NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition

"The NMC, the University of Applied Sciences (HTW) Chur, the German National Library of Science and Technology (TIB), Hannover, and ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, are jointly releasing the NMC Horizon Report > 2015 Library Edition during a special online event. This is the second edition of the NMC Horizon Report that explores the realm of academic and research libraries in a global context." - NMC Horizon Report

Links to more information:

• NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition Wiki
• NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition Panel
• NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition (video)
• NMC Horizon Report: 2015 Library Edition (PDF)
• NMC Horizon Report Project

IES: Academic Libraries 2010

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) recently released Academic Libraries: 2010 First Look.

The Academic Libraries: 2010 First Look summarizes services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in 2- and 4-year, degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Findings Include:

• Academic libraries held approximately 158.7 million e-books and about 1.8 million electronic reference sources and aggregation services at the end of FY 2010.
• Academic libraries spent approximately $152.4 million for electronic books, serial backfiles, and other materials in FY 2010. Expenditures for electronic current serial subscriptions totaled about $1.2 billion.
• During FY 2010, some 72 percent of academic libraries reported that they supported virtual reference services.
• Academic libraries reported 88,943 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in academic libraries during the fall of 2010.

Academic Libraries 2010 and it's supplemental tables are available in PDF via the IES web site. Special thanks to Stacie Marinelli, Reference Librarian at the National Library of Education for sharing this with the EBSS list.

Outside my reader

Keeping up with my feed list is easy; doing the same with journals that find their way to my office, not so much. I have developed the (bad) habit of copying articles I want to read, placing them in a folder labeled 'to read,' and forwarding the journal to the librarian next on the list. Here are a few articles that caught my attention this evening:

• Nurturing Innovation,
  "We can’t be held hostage by decisions made years ago. Our patron population has changed; we must as well." -- Meredith Farkas, American Libraries, October 2010
  
  
• Showing Our Strengths
  “Any questions?” library director Sasha asked her department heads, sitting back. A real Political Animal, Sasha nodded as the debate opened around the table. Within seconds, Fly-off-the-Handle Sue had protested the new administrative proposal. Slowpoke Richard geared up his predictable “let’s-wait-and-see” response. Touchy-Feely Candace tried to smooth some ruffled feathers. Meanwhile, Snake-in-the-Grass Sondra sketched out a plan on the flip chart. Smiling, Sasha and Just-the-Facts deputy director Bill enjoyed the interaction." -- Teresa L. (Terry) Jacobson, Library Journal, September 15, 2010
  
  
• LJ Back Talk: Go "Title Rogue"
  "What is it with the library profession and our obsession with individual titles? Is it insecurity? Fear? Elitism? Maybe the focus on titles is not entirely our fault. Perhaps the variety and inherent inconsistency found in this era of ever more creative job descriptions cause us to view titles as the most crucial part of the position." -- Sami Lange, Library Journal, September 15, 2010
  
  
• Something Old, Something New
  "In Aesop's The Ass, the Ape, and the Mole, a jackass complains he has no horns, while an ape laments he has not tail. A mole tells them both to pipe down, 'For poor moles are blind and in worse shape than either of you.' The upshot, be grateful for what you have." -- Lane Smith, Booklist Online, September 15, 2010.

Collection presentation & adjustment

Most of last year, and the bulk of this summer, was spent planning, purchasing, and processing collection items for the new IRC at the AU Columbus Center. The beginning of September brought an 'official' space planning visit; time was spent arranging furniture and the collection. Determining what should go where is fraught with challenge. For me, the IRC has always been a more fluid area. With the exception of this summer, I have moved one collection or another on the second floor to make things 'fit better' and be more useful and accessible for patrons. Therefore, one of the last things I said to the GA helping me was, live with it for a few months (this term). We can always move things around later.

Truer words ... After ordering media bags for the big books in Columbus, I developed display envy and determined to find a better way to present the main campus collection. Several days' research into library shelving led me to Library Design Association, they sent sample media rack bars from MJ Industries and Estey. I was able to test them in our stacks; one was perfect for audio books and the other for big books.

