February 21, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( No Comments )
Two winners have been chosen in the ‘win a trip to PLA 2012’ contests that were recently sponsored by the Public Library Association (PLA). Winners will receive free registration to the PLA 2012 Conference, March 13-17 in Pennsylvania, four nights hotel, and up to $500 reimbursement for travel to and from the conference.
The first, an essay contest aimed at current MLIS students, required entrants to submit a 150 word essay detailing why they would like to attend PLA 2012 and also showing their creativity and enthusiasm for the public library world. Essays were then evaluated by members of the PLA Board of Directors. Amy Mikel, MLIS student, University of Washington Information School, Seattle, was selected from more than 60 participants to receive the trip to PLA 2012.
PLA also held a short-video contest for librarians, which required entrants to create a 60-second video describing their library and what they would get out of attending PLA 2012. Fifteen contestants submitted entries. The top five videos (judged by members of the PLA Board of Directors) were placed on PLA’s Facebook page for final voting by the public, with the video drawing the highest number of “likes” named the winner. Catherine Pruett, youth services librarian at the Marion County (S.C) Library received 322 likes for her game-show themed video and won the prize.
February 16, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( No Comments )
Job Searching and Libraries
During these difficult economic times, people searching for jobs are turning to libraries more than ever. What is your library doing to help job seekers? The co-editors of the Perspectives column in Public Libraries want to know! Please submit your essay (no more than 1500 words) for inclusion in the March/April Perspectives column no later than Friday, March 2nd to Nanci Milone Hill, co-editor at .
February 15, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( No Comments )
Make sure your library is counted! Participate in the PLDS Statistical Report survey. Visit http://pla.countingopinions.com/ to participate in the survey. You will need your library’s individual PLDS ID number and password. Completed surveys are due by March 30, 2012. Questions? Email: .
February 13, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( 1 Comment )
PLA is seeking interested parties to submit virtual poster sessions as part of the upcoming PLA Virtual Conference. The topic of your poster session can be of your choosing, but must be related to public librarianship. Virtual posters can be submitted as Web pages, PowerPoint presentations, or other formats which can be “mounted” on the Web. Accepted “posters” will be mounted on the PLA Virtual Conference website prior to the event (the PLA Virtual Conference will be held on March 15 and March 16 during the PLA 2012 Conference in Philadelphia). Presenters are also welcome to participate in online discussions about their posters via the Virtual Conference.
To apply, or if you have questions, please send an email to detailing your idea. Please include the following: Primary Contact Name, Phone Number, Email Address, Job Title and Institution, Names of Additional Contributors, Title of Proposed Virtual Poster Session, Brief Abstract (150-200) words) describing your poster session, Format of Virtual Poster (e.g. .doc, .html, .pdf) and if any special files/software/effects will be incorporated. We have the ability to do voice-over narration, so if you would like to take advantage of that, just include it in your proposal. Proposals are due by Monday, February 20, at 4:00 p.m.(Central Time). Selected proposals will be notified by February 29, 2012.
At 1 p.m. CST on Feb. 23, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host a live, hour-long webinar, “Creating Dynamic Library Atmospheres: What We Can Learn from Theater, Retail, Museums, and the Container Store,” as part of PLA’s “Public Libraries at Work” monthly webinar series.
Presenters Sally Decker Smith, library consultant, and Ted Swigon, museum design consultant, will share practical and effective ideas for making patron-engaging differences in the library. Participants will learn how to look at their libraries with a visitor’s eye and will walk away with affordable, out-of-the-box library-interior ideas sure to create first impressions that make positive lasting impressions.
The cost to attend “Creating Dynamic Library Atmospheres: What We Can Learn from Theater, Retail, Museums, and the Container Store” is $28 (PLA Members), $31.50 (ALA Members) and $35 (Nonmembers). Groups of any size can register for $129. The deadline to register is 4:30 p.m. CST on Feb. 21. Get more information and register here.
February 09, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( No Comments )
Registration for the PLA 2012 Virtual Conference is now open. On March 15-16, 2012, the Public Library Association (PLA) will share a condensed, live and online PLA Conference with public librarians and public library workers who can’t make the trip to Philadelphia.
The PLA 2012 Virtual Conference will include many familiar elements of the on-site conference, including high-quality educational programming, poster sessions and networking opportunities with colleagues. Each day will feature five live programs—the same programs available to in-person conference attendees. In addition, the virtual conference will feature special events such as daily author interviews.
