New Califa Vendor: Marshall Cavendish

We are excited to be working with Marshall Cavendish to offer their eBooks as well as their digital reference content that lets you build your own reference library.  They offer their content (spanning history, health, business, etc) both as a database as well as in eBook format, and the pricing is very highly discounted.

We also have a trial available.  To access the trial of Marshall Cavendish Digital, email me for login details.

You can learn more here:

http://www.califa.org/uploadfiles/marshallcavendishflyer.pdf

If you are interested in pricing, please let me know.  

Text a Librarian

Below is an update from Text a Librarian - they've added several new features that you may be interested in.  If you would like a quote, or have any questions, let me know.

                                                           

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7, 2011

Mosio Improves Mobile Patron Relationship Management With New Text a Librarian Features
Text Message Alerts, Announcements and Single Patron Messaging Functionality Enables Increased Engagement with More Patrons on their Mobile Devices

San Francisco, CA – Mosio, an award winning mobile software company providing text messaging and mobile web solutions for businesses and organizations, today announced the launch of new Mobile PRM™ (Patron Relationship Management) tools included with all Text a Librarian plans.

Built specifically for libraries on its easy-to-use, web-based, mobile carrier approved technology, Text a Librarian’s Mobile PRM features enable libraries to send text message alerts and announcements to subscriber lists or individual patrons, keeping them abreast of news, updates or individual follow up from their library. Mosio’s two-way text messaging features enable patrons to reply to the messages they receive, which will be sent back to their library, starting a “text chat” conversation.

The mobile patron relationship management features are tied-in to a library’s Text a Librarian account. Mosio’s mobile carrier-certified network uses a permitted text messaging short code and offers advantages over 10 digit local numbers and other SMS hacks, ensuring message delivery and avoidance of blocking or carrier blacklisting.

“Text a Librarian’s Mobile PRM tools are a response to the growing interest we have seen in libraries wanting to engage and interact with more mobile patrons. Text messaging is the most utilized channel on the mobile phone, making it a must-have strategy for all organizations” says Noel Chandler, Co-Founder and CEO of Mosio.

“As companies and technologies increasingly demand patron attention, the importance of the personal touch in communications has never been more important. These new tools continue to solidify Mosio’s standing as the leading mobile software company for library patron relationship management. We are committed to providing the most reliable, accessible and easy-to-use mobile technologies to libraries in their efforts to stay top of mind with patrons,” Chandler added.

More Than Virtual Reference
The changing landscape of mobile technology requires libraries and other organizations to stay relevant by proactively engaging with as many patrons as possible. Text messaging is available on over 99% of all mobile phones with over 95% of text messages read within 15 minutes, making it a ubiquitous, powerful two-way mobile communication technology. With Text a Librarian's Mobile PRM features, libraries control the dynamics and frequency of their communications with mobile patrons.

3 Library Benefits from Text a Librarian’s Mobile PRM Features:

1. Increased patron engagement, awareness and interaction through text message alerts and announcements.
Scheduled text message blasts to subscribers, compliant with MMA guidelines. These can be used for library announcements and alerts, but also as fun ways of keeping patrons engaged with the library (quotes, facts, trivia, etc), much in the same way companies use the SMS channel for mobile marketing and reminders.

2. Efficient, trackable single patron messaging from the Text a Librarian web dashboard.
The ability to send a text message to a patron as a part of follow up rather than calling? For example, "after we locate what it is you're looking for, should we call, email or text you?"

3. Improved patron services through reliable, secure, two way text messaging for questions, comments and feedback.
Using the same, web-based, user-friendly dashboard created specifically for libraries, librarians can receive and respond to patron reference questions from any computer connected to the Internet.

Existing Text a Librarian customers will receive a notice instructing them on how to promote and use the mobile patron relationship management feature. Libraries interested in benefiting from all of Text a Librarian’s features can visit http://www.textalibrarian.com, call 877.667.4699 or text ASKTAL to 66746 from their mobile phone for more information.*  

###

About Text a Librarian
Mosio's Text a Librarian is web-based text messaging software developed specifically for libraries by taking an award-winning mobile questions and answers technology and consulting with over 1,000 reference and patron services librarians to find out what would make it useful, accessible and affordable for libraries to use. Text a Librarian services patrons in over 800 libraries across the U.S., including the New York Public Library, Yale University, Cornell University, Maricopa County Community Colleges, State Library of Ohio, Los Angeles Public Library, ITT Technical Institute and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
More info: http://www.textalibrarian.com

About Mosio
Mosio is a mobile software and solutions company providing text messaging and mobile web solutions helping organizations connect with customers and members on the go, using their mobile presence as a competitive advantage to increase sales and brand loyalty. Utilizing relationships with 59 mobile carriers on over 280 million U.S. mobile phones, Mosio is able to provide text messaging services in a secure, spam-free environment, with assurance of message delivery.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Mosio's mobile technologies have served Microsoft, Pepco, U.S. Remodelers, Enterprise Holdings, American Hospital Association, Walt Disney, State Farm Insurance, Healthy Heartland and the United States Department of Health and Services.
More Info: http://www.mosio.com/biz

