Humor Break: Rex Libris by James Turner

A librarian I worked with once showed me a copy of this graphic novel about a Librarian. You might wonder how the work of a librarian might translate to a super hero story, so here is a synopsis of what this series is about.

Follow the story of Rex Libris, the tough-as-nails Head Librarian at Middleton Public Library, and his unending struggle against the forces of darkness. Wearing his distinctive, super-thick bottle glasses and armed with an arsenal of powerful weapons, he strikes fear into recalcitrant borrowers, and can take on virtually any foe, from loitering zombies to fleeing alien warlords who refuse to pay their late fees. Nowhere is beyond his reach, thanks to the use of teleportation crystals (powered with pseudo-science) capable of instantly transporting Rex to the farthest corners of the universe. Even the occasional infestation of rogue, public domain literary characters in the library are dispatched with aplomb. With fists of steel and mind as sharp as a tack, Rex is a true guardian of knowledge, foe of the foolish, defender of the Dewey Decimal System, and the best hope for the future of civilization.

Fore more information about the series, visit the Rex Libris Home Page. It reminds me of another action movie about a Librarian…

SUNY Delhi 2-3-98 Conference, August 6th and 7th, 2009

[via SUNYLA-L listserv]

SUNY Delhi will be hosting our second 2-3-98 Conference: An Open Discussion on Technology in Higher Education, again this year on August 6th and 7th.

Like last year, this event focuses on a variety of open source tools in use throughout SUNY and Higher Education nationally: Drupal, Linux Desktop, Mahara, Moodle, Sakai, uPortal and others. Presenters will include SUNY colleagues from Delhi, New Palz and System Administration as well as peers from across the country, Cal-State, Marist, Sage, Penn State and LSU.

Check out the conference schedule for details and registration at www.delhi.edu/2-3-98/

Thanks and hop you can join us,
Patrick Masson
Chief Information Officer
331B Bush Hall
State University of New York
College of Technology at Delhi
Delhi, New York 13753
Office: 607-746-4670
Fax: 607-746-4300
Email: massonpj@delhi.edu
AIM: uclasunydelhi

Revved up for Reference: Virtual Reference in New York State

Holiday Inn Ithaca Downtown
225 South Cayuga Street
Ithaca, NY
September 24th & 25th, 2009

More and more libraries are providing reference services virtually.
This conference is a way for librarians to see the current options for
providing virtual reference, such as chat, text messaging, and more.
Learn what librarians in New York state and the surrounding areas are
doing with VR, and get a chance to network, on September 25th.

In addition, librarians who participate in Ask Us 24/7, New York
State’s cooperative chat reference service, are invited to a
half-day of events on September 24th. This is your chance to discuss how
the service has been working for your library and ask questions.

The conference will be held in Ithaca, New York, known for its
waterfalls, gorges, and breathtaking views, especially during autumn.
The hotel is within walking distance of the Ithaca Commons, where
you’ll find a diverse collection of shops and restaurants. Ithaca
is also home to a number of excellent wineries.

For more information and registration.

Jaclyn McKewan
Special Projects Librarian
Western New York Library Resources Council
4455 Genesee St./P.O. Box 400
Buffalo, NY  14225
(716) 633-0705 x108

4th annual Best Practices Exchange (BPE) in Albany, New York – Registration Now Available

[via: NYLINE listserv]

Registration is now available for the 4th annual Best Practices Exchange (BPE) at University at Albany, State University of New York, on September 2-4, 2009. New York State is elated to be hosting “Tackling Technology Together: Best Practices Exchange 2009” in Albany—the founding settlement of New Netherland and the crossroads of the Northeast. The Best Practices Exchange (BPE) brings together archivists, attorneys, information technology professionals, librarians, educators, product developers, records managers, and others interested in the management and preservation of digital information in state government. Please see the updated web site for registration information.

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS – deadline extended to August 5, 2009

We are seeking proposals for sessions to be presented at the 4th annual Best Practices Exchange (BPE), which will be held in Albany, New York, at the University at Albany, SUNY, on September 2-4, 2009. The BPE is a conference that focuses on the management of digital information in state government, and it brings together practitioners to discuss their real-world experiences, including best practices and lessons learned. The theme of this year’s BPE is “Tackling Technology Together.” Its focus will be on collaboration between and within branches of state government, and between librarians, archivists, records managers, information technology professionals, and others concerned with managing state digital assets.

This year’s conference has four tracks. Each track is enumerated below, along with a list of themes embraced by each track. We ask that potential speakers be guided, but not limited, by the themes indicated. For more information, please visit our tracks page. Each session will be 90 minutes long.

