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.

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.

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)

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.

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

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

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

Please contact me with questions and comments.

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!