Tuesday, December 16, 2014

ScienceFlix, a new Scholastic product

We're excited to introduce ScienceFlix, a brand-new digital STEM product from Scholastic.

Please join us on January 13th at 10:00 am for an in-depth review of the many features and assets in this dynamic resource. 
To register: http://bit.ly/1A07tPY

ScienceFlix offers 30 complete scientific units over six curricula strands, each featuring:
· Engaging videos to build background knowledge and introduce the topic and key vocabulary
· Anchor articles written at three reading levels
· Supplemental articles written at three reading levels
· Project and experiment ideas
· Science career section
· News article with study guide
· Multimedia including interactive timeline, slideshows, videos and more
· Lesson plans
· Thousands of vetted websites on related content

For additional information, here is review from School Library Journal:
http://www.slj.com/2014/12/reviews/digital-resources/scienceflix-an-in-depth-exploration-to-tempt-budding-scientists-reference-online/

Monday, December 8, 2014

Webinars this Week

Save the dates for webinars from these vendors. Please see our calendar for invite information: http://califa.org/calendar/

BookFlix: 
December 11, 2014 at 11 am​
This webinar will cover:
* BookFlix introduction
* Features
* Correlations to the Common Core
* Resources available for library staff/patrons
* Questions

Pronunciator: 
December 10, 2014 at 11 am
Pronunciator will demonstrate its sleek new interface; learning guides (up to 22 months of guided instruction per language); and ProRadio feature (streaming major label music with lyrics) 

Skillsoft Books24X7: 
December 9, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Skillsoft’s Books24x7 provides business, technical and well being content containing thousands of digitized books, book summaries, research reports and best practices. There are also instructional videos covering a wide range of IT, programming and desktop topics.



Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Internet Librarian 2014

For those of you that like to plan ahead, Internet Librarian is October 27-29 in lovely Monterey, California. Califa Members can register online at https://secure.infotoday.com/forms?form=il2014 and use code 14CAL to receive the consortial discount.

This year’s Internet Librarian 2014 conference focuses on the strategies, services and tools that enable us to engage, connect and build relationships with the communities who use our libraries, fund our libraries, and support and defend our libraries. The program includes discussions about how the use of mobile devices and electronic collections is changing the spaces in libraries and the services libraries provide. It focuses on the skills, competencies, and roles that are evolving to deal with these and other changes in our towns, campuses, agencies and corporate enterprises. Information Today’s 17th annual Internet Librarian caters to all interests and all levels of knowledge with five simultaneous tracks, including Internet@Schools. The conference provides the ideal opportunity to gather insights and ideas to ignite our imaginations and spark innovation while it creates lots of opportunities for connections and conversations.


Join us at the most comprehensive conference for library and information professionals interested in technology to discover the insights, strategies and practices that allow us to push the envelope in expanding the net, managing libraries and digital information, and enhancing the information sharing and learning experience of people in our communities. Internet Librarian 2014 provides attendees with lots of opportunities to meet and hear from leading “movers and shakers” in the information industry in all types of environments – leaders in the information industry are integrating content and delighting their clients, organizing and managing digital content in creative ways, setting the context for excellence in information utilization in their organizations, revolutionizing the roles of info pros, building strong collaborative communities among their customers and colleagues, and using new technologies in exciting ways. This conference encourages you to bring and share your ideas and champion new practices – this is where ideas and action come together, where innovation ignites.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Enki will be offering stories from JukePop

JukePop and Califa Library Group Reach Agreement to Offer JukePop e-Books on Califa's Enki Library E-book Platform

PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - June 11, 2014) - JukePop, Inc., the pioneering e-book discovery site using crowd sourced reading analytics to identify up-and-coming literary talent, announced that it has reached an agreement with the Califa Library Group to offer fresh and popular stories from JukePop's self-published authors on Califa's Enki Library E-book Platform. Developed in conjunction with the Contra Costa County Library, the Enki Library E-book Platform currently serves 35 libraries in California. This new agreement will provide these library patrons access to JukePop emerging new authors with the click of a mouse.

