Archive for the 'Front Range' Category

The NEW AskColorado: utility and coolness combined

Published by Jim on January 27, 2010 in Academic Libraries, Community Collaborations, Front Range, IT, Innovation, Public Libraries and School Libraries. 0 Comments Tags: , .

What do E*Trade, REI, Godiva Chocolatier and AskColorado have in common?

Beginning Feb 1, they will all use the same web-based customer-support and communication technology, InstantService.

In the last few years, libraries have seen an explosion in online communication tools available for reaching and serving patrons. The use of IM, text messaging, online chat and related technologies are becoming embedded in the fabric of libraries’ online service offerings. Given this changing landscape in technology and the evolving need for libraries to flexibly serve their patrons, the AskColorado community and AskColorado Steering Committee have endorsed a migration to this new software platform, InstantService. Continue reading ‘The NEW AskColorado: utility and coolness combined’

The State Library at CAL

Published by Michelle on November 12, 2009 in Academic Libraries, Butterfly Project, CAL, Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Continuing Education, Front Range, General, IT, Innovation, Instruction, Library Visits, Northeast, Northwest, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Southeast, Southwest, Special Libraries, Teen Services, Western Slope, advocacy, conferences, databases, funding and programs. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

The Colorado State Library will have a variety of pre-conferences and workshops at the 2009 CAL Conference.  Don’t forget to stop by our booth on Friday and Saturday in the Exhibits Area. We would love to:

  • * Share with you the latest services and resources we can offer Colorado libraries
  • * Hear how libraries have transformed your lives

CSL at CAL 2009 – Schedule (PDF)

Youth Services Workshop – Westminster, 10.16.09

Published by Michelle on October 21, 2009 in Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Continuing Education, Front Range, General, Instruction, Northeast, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Teen Services, conferences and programs. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the last of six Youth Services workshops being held around the state.  The College Hill Library in Westminster hosted (and couldn’t have been more gracious), and I do believe a great time was had by all.

In the morning, Kathy Barco from the Albuquerque Public Library presented ideas for 2010 summer reading, including decorations, crafts, celebrations, activities, refreshments, programs, and more. The themes are “Make a Splash @ Your Library” (children) and “Make Waves @ Your Library” (teens).

The afternoon included discussion of after-school programming, a report on the LSTA Early Literacy (CLEL) Storytime grants, an update on State Library youth services initiatives, and of course distribution of the 2010 statewide summer reading program manuals.

Here are some of the photos I took during the day. Enjoy!

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Kathy Barco presenting an activity (making fish headbands out of balloons), and some of the participants enjoying their new looks.

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The fabulous staff at the College Hill Library in Westminster. Continue reading ‘Youth Services Workshop – Westminster, 10.16.09′

Tour a new Arapahoe Library District branch

Published by Jim on October 5, 2009 in Front Range, General, Library Visits and Public Libraries. 0 Comments Tags: , .

I paid a recent unscheduled visit to the new Southglenn Library, a branch of the Arapahoe Library District. Hearing reports about the design of this library, I was interested to find out what was new, what was tried and what was true.

Cafe tables, Southglenn Library

What greeted me was an open layout, a sense of airy space, and a notably clean view from one side of the library to the other.

Continue reading ‘Tour a new Arapahoe Library District branch’

Youth Services Workshops – Registration Deadlines This Week & Next

Published by Michelle on September 30, 2009 in Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Continuing Education, Front Range, General, Instruction, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Teen Services, Western Slope, conferences and programs. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

The deadlines to register for the Youth Services workshops in the Western Slope area are this Wed-Fri:
–Durango workshop on 10/7 – REGISTER TODAY, 9/30/09
–Delta workshop on 10/8 – REGISTER THURSDAY, 10/1/09
–Vail workshop on 10/9 – REGISTER FRIDAY, 10/2/09

The Front Range-area workshop deadlines are next Wed-Fri:
–Greeley workshop on 10/14 – REGISTER WEDNESDAY, 10/7
–Pueblo workshop on 10/15 – REGISTER THURSDAY, 10/8
–Westminster workshop on 10/16 – REGISTER FRIDAY, 10/9

Visit http://tinyurl.com/YSWorkshops for more information and to register.

Please contact Michelle Gebhart, 303-866-6894, if you have questions.

A revolution in Rangeview: Anythink

Published by Jim on September 25, 2009 in Community Collaborations, Front Range, Innovation, Public Libraries and advocacy. 2 Comments Tags: , .

You may have missed the September 12 official unveiling of the Rangeview Library District’s latest (some would call radical) movement away from its traditional library brand into a new style.

