We have just uploaded the Final R.E.A.D.S. report for the region for FY 2007-2008 to the FLRL wiki. To see the report, go to: http://flrlwiki.pbwiki.com/Regional-Reports
This free service is really booming, and downloads are increasing dramatically across the state.
R.E.A.D.S. is the Regional E-Book and Audiobook Download Service, a free service to registered library users of the member libraries of the Fort Loudoun Regional Library (and of the other eleven regional libraries). If you want to know more about R.E.A.D.S., go to the website at: http://reads.lib.overdrive.com
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Two new PLMI Graduates in the region!
Please join us in congratulating the two newest graduates of the Tennessee Public Library Management Institute (PLMI) – Aliceann McCabe and Steve Jacks. Aliceann and Steve graduated on Friday, May 23, 2008, during graduation ceremonies at the Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. Aliceann is the Director of the Audrey Pack Memorial Library in Spring City (Rhea County), and Steve is the Director of the Kingston Public Library (Roane County). They are now both Tennessee Certified Public Library Managers!
Noticed a difference in the IRIS catalog?
See the IRIS catalog at: http://www.fortloudoun.org
Following the migration of the Cleveland Bradley County Library into the IRIS Consortium, we entered yet another project for IRIS -- a process called "de-dupe and merge" of the database records. Over the years of the IRIS Consortium, started on November 14, 1999, multiple instances of cataloging records for the same title had occurred, for various reasons. Since we were already in "high mode" from working on the Cleveland migration, we decided to go ahead and follow it with the merging of these multiple cataloging records.
The de-dupe and merging of the bibliographic records took place over the last week of June, 2008. Our vendor found almost 60,000 instances of records that could be merged. We offer our thanks to the patient catalogers of the IRIS Consortium, as they had to 'cease and desist' cataloging while the process was completed. We hope that our database is now cleaner and sleeker.
Following the migration of the Cleveland Bradley County Library into the IRIS Consortium, we entered yet another project for IRIS -- a process called "de-dupe and merge" of the database records. Over the years of the IRIS Consortium, started on November 14, 1999, multiple instances of cataloging records for the same title had occurred, for various reasons. Since we were already in "high mode" from working on the Cleveland migration, we decided to go ahead and follow it with the merging of these multiple cataloging records.
The de-dupe and merging of the bibliographic records took place over the last week of June, 2008. Our vendor found almost 60,000 instances of records that could be merged. We offer our thanks to the patient catalogers of the IRIS Consortium, as they had to 'cease and desist' cataloging while the process was completed. We hope that our database is now cleaner and sleeker.
Monday, June 2, 2008
New Library in IRIS Consortium!
The Cleveland Public Library officially became the 16th library in the IRIS Consortium on May 30, when they "went live" with our shared library management system, Unicorn. All three of the largest libraries in the Fort Loudoun Region are now members of the IRIS group. After two months of preparation and a full week of training on circulation and cataloging, we welcome Director Andrew Hunt and his staff to IRIS. Some peripheral training on reports and outreach still remain, but otherwise things have gone very well in the largest migration we have ever attempted in IRIS. Welcome aboard, Cleveland Public Library!
Interested in Youth Services?
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has published "Nine to Nineteen: Youth in Museums and Libraries; A Practitioner's Guide." It offers examples of successful youth programming, information for planning youth programs, and resources on funding and evaluating out-of-school programs. The report is available at:
http://www.imls.gov/pdf/YouthGuide.pdf
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Library Journal and Polaris Library System are sponsoring a webcast event entitled "Teen Spirit in the Library: Best Practices in YA and Teen Services" on Tuesday, June 10 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. Register for this webcast event at:
http://www.LibraryJournal.com/teenservices
Topics of the webcast will include:
Your teen area as their third space: creating a place cool enough to call their own
The intersection of gaming and libraries: where are we, where are we going?
An online oasis for teens at Maricopa County Library District
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Good News from Madisonville Library!
We just received word from Kim Hicks, Director of the Madisonville Library, that she was notified this morning that her library had received a $15,000 grant from the East Tennessee Foundation - http://www.easttennesseefoundation.org/ . The grant will be used to purchase books, Hicks said. According to Kim, this is the 5th and 6th year that the library has received grants from the foundation, so Madisonville now qualifies for the Institutional Excellence grants, which can mean more money and more flexibility in the grants. Congratulations to Kim, her staff, and the Madisonville Library!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
New Database on TEL!
The Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) is pleased to announce the addition of LearningExpress Library to the TEL collection of online resources. (Remember, TEL is available to all Tennesseeans, free of charge! ) LearningExpress Library is a comprehensive, interactive online learning platform of practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help patrons succeed on academic or licensing tests. Students and patrons get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of test results.
Go to http://www.tntel.info/ to try this new resource.
In addition to resources for skill improvement at all grade levels, you will find practice tests for:
Go to http://www.tntel.info/ to try this new resource.
In addition to resources for skill improvement at all grade levels, you will find practice tests for:
- Civil service exams
- College entrance exams
- Cosmetology
- EMS
- Firefighter
- GED
- Graduate School Entrance exams
- Law Enforcement
- Military
- Nursing
- Real Estate
- Teaching
- TOEFL Preparation
- and many, many others
Long Range Plans due to FLRL by June 30, 2008
As a requirement of the Library Services Agreement between your county library board and the State of Tennessee, Department of State, each member library of the Fort Loudoun Regional Library System is required to submit ANNUALLY a long-range planning document to the Regional Library Director.
This year, as it is every year, the deadline for submission of this long range plan is Monday, June 30, 2008.
You may choose to revise last year's plan and submit it, or you may choose to write a new planning document.
