July 2009
Volume 30 No. 1

California State Blog entry with details, links, and contact information. Before proceeding, please contact Bessie Condos - 916-651-0981 - bcondos AT - library.ca.gov.
Deadline: August 26, 2009

National Broadband Plan - Broadband.gov
The Broadband Initiatives funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) are intended to accelerate broadband deployment across the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold workshops August 12-September 3, to promote an open dialogue between the FCC and key constituents. As of Search's press time, libraries were not specifically mentioned as key constituents.

Workshop schedule and contacts - Topic suggestions

Stimulus Funds for Libraries
The Broadband Initiative is just a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA.) Here are some sites to utilize this information for your library:

Know Your Stimulus - American Library Association (ALA)
Programs, oversight, regulations, grants and more

Stimulate Your Library: Local Uses of Federal Funds - American Libraries
An overview of the library-specific provisions in ARRA

Library & Museums Category - AFSCME Information Highway - By the library of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees
Surveys, best practices, press releases and more

Libraries to the Rescue - IMLS Resources
Since library use is on a steady rise and since the economic downturn has resulted in even greater need for library services. the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) introduced Libraries to the Rescue to share with libraries steps that other libraries have taken to help their communities. Five 12-15-minute episodes include increasing access to key information through virtual libraries, the importance of broadband access, and new partnerships between libraries and state and federal agencies.

Podcasts - Podcast presenters' toolkits and resources - IMLS library studies

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Events and Training
Open Source Library Software (OSLS): Empowering Libraries – Creating Opportunities
Open Source Library Systems (OSLS), such as Koha or Evergreen, give libraries control over features, enhancements, and hardware platforms. Sponsored by the Califa Digital Resources Group, this workshop led by Lori Ayres and Cheryl Gould features lectures, group discussions and group activities. With a new relationship to their library system software, library staff at all levels can participate in making the library experience better for staff and patrons. The workshop is for techies and non-techies alike, and discussions will be about support options, collaboration possibilities, and the ways your library can get involved with an OSLS project.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 - Milpitas Library, Activity Room
Address: 160 Main Street, Milpitas 95035 - Directions
9:00am -12:30pm - Details and registration - Cost: Free
Information, including late registration:
Heather Teysko - hteysko AT - califa.org

Overview of Open Source Library Software (OSLS) Webinar Archive
Open Source Library System Software: Libraries Are Doing it For Themselves
Tuesday, July 21 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm - Archive at Infopeople

Califa Vendor Fair - Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Santa Clara University Library
This full-day event will feature hour-long demos from many Califa vendors, giving members an opportunity to delve deeper into learning about updates, future plans, and training than would normally be possible without a site visit. The day will be broken up into six demo periods, during which time the attendee may choose from up to 8 demonstrations at each period to attend. The day will end with an optional tour of the new Santa Clara University Library.

Thursday, August 27, 2009 - Santa Clara University Library
8:30am - 4:00pm - Overview and Vendor List - Registration - Directions
Cost includes breakfast and lunch: Non-member: $30 - Member: $20

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Reference Picks
Foreclosure Information for Owners and Renters
Find reliable information on avoiding foreclosure, deciding on foreclosure, mortgages and loans, and help for renters from these sites.

Foreclosure in California - www.foreclosureinforca.org
Links to agencies, advice on mortgages, loans and avoiding foreclosure, and finding legal help. Information in English and Spanish brought together by LawHelpCA, with support from the State Bar of California, California Bar Foundation and Public Interest Clearinghouse.

Center for California Homeowner Association Law (CCCHAL) - www.calhomelaw.org
Help for condo owners in English and Spanish, including workshops and information on filing complaints.

Foreclosure Sites Selected by the System Reference Center

Program Planning "Day" and "Month" Events
Publicity templates, educational tools, booklists, and program planning ideas are in each link. Some events lend themselves to collaboration with schools and community organizations.

Smithsonian Heritage Months . February - March - May - September - November

KQED Heritage Months - February - March - May - June - September - October - November

Reading is Fundamental - rif.org - Reading Rockets - readingrockets.org

July and August - Reading!

California Summer Reading Program - Children - Teens - Adults

Bay Area Literacy Programs (BALIT) - BAYLIT Webliography - Literacy Works.org -
California Library Literacy Services - LibraryLiteracy.org

California Reading List - ALA YALSA Book Awards and Reading Lists - Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and American Library Association Children's Reading Lists

Rebecca's Pocket
Rebecca Blood has an extensive list of reading list sites and reviews of good reads which she updates weekly. The lists include fiction, thrillers, "chick lit," travel, cooking, gardening, history, and politics. Posts include separate sections for book lists for children and young adults.

September

Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15
For an authoritative, easy-to-use list for programming and school reports, see these eleven sites, the result of a search on Librarians Internet Index, using "Hispanic Heritage Month" as a search term in the search box. Tap into the media your patrons see in grocery store circulars and Sotomayor media coverage to showcase your library's resources.

Library Card Sign-up Month
Tap into the publicity generated by "Back to School" advertising and the media coverage on the effect of the California budget on education funding to promote your library's databases, webliographies, and catalog.

ALA publicity materials - Read Write Think

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News from Our Members
Big Read Grant for Hayward
Hayward Public Library was one of 269 nation-wide awardees of a Big Read grant for 2009-2010. The grant was for $20,000, and the book is Bless Me, Ultima.

The Big Read is funded by grants from the NEA and the IMLS. It is designed to encourage reading as a part of the American cultural experience by promoting community partnerships for events planned around a single book, which the community reads. Almost all grants are awarded to applicants which have at least one public library in the partnership.

We're Back! / Salinas Reborn
Salinas Public Library Director, Elizabeth Martinez, summarizes the comeback of the Salinas Public Library from its loss of funding in 2004 to the present on page 42 in the March 2009 issue of American Libraries, the monthly members magazine published by the American Library Association. There is an online version of this article on the site of Mayor Dennis Donohue. However, only the print version has a chronology of some of the major events.

Library Re-openings
San Francisco Public Library
- Richmond/Senator Milton Marks - May 16, 2009 - Historical Views - Opening day report and photos - Press release

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