AnythinkAnythink(tm) “celebrates imagination, play and interactivity.” In the official Anythink announcement, you’ll note a decidedly strategic absence of the tried-and-tired verbiage and emphasis typical of library press releases. Included is a YouTube-hosted “Anythink Branimation.” Pop on over to the site; this is an innovative and bold direction for Rangeview Library District, well worth watching.

Libraries awarded grants for key projects

Published by Jim on September 24, 2009 in Academic Libraries, Children's Services, Community Collaborations, Front Range, General, IT, Innovation, Instruction, Northeast, Northwest, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Southeast, Southwest, Western Slope, funding and programs. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The dust has settled on the 2009-10 LSTA grants to libraries process. With the economy in the state wobbly and libraries doing all they can to scrape by, it’s not surprising that $792,285 worth of grant proposals were submitted, competing for the $400,000 allocated to Colorado through the Library Services and Technology Act.

Teams of grant reviewers, composed of librarians of all types from throughout Colorado, scrutinized every word within each proposal. For a library or library service organization to prepare a top-notch proposal is no small feat, and reviewers took their task just as seriously.

The breadth of proposals, both in terms of content and reach in Colorado, was impressive.  All grants awarded addressed the long-range goal “that Colorado’s residents will be able to access resources and services electronically through libraries to meet their information and learning needs.”

A list of 10 grants awarded for 2009-10 follows below. For more information about the LSTA grant submission and review process, your questions are welcomed by Jean Marie Heilig, LSTA Grant Coordinator (heilig_j@cde.state.co.us)

Continue reading ‘Libraries awarded grants for key projects’

Two Workshop Opportunities

Published by Michelle on September 15, 2009 in Children's Services, Continuing Education, Front Range, General, Instruction, Northeast, Northwest, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Southeast, Southwest, Teen Services, Western Slope, conferences and programs. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

For School Librarians and Other Educators:
“Standards Galore!” Workshops – October 2009-February 2010 – register now!

Join your fellow school librarians and learn about the COMPANION DOCUMENTS that correlate with the new school library “Standards for the 21st Century Learner.”

The attendees will participate in lively discussions and work in groups to develop a better understanding of the new standards documents mentioned above and how to implement them into lesson development and into their school library program.

For Public Library Youth Services Librarians:
Youth Services Workshops – in October – register now!

Annual workshops for public library youth services librarians to network and learn about the 2010 Statewide Summer Reading Program and other youth services in public libraries:

-2010 statewide summer reading programs, presented by Kathy Barco:
-“Make a Splash” (children) and “Make Waves” (teen)
-Lunch and networking
-After-school programming including “The After-School Network”
-Report on the LSTA Early Literacy (CLEL) Storytime grants
-Update on State Library youth services initiatives
-Summer Reading manuals

Contact Michelle Gebhart, 303-866-6894, for more information.

Author Fest of the Rockies

Published by Jim on August 21, 2009 in Community Collaborations, Front Range, General, Public Libraries, conferences and programs. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , .

As always, Margaret Morris and the Friends of the Manitou Springs Public Library have been hard at work creating interesting ways to support the library and connect with the community.

Author Fest of the Rockies is another terrific example!

The event features education and training workshops, contests, keynote presentations and much more. Be sure to check out the schedule; the diversity of topics is excellent!

Proceeds for two-day event, featuring more than “50 published authors, editors, coaches, Internet marketing experts, illustrators, poets and publishers from throughout the state of Colorado” will benefit the Manitou Springs Public Library and contribute to its plans for expansion. Check it out at: http://www.authorfestoftherockies.org/

Children’s Art Benefits Arapahoe Libraries

Published by Tara Bannon on July 19, 2009 in Community Collaborations, Front Range, Public Libraries and programs. Closed Tags: , , , , .

The Arapahoe Library District is participating in the Tile Project which will showcase the artwork of Colorado children painted on tiles and displayed in the concierge lobby at the new Streets of SouthGlenn shopping plaza. Tiles are $25, and tax-deductible, with all proceeds going to the Arapahoe Library District Friends Foundation to assist with programming such as the Summer Reading Program, writing workshops and computer classes. The tiles will be painted over several Saturdays – August 29th, September 12th, and September 19th with sessions in the morning (10am-1pm) and in the afternoon (1pm-4pm). Tiles, paint and brushes will be provided. There are a limited number of tiles available and time slots are available on a first come, first served basis. The last day to register is September 15th. All participants will be invited to a special breakfast to celebrate the wall’s unveiling.

Those interested in volunteering for the Tile Project or with the Arapahoe Library District, please contact Louise Richey at lrichey@ald.lib.co.us or 303.792.8999 extension 19106.