News from July, 2009

Ann Hutton, Executive DirectorIf local funding for library operations trends upwards, even ever so slightly, then library Maintenance of Effort (MOE) is an aspect of fiscal management that never crosses the administrator's desk.  However, when MOE questions arise, the topic is often confusing due to the complicated nature of the formula and the need to review levels of support from multiple years.  This year in particular Library MOE is even more confusing with an amendment to Minnesota Statutes 134.34, Subd.1 and Subd. 4 and the unprecedented actions by the Governor unallotting at the beginning of the State's biennium to balance a budget shortfall.

The new statutory language incorporates the suggestions of the hard working Minnesota Library Funding Committee.  The supporting documents listed below explain the outcome of the changes to the statutory language regarding Minnesota library funding, both the minimum level of support and maintenance of effort.  Please share these with public library boards, other library staff and city or county staff and elected officials interested in the topic.

• The MOE Legislative Outcomes document is meant to be used as a handout when talking to library boards, city councils and county boards. (PDF 58KB)
• The MOE Talking Points will give the presenter in the above scenario more detail.  Either can be widely shared.  (PDF 55KB)
• The final Library MOE statutory language approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.  (PDF 64KB)

There were many issues raised during the discussions by the Minnesota Library Funding Committee that did not involve a statutory language change as part of the solution, but do nevertheless change the definition of maintenance of effort.  An example is the list of items included under "capital costs".  State Library Services was instrumental in both defining and allowing these changes, which represent significant positive changes to MOE.

Libraries across the state owe their thanks to Peg Werner, Viking Library System Director and Chair of the Minnesota Library Funding Committee, Ken Behringer, Dakota County Library Director and 2009 MLA President, Elaine Keefe, Capitol Hills Associates and MLA/MEMO Lobbyist, and Mark Ranum, Plum Creek Library System Director and 2009 MLA Legislative Committee Chair, for shepherding the Library MOE amendment through the 2009 legislative session, including finding passionate authors, testifying and providing prompt, meaningful and illustrative data.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

As outlined in an earlier SELCO Librarian blog post describing the complicated nature of the amended Library Maintenance of Effort (MOE) statute,  MOE for 2009 and 2010 will be especially difficult to calculate due to the number of variables.  Here is a general outline of how MOE will be calculated in the coming years, based on information currently available from the Minnesota Departments of Education, Finance and Revenue.

For 2009

Each local entity will be allowed to reduce its level of local support by an amount comparable to the percentage of Local Government Aid (LGA) or County Program Aid (CPA) unallotments as announced by the Governor or up to 10%, whichever is less.  If this is needed, the library and the city or the county will need to initiate a request for re-certification.  This request should be sent to Ann Hutton, SELCO Executive Director.  The request will be forwarded to Nancy Walton, State Library Development and Services Specialist, at the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).  SELCO has already started this process for one library and received an email response from Suzanne Miller, State Librarian, that recertification is pending while awaiting financial data from the Department of Revenue.  If other libraries, cities or counties are interested in a revised Maintenance of Effort certification for 2009, please contact the SELCO office.

For 2010

MDE will review the 2008 and the 2007 amounts of local library support for operating purposes and will certify a 2010 MOE based on whichever is less, the 2007 or 2008 level of funding.  This amount may be reduced further if there have been reductions to the local Adjusted Net Tax Capacity (ANTC) and/or there are further reductions due to LGA or CPA unallottments which will impact the local unit of government in 2010.  The funding amounts used for certification are taken directly from the annual reports submitted by each public library as required by Minnesota Statute.

For 2011

The Maintenance of Effort amount will be the funding level provided in the second (2009) or third (2008) preceding years, whichever is less.

What factors into the calculation?

The final MOE calculation prepared by MDE requires three figures for each library funding entity:

• R01 from each library's annual report and provided by SELCO to MDE as a required element in the Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) grant application.  This data was submitted June 24 for the 2010 calculations.
• Population estimates from the State Demographer's Office.  MDE uses the most current estimates as of July 15 and available on the Demographer's website.
• Property values as determined by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Once MDE has all three figures and runs the formula, the letters for the 2010 MOE certification will be prepared and distributed to cities, counties and libraries.  Generally the Certification of Minimum Local Support letters are distributed in late-July or early-August.  Although, delays may occur if a library has not submitted financial data or does not meet MOE as previously certified.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

Excerpt from the Pine Island News-Record -- PI City Council approves hiring Van Horn Library DirectorAlice Duschanek-Myers, Pine Island Council/School Board reporter

PINE ISLAND - On Tuesday, June 16, the Pine Island City Council approved hiring Cheryl A. Hill as the new director of the Van Horn Public Library. Retiring director Jeanne Acker told the council there were twenty-four applicants for the position. After reviewing the applications, four were interviewed. Acker will retire in August, and Hill will begin as the director of the library after ten days of training.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