Last Friday the bars arrived, Monday I began the task of putting each of the big books into a hanging bag (it took significantly longer than anticipated) and organizing the collection. It looks wonderful! The bags hang spine out so labels on the top and bottom left corner are easily visible; the collection is presented in LC order. There is adequate room for users to browse the collection without having to pull big books from the cart.

This move has an added benefit, the adjacent collection is audio books and several of the big books have corresponding audio elements available. Placing the collection in LC order revealed a few holes, it would benefit to have a few more basic fiction and Spanish language titles (though I probably will need to purchase two more racks to facilitate the weight of these purchases). Signage is in place, the collection is ready for use, and notices were posted on the IRC news blog and scheduled to post on the library news blog later this week. The best thing? Students required to use big books in one of the children's literature classes have already commented happily on the change.

Well, of course

On overload from a busy day, my mind is wandering a bit as I decompress by watching Designed to Sell on HGTV.  Out of the blue, a technology a-ha moment. Interestingly enough, it highlights a study discussed today on the ALA Learning Round Table blog. But I digress.

The university web team recently updated the current students page. Included within the page is a new rss feed that features the library news blog. It's a great marketing function for the library - I've already scheduled posts for first year instruction sessions - and provides an opportunity for our blog news to reach a wider audience. When students select the headline, they are taken to a separate page generated by the Drupal module. I noticed, however, it displays only a snippet of each post as opposed to full text. Wondering if this was a function of the module, this morning I sent a help ticket thanking them for the prime real-estate on the student page and asking if it was possible to present the full post with links or if a link to the blog could be added within the created page.

A week into the new academic year, students in my technology class(es) have already successfully completed their first assignment. Several have worked ahead to the second and third assignment, publishing their first blog reflection post. Looking at their work, I noticed three elected to add social bookmarking links to post footers. I liked the idea and investigated how to add it to this blog and the library blog. Happily clicking the blog tab functions, I located what I needed and quickly adapted blogs footers to feature quick links (see below). While moving through tabs, I selected settings then site feed and noticed this blogs feeds were set to full, short, and short. Aha! I checked and the library news blog feed was set to short. I changed the feed option to full and saved. With luck, when we publish next the post will display as needed.

Now, what about the ALA Learning Round Table post? Today the blog featured a post titled Learn More, Do Nothing. The author discusses how taking a break from a problem and ruminating on it during quiet times often leads to success. Well, of course.

Literature rack & QR codes

I have been considering different ways to utilize QR codes in the IRC since returning from the Computers in Libraries conference this spring. I think they have potential to be an interesting creative outlet (instruction session scavenger hunt and student interaction, saving LibGuides to phones and simple signage tools) and they are a quirky fun technology. I wanted a way to make them feasible, functional, and visually appealing.

I created new signs for the Newbery and Caldecott sections of the juvenile collection; they lead-off the stacks. Signs are complemented by small literature holders with print copies of LibGuide pages, a more traditional handout format. New signs were created with screen shots of the LibGuide and a side bar with a QR Code displayed and text: "Snap! Send the QR Code to your Web Enabled Phone for the URL." My student workers thought it was fun after I explained, but there was not much interest in the signs (library wallpaper).

After contemplating the empty literature rack, I tossed all of the handouts at the end of the spring term,  trying to decide if it needed to be removed and what could be displayed in its place, I remembered the QR codes. Instead of updated handouts I generated QR codes for seven of my most popular education LibGuides and the IRC blog. After laminating, they fit cleanly into the rack with a small bit of tape securing them. The ninth opening has a definition of QR Codes and a small recycling statement.  I have not wasted paper on multiple copies, students can save URLs to their phones and print if they want a particular LibGuide and the rack has helped green the IRC. It remains to be seen if the rack/display garners interest or increased LibGuide use, but I am pleased with the result.

Why didn't I think of that?

I've mentioned before my interest in following Hot Stuff to view their "word of the day," peruse what they recommend as other interesting blogs to read, and see how Library Cloud rates; yes, that explains the meter in our sidebar. Today one of the blogs I read for the first time was The Strange Librarian, authored by Julie Strange. Her post, Solution for libraries: digital photo frames, details a variety of uses for simple, and often relatively inexpensive digital photo frames, in the library.

