Califa Products and News!

2012-01-15T19:38:00.001-08:00

Is Virtual Referenceon your list of New Year’s Resolutions? Join Califa and OCLC January31 to learn about the steps you can take to improve your Virtual Referencevisibility and effectiveness as found in the OCLC report Seeking Synchronicity.The report’s authors, Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Marie Radford, will discusstheir research and what they learned from librarians and library users alike.The second part of the webinar will allow time for your questions and an onlineconversation with your peers on how virtual reference is used successfullythroughout the country. http://bit.ly/ts.RU8F

2012-01-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

January5, 2012

TO: CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORKCONTACTS

FROM: Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist

Christina DiCaro, CLALobbyist

RE: News From the Capitol

GOVERNOR BROWN RELEASES 2012-13 BUDGET EARLY, DUE TOMIX-UP:

No New Funding ForLibraries Provided

GovernorJerry Brown was scheduled to release his January 2012-13 Budget next Tuesday at9 a.m., per the annual constitutional deadline. However, at some point today the Administration became aware that theDepartment of Finance had accidentally posted an early copy of the Governor’s2012-13 Budget to its public website, which necessitated a quick change inplans for the Governor. At 1:30 p.m. wereceived word that the Governor would call the press corps together at 2:30p.m. today to unveil the Budget a little ahead of schedule. When he subsequently met with the press, theGovernor thanked them for convening with “relatively short notice. There are no secrets in government. The Budget was released earlier thanplanned.”

TheGovernor said that his focus for 2012-13 would be to push for his tax plan,which will appear on the November 2012 ballot (a half cent sales tax increasefor five years and an increase in the income tax on $250K filers), as well as“paying down the wall of debt.” Heannounced significant cuts to welfare programs (totaling $1.5 billion) andchild care programs and he announced another “trigger” plan affecting highereducation and K-12 schools, should the tax plan not pass in November. The Governor provided no new funding for publiclibrary programs and, in fact, proposed a reduction to the State LibraryAdministration.

Youwill recall that when the Governor and the Department of Finance announced theywould be pulling the so-called “trigger” on massive reductions to UC, CSU, InHome Support Services, etc. in December, that action also included eliminationof the $16 million in remaining funding for the California Library ServicesAct, the state literacy program, and the Public Library Foundation. In the Governor’s Budget released today, hedoes not restore any of the so-called “trigger cuts” for public libraries. In fact, the Governor’s Budget makes a $1.1million cut to the State Library Administration Budget “to reflect a decreasein anticipated administrative workload resulting from 2011-12 triggerreductions that eliminated $15.9 million in local assistance programs.” The Budget document goes on to state,“Despite this reduction, the California State Library will continue to preserveCalifornia’s history and cultural heritage, and share its collection ofhistoric documents with the citizens of California.”

Next Steps

Aspreviously reported, in early March the Budget Subcommittees on EducationFinance (one in the Senate and one in the Assembly) will begin their work, examiningthe Governor’s 2012-13 Budget. In themeantime, we will be working with legislators at the Capitol, encouraging them tobuild library funding back into the new State Budget. We are going to be leaning on all of you inthe coming weeks to write letters to the members of the subcommittees, and thensubsequently to the full Budget Committees. Next week we will send out another alert, confirming all of the 2012subcommittee conferees, and providing legislator contact information, and some“talking points.” This is going to be achallenging year. Please look for anupdate from us in the coming days.

brainfuse jobnow testimonials

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted that we would be working with Brainfuse on their JobNow program, which provides real-time job coaching to those seeking work, providing help on things like building a resume, interviewing, etc.

Below are some testimonials from other libraries who have been using the service that I thought I would pass along to those of you who have thought about how a product like this could serve your communities. And I'm also pasting the remaining webinar dates and reservation here, too. If the dates aren't convenient for you, but you're interested in finding out more, let me know and we can get another one scheduled. Also, if you want a quote, let me know.

The webinars are here (with registration links)

Date: Thursday, January 12, 2012

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/265295377

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM PST

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/956781249

Thank you!
Heather

Jefferson County Colorado testimonial - http://vimeo.com/20616497

Stanislaus County newscast - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwLQGozBq6s&list=FLe4gtO_QKynwdxRE64SXONw&index=5&feature=plpp_video

Success stories:

San Bernardino County - Hesperia Branch:

“I was out of work for over 2 ½ years… I came to the workshop… I was told [by the JobNow program] that there was too much information on my resume, so I weeded out all the unnecessary information… I posted my new resume online and within 2 days, I got several calls for interviews and a few days after that I was hired!!! ...Thank you for helping me find employment that I enjoy...” from a letter written by a job seeker who had been introduced to JobNow in the Hesperia branch

WorkforceCentralFlorida.com, Grant Knowlton, Resource Center Manager

Friday, one of our regular customers went to a job fair in town; 30-40 employers and several hundred job-seekers, all dressed to the nines and with résumés in hand.

“I took my BrainFuse résumé, and the recruiter said that was the best résumé he had seen in a long time,” he said. A couple of points attracted my attention: 1, the high quality was recognized by an HR professional, and 2, our patron had taken personal ownership of the brand, calling it his “BrainFuse résumé.”

Litchfield County, Connecticut

I just wanted you to know that I used the Resume Assistance feature of JobNow and was impressed with the results. I had previously attended 3 resume workshops and had my resume reviewed by : the CT Department of Labor, a Licensed Professional Counselor from a local community college, and a representative from an international Management Resource firm. The analysis and feedback I got from the JobNow coach was by far the most helpful.

MELSA Hennepin County

As a recent graduate, this service has proven to be more helpful than my university career center. One of the reasons that it is helpful is that it is non-confrontational and non-embarrassing. As an alum, you are not protected under FERPA. Communications like getting help on a resume are not always confidential in a university setting. A bad resume can be shared between friends, professors, or colleagues. That just isn't constructive when all people struggle with it. I am glad that I am able to take advantage of the Brainfuse service through my public library. This past session was particularly helpful because my cover letter has been coming off as overwhelming on one extreme and sounding like I am taking over a director's job on the other. Because I like to take a more creative approach to resume and cover letter writing, it has been helpful to particularly get feedback on resumes and cover letters that are styled like the TORI winners from Career Directors International. This is a great service and it just keeps getting better! :)

MELSA St. Paul Public Library

Subject: Workforce & JobNow success story

I just have to share another success story from the Arlington HotSpot! This time it's in the area of Workforce. I had a young man stop in this afternoon simply to tell me he just came from an interview where he got a job offer. He said he got the offer because of the prep work he did here in the HotSpot and because of the help he received! Yay!

He is a young guy just of the military who had been applying for security positions and had been in several times working on that. I helped him a couple times working on his resume and we used the resume builder on JobNow and we also reviewed a lot of the interviewing tips and techniques on the JobNow site. Two days ago he was in preparing for this interview. We printed out his resume on our fancy new resume paper and we also did some research on the company with whom he was interviewing (we even used RefUSA!)

It's really gratifying that we where able to help him but even moreso that he stopped in specifically to tell me about his success and to tell me "Thanks." Yay!

New Califa Vendor: Marshall Cavendish

2011-12-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-27T10:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-21T08:34:00.000-08:00

Join Califa andOCLC to learn about OCLC Research findings that will inform future developmentand inspire effectiveness for virtual reference services. On January 31, you have the opportunity tojoin OCLC and Califa virtually to hear about and discuss the findingsof the Seeking Synchronicityreport.

In this webinar, Lynn SilipigniConnaway, PhD., Senior Research Scientist at OCLC, and Marie L. Radford, PhD.,Associate Professor, School of Communication & Information, Rutgers, willdiscuss the key findings of their multi-year study that were recently publishedin the report, SeekingSynchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference.

Their findings show that today’spatrons, scholars and citizens are not just looking to libraries alone foranswers to specific questions; they want to also engage partners and guides intheir lifelong information-seeking journey. Virtual Reference is an opportunityto meet those needs.

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

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

2011-12-13T23:40:00.000-08:00

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)

2011-12-07T11:25:00.001-08:00

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

2011-12-01T17:40:00.001-08:00

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.

2011-11-27T17:51:00.001-08:00

NEW: Preservation grants for collection assessment! Apply now!!

California Preservation Assessment Project (CPAP) Guidelines for Application

Funding: 10 awards of collection preservation assessments in FY 2011/12

Application deadline: Friday, January 27, 2012 (and, if additional awards are available, Friday, March 30, 2012)

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. 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://www.calpreservation.org/services/cpap.html

A to Z Databases update

2011-11-21T10:03:00.001-08:00

Many thanks to the libraries who participated in the Product Review for A to Z Databases. The final review with scores and vendor responses is on our website under Products --> Product Reviews. Alternatively, you can download it directly using this link: http://www.califa.org/uploadfiles/AtoZreview.doc

Please note that a trial is still available until December 1, and there are threshold discounts for anyone who signs up before December 15 (to be billed in January). The trial info is on our site - califa.org-->members-->internal documents (you will need to sign in with your Califa login and password). All our trial information is on that Members Only page. If you would like a quote, or need more info, please let me know.

Finally, many of you had questions after the webinars, and Christine sent the following answers, as well as some updates on changes that were just made.

First, the changes as of November 16 (from Christine at A to Z):

I haven’t typed up an official press release, but wanted to let you know that we have made these changes last night and are now in AtoZdatabases.com:

- Added 8 million email addresses in the detailed business database.

- Now display up to 100 executives in the detailed business listing.

- Added the capability to search for interests/hobbies/lifestyles within the 220 million residential database. There are 135 categories to select by.

- We are on track to have the mobile application done in January 2012.

And second, the responses to the questions that came up in the webinar (again, from Christine):

I wanted to attach some information from questions that came up over the last two webinars. If you can forward onto those who registered with you or out to the whole group, I would appreciate it. While we are adding this additional language to our homepage on New Businesses, New Movers and New Homeowners, I wanted everyone to know how we gather the information. I have attached it below.

- There was a question about the email addresses that we will be adding to the database. I have been told there are no generic company emails, just individual addresses.

- I mentioned how the email addresses will be a view only. I asked a bit further about this. Right now this is an executive decision and will see if this will change. I did confirm that you would be able to highlight the data to paste it into a spreadsheet/email. I will let you know more as we make it available.

- There was a question about being able to search by fax numbers. I attempted this with the group and it didn’t work. When I discussed with our programmer, I was told the intent is to allow this. They will look into and change so that patrons will be able to search by fax numbers.

