STATE LIBRARY BOARD MEETS IN CORVALLIS
The State Library Board of Trustees will hold their next meeting at the Corvallis-Benton County Library in Corvallis. The meeting will take place prior to the Oregon Library Association Conference on April 18th, beginning at 9:30 in the Library Board Room. The Board will hear a staff proposal to extend LSTA-funded consulting assistance to the Douglas County Library to help them plan for adequate and stable funding. Last December the Board voted to offer assistance to three other county libraries, including two in Southern Oregon that are facing a funding crisis. The Board will also hear a progress report on the L-net e-reference project and will hear recommendations from the Talking Book and Braille Services Advisory Council. Bill Wilson, from the consulting firm of Himmel and Wilson will discuss the evaluation of the LSTA five-year state plan and the process for developing a new five-year plan. An open forum will be held at 1:30 p.m. Anyone may address the Board on any topic at the open forum.
PROGRESS IS MADE ON THE BOARD’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
In March, the two bills introduced by Governor Kulongoski on behalf of the State Library Board continued to move through the legislative process. HB 2116, the bill to target the Ready to Read Grant program on early literacy and summer reading, has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate Education and General Government Committee. SB 5523, the State Library’s budget bill, which contains a 25% increase in funding for the Ready to Read Grant program, passed in the Senate on March 13th. It was sent to the House where it is awaiting a floor vote. If approved in the House it will then be sent to Governor Kulongoski for his signature.
In other legislative news, the Oregon
Library Association bill to protect the privacy of library patron’s email
addresses was introduced as SB 950. It had a successful hearing in the Senate
Judiciary Committee on March 26th and at press time was headed for a vote in
the Senate.
STATE LIBRARY AND OREGON STATE POETRY ASSOCIATION COLLABORATE ON OREGON POETRY COLLECTION
The State Library and the Oregon State Poetry Association have agreed to collaborate on a project to build a comprehensive collection of Oregon poetry at the State Library. The idea was inspired by the new Oregon Poet Laureate, Lawson Inada, who has been discussing with the State Librarian the idea of a ceremonial office for the Laureate at the State Library. Plans are in the works for the office, and to line the walls of the office, OSPA will solicit donations of Oregon poetry from OSPA members to create a circulating collection. There will also be a special collection of first editions and other rarities that will not circulate. Longtime OSPA member David Hedges of West Linn has already amassed a substantial collection of donated books and other related materials from OSPA members. “We are thrilled to work with the OSPA to build a very complete and valuable collection of Oregon poetry — past, present and future,” commented State Librarian Jim Scheppke.
TBABS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF NFB-NEWSLINE
The Eugene Register-Guard is the latest Oregon newspaper to join NFB-NEWSLINE, the free on-demand news service for the blind. NFB-NEWSLINE provides audio versions of more than 250 newspapers, magazines and TV listings using advanced text-to-speech technology. Talking Book and Braille Services signs up eligible Oregon users who access the service by phone 24-hours a day. In addition to the Register-Guard, the Oregonian, Statesman Journal and Associated Press of Oregon participate in the service. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) administers the program with state sponsors, the NFB of Oregon, Commission for the Blind and the State Library. If you or someone you know may be eligible, contact TBABS at 800-452-0292, or on the Web at http://www.tbabs.org.
STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR RURAL LIBRARY SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOPS
The Oregon State Library in conjunction with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and WebJunction is pleased to announce a full-day workshop focusing on technology and sustainability for small and rural libraries. This one-day workshop will be offered twice in Oregon:
April 18, 2007 in Corvallis as a
pre-conference event to OLA.
May 5, 2007 in Pendleton as a post-conference event to EOLA
Registration is FREE and limited to the first 20 libraries per workshop. Priority will be given to libraries that register one staff AND one board/trustee member. Participants will be reimbursed for one night's lodging and possibly more (travel, substitute staff, OLA conference registration as applicable).
The goal of these workshops is to support the efforts of rural and small libraries (those serving 25,000 or fewer patrons) in developing and implementing community-specific action plans for sustaining public access computing. Libraries are encouraged to send the director or other staff member AND a trustee/board member. Each workshop will focus on issues and challenges that have been identified by rural library staff as obstacles in sustaining public access computing. The program will encourage rural library staff to take practical action on sustainability issues within their communities. Participants will return to their libraries with ideas, information, resources, and action plans. Contact Darci Hanning, 503-378-2527, for additional information.
OREGON STATE LIBRARY LIS COLLECTION BLOG IS NOW AVAILABLE
Subscribe to our new LIS Collection blog and receive updates about our collection of library and information science resources through your blog reader. Leave comments, and make purchase suggestions! Items in our collection are available via interlibrary loan using your library's established interlibrary loan process or you may fax your request to the State Library document delivery department at 503-588-7119 with complete request information. Items in this collection are purchased with LSTA funds.