Why didn't I think of that? Especially considering I received one for Christmas (it is currently awaiting photo uploads) and look at it every day in my living room. This idea would work well at the circulation desk for hours, OhioLINK updates, marketing our blog, LibGuides, and web site, and general library information. It could be expanded to our library classroom in the basement posting classes, workshops, and seminars scheduled for the facility. I could use it in the Instructional Resource Center mirroring the circulation desk updates as well as announcements specific to the IRC.

With a bit of planning, this could be a time saver as well as visually appealing. While not horrifically expensive the frames would require budget funds, I do have a fiscal concern. Given the fact that within the last two months four computer mice have left the second floor under mysterious circumstances, is there a need to explore making them secure? Generally speaking, there is usually someone at the circulation desk. But if we submitted work orders to have them mounted outside the IRC or Library Instruction Classroom in the basement, would they follow the mice? Or, would tattle tape be a viable solution (it works for staplers and tape dispensers)?

The same, but different

The first wave of purchases for the AU Columbus Center IRC is arriving; cataloging has begun on book kits, reference books, and activity books. Fun factor aside, I was playing with the new puppets earlier, as items are placed in containers prior to cataloging it is obvious the new IRC will be unique, not a carbon copy of the current IRC. More importantly, that's how it should be. As noted on the IRC web site, the IRC collection "supports the teaching programs and curriculum of AU's Dwight Schar College of Education." Students at the Columbus Center will have different needs than traditional main campus users, as such the collection needs to adequately address and reflect this distinction.

In a previous post I mentioned the classification system / call numbers planned for the Columbus IRC would utilize simple word classification and numerical accession, with LC for reference. This will do more than make it simple for locating and shelving items initially; students will be able to use "other call number" in the catalog to have immediate access to only Columbus IRC items. Location codes have been added to the catalog allowing for search limits to be set by users. Cataloging has begun on the following items:

• Activity Books
• Book Kits
• IRC Reference

Using the other call number of "col activ" for activity books and "col bookkit" for book kits, it is easy to create links to these collections. Because location codes were developed for Columbus Circulating and Columbus Reference, users are also able to search in the traditional fashion and limit to a single collection. The IRC Reference link was created by using our catalog's word search option, placing an asterisk as the search term, and limiting the location to Columbus Center Reference (something I've previously used with students scanning the catalog for big books).

Corresponding web support for the new collections are following the same path, as collections are cataloged descriptions and links are placed on both the blog and web page. I've been a bit chagrined to discover my previous collection descriptions will not suffice. The basic bones of each provide a great template, but new information will accompany the new collection on the new support pages. That's how it should be, too.

The final countdown

Friday was the last day of classes; with mixed emotions I removed the GA created and student monitored course deadline countdown sign from the IRC door for the last time. We have facilitated an independent lab, Instructional Technology Lab, offered by the College of Education in the IRC for ten years (good grief).

When I first started at AU, there were many instances of students who did not know how to use email and the course featured technology skills geared toward using a laser disc player, over head projector, and carousel slide projector (the audio viewer). Technology progressed, course delivery evolved to Angel Learning, and basic course requirements reflected inclusion of web 2.0 elements alongside basic software requirements; students this spring were using Word, PowerPoint, Excel, scanners, World Book student, and researching the Internet for Blogs, Wiki's, and videos. Friday was not simply the end of the Spring 2010 term, it marked the last time this course will be offered, it has been decommissioned (so to speak).

One thing that did not change was the opportunity this course represented for the IRC; each academic year 300+ education students, pre-service teachers, visited the IRC in the library at least twice. One thing that did not change was the mixed reviews the course presented as students struggled to separate IRC and library functions and resources from the course. Hence the mixed feelings verbalized this week by me and the IRC student workers.

Freshman bring their own special energy to the AU each fall, it was exciting to be a part of their first steps to university life. My student workers have already brainstormed ideas we may be able to implement, enticing students to the IRC and library without the technology lab. Ideas have ranged from creating a Facebook page to instituting a game night highlighting materials kits in the IRC collection.

As for now, finals week and summer sessions are on our agenda as we bid the lab a fond farewell.

Library of the Future In Plain English

Making it's way through cyber-space today via tweets, Google alerts, Facebook, and blogs, is Library of the Future in Plain English.