I had the opportunity on July 1, 2009, to visit the Media Center at Goodhue Schoolsto assist Media Specialist Corrie Westphall with a re-design of space.  A bank of 18 computers had been removed from the media center to be used in another part of the school which left a fairly large open space on the elementary side of the Media Center.  It also left Corrie with an opportunity to make some changes to the space!  The ultimate goal for Corrie was to create a more defined space for elementary students in the media center.  One of the challenges the Goodhue Media Center staff faces in this shared space is the mix of age groups that could potentially use the space at the same time.  The staff noticed that a number of younger elementary students felt apprehensive to use the Media Center when older students were present.  Another goal was to open up the elementary portion of the space a bit more to accomodate a variety of uses, including classroom space, a larger reading area for elementary students, and better patron and staff traffic flow through that space.  We were joined by Goodhue Elementary Principal Mark Opsahl to discuss several options that Corrie had put together.  After many trips back and forth across the space and asking "What about this idea?" I think we came up with a workable plan, including adding back a few of the computers that were to be taken from the space.

I enjoy these types of opportunities (or challenges) so if you have an upcoming project that you'd like assistance with figuring out how to redesign or rearrange space or just want another set of eyes to look at the space and offer some ideas, I'd be happy to visit with you.  Please feel free to contact me at mscott@selco.info or at (507) 288-5513.

Thanks to Corrie and Mark for allowing me to assist them with their project.  Just in case you're wondering, I forgot my trusty digital camera at the office so no photos to share from this visit.

Here at SELCO some of us use Yahoo Instant Messenger to keep in touch with each other here during the work day.  A good number of us use Pidgin, which is a universal IM client that supports more than just one IM protocol.  It has the ability to do Yahoo, MSN, Google, and many more all at the same time.

For those using Pidgin you may have noticed a couple of weeks ago Pidgin stopped working with Yahoo, since then I have been following them on RSS Feeds.  To fix the Yahoo problem they released a new version, 2.5.7.  However it also had a few bugs in it, such as not updating when users went offline.  They have released another new version, 2.5.8, that should fix that problem amoungst a few others.

However there is more to the story if you are reading their RSS Feeds.  Pidgin has been working on a new release, 2.6.0, but due to the Yahoo making changes on their end, Pidgin had to quickly release 2.5.7.  The new 2.5.7 created some more bugs, which they fixed in the new release, 2.5.8.  Keep in mind a lot of these "bumps" have been created by Yahoo forcing Pidgin's hand a little too soon.  So for now, if you are not on the 2.5.8 release, go to their website and update to it.  And keep an eye out for their new 2.6.0 release that should be coming out in the near future.

http://www.pidgin.im/

Michael Flores, User Technology Manager

One thing I would like to point out with the Summer 2009 PC Cooperative Purchase is the drop in price for the Desktop model.  There is about a $100 savings from the Spring 2009 PC Purchase.  Part of this is due to the fact that Dell has gone with a different and new model of desktop.  One thing most people would be concerned about is, does this price savings mean a loss of power?  In this case it does not, in fact the processor on the new model is a little nicer than the desktop from the Spring 2009 PC Purchase.  So if you are in the market for a desktop for the Summer 2009 PC Purchase, I would highly recommend taking advantage of this savings from Dell.  The Optiplex 760 Desktop would make a great staff, or public computer.  If you do have any additional questions about the desktop, or any other items in the Summer 2009 PC Purchase, please contact the SELCO Help Desk.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

The National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA)has announced that $4.7 billion will be made available to "support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, to enhance broadband capacity at public computer centers, and to encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service."  Known as the Broadband Opportunities Program, this program is part of the overall American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The American Library Association (ALA) Washington office has been reviewing all updates and continues to provide details as they are made available.

Two opportunities to learn more about the application process for the broadband stimulus funds.  The first opportunity, Wednesday, July 8, 2009, from 3:00 - 4:30 PM, ALA will be hosting a "Know Your Stimulus" webinar.  John Windhausen from Telepoly, Chris McLean (former Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service) and Greg Rhode (former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration), now partners in the e-Copernicus consulting company will guide attendees through an overview of the application process for broadband stimulus money and answer any questions.  SELCO staff will be attending this webinar to learn more information.  If you are interested in attending this webinar, you may register at http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=3168#more-3168.

The second opportunity to learn more about the application process for the broadband stimulus funds in on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.  NTIA and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) are offering a free one-day workshop on applying for funds at the St. Paul Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul.  SELCO staff plan to also attend this workshop.  For more information about and to register for this workshop, click here.

