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WSL Updates for February 5, 2015

February 5th, 2015 by Posted in For Libraries, News, Training and Continuing Education, Updates | Comments Off on WSL Updates for February 5, 2015

Volume 11, February 5, 2015 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) SDL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS

2) GOT E-RATE?

3) FREE MRSC WEBINARS AVAILABLE

4) ACQUISITION INSTITUTE AT TIMBERLINE LODGE REGISTRATION OPEN

5) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) SDL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS

As a reminder, the Washington State Library’s Statewide Database Licensing (SDL) project is conducting a formal needs assessment, with two surveys, one for library staff, and one for library users. All library staff who are aware of the library’s electronic resources, especially research databases, are encouraged to take the staff survey, and all Washington libraries are encouraged to promote the user survey to their clientele, through their web sites, social media, patron newsletters, and any other appropriate media or opportunities.

The surveys will be available through Friday, February 20, 2015. Here are the survey links:

Library user survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SDL-2015;

Library staff survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SDL-Staff.

The library audience for both surveys includes all types of libraries that participate in SDL: public libraries, private academic, community and technical colleges, hospital and research libraries, and K-12 schools, both public and private. In the case of K-12 schools, the end user survey is intended for classroom teachers and administrators, rather than students, but college and university students are strongly encouraged to take the survey.

In promulgating the survey links, be sure to notice that they use the secure https protocol. Visit sos.wa.gov/q/SDL for additional information, including suggestions for promoting the survey to your users. For questions about the surveys or the SDL needs assessment process, please contact SDL project manager Will Stuivenga [email protected] or 360-704-5217. Thank you in advance for your participation and cooperation in making these surveys a success.

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2) GOT E-RATE?

The American Library Association (ALA) announces the launch of “Got E-rate?” a new initiative to encourage library leaders to apply for internet discounts as part of the national E-rate program. The initiative is a response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recent overhaul of the E-rate program, which included adding $1.5 billion to the annual available funding. This infusion and other program changes provide new opportunities for libraries to radically rethink their broadband networks and begin to make gains toward the broadband speeds necessary for today’s and tomorrow’s library services.

ALA, in collaboration with the Public Library Association (PLA), state library agencies, and other partners, will release a series of E-rate resources, including communications, education, practical tools, and technical support for librarians who are interested in applying for E-rate funding.

“ALA invested significant resources over the past 18 months to ensure the FCC’s reform efforts would benefit libraries,” said ALA President Courtney Young. “Due in large part to this advocacy, the program now supports more options for libraries that lack sufficient broadband capacity to design and maintain broadband networks to meet their communities’ growing broadband needs. The changes also include specific funding to upgrade wireless networks. But our work is far from over. ALA is redoubling its efforts to ensure libraries are fully prepared to take advantage of the “new” E-rate program.”

“ALA strongly encourages libraries to apply for E-rate funds,” Young added. “If you already apply, it’s time to think bigger and plan for the long-term broadband growth of your library. If you have not applied in recent years or at all, it’s time to think anew about the program. There are more options for increasing broadband capacity and options that can be tailored to the specific needs of your library—whether rural, suburban, or urban. The FCC opened the door for libraries, and it is up to us to walk through it.”

“ALA urges libraries to take a fresh look at the E-rate program,” said Young. “The majority of libraries have a long way to go before they have the broadband capacity they need. In the next five years, ALA aims to double the amount of E-rate funding going to libraries.”

“Along with ALA, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) will be urging libraries to take a fresh look at the E-rate program,” said COSLA President Kendall Wiggin. “The new E-rate program is a victory for our communities, but to make it meaningful, libraries must apply.”

“The FCC’s re-engineering of the E-rate program has created important new opportunities for libraries to build and transform the cutting-edge broadband networks necessary to support all our patrons including–students of all ages, business owners, and jobseekers—in local libraries,” said PLA President Larry Neal.

To receive alerts on ALA’s involvement in E-rate, follow the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) on Twitter at @OITP and use the Twitter hashtag #libraryerate. More information is available at: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/goterate

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3) FREE MRSC WEBINARS AVAILABLE

Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the success of local governments throughout Washington, offers training via free webinars.

The next webinar, How to Make Better Use of MRSC’s Tools and Services, takes place on February 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PST

This training will focus on using MRSC’s new website. Previous MRSC webinars are archived and available for viewing.

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4) ACQUISITION INSTITUTE AT TIMBERLINE LODGE REGISTRATION OPEN

Registration is open for the 2015 Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon.

This year’s institute will take place May 16-19, 2015.

  • The program will include Keynote Address from Courtney Young, President, American Library Association.

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5) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

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For more information and to register (unless otherwise linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at sos.wa.gov/q/training.

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The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

         Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;

         Twitter: twitter.com/WAStateLib.

 

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