If you are a fan of the Common Craft Explanations In Plain English videos, this production by Mal Booth, Sophie McDonald and Belinda Tiffen, from University of Technology, Sydney, Library, cleverly presents their view of a future library utilizing "ideas and concept for the video format that were borrowed from the Common Craft website" Plenty of food for thought and discussion exhibited here.

14th Off-Campus Library Services Conference

"The Fourteenth Off-Campus Library Services Conference will be held April 28-30, 2010, at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Please join us for this opportunity to explore issues related to delivering library resources and services to distance students and faculty." -- Conference Web Site

• Conference History and Purpose
• Conference at a Glance
• Conference Registration

Registration is open until March 26 – Late Registration begins March 27, 2010! For more information, visit the conference web site, facebook page, follow them on Twitter, or sign up for the list serv. 

Library Cloud contributor Betsy Blankenship, Ohio State University at Marion / Marion Technical College Library and Elizabeth Black, Ohio State University Libraries, will be presenting their session Linking Students to Library Resources through the Learning Mangement System on Wednesday, April 28th (Session 2, Superior Meeting Room).

NCES Releases "Academic Libraries: 2008 First Look"

From the IES newsflash this morning, Academic Libraries: 2008 First Look

Academic libraries held approximately 102.5 million e-books and about 3.6 million electronic reference sources at the end of fiscal year 2008. The National Center for Education Statistics within the Institute of Education Sciences has released the report "Academic Libraries: 2008 First Look." This report summarizes services, staff, collections, and expenditures of academic libraries in two- and four-year, degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Findings include:

• During FY 2008, there were about 138.1 million circulation transactions from academic libraries' general collection.
• Academic libraries reported 93,438 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working during the fall of 2008.
• Academic libraries spent about $6.8 billion during FY 2008.

From my bloglines account

I admit it, I browse my Bloglines account faithfully but do not read every feed every day. As with a newspaper, I check the headlines and delve deeper when something in particular catches my interest. These two items caught my attention as they portrayed interesting views regarding the social norm for libraries and higher education:

The F-Word, by Laurie Fendrich
Brainstorm, The Chronicle of Higher Education

"I came of age when the “f-word” first started entering ordinary conversation among educated people. Although The New York Times still won’t print it, The New Yorker will." ... read the article

Heather Has Two Mommies Turns 20, Leslea Newman
Soapbox, The More Things Change, Publisher's Weekly

"Two decades have come and gone since Heather, the little girl with two arms, two legs, two hands, two feet and two mommies popped out of my pen. And I am proud as any parent can be." ... read the article

Zero to Sixty

Yesterday Sara and I put finishing touches a "summer" project, a new LibGuide for the Dwight Schar College of Education Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. We started by evaluating our existing online resource and determined the information and users would be better served in the AU LibGuide environment. A quick needs assessment, in the form of three simple and individualized SurveyMonkey surveys, was sent to doctoral faculty, current doctoral cohorts, and recent program graduates. We worked to facilitate their requests and provide quality library information resources:

• Library Mentor Program
• Using the Library Catalog
• Electronic Book Resources
• Library Database Resources
• ERIC Digital Library
• Education Journals
• Dissertation & Literature Reviews
• AU Dissertation Links (by yr)
• Citation & Plagiarism
• 2.0 Research Elements
• Quick Links
  

Tags and a unique URL were created, the guide quickly and effortlessly associated with education resources category, a bit of finessing done with the title (we still are not thrilled), and without more ado, the guide was ready: Ed.D. Research: Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. A soft roll-out began with an email to the doctoral faculty, soliciting feedback so we can make changes to suit their needs. Currently under a web content freeze, the University will be unveiling a new web site soon; links from the library web site are on hold. However, we plan to email guide links to survey participants and post an announcement on the Library News Blog and IRC Blog. After publication, I verified our link from the library's LibGuide home and noted guide numbers; we are starting our second academic year with LibGuides and have gone from zero to sixty during that time.

Then, because the sheer joy of publishing the finished product made me a bit giddy, all I could think of was Alabama's song, "I'm In a Hurry" ... "I don't know why I drive so fast, my car has nothing to prove, it's not new, but it'll do zero to sixty in 5.2." It has been stuck in my head for two days now, so for my viewing pleasure, and maybe yours as well (after the requisite advertisement).

Thanksgiving Break?

