Overdrive & Project Gutenberg e-books

Did you hear the news?

Boston Public Library, Overdrive’s partner, now has 15,000 Project Gutenberg e-books in their Overdrive collection. They are accessed through the Overdrive platform, have no checkout or check in, but are also counted in their stats. The advantage is one-stop shopping. Overdrive says it will be available to all of us in the . . . → Read More: Overdrive & Project Gutenberg e-books

Futures Thinking for Academic Libraries

Futures Thinking for Academic Libraries: Higher Education in 2025 by Staley and Malenfant tells of 26 possible scenarios that may impact academic libraries in the next 15 years. The scenarios include things like academic culture, demographics, distance education, funding, globalization, infrastructure/facilities, libraries, political climate, publishing industry, societal values, students/learning, and technology. The authors have examined the . . . → Read More: Futures Thinking for Academic Libraries

Medieval Hand Papermaker to lecture in SLC Oct 18th

Some days I just get tired of all the new age talk, the 21st century hype. That’s one reason that when I got the message from Randy Silverman about a Medieval Hand Papermaking lecture by Jacques Brejoux I was genuinely thrilled. Something new (OK only new to me) in the library world.

Do not miss this stellar . . . → Read More: Medieval Hand Papermaker to lecture in SLC Oct 18th

The Rural Library Trustee: Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships

How do library trustees get trained?
How are director and trustee roles defined to ensure a healthy library organization?
How are trustee relationships cultivated both in and outside the library circle?
Listen to an archived webinar that explores these and other questions related to library trustees. The session provides you with practical ideas and tactical . . . → Read More: The Rural Library Trustee: Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships

Website in a Box program is moving on

‘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 . . . → Read More: Website in a Box program is moving on

Trading Spaces: Utah Library Mentoring program

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 websitetrading spaces

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 Trading Spaces: Utah Library Mentoring program

Utah State Library for the Blind loses Radio Reading Service

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 . . . → Read More: Utah State Library for the Blind loses Radio Reading Service