Free online, one day conference for small libraries.  I am posting this at the request of my friend Michael Sauers of the Nebraska Library Commission. Note that Lauren Smedley, Fayetteville Free Library is one of the presenters.

Bill Drew

drew@tc3.edu

We’ve been listening!  A comment we’ve heard pretty often is that so many presentations at conferences seem to be by and for librarians from larger libraries.  Well, Big Talk From Small Libraries will change that.

This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better.  Each of our speakers is from a small library or directly works with small libraries.

Topics range from technology (new tech and old tech) to programming to partnering with your community.  Speakers will cover eight topics—one each hour.  Come for the programs on what you’re dealing with now or maybe try something new.

Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small their library is, but if your library serves a few thousand people, or a few hundred, this is the day for you.

More details, including speaker bios, session descriptions, technical information and registration can be found @ http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/.

This conference was organized and is hosted by Michael Sauers and Laura Johnson of the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Small & Rural Libraries and Library Renewal.

Big Talk From Small Libraries
February 28, 2012
8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Preliminary Schedule:
8:45am            Log-in, Welcome, Housekeeping - Michael Sauers & Laura Johnson, Nebraska Library Commission
9:00am            Helping Your Patrons E-Read - Karen Mier, Plattsmouth Public Library (NE)
10:00am          Community Partnerships - Karla Bieber, A.H. Brown Library & Diane Althoff, Gregory Public Library (SD)
11:00am          The Fayetteville Free Library Fab Lab - Lauren Smedley, Fayetteville Free Library (NY)
12:00pm          TBA
1:00pm            Training the Public - Jessamyn West, Librarian.net (VT)
2:00pm            Working in the Cloud - Jezymnne Dene, Portneuf District Library (ID)
3:00pm            Gaming and Game Collection Development - Diane Trinkle, Nortonville Public Library (KS)
4:00pm            TBA

---------------------------------------------------------------

Michael Sauers, Technology Innovation Librarian

Nebraska Library Commission
The Atrium, 1200 N Street, Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
402-471-2045
800-307-2665 (NE only)
Fax: 402-471-2083

michael.sauers@nebraska.gov

http://nlc.state.ne.us/

http://www.travelinlibrarian.info/
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2011 Summer Reading at New York Libraries Reaches 1.65 Million

Children & Teens

Program’s 20th Year Reaches Increasing Numbers of Young People with Fun Activities that Encouraged a Summer of Reading Pleasures

December 12, 2011 - New York State Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education and Acting State Librarian Jeffrey W. Cannell announced today that 1.65 million children and teens throughout New York State participated in “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” at their local libraries. This represents a statewide increase of almost 10% over 2010. Kids are reading for fun during the summer months and that summer reading is associated with academic success.

“During the summer…children and families made reading for fun a top New York State activity. Taking full advantage of what public libraries in New York State offer has resulted in record participation in ‘Summer Reading at New York Libraries,’” stated Cannell. “This involvement with reading during the summer months leads to better academic performance when children return to school in the fall.”

Research has shown that children who continue to read during the summer vacation perform better in the fall when school resumes, and that reading for simple summer enjoyment helps children with literacy skills, while helping prevent learning losses.

“Statistics point to the disappointing loss of learning that takes place when young people are not in school during the summer,” said Commissioner of the New York State Education Department John B. King, Jr. “The effects of summer learning loss are especially dramatic for students from high-needs communities. By providing summer reading programs, the State Library and public libraries throughout the State can provide young people and their parents with the tools necessary to ensure year-long learning success and cultivate a love of reading.”

For more information on the positive value of public library summer reading programs see “The Importance of Summer Reading: Public Library Summer Reading Programs and Learning” (http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/summer/research.htm).

Thanks go out to all the public library systems and the public libraries that made “Summer Reading at New York Libraries” such a success in 2011. New York's public library system youth and teen services consultants offered training and technical support, and library staff and volunteers in New York's public and association libraries provided the programming and resources that made kids want to join the fun.

This year six public library systems reported 15% or higher increases

in participation levels over 2010. Congratulations to these *Stars* and

to all the systems for a wonderful 2011 “Summer Reading at New York Libraries.”

PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS WITH 15% OR HIGHER INCREASES IN PARTICIPATION:

*  Buffalo and Erie County Public Library *

*  New York Public Library*

*  Nioga Library System *

*  Queens Library *

*  Southern Adirondack Library System *

*  Westchester Library System *

For further information please contact Karen Balsen at 518-486-2194, kbalsen@mail.nysed.gov

NYSHEI News & Updates:

December 12, 2011

Open Access

NYSHEI is partnering with members of the legislature to draft and introduce a proposal that would grant New York taxpayers access to the published results of publicly funded research.  If you are involved in local open access efforts, or know someone who is, get on the mail list for full details.   Send your email to nyshei@nyshei.org.

Library Funding Hearing

Arguing that New York has an obligation to more than just its public libraries, NYSHEI made the case for increases in coordinated collection development aid and statewide licensing.  Testimony presented to the Assembly Hearing on Public Library Funding is available here.

Summit III

The NYSHEI hosted summit of organizations serving the academic and research libraries and librarians of New York was held last week.  The meeting was productive and fostered new ideas for collaboration.  I thank everyone – and every group – that participated. 

As always, thank you for your support.  Don’t forget to sign up as a supporter, and follow us on Facebook.

Jason Kramer

Executive Director

New York State Higher Education Initiative

518.433.4814

"the voice of New York's public and private academic and research libraries."