Some of the items that need to be addressed in your plan (found in the Minimum Standards):
Use of technology/Technology needs
Marketing/public relations strategies
Addressing customer needs/improving customer satisfaction
Development of a disaster/emergency preparedness plan
Working toward meeting the Minimum Standards for TN Non-Metropolitan Public Libraries
How you will evaluate the library and its services
Please review the Minimum Standards for Tennessee Non-Metropolitan Public Libraries document (found on the "flrlwiki" under 'State and Regional Documents') and identify the areas of improvement for your library. Go to: http://flrlwiki.pbwiki.com and download the Standards document, if you don't have a copy. As always, if you have questions please contact us at the Regional Center.
This year, as it is every year, the deadline for submission of this long range plan is Monday, June 30, 2008.
You may choose to revise last year's plan and submit it, or you may choose to write a new planning document.
Some of the items that need to be addressed in your plan (found in the Minimum Standards):
Use of technology/Technology needs
Marketing/public relations strategies
Addressing customer needs/improving customer satisfaction
Development of a disaster/emergency preparedness plan
Working toward meeting the Minimum Standards for TN Non-Metropolitan Public Libraries
How you will evaluate the library and its services
Please review the Minimum Standards for Tennessee Non-Metropolitan Public Libraries document (found on the "flrlwiki" under 'State and Regional Documents') and identify the areas of improvement for your library. Go to: http://flrlwiki.pbwiki.com and download the Standards document, if you don't have a copy. As always, if you have questions please contact us at the Regional Center.
Have you seen aliens in the region?
Yes, you read my question correctly! Have you seen aliens in our region yet?
Public libraries across the state of Tennessee are preparing for the 2008 Children's Summer Reading Program and this year's theme is Starship Adventure. You may have seen posters around your community with aliens, spaceships, and astronauts graphics. The theme is particularly apt at this time, since NASA is celebrating it's 50th year. Many libraries are taking advantage of the NASA celebration and using some NASA promotional materials. In addition, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (which provides the SRP promotional materials and SRP manuals) hired an artist to design some wonderful graphics for the program. Graphics include spaceships, aliens, and comic astronauts. Take a look at the wonderful art work at: http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/lps/srp/index.htm
Public libraries across the state of Tennessee are preparing for the 2008 Children's Summer Reading Program and this year's theme is Starship Adventure. You may have seen posters around your community with aliens, spaceships, and astronauts graphics. The theme is particularly apt at this time, since NASA is celebrating it's 50th year. Many libraries are taking advantage of the NASA celebration and using some NASA promotional materials. In addition, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (which provides the SRP promotional materials and SRP manuals) hired an artist to design some wonderful graphics for the program. Graphics include spaceships, aliens, and comic astronauts. Take a look at the wonderful art work at: http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/lps/srp/index.htm
We're Back!
Sorry that it has been so long since we posted to the blog. We have been working on multiple projects here in the region, and time just seems to slip away. We will try to do better keeping you posted on news around the libraries. In the meantime, don't forget to check our regional wiki frequently -- http://flrlwiki.pbwiki.com . We have been keeping the wiki up-to-date and have posted items to the region-wide calendar and some new documents and reports as well.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Statewide Continuing Education Survey, 2008
URGENT
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR LIBRARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
TO: ALL TENNESSEE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS
FROM: Jane Pinkston, Assistant State Librarian for Planning and Development
SUBJECT: Statewide Continuing Education Survey
Dear Public Libraries:
Our regional libraries need your help in planning for future training needs! Please complete the survey found at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9V31Vo2qzXujqslWUioy0Q_3d_3d .
Just post the URL into your browser and follow the easy instructions. Note that we would like for directors as well as staff to participate. We welcome all individual responses!
The results of this survey will be shared with many different providers of continuing education for library staff at our first ever statewide Continuing Education Summit to be held in mid-February. Representatives from many different types of libraries and library support organizations in Tennessee and the Southeast will be in attendance. This is your chance to be heard! Please fill out the survey, and tell us what your CE needs are for the next three to five years.
We need your input! The deadline for your response is January 31, 2008. Your response will make a difference in the quality of training we provide in Tennessee.
Thanks,
Jane Pinkston
Assistant State Librarian for Planning and Development
-----------------------------------------------------
PLEASE SEE THAT ALL STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR LIBRARY RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE.
It is important that all staff members in public libraries across the state participate in this survey.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO ALL PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR LIBRARY
----------------------------------------------------------------
TO: ALL TENNESSEE PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF MEMBERS
FROM: Jane Pinkston, Assistant State Librarian for Planning and Development
SUBJECT: Statewide Continuing Education Survey
Dear Public Libraries:
Our regional libraries need your help in planning for future training needs! Please complete the survey found at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9V31Vo2qzXujqslWUioy0Q_3d_3d .
Just post the URL into your browser and follow the easy instructions. Note that we would like for directors as well as staff to participate. We welcome all individual responses!
The results of this survey will be shared with many different providers of continuing education for library staff at our first ever statewide Continuing Education Summit to be held in mid-February. Representatives from many different types of libraries and library support organizations in Tennessee and the Southeast will be in attendance. This is your chance to be heard! Please fill out the survey, and tell us what your CE needs are for the next three to five years.
We need your input! The deadline for your response is January 31, 2008. Your response will make a difference in the quality of training we provide in Tennessee.
Thanks,
Jane Pinkston
Assistant State Librarian for Planning and Development
-----------------------------------------------------
PLEASE SEE THAT ALL STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR LIBRARY RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE.
It is important that all staff members in public libraries across the state participate in this survey.
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