21st Century Libraries/Library Systems--Plan! Innovate! Transform! Grant Approved!

SCRLC’s Library Services and Technology Act grant application was approved by the New York State Library! The grant, entitled 21st Century Libraries/Library Systems--Plan! Innovate! Transform!, will create learning opportunities and will assist you in providing innovative, effective, and customer-focused services. There are three components to this two-year award:

• The Plan! Innovate! Transform! learning series comprises strategic innovation and planning for 21st century library & information services and includes a component designed to measure, assess, and evaluate services and programs in order to meet customers’ needs. An emerging technologies element incorporates online e-books/e-readers and trends conferences, an e-reader pilot project, virtual reference/SMS text reference support, virtual world librarianship, and DMCA copyright issues including resource sharing. As part of this,
we will be experimenting with various platforms to use in the delivery of distance learning opportunities.

• SCRLC’s Digitizing Boot Camp III will support the Tools of History regional digitization program and offer a series of workshops on project management, copyright, digital imaging, and metadata.

• Online Registration: An online registration system will be implemented to enable you to register electronically and organize and track your learning events.

Here are some dates to keep in mind for your planning purposes:

May-June: Organizational meeting of librarians interested in E-reader pilot project
July: Order and implementation of SCRLC’s online registration software
July: E-Conference on E-Books/Readers
August: Second Life island sponsorship for 1 year
August: Needs Assessment (tentatively August 10)
Sept. 17: Strategic Planning/Innovations Program
October: E-Conference on Emerging Library Trends & Technology
November: 21st Century Customer Service Workshop

Collaborative Text Reference Opportunity!

Good Day SCRLC Libraries!

South Central Regional Library Council members have an opportunity to participate in a pilot project, InfoQuest, to explore the feasibility of collaborative multi-type text-based reference service, in partnership with the Alliance Library System of East Peoria, the School of Library & Information Science of San Jose State University, TAP Information Services (the organization offering OPAL—Online Programming for All Libraries), and Altarama.
Altarama (http://www.altarama.com) will provide technology and training for project participants and will assist evaluators with non-standard data access and extraction. “Libraries of all types – and the reference services community in particular-stand to benefit greatly from the outcomes of this unique and timely project, “said Arthur Brady, President of Altarama, “and we’re delighted to be an active partner.”

Participating libraries will agree to staff the collaborative service for two hours a week; attend online training sessions and planning meetings; market the service within their communities, and provide feedback about the service. Customizable training and promotional materials will be provided. Librarians will not be using a cell phone to provide service; they will log into a project website or project email address to receive and provide answers to questions.

There are no charges to participate during the first six months of the project. The partnership seeks funding to host the service for a full year. If funding is not secured at six months, participants may choose to drop the service or share the costs of the software with other members, which is expected to be $100-200 per library depending on how many libraries participate.

The deadline for participation is April 15, 2009. Partnership agreement forms will be made available at the meeting and through email for anyone unable to attend. Online training sessions will be held in May and June at a variety of times for the convenience of participants. During June, participants can practice, copy promotional materials provided for the project and begin to promote the service. The service is expected to kick off on July 1 and run through the end of December for the first six months of activity.

If this is of interest to you, please join us for an informational meeting on March 25, 2009, 11AM-1PM EST. The meeting will take place by conference call. If you cannot attend on the 25th, there will be another informational meeting on April 3 from 3-5PM. Contact Diane Capalongo at dcapalongo@scrlc.org or me at mclindbloom@scrlc.org 607-273-9106 for the conference call login details.

Lori Bell, of the Alliance Library System, is the project director, and you may contact her at Lori Bell at lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com.

