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.

AskColorado

On February 1, Colorado’s statewide virtual reference provider will begin using the software developed by InstantService. In addition to serving some well-known companies across a range of industries, InstantService is currently used by Florida’s AskALibrarian virtual reference service. The Florida AskALibrarian service, which has 102 participating libraries of all types, has been using InstantService for nearly a year and raves about the company’s service. The AskColorado Software Selection Committee, which was comprised of library representatives from public, academic and school libraries from across the state, chose InstantService after reviewing several vendor options.

InstantService offers the expected, basic function of live chats with a librarian, but the (NEW!) integration of email to provide patrons with a communication option if the AskColorado service is busy or closed for a holiday IS A SIGNIFICANT improvement to the former software system.

Additional features and functions:

• fully integrated staff service module, which will allow libraries to offer different communication channels to their patrons while interacting with and responding to patrons at a single service point;
• entirely web-based, compatible with more operating systems and browser platforms than the previous software;
• works on both PCs and Macs;
• the ability for participating libraries to add an embedded IM widget box within their web sites, similar to Meebo.

Looking forward to the spring…text messaging will be added as an option so that patrons can communicate with the AskColorado library service using a handheld device like a cell phone.

If you have any questions, or would like further information about joining and supporting the AskColorado Collaboration, please feel free to contact Susie Whiteford [swhitefo@denverlibrary.org]of Denver Public Library, currently Chair of the AskColorado Steering Committee.

And if your library is already a member of AskColorado, welcome to a bright new era of virtual reference service and sophisticated electronic communications with your patrons!

• * 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)

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!

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

The fabulous staff at the College Hill Library in Westminster.

Attendees working on and proudly presenting their completed summer reading craft activities:

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.

Set upstairs in a building that is part of Centennial’s Southglenn shopping district, I expected to see the usual kind of design touches that today’s modern libraries offer. Small, non-intimidating service desk: check. Fireplace: check. Comfy chairs: check. Self checkout: check.

I was pleasantly surprised to find minimal but effective signage, intuitive zones for patron traffic flow and patron activity, many areas for collaboration, rooms for programs and community gathering, as well a number of clever touches. Southglenn is one of the more memorable libraries I’ve seen in some time.

The remainder of the photos from my tour are viewable on our Flickr site. In those photos, you’ll note a lack of patrons, so it might seem like the place was deserted. At the time I visited, on a Friday afternoon at 4 pm, the library was actually quite busy. Lacking photo release forms, I actually had to work hard at taking photos that didn’t include the estimated 45-50 patrons in various parts of the library. In a few areas, I was unable to take any photos because every chair or every computer was in use!

During my visit, I was approached at least three times by staff members asking if they could provide me any assistance or help me find something. One of those, seeing I had a camera, appropriately probed, asking if I needed help. I assured her that I was not photographing any patrons, just the space.

Not seen in the photo tour on our Flickr site: comfortable spaces for individuals reading. A teen area. An outdoor porch with Adirondack chairs. And much more.

Looking for inspiration, warm design and plenty of light? Check out the Southglenn Library which is both modern and functional.

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.

Anythink(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.

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)

Grants awarded:

• McClave School—Improving Technology Integration and Student Writing Skills through Digital Scrapbooking, $3,923. This grant will provide training, instruction, equipment and inspiration necessary for students to create curriculum based digital scrapbooks and/or similar projects. Projects include local history writing for sixth-grade students; handbooks on internet safety for eighth-grade students; literary criticism handbooks and school history projects for tenth- and eleventh-grade students.

• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL)—Creating an Online Road to Reading, $23,500. In partnership with Rocky Mountain Public Broadcasting Services, CLEL will create online video clips that model songs, rhymes and finger plays appropriate for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Each clip will include early literacy tips to increase understanding of child development and pre-literacy needs.

• Southern Peaks Public Library—San Luis Valley Libraries Technology Learning Project, $72,559. Nine public libraries are collaborating on this project to offer technology training, information literacy resources and improved access to technology in the San Luis valley. A part-time bilingual technology trainer will be hired to teach computer classes via new laptops and PC’s at each participating library.

• Pikes Peak Library District—Play and Learn, Colorado, $15,000. Every elementary student in Colorado studies state history to meet the Colorado model content standards, including over 8,000 fourth-graders in El Paso County. The Pikes Peak Library District will provide students with historical information to assist in their studies by developing an interactive, Web-based Colorado history game for fourth-grade students.

• Westminster Public Library—Online Access Expansion, $19,856. The Irving Street Community Library will offer computer usage classes (computers for absolute beginners, Internet skills, Microsoft Word, e-mail) and job search classes (creating e-mail accounts, applying for jobs online, creating resumes, searching for jobs online) to their adult and senior population. The existing Homework Help sessions will be enhanced by increasing the availability of computer stations to students from Westminster School District 50 who attend the successful after school program.

• Salida Regional Library—Mobile Computer Education Lab, $12,000. As a way of improving access to educational materials for its patrons, the library will purchase computers for a mobile community lab. The library will also purchase the Learning Express database that provides instructional tutorials in such areas as GED preparation, job skills and preparation for citizenship and civil service examinations. Computer class series will be designed to meet the needs of both current patrons and other community members who wish to learn how to use computers and access information electronically.

• High Plains Library District—Southeast Greeley Literacy Center, $20,000. The Literacy Center will serve as a connection to information, education and inspiration for people of all ages by providing computer services and enabling users to properly utilize the technology. Patrons will have access to read and return book racks and delivery of library materials placed on hold.

• Auraria Library—Latinos in Colorado: Research Sources and Research Strategies, $20,000. The project will digitize a collection of images representing the experiences of Latinos in Colorado. It will focus on identifying, describing, and hosting primary materials about the Latino experience. An instructional video will be produced on Colorado history research methods and materials which will guide users on how to research and use the collection and other resources.

• Adams State College, Nielsen Library— San Luis Valley Historic Digitization Project, $12,739. The Nielsen Library Archives houses rare books, manuscripts, sound recordings and thousands of photographs. These collections are used for their historical significance of the San Luis Valley. This project will digitize photographs from the collection and make them available to the Adams State College Community, residents of the San Luis Valley and those living outside of the valley.

• Automated Systems Colorado Consortium—The Power of Synergy in Action, $200,000. Funding will allow the migration of data from 43 separate member library systems (24 public, 15 schools, three academic, one special) into a single, open-source union catalog. This union catalog will provide the infrastructure for patron initiated interlibrary loan requests and enhance connections between Colorado libraries and improve services to almost 300,000 residents.

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 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/

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.