1. Finding Funding: securing support, developing a marketing strategy, unexpected funding sources, and advocacy
2. Creative Collaboration: finding common ground, a seat at the table, and unexpected partners; crossing professional boundaries; fostering leadership; building communities; and sustaining collaboration
3. Educating Each Other: learning new technical skills and new “soft” skills, learning each others’ language, and ensuring professional development
4. Living Without Closure: morphing from project to program, defining “finished,” planning for an unknown future, finding new uses for old ideas and tools, and managing change

Please send all session proposals to Brian Keough, Head of the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University at Albany, SUNY, bkeough@uamail.albany.edu. The deadline for submission is August 5, 2009.

Brian Keough, Head
M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives
Science Library, SL-352
University at Albany, SUNY
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
bkeough@albany.edu
518-437-3931
518-437-3930 (fax)

Day 50 with Linux at MPOW: Now using Linux full time

I am now a full time Linux user at work. Its been over a month since I first started my experiment, but I never thought I would be comfortable enough to use Linux full time. I have a lot to learn about Linux, but my every day work flow is not comfortably running on a Linux OS. I actually like the feeling of getting away from Outlook and other programs that I have grown comfortable with on the Windows platform. I was also surprised that Wine and Wine Doors can let me use a lot of Windows software if I need it. For example, I installed Internet Explorer 6 so I could use NYLA’s CMS system (the CMS is IE only) to update information on our section home page. I also switched to more cloud based services like using Gmail for my work e-mail, using Google docs to get my documents started, and later using Open Office if I need more advanced word processing features. I use an online tool called DropBox to keep most of my documents in sync between work and my home Mac.  All in all, I am happy with my Linux experience at Day 50, and will continue to use Linux at work. I am currently working on setting up Linux on some older loaner laptops that will go into circulation later this year.

WNYLRC announces Digitization Boot Camp II: Paper Series

[via NYLINE listserv]

WNYLRC is happy to announce our follow-up to last year’s digitization series– Digitization Boot Camp II: Paper Series.  This Boot Camp is designed for those people who will be digitizing paper items in the future and those who would like to contribute paper- and text-based material to WNY Legacy, although anyone with an interest in digitization is welcome and will benefit from this series.

The Boot Camp will consist of six workshops, one Q&A session, and a final session where participants will share and discuss the items that they have digitized. All Boot Camp participants will be asked to contribute at least 15 paper- or text-based items or one compound object to WNY Legacy as part of the experience. WNYLRC will reserve 10 seats for participants who would like to take all classes in the series as part of the Boot Camp. Participants who sign up for the series will pay a reduced price of $160.00. That’s a $60.00 savings vs. taking the workshops individually. Participants will receive CE credit for all sessions. Registration for the Boot Camp as a series will be open until August 19, 2009, at which time registration for single sessions will be opened for those who are not able to attend all workshops in the series. Day-long workshops will include lunch and refreshments.

See the schedule for a list of classes in the series and for dates/times.

WNYLRC is happy to announce our follow-up to last year’s digitization series– Digitization Boot Camp II: Paper Series.  This Boot Camp is designed for those people who will be digitizing paper items in the future and those who would like to contribute paper- and text-based material to WNY Legacy, although anyone with an interest in digitization is welcome and will benefit from this series.

The Boot Camp will consist of six workshops, one Q&A session, and a final session where participants will share and discuss the items that they have digitized. All Boot Camp participants will be asked to contribute at least 15 paper- or text-based items or one compound object to WNY Legacy as part of the experience. WNYLRC will reserve 10 seats for participants who would like to take all classes in the series as part of the Boot Camp. Participants who sign up for the series will pay a reduced price of $160.00. That’s a $60.00 savings vs. taking the workshops individually. Participants will receive CE credit for all sessions. Registration for the Boot Camp as a series will be open until August 19, 2009, at which time registration for single sessions will be opened for those who are not able to attend all workshops in the series. Day-long workshops will include lunch and refreshments.

See the schedule below for a list of classes in the series and for dates/times.  For more details and to register, go to www.wnylrc.org and click on Workshop Registration.  Please note that the Digitization Boot Camp will appear at the end of the list because the final session takes place in February 2010.

WNYLRC announces Preservation Institute: Care and Management of Paper and Print Collections

[via: NYLINE listserv]

WNYLRC is proud to announce our upcoming Preservation Institute: Care and Management of Paper and Print Collections.  The 2009/2010 Preservation Institute will acquaint participants with the issues, practices and current scholarship pertaining to the preservation of paper and print collections. Institute participants will work with a variety of preservation practitioners to gain both theoretical and hands-on experience. Participants will attend six sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of paper and print preservation.

For more information and to download the application form for this Institute.

