Archive for the 'funding' Category

Losing Libraries site

On behalf of Gene Hainer:

Francine Fialkoff, Library Journal Editor-in-Chief, has asked me to bring this site to your attention if you haven’t already seen it: www.LosingLibraries.org.

Reduced hours in Boulder and Lafayette, and the closures in Aurora are listed, as is the BHAG advocacy initiative.

The prominent “Report Cuts” button allows sending of newspaper stories and annotations…and to report successes. The site seems geared toward public libraries, but doesn’t appear to restrict inclusion of layoffs, reductions, or closures in other types.

I encourage you to keep the site updated as changes happen in your library. While no one wants to flaunt bad news, showing an accurate picture is important as Colorado braces for further budget battles locally, and at the state level.

Once the site is more fully populated, Library Journal will send out press releases to major media around the country.

Thank you for your help on this.

A Letter Pueblo City-County Library Employees from Jon Walker

June 23, 2010
To: All Library Employees
From: Jon Walker, Executive Director
Subject: Planning for 2011

This year is turning out to be different at the library.

What I mean by this has nothing to do with how much our libraries are being used. Libraries are busier than ever. Our libraries are bustling places. I could not be prouder of a group of employees than I am of each of you who work conscientiously each day to deliver excellent library service.

Indeed, use of our libraries this year is greater than it ever has been. In every major measurable category we are at all-time record levels. Checkouts of books and other library materials is +22%. The number of people visiting our libraries is +20%. Attendance at library-sponsored programs and events is +41%. The number of people logging-on library public-access computers is +34%. We are seeing double-digit increases across-the-board.

Continue reading ‘A Letter Pueblo City-County Library Employees from Jon Walker’

Libraries report increased use of e-government, job resources; reduced operating hours

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report finds America’s public libraries posted gains in several key areas of technology deployment. Libraries nationwide report they’ve seen an increase in public use of online services, particularly to support job seeking and e-government transactions, and have made some gains in adding public computers and improving Internet connections available to patrons.  However, snowballing funding cuts at state and local levels are forcing thousands of libraries to literally lock away access to these resources as they reduce operating hours.”  Read more here

The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the ALA, can be found online at www.ala.org/plinternetfunding.

CSL Announces Online Town Hall Meetings

FY10-11 LSTA Grant Project Discussion
(RSVP to Melissa Carlson by Friday, June 17th)

  • Monday, June 21st at 12:00PM – 1:00PM
    AND
  • Wednesday, June 23rd at 9:00AM – 10:00AM

Bring your questions regarding potential projects addressing this year’s LSTA goal:

“Colorado libraries will provide services to support educational achievement and lifelong learning of Colorado residents, people with disabilities, ethnic populations, institutional residents, and those underserved by libraries.”

The session will begin with a 10 minute overview of this year’s LSTA grant application and timeline. After answering your questions we will open up the session to discuss your project ideas. We can address your technology concerns; tell you if your project fits this year’s goal; help determine if your project is feasible; and much more! Come prepared for a lively discussion! Continue reading ‘CSL Announces Online Town Hall Meetings’

2010-2011 Grants Available for School, Public, Academic & Special Libraries

The Colorado State Library has announced competitive grants for fiscal year 2010-2011 through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) program, designed to distribute federal funds to eligible school, public, academic or special libraries. Total amount awarded during this funding period will be approximately $300,000.

For the purpose of this grant, libraries must meet the following LSTA 5-year plan combined goal:
“Colorado libraries will provide services to support educational achievement and lifelong learning of Colorado residents, people with disabilities, ethnic populations, institutional residents, and those underserved by libraries.”

For more information, visit the State Library’s LSTA page.

Colorado’s 2010 Anti-Tax Ballot Issues : Their Impact on Colorado and its Libraries

Andrew Romanoff to speak at Colleague Connection 2010 – Wednesday, April 7.

Andrew Romanoff, current US Senate Candidate and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, will be providing background on current Constitutional fiscal restrictions and how they hinder legislative action in Colorado.
Rich Jones, Director of policy and research,  Bell Policy Center will discuss the fiscal impact on Colorado if the ballot issues are successful.
Jamie LaRue, Director of the Douglas Library District, will be discussing the impact on libraries and action we can take to prevent their passage.

Three ballot issues aimed at drastically reducing the taxes and fees required of Colorado’s residents will mean extreme cuts to all tax and fee-funded Colorado institutions if they are passed in November.  Every sector of Colorado’s economy and government will be affected by their passage.  As citizens, librarians need to be aware of the potential effects of their passage on education (pre K-12 and higher education), businesses, and municipal, county, special district, and state governments. How will corporate, school, academic, and public libraries continue to serve their communities if they are passed?

The Bell’s analysis on proposed ballot initiatives.

Continue reading ‘Colorado’s 2010 Anti-Tax Ballot Issues : Their Impact on Colorado and its Libraries’

Erate funding Window Extended!

Due to adverse weather conditions in many areas of the country that may have prevented applicants from filing their FY2010 E-rate applications by the close of the window, USAC - in consultation with the FCC – has extended the close of the filing window to FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010 AT 11:59 pm EST.

All FCC Forms 471 electronically filed or postmarked by that date and time will be considered IN WINDOW.

ARRA Grant Money Available for Rural Libraries

During the last week notices were sent concerning grant money that is available for libraries and other community facilities through the USDA’s Rural Development Community Facilities Grant Program. After meeting with local USDA Business and Community Programs Directors, the Colorado State Library would like to share some information with you concerning this opportunity.

Download a PDF of this information

  • This money is being offered through ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).
  • The funds will help rural communities up to 20,000 in population to improve their community facilities (including libraries), enhance educational opportunities, and improve economic conditions. Specifically, eligible purposes include:
    • Construct, enlarge, extend, or improve essential community facilities
    • Obtain necessary equipment for the operation of these facilities
    • Reasonable fees such as engineering, legal, administrative environmental analysis, surveys, and planning
    • Cost of acquiring interest in land; rights, such as water rights, leases, permits, and rights-of-way Continue reading ‘ARRA Grant Money Available for Rural Libraries’

Gilpin County Public Library Wins National Award for Excellence

PLA has honored the Gilpin County Public Library (GCPL) with the EBSCO Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award. This award honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or fewer that demonstrates excellence in service to its community.

GCPL will receive this year’s $1,000 award honoring its innovative and creative “artist-in-residence” program. Beginning in the summer of 2008, with the financial backing of the Friends of the Library, the GCPL offered a Poet-in-Residence to the community, who held a series of workshops for people of all ages on writing, reading, and appreciating poetry of many varieties.

This is the second year in a row that a Colorado library has won the EBSCO Award (it was John C. Fremont Library District in 2009).

View the press release (PDF)

Conditions of U.S. Libraries: Trends 1999-2009

Elena Rosenfeld, Colorado Association of Libraries ALA Chapter Counselor, passed this press release on from ALA. Great statistics and information. How would you use this to advocate for libraries in your community?

New ALA report details economic trends in libraries and 2010 outlook
CHICAGO – At every turn, news reports and research indicate fairly dramatic changes in U.S. library funding, services and staffing – most occurring in the last 18 months. According to a new report prepared by the American Library Association (ALA), libraries of all types are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn while managing sky-high use.

Compiled from a broad range of available sources, The Condition of Libraries: 1999-2009 presents U.S. economic trends (2009), and summarizes trends in public, school and academic libraries across several library measures, including expenditures, staffing and services. The report also highlights trends in services provided to libraries by library cooperatives and consortia.
Continue reading ‘Conditions of U.S. Libraries: Trends 1999-2009′




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