From Michael Borges, NYLA Executive Director (via NYLINE List):

The Assembly Libraries and Education Technology Committee held hearing on Tuesday, November 29^th in Albany on Funding Public Libraries in New York State.  Michael J. Borges,  NYLA Executive Director testified along with many representatives of the library community from across the state.  You can view NYLA’s testimony and see list of attendees by visiting www.nyla.org under Headlines.  See below for notice of hearing.

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LIBRARIES AND EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

SUBJECT:

Funding Public Libraries in New York State

PURPOSE:

To examine the impact of the 2011-12 State Budget on public libraries across New York State.

ALBANY
Tuesday
November 29, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Hamilton Hearing Room B
Legislative Office Building, 2nd Floor
Albany, New York

In the 2011-12 State budget, the Executive proposed an $8.4 million reduction in Aid to Public Libraries. Despite the challenging fiscal times, the Legislature was able to restore $3 million in library funding. The final approved budget for 2011-12 provided $79 million in state aid for libraries and library systems, including a continuation of $8 million in formula supplemental grants for library systems. In addition, language was included in the budget to ensure that the funding for libraries and library systems are impacted proportionately, assuring that all programs will continue to receive funding. Finally, the budget provided $14 million in capital funding to continue the Public Library Construction Grant Program for the sixth consecutive year.

This hearing will seek testimony on the impact the 2011-12 State budget has had on public libraries across New York State. In addition, the Committee is seeking testimony to ascertain the future needs of our public libraries and library systems.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Michael J. Borges

Executive Director

New York Library Association

6021 State Farm Road

Guilderland, New York 12084

518-432-6952, ext. 101

518-427-1697 (fax)

director@nyla.org

I got this from Google this morning. I am a heavy user of Google Music Beta.  This is good news.

I just found out about a bill being pushed through Congress that
would make it legal for corporations to robocall your cell phone. Today,
by law, telemarketers can't harass you on your cell phones. This bill
would change that. Businesses like debt collectors and banks would be able
to call you anywhere, anytime, using up the minutes that YOU pay for. Can
you imagine the nuisance, not to mention the cost?

I just signed a petition urging Congress to can this bill and uphold cell
phone privacy laws. Can you join me at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/norobocalls/?r_by=32772-10061127-Nh_O2dx&rc=pac_norobocalls_letter.email.g0

Thanks!

I just received this from NEA.  I am proud to be a member of the NEA!

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: Tonight, we are all Ohio Buckeye message to educators, nurses, firefighters: we got your back

WASHINGTON—Voters in Ohio have overwhelmingly approved a referendum to repeal Senate Bill 5, a controversial bill signed into law by Gov. John Kasich. The bill was designed to silence the voices and strip away the collective bargaining rights of public workers. Ohioans reacted to the politically motivated attack by taking matters into their own hands. They collected more than a million signatures to trigger a citizen veto process to put a referendum of the unpopular law on the November 8th ballot.

“Tonight, we are all Ohio,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. “The good people of the Buckeye state sent an unequivocal message to those who play politics with the lives of teachers, nurses, and firefighters: we got the backs of the working people who watch ours. That’s because hard working families built the middle class. These are the people who teach our children and protect our communities and our country. This vote is a trumpeting reminder of America’s promise to its people and our fundamental rights to shape our democracy and create a brighter future for every American.”

"This vote indicates Ohioans not only support public employees, but they also understand that we have been problem solvers and have done so by making more than $1 billion in sacrifices in just the last three years," said Ohio Education Association President Patricia Frost-Brooks, whose union represents 128,000 educators. "Policy makers behind Issue 2 must respond to the results of this election with fairness for public employees and commitment to safety and service toward our communities. Ohio needs and deserves a full-time focus on jobs and the education of students for good jobs and careers."

Ohio voters came together and formed We are Ohio, a citizen-driven, community-based, bipartisan coalition to stop Senate Bill 5.  NEA members played a critical role in We are Ohio’s success—pounding the streets, knocking on doors and phone banking their way to repeal of SB5. During the past several weeks of intense campaigning, NEA members have encouraged friends, family, neighbors to vote to repeal SB5. NEA deployed 177 staff members and resources from 22 states to help defeat Issue 2. The Ohio Education Association, NEA’s state affiliate, fielded the largest number of volunteers of any group or organization working on the campaign—one out of every four volunteers who hit the streets to campaign against Issue 2 belonged to the Ohio Education Association.

"Issue 2 was a purposeful attack on teachers," said Courtney Johnson, a high school English teacher in Ironton, Ohio. Johnson became one of the faces of the We Are Ohio campaign to defeat Issue 2. "They said this was about the budget, but it was never about the budget. This was about taking away the rights of middle class Ohioans."

Kindergarten teacher Theresa Foster, who identifies herself as a staunch Republican and whose husband is serving in Afghanistan, says that Issue 2 was not about politics—she said it was about power, political payback and very bad policy.

"Attacking educators and other public employees is not what I expected and it’s not what the Republican Party stands for," said Foster, who teaches at Glendening Elementary School in Groveport, Ohio. Foster was outraged by how elected leaders in her own party tried to pass such an extreme law that it caused her to go door to door to campaign against Issue 2. "I took a pay cut like many educators and have shared in the sacrifices. I’m disappointed in the leaders of my party, and I’ll be watching them here on out."

“This decisive vote should be a wakeup call for politicians who go too far or who are considering following in on the footsteps of Gov. Kasich,” concluded Van Roekel. “They’ll have to think twice before launching politically motivated and unfair attacks on public workers. There is a price to pay for turning your back on the middle class in Ohio. NEA is proud to have helped our members and working families in Ohio stand strong.”

To view a video of NEA and OEA members in action, please click here: WE ARE OHIO - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4wb2WqN8kM&feature=player_embedded

Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NEAMedia

# # #

The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing

3.2  million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers