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From the State Librarian... | |
Linda Lord, State Librarian
The legislature has adjourned; I optimistically share these positive outcomes with you.
First of all, the Maine State Library (MSL) has not been asked to make budget cuts for next year. We are part of a 1% across the board budget reduction required of all state agencies earlier this year, but that's it. No further cuts!
The Maine State Library will be one of the groups having a check-off for contributions on the Maine Income Tax forms starting in 2013. By the law allowing this, all money received from the tax check-off will go directly to helping public libraries. The law is complex and I will share more details later, but this is a great new opportunity for MSL to help libraries!
The RFP (Request for Proposal) for van delivery service is now posted for potential vendors. A new contract has to be in place by June 30, 2012. As soon as the awarded vendor's prices are known, MSL will be in touch with libraries on the van delivery system to determine support. Thanks to the passage of LD 1033 we hope to be able to provide one day per week payments for those already a part of this service. Let's hope gas prices drop!
It would be very appropriate to thank your local legislators for their support. |
| Meet the Commissioner: Karen Baldacci | |
Karen M. Baldacci was appointed in early 2011 by Governor  LePage to the Maine Library Commission for a five-year term. Most of us know her as the former First Lady of Maine. She was born in Kittery, Maine and later graduated from Dexter High School. Karen has a BS in Foods & Nutrition (1983) and a Masters in the Art of Teaching (2000), both from the University of Maine. Karen has been a registered dietitian for the last 24 years, working at both Saint Joseph's Hospital in Bangor and for the Bangor Supplemental Food and Nutrition Education Program for Women Infants & Children (WIC). She also taught kindergarten in the Bangor School Department.
Karen's husband, John E. Baldacci ,was sworn in as Maine's 73rd governor in 2003. As First Lady of Maine (2003-2011) Karen focused her work on the things that she knew best-quality early care education, education issues, nutrition, wellness, family literacy, the cultural arts, local agriculture and gardening. "I've had the opportunity to work with many talented Maine people who dedicate their lives to making Maine the special place it is," said Mrs. Baldacci.
Read more about Karen Baldacci
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The Evolving Future of the MaineCat Environment
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James Jackson Sanborn, Executive Director of Maine InfoNet
The current MaineCat system provides a shared catalog of resources bringing together the collections from more than 100 libraries across the state. This system allows these libraries to directly request materials from one another, allowing each library access to a collection of more than seven million items. Even libraries that are not direct participants in MaineCat can benefit from these resources by making requests through their ARRC (Area Reference and Resource Center) library, allowing even the tiniest libraries from across the state access to this impressive collection.
However, as the system has grown over the years MaineCat has become incredibly complex to manage. Unfortunately, it has been very difficult, given limited resources in both staff and money, to make direct participation in MaineCat available to all libraries that have wanted to join. Faced with a system that provides easier and better access to resources to some libraries than to others, and given scarce resources, Maine InfoNet is working to find solutions that better support all libraries in the state.
Read more about Planning for a Statewide Catalog and InfoNet's committment to expanding access
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| Good Old Fashion Book Based Research |
Peggy O'Kane, Coordinator of Reference and Research
As I write this, it is the last day of April Break for Maine high school students. Students from Gardiner are researching aspects of the Holocaust; another local school has assigned research topics on disasters like the Hindenburg, 9/11, or the 1918 influenza. What all of these students have in common (besides waiting until the last minute) is the fact that their teachers still require book sources. As a predominantly non-fiction research library, we are able to fill nearly all of their requests in house with relatively recent books or subject specific print encyclopedias.
While it may be too late for this year's crop of student researchers, please remember that the Maine State Library collection, including reference material, is available for loan to any library being inundated with student research needs. Contact us and we can send you a tote of books to share with your students.
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What's In Your Future? Libraries in this Century
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Stephanie Zurinski, Central Maine Library District Consultant
Eli Neiburger, a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2011, visited Maine at the end of March for two incredible days. His message was both provocative and inspirational.
In the digital future, libraries can no longer afford to be solely identified with the book as an object. We need to be identified with the content and content creation. The current eBook price bubble will burst when the first major author realizes that he or she can self-publish, sell many more books at .99cents, and keep all the profits. When content is so cheap or even free, our main selling point, free access, is in serious jeopardy.
Read more...What's a Library to Do?
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Public Library Association (PLA) 2012 Roundup
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Mamie Ney, Southern Maine Library District Consultant
Take 8,500 public librarians, begin with an inspiring speech by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., fill the week with a myriad of interesting and useful programs, finish with an appearance by Betty White, and what you have is a formula for a successful Public Library Association conference. That is just what happened at PLA biennial conference in Philadelphia in March. It was a great learning and networking experience. Maine was well-represented with about 50 librarians in attendance. The place was so big that we seldom ran into each other during the conference, but several of us did squeeze in a couple of dinners together.
Valerie Osborne and I eased ourselves into conference mode by attending two readers' advisory presentations. From then on workshop topics became more challenging. Many I attended focused on making libraries more vibrant members of their communities. Joan Frye Williams and George Needham spoke about connecting with the community. Librarians need to step out into the community to get to know not just patrons, but all residents, better. That leads to knowing what your community needs and wants, rather than offering what the staff thinks patrons might like. The key to success here is LISTEN!