"We are thrilled to be working with Califa Library Group, the largest consortium in California, serving 220 jurisdictions and 1200 libraries," said JukePop Founder, Jerry Fan. "The agreement enables our authors to offer their content to library patrons throughout California.  In addition, the agreement enables libraries to incorporate content that e-book platforms used by libraries had up to now no way to accommodate. And libraries get to play a key role in identifying and proliferating emerging authors that would otherwise not have a venue to showcase their talent."

"Califa is pleased to have JukePop join its growing number of e-book publishers providing content on the Enki Library E-book Platform," said Califa's Assistant Director of Innovation and Development, Heather Teysko. "We have over 120 publishers working with Califa, now including JukePop. We have a shared collection that has 20,000 items. The shared content belongs to the consortium and is not licensed as with other platforms used in the past.  Beginning in July individual libraries will be able to acquire their own e-books from JukePop and every other publishers, that will be hosted on the Enki Library servers."

About Enki
The Enki Library E-book Platform, a collaboration between Califa Library Group and Contra Costa County Library, Launched in May of the 2013. Modeled on a system that Douglas County Colorado developed, it was designed to host and lend library-managed e-books.  

About JukePop Inc. 
JukePop is an incubation platform that combines community driven feedback and data analytics to help authors turn their concepts into great books.  We believe there's at least one great book in every author, the difference is in how the story is told.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1981207


Media Contact:
Jerry Fan
JukePop Inc.

Heather Teysko
Califa Library Group




Thursday, May 29, 2014

From Booklist Online

THE POWER OF LIBRARIES BOOTH AT BOOK EXPO 
Lucky enough to be attending Book Expo America conference in NYC this week? Be sure to stop by the Power of Libraries, in booth #1242 (naturally, come say hello to us at the Booklist booth, as well, booth #1043!).

There are five library consortia from across the country that are collaborating on this theme.
The groups are: Amigos (TX), Califa (CA), LYRASIS (GA), MLS (MA), and RAILS (IL)
Collectively they represent over 6,000 libraries of all types across the United States.

Each of these groups have statewide e-book platforms, and they seek to strengthen the library-publisher relationship, especially in this time of great flux in the e-book marketplace. Some of their goals with this Power of Libraries campaign are to:

Engage in dialogue with authors and publishers on the importance of e-books in libraries, and voice current concerns held by librarians and patrons while respecting the views and interests of authors and publishers.

Demonstrate the collective buying power of libraries in the e-book market.

Keep letting publishers know that readers use libraries AND buy books.

Reinforce the fact that librarians have the expertise to bring readers to new books that they may eventually buy.

Take some time away from the galley grab of BEA and spend a moment talking to Veronda Pitchford and the Power of Libraries team. They’ll be distributing a fun comic strip showcasing librarians as superheroes.   Let them know Booklist sent you!

- See more at: http://blog.booklistonline.com/2014/05/28/the-power-of-libraries-booth-at-book-expo/#sthash.CFh08NAb.B0uthDzm.dpuf

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

California Emerging Technology Fund Names Linda Crowe 2014 Broadband Champion

Peninsula Library System Leader Acts to Close the Digital Divide

Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA – March 26, 2014 – The California Emerging Technology Fund is pleased to announce Linda Crowe, Executive Director of the Peninsula Library System (San Mateo County) and Califa, a consortium of more than 220 California public libraries, is a 2014 Broadband Champion.  Fifteen individuals are being recognized for their groundbreaking work and strong commitment to close the Digital Divide.  

The Champions were selected in consultation with dozens of broadband leaders, community advocates and state and local policymakers.  The 15 individuals are featured in the California Emerging Technology Fund 2013-2014 Annual Report and will be recognized at events in San Francisco on March 27 and in Pasadena on May 19. 

