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Events, Resources
Feedback Sought for Free Power Meters at Libraries
March 18th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

The Indiana State Library would like to gauge interest among public libraries concerning free Kill A Watt. The meter measures the wattage used to power an appliance, computer of flat screen TV even when it is not on. By reducing phantom power use a person could save an average of $100 a year or more in electricity.

The goal is to integrate Kill A Watt power meters into libraries across the state so people could check them out like books and reduce their electric costs. The meters would come with a free counter-top display featuring information about the units and how they can be borrowed.

These Kill A Watt power meters will be available at no cost to public libraries. The State Library will proceed forward with this project if there is sufficient public library interest in these free meters. Please indicate your interest, comments and/or concerns about the free Kill A Watt power meters by emailing ldo@library.in.gov.

New Online Resource Searchable through INSPIRE
The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) has been added to the growing list of new resources searchable on INSPIRE. Results from this free comprehensive database of open-access scientific and scholarly journals will appear automatically during standard INSPIRE searches. These journals must exercise peer-review or editorial-quality control to participate. The Directory includes nearly 4,000 scientific and scholarly journals in dozens of different subject areas such as library and information science, education, history and art.

Free LEUs Available at April Workshops
Registration is now available for a three-session online course from Solinet that outlines the manager’s role in organizing and planning preservation activities in a library or archives. Preservation Management is designed for administrative and/or managerial staff responsible for planning, implementing, or managing a preservation program in a library or archives.

Registrations for this free class must be received by March 25, 2009 and participants must attend all three sessions that take place on April 2^nd, 9^th, & 13^thto be eligible for six (6) general LEUs. Registrants should receive an email with detailed login information and set-up instructions after they sign up for the course on WebJunction Indiana’s online event calendar. Register for all three courses on the April 2 event posting. Please call the Educational Services Department at 1-800-999-8558 if you do not receive this email at least three days prior to the class.

This class is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Preservation and Access. Please visit Solinet’s website for technical requirements for participating in the course.

Another free April workshop, Allocating Space in Your Library to Meet Changing Needs, will take a close look at popular methods and best practices for reviewing and reallocating existing library space to meet current service needs and changing public expectations. Public and academic library managers will receive hands-on practice in using a space review and reallocation model and associated work forms. The workshop also provides a library walk-about activity for applied learning and discussion of use of space.

Allocating Space in Your Library to Meet Changing Needs workshops will be worth six (6) General LEUs. Registration is available through WebJunction Indiana’s online calendar. All three workshops begin at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) and take place at the following locations and dates:

Location: Fulton County Public Library
Date Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Registration Ends: 3/31/2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT)

Location: Linton Public Library
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Registration Ends: 4/7/2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT)

Location: Hancock County Public Library
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Registration Ends: 4/14/2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT)

There is also limited seating available for the Programming for Babies course at the Jasper-Dubois County Contractual Public Library on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to Noon (EDT). This free one-hour course will feature lots of ideas about how to program for babies and their caregivers. Attendees will discuss what is developmentally appropriate for babies 18 months and younger and leave with songs, stories and ideas for great programs. This course is worth one (1) general LEU and will be followed up with the SW Youth Services spring roundtable.

State Library’s Reference Hotline
866-683-0008
eReference

More Library News:
Chesterton Tribune: Slumping economy boosts library use
Evansville Courier Press: Reform bills died for lack of support
Evansville Courier Press: Vanderburgh, Spencer county libraries have star power
Indiana Statesman: ISU librarian makes exhibit a success
Indy Star: Librarian encouraged love of the quest for information
Indy Star: Library to offer Savvy Senior class
Library Journal: You Can’t Afford Not To Do These Things
Martinsville Reporter Times: Reference librarian treats patrons right
Muncie Star Press: Library teen group collecting for seniors
Northwest Indiana Times: Gary library to introduce new director
Northwest Indiana Times: Author makes reading fun
South Bend Tribune: Facebook may return to M-P-H libraries
Terre Haute Tribune Star: Second library branch closes: Library opened branch at Plaza North in 1967
WTHR – TV (Indy): Jobless lean on libraries for Internet
Friday Facts, Grants, Resources
Congress in the Classroom Program Seeks Applicants
March 13th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Congress in the Classroom is a program designed to instruct teachers on new methods of teaching about Congress and the United States Government. The program is sponsored by the Dirksen Congressional Center and held in Peoria, Illinois for three days in late July. High school and middle school teachers who teach history, social studies, government or political science are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is April 15, 2009 and forty participants will be selected. While this program is designed for teachers rather than librarians, libraries may be interested in posting this for any teachers in their community.

