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CT Library Community

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

  Important Changes to WebJunction Connecticut

  January 25th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

  The State Library continues its partnership with OCLC’s WebJunction project as it makes some important enhancements in the coming months.  In mid-March WebJunction Connecticut will disappear as a standalone domain (ct.webjunction.org) and will become one of the partner sections on a new www.webjunction.org.  This means all our current content will be moved to a new section of the main WebJunction website.  Navigation, organization, and functionality should improve with this new Connecticut section of WebJunction.  All the web content of the State Library’s Division of Library Development will continue to appear on WebJunction rather than in the State Library’s main web site.  And those who have book-marked specific web pages on our current ct.webjunction.org site will be re-directed to the appropriate page on the new web site.

  As part of the upgrade, online self-paced courses will be made available in a separate system so that WebJunction members can plan and manage their course-taking more easily.  As a consequence of this change, however, you will lose a record of all incomplete courses that you are still enrolled in on February 29.  You should complete those courses before the 29^th, if you can.

  Also, all WebJunction Connecticut members who have logged into WebJunction since July 2010 will automatically have their membership account transferred to the new WebJunction website.  If you have not signed in since then, however, you will want to do so before February 29 or lose your account.

  The State Library looks forward to its continued partnership with WebJunction in providing professional development and continuing education opportunities for Connecticut’s library staff.

• CT Library Community, Statistics

  Survey for a Survey

  January 12th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?

  Attention Public Library Staff Who Completed the 2011 Annual Report for the State Library:

  Thanks go out to those who helped fill out the Report last fall.  Before the State Library examines what should be on next year’s Report, we would like to get some feedback from those of you who will have to suffer through it.  We are not expecting the Report to change much, but we would appreciate getting your answers/opinions on some of these questions:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTAnnualReportSurvey

  A short survey, there are only 10 questions.  Thanks for your help.

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

  Excellence in Public Library Service Awards

  October 13th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  We know that your budget is shrinking and that you are busier than ever.  But we also know that public libraries are offering outstanding, creative and vital programs and services for their communities.  This is a challenging time for the library community so why not give your staff something to cheer about and your colleagues something to inspire them by nominating your library for the 2012 Excellence in Public Library Service Awards.

  These awards will honor public libraries that have provided outstanding service to their communities. They will be given in 2 population groups (under 15,000 and over 15,000) for the entire range of services that your library provides to your community.

  Nominations will be judged on:

  • Creativity and innovation
  • Service to their community
  • Leadership in creating model programs
  • Programs which will affect the future of the library and its community

  If you’ve been nominated in the past and haven’t won, submit another nomination.  The competition is different each year.

  Winners will receive a:

  • Feature story in Connecticut Libraries
  • Gala reception at the CLA Annual Conference
  • Modest cash award

  Nominations due by Noon, November 7, 2011

  (from Conntech posting by Mary Engels, October 14, 2011)

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

  Upcoming Webinar on Public Access Computing and Advocacy

  September 22nd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  Early registration is now available to Connecticut librarians for this webinar on using this survey in your advocacy efforts for improved public access computing infrastructure.  Attend this webinar.  Fill out the survey.  Do both!  Here is the information from WebJunction:

  2011 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study: Results, Trends, and Resources

  November 1, 2:00 pm Eastern

  Early Free Registration

  Over 8,400 urban, suburban, and rural libraries participated in the 2011 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, the largest and longest-running study of Internet connectivity in U.S. public libraries. Key findings include:

  • 70% of libraries report increased use of public access computers, while at the same time, over 76% report an insufficient number of public computers to meet demand.
  • 65% of libraries report that they are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities.
  • 67% of libraries offer access to e-books.
  • 72% of libraries report that staff help patrons complete online job applications.
  • 16% of libraries report decreased hours of operation. This translates to lost hours at more than 2,600 branches.

  In this webinar co-sponsored by ALA TechSource, the ALA Office for Research & Statistics, and WebJunction, you will learn how to interpret the data and emerging trends; access new advocacy and marketing tools including state profiles, issue briefs, and PR templates; and use the data to make the case for your library with elected officials and community stakeholders. Take the new survey now!

  Presented by: John Bertot, Co-Director, Information Policy & Access Center, University of Maryland; Judy Hoffman, Project Manager, American Library Association, Office for Research and Statistics; and Peggy Rudd, Director, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community, Library Management

  Are You Ready for Irene?

  August 24th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  Hurricane Irene may be visiting Connecticut this weekend.  Are you wondering what your library can do to prepare?  Check out Jane Cullinane’s Conntech post on Hurricane Preparedness and Disaster Recovery.  There are many useful links on what to do before and after this kind of event.

