The January 2009 issue of Wavelinks (our member newsletter) is now available for your reading pleasure here. A link to a PDF version of the newsletter is available on the “Welcome” page, or by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Archive for January, 2009
January issue of Wavelinks
Friday, January 30th, 2009SOLINET and PALINET merger update
Monday, January 26th, 2009
As many of you may have already heard, SOLINET and PALINET have proposed a merger, and they’re giving their members a chance to vote for or against the proposed merger in person or electronically (more information here). If the merger happens, SOLINET and PALINET will become LYRASIS.
According to www.mergerupdate.org, the name was inspired by the constellation of Lyra which hosts one of the galaxy’s brightest starts and guiding lights, and the suffix sis can designate a process, often associated with change (as in metamorphosis). Together, they position LYRASIS as your guide through the ever-changing world of information services.
Visit www.mergerupdate.org for more information about the merger, how/where to vote, FAQs, and the LYRASIS vision statement.
2009 Leadership Symposiums: Leading in Shifting Environments
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
Description: This one-day session is designed for library leaders who are challenged to support and sustain staff through changing environmental realities. Today’s high customer expectations, changing technological demands, and shifting resource allocations require new energy and new commitment from our staffs. The challenge for library leaders is to find ways to tap the best within their current staff, in spite of challenges facing the organization. This session will focus on the expectations of leaders for articulating a desired future, communicating and managing performance expectations, supporting and renewing staff engagement levels, and increasing staff focus on service excellence. Participants will be able to apply learning to such areas as organizational change, recruitment and retention, organizational effectiveness, and organizational responses to the internal and external worlds.
State Library and Archives of Florida Leadership Symposium Webpage.
Eligible Participants:
· Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute and Sun Seekers Leadership Institute graduates who do not currently hold a position as a library director
· New library directors who have not graduated from either Institute
· Library administrators nominated by their library director
Dates and Sites: The same program will be presented in four locations. All program sessions will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no registration fee to attend the symposiums.
February 2, 2009
Fruitville Public Library
100 Coburn Rd
Sarasota, FL 34240
Register for this Session
March 3, 2009
Boynton Beach City Library
208 S. Seacrest Blvd.
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Register for this Session
March 4, 2009
Hollywood Branch/Broward County Library
2600 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, FL 33020
Register for this Session
May 15, 2009
Alachua County Library District Headquarters
401 E. University Ave.
Gainesville, FL
Register for this Session
Not What You Think
Monday, January 12th, 2009
This post is courtesy of Library Journal’s Bubble Room blog, by Alison Circle.
This past November Chicago Public Library launched an ad campaign called “Not What You Think,” an admirable effort, but not quite successful in my mind. Here the campaign juxtaposes unexpected images with the headline: Not What You Think; and the subhead: It’s Free. It’s Easy.
First off, I’m not a fan of defensive positioning – meaning that you try to persuade your audience that your product is “not” something. It is defensive and concedes right out of the shoot that you have an image problem. First rule of advertising is to lead with your strengths.
Bigger and better VIP Conference in 2010!
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009The VIP Conference Planning Committee sent out a survey to our library community in Fall 2008 to determine our next steps for the annual Very Important Paraprofessionals (VIP) Conference. After reviewing the responses and giving it a lot of consideration, we have decided to start holding the conference every other year due to libraries needing to decrease their travel costs.
Although we won’t hold a 2009 VIP Conference, the break gives us extra time to prepare a bigger and better conference. We are excited to return in 2010 with a rejuvenated event!
If you have any suggestions or ideas you would like to share about our 2010 conference, please contact Beth Farmer at farmerb@tblc.org.
ALA seeks nominations for awards
Tuesday, January 6th, 2009ALA Seeks Nominations for 2009 James Madison Award and Eileen Cooke State & Local Madison Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) is seeking nominations for two awards to honor individuals or groups who have championed, protected and promoted public access to government information and the public’s right to know.
The James Madison Award, named in honor of President James Madison, was established in 1986 and is presented annually on the anniversary of his birth. That award is designed to celebrate an individual or group who has brought awareness to these issues at the national level.