Finally, ALA has put together a website called Know Your Stimulus.  There is information listed there with regards to all aspects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and what it means for libraries.  Under Broadband, check out the list of resources there, including Fiber to the Library: How Public Libraries Can Benefit from Using Fiber Optics, a 17-page guide to information about the importance of fiber optic technology for public libraries and strategies for obtaining connectivity.

SELCO staff will continue to monitor the information about the broadband stimulus funding as well as other information pertaining to stimulus funding.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

At the June 9, 2009 SELCO Advisory Committee Meeting, a discussion was held on the topic of library volunteers.  The topic of volunteers was held in anticipation of the President Obama's United We Serve volunteer initiative that was to begin on June 22, 2009 (see this post from SELCO's News Page for more information on the President's Initiative.)  There was a good discussion and the following documents were a result of that discussion.

• Presidential Initiative on National Service Group Discussion (PDF, 167 KB)
• Rochester Public Library Volunteer Application (2008) (PDF, 78 KB)
• Rochester Public Library Volunteer Flyer (PDF, 65 KB)
• Northfield Public Library Volunteer Page Application (2009) (PDF, 31 KB)

Additionally, Rochester Public Library uses https://cch.state.mn.us/ to conduct background checks on volunteers.
Finally, to hear this discussion in its entirety, click here to access the Meeting Video from the June 9, 2009 SELCO Advisory Committee Meeting (click on Part 4; the discussion starts around 17 minutes into the video.)

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian

I've come across a couple of interesting articles on libraries recently. The first I found after following a link (and then a few links after that) Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) posted on Twitter. It's the 20 Most Beautiful Libraries in the World.  I have to say I find it much more satisfying to gaze at than the beautiful people that will be announced in the next month or two.

With the good comes the bad... but also the hilarious. Getting a lot of press lately is the Awful Library Books blog. I read an article from Time Magazine about the blog and worried it would be a censorship issue. While the authors do recommend removing books from your collection, they are librarians writing to encourage other library staff members to weed outdated materal. They have lots of great examples, such as a book that uses the future tense to discuss the moon landing. I didn't see any of my favorite examples from weeding a Children's Department collection. Do you?

Finally, a an issue that is dear to my heart. When you work as a children's librarian, it's easy to become discouraged by the "leveling" of books-- the notion that books HAVE to be for a certain age level. As an adult reader who often dips into Young Adult or Children's books when I read, I find the idea that we should carefully monitor children's choices hard to swallow. I was happy to read an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinelthat agreed with me.

Edited to add 7/9/09: A library staff member pointed out that I had the incorrect link for Awful Library Books. It is now corrected.

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

As has been reported in Technology Users Group meetings and other venues, each Online Library will have their own version of the AquaBrowser online catalog slated for release in the next few months.  Each library has been asked to submit a banner graphic to appear at the top of each catalog page.  This allows the library to brand their unique version (within a standardized SELCO layout).  Today, 07-10-2009, is the deadline for Online Libraries to either submit a graphic or select one of three standard banners created by SELCO.

In response to our call, the libraries stepped up and are sending in some really cool stuff!  I thought you might be interested in a few samples:

Want to see all the banners?  Check them out on Flickr!

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

RDR Books, a small independent publishing house in Michigan, found itself at the center of a copyright and fair use legal whirlwind when it agreed to publish Steve Vander Ark's Harry Potter Lexicon.  Roger Rapoport, Publisher at RDR Books shared details of the legal battle during the ALA Washington Office Briefing and repeatedly commended ALA for its support, without which The Lexicon may not have been published.  In support of the author, the publisher, and future projects of a similar nature facing future litigious claims, Right to Write was established to offer writers general assistance and, if needed, pro bono legal advice.  The Judge's final ruling in the case which had stalled the book's printing and included a "take down notice" for the website, permitted publishing and offered many helpful suggestions which will result in stronger fair use reference tools in the future.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director, with ALA's Washington Office, offered and overview of library initiatives within the beltline.

ALA continues working closely with Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan to involve libraries in United We Serve.  Included in this call to service by President Obama was a special invitation for volunteers to show up at libraries and offer assistance, especially by reading with kids to help retain reading abilities through the long summer break.

An ALA initiative to gain a sufficient quantity of House signatures on a "Dear Colleague" appropriation letter supporting a substantial increase in LSTA funding fell short.  The President's budget included a small increase and it looks as if that will be the funding level within this budget.  ALA and library supporters will need to demonstrate substantial local advocacy efforts during the coming years if libraries want to see an increase in these state-based grants.

ALA's Committee on Legislation has a standing committee on LSTA.  Suggestions from the library community gathered at the 2008 annual conference were incorporated into the reauthorization language and the final proposal is in strong shape.