Can’t, Won’t, Don’t, Couldn’t, Shouldn’t, Wouldn’t: Combating Negativity Nellies in the Workplace
Engaging with Teens on A Shoestring Budget
iPads in the Library: from Tech Programming to Staff Productivity
Library To Go: Putting Your Library Virtually Anywhere
Q & A with Nancy Pearl
Tracking Children’s Early Literacy Skills: Options for Libraries
The Future of Libraries: Trends in Building Design, User Experience and Community Partnerships
Transforming Public Libraries from Institutions of the Industrial Age to Change Agent for the Networked Society
As PLA finalizes the virtual conference schedule, new programs and updated information can be found here.
PLA is offering both individual and group registration for the virtual conference. Individual registration is $215 for PLA and PaLA members, $270 for ALA members, $310 for nonmembers and $85 for students. Group registration is $599 and allows a single location to host the virtual conference for multiple attendees.
Register for the PLA 2012 Virtual Conference here. Registration closes on Friday, March 2, 2012.
February 07, 2012 by Kathleen Hughes ( No Comments )
Plan to join PLA and library consultant, Stephanie Gerding, for a PLA Facebook Forum highlighting Advocacy Planning for Public Libraries on Weds, Feb. 8 at 1:00 pm CST. Bring your advocacy related questions and join us on the PLA Facebook page for what promises to be an informative discussion!
PLA 2012 Virtual Poster Sessions
PLA is seeking interested parties to submit virtual poster sessions as part of the upcoming PLA Virtual Conference. The topic of your poster session can be of your choosing, but must be related to public librarianship. Virtual posters can be submitted as Web pages, PowerPoint presentations, or other formats which can be “mounted” on the Web. Accepted “posters” will be mounted on the PLA Virtual Conference website prior to the event (the PLA Virtual Conference will be held on March 15 and March 16 during the PLA 2012 Conference in Philadelphia). Presenters are also welcome to participate in online discussions about their posters via the Virtual Conference.
To apply, or if you have questions, please send an email to detailing your idea. Please include the following: Primary Contact Name, Phone Number, Email Address, Job Title and Institution, Names of Additional Contributors, Title of Proposed Virtual Poster Session, Brief Abstract (150-200) words) describing your poster session, Format of Virtual Poster (e.g. .doc, .html, .pdf) and if any special files/software/effects will be incorporated. We have the ability to do voice-over narration, so if you would like to take advantage of that, just include it in your proposal. Proposals are due by Monday, February 20, at 4:00 p.m.(Central Time). Selected proposals will be notified by February 29, 2012.
Contributed by Mary Hirsh, Project Manager, Public Library Association
For the past year, PLA has participated in a roundtable tasked with developing a system of public access technology benchmarks. Called Edge, this program is a set of benchmarks libraries can use to assess their public access technology and related support materials and advocacy tools. We had the opportunity to assess our work so far at two midwinter meetings.
On Saturday, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, a public forum was held to update the status of the project and review the current benchmarks draft. I had the privilege, along with TechSoup’s Sarah Washburn, of leading three state librarians, a few independent consultants, and an IMLS representative in a small group discussion of the Engaging Community and Decision Makers benchmarks. These three benchmarks broadly deal with raising awareness and building a positive perception of the library as a community resource and were well received by the participants. One attendee said the current version was so much more than she expected. They also felt that with a little tweaking here and there, these benchmarks could be used in libraries as both an assessment of current activities and a planning tool. They did feel that the benchmark regarding partnership needed some work. It was too soft, especially in relation to the others, and not applicable to some libraries depending on their governance structure. We also had a more general conversation about the support materials. Everyone felt it would be necessary to get a thorough explanation of your score, along with some recommendations for next steps. This meeting was a great opportunity for us to hear from people who will actually use the benchmarks and gave us all confidence that, while we are not done yet, we are getting closer.
The entire roundtable met Monday. It was an intense day as we addressed a few major issues that need to be solved prior to a beta benchmarks release. When it was all said and done, we determined we need more input from you about the benchmarks and what tools would be most helpful in supporting their use. To that end, we will be opening up several feedback channels in the coming weeks. Please watch the PLA blog and enews for more information. If you and your library would like to be involved in the revision and review process at a deeper level, please let me () know.