“We congratulate Linda and all of the Broadband Champions.  From El Centro to Silicon Valley, from Hollywood to Humboldt, they are representatives of trailblazers who work throughout California and beyond to point the way for policymakers to understand the opportunities afforded by information technology and high-speed Internet access,” said CETF President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak.  “The Champions also share the moral imperative not to leave anyone behind or offline.  Each of these individuals inspires us to act to close the Digital Divide,” she said.   Photo of Linda Crowe and the full list of recipients are available on request. 

Linda Crowe:  Moving California Libraries into the Digital Age

Linda Crowe understands the power of networks.  She serves as Executive Director of the Peninsula Library System, which includes Silicon Valley cities, and of Califa, a consortium of more than 220 California public libraries.  A pioneer on national and state digital initiatives, including leading a national task force focused on equal access to electronic resources, Linda for a decade has worked to develop a library network for California. In 2012, the state’s academic-based network agreed to invite public libraries, but then the State Library budget was slashed.  Undeterred, Linda and others conducted a “needs assessment,” which showed that 52% of California public libraries had unacceptably slow Internet connections.  Now, the Governor’s proposed budget for 2014-15 includes $3.3 million for upgrading connections to join the network.  Linda is not looking back:  Instead she asks “What’s next?” and “How can we make it better?” 

California Emerging Technology Fund Announces 2014 Broadband Champions

Honoring 15 Individuals Who Act to Close the Digital Divide

Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA – March 26, 2014 – The California Emerging Technology Fund is pleased to announce the 2014 Broadband Champions.  Fifteen individuals are being recognized for their groundbreaking work and strong commitment to close the Digital Divide. 

The Champions were selected in consultation with dozens of broadband leaders, community advocates and state and local policymakers.  The 15 individuals are featured in the California Emerging Technology Fund 2013-2014 Annual Report and will be recognized at events in San Francisco on March 27 and in Pasadena on May 19.

“We congratulate the Broadband Champions.  From El Centro to Humboldt, from Hollywood to San Francisco, they are representatives of trailblazers who work throughout California and beyond to point the way for policymakers to understand the opportunities afforded by information technology and high-speed Internet access,” said CETF President and CEO Sunne Wright McPeak.  “The Champions also share the moral imperative not to leave anyone behind or offline.  Each of these individuals inspires us to act to close the Digital Divide,” she said.  
Photos of recipients and full stories for each are available on request.

2014 Broadband Champions (in alphabetical order)
Ø  Richard Abisla:  Making Tech Training His Mission
Technology Manager, Mission Economic Development Agency, San Francisco
Richard developed the first broadband adoption program at MEDA, which has blossomed into an ambitious goal to ensure every family in the Mission District has access to a computer and high-speed Internet at home.
Ø  Cecilia Aguiar-Curry:  Leaving No Winters Child Behind
Mayor of Winters, Yolo County
Schoolchildren in the Sacramento Valley town of Winters are getting the latest technology at school from a generous grant, but many still have no Internet access when they go home.  Cecilia is making parent engagement a top priority and is now working to get families connected to broadband at home.     

Ø  Gerardo Alvarez, Israel Lara:  Putting Parlier Students at the Head of the Class
Gerardo Alvarez, Superintendent of Parlier Unified School District; Israel Lara, President, Youth Centers of America, Parlier
Gerardo and Israel arranged to distribute 900 new iPad tablets – one to every Parlier High School student – just days before Christmas 2013.  Each tablet has a hotspot so families now can get online at home.

Ø  Connie Barrington:  Building Broadband Oases in the Desert
Imperial County Librarian,  El Centro
Connie is the spark for connecting hundreds of residents in rural desert farming communities to the online world, and she helped land a reading and literacy grant designed to get 1,300 young students reading proficiently by the 3rd grade.

Ø  Damary Bustos:  Finding Her Voice Through Technology
Youth Disability Rights Activist, Disability Action Network for Youth and Yo! Disabled & Proud, Alameda County
Born with cerebral palsy, Damary uses technology that enables her to attend college and follow her passion to advocate for disability rights.  Her story underscores how access to broadband communication can open up new worlds and enable a remarkable young woman to be heard.