Why text reference? An increasing number of libraries accept information queries in the form of text messages from users’ cell phones and other mobile devices. According to a 2005 Pew and American Life Project report, Teens and Technology, “Today’s American teens live in a world enveloped by communications technologies; the internet and cell phones have become a central force that fuels the rhythm of daily life.” 85% of teens reported owning at least one of the following devices: blackberry, cell phone, laptop, and desktop computer. In 2005 45% of teens owned cell phones and many owned more than one device that could connect to the Internet. 75% used text messaging. http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/289/press_coverageitem.asp; It is not just teens: The 2005 Pew press release, 34 Million American Adults Send Text Messages on their Cell Phones, reported that 31% of those between the ages of 28-39 used text, 18% between 40-49, 13% of between 50-59, and 7% of those over 60. http://www.pewinternet.org/Press-Releases/2005/34-million-American-adults-send-text-messages-on-their-cell-phones.aspx . Four years later, I would think that the number of texters has increased among all generations.

Best regards,

AskUs 24/7 Virtual Reference Service

SCRLC has joined the AskUs 24/7 Virtual Reference program, coordinated by the Western NY Library Resources Council.

The first training session was held on 16 December, and several libraries will be ready to go "live" very soon. If your library would still like to participate, there are still opportunities--just let me know!

See http://www.askus247.org/ for more information about the service.

Writing to Legislators: Be Specific & Include Your Story

Here is the latest letter that I sent to legislators, specific to the Council, after getting a very generic letter back from one of the senators......

Dear Senator/Assemblyman/Assemblywoman:

I am writing to you regarding our funding situation. We are missing $119,724 in library aid – that is over 22% of what we were supposed to receive. Our missing aid is part of the $20 million cut in Library Aid proposed by the Department of Budget to resolve the funding gap. That would place Library Aid at a level not seen since 1993 and devastate the services we provide.

Indeed, libraries have already contributed their fair share toward reducing the state’s budget deficit. Library Aid has already been reduced twice this year from $102 million to $99 million. Between 1998-2006, libraries and library systems received no increases, while other educational institutions received generous increases.. When we finally received increases, the funds barely made up for eight years of inflation. Now -- when libraries are needed more than ever, when libraries are being used more than ever – more cuts are being contemplated.

We are a multi-type library system, comprised of hospital libraries, academic libraries, museums, specials, school library systems, and public libraries and systems. Some of our resources are used by health care professionals to improve patient care. Other resources are used by students at all levels and in all settings for their research and projects. We also support resource sharing and initiatives to improve access to information for all citizens. We also keep library workers trained and up-to-date in this ever-changing information and technology environment, which in turn helps them serve the public and work smarter, saving taxpayer dollars.

Then there is the situation with the Coordinated Collection Development Library Aid, which is funding legislated by the State and distributed to college libraries to purchase library materials in designated subject areas. The materials are then shared with other libraries of all types – schools, publics and other academic libraries – throughout the state, which increases the benefit for all New York State residents. Non-receipt of this funding would be devastating to the academics.

Our library system is a backbone for our libraries and information infrastructure. We are an example of how the library community has long been a champion and role model for regional cooperation, resource sharing and providing services in a cost-effective and efficient manner, which saves libraries of all types and their users money.

There have been various suggestions for alternatives to further reductions, and some of them seem very reasonable, including:

Impose Temporary Tax on Millionaires;

Use the State's Tax Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund of approximately $1 billion);

Expand the Bottle Bill to include water/juice bottles - approximately $250 million more in revenue;

Eliminate State Empire Zones - state incentives for businesses to locate in certain parts of the state;

Obtain Emergency Funding from US Government.

Thank you so very much for your continued help and support for libraries and library systems. I appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Mary-Carol Lindbloom

Mary-Carol Lindbloom

Executive Director

South Central Regional Library Council

Clinton Hall

108 Cayuga St.

Ithaca, NY 14850

Phone: 607-273-9106

Fax: 607-272-0740

Email: mclindbloom@lakenet.org

Website: www.lakenet.org

"The South Central Regional Library Council leads, advocates for, and challenges libraries, promoting collaboration in a changing information environment."

NYLA RALLY TO PROTEST FURTHER CUTS IN STATE AID TO LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY SYSTEMS

When: Tuesday, November 18th 1 pm - 2:30 pm

Where: Well of the Legislative Office Building, Albany

Directions: Vans and cars can find parking in the garages underneath or nearby the Empire State Plaza.( visit <http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/Parking/forVisitor/visitor.html>. For more information).