New Businesses

New Businesses are acquired through multiple sources including state Secretary of State filings and new phone connect records. When a business is in the process of establishing itself, state laws require that documents be filed with the Secretary of State’s office in that state. These records are made available to the general public and are obtained and incorporated into the New Business Database. New phone connect information is provided by local phone companies whenever a new phone number is connected. Each week, these two sources are combined into the New Business Database.

New Movers

New Movers are acquired through multiple sources including register of deeds records and new phone connect records. When someone purchases a new home, the transaction is recorded at the local county register of deeds’ office. In the majority of states, these records are made available to the general public and are obtained and incorporated into the New Mover Database. New phone connect information is provided by local phone companies whenever a new phone number is connected. Approximately 82% of the records in the New Mover Database are sourced by telephone connect information with the remaining 82% coming from deed filing records. On average, records in the new mover file have been in their homes for 3 to 12 weeks when they are made available to customers with most being there for between 30 and 60 days.

New Homeowners

New Homeowner information is provided by county register of deeds offices in most of the 50 United States. As properties are bought and sold, the deed for the property, containing the purchaser’s name, the sale price and sale date, has to be recorded by the county government. In most states, these records are considered public information and are made available to the general public. However, the state law in several states does not require the recorder’s office to make sales related information available to the public, including the sales price and sales date of the property. As a result, the number of new homeowner records in these states may be low. In addition, each county reports their deed information on a different schedule. Some counties report every week, some counties report once a month and some counties report whenever it is most convenient for them. This can result in a wide range of purchase dates being made available each week and fluctuations in counts in each county from week to week.

congrats to SFPL

2011-11-17T14:08:00.001-08:00

Congrats to SFPL as one of the 12 libraries selected nationwide!!!!

The San Francisco Public Library along with its partners, Bay Area Video Coalition, California Academy of Sciences, and KQED, will begin planning for a new Teen Center/Learning Lab, which will include both physical spaces as well as a shared virtual platform. The planning process will engage numerous organizations and youth leaders in a series of workshops and pilot activities, creating a vision for participatory learning, a citywide model for collaboration, a conceptual design for a Teen Center, and a sustainability plan. By leveraging the expertise and resources of four leading organizations in the city, the library’s goal is to bridge the digital divide in San Francisco’s youth community; promote digital media literacy; convert digital media consumers to producers and media makers and innovators; develop leaders in civic engagement, social change, and community; create a sustainable partnership model; and prepare youth for the technology job market of the future.

Legislative Update

2011-11-17T10:56:00.001-08:00

TO:               CLA MEMBERS, SYSTEMS, NETWORK CONTACTS

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

RE:                 News From the Capitol

LAO REVENUE FORECAST COULD MEAN “TRIGGER CUTS”

Today the State’s respected non-partisan Legislative Analyst released his
highly anticipated revenue forecast that will be used to evaluate whether or
not the so-called “Budget Trigger” will be pulled in the New Year. As you will
recall from our previous memos to the field, the “Budget Trigger,” AB 121
(statutes of 2011) was created during the 2011 Budget negotiations to serve as
a balancing mechanism should $4 billion in anticipated state revenues not
materialize. (The trigger was also seen as a way to assure bond holders and
investors that California was taking a serious approach to solving its chronic
Budget challenges.) The trigger is comprised of two different “Tiers” and cuts
to programs delineated in those tiers would be imposed if revenues lagged.
What is at stake – and now very much at risk – for public libraries is close
to $16 million in state library funding that could be completely eliminated
should the “Tier 1 trigger” be pulled by the Governor.

Under the AB 121 legislation: “No later than December 15, 2011, the Director
of Finance shall forecast General Fund revenues for the 2011-12 fiscal year
and shall determine whether that revenue forecast or the Legislative Analyst’s
November 2011 General Fund forecast is higher. The Director of Finance shall
notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee of the determination and the
amount of the higher forecast. If the higher revenue forecast determined
pursuant to subdivision (a) projects General Fund revenues for the 2011-12
fiscal year of less than $87,452,500,000, the Director of Finance shall do all
of the following on or after January 1, 2011…” What then follows is a list of
the items that could be cut effective January 1, including all remaining state
funding for library services – thus eliminating all funding for the CLSA, PLF,
and literacy programs. Federal funds would also be seriously at risk.

As you can imagine, the Legislative Analyst’s Office forecast (and the soon-
to-be revealed Department of Finance’s forecast) is a complex assessment using
factors such as wages, dividends, auto sales, mortgage rates, housing permits,
inflation, unemployment, personal income, and Capital gains. In the LAO’s
report released today, they note that the “economic recovery has been slower
than expected” and they project “continuation of this slow, arduous recovery,
with California’s unemployment rate remaining above 10 percent through mid
2014 and above 8 percent through the end of 2017.” The Analyst expects
revenues to be approximately $3 billion short of the anticipated $4 billion
figure associated with the trigger, and compounded by an additional revenue
shortfall of $10 billion for Budget year 2012-13 (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 LAO also assumes
that the state will be unable to capture savings in areas previously scored
for savings such as in Medi-Cal and redevelopment (currently being litigated)
and in departmental efficiencies.

Thus, the LAO assumes that all “Tier One” reductions (public libraries, UC and
CSU budgets, In Home Support Services, preschool funding, developmental
services, etc. totaling about $600 million) would be enacted, and then 3/4ths
of the “Tier Two” cuts would be implemented, which would require K-12 schools
to make reductions in school bus transportation, shorten the school year, as
well as a reduction to the community colleges budget. The LAO then adds:

“The ultimate magnitude of the trigger cuts will be determined by the
administration after it compares our revenue forecast with its December
forecast. The higher of the two forecasts will be used to determine the level
of reductions. (The administration may implement less than the maximum amount
of trigger cuts. Our forecast, however, assumes the maximum amount of trigger
cuts based on our forecasted revenue levels.)”

Any Hope?

On October 27, we had a lengthy meeting with the Director of the Department of
Finance, Ana Matosantos to plead our case, asking her and the Governor to
“save libraries from the trigger.” We explained to her in great detail the
critical need to maintaining the funding for the CLSA, literacy program, and
PLF. Subsequent to that meeting, we have also been meeting with key staff for
the leadership and Budget Committees, inquiring as to the options before the
Governor and Legislature. We discussed the particulars in some length at our
presentation in Pasadena last Friday at the CLA Conference, but it is
important to note that while the “trigger” could be pulled, there may also be
some alternatives that could be explored between the Governor and the
leadership. We will be working very hard to ensure that library funding is a
part of those discussions and we will keep you updated as talks progress.
Certainly revenue increases are also not off the table, with the LAO’s report
suggesting: “Given the potential consequences from the types of expenditure
reductions discussed above, the Legislature will also want to consider revenue
increases. For instance, the Governor has stated his desire to have certain
increases in as yet unspecified taxes on the November 2012 ballot. We would
recommend the Legislature continue to review tax expenditure programs and
reconsider various proposals….”

Write the Governor

Please take a moment today to write the Governor and request that he spare
public libraries from the “trigger.” Please cite examples of what the
elimination of the CLSA, the literacy program, and the PLF would mean to your
library. He will need to receive hundreds of letters as soon as possible for
it to have the desired impact. Thank you for your help.

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, Room 1173
Sacramento, CA. 95814

Or fax your letter to the Governor: (916) 558-3160.

For additional information on how to cc’ your letters to the legislative
leadership, please visit the CLA website (cla-net.org) and click on our
November 8th memo.

Carol Simmons
Executive Director
California Library Association
2471 Flores Street
San Mateo, CA 94403
650-376-0886
650-539-2341 (fax)
csimmons@cla-net.org
www.cla-net.org

2011-11-15T10:24:00.001-08:00

TO: Cooperative Systems

FROM: Gerry Maginnity

I need your help in distributing this information. Please distribute far and wide. If you know anyone that might be interested they can call me for more info.

The Library Development Services Bureau of the California State Library is recruiting Library Programs Consultants (LPC) to provide leadership to California libraries. In order to do this we need to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill vacancies over the next year or so.

While our most immediate need is in the area of children and youth services, we hope to be able to fill other needs over time. Basically, Library Programs Consultants provide leadership to libraries on the creation and coordination of statewide and local library programs and develop, review, analyze, and monitor grant programs.

Below are some great stories of what we’re doing for California libraries. Please consider joining our team!

Develop what libraries will look like in 10 years. What new programs or services will meet the changing needs of California communities? We monitor trends and community needs to create cutting-edge services and programs to keep our libraries vital.
Work with and be inspired by library staff, volunteers and supporters who are all committed to ensuring their local libraries are a place of pride and a community center for learning, gathering and sharing.
Help bring statewide summer reading programs to over half-a-million people.
Cross-pollinate great ideas and programs from one part of the state to another. Working from a statewide vantage point allows you to share resources and best practices throughout CA and help libraries collaborate and mentor each other.
Put your passion for libraries into action. You get to work with all kinds of libraries in all kinds of communities as well as explore potential partnerships with a wide range of public and private organizations. Plus you get to design creative, forward-thinking initiatives that support and inspire library innovation statewide.
Be lucky enough to work with a remarkable group of library professionals who provide consumer health information and serve everyone from families with very young children to midlife adults and older.
Help gather the statistical data that illustrate how CA public libraries are providing a wide variety of services everyday to millions of registered borrowers.
Partner with national organizations and programs to bring additional resources to California libraries and the communities they serve.
Help develop information resources and services for California tribes, encourage partnerships between rural public libraries and tribal libraries, and promote historically accurate and culturally sensitive resources for all communities.
Be a part of the California Center for the Book and participate in the annual National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

CLA update

2011-11-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

TO:                  CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS

FROM:           Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist
                      Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist
RE:                News From The Capitol

LIBRARY FUNDING IN JEOPARDY – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!

“Spare Public Libraries From the Trigger!”

As CLA members and library supporters are aware, the 2011-12 Budget presented some very tough challenges for three major library programs – the California Library Services Act, the Public Library Foundation, and the state literacy program. These programs continue to be in jeopardy, and now CLA needs your help again!

In January, the Governor’s Budget proposed eliminating all state funding for these three programs ($30.4 million), but through heavy lobbying efforts and a strong grass roots showing from the library community, we were able to retain half of that funding ($15.2 million) to keep the three programs operational, by compromising with the legislature and Governor’s office.

