New Califa Vendor: Morningstar

We are happy to announce an agreement with Morningstar for our members. When we took a poll of business and financial databases on our blog in the Spring, Morningstar was ranked the number one vendor with whom we should be pursuing a contract.

They will be holding webinars to introduce Califa members to their products. Each webinar will try to cover the same information, but they have offered four times so that more people will be able to find a time that works for their schedules. The times of the webinars are:

November 11th at 10am
November 11th at 2pm
November 13th at 10am
November 13th at 2pm

If you would like to attend one of these webinars, please send an RSVP to califa@califa.org with your name, library name, and email address in the message body. Also, please specify which webinar time you will be attending.

Morningstar Investment Research Center is an interactive investment database with information on over 30,000 Stocks, Mutual Funds, and Exchange Traded Funds. It combines cutting-edge technology with Morningstar’s investment know-how to give your patrons a one-stop investment site. Designed specifically for libraries, it provides independent analysis, industry information, stock charts, portfolio building tools, and investment education.

If you would like a quote for your library, please also email califa@califa.org.

2009 Digitization Symposium

Books 24x7 Review, New Trial, and Webinar

Over the summer, we announced a trial of Books 24x7, an eBook product with modules covering IT, Business and Wellness. Califa members also did a review of the product, which is now available on our website. Books 24x7 has flexible pricing, and would let us start a shared collection if there is interest.

The trial is active again now, as there was interest at our recent Digital Resources Steering Commitee Meeting. They will also be hosting two more webinars, on November 10th at 2pm and November 12th at 10am. If you would like to attend either of these webinars, please RSVP to califa@califa.org with the time of the webinar you wish to attend, and your name, library name, and email address in the message body.

Please take a look at the trial and review, and let us know if this is something you think we should be pursuing. Please email any feedback or thoughts to califa@califa.org. I can also provide you with ballpark pricing if that will help in your evaluation.

The review is here:http://www.califa.org/books247.php
Please email me for the trial information if you are interested.

We're on YouTube now!

We're on youtube now!
Check us out:
http://www.youtube.com/califalibrarygroup

We'll be posting videos from workshops and events. It's just another way to keep up with our activities!

Califa welcoming GoLibrary and Counting Opinions to CLA

If you're going to be attending CLA this year, make sure to stop and see a GoLibrary machine in action. Califa has set up a booth for two of our International vendors - Counting Opinions and GoLibrary at booth numbers 619 and 617 respectively.

Check out this video of the GoLibrary machine in Yuba County and make a note to stop by the booth and see it in person!

Early Literacy Stations Live Demo

Califa is happy to invite you to a demo of one of our most popular products, the Early Literacy Station.




Friday November 7 at 10am
Carson Library 150 Carson St. - Carson, CA 90745 - 310-830-0901 (map available here: http://tinyurl.com/67ktf8)

Thursday, November 13 at 10am
Berkeley Public Library - 4th Floor Children's Library (map and directions available here: http://tinyurl.com/5almq9)

*Carson and Berkeley libraries have an ELS unit installed so you may see it "in action" after the demo
*Coffee and refreshments will be provided at Carson only.

Register online at our website: www.califa.org/AWE.php

New Califa Vendor: SpringShare

We are happy to be able to announce an agreement with SpringShare, the creators of LibGuides, for our members.

What is LibGuides? LibGuides is a web 2.0 content management and information sharing system designed specifically for Libraries. Over 6,000 librarians at 350 libraries worldwide use LibGuides to create content, share knowledge, and connect with patrons. Califa members will now get a discount on LibGuides. Contact us for a quote, or more information!

To learn more about LibGuides please visit the following pages on the Springshare Website:
General Information on LibGuides http://www.springshare.com/libguides/
LibGuides: Features http://www.springshare.com/libguides/features.html
LibGuides: Benefits http://www.springshare.com/libguides/benefits.html
What our clients are doing: http://www.springshare.com/libguides/clients.html

Public Library Examples
Contra Costa County Library - http://guides.ccclib.org/
Burlington County Library System - http://explore.bcls.lib.nj.us/
Ocean City Public Library - http://reference.oceancitylibrary.org/index
East Baton Rouge Parish Library - http://ebr.lib.la.libguides.com/

New Califa Vendor: Raco

Califa is pleased to announce a renewed agreement with Raco Industries. Members can now get 25%-70% discounts on barcode readers, thermal and impact printers, and barcode labels. The full list of discounts available to Califa members and simple order process is listed on the Califa website under “Raco”.

Ebsco is hosting two webinars next week for those libraries interested in learning more about NoveList Plus. Please note that this is for libraries who do not currently have NoveList Plus (if you do have it, and would like a training, let us know and that can be arranged).

The webinars will be held October 21 and October 23 at 11am (register for one), and will be hosted by Duncan Smith, the NoveList creator (more information below). If you are interested in learning more about NoveList Plus, please plan to sign up for one of these webinars by sending the following information to califa@califa.org:

Your Name:
Your Library:
City:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
The date of the webinar you wish to attend (Oct 21 or 23):

NON-FICTION PLEASURE READERS: The Un-Discovered User

Libraries across the country are finding that the use of their nonfiction collections is increasing and the reason for this increase is NOT school assignments. While adults who read nonfiction for fun have always been loyal library users—their numbers are increasing as is their demand for help in finding their next biography, true crime or current events title.

NoveList Plus is designed especially to help you respond to the needs of these readers. Duncan Smith, NoveList creator and product manager provides a guided tour of this new database of over 70,000 popular nonfiction titles.

Facts on File trials available

An update from Facts on File... email califa@califa.org if you would like a trial.
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Facts On File would like to have the opportunity to set up a trial of our online database collection for your library.

Our collection of award-winning reference databases includes:
Science Online: includes over 960 experiments, 6,300 diagrams, 2,800 biographies, 6,300 essays, timelines, videos, and 32,000 definitions.
History Database Center: a new interface that allows users to search across six history databases
American History Online*
Modern World History Online*
Ancient & Medieval History Online*
American Women's History*
American Indian History Online*
African-American History Online*
*databases can be purchased separately

Ferguson's Career Guidance Center: includes profiles of over 3,300 careers in more than 94 industries as well as information about college programs and scholarships
Curriculum Resource Center: printable, curriculum-related handouts for middle and high school teachers
Curriculum Resource Center Junior Edition: printable curriculum-related handouts for elementary school teachers
World Atlas: more than 200 countries and territories are covered through maps, vital statistics, history overviews, Videos, images, and more.
Bloom's Literary Reference: examines the lives and works of great writers throughout history; searchable by character, author, works, a glossary, and more
Health Reference Center: encyclopedic database with more than 28,500 hyper-linked entries on a variety of health-related concerns and social issues.

Facts On File's parent company, Infobase Publishing, has recently acquired Facts On File News Services. As a result, Facts On File and Facts On File News Services are once again under common ownership, as the two companies were before March 1996. Here are just some of the exciting recent additions to our News Services databases:
Facts on File World News Digest
Issues & Controversies
Issues & Controversies In American History
Today's Science

Final Agenda available for Social Discovery workshop

We now have the final agenda available for the Social Discovery workshops coming up at the end of the month. View it, and register here: http://www.califa.org/agenda_final.php

Any questions, email us!

Upcoming Webinar on Credo Reference

For those of you who are interested in our newest vendor, Credo Reference, we will be having a webinar on Wednesday, October 8 at 10am. To RSVP send an email with the following information to califa@califa.org:

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Your Library:

If you have any questions, let us know.