Those who are not selected for the workshop can also learn about new teaching techniques via the online edition. Children and young adults may be interested in the Dirksen Center’s Congress for Kids website. This interactive site uses activities and fun illustrations to teach kids about Congress. Of course, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have their own websites, both of which provide access to current legislation, as well as information about members of Congress and the history of the institutions.

For more information on Congress in the Classroom, please see the Dirksen Center’s information sheet

YUCK! Poison Prevention Week Starts Next Week
March 15-21 2009 marks National Poison Prevention Week. More than 2 million poisonings are reported to poison control centers each year. Most of these cases that are non-fatal occur among children under the age of six. National Poison Prevention Week was designed to inform the public about the prevalence of accidental poisonings in the home and elsewhere, and to shed light on ways to prevent such events from happening.

The Poison Prevention Week Council, which was established by Congress in 1961, provides a handy list of materials that discuss the dangers of various poisons – whether they be plants, medicines, lead or pesticides. Many of these materials are downloadable and most are free.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) also provides a list of publications discussing poison prevention. All of these can be downloaded. Check out the Center for Disease Control’s website for additional publications. They provide access to governmental reports on poison prevention. The website also includes a link to the CDC’s Podcast on poisonings. Finally, as summer draws near, adults, children and animals all have easier access to pesticides. Visit the EPA’s website on pesticide safety for more information.

Local Unemployment Data Available Through STATS
Are you looking for the latest employment data for your county or metro area? The Indiana Department of Workforce Development and STATS Indiana provide Local Area Unemployment Statistics through the updated Hoosiers by the Numbers website, a state-based portal to workforce information. Especially interesting are the line graphs produced automatically which detail the changes in the workforce from last year to this year, for your selected area. You can receive your results in Word, Excel, or by email. Where does your county rank along with other Indiana counties? Select the Publications tab and choose Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate for January 2009.

Amber Alerts Available through Wireless Devices
Every second that a child goes missing makes it more unlikely that a child will be found. The first three hours after a child’s abduction are the most critical to recovery efforts. The National Wireless AMBER alerts initiative is a partnership between the wireless industry, the United States Department of Justice, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to distribute Amber Alerts to wireless subscribers who opt to receive the messages on their wireless devices.

The Amber alerts program began in 1997 using radio as its primary means of dissemination. Today, Amber Alerts have gone high-tech, to include television, websites, and electronic highway signs. You can sign up for free Amber alerts on your cell phone; it’s quick and may help save a child’s life.

by Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Resources
Committee Formed to Update Public Library Standards
March 11th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

The State Library and the Indiana Library and Historical Board (ILHB) have responded to the need to update public library standards by establishing a library standards committee to modify and develop these standards last revised 15 years ago. The committee will identify best practices for public libraries of all sizes and address the role of modern technologies in libraries in order to provide all Hoosiers with excellent library services. The committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the ILHB later this spring regardless of the outcome of SB 348 or similar legislation.

The standards committee met in late February to begin the process of reviewing and revising public library standards. The committee is comprised of a cross-section of public library directors and trustees from libraries of varying sizes and geographic regions throughout the state, as well as members of the Indiana State Library’s staff.

