At Midwinter ALA in Seattle the topics were varied: federal legislation and what impact the federal fiscal crisis may have on L.S.T.A. funding for states; digital literacy and how it will be implemented across the country; e-books, always a topic of great concern; national technology projects such as Connect2Compete, the Edge Initiative and PAT-C; and this year a recently released Pew Research Center report on the Internet and American Life - Library Services in the Digital Age.

Here are a few findings that jumped out at me:

• 80% of Americans say borrowing books is a very important service libraries provide.
• 77% say that free access to computers and the internet is a "very important service of libraries."

The poll showed people would like the following added to library services:

• Online research services allowing patrons to pose questions and get answers from librarians.

• Access to technology petting zoos to try out new devices.

• Redbox-style lending machines or kiosks located throughout the community where people can check out books, movies or music without having to go to the library itself.

• Every paragraph of this report contains interesting statistics. The last section "libraries of the future" may be of particular interest.

View the entire report. 

Elisabeth Doucett is Director of Curtis Memorial Library in  Brunswick, ME. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield, MA. Liz holds a MLS from Simmons College; an MBA in marketing from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and an undergraduate degree from Smith College in art history and classical Greek.

Professional Career

Prior to her library career, Liz specialized in consumer marketing, working at Kraft Foods, Dunkin' Donuts and Quaker Oats. She then consulted in the same field to multiple Fortune 500 companies. Before getting her MBA, Liz worked as a fundraiser in the development departments at Harvard and Boston University.  

Read more about Elisabeth Doucett 

The Maine State Library (MSL) and the Maine Library Association (MLA) are pleased to announce the Maine Library Leadership Institute, a year-long program, open to mid-career librarians in all types of libraries. The goal of the Institute is to prepare library leaders to serve Maine citizens in the most effective and innovative manner that will meet today's needs and tomorrow's challenges.

To begin this program, MSL and MLA are partnering to send 7 Maine librarians to the New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS) in North Andover, MA. NELLS runs from July 29 - August 2. Tuition and some travel costs will be paid through grants from MLA and the Maine Community Foundation. 

At NELLS, participants will work on understanding their own talents and how to most effectively use them as a leader, learn to move from managing to leading people, and how to formulate, articulate, and communicate a vision that inspires others to act.

NELLS is just the beginning of an exciting year of leadership training and activities planned by the district consultants. Over the course of the year following NELLS, participants will work with a mentor, read materials designed to maximize the impact of the training and meet in a combination of face-to-face and virtual settings to discuss these readings.  

Participants will also be required to serve on a committee for MLA and to make a presentation at the 2014 Tri District Fall Conference and/or at an MLA sponsored event.

The Institute is an intensive and rewarding year-long learning experience that requires significant time, energy, and commitment from participants and their libraries. For the Institute to be successful, local institutions must commit to provide support for participants and their attendance.

Mamie Anthoine Ney, Southern Maine Library District Consultant

With many public and school libraries facing a difficult budget season, here are a few tips on how to effectively advocate for your library.

• Most importantly you should be connecting with your community so they know who you are and what the library has to offer. Be visible. Build relationships.
• Know what to tell people and when to tell them. Some meetings call for facts and figures. Others need "feel good" stories. Know what's appropriate for your venue.

Make sure you, your staff, and board are all telling the same story.

• Be confident. Speak using words and terms that everyone can understand.
• Be specific about your needs. Know your priorities. Build your story on the data and stories you have collected. (Why do you need that new circulation system? What will the impact be on the library as a whole? )
• Prepare fact/story sheets that can be shared with funders and library users.
• Listen to what others tell you so you can clear up any misconceptions there may be about the library and/or your funding.

When talking about your budget, here are some best practices:

• Make sure your budget proposal is clearly written and easy to understand.
• Use charts and graphs to support your argument for funding. Be accurate.
• Know what's important to your funders.
• Be able to answer questions easily and effectively. Be prepared.
• If you get your funding, make sure you say thank you.
• If you don't get your funding, graciously ask why. ("Help me understand..." "How could we have been more effective?" "What can I do differently?" "Let's brainstorm.").

Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development

Libraries need to be ready for the EveryoneOn Campaign on March 21, 2013!

The EveryoneOn Campaign is a 3-year national public service campaign to promote digital literacy.The key message is to encourage people who are limited or non-Internet users, to learn how to do "one thing better online. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has determined that public libraries are keys to the success of this effort.

Important! There is a 29 minute archived webinar (see #3. Webinar recording) that gives great information that you should listen to, then please update your library's information in the national database for the EveryOne Campaign. 

• EveryoneOn's database form for libraries 
• EveryoneOn's training map search 

The Maine State Library (MSL) held Digital Literacy meetings throughout the state. We will be posting information to MELIBS and updating information about the campaign on the MSL's Digital Literacy web page.

Jared Leadbetter, Erate/Technology Coordinator

Videoconferencing is a new way for Maine libraries to engage not only their communities but the communities of other Maine libraries in a wealth of ongoing programming and events. There are over twenty Maine libraries with videoconferencing equipment, many of whom are connecting with the Maine State Library and our partners, such as Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Internal Revenue Service.    

Of particular interest to Minerva libraries is the potential to attend the circulation and cataloging meetings by way of the closest videoconferencing hub. Also, as Cara Sawyer of Cherryfield Public Library has discovered, there are many resources like the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress that offer free presentations upon request. Visit the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, Inc. (CILC) for more information on videoconferencing content providers.

If you're not one of the libraries with videoconferencing, you can still participate! If you have a webcam and microphone, you can request a Jabber account and turn your computer into a videoconferencing station. If you don't have a webcam, check with your district consultant to see if you might be able to receive a webcam for your library (as supplies last). To receive a free Jabber account or learn more about Jabber for your library, please email Jared Leadbetter at the Maine State Library or call 207-287-5620.

Valerie Osborne, Northeastern Maine Library District Consultant  

What does your Readers' Advisory (RA) toolbox look like these days? Do you have trouble with suggesting titles in genres that aren't familiar to you?  

We have just the tool for you - The Reading List! The Reading List was established in 2007 by RUSA, the Reference & Users Service Division of ALA. The Reading List seeks to feature exceptional genre fiction that warrant special attention by adult readers and the librarians who work with them. The Reading List, along with Notable Books of 2013and the 2013 Listen List, were announced on January 28th at ALA's Midwinter Conference. As librarians you can use these lists as resources for reader recommendations and collection development or to build your own personal to-be-read lists.

What's so special about The Reading List? It is special because it is the one list published each year that specifically takes into account genre fiction. Anyone working the circulation desk or providing readers' advisory service knows that a majority of our patrons are genre readers. Using this list helps us to improve our genre connection with our patrons.

Selected by our colleagues, The Reading List recognizes the best books in eight genres:adrenaline (including suspense, thriller and adventure), fantasy, historical fiction, horror, mystery, romance, science fiction and women's fiction, along with the other finalists, and a backlist of readalikes. Can you imagine having 8 reading options to share with your patrons in the genres they enjoy most? If you don't currently have these titles in your collection, you might want to add them now. Your patrons will love you for it! Past years are also available on RUSA's web site. Enjoy!

Annual Report - Due April 1 for Public Libraries 

Sign Up now for this excellent conference related to children's literature!

See 2013 Reading Round Up for complete schedule, workshop descriptions, speakers, scholarship information and more.  

Preference is given to individuals who work with children and children's literature in public, private and educational settings. School and public librarians will be given preference until February 15, 2013 after which registration is open to people who do not work in libraries.  

Upcoming Events

MASL's Spring Fling 2013 - Sat. April 27, 8:30 am at HallDale HS in Farmingdale -

Leading the Way on the Common Core

May 1 is Law Day! On Law Day, May 1, 2013 Maine lawyers will be present at prearranged times at many Maine public libraries throughout the state to meet and speak with members of the public about issues of access to courts and justice in the Twenty-First Century. Read more about Law Day - goals, sponsors and how to participate! 

Webinars 

What's Everybody Reading these Days