You will recall that, as part of the 2011-12 Budget agreement, the legislature adopted and the Governor signed AB 121, the so-called “Budget Trigger” bill. This measure states that:

“No later December 15, 2011, the Director of Finance shall forecast General Fund revenues for the 2011-12 fiscal year and shall determine whether that revenue forecast or the Legislative Analyst’s November 2011 General Fund forecast is higher. The Director of Finance shall notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee of the determination and the amount of the higher forecast. If the higher revenue forecast determined pursuant to subdivision (a) projects General Fund revenues for the 2011-12 fiscal year of less than $87,452,500,000, the Director of Finance shall do all of the following on or after January 1, 2011:…..”

What then follows the above language is a list of the items that could be cut, effective January 1, including all remaining state funding for library services (could zero out the $15.2 million), and thus, there would be no more state funding for the CLSA, PLF, or literacy. The proposed public library cuts are on a list of reductions along with major cuts to UC and CSU, In Home Support Services, and juvenile justice programs, among others.

In a meeting we had last week with the Director of the Department of Finance she asserted that the legislation, AB 121, gives the Department very little flexibility and “wiggle room.” In subsequently speaking with several key legislative staff members, they acknowledge that for groups (e.g. libraries) to be spared the impacts of the “trigger,” after the first of the year, they would have to be part of a larger, alternative compromise proposal. If the trigger is pulled, there may be other options, including asking the legislature or the Governor to replace the $15.2 million during next year’s Budget deliberations. For any of these efforts to work, pressure must be brought to bear by our strong grass roots library supporters. While we will be working with legislators and Budget staff in the coming weeks and months to try to identify options and solutions, we need your help now.

We are asking CLA members and library supporters to do the following today:

1) Write the Governor – mail a hard copy letter, or fax it, or email him

a) cc’ the four legislative leaders on the letter you prepared for the Governor

b) cc’ your own legislators on these letters

In your letters, please inform the Governor’s office that the cuts will have:

1) Devastating impacts on local library services (Cite specifics.)

2) Will dismantle the CLSA – the state’s cooperative loaning program to the point where libraries won’t share resources anymore and non-residents will either not be allowed to use services or will use them at significant cost (e.g. library cards of $75 or more)

3) 20,000 adult literacy learners may have nowhere else to turn for services.

4) Approximately $15 million in federal funding – money that also funds the Braille and Talking Book library – could be lost.

While we know that the holidays are busy times for everyone, we urge you to take a moment today to write the Governor (cc’ the leaders) and encourage him to “Spare Public Libraries From The Trigger.” Please don’t wait until after the first of the year – that will, most assuredly, be too late.

Mail your letter to:
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor, State of California
State Capitol, Room, 1173
Sacramento, CA. 95814

Or fax your letter to the Governor: (916) 558-3160, or for instructions on how to email the Governor, please go to www.gov.ca.gov and click on the “contact” section.

CC’s to the following

The Honorable Darrell Steinberg
Senate President pro Tempore
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Or fax: (916) 323-2263

The Honorable Bob Dutton
Senate Minority Leader
California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Or fax: (916) 327-2272

The Honorable John A. Perez
Speaker of the California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 219
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Or fax: (916) 319-2146

The Honorable Connie Conway
Assembly Republican Leader
State Capitol, Room 3104
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Or fax: (916) 319-2134

Thank you for your help!

Congratulations to San Jose!

2011-10-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

IMLS Announces the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service Recipients

October 25, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov
Natasha Marstiller, nmarstiller@imls.gov

Award Recognizes Innovative Approaches to Public Service and Community Outreach

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has selected five libraries and five museums to receive the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions. Recipients must demonstrate innovative approaches to public service and community outreach.

"Congratulations to each of these organizations on receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The work they have accomplished is an inspiration to libraries and museums throughout the nation," said Susan Hildreth, IMLS Director. "With innovation, creativity and a great deal of heart they have achieved an outstanding level of public service."

The winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service are selected each year by the Director of IMLS, following an open nomination process and based on the recommendations of the National Museum and Library Services Board.

The award was created to celebrate the vital role museums and libraries play in American society and is awarded to institutions that have developed innovative ways to serve their communities. Recipients of the 2011 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:

To learn more about the 2011 winners of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service view the brochure or visit www.imls.gov/medals.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

Credo Reference End-of-Year Specials

2011-10-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Please note this additional discount on Credo Reference for orders that come in before the end of the year. If you'd like a quote, let me know.

New subscriptions to Credo General Reference will receive the following discount of their first year subscription subsequent renewals will be at the standard consortium discount:

Subscribe by:
15 November 2011, receive 30% discount
30 November 2011, receive 25% discount
15 December 2011, receive 20% discount

Free trials and demos are available and members can find more information here: http://corp.credoreference.com/introduction/new-to-credo.html

Credo General Reference is now up to 570 titles and 10,000 Topic Pages so this is a great time to take advantage of this special pricing.

A to Z Databases and Atomic Learning

2011-10-18T17:28:00.001-07:00

1) We are looking at putting together a review committee to review A to Z Databases for a review we'd publish on our website. How it works is that you tell me that you'd like to be on the committee, and then I send you the questions that need to be answered/areas ranked. You use the trial and give a score to each area outlined in the questions, and then I compile all the scores and get an average, and put in sample comments - confidentially - below each score. If you'd like to be part of this, and can give a thoughtful review by November 10, please let me know. And thank you!

2) We are considering working with Atomic Learning. They compete with Lynda.com to provide training on software both inside the library, and remotely from home. I have trial codes that I can pass out, so if you are interested, please let me know. I look forward to any feedback our members might have on this company and their product. You can view their flyer and the applications covered in their library product by viewing the flyers available here:
General flyer with list pricing: http://califa.org/uploadfiles/atomicflyer.pdf
Programs/applications covered: http://califa.org/uploadfiles/atomicapplications.pdf

Member Savings Report for 2010-2011

2011-10-18T15:06:00.001-07:00

We just completed the 2010-2011 Member Savings Report, and it's on our website where you can see what individual library's (including yours) saved through their membership. http://www.califa.org/membersavings.php

Califa members saved more than $4 million by ordering through Califa last year - every time you order through us, you make the consortium and all the member libraries stronger. Thanks for remembering to consider Califa when making your purchasing decisions.

If you have questions about the report, let me know. And if you haven't saved as much as you'd like, let's set up a time to talk about what products you buy regularly, what you're looking at adding, and how we can help.

OCLC FirstSearch update

2011-10-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

Many of you were able to attend one of the recent webinars on changes to the FirstSearch WorldCat and CalCat subscriptions for California libraries. The deadline for subscribing at the same discount the State Library received is October 28, 2011.

To obtain pricing for your library or to place your order, please contact Carol Schlatter of OCLC at 800-848-5878, ext. 6083 or schlattc@oclc.org.

If you have additional questions about these services, please contact Paul Cappuzzello, OCLC Senior Library Services Consultant at 800-848-5878, ext. 6258 or cappuzzp@oclc.org.

For those of you that were unable to attend , you may view the PowerPoint presentation at http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/webinars/California_FS_09052011.pdf

OCLC also has prepared a list of frequently asked questions about these changes which may viewed at

http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/webinars/Califa_FirstSearch_FAQ.pdf

If you were unable to attend the session, you may listen to the recording:

https://oclc.webex.com/oclc/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=50841617&rKey=64cb95ec58cda1c9

Please note that this recording is in the Universal Communications Format (UCF) rich media file format. Visit https://oclc.webex.com/oclc/systemdiagnosis.php to view a list of players that support viewing rich media files using UCF.

From the State Library

2011-10-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

Please forward this information to your member libraries. Thanks. More info is in the attached document.

In 2008, the Commission on the Status of Women and then-Assembly member Lois Wolk asked the California State Library through its California Research Bureau (CRB) to administer a survey to California women veterans. This survey led to “California’s Women Veterans: The Challenges and Needs of Those Who Served,” a 2009 report that provided insight to state legislators on the service barriers to California women veterans.

http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/09/09-009.pdf

The Commission and California Department of Veterans Affairs is now requesting that CRB assist them in assessing the progress that has been made since the earlier survey, as well as identifying new needs.

How libraries can help:

- print out and post the attached flyers or make copies available

- forward this information to community organizations that assist veterans

- if possible, put the link to the survey on their website thru 12/31/11

The survey is online at :

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PM2JFZD

A printable copy of the full survey is available at:

http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/docs/VeteransSurvey2011.pdf

New Califa Vendor: A to Z Databases

2011-10-14T14:24:00.001-07:00

Many of you have asked us to work with A-Z Databases. I'm happy to say that we're looking to get things kicked off with an offer of special pricing through the end of the year. More details of threshold discounts will follow, but for now, there is a trial available on the Califa site (www.califa.org -->Members --> Internal Documents - you will need your Califa login/pw here - email me if you don't have it).

If you are already a subscriber of Reference USA, the price is guaranteed to be at least 45% lower than what you pay RefUsa. If you're not a current RefUsa subscriber, I can get you a quote.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Premier Reference and Marketing Database including 30 million business profiles& 220 million residents along with databases of New Home Owners, New Moversand New Businesses. Ideal for salesleads, mailing lists, market research, employment opportunities, findingfriends and relatives, and much more!

Update Frequency: Monthly
Format: Web
Output: QR code, Email, Print or Download

AtoZdatabases is the premier reference and marketing database marketed toLibrary, Academic, and Government institutions throughout the U.S. This simple,user-friendly, web-based solution provides details on every business and everyhousehold within the U.S.

The Cloud on the Cover of Pasadena Weekly

2011-10-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

Jan Sanders of Pasadena (who, with Glendale, will be beta-testers of the 3M Cloud Library project) made the cover of Pasadena Weekly.

Read the story at:
http://pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/?id=10602

Congratulations!

New Product: Film Ideas

2011-10-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

There is a big push to help Americans become financially literate. ALA is doing its part by encouraging libraries to develop Financial Well-Being programs. Film Ideas has released a new Financial Literacy Streaming service that is now available to CALIFA members!

The Financial Literacy Streaming Service subscription provides an internet based digital stream with a focus on financial literacy skills. Built around the Emmy winning BizKid$ Series and Life Skills for Young Adults Series, the content provides valuable information on financial literacy, career skills, entrepreneurship, business and more.

