Utah State Library for the Blind loses Radio Reading Service

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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:purple cow

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

Connecting to Collections Town Hall

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The results of our recent statewide Connecting to Collections Preservation Assessment are now compiled and a final report defining the State of Preservation in Utah has been drafted by Tom Clareson, our consultant on this project.

Everyone with a vested interest in the long-term health of collections in Utah is now invited to attend a Town Hall Meeting. This Town Hall Meeting will give you an opportunity to hear from our consultant about the survey results and discuss with the Connecting to Collections Steering Committee possible next steps for improving preservation in Utah. The Town Hall Meetings are scheduled for:

Cedar City
Tuesday 30 March, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Southern Utah University, Sherratt Library
351 W. Center, Cedar City, UT 84720
Local contact: Janet Seegmiller, (435) 586-7945, seegmiller@suu.edu

Vernal
Wednesday 31 March, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Uintah County Library
155 East Main , Vernal, Utah 84078
Local contact: Sam Passey, (435) 789-0091, passey@co.uintah.ut.us

Logan
Thursday 1 April, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library
3000 Old Main Hill, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-3000
Local contact: Brad Cole, (435) 797-2631, brad.cole@usu.edu

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Build your audience like a virus experience

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So I’m sitting here in “Build your audience like a virus” training presented by Victoria Rasmussen of UEN. She has some great ideas. She’s talking about the pros and cons of the different social medias like blogging, facebook, twitter, text messaging, youtube. I’m thinking about whether USL can use youtube to share some of the training experiences that we offer.
There’s another session of this training in Richfield next week. You can sign up on our website: http://library.utah.gov/workshops

A new vision of the library

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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.

Scholarships for E-Government Librarians

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The Center for Library and Information Innovation at the iSchool at the University of Maryland College Park, in partnership with the Government Information Online Initiative and the University of Illinois at Chicago, is accepting applications for 20 Master of Library Science (MLS) scholarships. The scholarships are for a new online MLS program focused on e-government services and digital government information.

Applications are due by 1 February 2010, and the program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2010. For more information, see www.liicenter.org/libegov.

From Peggy Garvin, SLA/DGI Blog