Our library patrons want help in learning how to use their mobile devices—such as an e-reader, smartphone, or new tablet–and it can feel like an insurmountable task to help them all. Join us for some practical guidance on how libraries can help patrons with a variety of gadgets. We’ll share tips for how to set up realistic formal training sessions and how to best offer one-on-one assistance. You will also gain examples of practical training outlines, how-to guides, and video tutorials.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Online
For additional details and registration information visit: OCLC: So Many Devices, So Little Time
Connecticut public libraries lent 4,840,426 items to non-residents during the 2012-2013 year (which ended with February). This was down just slightly from last year.
Connecticard Payment, Net-Plus Loan, and Borrowing/Lending information is available on the Connecticard web page. Payments should go out to libraries during April. A reminder: by statute sec. 11-31b, the Ccard payment “may be used for general library purposes and no portion of the grant money shall revert to the general fund of the town or towns normally served by such library.”
Thanks go out to all those who provided Connecticard loan figures this year!
Some libraries may be interested in having a statistics flyer/handout that spotlights some of your library’s use, collection, and financial statistics as they were reported in the Annual Report last fall. An example of what the PDF looks like is here:
These flyers may be of use as a handout during budget or other public meetings. If you would like a flyer like this customized for your library, email me.
As a result of a recent Ccar volume study, Ccar delivers more than 2.8 million items per year. 141 libraries receiving Ccar service (63% of the total number of libraries receiving Ccar service) collected data on their Ccar volume the week of December 10-14, 2012. The second week of December is the latest that we’ve asked libraries to collect data and it is normally a less busy time in libraries, due primarily to the holiday season. The study was originally planned for the last week of October 2012, but it was postponed due to storm Sandy’s arrival.
The 141 libraries reported receiving 34,125 items during the week. Extrapolating that for all libraries receiving delivery and for the 52 weeks of the year yielded an estimate of 2,831,649, or more than 2.83 million items delivered for the year. Here are results of the other Ccar Volume studies:
• March 2007: 2.2 million items
• October 2007: 1.97 million
• October 2009: 2.75 million
• March 2011: 3 million
• December 2011: 3 million
• December 2012: 2.8 million
The Division of Library Development at the State Library is conducting a survey to find out how public libraries in Connecticut are creating and maintaining their library websites. We are asking for those staff who are directly responsible for the public library’s main website to answer our questions on this survey. The survey should take about 10 minutes to fill out.
The deadline is Friday, April 5. Afterward we will share the results, but no libraries will be identified in what we share.
The results of this survey will help us determine what is working and what is not working for libraries as they maintain their web presence. Eventually we hope to provide some best practices and suggest some good options for libraries looking to improve this service. Thanks for your assistance.
If you have questions about the survey, contact either:
Dawn La Valle, dawn.lavalle@ct.gov
Steve Cauffman, stephen.cauffman@ct.gov
Tom Newman, tom.newman@ct.gov
Registration is open for Summer Reader, an online reading program management system. The Connecticut State Library has entered into a 3 year contract with Evanced Solution to provide free, year round use of the program to all public libraries in Connecticut. Summer Reader offers an easy way to manage summer and year-round reading programs for patrons of all ages.
The Connecticard reporting period for public libraries runs from March to February. February 2013 brings to a close the reporting period for the 2012-2013. Make it your New Year’s resolution to complete all your library’s reports for the past 12 months.
Go to the online report form to enter non-resident Connecticard loans for each month from March 2012 through February 2013. Or, if your library is using the Alternative Ccard Report Form (an Excel file), please send the completed form to me by email and I will confirm receipt. THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY MARCH 20 at 4 P.M. Though there is no formal “certification” required, you are required to have accurate and complete figures in place by the deadline, or you will not receive a reimbursement payment.
Please contact Tom Newman at if you have any questions.
One of the great benefits of the Annual Report submissions by Connecticut Public Libraries are the suites of charts made available by these Automatic Chart-Makers. Download the Excel files and you can create charts that compare your library to other libraries like yours, or provide charts showing your library’s trends over time. No Excel skill required at all. Are you completely allergic to Excel? If so, then ask that the chart suites be sent to you. Either way, this benefit makes all that statistics-gathering seem worthwhile.
This webinar shares how staff at the Tooele City Library implemented a “Self-Directed Achievement” model for staff development.
“Set one training goal each week achievable in one hour.” This simple directive was given to every staff member of one Utah library in September 2011. The result just one year later? A sustainable, positive culture transformation. The mechanism, called “Self-Directed Achievement,” is a consistent, agile, individualized approach to staff development in a climate of constant change. It champions the basic library principle of lifelong learning. It is achievable for every individual with any level of expertise. And its impact will ripple through your organization from the staff work room to public lounge areas. Following this webinar, you will understand the model, mechanics, individual accountability, and supervisory responsibility involved in this remarkable method…and you’ll want to do it too.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Online
For additional details and registration information visit: OCLC: Self-Directed Achievement: If You Give Library Staff An Hour
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