I also spent a fair amount of time in workshops that dealt with staffing issues. I learned that within the library there needs to be a vibrant organizational culture. You want your staff to not just be involved but to feel like they are invested in the library. At each workshop I took away something very valuable. Trying to absorb so much was tiring, but time very well spent. I came home feeling quite fortunate to have attended. Now I'm looking forward to putting all that new learning to work in helping Maine libraries be the best they can.
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The Top 5 of the Top 5 Revisited: RA @ PLA (Public Library Association)
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Linda Oliver, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick
Drawing a blank when someone asks you for a book recommendation? Can you keep up with the newer authors in all genres? At PLA conference in Philadelphia, Rebecca Vnuk from Booklist and co-founder of the book blog ShelfRenewal organized a panel of readers' advisors, Books and Authors: Top 5 of Another 5 to discuss five fiction genres.
Roberta Johnson (Science Fiction), Kate Mediatore Stover (Thriller/Suspense), Barry Trott (Historical Fiction), Rebecca Vnuk (Romance), and David Wright (Literary Fiction) each provided resources for time-strapped libraries. Each speaker generated lists for their genre of 5 Must-know authors, 5 Must-read books (Classics), 5 Up-and-Coming authors, 5 Trends and their own favorite five books in the genre. Vnuk posted all the lists on her ShelfRenewal blog.
Read more...What's on the Horizon and Genre Highlights
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The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project
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Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development
The Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) coordinates volunteer efforts of Maine attorneys and community members to help people of low income navigate the civil justice system. They provide free information, brief assistance and pro bono legal representation in civil legal matters to qualifying clients.
The Maine State Library is partnering with VLP on a project called Lawyers in Libraries in conjunction with our BTOP grant efforts with the Maine Justice Action Group. As the project expands all Maine Public libraries will have an opportunity to participate.
Read more...about the Legal Clinics Utilizing Video Conferencing
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Are Your Computer and Internet Use Policies Up-to-date for Today's Online World?
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Jared Leadebeader, e-Rate and Technology Consultant
Do you know your library's computer and Internet use policies? How do they measure up to the changing online world of today and the foreseeable future? It's important to be aware of the ways that a web based on metadata, social connections and mobile use can impact our communities, and how our policies should reflect the new landscape. Moreover, libraries who receive money from E-rate for their Internet connection, including libraries that are a part of the Maine School and Library Network, should be aware of the federal provisions in place regarding the policies on the Internet access they provide.
Join Jared Leadbetter, Technology Consultant at the Maine State Library, for a presentation aimed at helping you renovate your library's policies governing computer use and Internet access, address the topic of filtering, and creating educational opportunities for your community, young and old. While anyone is welcome, those who represent libraries in the MSLN network will receive training in how to manage their OpenDNS filters and set up bypasses for them. Watch the calendar for these training events.
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| Common Core State Standards: Where Does Your Collection Fit in? | |
Pam Goucher, School Consultant
I was reading over the chat box accompanying a webinar I did recently on School Librarians and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA (English Language Arts). I muted the sound of my voice and concentrated on the great comments that my participants offered. This article is a response to the chat discussion of the "text exemplars"- especially non-fiction - that are included in Appendix B of the Standards.
Chats from a Webinar Chat response: "A 2002 book?? Ack, how about something newer than 10 years old?! I think WE should be proactive and suggest exemplar books too!" Yes, we do need to be pro-active about the text exemplars - for our students and for our programs. When it comes to CCSS where the word "library" never appears, we have to lead with our strengths - and collection is our domain. With grateful acknowledgement to Marc Aronson and others who write extensively about library collections and Common Core ....read some of the ideas.... |
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Sincerely,
The Staff of the Maine State Library
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Libraries United Conference
May 19-21, 2012 | |
The Maine Library Association and the Maine Association of School Libraries are delighted to announce that they will be presenting a joint conference in partnership with the Maine State Library. For more information visit either the MLA or the MASL website. |
| Upcoming WebJunction Webinars | |
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What's Everybody Reading these Days?
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Surrey State of Affairs by Ceri Redford;
Kathy Woodside, Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor
Swim Back to Me by Ann Packer;
Shane Billings, Bailey Library, Winthrop
Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue by Lawrence Anthony;
Kathy Johnston, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook
The True Memoirs of Little K by Adrienne Sharp;
Linda Graf, Alice L. Pendleton Library, Isleboro
The Truth of All Things by Kieran Shields;
Nina Sachs, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook
The Lively Lady by Kenneth Roberts;
Peg Becksvoort, Falmouth Middle School
The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor;
Marian Dalton, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick
So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman;
Laurie Bastien, Kaplan University, Lewiston
The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life by Drunvalo Melchizedek
Lee McCartin, Newport Cultural Center
Check out more of what your colleagues are reading!
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WebJunctions's
New Look
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Stephanie Zurinski, Central Maine Library Consultant
If you've visited WebJunction (WJ) in the last few weeks, you'll notice some major changes to the website. They've migrated to a new content management system and the entire look has changed. The most important thing to know is that if you had a WebJunction account on the old site but never actually enrolled in a course, you will need to go through the application and approval process again in order to access the course catalog.
If you have any problems accessing your account, contact user support.
Take a look at the new WJ website.
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