FINAL STAYING CONNECTED TRAININGS AVAILABLE
The State Library is offering five
trainings in April, May and June to complete the Gates Foundation Staying Connected
Grant project. All of the trainings will be presented by Infopeople trainers.
Complete information and registration at: http://www.infopeople.org/oregon/workshop.
Following is a list of trainings, locations and dates:
Managing Public Access Computing
- Best Practices
April 11, 2007 Hermiston Public Library
April 12, 2007 West Linn Public Library
Increase Your Computer Competency-Practical
Tips and Tricks
May 15, 2007 Blue Mountain Community College
May 16, 2007 WCCLS Headquarters
Genealogy Resources on the Internet
June 4, 2007 Blue Mountain Community College
For more information contact: MaryKay Dahlgreen, 503-378-5012.
LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2007
Letters About Literature is a national contest in which students are asked to write a letter to an author (living or dead) explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III for grades 9-12. On April 16th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. there will be an awards ceremony at the State Library for Oregon’s winners, runners-up, honorable mentions, and semi-finalists. The winning letter at each level will be sent on to compete in the national contest. National winners will be announced in May.
OREGON POPULATION SURVEY SHOWS A DIP IN LIBRARY USE
The State Library has worked with statisticians to complete an analysis of the results from the 2006 Oregon Population Survey that was conducted last fall. Among many other questions, the survey asked a random sample of Oregonians about their use of a public library. The survey was conducted by phone, and asked, about every member of the household, whether the person had used a public library or public library service in the past month or, if not, in the past year.
The results showed a significant drop from 64% (2004) to 59% of Oregonians who had used a public library in the past year. The margin of error was approximately plus or minus 1%. The number of Oregonians who reported using the library in the past month also showed a significant decline from 42% to 40%. It appears from the survey results that males may be responsible for the dip in library use. In 2004, 61% of males reported using the public library in the past year. In 2006 that number was down to only 54%. When the survey data is analyzed by age group, the biggest public library users are 5 to 9-year olds (89%). Among household income groups, persons with the highest income (over $125,000/year) had the highest use (71%). Similarly, persons with the highest level of education (graduate/professional) had the highest public library use (79%). The metro area had the highest level of library use (64%), followed by central Oregon (62%) and south central Oregon (60%). The regions of the state, such as the Willamette Valley and northwestern Oregon that do not have county-wide library service, predictably, showed the lowest levels of library use in the past year. Go to the Library Development Services website for a downloadable presentation on results from the Oregon Population Survey along with a spreadsheet with the data.
FUNDING FOR COUNTY LIBRARIES STILL IN JEOPARDY
The Tillamook County Library’s attempt to renew their local option levy for five years on March 13th came up 74 returned ballots shy of making the 50% turnout requirement. Otherwise the measure attracted strong community support, 55% voting ‘yes’ to 45% voting ‘no’. The Tillamook County Commissioners took immediate action to put the measure on the May 15th ballot for another vote. Funding from the current local option levy in Tillamook County runs out on June 30th. In other library funding news, there was still a chance, at press time, that Congress would pass a one to five year renewal of funding for 32 Oregon counties to replace funds lost when the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act expired last year. If that happens it might prevent the closure of the Jackson County Library scheduled for April 7th. Jackson County Commissioners have already placed a local option levy measure on the May 15th ballot that would restore funding for the Library and allow it to reopen in June. A renewal of the federal funds may also help the Douglas County Library and the Josephine County Library maintain their services for another year.
LEARN ABOUT NEW LIBRARY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
BCR has established a new online web session series, Products and Services Showcase (PSS), as a forum for BCR's vendor partners to educate and inform libraries regarding new products and services or about enhancements or changes to existing products and services. Each session features a live BCR staff member or vendor representatives in a virtual classroom on the Web. Using both audio and video connections, participants can see and hear as if they are in an actual classroom setting. Instructors can share their software applications with participants and display content via slide presentations. To participate in PSS, all that's needed are a computer (minimum of 128 MB of RAM, although 256 MB is recommended); Internet Explorer 5.5 Web browser, Java enabled; speakers; and Internet access of 56k or above. A microphone connected to the computer is optional for the audio, which also is available by a long-distance phone bridge (not a toll-free number). Register online using BCR's Workshop Registration Form. Please indicate in the Comments box at the bottom of the Registration Form whether you are attending a morning or afternoon session.
OREGON POET LAUREATE NARRATES AWARD-WINNING FILM
From a Silk Cocoon is a new film narrated by Oregon Poet Laureate Lawson Inada. The film tells the true story of a young Japanese American couple whose dreams are shattered when, months after their wedding, they find themselves held captive, first in race track horse stables and later, in tar paper barracks. Abandoned by America, the country of their birth, Shizuko and Itaru endure four years of life behind barbed wires in American concentration camps during WWII. In May the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, San Francisco/Northern California Chapter, awarded the filmmakers of From a Silk Cocoon with an Emmy Award in the Historical/Cultural Program category. To order a copy of the DVD for your library collection, go to the film's website.