National Library Legislative Day 2009 had a successful turnout with 410 attendees contacting nearly all House and Senate members.  The 2010 legislative event will shift from May to June and coincide with regular conference activities when we gather in Washington, D.C. next June.  A rally at Senate Park will kick off National Library Legislative on June 28, 2010.  After which, attendees will meet the members of their state congressional delegation.

The American Library Association is conferencing in Chicago.  You can follow short snippets on twitter and longer summaries in the blogesphere.  The official conference tag is #ala2009 and SELCO Librarian is also using ALA2009 tag for easy sorting. http://www.flickr.com/photos/selco/3710688728/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/selco/3710688728/

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

SirsiDynix hosted an ice cream social for customers with an opportunity to meet and mingle with SirsiDynix Executives and staff, as well as COSUGI Board members.  As s new member of the COSUGI Board, I co-hosted a rather impromptu COSUGI user discussion with COSUGI President , Chris Hauser.  As the new, merged board only offiically assumed responsibilities on July 1, Chris reported on our organizational efforts in May and June and the new COSUGI websitein development.  As plans get underway for the first annual COSUGI conference to be held in Orlando, March 3-5, 2010 more information including online registration will be available.  Electronic snapshots of the previous individual user group websites (UUGI and CODI) have been archieved and access will also be through the new COSUGI site.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

The National Endowment for the Humanities(NEH) partnered with ALA's Public Program Office to offer Picturing America.  From 2007-2009, this grant program provided a collection of large, poster-size laminated reproductions of key artworks in American historyto schools and libraries.  Over 3,500 public libraries around the country benefited from this program, including the Lake City Public Library.  Specific details about the Lake City grant activities were reported in a  SELCO Librarian Dececmber 2008 blog post. More than 26,300 schools and school libraries also received the collection of 40 pieces of art with supporting educational materials.

The Public Library of District of Columbia served as a pilot site to adapt the curriculum centered resource materials for public library programming.  Nancy Davenport, Interim Director of Public Services, created public library units that included program outline, age appropriate leading questions for group discussion, a list of related library titles, supporting activities, and photos of both the art and programming materials.  Since the District of Columbia City Council has charged the library with providing programs and service on the "minor" Monday holidays when substantive portions of the District population are off work and using their libraries, the Picturing America program materials provided a perfect resource.

Lainie Castle, Public Programs Office Project Director, demonstrated the resources available to libraries on ProgrammingLibrarian.org.  A portion of the information will be available to any interested library staff member or volunteer responsible for community programming.  Additional support materials will only be available for the recipients of the Picturing America grants.  The website will include professionally produced promotional materials, MP3 files for self-guided audio tours, and access to the digital image database.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

At an Invitation only session, our vendor for federated searching, Serial Solutions, shared the latest in product developments and a glimpse at new features.  Stephen DiStasio, Serial Solutions Discovery Services Senior Product Manager, presented a brief overview of the WebFeat - 360 Search merger and the marriage of the best of federated searching technologies.  The new release (anticipated in December 2009) will integrate the best of both products including:

• Unified results sets with improved full-text" and "peer-reviewed" filtering
• Superior results clustering in which patrons can drill down into multifaceted results
• Local branding
• Customer service configuration features.The administrative console will shift many of the management tasks from Serials Solution technical staff to SELCO allowing us to manage authentication when resources are added, either regionally or locally, produce statistical reports and will include greater consortium support and flexibility.

Only current WebFeat customers will need a migration path to move to the improved 360 Search.  As a current customer, SELCO will offer 360 Search functionality with our AquaBrowser launch (coming later this summer).  The new 360 Search features introduced at ALA Annual Conference and anticipated in December will be automatic for the SELCO Online Libraries and this new functionality will only require training on our part.

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) there has been a buzz about broadband, middle-mile, last mile and fiber being part of the President's stimulus plan.  ARRA includes $7.2 billion for broadband and finally, last week, the NOFA (Notice of Fund Availability) and the related Federal eligibility guidelines came out with a very tight window for the first application cycle.  The electronic filing for the first round will open July 14 with a 30-day deadline of August 14.  Truly a time crunch when trying to absorb the complexity of the different funding streams, eligibility requirements that vary between two separate Federal agencies, and definitions of "unserved" and "underserved" that are still being refined.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the Department of Commerce and the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) in the Department of Agriculture will administer the funding.  The NTIA established the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) and the RUS grant process has a similar but different approach with the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).  While libraries may be eligible in both categories, BTOP and BIP, ALA technology sources conclude there are certainly more opportunities for libraries and library consortia in BTOP.

To assist conference attendees with this alphabet soup, ALA's Office of Information Technology Policyassembled a panel presenting on the topic, The Telecommunications:  Connecting in the 21st Century.  The speakers shared background info on the broadband initiative and offered helpful hints for a (hopefully) successful application.  Based on data collected annually by ALA, we have a fairly complete picture of the state of telecommunications in America's libraries.  The change has been significant with 76% of libraries reporting they offer wireless service in 2008 compared with only 18% providing this service in 2004.  And, 3/4 of those sites piggy backed on existing bandwidth rather than installing additional service which only adds to congestion.

