to submit articles for future issues of SIS INFO -- a great way to communicate with local colleagues in all types of libraries! You may e-mail me at aliciae@tampabay.rr.com. Thanks! - Alicia Ellison

Next Meeting, August 7, 2003

WHEN and WHERE. Thursday, August 7, 2003, 6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Safety Harbor Public Library, http://www.tblc.org/shpl/
101 Second St. North, Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 724-1525

PROGRAM. Rosa Rodriguez, Deaf Literacy Center Coordinator, will lead a panel of deaf persons and deaf advocates who will share stories to teach and inform library professionals on how to better serve the deaf population. An interpreter will be provided. Check with your employer about whether you may obtain in-service credit for attending this relevant program

REFRESHMENTS. A light catered buffet will be served at 6 pm. Cost to attendees who reserve space ahead should be $10.00 or less for delicious finger foods catered from The Stuffed Mushroom of Safety Harbor(www.thestuffedmushroom.com). Please pay Betsy King, Treasurer, in cash or by check (payable to SIS) at the meeting.

RSVP. Please email kingbet@tampabay.rr.com or leave a voice mail at 813-887-1658 no later than Thursday, July 31, 2003. Late reservations will be accepted only as space allows.

DIRECTIONS. From Hillsborough County, take Rte 60 toward Clearwater. Cross the Courtney Campbell Bridge and turn right on Bayshore Boulevard. Turn left on Main Street and right onto 2nd Street North. The library is on your right. The meeting room is to the right as you enter the building. Contact Robin Leigh or the Safety Harbor Public Library reference desk at 727-724-1525 for any further driving instructions , or see  http://www.tblc.org/shpl/location_directions.html or Mapquest.

Excitement Awaits!

SIS is looking for leaders. Only two openings are available for the 2004 slate of officers. If you are anxious to display your ability to lead other information professionals, please consider running for office in your SIS. The offices are for Vice President/President Elect and Secretary, with terms beginning in January, 2004. For a description of duties, see our by-laws at http://www.tblc.org/sis/bylaws.htm (Section VII, "Officers and Elections").

Self nominations are encouraged! Contact Madison Mosley (mosley@law.stetson.edu) or Beatrice Nichols (Beatrice_f_nichols@yahoo.com) for more information.

Apply now and beat the rush! :-)

Past Meeting: June 9, 2003, CAE USA in Tampa

Notes from the meeting:

Twenty-five members were in attendance. SIS President Anita Lindsay began with an overview and approval of the minutes of a previous meeting held at Eckerd College on April 7th. Ms. Lindsay introduced the new Vice President, Robin Leigh, who gave a brief vita of her professional career. Anita then went on to new business.

Anita asked for two volunteers to act as members of a nominating committee for officers for next year. Madison Mosley and Beatrice Nicols accepted. Offices available will be Vice President and Secretary. Candidates will be elected at the October meeting and will assume office in December. Anita then asked Betsy King, Treasurer, our host at CAE, to give a financial report. We have $900 in the treasury.

Diana Sachs, who is coordinating the Florida Virtual Reference Project at Tampa Bay Library Consortium, was then introduced. Ms. Sachs gave us an overview of this statewide endeavor. Funding for this project is through a LSTA grant. The project will provide virtual reference for any citizen in the state of Florida. Reference services will be conducted by E-Mail/Chat. One of the benefits will be that librarians can show customers how to search for websites on a particular subject. The service will be offered from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week. There will be two to three librarians working during operational times. The service is expected to be fully operational by September 2003. Any library interested will receive free software. Each participating library will have a local reference desk where specific features of the agency can be highlighted. Floridians will be able to use any Gale databases offered in a state library. Many community colleges are participating in this project. The website will be http://info.virtualreference.lib.fl.us/.

Ms. Sachs also gave highlights of the Anywhere-Anytime Library, also known as "Alley Cat," (http://207.239.93.25/rpaindex.html). Alley Cat is a consortium of local libraries that allow materials to circulate to any participating library. In other words, it is a regional interlibrary loan cooperative. Using Alley Cat, customers can have materials sent to them at the library of their choice. Public, community-college, and special libraries participate.

The meeting ended around 8:00 PM.
(Submitted by Paul Wetmore, SIS Secretary.)