MONTHLY "RURAL IN FOCUS" WEBINAR SERIES CONTINUES
Rural In Focus: Each month the Rural Library Sustainability Project presents an "In Focus" webinar on a particular topic of importance to the work of sustaining Rural and Small libraries. Here you can access information on joining the webinar, view archived sessions, and find out more about resources discussed.
Save these dates for upcoming webinars:
4/24/07 10:00-11:00 AM PDT/ 1:00-
2:00 PM EDT
5/24/07 9:00- 10:00 AM PDT/ 12:00- 1:00 PM EDT
6/18/07 9:00- 10:00 AM PDT/ 12:00- 1:00 PM EDT
Topics will be announced at: Webjunction: Rural In Focus as they become available.
Visit the In Focus Message Board! Keep the conversation alive by visiting the In Focus Message Board area...share your ideas, questions, and suggestions for the Rural In Focus monthly webinar series.
TILLAMOOK STATE FOREST: ON THE WEB, AND ON DVD
The Tillamook Burn was a major event
in Oregon history. The series of severe forest fires in the 1930s and 1940s
left over 300,000 acres devastated. Today, the area is the Tillamook State Forest,
which provides a variety of recreational and educational opportunities. The
Tillamook State Forest
web site offers a history of the area and links to information about visiting
the area. The Oregon Department of Forestry has also produced a DVD: Legacy
of fire: the story of the Tillamook Burn. The program includes interviews
people who witnessed the fires, and those who participated in the reforestation
efforts. It will be distributed to Oregon Documents Depository libraries in
a depository shipment in April. Others can purchase a copy for $15.00 from the
Tillamook State Forest's
online gift shop.
Happy National Poetry Month! National Poetry Month was started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to promote poetry. I think it’s working. I sense the popularity of poetry is increasing with the general public. National Poetry Month has helped, along with the U.S. Poet Laureate program at the Library of Congress, and Garrison Keillor reading poems on the radio, and the many state poet’s laureate, such as our own Lawson Inada, who’s taken on his new job with a tireless enthusiasm that wears me out just thinking about it. He’s everywhere.
But despite poetry’s growing popularity, I still talk to people who tell me they just do not read poetry, don’t like poetry, and would never think to pick up a book of poetry. If this describes you, I have the cure. It’s a marvelous new anthology of Oregon poetry from 33 contemporary Oregon poets that is being published by Portland State University’s Ooligan Press this month.
As an Oregonian, you won’t be able to resist Deer Drink the Moon, edited by Liz Nazakawa (ISBN: 1932010165). All of the poems relate, in some way, to Oregon’s natural environment, and they are arranged in the book according to seven regions of the state, beginning with the coast and ending in southwest Oregon.
To cure your poetry aversion, buy the book and turn to the first poem by William Stafford. Open yourself up to the magic and mystery in the very first line: “This tidepool day you inhabit contains more than you need.” Read the poem slowly, aloud if possible. Then read it again. Then read the next poem, also by Stafford, and go on to the third, a wonderful one by Judith Barrington. You’re hooked!
Savor the rest of the book with poems by some of my favorite Oregon poets: Peter Sears, Paulann Petersen, Vern Rutsala, George Venn. The book ends with a poem by Kim Stafford, “A Thousand Friends of Rain,” that celebrates the entire state and asks us to put aside our differences and come together as “the people of rain.”
This book is the latest publication of the Ooligan Press, part of PSU’s innovative graduate program in book publishing, the only program in the country that operates a real publishing house. All of the work on the publication of Deer Drink the Moon was done by graduate students.
So I hope, during National Poetry Month, that you will support the Ooligan Press and Oregon poets, and most importantly, become a poetry reader yourself. Use the contributor information at the back of Deer Drink the Moon to fill out your Oregon poetry collection. Make your library a center for poetry in your community. – Jim Scheppke
Technical Assistance: 503-932-1004.
Library Development: 503-378-2525, MaryKay
Dahlgreen, Val Vogt, Darci
Hanning, Ann Reed, Patty
Sorensen, Katie Anderson.
Talking Book and Braille Services: 503-378-5389, Susan
Westin, Marcia Martin.
Government Research and Electronic Services: 503-378-5030, Robert
Hulshof-Schmidt.
State Librarian: 503-378-4367, Jim
Scheppke.
LTLO Editor: 503-378-2464, Robin
Speer.
Letter to Libraries Online is published monthly by the Oregon State Library. Editorial office: LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950, 503-378-2464, editor: Robin Speer.
Letter to Libraries Online is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form on the publications page at the Oregon State Library's homepage: http://www.oregon.gov/OSL. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Oregon State Library. News items or articles should be sent to Robin Speer, or mailed to LTLO, Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301-3950.
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