Archive for the 'Northeast' Category

Spring CLiC Workshops - Registration Open!

The keynote speaker for all three workshops is George Needham V.P of OCLC. Don’t miss this event, because George has some very thought-provoking ideas on how your library can be a transformational force in your community.

On top of that, there will be over 25 workshops to choose from.

Registration fee is $35/day with breakfast and lunch included!

Grand Junction
Greeley
Pueblo

The registration fee bumps up to $40/day two weeks before the event, so register early!

Complete a scholarship form and you may be selected to receive two days of registration - free!

Top Trends in Colorado Libraries – 2008

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.
Early childhood brain research is changing library storytimes.*

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

* Indicates a topic in which the State Library is involved. Continue reading ‘Top Trends in Colorado Libraries – 2008′

Colorado Libraries Awarded Grants for Key Projects

The Colorado State Library today announced grants to 16 school, public and academic libraries for innovative projects designed to improve library services and life-long learning.  The proposals are funded through the federal Library Service and Technology Act (LSTA) allocation to the Colorado Department of Education and Colorado State Library.

This year’s grants totaled nearly $257,000. All grants addressed a goal in the long-range plan to improve library services to Colorado students and adult learners that support educational achievement and lifelong learning.

Awards were made to:

  • Academy School District 20, Summit Preschool and Middle School Programs, Library and Literacy Partnership Program, $7,300
    At-risk middle school students will serve as mentors to at-risk preschool students. They will meet biweekly to select books, read together and engage in questioning activities.

 

  •  Adams State College, Nielsen Library, Mobile Learning Center and Laptop Loan Program, $18,400 
    The Nielsen Library program will improve access to technology in the San Luis Valley and help the underserved student population use resources at Adams State College. Training sessions will be offered at public schools, community centers, retirement centers and nursing facilities.
     
  • Arapahoe Library District, Parent and Child Literacy Project, $9,462 
    This grant provides library services to the children of non-English speaking adults. The grant targets children aged three to 11 in the Sheridan branch and new Glendale branch.
     
  • Boulder Valley Family Literacy Program, General Education Development (GED) at the Library: A Gateway to More, $18,012
    Free adult GED study classes will be offered in the Boulder and Lafayette public libraries
     
  • Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL), Enhancing Colorado Library Story Times: Early Literacy Skills and Messages, $17,922
    Early literacy and library story time practitioners will train library staff in 10 small to medium sized public libraries on the principles, skills and messages of the “Every Child Ready to Read” program developed by the Public Library Association.
     
  • Colorado Springs School District 11, Penrose Elementary Library Media Center, Using Digital Media and Storytelling to Improve Literacy, $8,445
    Students will improve literacy skills through writing stories and scripts which they will then use to produce digital media projects.

 

  • Denver Public Library, Central Branch, Technology Empowerment Program, $20,000
    Customers will have improved access to computers, computer training classes and individual assistance in a new technology training room.
     
  • Douglas County Libraries Foundation, Book Start, $20,000
    Early literacy training will be available for child care providers in 48 child care facilities. Twenty-five volunteers will be trained and 1,200 children will receive close to 5,500 hours per week of literacy instruction.
     
  • Estes Park Public Library Foundation, Estes Valley Partnership to Expand and Enrich Informal Education, $18,533
    Estes Park Public Library in partnership with various organizations will provide educational after school programs for children attending grades four through eight.
     
  • Fort Collins Regional Library District, Book Express, $20,000
    The library district will partner with the Poudre School District to pilot a book by mail program. This program will target approximately 800 preschool through sixth grade children in rural areas of the library district.
     
  • Fort Lewis College, John F. Reed Library, Fort Lewis College Research Commons, $14,350
    An electronic collection of original student work consisting of research papers, portfolios and creative works will be formed. The digital repository will serve as a publishing, research and learning instrument for students.  
     
  • Johnson & Wales University, Connecting Information Literacy to Learning, $19,929 
    Students will have access to a larger computer lab where they will develop skills in obtaining, evaluating, and using information in an effective and socially responsible manner.
     
  • Loveland Public Library, Loveland Kids Love to Read: Loveland Public Library Literacy Outreach, $16,581
    The Loveland Public Library in collaboration with the City of Loveland Housing Authority will provide 90 minute bimonthly literacy programs with groups of children ages three to 14 years of age in six low income complexes in Loveland. Their goal is to have 1,632 contacts with resident children. 
     