Members of the library standards committee are as follows:

William Bruce, Indiana Library Trustee Association
Marsha Ford, Indiana Library Trustee Association
John Leavitt, Indiana Library Trustee Association
Laura Bramble, Indiana Public Library Association
David Eisen, Indiana Public Library Association
Susan Miller, Indiana Public Library Association
Nick Schenkel, Indiana Public Library Association
Jim Corridan, Indiana State Library
Wendy Knapp, Indiana State Library
Jacob Speer, Indiana State Library
Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana State Librarian, Ex-Officio

Public library staff, professionals and trustees will have several opportunities for input throughout reviewing and updating processes. The committee will take questions, suggestions and recommendations at regional meetings and web comment forms over the next two months.

More information about the Library Standards committee will be posted online at http://www.in.gov/library/standards.htm as it becomes available.

New IHC Series Highlights “The Immigrant Experience”
The Indiana Humanities Council makes multiple copies of books available for loan to reading and discussion groups at libraries, senior centers, and other organizations through its Humanities to Go program. There is no charge for this service, but the books must be reserved in advance. Statewide delivery is available to INfo Express customers.

This year, the Council is offering a new series on “The Immigrant Experience” in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Titles include:

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
My Antonia by Willa Cather

For more details, including a list of available titles, visit the Humanities to Go website or email Nancy Conner, nconner@indianahumanities.org, Director of Grants, Indiana Humanities Council.

State Library Granted 3-Year Renewal of Center for the Book
The Indiana State Library recently received a three-year renewal to continue to serve as host of the Indiana Center for the Book. The renewal guarantees the Indiana Center for the Book’s affiliation with the National Center for the Book in the Library of Congress through 2011. As an affiliate of the National Center for the Book, the Indiana Center administers national programs sponsored by the Library of Congress, such as Letters About Literature and River of Words. The Indiana Center also provides original statewide programming and has grown from two to five programs over the past two years and has several new programs in the works for the coming 18 months.

“I would like to thank the National Center for the Book for renewing its partnership with the Indiana State Library,” said Roberta L. Brooker, Indiana State Librarian. “The State Library remains unwavering in its commitment to developing a more vibrant and influential Indiana Center for the Book.”

The Indiana Center for the Book promotes interest in reading, writing, literacy, libraries, and Indiana’s literary heritage by administering statewide literary programs, sponsoring events and serving as an information resource at the state and local level. The Center also supports both the professional endeavors and the popular pursuits of Indiana’s residents toward reading and writing.

Visit the Indiana Center for the Book’s website for more information about current programs and initiatives.

State Library’s
Reference Hotline
866-683-0008
eReference

More Library News:
Associated Press: Indiana House Panel Rejects Local Government Revamp
Gary Post Tribune: Libraries no longer just for bookworms
Indy Star: Taxpayers have huge stake in trial of Central Library lawsuit
Indy Star: Like libraries? Career Expo
Indy Star: Legislation to reform gov’t hits a wall
LISWire: Four on the Floor: Evergreen Indiana Continues to Grow
Madison Courier: Poet laureate to visit Madison on Sat
Muncie Star Press: ‘Watered down’ library bill requires study only
New York Times: Bernstein’s Workroom Will Head to IN
Northwest Indiana Times: House sets showdown over local government reform
Richmond Palladium Item: Library project will tap wallets
Richmond Palladium Item: Kernan-Shepard ‘reform’ undermines local control
Rushville Republican: New tool for family tree climbers available at Rushville Public Library
Terre Haute Tribune Star: Big Read program credited with helping raise reading rates
WSBT-TV (South Bend): Committee stalls Indiana gov’t reform
WSBT-TV (South Bend): AMBS Library one of a kind
WTHR (Indy): Library use rises with unemployment
Events, Friday Facts, Resources
State Offers Online Service to Track Stimulus Projects
March 6th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

In response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Governor Daniels has created a website, INvest Indiana, for Indiana citizens to track spending and projects for programs throughout the State. The various projects outlined in this website are designed create jobs and improve quality of life for citizens of Indiana. The federal government’s stimulus website claims to give Americans a sense of ownership and transparency for their tax dollars. Indiana’s version seeks to obtain the same goal – transparency in government spending.