Our goal is to provide "learning segments" that are engaging and engrossing, delivered and navigated on the desktop. Important benefits include peer-to peer presentations that maintains an ethnically balanced delivery. The content is well designed to actively engage all viewers by opening new avenues of understanding using a hip, contemporary approach. A broad host of user oriented resources further enriches.

Key Concepts and benefits:

* Designed for in-library use and for remote access

* Content suitable for broad range of ages: youth, young adult, and adult

* Strong visual support for Financial Literacy concepts with contemporary, Emmy award-winning digital content.

* Extensive resources: family focused activities, games, links and guides.

* Ability to create custom playlists

* All content is also available on DVD format for the library circulating collection

There is a trial on the Califa website at http://califa.org/members_only.php. You will need your Califa login to access that page - if you need it, let me know.

Message from ALA

2011-10-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) and the Library & Information Technology Association (LITA) are soliciting nominations for best library practices using cutting-edge technology.

The application process is very simple and attempts to showcase libraries that are serving their communities with novel and innovative services and provide the library community with some successful models for delivering quality library service in new ways. The key factors is the use of technology to provide a service and something that can be replicated by other libraries.

A committee of practicing librarians will review all nominations to identify those libraries that are truly offering a best practice or most innovative service. Libraries or library service areas selected will be publicized via the OITP and LITA websites, highlighted through ALA publications, and featured in a program at the ALA Annual Conference in 2012.

More information and nomination forms can be found at www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/cuttingedge/2012.cfm

The Brodart book lending machine featured on CNN

2011-09-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

An interesting article on CNN on creative new vending machines. The Brodart book machine is featured. Califa has pricing, so let us know if you want a quote!

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/smallbusiness/1109/gallery.innovation_vending_machine/?source=cnn_bin&hpt=hp_bn5

Fall AWE Early Literacy Station special

2011-09-27T14:39:00.001-07:00

We're happy to let you know that the group order for the AWE Early Literacy Stations will be from November 1 - December 9 this year. You can find a pdf with complete pricing information and contacts here: http://www.califa.org/uploadfiles/awefall11.pdf

If you remember, twice a year we aggregate orders of this popular product so that everyone gets the best possible price. We've only not reached the 50+ price point twice in the 5 years we've been doing this, so it's a good time to take advantage of the price breaks.

Potential New Vendor: Lynda.com

2011-09-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

We are exploring working with Lynda.com, a company that provides computer and software training videos. They are only beginning to enter the library market, and this would be one of their first statewide consortial agreements (though they do work with the Massachusetts Library System to provide training for all staff: http://www.masslibsystem.org/continuing-education/lynda/)

Below is an email from Craig at Lynda.com, explaining their offerings and giving the dates for two upcoming webinars. I am trying to gauge the interest from our members right now, to see if this is something that our members want. Right now they only offer access to their videos from inside the libraries, but they are realizing that they will have to move to remote access at some point, and are figuring that part of it out. In the meantime, is this something that would appeal to you as a member? Please let me know so I can count your interest when we begin negotiating (you aren't committing to anything by showing interest).

Also, please note that if you read this and decide it's really awesome, and you want to move forward right away, if you call them direct, you won't get a discount. You will need to order through us to get the best price. Email me with your interest.

-----

It’s not easy for a library to keep in front of the latest technology trends. lynda.com alleviates this challenge by providing cost effective tools to keep staff and patrons up to date on the skills they need to be successful.
With over 1,100 video tutorials catering to all different learning levels, our content range and quality are what make lynda.com the industry leader in online software training.

We deliver 2-7 minute, HD-quality, task specific videos from recognized experts, and we have seen success in increased adoption, user satisfaction and proficiency in some of today's most commonly used and often under utilized software applications.

lynda.com highlights:
1. Over 1,100 courses with new courses added weekly, including Microsoft, Adobe, Apple, Google and much more.
2. Highly integrated courses for those going through Microsoft Office migrations with access to lynda.com content directly from the MS Office Ribbon.
3. No re-purchasing of training for mixed software environments.
4. Unique training methodology designed for to meet the specific needs of the just-in-time learning.
5. Solutions that support organization wide initiatives or those within specific departments.
I want to introduce lynda.com, and provide you with the opportunity to learn more. Please join us at an upcoming webinar to learn more about the lynda.com Online Training Library®:

Wednesday, September 28, at 10am PDT

Wednesday, October 5, at 10am PDT

RSVP for your preferred session by sending me an email at cborchardt@lynda.com, and I will respond with the webinar details.

Or, please explore our library of content with a complimentary trial. No obligation or additional information is required. Just send me an email (cborchardt@lynda.com) and I will set up the trial for you and your team.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Craig

Craig Borchardt

Government Training Solutions Advisor

cborchardt@lynda.com

888-335-9632 x115

805-477-3963 - Direct

New Califa Vendor - FilmIdeas

2011-09-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

We are happy to be starting work with Film Ideas, a company that produces streaming videos on financial literacy. A trial is available at our website - califa.org -->members -->internal documents (log in with your Califa login/pw - email me if you need it). All our current trial information is there.

Here's a description of the product - I look forward to any feedback you might have. Also, if you want a quote, let me know.

FI Channels is a sister company of Film Ideas, Inc., located in Wheeling, IL. Film Ideas has been serving education and other non-theatrical markets beyond 30 years with quality content and engaging resources.

The FI Channels subscription service version 1.0 incorporates the concept of an internet based streaming service aligned to a continuum of market channels. As a subscriber, you can expect total satisfaction with our content and service.

Our goal at FI Channels Streaming Service is to offer content that is enlightening, engaging and engrossing, delivered and navigated with just a click of the mouse on your desktop for sharing and projecting. As an additional option, the well focused content is available on chaptered DVD's for enhanced circulation or flexible check-out.

Mango Languages iPhone app

2011-09-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Mango Languages has a new iPhone app. Information from their press release is below. If you'd like a Mango quote, just let me know.

-----

The free application was designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch but also works with the iPad. It offers the same functionality as Mango’s online self-study language learning software. Once installed, the program does not require Internet access, patrons just download what they need when they need it.

The iPhone application is available to all libraries in Mango’s growing network for free. This means almost 90 million people throughout the United States and Canada can now take Mango on the road, making the product even more valuable as users can learn when and where they want to. The product’s tagline, “Mango now goes where you go”, conveys that message.

Mango includes 49 courses, 15 of which are English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. Created to provide the conversation skills that a user needs to successfully communicate and engage with the local population, Mango Languages also provides an understanding of the new language and culture.

The lessons are presented with an appreciation for cultural nuance and real-world application that goes beyond teaching vocabulary and pronunciation to integrate components of grammar and culture. The Mango Intuitive Language Construction Methodology teaches actual conversation, breaking down complex conversational elements with a highly interactive interface that enables the user to build important connections between previous lessons.

Since its founding in 2007, Mango Languages has grown to become one of the world's leading providers of language learning products. That growth will continue throughout 2011, as the company plans to enrich content and introduce several new products, languages and features, each of which will target a specific user profile to meet that user's specific language needs – the ultimate goal being to learn a language.

Career Cruising Trial

2011-09-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

We are happy to let you know that we're looking at working with Career Cruising, and have a trial available of their product. Several of you saw them at the Vendor Fair and encouraged us to move forward with them. Feel free to check out the trial and send me any feedback you might have.

To access the trial, go to the Califa site, then click on Members, then Internal Documents. You will need to log in at this point - email me if you need your Califa login and password. All of our trials are there on that Members Only page.

You can read the Library Journal review about them here.

Credo Reference Webinars

2011-08-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

Have you checked out Credo Reference lately? If not, they do webinars every Tuesday and Thursday. The schedule, and registration information is on our site: www.califa.org/calendar.php.

A lot of you have been asking for quotes for them lately, so they seem to be getting more popular!

Gale Powerspeak Languages discount

2011-07-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce a new discount on Powerspeak Languages from Gale. Full description and trial links are below.

They will be having two webinars - one on July 28 at 10:30am and one on August 9 at 1pm. To RSVP for these, please email me with your name, library name and email address in the body of the message.

Powerspeak Languages is a new online language learning course that uses a variety of methods to engage learners. Ten languages are available covering over 97% of the language requests public libraries receive across the country. The offerings are Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Russian for native English speakers. And for ESL library patrons the resource offers ESL – Spanish and ESL-Mandarin.

Beyond simple flashcards, each course uses a variety of multi-sensory activities to take full advantage of the brain’s ability to acquire language. Designed specifically for use by the diverse audience of library users, the courses include a combination of scored online activities, exercises, lessons and games.

Course lessons are bound together with rich graphics, audio, video, music and an intuitive way to check answers and track progress. Learners find a friendly structure that introduces vocabulary and are challenged to practice speaking and writing in a variety of interactive modules designed to simulate real conversations with native speakers.

Powerspeak Languages is the only language learning resource that uses a “virtual coach” – a knowledgeable, engaging speaker whose guidance explain the concepts for each lesson, offer encouragement and sharing interesting cultural notes about the language and its speakers.

Here is a Powerspeak Languages Trial Welcome Message for our California Public Library Partners:https://www.brainshark.com/gale/vu?pi=zGfzOF5vez25pYz0

To start your trial Powerspeak Languages and request a quote for your library, just click on
http://galesites.com/trial/calilibs

Books 24x7 trial

2011-07-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

Some of our libraries have been considering the IT Pro collection from Books 24x7, and I have set up a trial for all of our members. Trial login information is on our trials page, which is califa.org --> members --> Internal Documents (at this point you will need to log in with your Califa username/pw - email me if you need it). All of our trials are listed there.

New Credo Reference Webinars

2011-07-13T10:17:00.000-07:00

Credo Reference will be hosting webinars for non-subscribers throughout the month of July. Check the Califa calendar for times and registration information.

They have also just launched a second set of free educational seminars, through their Libraries Thriving Initiative. They are offering three interesting seminars over the next several weeks, I encourage you to learn more at http://www.librariesthriving.org

Little Pim from Mango

2011-07-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce that we now have pricing for Little Pim, through Mango Languages.
If you are interested in offering language learning to children, take a look at the trial. We have a trial available on our website - www.califa.org -->Members-->Internal Documents (at this point you will need to log in with your Califa login/pw. If you need it, let me know). The trial is listed on that members only page.
The price of Little Pim is a percentage of what your price for Mango Languages is. If you'd like a quote, email me.
Thanks!

