Website in a Box program is moving on

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Colleen Eggett

‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said,
‘To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax –
Of cabbages — and kings –
And why the sea is boiling hot –
And whether pigs have wings.’

–Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

It has been so rewarding to run the Website in a Box program. It’ s fun to see 15 Utah libraries grow their own websites. We’ve learned along the way, and the stats for the various sites are fabulous. They are getting thousands of visitors a month, and also have their library catalogs online where a person can place a hold, or renew a book online. Residents can access Pioneer: Utah’s Online Library at every site. There are some cool, unique sites, so look through them and see their progress.

Thanks, Shelly Drumm, for all of your help on this project. It’s been fun.
Colleen Eggett

Trading Spaces: Utah Library Mentoring program

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Colleen Eggett

Trading Spaces is a mentoring program designed to enable Utah library staff to learn skills from each other. Library workers sign up for the program, get approved, and then work with their mentor on a specific project that might lead their library in positive directions. Complete details are on the Utah State Library website

Apply by filling out the application form or applying online:

To be mentored: mentee application

To become a mentor: mentor application

Goals of the program:

Developing 21st century skills for all Utah library staff
Finding new ways of doing things and solving problems
Sharing expertise through collaboration and networking
Supporting newcomers to Utah libraries

Mentors are matched with applicants by Trading Spaces Committee members. There will be an opening session to explain the program and discuss the mentoring relationship. At that time, applicants will be matched with mentors and develop an action plan. The program goes from July 1-June 30, with application deadlines twice a year: June 30 and Dec. 31. Meetings should be planned based on the scope of the project. They may take place in person, by phone, or online. Continue reading →

Utah State Library for the Blind loses Radio Reading Service

Posted on April 15, 2010 by admin

Nostalgia washes through me about the Utah State Library for the Blind’s loss of their Radio Reading Service, effective April 2010.

Sure, it may be an outmoded idea, not really a 21st Century Idea. And sure, the State of Utah has huge budget cuts and we need to keep a balanced budget. And sure, I support our Governor Herbert and our legislature on keeping a balanced budget. After all, we try to do that at home and it seems to be workin’.

I especially support USL admin for doing their homework and finding the least used service, since we can’t keep them all in these tight times. Hopefully one day we’ll be back to the days we had pre-recession. I’m all for that.

Moreover, many people may have given up the radio for something zestier like facebook, like twitter, like Salt Lake Tribune online, who has thoughtfully written an article about it.

But really….

I remember when Frank Layden (President of the Utah Jazz) used to come in and read for the radio. People loved that. They liked to listen in, hear his voice, feel his personality, his presence.

I remember when Gerald Lund donated his latest greatest book to be read to the blind. Right when it was sizzling hot off the press. He brought it right on over, didn’t waste a minute. People loved that too.

I remember when Governor Matheson spoke up for the blind patrons and one of them walked on over, slapped him [hard] on the back and said how much he loved him. Those were the days.

Maybe the time has come to give up sacred (purple) cows, especially when the State Library is facing such huge budget cuts that we can’t even breathe in and out all day long, but always remember these words:

I never saw a purple cow
I never hope to see one;
but I can tell you anyhow;
I’d rather see than be one

–Gelett Burgess, 1895

21st Century libraries

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Colleen Eggett

A new vision of the library

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Colleen Eggett

Earlier this decade, the library’s vision was access to information. Before that, much before that, say 1894, the library’s vision was free books for all. But how quickly we’ve changed. Today it’s all about connection.

Connection to the world through internet access

Connection to vital public services through the same

Connection to community through programming

Connection to others by being out where people congregate

There’s so much talk of the library without walls. Where the library comes to you not you to the library. Where you can get a book or movie online and use it on your ipod. Where you can go for enlightenment, entertainment, or just to chat. Virtually, in person, in chat rooms, however you want, whenever you want. It’s about collaboration, conversation, and yes, most certainly, connection.

As Norma Blake said, people are looking to be noticed in libraries, missed when not there. They want longer hours, adequate parking, something to eat, a forum for conversation. Libraries need to ask the ultimate question: would you recommend us to a friend?

And as Joan Frye Williams said, “What got us here won’t get us there.”

And then there’s John Moorman, the Director at Williamsburg Regional Library, who said, “We give good public service, we are responsonsive, we are there.”

At the end of the day we would all say the same.

"Free For Books for All" going going gone

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Colleen Eggett

My great grandpa would have remembered when Philadelphia Public Library coined the phrase, “Free Books for All.” That was 1891 and he would have known. He was proud to witness the driving of the Golden Spike ( now that was progress), the buggy and wagon’s morph to the automobile, the steam locomotive’s morph to the jet plane, the radio’s morph to the TV. Then there was the magical day when man walked on the moon. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. He thought he’d seen it all and he did. He was well read, though a farmer, and he had ideas of his own.

He would have been proud that Philly put out for its citizens. By 1898 the Free Library had the largest circulation in the world at 1,778,387 volumes*. All of them free to the public. Walk in, get a book, go home and read it. Improve your mind, expand your soul.

It’s all too ironic that after Patriot’s Day, 9/11/09, there won’t be a full book circulation ever again. The library will close its doors for good as of Oct 2, 2009 and until then one can only have the item up to the closing date. In Philly, the city that defined the word Patriot.

All this in the face of a recession, some would call it a depression, especially those who have lost their jobs, their security, even their free public tv. Don’t city founders know that during recessions people flock to libraries? They need the job resources, the free books, the free ways to keep on going on.

I feel sad, I feel outraged. We should band together to save Philly from their intellectual demise. With Liberty and Justice for All, the Free Library of Philadelphia needs to live on, to be alive and well in the place that practically started the notion of Free Books for All.

*Source: Wikipedia, retrieved 9/12/09: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Public_Library

Utah Libraries

Category Archives: Colleen Eggett