tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184000032012-05-16T13:12:32.345-07:00North Texas Library PartnersNews and announcements from North Texas Library Partners.Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comBlogger595125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-49239415994684355662012-05-16T12:56:00.001-07:002012-05-16T13:12:32.405-07:00What's happening at NTLP this week? At the request of NTLP's Board of Directors, there will be a joint meeting of NTLP Development Committee and the NTLP Partners Advisory Committee Thursday May 17 at the Benbrook Public Library. Members of both committees have been asked to provide input for the Board's June meeting which will focus on the direction and action plan for NTLP.Members of the two dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-47589385629113877482012-04-11T09:17:00.003-07:002012-04-12T06:44:08.486-07:00Survival Guide for First-Time Attendees at the TLA Conference
Thanks to a three-year grant from the Priddy Charitable Trust (now incorporated with the Priddy Foundation), NTLP has been privileged to award a number of stipends for librarians from non-urban libraries serving small communities to attend the annual Texas Library Association Conference. For many of the stipend recipients, this has been their first opportunity to attend a large professional dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-79203700242046471262012-04-09T07:04:00.000-07:002012-04-09T07:05:42.761-07:00NTLP and Priddy Trust Award 15 Travel Stipends for 2012 TLA ConferenceThanks to a grant from the Priddy Charitable Trust, NTLP has been
able to award 15 stipends of $1500 each to enable library staff and
volunteers to attend the 2012 TLA Conference in Houston. The stipend
can be used for conference registration, travel expenses, and temporary
staff if necessary to cover the recipient's absence at the library.
The stipends were offered to staff and volunteers Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-8682767951376097432012-04-05T07:54:00.002-07:002012-04-05T07:56:03.679-07:00Ebook reading and purchasing patternsThe Pew Research Center just released a new report on the rise of e-reading. Commentary on the report has noted connections with the digital divide and the ever-present dominance of Amazon in the ebook market.
You can see highlights of the recent study at digitalbookworld.com and librarianbyday.net. (Librarian by Day Bobbi Newman was on the advisory board for the research.) Previous reports Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-37875733903269371592012-03-29T10:34:00.001-07:002012-03-29T10:34:49.603-07:00Are Privatized Public Libraries So Bad?Are Privatized Public Libraries So Bad?
Interesting article about privatizing libraries...........and what libraries should be preparing for in the coming months and years.Carolyn Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01751715672073937628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-10859704547724968112012-03-19T14:31:00.002-07:002012-03-19T14:31:22.631-07:00The Neuroscience of Your Brain on Fiction.....
Your Brain on Fiction
By ANNIE MURPHY PAUL
Published: March 17, 2012
The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life; in each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated. Keith Oatley, an emeritus professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto (and a published novelist), has proposed that Carolyn Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01751715672073937628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-31247642874941603222012-03-18T19:18:00.004-07:002012-03-18T19:30:06.375-07:00NTLP's 2012 Library Supporters Conference "I told you you should have planned to be here," is the way an attendee of NTLP's 2011 Library Supporters Conference told us s/he would describe the event to her colleagues. And now ... It's BACK by POPULAR DEMAND from Library Supporters and staff who work with them ... thanks to the Center for Community Cooperation & Texas Book Consignments: The 4th annual NTLP Conference for Library Supportersdona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-68716555270829337822012-03-06T06:42:00.000-08:002012-03-06T06:45:24.945-08:00eBook Prices to Libraries - Recent News and Reflections
The Random House ebook price hike to libraries last week created a storm of commentary. Here's a good round-up of the story by Bobbi Newman at Librarianbyday.net. The post is still being updated with new links.
Now that the fireworks have died down a little, the library world is generating some good,reflective analyses of the ebook dilemma. Here are a couple that you shouldn't miss:
Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-53617099965396647722012-03-02T09:38:00.005-08:002012-03-02T14:41:35.038-08:00eBook Pricing: Like that of Pop Audiobooks without Ownership of the Purchased Item
Wondering how much Random House pricing increased for Overdrive content, NTLP Digital Media Collection Development Coordinator Marci Chen made a duplicate cart of the big RH order she just placed for North Texas Libraries on the Go (NTLP-area Overdrive consortium). She found that a 200% increase was the norm, with the increase for some titles as high as 300% or more. We have no idea dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-74533589035878237102012-03-01T08:58:00.004-08:002012-03-02T14:41:45.313-08:00NTLP Proposal for Distributing EBook ContentNTLP proposes a new protocol for the distribution of writing, music, speech, and video in electronic form through libraries.