  • Pikes Peak Library District, Ready Set Read! $16,374
    Staff training will be provided to assist parents, teachers, and tutors in the identification of appropriate reading level materials for students. All new and existing materials will be remarked and shelved according to reading level making them easier to locate.
     
  • Pueblo County School District 70, Vineland Elementary School Media Center, The Missing Link-Linking Student Achievement with the Community Library, $1,517
    Students and their parents will have access to an upgraded and expanded Web based Accelerated Reader Program that will encourage and foster student achievement with the use of existing community library resources.
     
  • State Library’s Special Populations & Issues Committee, Community Conversations, $30,000
    Ten to 12 local libraries will create programming that, via outreach to community leaders, partners, and diverse participants will foster dialogue and lifelong learning about cultural differences.

For more information regarding these grants, contact Jean Marie Heilig, LSTA Coordinator at 303-866-6731 or heilig_j@cde.state.co.us

 

 

A Peek at Cutting Edge

Smoky Hills story time area

When Kathy Knox from Pueblo City County Library District offered to take SE librarians on a library tour - we jumped at the opportunity. Three public libraries were selected - Lone Tree Public Library (Douglas County), DPL’s Schlessman Family Branch, and the Arapahoe Library District’s Smoky Hills Branch. These libraries were selected based on their progressive implementation of

On our tour we saw back room operations (like the mechanical and manual book sorters). We were curious about how a library operates without a circ desk, and got the skinny on that. All three libraries had vibrant children’s areas, and they all had the ambiance of a bookstore. We saw some very clever marketing ideas as well as signage. The dominant theme was flexibility at these beautiful libraries. Take a peek at all the photos - maybe something will capture your eye - something you can implement at your library. Or do you have some cutting edge stuff happening at your library? If so, please share!

Four Colorado Libraries win “American Dream” Grant

Congratulations to:

  • Douglas County Library, Castle Rock, Colo.
  • High Plains Library District, Greeley, Colo.
  • Lafayette Public Library, Lafayette, Colo.
  • Upper San Juan Library District, Pagosa Springs, Colo.

These libraries are among 34 in the country to be awarded “The American Dream Starts @ your library” grant. This grant, a one-time award of $5,000, is designed to help public libraries increase their literacy services to adult English language learners. The grants are funded by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and implemented by ALA. .

Additionally, any library can benefit from the American Dream@ your Library Toolkit hosted by ALA.

Trip through parts of Northeast Colorado

Haxtun Public Library
Last month I was able to visit several libraries in waaaay northeast Colorado. I went to Haxtun and caught up with Janet Brophy at the Northeast BOCES library. Janet and I walked across the parking lot and went to the Haxtun High School library and chatted with Melinda Cox. Janet and Melinda are longtime acquaintances from Gypsum (it’s a small world after all…); they had fun catching up.

Next Janet and I went over to the Haxtun Public Library and chatted with the Director Vicki Freemyer.

Then I was on my way to Holyoke to see Laura Roth at the Heginbotham Library. I really surprised her…told her I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by. What a wonderful building; a home that was donated by a local resident.
HOLYOKE's HEGINBOTHAM LIBRARY (2)
Off to Fleming Community Library. Met with Jeanette Loos. We had a great conversation about the AIRS database package and discussed ideas for the library website.

Friday, visited Eaton Public Library. The Director, Tamara Meredith has a very innovative way of reaching her rural patrons. She’s been working on an E-Branch kiosk (3M product) for Galeton, made possible with a LSTA grant. Tamara told me that generally these kiosks are used in urban settings but she’s making it work for her patrons’ needs. Grand opening is planned for July 10th.
Eaton Public Library
Last but not least, I went by Windsor-Severance Library. It was a little late in the day but caught Director, Carol Engle and her Assistant Director Diane. As most of you know, parts of Windsor were devastated by tornadoes but the library had only some minor damage. The good news is they are planning a hefty expansion of the library building, breaking ground this August. Carol said that she is very happy with her architect Roger Thorp and would highly recommend him to any library.
Windsor Public Library (2)
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the people I visited for taking the time to chat with me.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Come one, come all!

A Town Hall meeting is coming to your area soon.

State Librarian - Gene Hainer,  Martin Garnar of the Colorado Association of Libraries, and Valerie Horton  from the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) are eager to meet you.