More on the 3M Cloud Library

2011-07-06T15:45:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Jeff Scott, who passed along this interview on the 3M Cloud Library:
http://connectpro98649235.adobeconnect.com/p7jk6ftrwt6/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

3M Cloud Library Invitation

2011-07-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

3M is hosting a webinar on their new Cloud Library, the ebook service that is entirely based online so patrons do not need to download any software to their devices.

To register, pick the time below that works for you, and RSVP to: librarysystems1@mmm.com
and please put the date and time in the email.

Thursday July 7th - 2-3 Pacific Time (4-5 Central Time)
Tuesday July 12th - 9am-10am Pacific Time (11-12 Central Time)
Thursday July 14 - 2-3 Pacific Time (4-5 Central Time).

Kansas State Library vs. OverDrive

2011-04-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

The Kansas State Library is fighting back after OverDrive offered her a contract renewal which would have increased her fees almost 700%.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/890089-264/kansas_state_librarian_goes_eyeball.html.csp

This is only more proof that there need to be other players in the ebook market.

AWE Order Period has started

2011-04-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

We're happy to announce that the new order period for the AWE Early Literacy Stations has started - you can order up until May 13, and all of the orders will be combined so that everyone receives the lowest price (this is the 11th order we've done like this, and only once have we not hit the 50+ price point).

If you need to be invoiced in July, but want to take advantage of this order period, let me know and they can work out a special arrangement with you.

The pricing and order information is on the flyer here:

http://www.califa.org/uploadfiles/awe2011.pdf

NYPL on Morning Edition

2011-04-04T11:04:00.000-07:00

A great bit of PR for the NYPL in subscribing to the Berg Fashion Library from Oxford University Press.

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/04/135106105/n-y-library-offers-free-access-to-fashion-trove

We had a trial of this back in the fall, during the height of Project Runway mania, and it got a lot of use. If you're interested in your own trial, or pricing, let me know.

Microsoft MyPC survey

2011-03-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Some of you attended, or are signed up for, the webinars they have hosted about this new program. Please see below for information on how you can guide development of the program.

The My PC Program has designed a short online survey to solicit input from librarians to help guide our intial pilot programs. We asked Califa members who joined our March 10th web presentation to take the survey and six libraries have taken it as of this morning. Input from your members into the process is critical as we enter into the public library space, and we would like to ask Califa to post our survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mypclibrarysurvey2011

Thanks, members, for your input!

Facts on File Product Trials

2011-03-24T10:36:00.000-07:00

Facts on File has two trials available for their new products. To get the trial login information, go to califa.org -->Members --> Internal Documents (you will need to log in with your Califa username and pw at this point - email me if you don't have it). The trials are listed at the top of that members page.

World Geography and Culture:

Facts on File is pleased to offer our award-winning database for trial. The site offers comprehensive geographical and cultural information on more than 200 countires. You can get the background of the current news stories worldwide and a complete overall picture of the country or region making news. The database, launched last spring has received outstanding reviews and will be cited "Reference Source of the Year" April 15 issue of LIbrary Journal. "an excellent reference source...Highly Recommended" - Library Media Connection, starred review " ..(an) incredible amount of appropriate and accurate material..user-frriendly and curriculum-aligned... highly recommended" Booklist, starred review

World Almanac Online:

Facts on File is pleased to annouce the launch of the new World Almanac Online. filled with up to the minute news, the latest facts and figures from the best-selling authoritative reference source.

Let me know if you have any questions or would like a quote.

New Califa Vendor: Shmoop

2011-03-23T16:20:00.001-07:00

Many of you have requested that we begin working with Shmoop (more info at shmoop.com), a test-prep company with products designed specifically for teens. We are happy to announce that we will be working with them, and have discounted pricing, available now. If you would like a quote, just email me back.

Trials are available for Califa members - just go to califa.org --> Members--> Internal Documents (you'll have to log in at this point - if you don't know your Califa login, let me know and I'll resend it to you). The trial information is posted at the top.

They will be hosting two webinars - one on April 7 at 2pm, and one on April 13 at 10am. Both of which will be introductory webinars explaining how their service works, what makes them different, and how a student would use their service.

To RSVP for the webinars, use the links below.

April 7 at 2pm: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/717714849

April 13 at 10am: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/370544760

Let me know if you have any questions.

Another MyPC Series Webinar

2011-03-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Many of you have let me know that you are interested in the MyPC Series classes that Microsoft is offering, but were unable to attend the last webinar. They are holding a second one for Califa members on April 7 at 10am PDT. The webinar will last no more than an hour, and will cover the courses, how you sign up to put them on, and what is required by the library. If you would like to attend the webinar, just RSVP via email to me, and I will send you the login information.

Disaster Preparedness Workshop

2011-03-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU READY?

Scenario Planning & Collaboration Among Heritage Institutions to Improve Disaster Preparedness for Collections

Eureka: Friday, May 6, 2011 – Humboldt County Library – 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sponsored by Western States & Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS)

Workshop instructor: Barclay Ogden, Co-Coordinator, California Preservation Program & WESTPAS and Director for Preservation, UC Berkeley Library

************************************************************************

Okay, now you have a plan, but do you know how well it will work in a real disaster situation? It's better to find answers now than after a disaster has occurred!

This workshop will:

Help you assess your vulnerabilities
Test your plan using a scenario table top exercise
Explore how collaborations can help you respond to a disaster
Build a shared vision for regional disaster preparedness

Who should attend:

When possible, send 2-3 participants from your institution to work together on disaster preparedness activities:

Staff member(s) responsible for emergency preparedness
Administrator and/or manager responsible for the building/collection
Key members of the emergency/disaster team responsible for decision-making

Requirements for attendance:

A written disaster plan (draft okay) that includes collections response/recovery
A letter of institutional commitment to explore collaboration to optimize preparedness
A completed 3-page vulnerability assessment (distributed 3 weeks before workshop)

Cost: No fee; just your time, energy, and institutional commitment.

Funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Co-sponsored by the California State Library & California State Archives.

Registration: Pre-registration required. Register online at: WESTPAS workshop http://tiny.cc/ZePOL

For registration assistance contact: Kathy Krause krause@plsinfo.org

For general & content information contact: Julie Page jpage@westpas.org

Time to Take Action Again

2011-02-25T16:28:00.001-08:00

TIME TO TAKE ACTION AGAIN

WHEN: Today thru March 4^th

MESSAGE: In your calls and letters please indicate why elimination of these programs would:

1. Destroy the cooperative lending and loaning system of books and materials in California,

2. Could lead to a system where non-residents are denied access to library materials or asked to pay for a library card costing upwards of $100,

3. Would put in jeopardy almost $17 million in corresponding federal funds,

4. Deny literacy services to more than 20,000 adult learners annually who potentially would have no other alternative for seeking these services locally, and

5. Denies local assistance dollars for libraries who have already suffered mightily with the state and local funding cuts over the past few years

(Please refer to any of this issue above that is most important to your partaker area of interest)

HOW: DILLON’S RECOMMEND:

1. FAX LETTER

2. CALL.

WHO: FAX OR CALL THE FOLLOWING BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:

CONTACT TODAY

Assembly Conferees

The Honorable Bob Blumenfield

Chair, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 6026

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 319-2040

Fax: (916) 319-2140

The Honorable Felipe Fuentes

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 2114

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 319-2039

Fax: (916) 319-2139

The Honorable Diane Harkey

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 6027

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 319-2073

Fax: (916) 319-2173

The Honorable Jim Nielsen

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 6031

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 319-2002

Fax: (916) 319-2102

The Honorable Nancy Skinner

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 4126

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 319-2014

Fax: (916) 319-2114

Senate Conferees

The Honorable Mark Leno

Co-Chair, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 5100

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4003

Fax: (916) 445-4722

The Honorable Bill Emmerson

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 4082

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4037

Fax: (916) 327-2187

The Honorable Bob Huff

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 5097

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4029

Fax: (916) 324-0922

The Honorable Alan Lowenthal

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 2032

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4027

Fax: (916) 327-9113

The Honorable Gloria Negrete McLeod

Member, Budget Conference Committee

State Capitol, Room 4061

Sacramento, CA. 95814

Phone: (916) 651-4032

Fax: (916) 445-0128

If you can only do one, contact the chair and if your local legislator is one listed also contact him or her.

Upcoming Credo Reference Webinars

2011-02-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are interested in learning more about Credo Reference, they host several webinars each week for subscribers and non-customers alike. Check out this link for more information, and registration.

OCLC Webscale Digitization Management Services webinar

2011-02-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in OCLC's Webscale Management Services, there is a webinar on Feb 16 at 11am. Below is the link to sign up and a description of the session:

Our next WMS webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th , from 12:00pm-1:00 PST (3-4 EST). Here is a brief description of the session:

During this 90-minute session, you will find out why libraries are choosing to simplify workflows and reduce costs with OCLC Web-scale Management Services. Matt Goldner, OCLC Product & Technology Advocate, will provide an overview, including a full demonstration of Web-scale Management Services.

Librarians interested in attending can register by going to the following URL:

http://www.oclc.org/us/en/webscale/overview/newsessions.htm

How to fund an eBook Library

2011-02-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

This article by Eric Hellman has a lot of good points to consider. Highly recommended for anyone interested in what the future could hold for eBooks.

Everyday numeracy: coming to a library near you

2011-02-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, the National Science Foundation funded TERC, a non-profit organization in Cambridge MA, to develop realistic, accessible, and engaging ways for librarians build everyday numeracy into what they offer to children and families. TERC worked closely with public children librarians in San Jose CA, Queens NY, St Louis MO, Westchester County NY, and dozens of libraries in AZ, CT, FL, and MA.

The result is over 200 English and Spanish resources that blend math and summer reading programs, story times, crafts projects, games, book displays, and library explorations. They’re all available for free at http://mixinginmath.terc.edu.

External evaluation identified dramatic changes in attitudes about math and its role in the library, in the amount of math that librarians offer to children and families, and in librarians’ communication about math with patrons and peers. See http://mixinginmath.terc.edu/aboutMiM/Impact_MiM.cfm for a summary of findings and the Mixing in Math website to download the latest external evaluation report.

Questions or for more information, contact mixinginmath@terc.edu

Upcoming Credo Reference Webinars

2011-02-07T15:03:00.000-08:00

Webinars for US non-Subscribers:

Tuesday 8 February
11:00 AM EST / 10:00AM CST / 9:00AM MST / 8:00AM PST
Click here to register for this session
Access instructions and audio options will be sent upon registration.