Ø  Linda Crowe:  Moving California Libraries into the Digital Age
Executive Director, Califa and the Peninsula Library System, San Mateo County
Linda has worked for more than a decade on the local, state and national level to develop technology resources of libraries.  Her recent advocacy is focused on securing state funds for upgrading connections and allowing California libraries to network more easily.

Ø  Eric Cutright and Paul Romero:  Bringing 21st Century Technology to Tribes
Eric Cutright, Karuk Tribe Informational Technology Director; Paul Romero, Yurok Tribe Information Service Director, Humboldt County
After years of  living with unmet promises for reliable telecommunications systems, the Karuk and Yurok tribes joined efforts to launch the Klamath River Rural Broadband Initiative Project.  When completed, more than 600 unserved and underserved households will be connected. 

Ø  Marilyn Friedman:  Drawing Inspiration from Young Animators.
Volunteer, The ACME Network, Los Angeles
As former head of outreach for DreamWorks Animation, Marilyn matched budding animators, many of whom attended low-performing Los Angeles schools, with Hollywood professionals.  She also spearheaded the donation of more than 1,400 DreamWorks computers to The ACME Network, which sponsors the career-building program.


Ø  Susan Hildreth:  Turning Libraries into Innovation Centers
Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Washington, D.C.
A former California State Librarian, Susan was appointed in 2011 by President Obama to lead the Institute.  In this national leadership role, Susan and her team are recognized internationally for using technology to offer engaging experiences for lifelong learners and turn libraries into centers of innovation.

Ø  Arlene Krebs:  Using Technology to Transform Lives
Founding Director, Wireless Education and Technology Center, CSU Monterey Bay
Arlene understands how technology can transform lives by providing access to new opportunities.  Leading a number of broadband adoption programs in Monterey County, Arlene is promoting digital inclusion for the homeless, unemployed, students and veterans.

Ø  Rick Miller and Jay McPhail:  Pioneering Computers in the Classroom
Rick Miller, Former Superintendent Riverside Unified School District (now Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District); Jay McPhail, Former Director of Innovation, RUSD (now Chief Technology Officer, Fullerton School District)
Rick and Jay are pioneers in bringing technology to the classroom.  Beyond placing computers in Riverside middle schools, in partnership with the CETF-sponsored School2Home program they focused on implementing critical teacher and parent training to ensure a successful program.

Ø  Dewanna Slaughter:  Connecting Her Community to Broadband
Teacher, Frick Middle School, Oakland
Dewanna wants her students to succeed academically and to be productive contributors to society.  That motivation leads her to involve parents in the learning process through the School2Home program, which supports student and family engagement with technology in the classroom and at home.  Once a student at Frick herself, Dewanna has helped 300 Frick families gain Digital Literacy training and home broadband. 

About the California Emerging Technology Fund
The mission of CETF is to close the Digital Divide in California by breaking down barriers to high-speed Internet access at home.  The goal is to reach 98% of all residences with broadband infrastructure and to achieve 80% home adoption by 2017.  This statewide goal can only be accomplished if the following specific hard-to-reach target communities achieve at least a 70% adoption rate:   low-income populations, Latino households, rural communities, and people with disabilities. For more information, please visit www.cetfund.org.


Thursday, April 3, 2014

Reader's Advisory Workshops with Duncan Smith Creator of NoveList

Whether your library has a fully-staffed readers’ advisory department or is just beginning to explore how to bring RA to your library, this program will provide essential information on how libraries are currently engaging and serving readers. 

Join Duncan as he explores a reader-centric model for delivering this high-value service. He will review the results of a recent Library Journal survey and its conclusions about the health of readers’ advisory service in public libraries 
(see the February 1, 2014 issue of LJ for an article about the survey http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2014/02/library-services/the-state-of-readers-advisory/). 

You’ll leave the workshop with an understanding of how your library measures up to national trends as well as specific ideas for taking your library’s reader services to the next level. 