Media Contact:
Noel Chandler
Mosio, Inc.
press@mosioproject.com
+1 415.756.0123

* Message & Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 66746 to opt-out.
Privacy: http://www.mosio.com/privacy.php Support: support[[at]]mosioproject.com / 877.667.4699

Upcoming OCLC Webinar: Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference

 Join Califa and OCLC to learn about OCLC Research findings that will inform future development and inspire effectiveness for virtual reference services.  On January 31, you have the opportunity to join OCLC and Califa virtually to hear about and discuss the findings of the Seeking Synchronicity report. 

In this webinar, Lynn Silipigni Connaway, PhD., Senior Research Scientist at OCLC, and Marie L. Radford, PhD., Associate Professor, School of Communication & Information, Rutgers, will discuss the key findings of their multi-year study that were recently published in the report, Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference.

Their findings show that today’s patrons, scholars and citizens are not just looking to libraries alone for answers to specific questions; they want to also engage partners and guides in their lifelong information-seeking journey. Virtual Reference is an opportunity to meet those needs.

This webinar will give Califa members the opportunity to ask in-depth questions of the authors about their findings as well as cover general topics of concern for Virtual Reference providers. 

Register today!

This webinar will be the first in a series of sessions on Virtual Reference from Califa and OCLC. We will be working together to give timely updates and spark discussion on how to best find and meet your patrons online. Don’t miss this exciting kick-off!

  

TO:                  CLA MEMBERS/ NETWORKS/ SYSTEM CONTACTS

FROM:           Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist
                       Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

RE:                 News From the Capitol

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SAYS BUDGET “TRIGGER” WILL BE PULLED

Shortly after noon today, Governor Brown, flanked by his Director of the Department of Finance, announced that despite a modest improvement in the economy, (November sales tax receipts were up, as well as capital gains on upper income earners) state revenues have not rebounded sufficiently.   As such, the Governor announced that the so-called “Tier 1” trigger and a portion of the “Tier 2” trigger will be pulled.   This action will include a $16 million reduction to state library funding, which essentially eliminates all remaining state funding for the California Library Services Act, the state literacy program, and the Public Library Foundation.  The Governor also used the press conference to discuss his upcoming January Budget, as well as his $7 billion revenue package initiative that he is qualifying for the November ballot. 


As you will recall, as part of the 2011-12 Budget agreement, the legislature and the Governor created a so-called “Budget trigger,” (AB 121, Statutes of 2011) to serve as a balancing mechanism should $4 billion in anticipated state revenues not materialize as projected.  Per the terms of AB 121, the state’s Legislative Analyst and the Department of Finance were required to prepare substantial fiscal analyses that would determine whether or not the state could rely on the anticipated $4 billion in cash.  If the money was not expected to materialize, the bill created a procedure (a “trigger”) by which automatic cuts would be made to programs such as library services, UC, CSU, In Home Support Services, disability services, etc. in the so-called “Tier 1” trigger.  A second “Tier 2” trigger would make cuts to K-14 school funding. 


As previously reported, the Legislative Analyst’s Office produced their analysis on November 16^th and indicated that because the “economic recovery was slower than expected” they anticipated that revenues would be approximately $3 billion short of the anticipated $4 billion figure associated with the trigger.  This amount would then be compounded by an additional revenue shortfall of $10 billion for the upcoming 2012-13 Budget year (mostly due to K-14 education guarantees and repaying the $2 billion in property taxes borrowed from local government in 2009) – leaving the state “with a year-end deficit of about $13 billion, absent any additional budgetary corrections.” 


The Department of Finance was required to release their revenue projections by December 15^th, so we were surprised when we learned that the Governor and Finance Director Ana  Matosantos would hold a press conference to make their announcement today.  The Governor said that based on newer revenue projections, the combined Tier 1 and Tier 2 cuts will amount to about $1 billion.   (“Tier 1” cuts total approximately $600 million plus, and “Tier 2” cuts would total $328 million, instead of the full $1.5 billion cut to K-14 education.)   The Governor also said that his 2012-13 Budget – to be released on or around January 10 – will include “more cuts to follow,” and importantly, will include $7 billion in revenues, predicated on voters passing his tax initiative on the November 2012 ballot.  (The Governor is proposing a five year ½ cent sales tax increase as well as an income tax increase on $250K filers and up.)  The January 2012-13 Budget will contain another “trigger” providing for automatic cuts if voters reject his initiative.  When the Governor was asked by a reporter to address those impacted by the cuts to the “Tier 1” programs, he acknowledged that the cuts were very difficult, but added a phrase in Latin, which the Governor translated as, “No man gives what he does not have.”  The Governor then also expressed frustration with the state’s previous lack of fiscal discipline, adding that past Budgets were compiled through “obfuscation and gimmickry.”    In response to a reporter’s question about competing tax measures being circulated for the November ballot, the Governor said that he “talked to one of the groups” and presumably would be talking to the others.  He added, “We hope to have a clear field in November.  We want to avoid doubling cuts if (the tax proposal) fails.”    