ARRA is about the creation of jobs to stimulate the sagging economy and transitioning our country for a green future.  Broadband grant proposals should focus on:

• The library as a community anchor institution and an important e-government partner
• The library's role as a valuable resource in economic downturn, as well as a strong partner in catastrophes such as the Rushford Public Library serving as the emergency center
• The need for increased capacity building with a network sufficient for today and growth for the future
• The community need for accurate broadband mapping.

The broadband NOFA offers both good news and challenges for libraries.  There were very few "carve outs" in the new regulations but ALA was successful in getting specific language for libraries in the public computing centers eligibility section.  That's the good news.  However, there is a disappointment that more emphasis is given to residential over anchor institutions which may possibly have been influenced by the telecos.

John Windhausen, Telepoly Consulting, and frequent resource advocate for ALA has established the fast-growing Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition to highlight both the purpose and needs of anchor institutions, as well as stress the need for building fiber (or equivalent networks) using the anchor institutions as the jumping off points to neighborhoods.  Membership is free and includes large and small organizations with telecommunications interests.

Alan Inouye, Director OITP Office for Information Technology Policy offered very practical points libraries and consortiums should consider including in their applications.  Stress the library as community collaborator willing to cooperate.  The NOFA calls for multiple institutions to join together to meet discrete organizational purposes.  Sustainable adoption may be the easiest category for libraries to target for expanding computing centers and training, including great opportunities for upgrading routers, servers, and computers.  There is a total of $200 million available in this area with $50 million available in this first round.  However, there is a 20% required match for the public computer center funds.  A cash match is preferred but documentable in-kind costs may also be included.

Libraries that cannot make the July 14-August 14 application window should certainly continue investigation and develop grant proposals for rounds two and three.  While the later rounds will give libraries more opportunity to prepare, the additional time will also aid other applicants as well.  Be aware that the competition, especially for the later round will be stiff.  Inouye also warned that the Federal agencies will be refining the rules before subsequent rounds are announced.  Applicants will need to review the law, as well as revised grant requirements and rule changes carefully.  What might be eligible in round 1 could change for round 2 or 3.  While the amount of funding is large, so are the needs.  ALA's Inouye suggested caution and careful management of expectations.

Each Governor will be asked to endorse and help prioritize the requests from his or her state.  While some states may suffer from lack of gubernatorial support, the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force has been studying broadband expansion before ARRA was passed and has Governor Pawlenty's support.  The Task Force has been meeting since August 2008 and includes a library representative, Peg Werner, Director of Viking Library System.

The broadband proposals will be reviewed by a team of volunteers.  Don't assume that reviewers already know everything there is to know about broadband but also be concise and considerate of their time and the expected volume of application.  The litmus test for an application should be:  How does my application advance ARRA goals?  Each applicant should also carefully review all reporting and financial requirements, prior to submitting an application.  The broadband funds come with a lot of expectations for outcome based reporting and a clear audit trail.

As we know from previous E-Rate applications deadlines, waiting until the last day to file can have disastrous ramifications if networks or servers cannot handle the volume.  The worst day to file will be August 14, so consider submitting applications at least 4 days early --- which makes to the eligibility window even smaller!

This is an exciting time for broadband and library connectivity.  Again, Minnesota is ahead in many respects.  The annual Internet - Bandwidth study conducted jointly by ALA and Florida State University show that collaboration and aggregation works.  States with statewide or regional networks have stronger telecommunication networks, greater bandwidth saturation and fewer issues.  Libraries and online consortia like ours will need to identify best practices and demonstrated continually growing needs.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

I had the great opportunity to visit the Houston Public Library in Houston, MN on July 7, 2009.  The Library is located in the main business district in Houston and is definitely notdifficult to miss!  Housed in a building formerly used by the local telecommunications company, the building is now covered in a mural of bookshelves and a sign above the front door that reads findit@yourlibrary.  I met with Elizabeth Gibson-Gasset, Houston's Library Director.  We did a tour of the Library, which packs a lot into a small space.  When entering the Library, there is a table set up with a jigsaw puzzle for anyone to spend a few minutes putting the pieces together.  In this same area is the ongoing book sale that the Library holds.  Once we past this area, we enter the main library area.  There is a circulation/information desk that greets library patrons.  Two smaller rooms (former offices) house the children's collection and the junior readers collection (aimed at those patrons that between small children and young adults.)  The junior readers area has a large collection of books and a small space for the kids to sit and read.  In the children's area, there is a mural on the wall that was painted by the same people that painted the exterior mural, plus a long, low table for children to sit and read at.  It is a brightly colored space and certainly appealing to the young (and young at heart.)  The adult library materials are located in the main area of the library along with 3 public access computers.  A back room houses both a staff area, a meeting room, and more of the adult collection.