The workshops are free, however registration is required.
To register: http://bit.ly/1hUT9xz

April 22, 2014
10:00 am to 12 noon
Glendale Public Library
222 East Harvard, Glendale CA 91205

April 22,  2014
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whittwood Branch Library
10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave., Whittier, CA 90603​

April 24, 2014
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin St., San Francisco, 94102​

April 24, 2014
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
PLS Headquarters
2471 Flores Street, San Mateo, CA 94403


If you are interested in a quote for NoveList Complete: 
 http://www.ebsco.com/promo/califa-novelist-complete



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A Message From Greg Lucas, California’s New State Librarian


I wanted to briefly introduce myself and say thanks for the welcome and encouragement I’ve received from California’s library community. I’m excited by the chance to help advance literacy and draw attention to the contributions of libraries and librarians throughout the state.
The State Library is an amazing, 164-year-old institution whose staff shares a commitment to California’s past and its future.
In the immediate future, my primary focus is approval of the governor’s $2.25 million budget proposal to link public libraries to the not-for-profit Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California. I’m not an acronym fan but the high-speed broadband system is routinely referred to as CENIC. Created by the University of California, CENIC’s other members include the state university system, California’s community colleges and public schools.
As someone said on a conference call the other day, hooking up to CENIC is a “game changer” for libraries. A State Library needs assessment on high-speed broadband finds that 70 percent of California’s public libraries have connectivity that is more limited than the typical American home– not exactly redefining lickety-split for the 21st Century.
If the response is sluggish for a handful of people, imagine what’s it like for dozens of simultaneous library users.
This status quo would be almost laughable in the state that’s home to the Silicon Valley and any number of telecommunications marvels, except it’s not funny.
In libraries all over the state, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas, those connections provide lifeline services like job applications, tax forms and medical information to countless Californians.
Over the last few days, I’ve heard various estimates that at least 40 percent and as many as 80 percent of public libraries would see improved Internet speed by hooking up to the network. By any yardstick, that’s way better than the current situation.
Hooking up to such a large broadband network also means CENIC takes care of a lot of the tedious, time-consuming activities that have led some short-staffed libraries to give up on navigating the labyrinth of existing Internet service discount programs. The governor also includes $1 million in his budget to help libraries upgrade their systems to better benefit from the high-speed connection.
The broadband proposal is being considered by legislative budget subcommittees during the week of April 21. Lawmakers send a budget to the governor on or before June 15.
An open book is an open mind.
####
 
 
 
 
Deborah A. Lynch
Communications Officer
California State Library
900 N Street, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95814
 
(916) 651-6452
 
Connect with us:

Thursday, March 27, 2014

AWE Video Contest for Public Libraries

Create a short video, 30 to 90 seconds in length about your library and show how you use AWE's Early Literacy Station(s) at your library or why you want one at your library. And the video should tell how the Early Literacy Station™ currently benefits or would benefit the young children in your community.

Three libraries will be selected as the winners. Each winner will win a free Early Literacy Station.

The submission period is March 17 - June 1, 2014

For details: http://www.awelearning.com/en/markets/libraries/publiclibraries/awevideocontest/

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

New State Librarian

Hello Library Directors,
 
The Governor appointed a new State Librarian today.  The appointment announcement is located at http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18459.
 
3-25-2014
SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointment.

Greg Lucas, 55, of Sacramento, has been appointed State Librarian. Lucas has been a senior editor for Capitol Weekly since 2011 and has written and edited California’s Capitol, a website he created focusing on California history and politics, since 2007. He was Sacramento bureau chief and a Capitol reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1988 to 2007 and covered the Capitol for the Los Angeles Daily Journal from 1985 to 1988. Lucas has been a board member at the Friends of the California State Archives since 2012. He earned a Master of Arts degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $142,968. Lucas is a Democrat.
 
