TX Libraries ROI

This year the Texas Legislature meets, so this info may be useful. TSL&A has released the report Texas Public Libraries Return on Investment Study.

Did you know that for every $1.00 invested in public libraries around the state, Texans receive $4.42 worth of library services and value in return? Or that Texas public libraries provide over $2.4 billion dollars in economic benefit statewide? Get more useful facts and information from the recently-completed study Texas Public Libraries: Economic Benefits and Return on Investment, available online now at https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/roi.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Interesting take on libraries, "the books, and the dust and the sadness."

HotForWords

The latest video podcast by HotForWords is What is going to happen to the libraries? by Marina Orlova. She sees the demise of libraries looming. It is a combination of hearsay and personal experience that needs some correcting. Consider leaving a comment, she has a large following.

Help Save Texas Libraries

News from TLA.

The Senate Finance Committee met on Monday to consider the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s budget. Senators heard testimony about TexShare, Loan Star Libraries, the K-12 Databases, and the impact of losing federal funds for library programs. Several representatives from TLA and stakeholder groups, including the Texas Municipal League and Texas PTA, offered testimony. Sen. Zaffirini asked many important questions about the ramifications of eliminating state funding for library programs. Sen. Whitmire cautioned many witnesses to “put a face on the cuts.”

As Senate Finance Committee members deliberate on the State Library’s budget, it is imperative that senators hear from constituents and stakeholder groups. Please call or send an email to your senator. Click on Protect Statewide Library Program and make your case for state support of library programs.

Help Protect Statewide Library Programs

Take action.

Budget Proposal Demolishes State Funding for Libraries

The State’s budget proposals for 2012-13 affect our statewide library programs. The budgets ELIMINATE Loan Star Libraries (direct aid grants to public libraries), all state funding for TexShare databases; the K-12 Database program, the Library System Negotiated Grants Program, state funding for consulting services to libraries (program/staff based at the agency), state funding for records management, and assumes an overall loss of over $8 million in IMLS funds. This federal funding is the source of funding for the regional library systems, the TANG program, and interlibrary loan. The budget futher eliminates the Technology Allotment at TEA and entire State Law Library.

This budget shows a 99% decrease in state funding for statewide local library aid programs and a 93% state cut to library resource sharing programs at the State Library. We must not let this stand. Please contact elected officials right now and let the know of the negative impact to our communities if state funding to library programs is cut.

Proposed Texas Budget Demolishes Statewide Library Programs

Proposed Texas Budget Demolishes Statewide Library Programs

The first draft of the State's budget proposal for 2012-13 affects every statewide library program.

The proposal:

• Eliminates Loan Star Libraries (direct aid grants to public libraries)
• Eliminates all state funding for TexShare databases (replaces state funding for databases with increased fees to member libraries)
• Eliminates the K-12 Database program
• Eliminates the Library System Negotiated Grants Program (the new competitive grant program started last session for systems)
• Eliminates state funding for consulting services to libraries (program/staff based at the agency)
• Eliminates state funding for state depository program and TRAIL program
• Eliminates state funding for records management (replaces state funding with increased fees)
• Assumes an overall loss of over $8 million in IMLS funds (Note: federal funding is the source of funding for the regional library systems, the TANG program, and interlibrary loan.)
• Eliminates the Technology Allotment at TEA.

This budget shows a 99% decrease in state funding for statewide local library aid programs and a 93% state cut to library resource sharing programs at the State Library. Overall, the agency cuts amount to about a 70% cut in state funds and an all funds reduction about a third of the agency's budget.
From the perspective of investing in communities, helping kids learn, spurring job placement, and maintaining a dynamic infrastructure for research and digital literacy through our libraries, this budget completely fails the people of Texas. The proposed recommendations amount to an abdication of responsibility, vision, and leadership.
For libraries, these recommendations not only potentially destroy almost every facet of critical statewide library services; they speak to a philosophy dismissive of supporting individuals and communities.
While this budget is just the starting point for deliberations, it is a frightening portent of the potential implosion of our state's infrastructure for learning and economic development.
We must not let this stand. It is not just our funding over the next two years that is in danger -- it is the vital understanding of libraries and their role in offering education, providing meaningful and proven support to our economy and institutions of learning, and speaking to a state of vitality.
We need everyone to speak out for libraries. We need every library supporter to inundate their state representative and senator, the Governor, and the Lt. Governor with letters expressing the incredible damage these cuts would cause.We have a long and hard fight ahead of us, but it is one we must undertake. Here is what you can do...

