Pronunciator re-release

For those who are checking out language learning databases, Pronunciator has just released a new version with many improvements including:

- A completely redesigned, user-friendly interface

- 72 languages in total

- 10,000 new photographs to complement learning

They have several webinars coming up for Califa members (March 5, 13 and 21).  To register for any of them, click the link below.
http://www.pronunciator.com/webinar-califa.html

California Preservation Assessment Project (CPAP) Guidelines for Application

Funding: 10 awards of collection preservation assessments in FY 2012/13

Application deadline: Friday, March 1, 2013

The California Preservation Assessment Project, managed by the California Preservation Program, is designed to help small and mid-sized libraries and archives plan improvements in care for their permanent and historical collections. All institutions (libraries, archives, museums, parks, and historical societies) in California with library and archival collections and that provide free public access are eligible to apply. Public libraries seeking to preserve their local history collections are encouraged to apply. Permanent and historical collections appropriate for assessment include books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, and digital materials.

A preservation assessment of the collections, including scope and scale of preservation needs as well as recommendations, is an essential first step to create a plan for enhanced collection care. Further, preservation assessments often are a required step preliminary to preservation grant funding. Consequently, CPAP was created to assist California institutions plan programs and projects to meet preservation needs of their collections.

For application and selection process, please see attached or visit: http://calpreservation.org/cpp/projects/cpap

NEH Preservation Assistance Grant announcement

An announcement from NEH:
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Dear Colleagues,

Please find below the announcement for this year’s NEH Preservation Assistance Grants for Small Institutions (PAG) guidelines, with a deadline of May 1, 2013.  All of you work directly with small to mid-sized cultural heritage institutions and know the value of this program; and many of you provide consultant services for PAG projects.  We would be grateful if you would circulate the announcement via your list-servs, newsletters, and among your member institutions. 

I look forward to meeting with you at conferences over the course of the next year and for the opportunity to check in on how the PAG program is serving your constituencies.  I will be at AAM in Baltimore (just after the May 1 deadline), at the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums in Albuquerque in early June, and at the AASLH conference in Birmingham in September.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the program.  For applicants, questions should be directed to our general line:preservation@neh.gov and 202-606-8570.

With many thanks for getting the word out!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mary E. Downs

Senior Program Officer

Division of Preservation and Access

National Endowment for the Humanities

1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20506

(202) 606-8456

mdowns@neh.gov

Bookflix continues to be supported by the California State Library

In 2011, the State Library took out a subscription to Bookflix from Scholastic for all California Public libraries for two years.  That subscription is set to expire in April, and libraries will need to decide if they want to continue subscribing on their own.

Scholastic is already giving libraries the time between April and July free if they commit to renewing by March 15.  And now the State Library is stepping in to offer an additional subsidy of 25% towards the subscription rate for libraries who wish to continue.  So libraries will receive 25% off the Califa price for Bookflix, courtesy of the State Library.

If you'd like a quote, let me know.  And remember, we need all commitments in by March 15.  For more information about Bookflix go to http://www.califa.org/bookflix.php