 
Jarrid Keller
Chief Information Officer
California State Library
914 Capitol Mall, Room 218
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-323-9769
916-323-9786 fax
Jarrid.Keller@library.ca.gov
 
Check out the CSL Blog
 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Public Library Broadband Proposal to go Before Budget Subcommittees in April – LETTERS NEEDED

Governor Brown’s January Budget contains $2.25 million in proposed new, ongoing funding to connect all public libraries to a statewide, high-speed broadband network operated by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC).  The budget also proposes that an additional $1 million in one-time money be used for grants for those public libraries that may need assistance with the purchase of circuits or other hardware, etc.   This funding and policy issue has been scheduled for hearing in the Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance next month at the State Capitol and we need your help.

The State Library budget is the purview of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance and the Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance.  These subcommittees have scheduled a discussion of the Governor’s public library broadband proposal for late April (April 23 and April 24 respectively).  CLA, the State Library and CENIC worked tirelessly last year to educate the legislature and the Department of Finance about the need for this program.  That advocacy effort led to the creation of the major State Library Broadband Needs Assessment that almost the entire library community participated in during the Fall.  The Needs Assessment gave CLA critical data and validated the claims we had made at the Capitol regarding the overwhelming need for better broadband speed, capacity and connectivity for California public libraries.

Since the Governor has embraced this proposal as part of his January Budget, it is imperative that the library community demonstrate a strong show of support for the broadband plan when the issue is before the Budget subcommittees in April.  Please take a moment today to use the sample letter that we have provided or feel free to customize it to fit your needs.  Send your letter to each member listed below either by mail or by fax by Wednesday, April 16. 

There is also a fact sheet on the broadband plan that you may access on the CLA website at www.cla-net.org in the “Advocacy” section.   
  

Budget Subcommittee Hearing Dates and Contact Information – 
State Library/CENIC Issue

Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
Hearing Date:  Thursday, April 24 – 9:30 a.m. or upon adjournment – Room 3191


The Honorable Marty Block, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4090
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4939
                                    
The Honorable Carol Liu, Member
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5097
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4925

The Honorable Mark Wyland, Member
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 651-4938
                                                

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
Hearing Date:  Wednesday, April 23 – 4 p.m.    Room 126

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4117
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 319-2166

Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, Member
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2170
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 319-2176

Assemblyman Matt Debabneh, Member
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5144
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 319-2145

Assemblyman Brian Nestande, Member
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 319-2142

Assemblyman Phil Ting, Member
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3173
Sacramento, CA.  95814
Fax:  (916) 319-2119


SAMPLE LETTER
[Date]



The Honorable [Name]
California State [Assembly or Senate]
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA.  95814


RE:                BUDGET ITEM # 6120-215-0001:  CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY –
            Statewide Library Broadband Services – Support Governor’s January Budget

Dear [Assemblymember or Senator _____]

I am writing to request your strong support of a program contained in the Governor’s January Budget that would provide essential broadband services for all of California’s public libraries.  This issue will be before the Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance in late April for a hearing when the State Library budget is considered. 

Budget Item 6120-215-0001 would provide $2.25 million in ongoing General Fund money for public libraries to allow them to join a major high-speed broadband network, operated by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC).  An additional $1 million in one-time funding would be provided for the purpose of providing grants to libraries that may need additional assistance with the purchase of circuits or other augmentations, in order to join the CENIC network.

I am pleased that Governor Brown included funding in his Budget that will enable public libraries to join a high speed Internet backbone, which will allow libraries throughout the state to better meet the dynamic changing needs of patrons.  Library usage is at an all-time high [ - please insert some numbers  or percentages here from your own library - ] and yet many public libraries are equipped with broadband strength that is less than what one might find in their own home.  Your constituents are coming to the library to complete EDD applications, submit job applications, researching Affordable Care Act plans, accessing tutors for school assignments, applying for veterans programs – all online.  Not everyone has a computer or smart tablet at home, so libraries fill the role of the “great equalizer” of access for all in a community.