On the day I visited, the library was busy with patrons, including children participating in the Library's summer reading program.  I had the opportunity to help with a spelling game where the children rolled two dice and whatever number was rolled, they could pick that many Scrabble tiles.  They had to take those tiles and come up with as many words as they could.  The number of words they could make became the number of entries into the week's drawing for prizes.  Wow, those kids were good at this game and didn't need much help from Elizabeth or me!

One of the issues facing the Library at this point is the need for more space.  Elizabeth is working with her Library Board to come up with some possible remodeling ideas in the existing space to hopefully add some more space.  The Board is also looking at some long-term strategies as well to address the issues of space as well.

I want to thank Elizabeth for allowing me to visit the Houston Public Library.  If you'd like to see photos from my visit, please check on the Houston Public Library set on SELCO's Flickr site.

Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

Have you ever wondered what classes are being offered by SELCO?  Courseware is the training information website that allows you to sign up for classes and other events being offered by SELCO.  This episode of SELCOtv shows you how to use Courseware.

• The video

Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian

One of the perks of being Regional Librarian at SELCOis I get to venture out to tour our region's libraries and visit with library directors, staff members and volunteers to gather input and to see things in action.  Yesterday, I had a lovely visit at the LeRoy Public Library.  LeRoy Library Director Rhonda Barnes led me on a tour of the gorgeous historic library and gave me an update on her summer reading program and other cool happenings at the library.  Summerfest is taking place this weekend in LeRoy, so Rhonda is gearing up for the showing of "Old Yeller" on Friday---last year's movie brought in over 70 kids to the library!

On my way back to Rochester, I had to pause to enjoy the beautiful country scenery and thank my lucky stars in live in Minnesota!

To see more pics from my visit and more, please click here.

 Ann Hutton, Executive Director

In preparation for ALA's Annual Conference in Chicago, the Washington Office released two documents available as PDFs, Broadband Funding: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and Guidance for the Library Community: Preparing a Proposal for the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The first document provides an overview of and library perspective on the broadband funding programs administered by NTIA and RUS. The second document provides more detail and some thoughts on strategy for libraries that are considering applying for BTOP.

The ALA Washington Office conducted a webinarWednesday, July 8, 2009, with application details known at this time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/selco/3710688728/

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

As you probably know, we've been plagued with Day End problems since bringing Horizon back up on Monday (07-13) afternoon.  I wanted to give you a brief overview of what has been going on.

First, a bit of background.  Day End runs every night at midnight and processes that day's transactions.  Many Horizon subsystems, such as notices and some statistical reports, are dependent on Day End running first.

After bringing the system back up on the 13th, we started the Day End process, which we expected to run overnight.  This run would process transactions for 07-11, 07-12, and (eventually) 07-13.  The following morning (Tuesday, 07-14), we found that it had failed to complete.  It appears that human error on our part was the cause of this failure.  We have updated our procedures sheets and worked with the staff involved to ensure this error does not occur again.

We ran Day End all day on Tuesday and was completely caught up (07-11 through 07-13) at about 7:30 PM Tuesday evening.  At that point, things seemed back on track with Day End poised to run at it's normal midnight start time to process transactions from that day, 07-14.

Coming in this morning, we learned that Day End did not run at midnight as expected.  We have started the process and it should complete sometime this morning.

Why did Day End not run?  We don't have an answer.  We contacted SirsiDynix, who could not provide any explanation.  This is consistent with past incidents, in which Day End just fails for no apparent reason.  SirsiDynix never been able to provide an explanation for these failures.  I can tell you that we ran the process using the same, correct, procedures we have always used.  Human error was the not responsible this time.

Please see my April 24, 2009 post to SELCO Librarian, More Day End Observations for a more in-depth explanation of this Day End phenomena.

Once Day End finishes today, we will make sure it's on track to run tonight at midnight.  SELCO staff will monitor the process after it starts to make sure it's working.  If it fails again, we'll call SirsiDynix again.

Hope this clarifies things.  Please accept my apologies for this inconvenience and feel free to contact me at dlambright@selco.infowith any questions or comments.  Or, better yet, add them to this blog post so that the entire SELCO community can share in the conversation.

Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

SELCO's Cooperative Summer PC Purchase is in full swing. Rachel Gray talks to Mike Flores about the purchase, and the good deals on computers that we're able to get this quarter.

• Video

Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

What do you geek?