Leading up to today’s announcement, we not only met with the Governor’s Director of Finance Ana Matosantos, but we also sought the opinions of several high ranking legislators and staff at the Capitol – to a) determine the likelihood that the “trigger” would be pulled and b) to consider next steps if the “trigger” were to be pulled.  It is important to note that one of the factors leading into today’s decision to pull the trigger was the need to assure bond holders and investors that California is taking a serious approach to solving the state’s chronic Budget challenges.  Were the Governor and Finance to choose to not pull the trigger, it could be perceived by those investors as loosening the stability of the 2011-12 Budget deal. 
In terms of next steps, we will wait for the Governor’s presentation of the January Budget and then we will then need to begin the arduous process of trying to build funding back in to the 2012-13 Budget for libraries.  The process will be similar to that of years’ past wherein the Budget subcommittees will hold hearings on various funding areas in the Budget, beginning in March.  Their deliberations will conclude around Memorial Day, with the full Budget Conference Committee (a two-house committee) then convening the first part of June to address differences between the Governor’s Budget and the actions of the subcommittees. 
The legislature will return to the Capitol to begin the 2012 session on Wednesday, January 4.  After the first of the year, we will provide you will instructions regarding key legislators to contact to encourage their support of putting library funding back in the Budget. 

New Califa Vendor: Brainfuse (JobNow)

We're thrilled to be working with Brainfuse on their JobNow product, which provides live career coaching, resume help, digital literacy, and more. The price starts out reasonable, and gets lower if we reach certain thresholds. Contact Heather for a quote. There are also several webinars coming up - check the calendar for details and registration info.
Here's more info:

JobNow consists of a unique suite of resources for job seekers, including on-demand access to trained career experts who provide live, one-to-one interview coaching and resume assistance. Brainfuse worked closely with one of the nation’s leading workforce centers (Jefferson County Workforce, CO) to develop a team of trained job coaches and high-quality online resources. JobNow™ services include:

LIVE INTERVIEW COACHING: Patrons can brush up on interview techniques or get live online interview practice from trained job coaches. Job coaches and patrons communicate via live chat in our online classroom. In addition to live interview coaching, patrons enjoy 24/7 access to interview tips and resources.

RESUME LAB: Job seekers receive expert resume/cover letter assistance from trained experts. Users are also able to download resume templates, or browse resources for producing better resumes.
LIVE CAREER ASSISTANCE: Patrons enjoy 24/7 access to a carefully-selected library of (national, regional, and local) job resources. In addition, Brainfuse job coaches provide live, online assistance in strategically targeting jobs best suited to a patron’s interests and qualifications.
THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER: The Adult Learning Center provides foundational, career-enhancing skills to adult learners through test preparation (including the GED and the U.S. Citizenship Test) and a comprehensive academic skills center featuring live, online tutors.

LIVE ACADEMIC TUTORING for assignments and coursework.

LIVE SKILLS TUTORING to master skills through live, one-to-one lessons in math, reading, and writing, and computer literacy.
WRITING ASSISTANCE from trained instructors who help patrons produce better business letters, term papers, resumes, or any other piece of writing.
ADULT TEST CENTER: 24-hour access to a regularly updated test library, including the GED, academic skills assessments, and a unique U.S. Citizenship Test course developed with the San Diego County Public Library.
COMPUTER LITERACY AND BASIC SOFTWARE ASSISTANCE: Brainfuse tutors provide live assistance to patrons who need help using their computer to complete a personal project or academic assignment (such as inserting footnotes in a term paper or crafting a school presentation with Power Point). In addition, students can connect with a skills building tutor for individual lessons in hundreds of computer literacy topics.

Credo Reference update

A few updates from Credo Reference.


December webinars are now posted here: http://corp.credoreference.com/introduction/calendar-of-demo-webinars.html
The training schedule for existing customers can be found here: http://corp.credoreference.com/support/training/training-schedule.html

Discounts!!
We have two promotions running through 16 December:
20% off a NEW subscription to Credo General Reference (applies to first year, standard consortium discount applies for renewals)
Discounts off Publisher and Subject Collections:
    Add 1 Publisher or Subject Collection by December 16th and receive a 10% discount.
    Add 2 Publisher or Subject Collections by December 16th and receive a 15% discount.
    Add 3 or more Publisher or Subject Collections by December 16th and receive a 20% discount.

Lastly, in the 15 November Library Journal Credo Reference was selected Best Overall Reference Database for 2012.