The Value of Membership

As CLC closes out its tenth anniversary year, we have much to celebrate:

• Our organization is fiscally strong, thanks to our over 800 member libraries and our invaluable state support.
• Our programs and services continue to expand in response to your changing needs and the opportunities presented to us by improvements in technology and relationships we have forged with suppliers, non-profit partners, and you, our members.
• We've been able to increase the value of your investment in CLC by providing more and greater opportunities to save.

The 2012/2013 Highlights provide more details about all we've achieved this year.

The final numbers are not yet in, but we are pleased to report that in the first six months of the year, from July through December 2012, CLC members saved over 2.9 million dollars on products and services purchased through CLC. In addition, hundreds of member library staff took advantage of the over 100 roundtables, workshops, and other services we offered throughout 2012/2013.

We want all of you to open your membership renewal invoice this month and see that you realized savings that far exceeded your dues. The great news is that the majority of you already do. Our goal for next year is to make sure everyone sees maximum value for their CLC membership. To achieve this, we'll be reaching out to every one of you over the coming year to review your account and hopefully help you find ways to realize more savings or benefits. Please keep your comments, suggestions and concerns coming. Through your ongoing communication, we've received good ideas on how to better serve you. We are looking forward to launching some new products and services and refining our existing programs next year in order to accomplish this goal.

We take seriously our legislatively-mandated mission to initiate and facilitate cost-effective services, create and support educational and professional development, and help you strengthen their ability to serve your users.

It has been a challenging, exciting, and fun first 10 months serving as Executive Director. I look forward to working with you all next year.

Jennifer 

In this section:

• New Book Contracts!  
• Britannica Digital Learning (publics, schools)
• I Love Connecticut Libraries bags 
• JobNow (publics, academics)
• LAT  

 

New CLC Book Contracts Debut July 1!      

 

CLC is putting the finishing touches on our new book contracts, which will be valid from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016 with an option of two additional 1-year extensions. Be sure to check your email next week for complete information on how to use the new contracts. Our book contracts enable you to save up to 46% on your library/school's book purchases, and/or get free shipping, free or discounted processing, and other special services to meet all of your book purchasing needs at the lowest possible cost.  

The bid process, which started back in January, included many hours of research, data compilation, comparison and analysis, a member-wide survey, and the effort and cooperation of many individuals. We received 18 responses to our invitation to bid, and the selection committee chose 10 of these suppliers to best meet our members' needs. We are pleased to continue contracts with Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Ingram, MicroMarketing, and Bound to Stay Bound. Our new awardees are Cavendish Square, Gareth Stevens, Mackin Educational Resources, Rosen, and Scholastic Library Publishing. Two of the ten awardees are Connecticut-based companies (MicroMarketing in Old Lyme and Scholastic in Danbury).

Please note that non-print media such as DVDs, audiobooks, e-books, and other materials will be covered by subsequent bids. Our current media contracts, originally scheduled to expire June 30, have been extended to December 31, with the exception of Recorded Books. New media contracts will go into effect January 1, 2014. 

If you have any questions or experience any difficulties, please contact Pam Najarian (pnajarian@ctlibrarians.org) or Connie Sear (csear@ctlibrarians.org), or call 860.344.8777.

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"I Love Connecticut Libraries" Reusable Bags     

 

These cheerful, lightweight bags are perfect for resale or giveaways. Order any quantity according to the price list below. Bags may be picked up at the CLC office in Middletown, or we will ship via USPS and charge postage to your library. Postage will be actual price paid - no markups or handling charges. Price per bag (not including postage):

• 1-24 bags: $1.45 each
• 25-49 bags: $1.35 each
• 50-99 bags: $1.25 each
• 100+ bags: $1.15 each

To order: Email number of bags, pick up/ship, and contact information to Pam Najarian at CLC - pnajarian@ctlibrarians.org. CLC will invoice your library.

Britannica Digital Learning   

CLC member public and K-12 school libraries, save on a variety of Britannica Digital Learning products through June 2014!  

Products: Britannica School, Britannica Online Public Library Edition, Britannica Image Quest, Britannica SmartMath, Britannica Pathways: Science, and Britannica eBooks. Learn more 

JobNow for Public AND Academic Libraries   

JobNow, powered by Brainfuse, provides live interactive online help combined with online resources to guide jobseekers through the necessary tasks to get a job. Now JobNow is available at a great rate for academic libraries as well as public libraries! Subscriptions run September 1 - August 31; pro-rated options available for earlier start dates. New subscribers, contact Pam Najarian at pnajarian@ctlibrarians.org or 860.344.8777 x106 for details and to order. Current subscribers will be contacted in July with renewal information.   

Circuits are a means of expanding your library's media collections at minimal expense. With today's constantly-changing formats, they also enable you to offer your patrons materials in a non-print medium that you may not want to invest in long-term. Participating libraries join any of several circuits - DVD, audiobooks on CD, and/or foreign and independent films. Usually there is a one-time "buy-in" fee plus an annual fee, which CLC staff use to purchase and maintain collections in these areas. Participating libraries meet monthly or quarterly to rotate packets of materials. Thus, the materials make a "circuit" around the libraries, providing a continuously updated selection at each location. This program is particularly popular with smaller libraries and those with limited non-print budgets. Complete details, including pricing and swap schedules and locations, are available at www.ctlibrarians.org/circuits. 

Now is the best time to join a circuit! For more information, please contact the following:

• Statewide foreign/independent film circuit - Marilyn Kitlas, mkitlas@ctlibrarians.org 
• Eastern Connecticut regional circuits (DVD and CD) - Marilyn Kitlas, mkitlas@ctlibrarians.org 
• Western Connecticut regional circuits (DVD and CD) - Laura Marcella, lmarcella@ctlibrarians.org 

Summer Roundtable Highlights  

Most roundtables take the summer off - but not all! Here are two programs to look forward to after July 4. Visit ctlibrarians.org for the latest additions and to register! 

Adult Programmers Roundtable East - 7/11 @ East Lyme Public Library. Tony Sheridan, President and CEO of Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will share how and why your library can form mutually-beneficial partnerships with your local Chamber of Commerce. 

Marketing Roundtable - 7/15 @ Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton. Is interest in your summer programming starting to wane? At this meeting, we'll view the InfoPeople webinar How to Fail at Social Media (and How to Get it Right), then brainstorm ways to use ideas from the webinar to revitalize our mid-summer marketing efforts.