  
  

• CT Library Community, Statistics

  What Recent Statistics Say About Connecticut Public Libraries

  August 23rd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  • Circulation has increased 10% since 2007.
  • Library visits have increased 13%.
  • The % of total town/city tax revenue that goes to public libraries has dropped 17% since 2007.
  • Adjusting for inflation, materials expenditures have fallen 7% since 2005.
  • Filled Interlibrary loans are up 90% since 2006.
  • Connecticard loans (loans to non-residents) are up 10% since 2006.
  • Program attendance has increased 16% since 2007.
  • Connecticut ranks # 1 in the nation in Masters Degree library staff per capita.
  • Of 165 Connecticut principal public libraries, the smallest half of those libraries (83 libraries) serve only 15% of Connecticut’s population.

  See a list of recent statistics,  and how Connecticut fares in national rankings.

• CT Library Community, Statistics

  Connecticut Public Libraries are #1 in New England

  August 17th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  2009 Public Library Survey data, just released from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, shows that Connecticut Public Libraries top the other New England states in important use and support measures.  Connecticut has the highest per-capita totals for Circulation, Materials Expenditures, MLS Librarians, Library Staff, Total Operating Income, and Operating Income from Local Taxes.

  This PDF report shows how Connecticut fares against the other New England states.

  

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

  Budget News

  July 15th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

  Statement posted to Conntech, July 15, 2011

  Connecticut Libraries:

  The Governor has submitted his Budget Balancing Plan to the legislature. It includes substantial cuts to the State Library’s budget. We will be cut by approximately one quarter or $2,760,034.

  The reductions include:

  • A substantial reduction in State Library personnel (10 positions)
  • A substantial reduction in operating expenses
  • Over one-half reduction in library materials
  • Elimination of the remaining funding for State Grants to Public Libraries
  • Elimination of funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium
  • Elimination of the state-wide catalog (reQuest). If this plan is implemented reQuest will be unavailable as of September 1st. The State Library will make every effort to mitigate the impact of this reduction and to maintain access to the iCONN databases.
  • iCONN databases will be maintained at the current level. No additional databases will be added as planned (CINAHL full-text and national newspapers).
  • Elimination of the Computer Access Program. This has no impact on libraries.
  • There is a small reduction in Connecticar which will not impact delivery services.
  • There will be no further reduction in Connecticard.

  Not all these reductions were at the discretion of the State Library. We were not allowed to call for reductions of any service mandated by statute – by a definition provided by OPM. This prevented some recommendations such as closing either service center.

  Please remember that all of these reductions could be rescinded if the unions reconsider their rejection of the concession agreement. This will probably not be settled until the end of August.

  The State Library regrets these reductions and remains committed to work with the library community to mitigate their impact.

  Sharon Brettschneider
  Connecticut State Library

• CT Library Community, Statistics

  New Annual Report, New Questions

  January 24th, 2011 | Permalink | 1 Comment

  Are you one of those involved in filling out the Public Library Annual Report/Survey?  If so, you may want to look at a list of some of the new questions you can expect to labor with this fall.  We have posted an Expected Changes for FY2011 Public Library Annual Report/Survey which lists the new questions.  Among the changes (most due to federal requirements) we are asking libraries to separate their counts of electronic (e-book, downloadable audio/video) collections from physical print, audio, and video collections.  Also, we are consolidating the Annual ILL report so that reports on ILL are done here in the Annual Report rather than in separate ILL reports previously due in August.

  Please contact me with questions and comments.
  

• Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community, Statistics

  Public Libraries Continue to Feel the Effects of the Recession

  December 1st, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

  Library Use Up in FY2010, Income and Staff Fall

  According to recent data submitted by public libraries in Connecticut, library use statistics all rose again in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

  • Circulation – up 4%
  • Library visits – up 2%
  • Program attendance – up 5%
  • Number of public access internet workstations – up 6% (up 45% in 5 years)

  At the same time:

  • Operating Income dropped for the first time in over 15 years.
  • The number of full-time equivalent employees in public libraries is at its lowest level since the year 2000.
  • 34 principal public libraries would have been ineligible for the 2011 state grant because of insufficient town tax support (most years see about 4 libraries ineligible) .  But this requirement was waived this year.

  See the latest charts showing year to year trends in CT public libraries.

  For more statistical information on public libraries in fiscal year 2009-2010, see the preliminary Statistical Profile.

  Thanks go out to all those library directors and staff who labored again this year to provide the State Library with your library’s annual report.  We appreciate your efforts!

  

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