In these times, it is critical that citizens receive timely information in order to be well prepared and educated, not only on our local economy, but the national economy as well. INvest Indiana will to connect Hoosiers to programs and resources, and provide information about funding of projects as it becomes available.

Women’s History Month Goes Green in March
Since 1987, March has been designated as Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is “Women taking the lead to save our planet” to honor women who have taken initiative in environmental or “green” programs throughout history. Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, serves as the model for the theme. However, there are countless other women who have worked to further both environmentalism and other causes. This month is meant to honor all of them. For a list of honorees, see America.gov’s women’s history page.

The official website of Women’s History Month features images, audio and video presentations, profiles of well-known and important women, and Teachers’ Guides. There are also links to exhibits and collections at the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and several national museums. In addition, there is information about national events commemorating the month.

There are also events going on in the State of Indiana. These can be found on the Indiana Commission on Women’s (ICW) website. Two featured events are the Women’s History Month luncheon and lecture at Franklin College and the Stepping Stones of Women in Leadership luncheon at IUPUI. Of course, there are also events going on in the rest of the state – one such is the Women’s History luncheon in Bloomington, at the Bloomington-Monroe County Convention Center. The ICW is also a good resource for women around the state. Here they can find information on financial information and legal assistance.

Additional statistical information on women in general can be found on the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features. For example, it is projected that 928,000 women will earn bachelor’s degrees in the 2008-2009 school year. This is 58% of all bachelor’s degrees being awarded.

National Nutrition Month Kicks Off “Eat Right!” Campaign
Get back to the basics and help celebrate American Dietetic Association’s National Nutrition Month. The theme for this year is “Eat Right!” For help encouraging community members and families to be kind to their bodies, search the Nutrition Fact Sheets covering many different topics such as 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids, Get Smart about Salt, and Healthy Eating on the Run.

Visit Nutrition.gov, a service of the National Agriculture Library (USDA), for the trusted food pyramid, an updated resource list for Weight Management and Obesity, and much more. For general information, check out Medline Plus webpage on Nutrition and the Centers for Disease Control website on Nutrition for Everyone.

Spring Ahead for Daylight Saving Time
Don’t forget to set your clocks! This Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 a.m, Indiana and the rest of the United States will be on Daylight Saving Time. Currently, the majority of Indiana counties lie in the Eastern Time Zone except for 12 counties in the northwest and southwest corners of the state that are in the Central Time Zone.

Time Zones are regulated and determined by theSecretary of Transportation. For more information, please visit these websites:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Indiana Time Zones

USA.gov Offers Resources for Specific Audiences
USA.gov, the federal government’s portal to information and services, provides a list of federal gateways for specific audiences organized by topic. Enter via the Reference Center for Librarians and Researchers or point your patrons to gateways for Consumer Publications, Kids and Youth, and Spanish Speakers, to name a few. In addition, if your patrons are looking for a way to visualize government-related vocabulary, one place to look is the USA.gov Word Cloud. In a glance, you can see words that feature most prominently on the USA.gov website.

by: Katharine Springer, Elisabeth O’Donnell, & Kim Brown-Harden
Events, Resources
TechSoup Offers Libraries Savings on CPUs, Software
March 4th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

TechSoup has been working with its corporate partners to open more donation programs to public libraries. In the past year, software donations from Symantec, NOZA, and others have become available to public libraries for the first time. Now, discounted computers are available to public libraries through TechSoup’s Refurbished Computer Initiative (RCI).

The Refurbished Computer Initiative supplies low-cost, warranteed, refurbished desktop and laptop computers through TechSoup Stock’s Web site to nonprofits and libraries anywhere in the U.S. The equipment is state of the art and refurbished by Redemtech, an industry leader in asset recovery. RCI also offers free end-of-life recycling when you’re done with the equipment.

RCI offers refurbished desktop computers ranging between $190 and $250; laptops between $380 and $460 and monitors for $115. Each computer comes with Windows XP Professional (or Windows 2000 if you prefer), Microsoft Office 2003, a new keyboard, a new mouse, and a 90-day full warranty. Furthermore, these computers are business-class machines, formerly owned by corporations and designed to last longer than consumer-grade, home-use equipment.