They also want to share with you

*  How these organizations support the work of libraries
* The future of libraries in Colorado
* The future of the library profession

So grab a colleague, a friend, or a neighbor and head on over to one of the eleven Town Hall Meetings near you.

Refreshments will be served!

Please register in advance so we know how many cookies to bring. :)

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Priebe at 303-422-1150 or lpriebe@clicweb.org.

Thanks, see you soon!

Welcome to Colorado’s Newest Library!

On January 5th, Weld Library District opened its newest branch, the Erie Community Library. They opened the library with a big splash including fireworks and great food. Janine Reid, the District’s Executive Director, lead tours explaining the building’s amazing features.

Fireworks and good food aside, the star of the evening was the building itself. As you walk through the doors, you enter an inviting teen area and media collection on one side, and a single service point and children’s collections immediately on the other. The design welcomes you into the library and charms you with their breezy, colorful kite motifs. A kite decorates the attractive store-front stacks, and a HUGE kite makes up the roof of the children’s storytime room, while its tail snakes through ceiling creating a great place for banners and colorful displays.

This is a green building in the best sense of the word. The District spent $145,000 making sure that mechanical, electrical, and water systems perform 33% above the ASHRAE Standard, saving $10,000 in operations per year! A smart investment in the future for Erie’s citizens. The building’s unique features include:

• An under floor air distribution system. The picture below shows a see-through tile revealing the under floor workings
• Day-lighting with photo-sensors
• R30 insulation
• Xeriscape landscaping and drip systems
• Low water plumbing and solar faucets
• Low-emitting materials in paint, carpet, etc.

Janine Reid, Executive Director, spent the last three years working to open this amazing new building. She wrote a time capsule letter. Here’s a brief excerpt: “I hope people find this to be a place of discovery and imagination, as well as life-long learning. I hope this place turns out to be a great equalizer, providing access to everyone. No matter what form the library takes in 50 years, I hope this library remains indispensable and relevant and continues to provide tools for learning, understanding and progress. With love and gratitude, I celebrate the future.”

Janine didn’t do it all alone; she had ample help from the District’s top notch staff, including Jody Hungenberg, Erie’s manger. Jody hopes that “the Erie Community Library will become a destination for everyone in the community.” Make Erie your destination and see Colorado’s new, green library!

Erie Community Library Facts and Figures
• Capacity is over 80,000 items
• Opening day collection will be over 50,000 items
• 20,000 square feet
• 1000 sq ft living room with fireplace
• Drive up book drop
• Children’s activity area and storytime kite
• Outdoor features include a Peace Garden and patio area
• Multi-purpose room to accommodate larger groups
• Mobile laptops
• Express Check machines
• Study room
• Express book collection
• Area designed especially for teens

Valerie Horton, Executive Director, CLIC

Building Colorado Story by Story: The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Collection


Ever heard of Sanborn Maps? Sanborn fire insurance maps are large scale historical city maps, detailed at the block and building level, that show residential, commercial, and industrial uses of sites, building footprints, potential environmental hazards, and construction details of structures. Sanborn fire insurance maps were originally designed to assist fire insurance agents in determining the potential damage from fires, assessing risk, and setting premiums. Today, Sanborn maps are used for a variety of purposes, including environmental site assessment, architecture, urban history, and genealogy.

Building Colorado Story by Story: The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Collection
is a digital collection of Sanborn fire insurance maps of cities across Colorado. The collection contains 346 maps of 79 principal cities in 52 counties covering the years 1883-1922. The University of Colorado at Boulder is the in the process of digitizing these maps and the beta version is now available online.

CLiC andthe Map Library staff at CUB are running workshops about these Sanborn maps and map librarianship in general. Many people have attended the short overview sessions at our CLiC Spring Workshops. Also check out the last Accidental Map Librarian Workshop in Gunnison May 11.

We have also created a wiki for our Accidental Map Librarian Workshops you can check out at : http://maplibraries.pbwiki.com/

CLiC Workshop Financial Assistance

Hi everyone,

Don’t forget to apply for a workshop subsidy or the Alex Project scholarships. Deadline for Greeley and Grand Junction workshops is fast approaching (March 2nd).

$100 is available to offset your expenses to the workshops and can be applied to registration fees, travel costs or even substitute pay if you are a school librarian: Financial Assistance Form

Free Books! Free Registration! Check out the Alex Project session presented by Karol Sacca and you could find an easy way to hook up adults with teen readers:
Alex Project Form