Buses can drop off attendees at the Madison Avenue side of the Empire State Plaza (between the ESP and State Museum) and park at Crossgates Mall. Attendees would then walk down the length of the Empire State Plaza, go through security check points and go left toward the Legislative Office Building. The Well of the LOB is on the bottom floor near the elevators.

Objective: The NYS Legislature is holding a Special Session at the request of the Governor to consider $1.5 to $2 billion in further cuts to the 2008-09 State Budget.
Library Aid has already been cut twice this year from $102 million to $99 million.

Although we realize the state is facing difficult economic times, libraries and library systems have already done their part toward reducing the state’s budget deficit. Other sources of revenue should be explored and other state funded programs need to do their share to reduce the state budget deficit.

Contact Info: If you are interested in attending the Rally, contact your local library system to find out whether they are organizing transportation to Albany or the NYLA office at 518-432-6952.

In addition, we have posted a letter on our website to send to the Governor and state Legislators urging them not to cut Library Aid again. Visit <www.nyla.org> and click on Contact Your Elected Officials button to advocate for libraries.

Michael J. Borges
Executive Director
New York Library Association
252 Hudson Avenue
Albany, New York 12210
(518) 432-6952, ext. 101
(518) 427-1697 Fax
director@nyla.org

One-Two-Three, Cha Cha...... com???

One-two-three, Cha cha-…..com??? www.Chacha.com , that is.

“Wanted: Night Surfers; Brainiacs; Smarty-Pants; Sports Fans; Good Students; Know-It-Alls; Experts; Info Junkies; Clever Moms; Inquiring Minds; Einsteins; Puzzle Solvers; Newshounds.” Provide your name, areas of interest, level of education, availability, and explain why you would be a good guide, and you might be dancing to the sound of cellular ringtones!

Featured recently on NPR’s On the Media, through chacha.com you get answers from a real person by calling or texting from your cell phone. The piece included a discussion of the reliability of answers received through chacha and the similarities/differences between that and such services as Yahoo Answers. No mention of librarians except toward the end when host Mark Phillips commented on a future Desk Set-like environment (not that Desk Set was mentioned)…. “And maybe it’s better that way. If you’re wondering about a director’s last film, it’s nice sometimes to do a search, get sent to IMDb and see a list of all her films. Each answering service, including the old-fashioned Google Search or, God forbid, a trip to the library, has a time and a place.”

I got to thinking how easy it would be to incorporate texting into reference operations and thought that one of my Illinois colleagues might be doing just that. I was right. Cruising onto the Arlington Memorial Public Library's website, I found a plethora of options for reaching a reference librarian—virtual reference, IM, phone, email, and yes—SMS! Not being a very good texter, I chatted them up instead, and learned that it really was pretty easy to do. Bill P also pointed me to a Library Success webpage providing more info about libraries actually doing this. Thanks, Bill!

I hope that OCLC’s virtual/remote reference service, QuestionPoint, will incorporate SMS into a future release. As a global community of librarians available around the clock, it is the natural, credible alternative to the answer websites.

Should librarians really get into the SMS business? Yes. Sure, texting has its limitations and we cannot use it to answer complicated questions. We can help them as much as possible and then send them to the bricks and mortar library, or a librarian-staffed remote reference service if necessary. That positive interaction will make them more likely to go there. We need library supporters among all generations and communication styles. Texting won’t replace reference as we know it—it is one more aid to place in our toolbox to link our users--and non-users--to the information at their point-of-need.

Above all, we need to get the message out to our users that we are available to them through various media... that a "trip to the library" can be as close as their keyboard....or even cell phone.

Libraries Shine in Tough Economic Times

Last night, NPR's All Things Considered carried a story entitled "Libraries Shine in Tough Economic Times," focusing on the nationwide trend of increased library use in this period of a slowing economy. Boyd County, Ky., Library Director Debbie Cosper is interviewed. Research, Internet use, and books circulated are all up.