LSLC Training Blog

Senator Brubaker Visits the Libraries

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:19:00 +0000

Watch PA State Senator Mike Brubaker's latest "A Conversation with Senator Brubaker" Cable Television show. You will need Windows Media Player to see the show.

In the half hour show he gets a tour of the Eastern Lancaster County Library from director, Donna Brice. We get to see the dynamic Heather Smith during story time also.

Next, he tours the Litiz Public Library with director, Susan Tennant. I like the smiles from the staff at the circ desk as they walk by. But the best is meeting the young 7 year old boy who is told by Senator Brubaker that he is the Senator's boss. The Senator says "Did you know that you're my boss?" and the boy answers "I am?". And the Senator states "...I work for you". He then pulls out his card and hands it to the boy telling him to give him a call when he needs him. The boy looks at the card and says "You're Senator Mike!". How adorable.

Then he interviews Library System Administrator, Susan Hauer who explains the difference between the System and the individual libraries.

Favorite quote from the Senator during the show... "Libraries are not an optional service, but an essential service".

I wasn't planning on watching the whole video, but it drew me in and left a warm feeling in my heart for the wonderful libraries we have here in Lancaster County. In these trying financial times, I think it is truly amazing how the System and the libraries are working together to keep the doors open and the programs coming despite drastic cuts.

Thanks Senator Brubaker for your support!

Did You Know 4.0

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Library 101!!!!

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:53:00 +0000

It's here... (hey, who's that at 1:23m?) Well done David and Michael. You two really DO rock!!

The Fun Theory

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Learn all about The Fun Theory here.

Final PA State Budget Passes in House - Senate Approval Expected

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:01:00 +0000

I received this in my PADLC listserv this morning from Glenn Miller, Executive Director of Pa LA. I appreciate his positive tone, but what a slash to library funding in our state of Pennsylvania. I hate to see what's coming out of this. Reposting here:

"Good morning, faithful library advocates

On the eve of Day 100 of the state budget impasse, a deal has been sealed…finally and without any further significant changes. The State House debated the final deal last night and passed it by a vote of 107-93. Easy passage in the Senate is expected since both Republicans and Democrats there already have signaled their support. The final Senate vote could occur Thursday evening or Friday. The Governor will sign the budget soon thereafter.

At some later point, we can re-hash the excruciating details of this never-ending roller-coaster of a budget. For now, I know that people are anxious to have the specifics, so here they are:

(Click picture for a larger view)

I hardly know where to begin to describe all this. I know that these end results will not be pleasant at all for library staff, for services, and for library users. At the same time, I also know we recognize—all of us—that this is the worst economy in Pennsylvania since the Great Depression and that state coffers lost a mind-numbing $3.2 billion in revenue just this past year.

We will work with Deputy Secretary Clare Zales to try and minimize the damage to statewide programs and begin planning to rebuild services and funding. The hit to the Public Library Subsidy was bad but not as severe as it could have been. We will also work with Clare Zales to see if it possible to accelerate the payment dates for state aid.

Looking at the big picture can be dangerous because it tends to mask the real pain of specific program cuts. Nevertheless, it is fair to note that during the eight months of this year’s budget roller coaster, our overall funding levels ranged from a potential highest total (all programs) of $81 million (Rendell/House Democratic plan) to a potential lowest total (all programs) of $42 million (Senate Republican plan.) In the end, fortunately, our overall funding of $68 million ended much closer to the higher number than the lower.

There is no doubt in my mind that the outcome would have been much, much worse had it not been for your relentless, positive, and articulate advocacy on behalf of your library and your community. We know that legislators heard our voices even in the face of this budget’s tidal wave of red ink. I realize that it may not feel like it right now, but your advocacy made a huge, positive difference. Thank you seems wholly inadequate.

But think about this: every program that we saved, every job that can be retained, and every budget dollar that was secured during this struggle puts us further down the road toward recovering from this recession-ravaged budget year.

Again, I truly appreciate all of your great and ceaseless efforts. Let’s do our best to rest some and recover and re-energize ourselves for better days ahead.

Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association"

Google Celebrates the 57th Anniversary of the First Barcode Patent

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Where would we be without the barcode? It's everywhere! Especially if you work in a library. I was a little confused when I opened my Firefox browser this morning. My home page points to Google and this is what I saw:

I found a great post on the horizons blog! which gives a good summary of what Google is celebrating today. Go read it :-) And yes, that really does say Google using code 128 according to TechCrunch.