Wednesday 16 February
1:00 PM EST / 12:00PM CST / 11:00AM MST / 10:00AM PST
Click here to register for this session
Access instructions and audio options will be sent upon registration.

Friday 18 February
2:30 PM EST / 1:30PM CST / 12:30PM MST / 11:30AM PST
Click here to register for this session
Access instructions and audio options will be sent upon registration.

Tuesday 22 February
2:00 PM EST / 1:00PM CST / 12:00PM MST / 11:00AM PST
Click here to register for this session
Access instructions and audio options will be sent upon registration.

Thursday 24 February
11:00 AM EST / 10:00AM CST / 9:00AM MST / 8:00AM PST
Click here to register for this session
Access instructions and audio options will be sent upon registration.

2011-01-27T14:17:00.001-08:00

Shmoop trial and feedback requested

2011-01-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Many of you saw Shmoop at CLA/CSLA in November - they offer test-prep courses for SAT/ACT/ and AP courses, as well as study guides. They have been popular with many schools, and public libraries are also now considering them. I know it's hard for anyone to think about anything new right now, but if you think that you would like to be part of a group order for Shmoop, please let me know so I can start working on a contract with them.

I have posted trial information on the trials page on our website at califa.org -->Members --> Internal Documents (at this point you will need to log in to the Califa site - if you need your login information, let me know).

Basically, you're not giving me any commitments at this point - I'm just trying to gauge if there is enough interest in moving forward with them to do a contract and put together some type of group order. Thanks for any feedback you can offer.

2011-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Save Your California Public Library Funding from Cuts!

2011-01-25T14:16:00.001-08:00

Governor Brown’s proposed budget cuts of $30.4 million will have a devastating effect on your access to resources and programs at your local library.

· Cuts that threaten your access to much needed books, dvd’s, and other materials you receive from other libraries in California through inter-library loan.

· Crucial literacy programs in 800 public libraries across the state that provide skills to support good citizenship, employment opportunities and families who value education.

· Eliminates some libraries’ only support to fund library materials

· Cuts will mean an additional loss of $16 million in current matching federal funds

Don’t wait until its too late, contact the Governor, your Senator and Assemblyperson now! Let them know how important libraries and its services are to you and your family.

TAKE ACTION - see our posts below on what to do...

Sample Letter

2011-01-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to a sample letter and the addresses to send it to. Remember that letters count more than emails - anyone can come up with lots of email addresses and shoot things off quickly, but letters carry more weight because it takes a little longer, and you can't make up tons of fake addresses. So call or write.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150131624641206&id=709052714

Thanks to David Dodd for posting this

Here's a sample letter for those of you wanting to support California libraries:

January 24, 2011

The Honorable Carol Liu
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5061

Dear Senator Liu,

I am writing to urge the Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance to reject Governor Brown’s recommendation of cuts to State funding for public libraries. The sweeping nature of these cuts, though understandable in the current budgetary climate, actually makes little sense, either as a money-saving effort, or as something that should or could be shifted to local communities.

The California Library Services Act allows local library jurisdictions to cooperate in a meaningful way throughout California, in offering library services to State residents who live outside their local jurisdictions. For a minimal amount of funding, anyone who lives in California is currently able to borrow materials from any public library in the State, with few exceptions. Such a service would not be a good candidate for local funding, and it goes a long way to providing equity of access to information for all California residents.

Another major reason to maintain current funding levels for California’s public libraries is that we receive a significant amount of federal funding, as a match to our own State funding, and it’s estimated that we would lose approximately $16 million in Federal funds if our own funding is eliminated.

Finally, I would urge you to reject the cuts to State support for Literacy services. While we do a good deal of local fundraising and provide from our budgets to the degree we can, a cut of this magnitude will have far-reaching implications for those in our State least able to advocate for themselves—namely, those adults without reading and writing skills.

Please send a clear message back to the Governor, that his proposed savings of $30 million is something we just can’t afford if we value a well-informed citizenry, as any democracy does.

Sincerely,

[your name here]

WHO TO CONTACT
Note: If these two key subcommittees listed below don’t sense that the library community is completely opposed in strong numbers to the Governor’s plan, they will not recommend that any of the funding be restored. This will severely impact our ability to get any money restored going forward. Your action now to object to these cuts by phone, fax, or mail, is absolutely essential to our success. Please ask your staff, patrons, Friends and Trustees groups and others to participate in this effort.
First to hear the impacts of the cuts on public libraries will be the Senate Budget Subcommittee, who will hear the issue on Tuesday, February 1 at 1:30 p.m. in room 3191 at the State Capitol. Please take a moment today to write a letter to these individuals – even if they are not your Senators. It is important for them to see the broad impact statewide of these proposed cuts.

Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance

The Honorable Carol Liu
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4021
Fax: (916) 324-7543

The Honorable Bob Huff
Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5097
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4029
Fax: (916) 324-0922

The Honorable Roderick Wright
Member, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Fax: (916) 445-3712

The Assembly will hear the issue of the proposed cuts on Monday, February 7 at 9 a.m. in room 444 at the State Capitol. Please take a moment today to write or call these members of the subcommittee, even if they are not your Assemblymembers.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance

The Honorable Susan Bonilla
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2188
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2011
Fax: (916) 319-2111

The Honorable Bill Berryhill
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 3141
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2026
Fax: (916) 319-2126

The Honorable Julia Brownley
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2041
Fax: (916) 2141

The Honorable Brian Nestande
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2064
Fax: (916) 319-2164

The Honorable Sandre Swanson
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 6012
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2016
Fax: (916) 319-2116

What to do about the budget

2011-01-24T14:59:00.001-08:00

CONTACT BUDGET COMMITTEES MEMBERS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Introduction
As you're already aware, Governor Brown has proposed the COMPLETE elimination of all funding in the 2011-12 budget for:
*California Library Services Act (which funds regional systems and Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR))
*California Library Literacy Services
*Public Library Foundation

These three line items total $30.4 million in the current year budget, and they support absolutely vital statewide efforts for resource sharing, regional coordination, and crucial local programs.

What you can do now:

1. Read the 1/21 posting from the CLA lobbyists here.
2. "Like" the Save California Public Library and Literacy Funding Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/saveCAlibs to keep up with what's happening and spread the word to your friends.
3. Start writing letters, as suggested in #1. This is not the time to assume that someone else will take care of it. The Subcommittee members need to hear from a huge number of Californians if they are to recommend ANY FUNDING AT ALL for these three critical programs. The full list of Subcommittee members can be found on the link in #1 above.

We don't have much time. The Senate budget subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 1. The Assembly budget subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 7. Subcommittee members need to hear from you and from your users!

Morningstar Webinars

2011-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in the Morningstar financial products, they have webinars the first Thursday of each month at 9am our time.

First Thursday each month at 11 am Central Time.
Click here to attend

Audio at 800-549-9585

Use conference code 2534439

Geek the Library

2011-01-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Geek the Library? This community awareness campaign is available for any U.S. public library and is a fun way to get your community talking about your library and public library funding. Geek the Library is bold, unexpected and helps community members make a personal connection with the library. Campaign materials, training and ongoing guidance is provided by OCLC. Interested public libraries are welcome to register for a free webinar on January 25. To register visit http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1683 or visit www.get.geekthelibrary.org for more information.

Vendor Negotiations and Discounts

2011-01-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

We understand that our member libraries are dealing with unprecedented economic struggles right now, and want to do everything they can to make every penny count. Over the next few weeks, Califa will be contacting all of our vendors to explain the dire situation in California and negotiate bigger discounts. We understand that some libraries are thinking of negotiating on their own, outside of Califa. While we certainly applaud any further discounts that libraries can secure, the strength of a cooperative is in all members working together for the common good, so if you are able to negotiate a better price on your own, we ask that you keep Califa informed and request from the vendor that the price you are able to negotiate be extended for all Califa members.

To facilitate communication amongst members, we have started a "secret" group on Facebook where we can post updates and current quotes from vendors. The only people who can see the posts will be the invited group members. If you would like to join the group, please email me back (and include the email you use for facebook if you have a common name) and I will add you. Califa will post our own ongoing negotiations there, and hope that we can get feedback from members if you are talking to vendors individually.

Credo Reference Webinars

2011-01-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

Check out our calendar for several upcoming webinars introducing Credo Reference. They have a great product with lots of new services for public libraries, and there's a Califa discount.

Edgy Librarian Registration

2011-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

If you haven't registered for The Edgy Librarian yet, you still have plenty of time - it's not until January 27, a full-day web conference including a keynote by Sarah Houghton-Jan, sessions on eBooks, SMS reference, and lots of great information and networking. Learn more, and register by going to http://www.califa.org/edgylibrarian.php.

Free eBook marc records made available from the Colorado Library Consortium

2010-12-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

Attention eBook folks:

The Colorado Library Consortium created a project to clean up the most popular MARC records from Project Gutenberg called eDiscover the Classics. They identified the top 500 or so downloads and cleaned up those records and made them available to other libraries. They launched the website a few
weeks at: http://www.clicweb.org/e_discover/e_discoverhome.html

They are generously giving these MARC records to the library community, so feel free to load them in your catalog. To see the records, search their Koha-based www.aspencat.info under 'project gutenberg'

Call to Action from CLA

2010-12-09T13:41:00.000-08:00

Just in case anyone hasn't seen this yet:

News From The Capitol
December 9, 2010

GOVERNOR-ELECT BROWN HOSTS BUDGET FORUM:
Deficit Could Grow By Another $2.7 Billion – ACTION REQUESTED

By: Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

On January 3, Governor-Elect Jerry Brown will be sworn into office, and by law, the new Governor will be required to submit a balanced State Budget by Monday, January 10, 2011. During the weeks leading up to the gubernatorial transition he has been actively meeting with Department of Finance representatives in the current Schwarzenegger Administration. The Governor-Elect has been receiving regular briefings on the $25 billion projected Budget deficit for the 2011-12 year and yesterday he hosted a symposium for the members of the California Legislature to present to them the dire state of the State. The forum also featured analysis and remarks from the State Controller, State Treasurer, State Legislative Analyst, Director of the Department of Finance, and three of the legislative leaders. These dignitaries sat alongside the Governor-Elect and actively worked through a detailed PowerPoint presentation regarding the state’s finances, program obligations, credit ratings, and borrowing commitments.