Registration for WNYLRC members will be open on a first come first served basis until July 24, 2009.  After July 24, registration will open for both WNYLRC members and non-members on a first come first served basis until August 14, 2009.  Institute participants will be notified of acceptance into the Institute no later than August 21, 2009.

Laura Osterhout, M.L.S.
Regional Services Librarian
Western New York Library Resources Council
4455 Genesee St./P.O. Box 400
Buffalo, NY  14225
(716) 633-0705 x116
losterhout@wnylrc.org
meebo: losterhout

Laura Osterhout, M.L.S.

Regional Services Librarian

Western New York Library Resources Council

4455 Genesee St./P.O. Box 400

Buffalo, NY  14225

(716) 633-0705 x116

losterhout@wnylrc.org

meebo losterhout

New Role for Nylink: Marketing and Support for Library Dynamics Spectra

[via NYLINE listserv]

June 25, Albany NY.  Multi-type New York State library consortium Nylink is pleased to announce a partnership with Maryland-based library services company Library Dynamics to market and support their collection analysis suite of tools including the Spectra line of services.

Spectra Web services provide collection overview to individual title analytical capability, leveraging the time and talent of a library’s human resources. Spectra services use definitive bibliographic and circulation data from a library’s local system – mining it for copy level intelligence and normalizing it to achieve reliability and consistency. Using Spectra services, a library can analyze its collection, compare it to other libraries, library groups, or recognized sources such as titles reviewed in Choice. In reporting and working with results, Spectra’s quantitatively based visualization techniques and database management tools allow a user to work flexibly – to copy and paste plots and tables; select, sort, save, download, and e-mail title results; and link to enhancements like tables of contents, chapter titles, annotations, reviews, etc.

Dave Penniman, Executive Director of Nylink, said, “We are pleased to be working with Library Dynamics and Howard Harris to make the Spectra collection analyses and development tools available to New York libraries.  Nylink is committed to offering choices to our members and implementing trusted partnerships with organizations and individuals whose products stand out as exceptional in their functionality. Spectra is such a product.” Howard Harris, President of Library Dynamics, remarked, “Nylink not only by charter but by choice and by practice over time has remained closely focused on the current and evolving needs of its members; we at Library Dynamics are very pleased to be in partnership with Nylink to work to meet those needs.”

About Nylink

Nylink, a membership organization of all types of libraries and cultural heritage organizations in New York state, facilitates collaboration and cooperation among its members and supports access to high-quality, cost-effective resources that enable member institutions to enhance the services they provide to their constituents. A program of the State University of New York System Administration under the umbrella of the Provost’s Office, Nylink is based in Albany. http://nylink.org

About Library Dynamics

Since 1998, Library Dynamics has offered innovative tools for visualizing, developing, managing, and interpreting library and library consortia collections. Its services include Spectra CRC, Spectra Dimension, Weedlist Plus, Bibliographic Diagnostic and Repair Services, and Consulting Services related to its services.  http://www.librarydynamics.com

Nylink
Marketing and External Relations Team
Jen Stelling
Marketing Services Librarian
State University of New York
SUNY Plaza
Albany, NY  12246
email: stellingj@nylink.org
phone: 518 443-5444 or 800 342-3353
fax: 518-432-4346
http://nylink.org

Humor Break: The Librarian Song

Song from the Joe Uveges-When Freedom Calls concert on November 2, 2007 in Colorado Springs.

Social Bookmarking F2F Workshop, Half-day, 7-30-2009

[via NYLINE Listserv]
SCRLC is delighted to announce a workshop on “Social Bookmarking” will take place in Ithaca on Thursday, July 30, 1:30 – 4:30 pm. This hands-on class will provide you with the information you need to get started in Delicious, a well-known, free tool for creating easy access to resources you have identified for your students and colleagues. You will learn to tag, manage, and share web pages. Priority will be given to school library staff, but these sessions are open to all regional library workers; no approval or authorization is required to attend. Full information and registration details.

Coming to Ithaca for the session? You, your family, or friends may want to hike waterfall, swim in the lake, try an ethnic food restaurant, or take in a concert or play. To see what’s happening in Ithaca, please go to http://www.visitithaca.com and http://www.ithacaevents.com

Summer Camp 2009 for Teacher Librarians is a series of workshops offered in July and August at TST BOCES in Ithaca, NY. The fees are very low thanks to funding and support provided by TST BOCES, BT BOCES, DCMO BOCES, GST BOCES, and ONC BOCES. The complete list of available sessions is on the SCRLC website at http://www.lakenet.org/scrlc/calendar.html Several BOCES have offered to pay the registration fee completely on behalf of their member library staff, so check with your BOCES office for details. If interested in Professional Development Credit, check with your School Building Administrator.

Hope to see you there!

Nora Hardy
SCRLC