Library 101 - the Final Lyrics

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Michael Porter and David Lee King are almost done with their Library 101 Project. I can't wait to see the final web site. Read all about this at Libraryman and help out by submitting an essay!

23 Free Webinars for Nonprofits - October 2009

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:18:00 +0000

See my post on ALA Learning to get all of the details.

Barnes and Nobile Book Fair at Manheim Twp Pub Library

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Katrina Anderson, Director of Manheim Township Public Library, sent out the following request:
"Please help support Manheim Township Public Library by spreading the word
about our upcoming Barnes and Noble Book Fair.

On Saturday, October 10th, all day, if anyone goes into their local Barnes and Noble, anywhere across the country, and mentions that they want their purchase to benefit the Manheim Twp Public Library in Lancaster, PA, B&N will donate 10% of the net sale to our library. Please ask all your friends and relatives to do their holiday book shopping at B&N on that date, where ever they are. I’m
sure you have robust e-mail lists that you could use to help us spread the word.

Barry Levine will be at B&N- Lancaster on Saturday from 12:30 -4 :00 pm
signing his new photo-journal, The Woodstock Story Book, and on Sunday, Fall Fest, he will present a slideshow and program at the twp administration bldg at 1840
Municipal Drive, Lancaster.

Thanks for helping to spread the word about our Book Fair."

SnapShot PA

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:38:00 +0000

I was impressed when New Jersy Libraries did their Snapshot: One Day in the Life of New Jersey Libraries. Now I'm excited because my very own state of PA is going to do the same thing on 10/28/09. See the site - Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Pennsylvania Libraries. For those of you in any kind of library at all in PA - PLEASE complete the survey when they turn it on. Take pictures, make videos. Let's tell Gov. Rendell and the rest of the state politicians what we do. Maybe then they'll think twice before making such drastic cuts to the budget!

Pimp My Bookcart!

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Here's a great opportunity from the comic strip Unshelved: Pimp My Bookcart contest.

The site states:
"An annual contest run by the library-themed comic strip Unshelved to see who can best pimp, trick, or otherwise improve a standard book cart. Libraries and schools often stage kids and/or teen programs to generate entries. Prizes are provided by Unshelved"

See the current list of entries. Here's my favorite so far.

Go ahead, get creative, build a program around it, win prizes. Please comment below if you do enter so I can check it out!

Voice Over Artist Among Us

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Congratulations to my co-worker, Jennifer McMorris, for her great voice over work in this video. From the YouTube page:

"This is a video that will be shown to visitors in over 25 Lancaster Hotels... It will play on a dedicated channel in over 3,000 hotel rooms 24 hours a day, seven days a week ! Credits: Written By Bill Simpson VO Narration by Jennifer McMorris Produced, shot and edit by Derek Lau Additional camera operator - Dylan Stern Courney Motion Graphics Intro/Outro by Allen Clements and Joe Krzemienski of Postage VFX PLEASE RE-POST !!! "

Great work Jennifer!

Milanof-Schock Library Upgrades Training Lab

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Congratulations to the Milaof-Schock Library for their Training Lab upgrade. John and Jordan, in the IT department here, are rolling out the new machines. Aren't they pretty? What a difference!

Why Libraries Rock

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:43:00 +0000

It's Blogathon Day for the Louisville Free Public Library. They were victims of a terrible flood that put over 4 ft of water into their basement and destroyed so much. See how you can help at this wiki. All of the details are there as well as links to other blogs participating in today's Blogathon.

So, why do libraries rock you ask?

-free
-fun
-programming
-family activities
-computer access
-computer training
-reference staff to answer ANY question you have
-community building
-dvds
-books and more books
-electronic databases
-summer reading program with PRIZES
-did I mention free?
-help with job searching and writing resumes
-from birth to grave, they are there!
-continuing education
-expanding knowledge
-travel to foreign lands without leaving the building
-new technology trainingdiv>

Well, I could go on and on, but I think I'm preaching to the choir here. Please take a moment to add YOUR comments on why libraries rock and help out the LFPL by donating and/or passing along this information.

Blogathon for LFPL - I Need Your FEEDBACK!