Governor-Elect Brown convened the forum by stating that he was “determined to do everything I can to get us back on track.” He added that the purpose of convening was not to “argue about solutions,” but rather to “set a common factual basis” for the Budget problem that would allow the legislature and statewide leaders to have a more productive discussion about solutions. In a surprise announcement, Governor-Elect Brown indicated that the Budget deficit – recently projected at $25.4 billion, may now have grown to approximately $28 billion, due to a potential estate tax revenue loss, depending on Congressional actions. Most startling was the discussion regarding the state’s “threats and pressures” in the out years, such as the unfunded pension liability (projected at $100 billion to $500 billion), unemployment insurance liability ($10.3 billion), outstanding Budget borrowing ($15.3 billion), and the cost of implementing the new health care reform mandates ($3.5 billion). The State Controller and State Treasurer said that while the recession has probably reached its bottom, recovery will be slow, and they cautioned that it is imperative to produce an on-time Budget that addresses the ongoing concerns of Wall Street investors, including but not limited to: the structural imbalance, the partisan environment, and the lack of liquidity, etc.

LETTERS TO GOVERNOR-ELECT BROWN NEEDED ASAP:
Protecting Library Funding in the 2011-12 Budget

Given the state’s extreme and unprecedented Budget situation, we are unsure what Governor Brown’s leaning will be toward the state financing of library programs, particularly the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the literacy program. In fact, Governor-Elect Brown presents an interesting challenge in that when he was Governor 30 years ago he actually vetoed the legislation creating the Public Library Foundation in 1980. At the time, he argued that the state was facing financial difficulties and could not afford the program. Two years later, when CLA sponsored the bill again, Governor Brown allowed the bill to become law without his signature – a move rarely employed by governors. We are hopeful that the Governor-Elect will be supportive of libraries this term, particularly since he served at the local government level as Mayor of Oakland, California, and is aware of the benefits and strengths of libraries.

Most assuredly, the legislature and the Governor-Elect will be operating under an “everything must be on the table” mentality as they examine their solutions for bringing the massive Budget deficit into correction. Wednesday’s forum sponsored by the Governor-Elect was a clear indication that he is taking a very serious approach to addressing the systemic problems inherent in the Budget. The Administration and the legislature’s task will be further challenged by the fact that Republicans in both houses have indicated they will not support tax increases, and the state has run out of many of its borrowing options. Thus, there is no doubt that major Budget reductions will need to be made in many popular programs, and candidly we are concerned about the vulnerability of the PLF, TBR, and literacy program funding.

Please take a moment today to write the Governor-Elect and encourage his support of protecting library funding during this difficult time. It is important to include in your letters specific information pertinent to your local libraries such as: [Tailor these to fit your own situation, please]

● County, city and special district libraries continue to be one of the hardest hit segments of local government. These libraries have had their funding reduced under Governors Davis and Schwarzenegger by over 72 percent. (PLF)
● Over the past years, many school districts have reduced or eliminated their teacher librarians or their school libraries. Public libraries then become the community’s lifeline for students and their families for important programs such as Homework Help centers, early learning programs, etc.
● Door counts continue to rise at an amazing rate for most libraries and library branches. In this difficult economy libraries are a safety net for many people who have lost their home or jobs and are using their local library to write resumes, attend workshops on credit repair, and utilize free access to high speed Internet to look for work.
● Libraries are the “great equalizer,” providing resources and materials to all types of patrons from all walks of life without the expectation of payment. To reduce or eliminate funding for the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement, or literacy programs under the State Library, would have lasting reverberations for a statewide system that would have a difficult time ever recovering.

To send letters to the Governor-Elect, please address them to:

Governor-Elect Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you for your help. Please send your letters ASAP.

Career Cruising trial

2010-12-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

We've added a trial of Career Cruising, a career exploration and research tool, to our list of trials on our site. We haven't signed an agreement with this company yet, but would love your feedback to help us determine whether we should. If you look at the trial and think it's something you would be interested in subscribing to, please let me know. Pricing starts at $600/year for the smallest libraries, and goes up from there - I can get a quote if you're interested.

To view the trial, go to the Califa site at califa.org --> members --> internal documents (you'll need to log in at this point - if you need your califa login and password, let me know).

One of the best library videos ever

2010-11-30T13:16:00.001-08:00

ABC CLIO trial

2010-11-29T16:29:00.000-08:00

We are looking at the possibility of working with ABC-CLIO, and all of their databases are now available for trial. Login information is on the Califa website at califa.org -->Members-->Internal Documents (you will need your Califa site login and password to access the information - let me know if you need it).

I'd love to hear feedback from members on the trials, and whether you'd be interested in ordering any of their products. The trials are available until January 11.

Oxford University Press trials

2010-11-17T13:59:00.000-08:00

We have special pricing on several OUP products until the end of the year. Trial information is on our site under califa.org --> Members --> Internal Documents (you will need your Califa login and pw to view the trials - let me know if you need your library login information).

The products we have pricing for are below, with descriptions. Please let me know if you have any questions, or would like more information.

The Oxford African American Studies Center combines the authority of carefully edited reference works with sophisticated technology to create the most comprehensive collection of scholarship available online to focus on the lives and events which have shaped African American and African history and culture.

Oxford Biblical Studies Online provides unrivaled access to six essential Oxford editions of the Bible alongside commentary and annotations from study Bibles seamlessly combined with reference material and primary texts.

Oxford Dictionaries Online is a brand new modern English dictionary and language reference service. Powered by the world's greatest dictionaries, Oxford Dictionaries Online gives users a wealth of lexical resources at the click of a mouse

Berg Fashion Library: Informed by prestigious academic and library advisors, and anchored by the forthcoming 10-volumeEncyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion (July 2010),Berg Fashion Library will be the first online resource to provide access to interdisciplinary and integrated text, image, and journal content on world dress and fashion.

Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to provide quick and easy access to historical census data and demographic information. It creates fast, intuitive, and appealing maps and reports to help users visually analyze and understand demography and social change throughout history.

Upcoming marketing summit for Library Directors

2010-10-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

You might be interested in this upcoming marketing summit for Library Directors, held at San Francisco Public Library.

Check out the schedule, and register here:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/articlereview/887069-457/directors_summit_2010.html.csp

Member Savings Report for FY 2009-2010

2010-10-25T11:10:00.001-07:00

We have finished the Member Savings Report for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, and we are thrilled to have been able to help member libraries save over $4.6 million last year!

View the report, and see what your library saved on our website at http://www.califa.org/membersavings.php. If your library hasn't been able to save as much as you'd like, email us to find out how we might be able to work with your plans, and save your library more this year.

OUP trials and special pricing this fall

2010-10-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Oxford University Press is offering special pricing on several of their databases for Califa members through the end of November. Trials are available to all members on our Trials page online (califa.org --> members --> internal documents) of the following databases (full descriptions are below):

African American Studies Center
Oxford Biblical Studies Center
Oxford Dictionaries online
Berg Fashion Library
Social Explorer

Please let us know whether you would like a quote, or need your califa website login information.

NEW! Oxford Dictionaries Online 30% off first-year subscription
Do you have patrons looking for guidance on job applications, resumes, and cover letters? Oxford Language Dictionary's Practical Writing section can help. Are there puzzle enthusiasts among your patrons? Fans of crosswords and similar word games should check out the Puzzles section to help solve some of those trickier clues.

Do we need Oxford Dictionaries Online?
70% of people need and use English language resources (for students, the figure is 90%)*
70% of users surveyed found free online dictionaries difficult to use, slow, or out of date**
* Source: Book Marketing Limited research for Oxford University Press 2007
** Source: Oxford University Press consumer research July 2009
Although there are many free dictionary sites, they are not meeting user needs.

Oxford Dictionaries Online is sure to become the go-to resource for definition-seekers, professionals, writers, students, teachers, non-native speakers, puzzle enthusiasts, and anyone wanting to "look it up." Includes audio pronunciation and practical writing advice to make the right impression in everyday situations, including apply for a job and email guidelines.

NEW! Berg Fashion Library 20% off first-year subscription
For all of those budding Project Runway contestants among your teen patrons, and for your community theatre folks or doll-making enthusiasts, here is the new go-to resource!

Anchored by the 10-volume Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion (July 2010), the Berg Fashion Library incorporates a full range of resources essential for anyone working on dress or fashion. Contains 4,000+ images (including 1,600 from the Victoria and Albert Museum's internationally renowned fashion collection). Beginning in 2011, over 2,000 images from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute collection will be uploaded.

Social Explorer 20% off first-year subscription
Understanding your community is the key to success. Make sure that you and your patrons have that key by offering Social Explorer.

Social Explorer is an online research tool designed to provide quick and easy access to historical census data and demographic information. It creates fast, intuitive, and appealing maps and reports to help users visually analyze and understand demography and social change throughout history, 1790 – present.
"...they've done a fantastically thorough job. You can zoom all the way from the national level to ... the street you live on, and see all sorts of different data, from income to industry to gender to ethnicity to means of commuting to family structure. Want a map showing percent of foreign-born nationals who immigrated in the last five years? It's there. Want a map showing percentage of self-employed males? It's there. Percentage of housing where rent is between $600 - $800 per month, or where heat is provided by solar power? It’s there." The Changing World - Jeremy Faludi, 2005
Oxford Biblical Studies Online 30% off first year subscription
Are your patrons interested in biblical studies, commentary, or almost anything in the 200's? And…would they enjoy the flexibility of comparing various Bible verse translations and commentaries side-by-side? Oxford Biblical Studies Online might be the resource just for them!

"HOW GOOD IS IT? I have truly just scratched the surface of this mammoth work of scholarship . . . Oxford breaks the one-to-ten rating scale once again: this file is an astonishing 11. Most highly recommended for academic, public, school, and special libraries serving serious Bible researchers." —Cheryl LaGuardia Library Journal, May 1, 2009

Oxford African American Studies Center 30% off first-year subscription
Be prepared to meet all of your student patron's needs for Black History Month! Along with authoritative reference content, the rich image gallery and multi-media video clips bring history to life - watch Hank Aaron break the major league home run record or Maya Angelou recite “And Still I Rise”. Take a look at Oxford's African American Studies Center and explore the riches available on an unlimited access basis.