For more information, visit TechSoup’s RCI Products page. TechSoup’s latest Cookbook, Planning for Success, also has some suggestions on buying refurbished equipment.

Indiana Authors Award Now Taking Nominations
The Indiana-Marion County Public Library Foundation is now accepting nominations for the inaugural Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award through April 8, 2009. This award seeks to recognize the contributions of Indiana authors to the literary landscape in Indiana and across the nation, and is funded by the generosity of The Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation.

A statewide panel will select a national, regional, and emerging author from nominations sent in by the public. Winning authors will each receive a cash prize ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 and will be able to designate their hometown Indiana public library as the recipient of an additional $2,500 grant. On September 26, the Library Foundation will host a day of activities culminating with an Awards Dinner at Indianapolis’ downtown Central Library. Any living published writer who was born in Indiana or has lived in Indiana for at least five years is eligible for nomination.

More information, nomination forms and guidelines are available at www.indianaauthorsaward.org.

IHB Inventory Reduction Offers Book at Steep Discount
The Indiana Historical Bureau is having a 40%-off inventory reduction sale. There is a limited supply of these specially priced books which will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Anyone can purchase these books, librarians, libraries or patrons. The sale will continue for the entire month of March or while supplies last. There are no additional discounts on these already reduced books.

DWD Unemployment Assistance Training Now Available Online
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently partnered with the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) and the Indiana State Library to provide training and computers to local libraries, community groups, and faith-based organizations currently helping Hoosiers file for unemployment benefits.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, the DWD conducted a workshop that explained the unemployment filing process in detail and offered helpful advice to best assist unemployed. The State Library has posted a video recording of this training online.

The DWD’s computer loan program is still available and provides over 200 surplus state computers to public libraries and other organizations to meet the demand of unemployment filers in their area. Libraries and organizations interested in participating in the loan program should contact Valerie Kroeger with DWD at 317-234-4026 or vkroeger@dwd.in.gov.

For more unemployment assistance tools for public libraries visit http://www.in.gov/library/3472.htm

State Library’s
Reference Hotline
866-683-0008
eReference

More Library News:
Associated Press: Lincoln items move to ACPL in May
Associated Press: Libraries report increase in borrowing
Bedford Times-Mail: Missing books
Brazil Times (OP-ED: Louis Mahern): Former legislator defends CLGR report
Carroll County Comet: Library can help with filing for unemployment benefits
CNN: Hard economic times a boon for libraries
Evansville Courier Press: Workshops on local government reform initiatives slated for March
Gary Post Tribune: Kids mark Lincoln’s b-day with activities
Huntington Herald Press: Huntington Library expands
Indy Star: Westfield Library receives computers to facilitate unemployment claims
Indy Star: Prize will reward Indiana writers
Johnson County Daily Journal: Resist urge to throw the book at community library systems
LISWire: Noble County Public Library Goes Live With Evergreen
The Madison Courier: Switzerland County library director to take job in Madison
Marion Chronicle Tribune: All About Gas City: From books to computers, libraries offer many services
NPR: What’s New At The Library? Financial Advice
Northwest Indiana Times: EDITORIAL: Shelve the opt-out provision for library consolidation Terre Haute Tribune Star: As counties assess fiscal priorities, libraries shouldn’t become easy targets
Terre Haute Tribune Star: Putting a high value on libraries
WANE-TV (Fort Wayne): Kernan-Shepard reform plan could mean big savings
WLFI-TV (Lafayette): 2009 Artist in Residency
WTHR-TV (Indy): Hoosiers search for ways to save money

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Events, Resources

Feedback Sought for Free Power Meters at Libraries

Friday Facts, Grants, Resources

Congress in the Classroom Program Seeks Applicants

Resources

Committee Formed to Update Public Library Standards

Events, Friday Facts, Resources

State Offers Online Service to Track Stimulus Projects

Events, Resources

TechSoup Offers Libraries Savings on CPUs, Software