Keeping Cool

I recently received the July/August issue of Consumer's Corner, a newsletter from the Office of the Ohio Consumer's Counsel and in it contained a list of ways to save money on summer cooling bills. While most libraries have no control over the general environment of the library itself and cannot lower thermostat and install energy-saving features, we can pass along to our users ideas and tips to help them save.

10 ways to save money on your summer cooling bills:
1. Get an air-conditioning tune-up
2. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs
3. Conserve water
4. Use the OCC's Smart Energy House (an interactive tool that breaks down
how much an energy appliance use)
5. Use shading to keep heat out
6. Install a programmable thermostat
7. Take advantage of utility-sponsored programs
8. Add more insulation
9. Open windows, raise thermostat
10. Use ventilation fans sparingly

I wonder if there is a list of ways to conserve energy in libraries? What would you do in your library?

Resource Opportunity

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), in cooperation with the ALA Public Programs Office, is now accepting applications for the second round of Picturing America. Online applications will be accepted through Oct. 31 at http://picturingamerica.neh.org.

Picturing America is a free educational resource that helps teach American history and culture by bringing some of our nation’s greatest works of art directly to classrooms and libraries. At no cost, recipients will receive a set of high-quality reproductions of 40 pieces of great American art (each approximately 24 inches by 36 inches) and an illustrated teachers resource book with information about the artists and artwork and lesson ideas for all grade levels to facilitate the use of the reproductions in core subject areas. Delivery of these materials is scheduled for spring 2009. Additional educational resources are also available through the Picturing America Web site, http://picturingamerica.neh.gov. Resources to support public library programming will be added in the spring.

All public libraries, schools (K–12, public, private, parochial, charter and home school consortia) in the United States and its territories who have not previously received Picturing America may apply for the program through Oct. 31 at http://picturingamerica.neh.gov.


Additionally, other libraries (academic, special, research) with programs and collections for the general public are eligible to apply. Please note that previous recipients of the Picturing America collection are not eligible for a second award.

With questions, contact the ALA Public Programs office at publicprograms@ala.org.

Article opportunity

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

College & Undergraduate Libraries presents

"Agility by Design: New Roles for Academic Libraries on Campus and Beyond"

College & Undergraduate Libraries, a peer-reviewed Taylor and Francis publication, invites proposals for articles to be published in a special issue focusing on emerging and perhaps unconventional roles of the academic library, both on campus and beyond. The growing intensity of users’ modern-day information needs coupled with an information technology landscape that is open and ever-changing, is facilitating administrative, organizational and programmatic changes within many academic libraries. In many cases, this is best illustrated by staff with new or unusual qualifications, backgrounds, or position descriptions; cutting edge services that are out of the mainstream; traditional services offered in innovative ways; new staffing configurations; new collaborations both on and off campus; and new roles on campus.

Would you describe your library as having any of these features? If so, then you may have an article to contribute to College & Undergraduate Libraries.

The special issue will be edited by Scottie Cochrane from Denison University (cochrane@denison.edu) and Valeda F. Dent of Rutgers University (vdent@rutgers.edu).

In their pieces, authors should focus solely on those aspects that might be defined as unconventional or nontraditional in any area of library operations, programs, services, or administration. Authors are invited to submit articles/proposals for pieces such as:

1. theoretical, philosophical, or ideological discussions of the transition from traditional library roles, services, practices and organizational structures, to the more nontraditional/unconventional
2. opinion or position papers
3. case studies
4. collaboration or relationships between librarians and other campus partners
5. collaboration or relationships between librarians and off-campus partners
6. research studies dealing with the impact of nontraditional/unconventional roles, services, practices or organizational structures
7. annotated reviews of the literature.

We welcome proposals from librarians and campus and off-campus collaborators, individually and as teams. The proposal should consist of an abstract of 500 words together will all author contact information. Articles should run at least 20 double-spaced pages in length.

For additional information, please contact either editor. Please submit proposals to Scottie Cochrane or Valeda Dent by August 18, 2008. Selected proposals will be announced September 5, 2008, and first drafts of accepted proposals will be due by December 5, 2008.

Scottie Cochrane Valeda F. Dent

It's Friday and Nature Calls

It's Friday and the sun is shining and I am grateful for that, since we are doing collection inventory this summer and I've been working on it today.

I've been noticing more wildlife floating by my window and around my building lately. A young groundhog wandered by earlier this week but I wasn't fast enough to snag a picture of him. I did, however, catch a wild canary who has been repeatedly banging on my window for the last two weeks.










I also caught a great picture of a moth resting
on the ground just outside my building.






and a chipmunk just darted by my window as I am writing this!


There are great advantages to having a pond right outside your building and windows in your office!!

Why I like My Job Today

Why? Because the sun is shining, and I get to enjoy some wildlife right outside my office window. The two ducks are not afraid and the male is staring quite intently at me as two geese decide to wander by, too.

That's why I love my office with windows!

What's In?

I was reading the latest issue of University Business over the weekend and in the editor's column was a discussion of what's in in technology and what's out. Included in a chart of technology trends was that Library Stacks were out and "collaboratories, e-Journals, Wikipedia and Google" were now in. At least he didn't include librarians as being out! The term "collaboratories" was an interesting one; I had not heard it before. But, as libraries continue to develop and evolve with more electronic functions, I can see where that term would be appropriate. Many libraries are now cooperatively offering joint facilities with IT folks, where students have access to multimedia production hardware and software to work on course assignments. The assignments themselves are becoming more complex in nature, requiring increased knowledge of computers and various kinds of software. I think that in that respect, the library is a great place to think of going.

But including Wikipedia and Google (internet sources) and not library resources is disturbing to me as a director. It is a shame that "library stacks" are what the library is considered to be about and not the many other excellent (and credible!) resources that we do offer. And while Wikipedia and Google are there (whether librarians like it or not), they still must be treated with care and crictial evaluation. It's too bad that critical thinking and information literacy are not considered an "in" trend.

Library as a place

Today is the last day of classes at Ashland University, finals start with a flourish on Monday and students are to be out of the dorms soon after. Things will slow for a time as everyone prepares to celebrate the season. This week also features a library tradition, a holiday open house.

During all of the hustle and bustle surrounding projects and finals and extended library hours, AU library presents a holiday open house to the university community. Filled with home made treats, as well as a lighter fare for those watching their calories, and Christmas music, we gather to celebrate the season. This year our open house event was held Wednesday, December 5th, during the first significant snow fall of the season.

Lucky for us, the snow and cold temperatures did not deter attendees; we hosted between 250 and 300 members of the AU campus community. Open house ambiance was enhanced pianist Ron Sprunger, Professor Emeritus of Music Education, and the Ashland University Chamber Singers. One of the nicest things about this event is the appreciation expressed by all who take part. From shared fellowship to shared cookie recipes, the open house is something people look forward to each year. It is one more aspect of the library as a vital place within the campus community.

Take a few minutes to enjoy the Ashland University Holiday e-card.

Tags: Ashland University Library, Academic library, Library as a place