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:23:00 +0000

I recently posted about the flood at the Louisville Free Public Library. Andy Woodworth of the Burlington County Library System in New Jersey is organizing a blogathon for the LFPL. See more information about it at the wiki he set up or on his blog.

I have signed up to participate in this blogathon and today I found a great way to do so. With permission, I am totally copying Amy Kearns idea from the Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative Blog.

The theme of the blogathon is "Why Libraries Rock" (well that's the PG version, see the wiki for the true theme...) Rather than just hear my own take on why libraries rock, I'd love for the readers of the blog (and that can be anyone, anywhere!) to leave a comment below sharing why YOU feel libraries rock. I'll add my thoughts and all of your contributions into the post for Monday August 31st (blogathon date). It can be one word, a sentence, a paragraph, whatever moves you.

Thanks for pitching in and I look forward to reading your comments!

Learning Methods Need To Change

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:31:00 +0000

I just posted a very cool video showing how important it is to change the way we impart information over at the ALA Learning Blog. Go check it out.

Check out the ALA Learning Blog

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:06:00 +0000

I'm excited to announce the launch of a new blog, ALA Learning sponsored by the Learning Round Table of the American Library Association. See the press release here. I'm honored to be one of the contributing authors to this blog. Plus, I'm in great company. Add us to your reader or bookmark us to stay on top of the latest in continuing education and learning for library workers.

Save POWER Library

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0000

Glenn Miller, Executive Director of PaLA sent out a note to the PASYS listserv. I am recopying it here and urge everyone to follow these steps. Note I have added this to the top right side of this blog and my emails have been sent. PLEASE click the link and do the same!

"Good afternoon, library supporters.

Pennsylvania’s library community has done a superb advocacy job throughout this ongoing state budget crisis. Our challenge now is to keep up the pressure and broaden our reach.

While much of our energy has focused on the Public Library Subsidy, other important library programs such as POWER Library, the Access PA Database, and Ask Here PA, are under attack, too, and may face elimination unless we raise a ruckus.

PaLA has launched a new email advocacy tool in support of POWER Library. You can help spread the word and educate your POWER Library users that the service may be eliminated unless we speak up forcefully.

Please help save POWER Library. By adding the following link to your website you can help your users contact their State Senator, State Representative, and Governor Rendell with a clearly worded message in support of POWER Library. We encourage all library websites to join in this statewide effort.

If you are able to help, please forward the following instructions to the person(s) responsible for maintaining your website. They can easily copy and paste this sample HTML code.

1. Near your POWER Library icon on your website, add some text such as "ALERT – Online Services of the POWER Library to End: Take Action!"

2. Hyperlink the text to http://www.palibraries.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=64

Thank you for assisting with this and helping to save POWER Library. Our plan is to expand this advocacy service soon to include other library programs in jeopardy. Stayed tuned!

Glenn

Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association
220 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 10
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055"

Enjoy the Ride - Music and Life

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:54:00 +0000

WOW! Thanks to Nannette Miner from the Traning Doctor for pointing me to this short animated clip. If you're aiming for success, don't forget to enjoy the ride - enjoy the music!

Promote Your Library during the Dog Days of Summer

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Check out the great promo video from Arizona State University. Makes me want to go to one of their libraries immediately. Though it would be quite a commute for me. Why not make your own video, upload it to a video sharing site like YouTube and put it on the front page of your Website? Don't worry about it looking as professional as this one, just do it!

Social Media Revolution

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:56:00 +0000

Yet another testament to the importance of Social Media. This time, sources are cited for the information. This all comes from Socialnomics.

Here's the video - WATCH it!

Here's the blog post that shows all of the sources.

Still think it's a fad? Shame on you!

Disaster at the Louisville Free Public Library

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:34:00 +0000

You have probably already heard about this by now, but I've had on my list of things to do to write a blog post detailing various links to help the Louisville Free Public Library in their time of need after a devastating flood. Rather than rewrite the details, Sarah Glassmeyer does an excellent job of it. Steve Lawson from LSW is collecting donations. Here are some Louisville news reports and photos from Greg Schwartz. How devastating and a reminder to all of us to be prepared! My heart goes out to LFPL.

Our Cataloging Department Rocks!

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:49:00 +0000

We use Mindtouch's DekiWiki as our Intranet here. I was so excited when we implemented it over a year ago. We have a lot of work to do to increase its usability, but it's a definite improvement over our old static web page Intranet that only one person could update!