I strongly encourage the legislature to adopt the Governor’s proposal, which ultimately will allow the State Library to join the cooperative network, CENIC.  It is important to note that the legislature has a good familiarity with CENIC, as CENIC has been providing a high level of broadband service for the K-12, University of California, CSU, and community college systems for many years with great success.  

Your support of this project is vitally important to the public library community.  Thank you for your consideration.
 
Sincerely,

Friday, March 7, 2014

CENIC Update

About the Pilot Project to Connect Select California Public Libraries to CENIC
Connections to California Research & Education Network to Enable 21st Century Service and Global Collaboration

Despite the recognized benefits of and increasing patron demand for innovative library programs, limited connectivity often prevents librarians in the California State Library System from offering programs and services they perceive would be of value to their patrons. (A comprehensive view of the current state of broadband connectivity for California's public libraries can be seen in the report High-Speed Broadband in California Public Libraries: An Initiative of the California State Library, created in response to a request by the state legislature.) Videoconferencing, streaming media, content creation, specialized software, longer sessions on terminals, and unlimited wireless access are badly needed by many of California's libraries, but insufficient bandwidth thwarts these libraries' efforts to fulfill their vital role in community research and education. In order to empower libraries -- particularly in challenged areas -- to play this role, better connectivity is crucial.

Work is underway to connect California's public libraries to CENIC's California Research & Education Network (CalREN) as a sixth segment, with the California State Librarian acting as the libraries' interaction point with CENIC. To understand the requirements and benefits of connecting public libraries to CalREN, four groups of libraries are currently being connected to the network as a part of a pilot project. The Peninsula Library System, a consortium of 35 public and community college public libraries, was the first to connect to CalREN at 10 Gigabits per second. The next phase will be to upgrade the bandwidth at every branch to 1 Gigabit per second, to be completed during the summer of 2014. A Gigabit connection has also been completed to the San Francisco Public Libraries, a 27-branch library system serving the San Francisco area. The San Joaquin Valley Library System and a group of nine county public libraries in northern Central Valley will be connected in 2014. Libraries in California's Central Valley will also be connected to CENIC as part of the Central Valley Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure Project.

California's education and research communities currently leverage their networking resources under CENIC (www.cenic.org), the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California, a non-profit corporation created in 1997 in order to obtain cost-effective, high-bandwidth networking to support their missions and respond to the needs of their faculty, staff, and students. Members of CENIC include the 10 campuses of the University of California, the 23 campuses of the California State University, the 112 campuses of California's Community colleges, and nearly 10,000 K-12 schools, as well as private universities such as Caltech, Stanford University, and USC.

CENIC designs, implements, and operates CalREN, the California Research and Education Network, a high-bandwidth, high-capacity Internet network specially designed to meet the unique requirements of these communities, and to which the above institutions and others, the vast majority of the state's research and education institutions, are connected.

As well as connecting these and other research and education institutions to one another, CENIC also connects to other similar networks throughout the United States and the world to make California's research and education members of a truly global collaborative community.

During the spring and summer of 2013, CENIC conducted interviews with librarians in many of these libraries, asking them to describe current uses of technology in their main and branch public libraries, to identify the obstacles they face as a result of limited bandwidth, and to share ideas they have for using expanded broadband capacity to serve their patrons. The results of these interviews have been compiled in a series of reports available on the CENIC website at www.cenic.org.

From Cenic Library Update Volume 1, Issue 1 First Quarer 2014: 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

SCELC Vendor Fair

Thursday, March 6 2014
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

University Hall, Loyola Marymount University
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles 90045

The SCELC Vendor Fair will have more than 50 vendors and 135 presentations over the course of the day. SCELC is the Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium for private academic institutions throughout California, and the originator of the Vendor Fair.

While geared towards academic libraries many of the vendors serve public libraries too. And if you are interested in Enki, Califa will have a booth and will be giving a presentation on Enki.

Due to the generosity of the Sponsors, librarians and attendees from affiliate or non-SCELC institutions are able to attend for free.