The Eileen Cooke State & Local Madison Award, named for Eileen Cooke, former director of the ALA’s Washington Office, honors an extraordinary leader who has built local grassroots awareness of the importance of access to information. Cooke herself was a tireless advocate for the public’s right to know and a mentor to many librarians and trustees.
Both awards are presented during Freedom of Information (FOI) Day, an annual event on or near March 16, the birthday of James Madison, who is widely regarded as the Father of the Constitution and as the foremost advocate for openness in government. Nominations should be submitted to the American Library Association’s Washington Office no later than February 2, 2009.
Submissions should include a statement (maximum one page) about nominee’s contribution to public access to government information and why it merits the award, and one seconding letter. Please include a brief biography and contact information for the nominee.
Send e-mail nominations to Jessica McGilvray, Assistant Director for the ALA Office of Government Relations, at jmcgilvray@alawash.org.
Submissions can also be mailed to:
James Madison Award/Eileen Cooke Award
American Library Association
Washington Office
1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-2520
For more information, click here.
FLA requests help from members
Monday, January 5th, 2009The following post is courtesy of Faye Roberts, executive director of the Florida Library Association.
This is to request your help, as a member of the Florida Library Association, in contacting your legislators TODAY in support of State Aid to Libraries funding.
The legislative special session on budget has begun and it’s urgent that all library supporters contact (phone or email) their legislators. IT’S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTACT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE –both your own representatives and members of the key Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee. A list of these committee members with phone numbers and email addresses is at the end of this message.
The key message is “We understand the state is facing the worst budget challenges in modern times and we respect the fact that you will have to make difficult decisions and that no area will be exempt from cuts. We ask that you support the Governor’s proposed $1.06 million reduction to the State Aid to Public Libraries Program.”
Folks can — and should — also send a message directly to their own legislators through the Capwiz program by going to http://capwiz.com/ala/fl/home/. This program walks you through the process and automatically sends the message to your own legislators. It also allows you to easily share a copy of your message with your own friends and family.
More information on library advocacy is on the FLA website at http://www.flalib.org/advocacy.php.
Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations Committee
- In the House, library budget issues will originate in this committee
* Rep. Rich Glorioso (r), Chair – Parts of Hillsborough & Pasco counties – glorioso.rich@myfloridahouse.gov / District (813) 757-9110/ Tallahassee (850) 488-0807
* Rep. Greg Evers (r), Vice Chair – Represents parts of Escambia, Okaloosa, & Santa Rosa counties – evers.greg@myfloridahouse.gov / District (850) 983-5550 / Tallahassee (850) 488-8188
* Rep. Joe Gibbons (d), Ranking Democratic Member – Represents part of Broward County – gibbons.joe@myfloridahouse.gov / District (954) 893-5006 / Tallahassee (850) 488-0145
* Rep. Jennifer Carroll (r) – Represents parts of Clay & Duval counties – District / Tallahassee – carroll.jennifer@myfloridahouse.gov / District (904) 573-4994 / Tallahassee (850) 488-5102
* Rep. Brad Drake (r) – Represents Holmes, Washington & parts of Jackson, Okaloosa, & Walton counties – drake.brad@myfloridahouse.gov / District (850) 892-8431 / Tallahassee (850) 488-4726
* Rep. Audrey Gibson (d) – Represents part of Duval County – gibson.audrey@myfloridahouse.gov / District (904) 353-2180 / Tallahassee (850) 488-7417
* Rep. Dorothy Hukill (r) – Represents part of Volusia County – hukill.dorothy@myfloridahouse.gov / District (386) 322-5111 / Tallahassee (850) 488-6653
* Rep. Janet Long (d) – Represents part of Pinellas County – long.janet@myfloridahouse.gov / District (727) 545-6421 / Tallahassee (850) 488-6197
* Rep. Lake Ray (r) – Represents part of Duval County – Tallahassee – ray.lake@myfloridahouse.gov / (850) 488-4388
* Rep. Robert Schenck (r) – Represents parts of Pasco, Hernando, & Sumter counties – schenck.rob@myfloridahouse.gov / District (352) 688-5005 / Tallahassee (850) 488-6641