1. Call your state representative and senator and tell them not to cut library funding. Be prepared to make the case for your library and the impact it has on your community and students.For more information on library programs, see Issues and Taking Action.
2. Develop an awareness campaign within you community. See the "What My Library Means to Me Campaign." Start marshaling your resources and get your army of supporters mobilized for action.
3. Inform people around you -- administrators, community powerbrokers, student groups, PTAs. Show them how they can save state funding for libraries. Ask them to speak and write to elected officials.
4. Participate in Legislative Day. (There is still time to get a hotel room through tomorrow!)
5. Write letters to the editor; contact your local media about library funding.
6. Above all: show up for duty! This is a cause for each and every one of us, regardless of political affiliation. We all want the same thing - a strong Texas with strong libraries. If there was ever a time we needed library supporters to be proactive and aggressive in their support for libraries, THE TIME IS NOW.

Fight for our libraries.
Let's not undo a generation of progress!--Copied from an e-mail alert also available on Texline.

A Techie Looks at Libraries

Digital Web Magazine has an article on libraries, Getting The Most Out Of Your Library by William Hicks. Some interesting statemnents:

• Think of the library system as something akin to the open-source movement before software.
• You will not be happy with many library websites.
• So you found the library catalog, fired off a search and found an item that sounds mildly intriguing. The result page probably didn’t have any real reviews of the book, it is doubtful there was a book cover, nor apparently any other related items. You’re most likely staring at a title, some notes on the author, a bunch of useless publication data, some subject headings, notes, and a string of letters and numbers. Amazon.com it is not. It’s not built for you the user. It’s built for the vendors, librarians, and their staff.
• While you may not get instant gratification from a library, and few if any are really cutting-edge when it comes to their use of web technologies, there is something to be said for the diversity and quality of information they provide you in your daily development tasks.

WorldCat and the LibX Firefox toolbar are both mentioned.

Panama City Beach Library

Panama City Beach Library
Originally uploaded by dbigwood

While on vacation I stopped into the library to check my e-mail. I was greeted by a person at the front desk. Very friendly, not like the Wal-Mart greeters. I was able to use the machine to check my email, Facebook page, and OK some comments to this weblog. Nothing seemed to be blocked. There was a 30 minute a day time limit, it seems a silly rule, if the machines are empty, but....

While I was there other folks were using the computers browsing the fiction, reading a magazine. It was a very small library, but they did have a childrens' collection and provided story time.

They caught me taking this picture and asked about it, curious not snooping.

2.0 Speaking Opportunities

Any folks who want to represent the library community in an eduction 2.0 setting should check out CR 2.0. They are having a series of 20 workshops around the U.S. and are using an unconference format. Go to their website and suggest a topic and the folks attending vote on what they want to hear. Even if you don't become a facilitator for the discussion, at least they have seen that libraries are part of eduction 2.0. Just participating in the discussion might open some eyes to the role of libraries in education.

myLOC

I may have missed this news, maybe while I was at TxLA, but I've not seen it elsewhere; the Library of Congress now has a "my" portal, myLOC.

Transparency

Get Satisfaction looks like a unique 2.0 tool to make the organization transparent.

Get Satisfaction is a direct connection between people and companies that fosters problem-solving, promotes sharing, and builds up relationships. Thousands of companies use this neutral space to support customers, exchange ideas, and get feedback about their products and services. Get Satisfaction is open, transparent, and free. You’re free to ask, free to answer, and free to start a new conversation. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate: companies, employees, customers — anyone with an opinion, an answer, or something to say.

A few libraries are repersented. Michael Stephens needs to see this.

LibraryThing Local

LibraryThing Local maps libraries, bookstores, and book events.

LibraryThing Local is a gateway to thousands of local bookstores, libraries and book festivals—and to all the author readings, signings, discussions and other events they host. It is our attempt to accomplish what hasn't happened yet—the effective linking of the online and offline book worlds. Books still don't fully "work" online; this is a step toward mending them.

LibraryThing Local is a handy reference, but it's also interactive. You can show off your favorite bookstores and libraries (eg., mine include the Harvard Bookstore, Shakespeare and Company and the Boston Athenaeum) and keep track of interesting events. Then you can find out who else loves the places you do, and who else is going to events. You can also find local members, write comments about the places you love and more.

Is your library included? If not it is easy to add it. I added the Lunar and Planetary Institute Library.

DeLange Conference on Emerging Libraries

Rice University recently had the The DeLange Conference on Emerging Libraries. The talks were recorded and are available for downloading.

Libraries