Today began quite briskly with both weather and students, the latter working to finish last minute assignments before break and the former causing definite annoyance. As the day progressed patron traffic slowed dramatically, the printer rested, and computers became available; unfortunately the snow has not followed this trend. I have just returned to my office to resume work on a LibGuide! (and eat lunch)after sending a grateful student worker home early and covering the end of her afternoon shift in the IRC. A quick conversation with my GA, granting her permission to leave early if weather conditions worsen and IRC traffic remains non-existent, completes the last of my administrative tasks.

Thanksgiving break begins today after night classes or a student's last class, whichever comes first. It has been a long arduous stretch between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, break gives us all an opportunity to be thankful for an abundance of things and recharge for the last week of classes and finals. The library has already prepared to do its part by offering extended hours (the library as a place) and a holiday open house with music, fellowship, and food. And of course, there will be special holiday treats for my student workers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Synchronized, it's more than swimming

Last Monday, a week later than posted previously (I jumped the gun a bit prematurely), the new Ashland University Library and Instructional Resource Center web sites went live shortly before noon. Thanks to the seemingly endless hard work by the Ashland University web master Shelly Shaver, the site roll-over itself went seamlessly. That said, network server changes combined with script oddities and other technology related gremlins, soon proved the actual launch may have been the easiest part of the process.

During the week that followed I learned, among other things, some scripts can overpower inherent LibGuides scripts and render the content management system useless (oops), style sheets can be applied to many different things, my computer is capable of hopping IP addresses, and web sites can, and probably should, be synchronized ... without the flowery swimming caps (it was cool). Luckily most of my lessons were learned behind the scenes and user web site service was not interrupted.

For the things we could not correct in-house (library), the IT department was able to manage for us by the end of the week - and - our new blog provided a communication tool to update users on progress. A few outstanding tasks remain, including a non-invasive header for LibGuides and updating the ERes page, but overall the project is completed. Yes!

Batting 1000

I missed the third anniversary of my first library blog earlier this summer (it was June 10th), but this morning I noticed something more interesting. Today marks the 1000th post for my Instructional Resource Center Blog. While not overly surprised the post in question details new juvenile books added to the collection, nor concerned it took three years to get to this point, I admit a tiny part of me is amazed the blog has lasted three years. The first official post, I specify "official" because until post option was available allowing users to schedule post dates, the IRC blog had one lonely post dated 2003 that refused to be changed, was The New IRC Collection Blog published June 10, 2005.

"Welcome to the Instructional Resource Center Collection Blog! Beginning with the fall 2005 academic school year, this blog will replace the yearly book lists published on the IRC web page. Items, both circulating and reference, will be entered as they are cataloged and available for use. Each entry will have an accompanying heading, specific to the genre. Please note that anyone with a specific book request will continue to be personally notified via email when the books arrive."

While this blog endeavor was specifically created for outreach and information, it had the exciting dual purpose - a perk - of being a time saver for me. Instead of carving out time to create collection lists at the end of the year, I was able to present new books as soon as I had the slips from technical services. With the blog I am able to categorize purchases added to the IRC, education, and juvenile collections, and tag them for ease of use. I have also quit flooding faculty member email inboxes with notifications and provided them access to new book lists at their leisure.

The blog has evolved somewhat with color, widgets, photographs, search boxes, and links to library web page and other library blogs. And, I do post IRC hours, technology updates, and basic news and information on an as needed basis. But it's main function and purpose remains the same ... a time saving technology to present collection development information and market the IRC. Here's hoping the technology remains viable for another few posts.

Love a Librarian

It seems almost redundant to post this to a librarian-run blog, but hey, we all know other librarians who might be deserving of this award - - -

CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK/NEW YORK TIMES
I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD ANNOUNCED
Nominations for public librarians open August 15

Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded the American Library Association $489,000 to support the new Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award.

Administered by the ALA’s Public Information Office and Campaign for America’s Libraries, the award will launch this year and will continue annually through 2013. The award encourages library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community.

Nominations for public librarians run from August 15 through October 1. Nominations for school and academic librarians begin September 2 and continue through October 15.