Geek the Libraryis  a new, "community-based public awareness campaign aimed at spreading the word about the vital and growing role of your public library, and to raise awareness about the critical funding issues many U.S. public libraries face."  It was started by OCLC, and is funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  While it is currently being tested in some public libraries in Iowa and Georgia, but early next year, OCLC will release materials and other information to help libraries nationwide with their own community awareness programs.

The website http://www.geekthelibrary.comhas a lot of goodies for either free download or purchase, including computer wallpaper, web graphics t-shirts and mugs.  It also allows visitors to include their own stories of  what they geek.  The site also has a more serious side that allows people to see the different ways libraries help their publics.  There is also a "Myth Or Reality" page to the site where you can see if "the busier  a library is, the more funding it receives" is true or false.

While these pages are engaging and important, the best part of the site for me is the "Show Your  Support" pages.  Here I learned a few new and simple ways to become an advocate for my local library.  It's one thing to talk to people about how libraries need their help, but it's another thing to get pointers to help make a difference at the same time.

I encourage others to check out this great resource, and maybe even follow Geek the Library on Flickr, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube!

http://geekthelibrary.org/

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

I attended a meeting of the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task Force held in Mankato, MN on July 17, 2009.  This was one of just a handful of meetings being held around Minnesota and was the closest outstate location to SELCO.  The Task Force's mission, based on Minnesota SF1918, is to "make recommendations to the Governor & Legislature regarding the creation of a statewide high-speed Internet access goal, and plan for implementation by 2015."  There are 26 members of the Task Force from rural and urban areas and represent a wide array of interests and concerns, including libraries (Peg Werner, Viking Library System's Executive Director represents libraries.)  Public comment was taken at the beginning of the meeting and libraries and schools were well-represented.  It was also interesting to hear from a mayor from a small rural city in Minnesota as well as a manager from two local Mankato businesses who spoke to the economic benefits that broadband access would bring to their communities.

For more information about the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Task force, including the agenda and meeting documents from today's meeting, click here.

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian II

 I wasn't able to attend the American Library Association conference, an experience that I know was far too common for librarians country-wide. (Although my most pressing reason for staying home, a 3 and 1/2 month old, was probably more unique.) It was the first time that the ALA conference has been in Chicago and I haven't attended since I became a librarian in 1999. Reading everyone's tweets from the conference definitely made me wistful about not being able to attend. Luckily, the 2.0 movement has given us not just tweets, but video of portions of the conference. Two of my favorite videos from the conference were author James Kennedy  demonstratinghow to make children's fantasy books into good programming and also why HE should be rightful winner of this year's Newbery. America Libraries Direct also linked to this videoof a library director attending exhibits that I found humorous and true to the exhibition experience. I also saw good summaries of programs on the Library Journal site in addition to Ann Hutton's coverage earlier in this blog.

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the US Congress appropriated $7.2 billion to expand access to broadband services.  The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), under the Department of Agriculture, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), under the Department of Commerce, have been tasked with distributing these funds.  On July 02, 2009, they released the Notice of Funds Availability(NOFA) document with complete details about how the money is to be awarded.

RUS is distributing $2.5 billion through its Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP).  As part of the Department of Agriculture, RUS is concerned with rural areas and has managed, among other things, rural electrification.  Thus, BIP is for rural areas only.

NTIA is distributing the remaining $4.7 billion through its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).  BTOP breaks the funding down into three areas:

• at least $200 million for Public Computing Centers (PCC)
• at least $250 million for Sustainable Broadband Adoption
• up to $350 million for mapping current broadband coverage throughout the nation

These phrases "at least" and "up to" are important because the amounts of money aren't set in stone.  BTOP is a competitive grant program (as is BIP) and the funds allocated to each area will be based on the strength and number of project applications.

BIP and BTOP funding will go out in three rounds:

• Fall 2009
• Spring 2010
• Fall 2010

Applications for Round 1 are due on August 14, 2009.

Since the NOFA release in early  July, several SELCO staff have been busily reading documents and attending workshops, both online and in-person.  ALA has held two webinars with valuable information and has promised to host more.  They are also answering libraries' questions and putting information online.    ALA also held a number of sessions at the recent conference in Chicago.

The Departments of Agriculture and Commerce have been carrying out a series of day-long workshops at major cities, including St. Paul (on July 21).

SELCO staff have attended all of these sessions to develop an understanding of where libraries fit into the broader programs.  In my next blog post, I'll break the programs down and provide more details on the objectives, rules, and potential value for the SELCO Online Libraries.  In the meantime, I have assembled a collection of links about BIP and BTOP at http://delicious.com/donovan.lambright/btop&bip.  For those just beginning their exploration of BIP and BTOP, I recommend starting with:

• ALA's Know Your Stimulus page
• http://broadbandusa.gov/

Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

SELCO will be hosting Camp Read-a-Lot on August 13, 2009. SELCO staff who are attending Camp have share their reviews and opinions of some books that will be discussed at this event.  More information on Camp Read-a-Lot can be found here: Camp Read-A-Lot 2009 flyer.