When I present on using Web2.0 technologies, I always stress the need for collaboration and agreed upon standards before rolling out something new. This, of course, doesn't always happen, but it's a nice ideal to strive for.

Well, the Cataloging Department here where I work put together an Intranet Team a few months ago and the 4 members of that team have been working very hard to create a streamlined experience for anyone stopping by their area of the Intranet. It's really too bad that I can't share this with the world, but we do have a password protected Intranet for obvious reasons.

So, to ALL of you who read this blog and work within this library system, I STRONGLY URGE you to check out the new and improved CDTS area on LILLY (the name of our Intranet). To the rest of you, let me try to explain the improvements in word:

First page of entry includes a table that links to all of the other areas making it very easy to find what you're looking for
Clean look not cluttered with a lot of text. Concise and to the point (Okay, when do I get a lesson from the team to help me on that one!)
Do not have to rely on the left nav bar to find things as that can be very confusing.
No reference to attachments at the bottom of a page; instead, links within the text of the page that take you to the appropriate doc/spreadsheet/pdf whatever instead of having to figure out what each attachment relates too (those of you who work with wikis KNOW what I'm talking about)
A link to a Suggestion Box asking for feedback (yes, I am singing out loud on this one)
A "Fun Stuff" link that takes you to a page that utilizes the Social Media aspect of a wiki with YouTube videos, RSS feeds of fun blogs, etc. (Remember, these are catalogers, so this is HUGE - just kidding...)
All of the staff's contact information is listed and easy to find and it looks like they may even be adding their pictures to it - kudos for TRANSPARENCY! (I immediately decided to copy that idea and will be adding my pic and bio to the Training area, I am more than an email address and phone number - duh!)
Incorporated the use of Google Forms for people to submit processing requests, etc
Could go on, but I'll stop now...

I truly enjoyed helping the team to get started and reviewing with them in the end. HOWEVER, they did all of the work and came up with so many innovative ideas I had never thought of. I've learned a lot by their example and as all things Web2.0 will be 'borrowing' those for my own area :-)

Heather Mansfield Has Spent 7,280 Hours on Social Media Websites

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:30:00 +0000

Why should you care? Because she just wrote an awesome blog post detailing the 10 insights she has gained through her experience. There's so much good stuff in this post that I'm reeling. Go read it, but here's her list just in case...

1. Early adopters get the most glory and tend to be the best at social media. (THAT'S RIGHT!)
2. Approaching social media with fear and trepidation can harm your brand. (I AGREE!!!)
3. People who are mean and grumpy online are likely mean and grumpy in real life too. (AIN'T IT THE TRUTH!)
4. Some schmoozing is required. (OF COURSE!)
5. Good community builders are optimistic, friendly, and obviously enjoy using social media. (SO GET THE RIGHT PERSON TO DO IT!)
6. Race and class divisions are played out on social networking sites and must be considered in your social media strategy. (DON'T FORGET!)
7. You have to be persistent and give your social media strategy time to produce results. (BE PATIENT!)
8. Training is essential to a successful social media strategy. (YOU KNOW MY THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE!)
9. The Web is evolving faster than you can imagine. To stay competitive, you have to keep up. (MAKES MY HEAD SPIN!)
10. Social media is going mobile. (SO GET MOVING!)

And the winning sentence from her whole post was under number 5...
"It's not the profiles or sites themselves that are powerful, it's the human being behind your organization's social networking profiles that will make or break your social media success."

I can't agree more Heather. So, be sure the right person is doing this and that they have a strategy and KNOW what they're doing.

Clap, clap, clap Heather. Keep up the great work at DIOSA Communications!

(Yes, I know, too many exclamation points in this post, but I told you at the beginning, I'm reeling...)

Top Tech Trends at ALA 2009

szimmerman@lancasterlibraries.org (Stephanie Zimmerman) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:43:00 +0000

I got a chance to experience some of ALA 2009 virtually today during my lunch hour. The Top Tech Trends presentation by LITA was actually broadcast live on Ustream and it was blogged live using Cover It Live. Very impressive - weeks later I feel like I was there. Loved seeing all the comments in one spot as I watched the video. Now it's your turn, check it out. If you don't have time to watch the video, just scan through all of the Live Blogging and you'll see the trends discussed.