Archive for the 'advocacy' Category

Banned Websites Awareness Day

Internet filtering – that is, highly restrictive internet filtering – is a problem in some school libraries, and it can negatively impact student learning and achievement. With that in mind, the American Association of  School Librarians (AASL) designated Wednesday, September 28 as the first annual Banned Websites Awareness Day in order “to raise awareness of the overly restrictive blocking of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools in schools and school libraries.”

Schools all over the country participated in Banned Websites Awareness activities and some were featured in the New York Times. Colorado’s own Silver Creek High School in Longmont “held a “graffiti debate” on censorship on Wednesday: Should schools block Web sites? On sheets of white butcher paper hanging in the library, they wrote lists of the pros and cons of online access.” Silver Creek’s librarian, Phil Goerner, organized the debate to encourage students to think more deeply about ethical issues related to censorship, including how it can take away a person’s voice. Continue reading ‘Banned Websites Awareness Day’

What’s Next?! – Library Advocacy and BHAG 3.0

On behalf of Shelley Walchak:

Library advocacy can’t just start and stop. It needs to be continuous. (Because those who speak against the public sector don’t take holidays.) To that end, I wanted to announce two things:

  1. The BHAG website is still up and running, still the go-to place for ideas, tips, and support.
  2. BHAG 3.0 is about encouraging all of us to start coordinating our messages. Which messages? The same four, because YOU HAVE TO REPEAT MESSAGES MANY TIMES BEFORE THEY ARE COMMUNICATED. (Sorry to yell at you.)

The top post at the BHAG website explains all this in more detail. But here’s the brief focus: between October and December, we should all try to underscore a message that resonates well with our patrons. That message is:
“Libraries build community.” Continue reading ‘What’s Next?! – Library Advocacy and BHAG 3.0′

Youth Services Workshops – Register Now!

Registration for the 2011 Youth Services Workshops is now open. Public librarians, school librarians, and those interested in youth services programming are all welcome and encouraged to attend. Register now! (Please register at least 1 week in advance.)

Download flyer (PDF)

AGENDA:

READ Pins for Summer Reading 2012 – ORDER NOW!

You may now place your order for READ pins for the 2012 statewide summer reading program.

We received 158 votes for this year’s pin (!!!), but this design (adjusted due to 2012 READ Pinfeedback from many of you) was the clear winner.

Following the same procedure as previous years, the Colorado State Library will place a large pin order and would be glad to “piggyback” and add your order to ours. This is a great way to promote next year’s programs, and placing a large order will make it cost effective for all of us.

Pricing details: $0.60 each (lower than last year!)

You will be emailed an invoice with the total amount owed, and this will be payable once you receive the pins in late September/early October. NOTE: A $5 shipping & handling charge will be added for orders being shipped outside of Colorado.

We will submit our bulk order on 8/12, so please submit your order NO LATER THAN Thursday, August 11th. Thank you!

Vote Now for the 2012 Summer Reading READ Pin Design

Here’s your chance to give us your opinion about the 2012 summer reading READ pin design!

The summer reading theme for 2012 is nighttime.

  • Children’s slogan:  Dream Big – Read
  • Teen slogan:  Own the Night
  • Adult slogan:  Between the Covers

VOTE NOW!
We need your responses by Friday, July 29th, 5pm.

New Study: CO Public Library Use Increased During Recession

The Library Research Service just released a study on the recession’s impact on public library use. The findings indicated that in 2006 to 2007 (prior to the recession), use, as measured by visits, circulation, program attendance, and Internet use, remained relatively static or decreased in Colorado public libraries.

In contrast, use increased by between 6% and 28% during the recession (2007 to 2009).

View the complete report as well as a Fast Facts highlighting key findings

Shelly Drumm at ARSL/ABOS Conference

This was written by ARSL/ABOS conference scholarship winner Sandy Hackbarth (La Veta Public Library) about the State Library’s own Shelly Drumm!

“She started with a slide of a DU Business School ad: “The top 10 jobs of 2015 don’t exist today.”  Then, over the next hour, Shelly Drumm gave me a glimpse of  a future for public libraries, particularly small, remote public libraries, that I can actually believe in. This is a topic I’ve really been struggling  with -  I just haven’t been able to buy the idea that if La Veta’s library becomes the ‘center of the community’ then we will remain relevant to our citizens. And it’s pretty obvious that books and DVDs aren’t going to keep public libraries relevant much longer either.  So I worried that I’d lost the faith – I figured that 10 years from now the most important function of La Veta’s library would be hosting Yoga classes for 80 year olds.

Shelly’s ARSL 2010 Conference presentation – 21st Century Librarianship – stretched my imagination, giving me a look at what’s already possible and a hint of where that might lead for my library.  Continue reading ‘Shelly Drumm at ARSL/ABOS Conference’

Even more from ARSL/ABOS Scholarship Winners

We just received this blog post from Erica Rose, Head of Outreach Services at the newly renamed Clearview Library District (Windsor). She discuses not only the ARSL/ABOS conference, but also Clearview’s new Mobile branch.Clearview Mobile Library

Excerpted:

“I am passionate about Outreach work and the power that it holds for our libraries.  My work in Outreach has led me to believe that Library Outreach is our most powerful PR and our best and most efficient means of serving the masses. So with all of my enthusiasm for this work continually bubbling up, it was so uplifting to attend a gathering of people who share this love and passion for Outreach work.  I believe our success in Outreach work is dependent upon thinking outside of the box, looking for dynamic new approaches, and an unwavering ability to roll with the punches.  It refreshed my spirit to sit next to individuals that share these quirky personality traits with me and to partake in conversations that focus on ways that we can push through barriers and boundaries. Continue reading ‘Even more from ARSL/ABOS Scholarship Winners’

Are you visible or invisible?

I just finished reading Jamie LaRue’s article in the November 2010 issue of Library Journal.  Jamie discusses the reasoning behind why librarians need to be invisible as well as visible. Our funding and the future of libraries depends upon it. By the way, Jamie has his own blog – MYLIBLOG that is certainly worth checking out.

More from ARSL/ABOS Scholarship Winners

We couldn’t resist posting these rave reviews of the ARSL/ABOS conference from Nan Davenport, Wetmore Community Library:

“I came home from the ARLS-ABOS conference so motivated and excited and full of ideas from the many brilliant minds that I had the privilege to mingle with for three days!  Every class I went to was first rate.  The only complaint I had was that they were too short!  Shelly Drumm really opened my eyes to the huge impact technology has had and the vastly different way it is perceived by those who grew up with it and those of us who did not (I totally related to the monk being taught about the use of a book as opposed to the scroll!).  Pat Wagner’s and Vanessa Uribe’s presentations on dealing with people and providing excellent customer service made a real impact on me.  Excellent tools that can be used everywhere- home, work, and play!  Karol Sacca is an amazing presenter! I could have listened to her all day!  She must have been an absolutely remarkable teacher.  I can’t wait get my hands on some of the fascinating young adult books she shared with us!  I feel totally recharged and energized to touch my community more efficiently in the best job there is in the world – being a small town librarian!