Kreger joins State Library

Published
by
Jim
on November 20, 2008
in General and IT
. 0 Comments

I am delighted to announce the hiring and arrival of Christine Kreger as the new Technology & Digital Initiatives Consultant at the State Library.

Christine Kreger On the job less than three weeks, she has already begun making an impact as a member of a newly-formed Technology Leadership Core, an internal group designed to bring standardization and fresh energy to the State Library’s investment in strategic initiatives related to online learning and training, development of technology-based collaboration tools, tracking technology trends in Colorado libraries, and more.

Christine brings more than 18 years of library experience to her new position, most recently as Internet Librarian for the Arapahoe Library District where she developed and coordinated web content for the ALD’s public web site for five years. Continue reading ‘Kreger joins State Library’

Colorado’s Municipal League and Public Library Grants

Published
by
Valerie Horton
on November 20, 2008
in Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Innovation and Public Libraries
. 0 Comments

The most recent Colorado Municipal League newsletter (CML Newsletter, November 19, 2008; http://www.cml.org/pdf_files/1121_web.pdf) has a blurb on public library grants.  This newsletter goes to many city and town managers.  Libraries could use this newsletter as a way to start a dialog with local officials about grant funding.  Check it out:

 

Non-traditional use of libraries

Once an institution devoted to book circulation, the public library is evolving. A recent study of the members of ICMA, the premier local government leadership and management organization, found some communities are using their public libraries for projects providing services for teens, immigrant residents, recycling, health and public safety.

 

During the next two years, with the help of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, ICMA plans to encourage adoption of more such leading practices through the ICMA Public Library Innovation Grant. Local governments can employ these grants to develop new and creative ways of using their public library to deliver services in areas such as public safety, disaster preparedness, sustainability, health, immigration, civic engagement, and economic development.

 

For more information, contact Molly Donelan mdonelan@icma.org. Applications, guidelines and a budget template are available at icma.org/publiclibrarygrants..

The Kids Have It! Children’s Use of Public Libraries Continues to Grow

Published
by
Sharon
on November 20, 2008
in Children's Services and Public Libraries
. 0 Comments

According to a recent study by the Colorado State Library, Library Research Services, during the last decade, circulation of public library children’s materials and participation in public library programs for children increased significantly in the state.

In Colorado public libraries from 1998 to 2007…

  • The number of circulation transactions for children’s materials rose 41 percent from 13.5 to 19.1 million.
  • Attendance at children’s programs increased 53 percent, going from some 810,000 to 1.24 million.
  • The number of children’s programs showed the highest rate of increase at 58 percent, going from 31,165 to 49,136 programs annually.
  • Children’s circulation transactions totaled some 159.1 million and children’s program attendance totaled 10.2 million.

Clearly, public libraries are supporting children’s learning by collecting materials that children wish to read and providing appealing library-sponsored programs.
For more on this study, see http://www.lrs.org/

 

Top Trends in Colorado Libraries – 2008

Published
by
Sharon
on November 19, 2008
in Academic Libraries, Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Front Range, General, Innovation, Northeast, Northwest, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Southeast, Southwest, Western Slope, conferences and programs
. 1 Comment

For the CAL Conference 2008, Communities and Libraries, I created this list of top ten trends in Colorado libraries related to communities and libraries. Examples are also below.  I provided this for the Commissioner of Education for his opening keynote presentation. Thought others might be interested.

  1. Early childhood brain research is changing library storytimes.*

  2. Multimedia production in libraries – videos, podcasts, etc.
  3. Literacy - engaging the larger community (One Book, etc.)
  4. The Library Online* – AskColorado, local archives online, 21 Plinkit websites
  5. Green Buildings
  6. Creation spaces, activities, collections
  7. Community Outreach
  8. Job support and economic development
  9. Gaming*
  10. Services to Special Populations*

    11.  * Indicates a topic in which the State Library is involved.

Strut your library’s stuff at ALA Midwinter!

Published
by
shannon
on November 18, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

ATTENTION ALL COLORADO LIBRARIES

Here’s a fabulous chance to strut your library’s stuff at ALA Midwinter!

The Colorado Association of Libraries and Denver Public Library are cosponsoring a booth at ALA Midwinter and will be running a continual slide show featuring you. Any Colorado library, library association or service group is welcome to submit content for a slide. The slide show will be archived online, making it available for attendees after the conference and for anyone that wants to find out why Colorado libraries are so great!

The Rules:

  • No more than two images (subject to resizing and formatting)
  • 15 words of text
  • One URL
  • One logo

Our editor, Megan Kinney, will assemble your elements into a slick looking slide to go into the presentation that will be rolling in our ALA MW booth.

By December 1, email your images (two images, one logo) as attachments and in the body of the email, include your 15-word text and url to: mkinney@denverlibrary.org with the Subject: ALAMW Slide – Your Library Name

This effort organized and supported by CLiC, CAL, DPL and ALA Councilor Shelley Walchak.

“Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World”

Published
by
shannon
on November 17, 2008
in General
. 1 Comment

Dewey the Libary Cat

Dewey is coming to the big screen (reportedly starring Meryl Streep). Library Cat is a movie about a stray cat’s impact on an Iowa town. “Abandoned as a kitten in the Spencer Public Library’s book-return box one January night in 1988, Dewey was adopted by librarians and named by the town in a write-in contest. He lived happily ever after at the library, sleeping in the stacks (he liked Westerns), riding the book cart, leaping from fluorescent light fixtures and sitting on patrons’ laps.”

Being the crazy cat person that I am, this will be a must see. Do any Colorado libraries out there have a library cat? I wish I could bring my cat Mia to the office…but she probably wouldn’t care for the drive in.

I haven’t read the book yet. If you have, please leave a comment and tell us what you thought.

CAL Leadership Institute

Published
by
Sharon
on November 14, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) is pleased to announce the participants in the first CAL Leadership Institute. The group includes participants from all areas of librarianship including public, academic, school and special libraries who represent libraries from across Colorado.

Continue reading ‘CAL Leadership Institute’

PLA Award Applications

Published
by
Sharon
on November 14, 2008
in Public Libraries
. 0 Comments

Submit an Award Application online by December 15!

PLA Awards honor excellence in public library service by recognizing libraries and individuals whose service to the community is extraordinary. Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for a PLA Award! Many awards include cash prizes and are highly competitive.

The deadline for applications is Monday, December 15. All applications must be submitted online prior to the deadline in order to be considered. Apply Online: http://tinyurl.com/5mz8eg

Continue reading ‘PLA Award Applications’

Calling all geneology buffs…

Published
by
Jim
on November 14, 2008
in Academic Libraries, Public Libraries, Special Libraries and programs
. 0 Comments

A shameless plug for our friends…

Becky Lintz (CHS) and Wendel Cox (DPL) have been long-time supporters of the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection service, so it’s only right that I highlight “Behind the Genealogy Reference Desk,” a one-day institute from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, 2009, at the Denver Public Library, held in conjunction with the ALA 2009 Midwinter Meeting.

Continue reading ‘Calling all geneology buffs…’

Second Life - Colorado Interest Group

Published
by
Sharon
on November 14, 2008
in General
. 0 Comments

Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) has a new Interest Group: the Second Life Interest Group (SLIG).

Continue reading ‘Second Life - Colorado Interest Group’