“In our democratic society, the library stands for hope, for learning, for progress, for literacy, for self-improvement and for civic engagement. The library is a symbol of opportunity, citizenship, equality, freedom of speech and freedom of thought, and hence, is a symbol for democracy itself,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.
"We’re thrilled to be working with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the American Library Association to honor librarians who play such a vital role in our communities,” said Scott Heekin-Canedy, president of The New York Times. “What began as a local Times initiative in New York City seven years ago has grown to a national awards program and now we are proud to be co-presenting the award with the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the ALA.”

“This award will continue to raise awareness of the valuable contributions of today’s librarians and the ways they make a difference in people’s lives and their communities, schools and campuses,” said ALA President Jim Rettig.

Up to 10 librarians in public, school and academic libraries will be selected each year and each will be honored at a ceremony and reception in New York at TheTimesCenter, hosted by The New York Times. Each winner also will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a $500 travel stipend to attend the awards reception. In addition, a plaque will be given to each award winner’s library.

Nominees will be judged by a selection committee based on quality of service to library users, demonstrated knowledge of the library and its resources and commitment shown in helping library users.

Each nominee must be a librarian with a master’s degree from a program accredited by the ALA in library and information studies or a master’s degree with a specialty in school library media from an educational unit accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Nominees must be currently working in the United States in a public library, a library at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or at an accredited K-12 school.

For more information, visit www.ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.

The Carnegie Corp. of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote "the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding." For more than 95 years, the corporation has carried out Carnegie's vision of philanthropy by building on his two major concerns: international peace and advancing education and knowledge. As a private grant-making foundation, the corporation will invest more than $100 million this year in nonprofits to fulfill Carnegie's mission, "to do real and permanent good in this world." The corporation's capital fund, originally donated at a value of about $135 million, had a market value of $3 billion on Sept. 30, 2007.

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 65,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library and information services and public access to information.

Ohio Librarians - LSTA Minigrants Available

The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce the availability of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds for minigrant proposals. Under the minigrant program, any type of library may apply for funds in one of the following categories: Innovative Technology; Staff Development and Training; Services to Target Populations; and Services to Youth.

A maximum of $24,000 in federal funds may be requested. A cash match of 25% of the total project amount is required.

Proposals are due at the State Library by 4:00 p.m. October 29, 2008.
Approved proposals will run from April 1, 2009 through August 31, 2009.

The Request for Proposal, Application Guidelines and other documents to assist with preparing the application can be found at www.library.ohio.gov/publib/lstamini.html

If you have any questions about the LSTA Minigrants or the LSTA program in general, please contact Missy Lodge, Head, Library Programs and Development at mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us, 614-644-6914 or 800-686-1532.

OLSSI 2008

OLSSI 2008
The Hidden Treasure of Libraries:

SUPPORT STAFF!

The Ohio Library Support Staff Institute is almost here !
Sunday, July 27th – Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

The University of Toledo.

Ahoy Mateys! The 2008 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute will set sail July 27 – 29, 2008 at the University of Toledo. OLSSI has planned outstanding programs, interesting lectures, and fun activities for participants.

Lodgings for all attendees and scallywags will be at the Crossings, which features air-conditioned 3-bedroom suites. Each attendee will have his or her own bedroom.

The University of Toledo has a beautiful campus, including Centennial Mall. This picturesque lawn area in the heart of campus was named “One of the 100 most beautifully landscaped places in the country" by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Add in the 47-acre Stranahan Arboretum, the Center for the Visual Arts, six libraries, and the shops and restaurants of Toledo and nearby Sylvania, Ohio, and OLSSI 2008 is shaping up to be the best ever!

Grab the opportunity to network with peers, be exposed to new job-related skills and knowledge, and gain a sense of community and support from other library assistants throughout the state and region!

Classes include:

• Audiobooks, eBooks, Music, & Video: Digital Downloads Without Pirating!
• No Need to Draw Yer Cutlass! How Facebook Can Work for Libraries
• Putting the Rrrrrr in PublisheR: Making a Brochure from a Template
• Sail Ho! WorldCat Local and Resource Discovery
• Charting the Frontier of the Internet: Web 2.0

So come and be a part of the fun and learning that is OLSSI !
To register & find out more, visit us online at: http://www.olssi.org/

Michael Bradshaw, Vice-Chair Ohio Library Support Staff Institute