Following the popular ‘unConference’ model, AskColorado/AskAcademic (ASK) held its first UnWorkshop on Oct. 13th. Unconferences are loosely structured gatherings in which participants drive the content. Forty librarians attended, and loosely wrangled by members of the ASK Quality Assurance Committee, introduced themselves and offered topics for discussion and learning. Participants then gathered in small groups and discussed topics such as how to effectively assist students when classes log into the service; best practices for working with college students; managing excitable customers, and more. 
ASK has held an annual workshop for the past seven years, but this was the first unworkshop. While new to participants, the majority were excited about the format. Continue reading ‘AskColorado/AskAcademic Holds First UnWorkshop’
Camden Tadhg, the State Library’s consultant to the youth correctional facilities, just returned from a site visit to Adams Youth Services Center, a detention facility where the average length of stay is less than two weeks. The teacher who oversees the library does an excellent job of creating a reading culture among the teens. So much so that an urban legend has taken root at AYSC: If you don’t finish a book before you leave, you will come back. A young man who is being released tomorrow was in a panic. “Ms. P – is there a really short book I can finish reading tonight?”
The Colorado State Library has awarded grants totaling almost $200,000 to 1 library consortium, 1 BOCES, 1 school district, 1 academic library, and 6 public 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. All grants addressed a goal in the long?range plan that states: “Colorado students and adult learners will receive services from libraries and librarians that support educational achievement and lifelong learning.”
Complete List of Awarded Projects (PDF)
Don’t be left out in the cold! Join us for the last NRS Roadshow of the year at the Ignacio Community Library on Thursday September 15, 2011 from 8 AM -12 PM.
Registration is required by September 9, 2011.
What is a roadshow you ask?
Simply a really fun way to network with your library peers, learn more about unique library services (Plinkit, AskColorado/AskAcademic,SWIFT, Colorado Historic Newspapers, Colorado Virtual Library), and eat free food!
Can you think of a better way to spend a fall morning?
Still curious? Check out the pictures of past roadshows on Flickr! You won’t be able to resist!
At today’s Patron Open House the Colorado Talking Book Library will celebrate 80 years of service and the anniversary of the program. Patrons are served locally through a national network of 113 cooperating libraries. The network is connected through the Library of Congress’s National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). In the beginning there were just 19 libraries across the country and Colorado was one of the original libraries.
Throughout its history, the NLS program has undergone countless technological changes, rotating through various types of records before switching to cassette tapes in 1969. In 2009, it began offering a digital system that allows for downloading audio books via the internet.
Some interesting facts:
- The 33 ½ rpm record was first developed for the NLS program before going commercial.
- The first talking book recorded was Woodrow Wilson’s biography of George Washington.
Happy anniversary to CTBL!
There appears to be more competition than ever for Colorado’s library jobs, based on recent activity on LibraryJobline.org.
A new Fast Facts about the jobs posted on the site over the past four years has just been published. Colorado’s Library Job Climate : 2007-2010: Insights from LibraryJobline.org (PDF) highlights trends in total job postings, salaries, degree requirements, and the most popular jobs from the site. Job postings are up slightly from 2009, but drastically more people are viewing them, and part-time, temporary positions continue to replace full-time, permanent ones.
Published by
Michelle on
May 20, 2011 in
Academic Libraries, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries and institutional libraries.
Tags: degree, investment, library, LRS, MLIS, professional, research, service, survey, value.
On behalf of the Library Research Service:
In 2008 Library Research Service (LRS) launched our first 60-second survey, “What is the Value of an MLIS to You?,” in response to lively discussions about this topic on various listservs. Close to 2,000 library professionals weighed in, with over 1,000 leaving thoughtful comments about the MLIS degree. Three years later, as libraries and the environments in which they serve continue to change and evolve, LRS wondered how has the value of an MLIS fared?
LRS has launched a new 60-Second Survey on the value of an MLIS to you. Do you feel your MLIS degree was/is worth the time and money invested in it? If asked today, would you recommend pursuing an MLIS degree? You tell us.
Take the 60-Second Survey on the Value of an MLIS Degree to You
Please pass this on to your colleagues-locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Published by
Michelle on
May 6, 2011 in
Academic Libraries, General, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries and institutional libraries.
Tags: collections, cultural, disaster, free, preparedness, Recovery, response, workshop.
Register now for a FREE two-part workshop on Protecting Cultural Collections, available in both Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. Topics include disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Part 1: Prevention & Preparedness – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Ft. Collins: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – Colorado State University, Morgan Library
- Colorado Springs: Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – University of Colorado, Kraemer Family Library
Part 2: Response & Recovery – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Ft. Collins: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 – Colorado State University, Morgan Library
- Colorado Springs: Thursday, July 28, 2011 – University of Colorado, Kraemer Family Library
Sponsored by: Western States & Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS)
Instructor: Julie Page, Co-Coordinator, California Preservation Program and WESTPAS
Continue reading ‘Protecting Cultural Collections – FREE Workshops’
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