Volume 6, October 7, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – SKAMANIA COUNTY HERITAGE

2) WORKPLACE BULLYING SURVEY

3) EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED

4) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS

5) PLA AWARD AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

6) ALCTS LIBRARY METADATA POLICY E-FORUM

7) EVALUATING MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB

8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – SKAMANIA COUNTY HERITAGE

The Stevenson and North Bonneville Community Libraries (Fort Vancouver Regional Library District) have created a new digital collection as part of their 2009-2010 Washington Rural Heritage grant project. Skamania County Heritage, available at www.washingtonruralheritage.org/skamania, documents life in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. Fishing, highway construction, and early resort life at the hot springs of the Carson River Valley feature predominantly in the collection. The City of North Bonneville was also a key partner in the project, opening its archives to create a sub-collection documenting the town’s relocation during the 1970s with the construction of the second powerhouse at the Bonneville Dam.

Read more about the project, and link to some of our favorite items, on the WSL blog:

www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/SkamaniaCountyHeritage. Additional Washington Rural Heritage collections are slated for publication this fall, and seven public libraries are currently digitizing historic material for their 2010-2011 grant projects. To learn more about participation in the initiative, contact Evan Robb, Project Manager, [email protected] 360.704.5228, or visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/WRH.

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2) WORKPLACE BULLYING SURVEY

Researchers from the SHARP (Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention) Program of the Department of Labor and Industries are interested in the experiences of library staff related to the issue of workplace bullying. On Thursday, October 7, SHARP will be e-mailing a link to an online survey on workplace bullying to staff in all of Washington’s libraries. This survey will be available from October 7 through October 21. The researchers want to examine libraries as work environments and ask that participants complete the survey whether or not they have experienced or have witnessed bullying in the workplace. Study results will be reported to the Washington Library Association and the Interest Group of Library Unions.

Participation in the survey is completely voluntary. If you would like to participate in the survey but have not received an e-mail with a link to it by October 8, or if you have any questions or want to complete the survey by mail or by phone, please contact Nanette Yragui [email protected] or 1-888-667-4277, ext. 6334). SHARP has requested that participants complete the survey at home. For information about the SHARP program, visit www.lni.wa.gov/safety/research/about.

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3) EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED

The Better World Books/National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) Libraries and Families Award Program recognizes exceptional family programming being offered in libraries across the United States. These awards will enhance existing family programming and expand literacy-building practices of families in library settings. In 2011, one $10,000 grant will be awarded in each of the following three categories: local Friends of the Library programs, public/academic libraries, and urban libraries. In addition, award recipients will receive scholarships to attend NCFL’s 2011 National Conference on Family Literacy in Louisville, KY.

The application deadline is November 12, 2010. To submit an online application, visit the NCFL website: www.famlit.org/award-grant-opportunities/.

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4) FREE BOOKS FOR DISCUSSION KITS OR COMMUNITY READS

Gently used copies of Secret Son by Laila Lalami are available to any Washington library that could use them. These copies are trade paperbacks left over from Seattle Public Library’s community read program which they have graciously agreed to share with other libraries. This debut novel is “a tale of contemporary Morocco straddling the personal and the political, told simply, beautifully, with heart and panache.” A minimum request of at least ten books is required. There are several hundred copies available. Please contact Carolyn Petersen at [email protected] or 1.866.538.4996 if you are interested.

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5) PLA AWARD AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The Public Library Association (PLA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 PLA awards. Members can nominate their colleagues and libraries for PLA awards through Dec. 1, 2010.

This year PLA is offering nine awards/grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity, and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium. Grant opportunities include expanding or creating an audio video collection, romance collection, as well as professional travel awards. Please visit the website for details on each award or grant: pla.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaawards.

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6) ALCTS LIBRARY METADATA POLICY E-FORUM

The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) announces an e-forum “Developing a Library Metadata Policy,” October 13 & 14, 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PDT. As libraries move toward using non-MARC metadata schema to describe their collections in addition to MARC format cataloging, many discover the need to develop a local metadata policy. This e-forum provides a two-day session to discuss ideas and questions related to this topic.

ALCTS e-forums provide opportunities for librarians to discuss matters of interest, led by a moderator, through the e-forum discussion list. The e-forum discussion list works like an e-mail discussion list: register your e-mail address with the list and then you will receive messages and communicate with other participants through an e-mail discussion. Registration is necessary to participate, but it’s free. For more information or to register, use this shortcut link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/metapolicy. Check the ALCTS Events page for more upcoming e-forums and other events via this link: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ALCTS-events.

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7) EVALUATING MEDICAL INFORMATION ON THE WEB

In this hands-on course you will review rigorous evaluation criteria for health and medical information as well as how and why to evaluate health and medical information on the Web, including consumer health, complementary and alternative medical, and information for healthcare professionals.

Participants will learn to read and analyze health and medical related Web sites to determine their authority and/or credibility. Participants will learn how to identify fraudulent sites and sites with a credibility deficit using review sites as well as evaluation criteria. Participants will also be able to teach patrons/end-users how to make good information choices from those available on the Web as well as how to select high quality sites for inclusion in e-library collections and for reference work.

This free, online, work-at-your-own-pace course is the first segment of “Authoritative and Readable: Finding Quality Health and Medical Information for Consumers on the Web.” Visit kovacs.com/mlaceeval.html for more information and to register.

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8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Tuesday, October 12, 2010:

• Silver Surfers in Cyberspace: Technology Training for Seniors (Texas State Library); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• Technology Planning for Libraries (WebJunction); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Break Out Of The Training Box: The Six Boxes Approach To Performance Improvement (Training Magazine); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;

Wednesday, October 13:

• eAudiobook Orientation (WSL/EBSCO NetLibrary); 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. PDT, Whatcom County Library, Bellingham;
• Facebook Features Update (Common Knowledge); 11:30 – 12:30 p.m. PDT;
• Mobile Services for Libraries (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• eAudiobook Orientation (WSL/EBSCO NetLibrary); 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. PDT, KCLS Woodinville Library;

Thursday, October 14:

• Cloud Computing: Why You Should Care (TechSoup); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT.

Most of these sessions are online; the eAudiobook Orientation sessions are in person at the sites listed. Providers are listed in parentheses. For registration links and more information on these events, visit the WSL Training Calendar: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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