We received over 150 votes for this year’s pin (!), but one of the designs was the clear winner. View the final design. For those who asked, the star on the pin roughly marks the Bermuda Triangle. We think it’s a fun and unexpected design element.

Price: $0.63 each

Following the same procedure as previous years, the Colorado State Library will place a large pin order and would be glad to “piggyback” and add your order to ours. This is a great way to promote next year’s programs, and placing a large order will make it cost effective for all of us.

You will be emailed an invoice with the total amount owed, and this will be payable once you receive the pins in mid to late October. NOTE: Add $5 shipping & handling charge for orders being shipped outside of Colorado.

We will submit our bulk order on 9/1, so please submit your order NO LATER THAN Tuesday, August 31st.

Contact Michelle Gebhart with questions.

Vision: * Libraries move communities into the future. Every resident of Colorado will discover their library to be a place of curiosity & discovery; ideas & experiences; inspiration & imagination. They are places of endless possibilities.

Mission: * Libraries are excited about patron’s questions, we assist patrons with their needs during transitional times in their lives. What’s Next?!

Goals: * To shift the general public’s perceptions so they understand that libraries change with the times, are not just books and provide critical help to people during times of personal or community transition.  * To reinvigorate the value of libraries and secure future funding of Colorado Libraries.

Tagline: * What’s Next?! Your future. Libraries help get you there

We are moving forward and have the logo, mark, fonts and style guide. Please refer to the style guide for explanations on file types. These are all available on the Brand Items page.

We are working on the website and marketing kits which should be ready by the CAL conference in October 2010.

Contact Debbi MacLeod with any questions.

The summer reading theme is a little harder to identify this year… so we went for a globe or map concept.

• Children’s theme:  One World, Many Stories
• Teen theme:  You Are Here
• Adult theme:  Novel Destinations

Don’t forget to fill out the comment section if you have something extra to say.

VOTE NOW!
We need your responses by Friday, August 20th.

StoryBlocks.org is a project of the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL), an advisory group to the State Library. CLEL received a federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to create the videos and Web site. The goal is to build awareness and to encourage parents and others to engage with children from birth on early language and pre-literacy skills. The methods used in the videos are based on brain and child development research that show the impact that songs, rhymes and stories have on very young children.

Eight Colorado public libraries helped to fund the project:  Arapahoe Library District, Denver Public Library, Douglas County Libraries, Fort Morgan Public Library, Lafayette Public Library, Salida Regional Library and Westminster Public Library. Donations also came from two non-profit organizations: Friends of Food for Thought and Library People and one anonymous donor.

View press release (PDF)

For more information on StoryBlocks.org, contact Patricia Froehlich, youth services senior consultant at the Colorado State Library, 303-866-6908.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is offering free library subscriptions to care ADvantage, a quarterly publication for caregivers and individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses.

Each issue of care ADvantage presents articles written by top experts in their respective fields, offering valuable information and insight into a wide range of timely topics from the medical and practical to the emotional and inspirational.

Over 200 public libraries nationwide have subscribed thus far, and we would love to extend an invitation to you to join them in providing this magazine so patrons who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses can have greater access to the information and support that is available to them. We would also greatly appreciate your help in spreading the word to other libraries across the nation, if possible.

Every library in your system can each receive one free issue per quarter, with no end date to their subscription. Please call 866-AFA-8484, Ext. 111 or email Melissa Austen to subscribe or to request a sample copy of the magazine.

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.

• 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!

Hosted by CSL Staff:

• Jean Marie Heilig, LSTA Grant Coordinator
• Jim Duncan, Director, Networking and Resource Sharing Unit
• Mary Beth Faccioli, Instructional Design and Technology Consultant

RSVP to Melissa Carlson by Friday, June 17th
Identify which session you will be attending. You will be provided with log in information. Attendance is limited to 25 people per session. Additional sessions will be planned as needed.

Questions? Please contact Jean Marie Heilig, 303-866-6731.

It has been quite a few years since CAL conducted a survey to ask you if the association is meeting your needs.  With the Board in the midst of writing a strategic plan, we decided it was time to put our finger on the pulse and find out what you want from CAL. Not only are we looking for feedback from our members, but non-members as well. Please take 5 minutes to answer this short questionnaire. It is very important that we hear from you as we plan for our future.

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.

Over 20 public libraries in Colorado are using Plinkit to provide 24/7 online access to their library catalog, as well as to other online resources, a calendar of events, information about their services and much more. Plinkit is also being used by special and school libraries.

Learn more about what Plinkit can do for your library, sign up, or contact us for more information.