Why Libraries Should Care about Search Engine Optimization

Published by marybeth on February 25, 2010 in General. 3 Comments

This posting is about Search Engine Optimization.  It’s a techie term and usually of concern to marketing people and web developers, often in the for-profit sector.  But I think it needs to concern all of us in libraries, even if we’re a small library without a lot of resources for marketing or for our website.  And that’s because, in these difficult times for libraries and for our communities, it would be really beneficial if our relevant resources, programs and services were easy for people to find via Google.

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Just launched: LRS.org

Published by Michelle on February 19, 2010 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

The Library Research Service at the Colorado State Library launched a new website yesterday. It is a whole new look with updated navigation, graphics, and features. We invite you to poke around the site and let us know what you think.

Along with this redesign, our blog is moving to a different home and platform.

The new LRS.org took months of work, and it couldn’t have been done without the entire LRS staff. Special thanks to Zeth Lietzau for his vision and hard work in making the site a reality and Jamie Daisey for her work moving and editing the content.

Trends, Tips & Techniques: Interviews with Colorado Library Leaders

Published by judy on February 19, 2010 in General. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

aspenWalker09

Aspen Walker, Executive Assistant to the Library Director Douglas County Libraries
Smart leaders understand: you can’t run an effective organization from the confines and blind spots of an insular bubble. You have to reach out, compare experiences, and share best practices. In 2009, I interviewed 11 Colorado library leaders about the metro area public library environment: Shirley Amore (Executive Director, Denver Public Library), Eugene Hainer (Executive Director, Colorado State Library), Valerie Horton (Executive Director, Colorado Library Consortium), Paula Miller (Executive Director, Pikes Peak Library District), Eloise May (Executive Director, Arapahoe Library District), Sharon Morris (Director of Library Development and Innovation, Colorado State Library), Janine Reid (Executive Director, High Plains Library District), Pam Sandlian Smith (Executive Director, Anythink Libraries/Rangeview Library District), Mary Stansbury (Program Chair and Associate Professor, University of Denver, Library and Information Science Program), Tony Tallent (Library and Arts Director, Boulder Public Library), and Marcellus Turner (Executive Director, Jefferson County Public Library). Their insights about the economy and rising library use, staffing patterns, performance measures, and the big issues and trends of the next three years follow.

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Storybox Special

Published by judy on February 17, 2010 in General. 0 Comments

storybox-special-trainPosted on behalf of Babette Reeves

Do you know someone who cares for children regularly in his or her home? Do they live in or near Alamosa, CO? They could be a licensed home childcare provider or they might be what I affectionately refer to as a “Granny or Auntie,” a family member who cares for an extended family’s children.

If you are one of those special people or know someone who is, please get in touch with me (scroll down the left hand column for phone and email info). Why?

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Library Science Collection Available from CLiC

Published by Valerie Horton on February 9, 2010 in General. 1 Comment Tags: , .

With AspenCat, CLiC now has a way to make our library science collection available to the wider library community.  We have a growing collection of very current books and videos and even some realia.  If you are an AspenCat library, you can place a hold on any item in our collection and we’ll send it to you the next day.  For  other libraries, we should have access available to you via SWIFT in a few days.    Here’s the link to the public AspenCat catalog.  http://www.aspencat.info/

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Erate funding Window Extended!

Published by Christine on February 9, 2010 in IT, Public Libraries and funding. 0 Comments

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

Published by Michelle on February 9, 2010 in General and funding. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

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

Published by Michelle on February 3, 2010 in General, Public Libraries and funding. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

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)

How to Give to Better Presentations

Published by Michelle on February 3, 2010 in General and Instruction. 3 Comments Tags: , .

Want to give great presentations? Check out a new ALALearning blog post entitled “10 Steps to Promote Learning in Your Conference Presentation.”

Thanks to Peter Bromberg, Assistant Director at the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC), for this information.

Attend a Webinar on Colorado Libraries 2.0 – Feb 4th

Published by Michelle on February 3, 2010 in Continuing Education, General and IT. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Colorado Libraries 2.0 is a free, professionally developed online training program designed in modules that relate to tasks we perform in our libraries. To find out more, please plan on attending a webinar describing the program. The webinar will provide information for both staff and administration.

Date: February 4, 2010
Time: 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

An Internet connection and a USB headset is required for this session.

To join the webinar:
Step 1:
Access the meeting room online. Please enter your name as a guest as you log in. Continue reading ‘Attend a Webinar on Colorado Libraries 2.0 – Feb 4th’