Reality Bites: Periodicals Price Survey 2009

Times are hard and will get worse before better. This year’s periodicals price survey reflects the drastic actions libraries are taking to cope and their plea to publishers to hold or reduce costs or face disaster. » » »

Hard Questions Follow OCLCs Morphing WorldCat into ILS

The ripples of controversy still spread from OCLC’s announcement that it is extending WorldCat Local’s cataloging and discovery powers to essentially perform the same functions as an ILS. Reaction was mixed among for-profit vendors and library insiders. » » »

YALA to offer online courses

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), opened registration for two online courses for Summer 2009: “Pain in the Brain:  Adolescent Development and Library Behavior” (Beth Gallaway) and “Beyond Booklists:  Serving Today’s Diverse Teens” (Jennifer Velasquez).

Both of YALSA’s Summer 2009 courses meet for four weeks. Courses begin June 1. To read course descriptions, please visit http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/onlinecourses/info.cfm

Registration for YALSA’s online courses is available at www.ala.org/yalsa.  Four-week courses cost $US 135 for YALSA members, $US 175 for ALA members and $US 195 for nonmembers.  Discounts are available for groups of ten or more, and all YALSA e-courses are available for licensing; contact Nichole Gilbert at ngilbert@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4387, for more information.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos, and audiobooks for teens. For more information about these awards or for additional lists of recommended reading, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists. For more information about YALSA, please contact us via e-mail, yalsa@ala.org, or by phone, at 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4390.

ALIA 2009 National Library & Information Technicians Conference

Adelaide Convention Centre 15-18 September 2009

The organising committee of the ALIA 2009 National Library & Information Technicians Conference is pleased to announce that Earlybird registration is now open. Please visit http://conferences.alia.org.au/libtec2009/registration.php to register online and to view the Registration Brochure where you can find the full provisional program.

The 2009 ‘Tecs Conference’ offers five days of networking and learning opportunities. The pre-conference program commences Monday with satellite events, Tuesday offers a full day of library tours of best practice sites and in the evening delegates are invited to the Welcome Cocktail party. This is an opportunity to meet old and new friends and to explore the trade exhibition featuring the latest library industry vendors have to offer. First time delegates are not forgotten, you are invited to join your colleagues for an informal dinner after the cocktail party.

The conference program commences on Wednesday and the next three days will provide a forum to hear local, national and international speakers, to attend a variety of workshops and to enjoy a range of social activities.

The Earlybird rate offers considerable savings on the standard rate and ALIA members enjoy a further discount. To assist you with your application to your employer, to attend this conference, a sample letter is available on the Registration page.

On behalf of the organising committee, of the ALIA 2009 National Library & Information Technicians Conference, I look forward to welcoming you to the Adelaide Convention Centre, 15-18 September 2009. Please visit on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1004359484691&f=1&e=-12#/event.php?eid=41779769809 to meet other intending delegates prior to the Conference.

Book returned to library 145 years overdue

$52,000 fine waived after book stolen during Civil War is given back to Virginia university   >>>

Moving into Supervision. Supervisory Skills for library technicians and/or newly qualified professionals

ALIA and ScHARR (University of Sheffield, UK) bring you a fabulous new online course

Moving into Supervision

Supervisory Skills for library technicians and/or newly qualified professionals

Invest in your career and develop or upgrade your supervisory skills. In this course new information professionals & library technicians will gain an understanding and appreciation for key principles and methods of effective supervision of staff in any type of library or information service.

At the end of this course, participants will:

· Understand the characteristics of effective supervision as it specifically relates to library and information services.

· Identify and utilise specific techniques when supervising the performance and personal development of staff within their own library or information context.

· Describe the main processes required for interviewing, setting performance goals, and evaluating staff performance.

· Develop personal strategies to enable them to plan effectively, manage time, direct, train and motivate staff.

· Engage with fellow participants in discussing issues connected with the supervision of library and information service staff.

When

Monday 1^st June – Friday 17^th July 2009

Cost

$220 for ALIA members

$300 for non-members

Registration

Registration form is available at http://www.alia.org.au/education/pd/workshops/pdfs/MOVES.Registration.form.pdf

More information

Course objectives http://www.alia.org.au/education/pd/workshops/pdfs/Web.COURSE.OBJECTIVES.MOVES.pdf

FOLIOz FAQs http://www.alia.org.au/education/pd/workshops/pdfs/FAQ.2009.pdf

For more details contact Judy Brooker on 1800 020 071 or email judy.brooker@alia.org.au ALIA Professional Development and Careers Manager or visit http://www.alia.org.au/education/pd/workshops/

Technology on a Shoestring: Big Tools for Small Budgets

Demand is huge for low cost solutions to patrons’ technological challenges. Evidence? Over 300 attendees in the virtual classroom for Technology on a Shoestring: Big Tools for Small Budgets, a 60-minute information packed webcast sponsored by Polaris Library Systems and Library Journal.

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Library Bats Take Flight

Librarians across the nation are on the lookout for bats—three stuffed, plush bats by the names of Green, Red and Blue, to be exact. Following the success of Bats at the Library and Bats at the Beach, Brian Lies is drumming up anticipation for a third volume, Bats at the Ballgame (Houghton, 2010) by sending the three intrepid travelers (equipped with passports) on a whirlwind tour, with the goal of visiting as many libraries as possible, each for two weeks at a time. read more

How Do You Manage: Cut Off?

If you suspect a regular patron is drunk but well behaved, should you let him flop or call a cop? » » »

Explore the DOAJ

Here’s another post relating to tight times and the happy fact that the open source/open access movement continues to simultaneously flourish. High school librarians will want to share the Dir…
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