Nominations sought for America’s Libraries for the 21st Century

[via NYLINE listserv]

June 29, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for
Information Technology Policy (OITP) is soliciting nominations for best
library practices using cutting-edge technology.

“We want to showcase libraries that are serving their communities with
novel and innovative methods and provide the library community with some
successful models for delivering quality library service in new ways,”
said Vivian Pisano, Chair of OITP’s America’s Libraries for the 21st
Century Subcommittee.

Nominations should be sent to the American Library Association, Office
for Information Technology Policy, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, 1st
Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009 by September 1, 2009.  Details about the
nomination process and an online submission form are available on the
OITP Web site

<http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/Cutting%20Edge/cuttingedge.cfm>

The America’s Libraries for the 21st Century Subcommittee will review
all nominations and conduct selected interviews or site visits to
identify those libraries that are truly offering a best practice or most
innovative service.  Libraries or library service areas selected will be
publicized via the OITP Web site, highlighted through ALA publications,
and featured in a program at the ALA Annual Conference in 2010.

Humor Break: Morning at the Ref Desk

LISNews posted an amusing link to a Reference Desk question transcript that was published in the Daily News Transcript. It starts off like this…

Librarian: Good morning. Reference. How may I help you?
Caller: Hi. Is this Reference?

Librarian: Yes, sir. You have reached the Reference Desk. How may I help you?
Caller: Gee, I hope you can help me.

Librarian: I will certainly try. Tell me what you are looking for.

Caller: Well, I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but my wife told me to call.
Librarian: Great! What did your wife want?

Stop me if you heard this one

Webinar: Introduction to Digital Collection Management Systems

When: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Register here:http://bit.ly/19PNw

Selecting and implementing an automated system to manage your institution’s digital collection must be done with consideration. A new digital collection management system is a major investment, one that your library may use for a long time. A system that meets the needs of your digital collection, takes user needs into account, and allows for growth is needed to succeed. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the issues to consider and questions to ask in evaluating digital collection management systems, and we’ll examine some related goals, costs and implementation issues.

By the end of the program, participants will:

• List several key features included in most digital collection management systems
• Detail the digitization tasks usually included and not included in digital collection management systems
• Name 4 commercial and 3 Open Source digital collection management systems
• Identify some questions to ask in the evaluation process

Presenter: Tom Ceresini joined Lyrasis (formerly PALINET) in September 2006.  As Technology Consultant, he works with members and business partners, focusing on software-based solutions and other technology issues, as well as training.  Previously, Tom worked at Siemens Health Services Corporation for 25 years, holding a variety of positions that included Software Engineer and Lead Network Security Analyst.

For questions or assistance with registration please write to training@metro.org or call 212-228-2320 x10

Carol LaRow’s Google Cool Free Tools Workshop, 8-11-2009

[via NYLINE listserv]

SCRLC is proud to announce Carol LaRow’s workshop, Google’s Cool Tools – And They’re Free!, will be presented in Ithaca on Tuesday, August 11, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. The deadline for registrations is July 28, 2009. Discover Google’s free online tools for research and learning, presented by a Google Certified Teacher, including tools for online collaboration and WEB 2.0 networking with colleagues, students, or patrons doing research. You will learn integration ideas especially for teacher librarians; view sample  projects; and explore tools that enhance your library, curriculum, and personal productivity.

Our presenter, Carol LaRow, taught language arts for 33 years. She is a Smithsonian Laureate, a Google Certified Teacher, and received WNYT’s Educator of Excellence Award. Carol is a technology consultant and provides staff development and keynote addresses for faculties and administrators throughout the Northeast. Google recently invited her as one of four teachers to present lesson plans she developed using use Google tools. Google has published them in Google Apps for Educators, K-12.

All workshops in the Summer Camp 2009 series are open to all librarians and library workers (school, public, academic, and special); 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

Nora Hardy
SCRLC

NewYorkHeritage.org adds collections

[via NYLINE listserv]

The New York 3Rs Association has added sixteen more online collections to its collective digital heritage web site, www.NewYorkHeritage.org. The site now connects more than 200 digital collections from around the state, contributed by libraries, archives, museums and other cultural institutions, and builds on existing digital repository services administered by each of the nine reference and research library resources councils.

New materials include the Historical Portraits Collection from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Elmira College’s Mark Twain Archive, the New York Historical Association’s Murder Pamphlet Collection Exhibit , early Robert Montgomery materials housed at the Trinity-Pawling School Collection, Alfred University’s Image Archives, Rochester Medical Museum and Archives, NYU’s Abraham Lincoln Brigade Collection, images from the Onondaga Nation at the Liverpool Public Library, folk art collections at the Crandall Public Library Folklife Center, the Steinmetz Collection of Schenectady, the Almquist Green Lakes Collection housed at the Fayetteville Public Library, and many others from around the state.  For an up-to-date list of collections and contributors, please go to www.NewYorkHeritage.org

Additionally, The Tools of History regional digitization site, created by the South Central Regional Library Council, has been added, as have been the Rochester Regional Library Council’s Finger Lakes-Genesee Valley Heritage and the Capital District Library Council Digital Collections regional sites.

A variety of materials can be found among the New York Heritage Digital Collections, including photographs, postcards, correspondence, manuscripts, oral histories, yearbooks and newspapers.Many kinds of institutions from New York State have partnered to make this project possible,  including public, academic and school libraries, museums, archives and historical societies.  The power of collaboration is what makes this new service possible.

Participants to New York Heritage Digital Collections are committed to enhancing the site by adding both content and contributing institutions on a regular basis. The  goal of the project is to eventually connect one thousand collections and one million items from throughout  New York State. All institutions interested in participating in the project are encouraged to contact the 3Rs organization that serves their region.

The New York 3Rs Association is a partnership among New York’s nine reference and research resource systems. The New York 3Rs was incorporated in 2003 to further the ability of those systems to provide statewide services. The members of the New York 3Rs Association are: the Capital District Library Council,  Central New York Library Resources Council, Long Island Library Resources Council, Metropolitan New York Library Council,  Northern New York Library Network,  Rochester Regional Library Council,  Southeastern New York Library Resources Council,  South Central Regional Library Council, and  Western New York Library Resources Council.