• Flash Video

Ann Hutton, Executive Director

Beginning this July, SELCOtv will feature a new series: Board Recap.  Once each month following a quarterly Board meeting or a monthly session with the Executive Committee, I will summerize action items and interesting topics of discussion.  Each episode will cover only the high points and will not be an item-by-item review of the agenda.  All meetings are open and you are welcome to attend but if you are interested in what the SELCO/SELS governing authority is working on before the meeing notes are posted, then stay tuned to SELCOtv: Board Recap.

• Video

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

In my last post on BIP and BTOP, I said that my next post would look at the programs in more depth.  I still plan to do that but first, I would like to talk about one of the project proposals being prepared for the August 14, 2009 Round One application deadline.

This morning, I attended a presentation from Telecom Transport Management, Inc.(TTM).  TTM is planning to submit a grant application under the BTOP and BIP programs for approximately $20 million to deploy a 4Gcellular network in an area of southern Minnesota from roughly Mankato to Winona, extending north to the Twin Cities.  4G internet service is considerably faster than DSL or cable internet; depending on the quality of signal coverage, it ranges from 50 Mpbs up to (in theory) 1000 Mpbs.  By way of comparison, the maximum bandwidth now available for the Online Libraries is 10 Mbps with even that level available only to a tiny minority of libraries; most get by on far less.

TTM plans to offer access to this network to local Internet Service Providers (ISP) and any telecommunications company that wishes to deliver  service in the region.  They also, however, plan to offer internet service directly to public service entities like libraries, schools, hospitals, and public safety agencies at a "substantial discount".  By offering discounted service to such entities, TTM increases their chances of getting funding in the competitive grant process.

TTM is working on their grant application for Round One.  Public service entities can help by providing letters of support to be attached to the application.  The federal agencies that will evaluate the applications have made it clear that support from partners, particularly those that serve the public interest directly, will increase the chances of approval.

SELCO plans to submit a letter of support for this project.  Any letters TTM can get from the Online Libraries will also help; I have sent email to public library Directors and the SELCO/SELS Board of Directors with information about they can include their own letters to the application.  I should note that I've only sent email to those Online Libraries for whom SELCO provides internet service but that should not be seen as excluding others.  After all, this isn't a SELCO project; we're just giving it our vocal support.  Representatives from Rochester Public Library and some local schools were present at the meeting; I hope they will support the project.  As far as I know, providing a letter of support is not a prerequisite for getting discounted service if the project is funded.  It just makes that funding more likely.

Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

The SELCO/SELS Board was held on July 28, 2009. The SELCO Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from all parts of the SELCO/SELS region. The group meets once a quarter; in January, April, July and October. Since the July meeting is the first of the fiscal year, i it is considered the Annual Meeting of the Corporation. This meeting video has been broken up into four sections for ease of viewing.

• Video 1
• Video 2
• Video 3
• Video 4

Mollie Pherson, Regional Librarian and Rachel Gray, Information Services Librarian

On July 29, we attended the webinar "Libraries and Copyright in the Digital Age: Section 108 exceptions for preservation & ILL" at Minitex in Minneapolis.  People from all over the nation gathered online to hear Kevin L. Smith, Scholarly Communications Officer of Duke University's Perkins Library present this informative and important seminar.  At the main campus library, Smith performs research and gives advice on copyright, publishing and licensing.

Smith walked us through section 108 of the Copyright Amendments Act of 1992, which outlines the exceptions to copyright law that affect libraries that makes their collections open to the public.

One of the most interesting areas of this conversation was the ILL "Suggestion of Five".  This suggestion allows for any one borrowing library to make an ILL request from a given periodical title each year without needing to consider buying it for its own collection.  This only applies to the last five years of the periodical's back issues; anything older is not covered.

 Another issue Smith discussed was unsupervised copiers in libraries.  According to section 108 (f)(1), provided copying equipment displays a notice that making a copy may be subject to copyright law, there is no liability on the library or library employees for unsupervised use.  Smith recommended that libraries place a notice on ALL reproduction equipment---some examples:

• "Notice - Making a copy may be subject to the copyright law"
• "Notice:  The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or reproductions of copyrighted material; the person using this equipment is liable for any infringement."

A helpful tip?  If you are in a situation where you need to locate a publisher regarding copying an article, check out the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC).  This is a non-profit organization that collects royalties and distributes them to copyright holders.  The members are publishers who receive royalties on a per page or per article basis.  Libraries can pay per use by credit card or by setting up an invoice account.

Check out Smith's blog for more information about copyright and publication issues by clicking here.