You can register here: http://scelc.org/events/scelcapalooza/registration


Schedule:
Continental Breakfast: 8:00-10:00

Table Exhibits Open: 8:30-5:00

Live demo presentations: 10:00–4:10
Six 40 minute session blocks thorough out the day

Closing Dessert reception: 4:10-4:50

List of vendors:
AAAS/Science
ABC-CLIO
ACS
Alexander Street Press
Ambrose Video Publishing
APA
American Society for Microbiology
Artstor (Digital Library + Shared Shelf)
BiblioLabs
Bloomsbury Publishing (Drama Online & Churchill Archive)
BRILL
Califa - for Enki
Cambridge University Press
Camino (SCELC Borrowing network)
Chronicle of Higher Education
Counting Opinions
Credo
Data-Planet
De Gruyter, Inc.
Digitalia (itm)
Duke University Press
EBSCO
Education Week
Elsevier
Emerald Group Publishing
Euromonintor International
Future Science Group
Gale, Cengage Learning
Geographic Research, In
Films Media Group/Infobase Learning
Innovative Interfaces
InteLex Corporation
JSTOR
Mango Languages
Mergent, Inc.
Nature Publishing Group
NewsBank
now publishers
OCLC
Oxford University Press
Palgrave Macmillan
PolicyMap
Project MUSE
ProQuest
Read Cube
Rittenhouse R2 Medical Ebooks
Royal Society of Chemistry
SAGE
SIPX
Sociometrics
Springer
Springshare LLC
Swank Digital Campus
Taylor & Francis Group
Thomson Reuters
Wiley

World Bank 

Monday, February 24, 2014

We'd Like Your Input

Califa, in partnership with EBSCO and BiblioLabs®, will be sponsoring
two forums to give our members a chance to get an in-depth look
at some unique, new products in the library marketplace, including
BiblioBoard® and EBSCO archives.

Our vendors are eager to get feedback from you.
These sessions will be appropriate for librarians working with local
digital collections, e-books, makerspaces or common core state
standards. Come and share your thoughts.

March 5, 2014
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
San Diego County Library
5560 Overland Ave., Suite 110
San Diego

March 24, 2014
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Los Gatos Public Library
100 Villa Ave.
Los Gatos


RSVP Carolyn@bibliolabs.com

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Toucan Valley Social Studies Fact Cards

Califa is now hosting the Toucan Valley Social Studies Fact Cards.  The current owner was planning to retire, and our members asked us to take on the hosting, so we will be offering the California cards free of charge to all libraries.  

The new URL where you will find the California fact cards is  http://factcards.califa.org .  There is no username or password, and the service is entirely free.

Here are answers to questions that we have received regarding the Fact Cards.

               We have been asked if we can provide usage statistics. Unfortunately, no, we just have a URL up that people can access and we aren't tracking IP's, so there really isn't any way to tell.  

               A number of you wrote that the counties link was not working, thank you. We have taken that link down, accessing the county information is not something Toucan provided us with.

               We only get the California information. Other information that was included such as States or ancient civilizations was not something Toucan provided us with either.

               We will be hosting the site indefinitely.

               We will not be updating the site.

               You are welcome to link to the site.


What Are Fact Cards?
Quick reference in an easy-to-use format
Fact Cards are a series of research resources designed for quick reference for students in grades 4 through 8. The topics covered by Fact Cards are those California, United States, and World topics included in the social studies curriculum in California. For the past ten years, printed Fact Cards have been used extensively in California elementary and middle schools, as well as in public libraries.

Tools for the beginning researcher
A presentation style that offers quick facts in manageable portions makes Fact Cards the ideal reference resource for students who are just beginning to learn research procedures.

A ready reference source for all libraries
While Fact Cards are written at the 4th-, 5th- and 6th grade reading levels, older students and adults appreciate the quick access to basic facts and figures on these topics. Printed Fact Cards have been used as ready reference sources in many public and school libraries, as well as in classrooms.