NTLP recognizes that publishers imbue the elements of our culture with a level of quality that would be otherwise unattainable -- quality that makes cultural preservation and democratization by libraries worth while. In this time of rapid evolution in how the elementsJudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-308555137085198212012-02-27T06:46:00.001-08:002012-03-02T14:41:59.275-08:00Ebook News and Guide to Publishers
There has been so much on the web recently about libraries and ebooks, I was thinking NTLP should provide a weekly summary. Michael Porter, who many of you saw at the TechNet 2011 conference, beat me to it. His blog at LibraryRenewal.org now has a series of posts proviiding a weekly wrap-up of web articles related to libraries and e-content. Last Friday's post has links to insightful articles Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-24099213921552920602012-02-14T15:12:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:20:30.870-08:00Universal Access NewsWe've seen a flurry of universal access messages in the past few days and want to share them with you.Amy Mason, writing for the National Federation for the Blind's Braille Monitor, has provided a very useful article entitled Mainstream Access to E-Books--What Works, What Doesn’t, and What Is Still Unclear.According to a Feb. 3 article in The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell is working to implement a dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-15285433475988803262012-02-10T16:18:00.000-08:002012-03-02T14:42:15.806-08:00It is time to tell the truth about eBooks
In case you haven’t heard the ruckus from the blogosphere, yet another major publisher has severed ties with Overdrive. Last fall, after the Overdrive/Kindle launch, Penguin announced that it was not providing new eBook content for purchase, but would allow libraries to purchase additional copies of titles already licensed. As of today, February 10, libraries can no longer purchase additional Marci Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17962979402123168776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-43829299656013421732012-01-26T15:46:00.000-08:002012-01-26T15:55:50.486-08:00Additional Information Provided by the GED Unit at Texas Education Agency The Texas Education Agency (TEA) no longer provides direct GED services such as locating testing centers, providing test scores, or mailing copies of GED certificates. TEA is no longer accepting telephone calls or written communication about GED from individual test takers, employers, institutions of higher education, or the general public. All direct customer service is now provided by the dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-19845299795116553432012-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:002012-03-02T13:58:09.943-08:00Texas cities rank poorly in literacy ratings
North Texas cities ranked poorly in an annual study of literacy rates.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram cites an annual study of literacy resources done by Central Connecticut State University, which looks at key indicators of literacy. The study rates 75 cities, and only one Texas city (Austin) scored in the top third. Plano came in at 46, Dallas at 51, and Fort Worth at 54. Three other Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-3863263141559602852012-01-26T11:21:00.000-08:002012-01-26T11:25:33.620-08:00TEA GED Press ReleaseNews from Texas Education Agency's GED Unit: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is pleased to announce the launch of its new automated system for ordering General Education Development (GED) certificates. GED test takers and certificate holders can now immediately download and print their official GED certificates - complete with test scores - by visiting http://www.texged.com. GED certificates dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-61209001958380247342012-01-26T06:20:00.000-08:002012-01-26T06:57:25.350-08:00Print books still strongA recent report from the Pew Research Center announced that the number of Americans owning a tablet computer or an ebook reader jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January.While this is indeed a striking number, I'd like to point out the converse - prior to January, 82% of Americans did not own one of these devices, and as of January, 71% still do not. It might be too early to start moving a Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-91385123542809301402012-01-18T09:22:00.000-08:002012-01-18T09:40:06.238-08:00Public Library Annual Reports - Just Do It!TSLAC just released the Public Library Annual Report Form for fiscal year 2011. Completing the annual report is important for maintaining your library's accreditation.With the recent budget changes, we have heard some librarians questioning the value of completing the report. NTLP encourages all Texas Public Libraries to complete the annual report, both for the sake of staying accredited and in Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-89776290666857102192012-01-16T06:10:00.000-08:002012-01-16T07:02:34.789-08:00Libraries and ebooks discussed in Washington PostA Washington Post article on January 13, 2012 described problems libraries have stocking their virtual shelves with digital content, including the restrictions placed by publishers on library access to many ebook titles. Going to the library used to be like going to "Wal-Mart: Everything you need and want is there," but with ebooks everything has changed, the article noted. Of course, this isn'tJudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-58456642729994755552012-01-13T14:17:00.000-08:002012-01-18T17:19:14.186-08:00Earning Social CurrencyKim Young is a savvy entrepreneur who has spent over a quarter of a century helping craft connections and grow partnerships among businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, communities and their customers, supporters and residents. One of my goals is to have her provide training for NTLP library personnel and supporters.In this article she not only explains the meaning and value ofdona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-27161950920961282362012-01-12T07:16:00.000-08:002012-01-12T07:17:27.406-08:00DUOLINGO - translating the web..........Luis von Ahn is very entertaining and informative - you will enjoy this talk!After re-purposing CAPTCHA so each human-typed response helps digitize books, Luis von Ahn wondered how else to use small contributions by many on the Internet for greater good. At TEDxCMU, he shares how his ambitious new project, Duolingo, will help millions learn a new language while translating the Web quickly and Carolyn Brewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01751715672073937628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-56783643461539535762012-01-11T14:23:00.000-08:002012-01-11T14:31:57.674-08:00Worth mentioning – January 11, 2012Articles that have caught my eye recently - An eBook is not a Book by Nate Hill on the PLA Blog“mapping the basic constraints of physical media onto digital media is no wiser an enterprise than making gold from graphite” Getting serious about SOPA – what librarians need to do by Jessamyn West on Librarian.net. “we need to do a few things: understand how this bill is supposed to work, be clear Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-80553712270866327162012-01-06T13:51:00.000-08:002012-01-06T13:54:18.626-08:00New Year's Update from NTLPAs the calendar turns over to 2012, NTLP is already several months into our fiscal year 2012, a transition year for us. After 40 years of being funded by the Texas State Library as a regional library system, now NTLP is continuing to support library development as a member-supported nonprofit corporation.In November and December 2011, NTLP Executive Director Carolyn Brewer and the NTLP staff Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13147625570735326419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-17237455482932992222012-01-06T12:20:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:22:39.685-08:00Public Information Act ChangeAs the Public Information Act consultant at NTLP, I attend annually the Open Government Conference provided by the Office of the Texas Attorney General. One of the points made at last month's conference is, in my opinion, very important for many Texas libraries.The 82nd Legislature amended Texas Government Code 552.117 to indicate that each (current and former) employee or official of a dona weismanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12117211720599716179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18400003.post-77114698548318537452011-08-05T12:50:00.000-07:002011-08-05T12:50:18.532-07:00Homebound workshops in August - new content added!Registration is open for two face-to-face NTLP workshops in August:
Books and More To Their Door! Making Your Library More Inclusive
Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Time: 9:30-4:00
Location: Haltom City Public Library
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Time: 9:30-4:00
Location: Denton Public Library, South Branch
These workshops will feature a panel discussion from the directors and outreach Marci Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17962979402123168776noreply@blogger.com