News from May, 2009

May 1, 2009 -- Join us for a day in the sun!  SELCO will host Camp Read-A-Lot, a fun-filled summer literature experience for teachers, media specialists, and public library staff, on August 13, 2009 at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, 8:30-4 p.m.  Campers are invited to read exciting titles for children grades 2-5 from June-August.  Then come to camp in August to share ideas with colleagues and listen to engaging speakers while enjoying a gorgeous summer day.  The registration fee is $15.  For more information, visit the Camp Read-A-Lot wiki by clicking here.  To register for this event, please click here.  Questions?  Email us at camp@selco.info.

May 6, 2009 -- Orders for the Spring 2009 Cooperative PC Purchase have been collected and processed.  Nine Online Libraries ordered a total of:

              9 - Staff Desktop PCs
              5 - 17" Flat Panel Monitors
              7 - Microsoft Office licenses
              4 - Barcode Scanners
              1 - 160GB External Hard Drive
              1 - Media Card Reader
              3 - Network Laser Printers
              45 - 1GB USB Flash Drives

We have placed orders with various vendors for these items and will begin installations as they arrive.

May 6, 2009 -  We will be shutting down all systems in the SELCO office for a brief time on Monday evening, May 11th.  This outage will occur after hours, beginning after 9PM.  This outage will be so that we can replace the batteries in the Uninterruptable Power System in the SELCO server room.

We expect this to be a short outage, lasting around an hour.  Once the battery work is complete, all systems will be brought back online Monday evening.

May 8, 2009 -- Online meeting information for next week's Technology Users Group meeting has been sent out to Automation Contacts and is repeated below:

We're looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday for the Technology Users Group meeting but, we also know that it's not always possible to get way.  Therefore, we are providing on online meeting for those who wish to attend via the internet:
1.  Please join my meeting, Tuesday, May 12 at 9:30 AM Central Daylight Time.

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/586436603

 2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended.  Or, call in using your telephone.

 Dial 914-339-0012

Access Code: 586-436-603

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting

 Meeting ID: 586-436-603

  If you cannot make the online meeting either, don't panic!  We will offer a recording of the meeting, including all presentations, via SELCOtv a few days later.

 For those attending online, please note that we've made a few changes from our past meetings:

1. Remote attendees are asked to join the meeting no later than 9:00 AM (30 minutes before the meeting starts) to give us time to troubleshoot any problems that might arise.

 2.  Please let us know in advance that you plan to attend online by emailing Donovan Lambright, SELCO Automation Librarian.

 3.  Please keep your phone muted anytime you are not actually speaking.

 Thanks for helping us provide a (knock on wood) trouble-free online meeting!

 See you all on Tuesday!

May 14, 2009 -- The May 21 meeting materials for the Joint ILS Operations and Technology Policy Committee have been posted to the SELCO website.

May 14, 2009 -- Representatives of Minnesota libraries, library friends and foundations, and our business community spent a day on Capitol Hill visiting Members of Congress and their staff.  Each year the American Library Association (ALA) hosts a National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) and Washington, DC is a buzz with library supporters and library lingo.  A summary of the Minnesota visits was posted to the SELCO Librarian blog with more detail on LSTA, eRate and CPSIA, as well as links to event photos.

Left to right:  David Pointon, 3M-National Sales Manager, Mike Bloomberg, Augsberg College and 2009 MLA Federal Legislative Chair, Ann Hutton, SELCO Executive Director, Representative James Oberstar, Minnesota's 8th District, and Peter Pearson, President of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library

May 18, 2009 -- Are you a library paraprofessional, library support staff member or media specialist looking to learn more about library services?  Then Branch Out 2009 is the conference for you!  Branch Out 2009 - Beyond Your Comfort Zone will take place on August 4-5, 2009 at the Willmar Conference Center Holiday Inn in Willmar, MN.  Programs include What is Library Service Day 1, Service to Teens, Stress Management, Managing the Small and One Person Library, Online Learning and Training Platforms, and more, including a special appearance by the Minnesota Crime Wave.  To register for the program and for more detailed information, please visit the Branch Out 2009 homepage by clicking here.  Deadline for registration is July 17, 2009.  Register today to branch out beyond YOUR comfort zone!

May 18, 2009 -- Good news!  If you haven't had a chance to complete More 23 Things on a Stick, the deadline has been extended to June 20, 2009!  And anyone who is registered and finished at least 10 Things by June 20 will receive the completion prize.  If you finish all 23 Things, you will receive a bonus prize.  So, take your time and have fun!

May 18, 2009  8:10 AM -- The problems we were experiencing with Horizon have been resolved.  If you continue to experience problems please contact the SELCO Help Desk.  Thank you for your patience in this matter.

May 18, 2009  7:45 AM -- We are experiencing a problem with Horizon and are currently working on resolving it.  We will send out more information once the problem has been resolved.  Thank you for your patience on this matter.

May 21, 2009 -- In observance of Memorial Day, the SELCO office will be closed on Monday, May 25.  There will be no Automation Support that day. There will also be no delivery service on Monday.  A regular Monday delivery will take place on Tuesday that week.

May 27, 2009 --As a preview for a coming presidential announcement, libraries should consider the potential for new volunteers interested in serving libraries.  On June 22, President Obama will announce a new volunteer opportunity.  This national initiative will encourage people to participate in volunteer service.  The Administration has approached the American Library Association (ALA) to participate and inquired about volunteer opportunities in libraries.

According to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, one focus will address children losing ground over the summer in education.  Sec. Duncan suggested asking volunteers to get people to sign up for library cards, supporting summer reading programs and collecting books to donate to the library.  ALA strongly suggested they suggest collecting money for library staff to buy books or ask the librarian what materials are needed.

ALA Washington Office representative, Emily Sheketoff, recommends libraries be ready to respond.  ALA believes the President's Call to Action will generate millions of volunteers around the country.  This new volunteer initiative will be managed by the Corporation for National Service, which is responsible for Americorps.

May 27, 2009 -- Mark your calendars!  SELCO will be hosting a back-to-school Boot Camp session on Wednesday, August 26, 9:30-4:30.  This session is for new school library media center personnel who need immediate knowledge of SELCO basic operations for the beginning of the school year.  Attendees will be introduced to members of the SELCO staff and learn pertinent information about basic circulation, the SELCO catalog, etc.  To view the event flyer, please click here.  To register for Boot Camp, please click here.  Hope to see you there!

May 29, 2009 -- Minnesota's Legacy Amendment raises revenue for Clean Water, Outdoor Heritage, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage.  Libraries will be beneficiaries of a portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage  funding.  The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will received 19.75% of the sales tax funds generated by the Legacy Amendment.  Libraries will be among the many recipients with specific appropriations for the Regional Public Library funding for the arts and education programs and the Minnesota Digita Library.  Legacy Amendment Funding FY2010-FY2011: Implications for Libraries, has been prepared by Mark Ranum, 2009 MLA Legislative Chair, as an introduction to this this new funding stream.