“The folks at Oxford have once again thought of everything…There’s not enough space to extol OAASC’s virtues sufficiently…Because it is so extraordinary, the resource makes it necessary this once to raise the usual rating scale of 1 to 10 to an unprecedented 11! The Bottom Line: A remarkable achievement in accessible scholarship, Oxford African American Studies Center is strongly recommended for all libraries.” — Cheryl LaGuardia, Library Journal

Science in rural libraries

2010-10-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Check out this NPR blog post (pasted below) about science programs in rural libraries. Califa is happy to be managing the project.

Myth: The American populace is science-ignorant, lagging well behind other “developed” nations in scientific literacy.

Fact: It turns out that the U.S. curve is U-shaped: Elementary-school children perform as well in science-understanding metrics as their peers elsewhere, even though formal science teaching at these grade levels is at best sporadic, whereas middle- and high-school students perform abysmally even though they take required science courses. But American adults demonstrate scientific knowledge on a par or above adults in other “developed” countries, even though only 30 percent of adult Americans have ever taken even one college-level science course.

So how to explain these data?

Much of my information derives from an excellent article in the American Scientist by John Falk and Lynn Dierking. They present studies showing that school is not where most Americans learn most of their science. Instead, knowledge is acquired via what is called informal science education or free-choice science learning. And while Falk and Dierking stress that current efforts to improve formal science education should be pursued with vigor, they lift up the imperative to also maximize opportunities for adults to pursue inherent levels of curiosity relating to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

So how do Americans engage in free-choice science learning?
Studies indicate a variety of sources. Adults may be pursuing a hobby, like gardening or tropical fish or star gazing, and devour relevant information. They may take their children to science museums and zoos and pick up information and curiosity in the process. They may be afficionados of NOVA or Discovery Channel. They may consult the internet when they — or family members — incur a disease or when a disaster like the Gulf oil spill occurs, seeking to better understand what’s going on. They may bookmark 13.7 or Chet Raymo or Carl Zimmer or Kahn or Seed and avail themselves of scientists’ attempts to make their passions accessible. They may frequent a science café.

All this is good, but the fact remains that major segments of the U.S. populace do not meet the STEM-literate bar no matter where it is set. Many would self-describe as science-disinterested, or as science-phobic, believing that they lack the wherewithal to understand “that stuff,” or as science-averse, believing that science is a sinister force.

These observations take me to describing how I’ve spent my past few days. I went to Chicago to serve as a scientific advisor to a fascinating project, funded by the National Science Foundation and spearheaded by a group that includes our own Marcelo Gleiser, to develop free-choice STEM accessibility and interest in rural U.S. communities.

Persons in small towns and rural communities lack direct access to science museums or zoos or public lectures or science cafés, and home internet access, if available at all, it is via agonizingly slow dial-up connections. Happily, thanks to the largess of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, more than 98 percent of U.S. librarians now have enhanced broadband access, meaning that the local public library has rapidly become a primary destination for those seeking on-line information as well as books and videos. Indeed, in rural areas, the local library may be the “only show in town” for adult community life. The sign outside the Gilpin County Public Library in Colorado, for example, reads: “FREE COFFEE. INTERNET. NOTARY. PHONE. SMILES. RESTROOMS & IDEAS.”

Many of these libraries sponsor public book clubs, but their focus is almost solely humanities-related. Moreover, the librarians that valiantly serve these libraries, often single-handedly, are rarely formally STEM-educated and, when interviewed, are forthright in acknowledging their sense that their ability to encourage STEM literacy is limited.

So the NSF project being developed is basically a hybrid of a book club and a science café. Here’s the concept.

Choose 4 STEM-related topics.
Create three classy professionally-generated 10-minute videos on each topic.
Identify interested rural librarians and help them locate local persons with some STEM background, where this might be a community college teacher, a forest ranger, a health professional.
Make the videos and supporting on-line materials available to these librarians and STEM professionals, as well as selected fiction books related to each topic, so they can plan their events.
Advertise the events to the community, encouraging but not requiring that the books be read in advance.

Hold four 90-minute sessions wherein the videos are shown and the books and videos discussed by participants, with the STEM professionals and librarians facilitating the conversations.
How cool is that?

The Chicago meeting included high-end script-writers and videographers with PBS-style backgrounds, leaders in the library world (about which I was abysmally ignorant), and scientists. A central goal was to discuss the kind of content that would be good for each module and how it would take compelling video form.

The central theme of the series is called Pushing the Limits. From the proposal summary: “Since the beginning of human time, we have imagined and achieved ways to push the boundaries of the physical world. We want to be stronger, smarter, and more aware, and we create stories to bring those dreams to life. But are there physical limits to what we can do? Are there unbreakable rules of the universe? How far can science and math go to help us push our limits?”

The module I helped develop is called Immortality, and the three units we came up with are provisionally called:

Why Are We Mortal? (a topic I’ve developed here)
What Can Be Done To Postpone Aging and Mortality? (e.g. research on lifespan extension, stem cells, dietary restriction etc.).
Can Mortality Be Eliminated? (e.g. cloning, cryogenics, and making computerized versions of our minds, as explored here.) Those of you who have followed my interests in understanding what’s entailed in being a self will be unsurprised to learn that I encouraged the script writers to stimulate discussion as to what “self” is visualized as being immortalized.

So, for any of you still reading, here’s a question: What good fiction, including but not limited to science fiction, might come to your mind that addresses this Immortality topic in an engaging fashion? Your suggestions might, in the near future, become the grists of inquiry for thousands of your fellow free-choice science learners!

still time on the Tuition Funding Sources deadline...

2010-10-08T15:53:00.001-07:00

For those who were interested in the Tuition Funding Sources but weren't able to make a decision by September 30, please note that the deadline has been extended for a few more weeks. Please contact Tom Bagley at TFS directly - details below - and he will get you set up and invoiced.

Tom Bagley
(801) 943-7676
tgbagley@gmail.com

Gale Virtual Reference Library special offer

2010-09-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

Through December 31, 2010, Gale is offering a special e-book package for California public libraries - the first time EVER that Gale eBooks have been available through Califa!
This package of 203 inter-disciplinary titles has been discounted 88% off list – a great starter package for those libraries who want to extend access to high-quality information beyond the library institution and into the home, school, or workplace. Here’s what you’ll accomplish with the GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY:

· Drive reliable, relevant and authoritative information to your patrons’ desktops – 24/7 remotely. No special readers or hardware required.

· Provide indepth background information along with current news content through cross-searching these titles with any InfoTrac periodical database so patrons get the full picture in one search

· Give staff and learners unlimited access to quality content without fear of damaged material or missing volumes. This is a permanent ownership model – only recurring cost is an annual hosting fee of $100.00.

· Further differentiated learning initiatives in your community – some people learn best by reading, while others learn best by listening. The Gale Virtual Reference Library offers patrons choice with READSPEAK technology. Every article is audible.

· Respond to the multicultural needs of your community. Every article may be translated into 11 languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Russian, German, Polish).

· Make information portable -- every article may be downloaded to the handheld device, making it easy for patrons to have access to authoritative information whenever or wherever they’d like.

· Build a methodology for collection development. Since usage is provided for each title in your collection, you’ll see exactly what your patrons are interested in. You’ll be able to make future purchases to your virtual library based on statistical data, rather than on intuition.

To start your trial of all 203 titles, to review the title list, and request a quote for your library, just click on http://galesites.com/offer/ca

Remember, this special CALIFA offer is only available through December 31, 2010. * So act now and save!

*Ask us about the special incentive for ordering early!

upcoming 3M webinar

2010-09-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Below is an announcement on an upcoming webinar from 3M

Want to hear how three libraries changed the way they do business? Want to know how to they became more streamlined and efficient? Then join us on September 22 for an exciting FREE Webinar, featuring representatives from three leading libraries across the country. You’ll hear firsthand how they achieved success with 3MTM SelfCheckTM Systems, despite a few obstacles along the way.

We highly recommend this Webinar to you, our valued customer, because it’s invaluable information, available to you FREE. If you’re interested in streamlining your operations, you owe it to yourself to join us on the 22nd. If you can't attend the live Webinar, your registration will allow you to view the archived file for up to one year.

For more information, and registration, visit www.LibraryJournal.com/selfservice

Pepsi Tuition Funding Sources update

2010-09-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Some news on the Pepsi Tuition Funding Sources scholarship search site - many of you have expressed interest, and basically, if at least 476 branches sign on, total, in CA, the price will be $30/branch. If 600 branches come on, the price will drop to $25/branch. Califa will be coordinating the order, which needs to happen by the end of September, so if you are interested, please let me know. (For those of you who have already let me know, I'll be sending you the order confirmation information this week).

Below is more information about the product.

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As you may already know, Tuition Funding Sources is a website sponsored by and subsidized by the Pepsi-Cola Company. It contains the largest database (by far!) of scholarships in existence. It also contains information on careers, colleges and universities, and is a NON-commercial website - meaning no advertising, pop-up ads, no selling of any email addresses or other confidential information.

Pepsi has decided they want to make this service available to libraries nationwide, and has asked us (we are the developer and owner of the website) to make libraries aware of this opportunity. We have priced this service at $100 per branch per year. HOWEVER, in talking about this with various library directors and others in the California system, and knowing of the budget constraints the libraries face, we are able to offer this service at a lower price - especially on a volume basis. Pepsi has told us "don't let pricing be the issue!".

Here is a link to enable you to look at the site: www.tuitionfundingsources.com/?library=demo.

Please feel free to give me a call, or send an email with any questions or concerns. Pepsi has given us a deadline to put this in as many libraries as possible up until September 30, when that window will close. Pepsi will then evaluate where we are, and decide whether to offer it to more libraries next year. However, they will continue to subsidize the libraries who have signed up this year in future years, regardless of their future decisions.

2010-09-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article on the various ebook formats, what works on each reader, etc.
http://jasongriffey.net/wp/2010/08/25/ebooks-filetype-and-drm/

what do you think about this?

2010-08-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

An email many of you may have received....

I hope what we have to offer is something that will be of value to your patrons. I have attached an information sheet describing the Tuition Funding Sources website for your review. Feel free to give that information to anyone in your system.

Here is the link and log-in to our website, which you can also share with anyone: www.tuitionfundingsources.com/?library=demo

Tuition Funding Sources is the premier, largest scholarship database in existence - and it is NOT a commercial site - no advertising, no selling of email addresses, etc. It is the Pepsi Cola Company's desire to make this affordable to EVERY library in the nation - so, as I mentioned, the pricing is very low per branch ($100/branch), and we can be flexible to make it something you can acquire for the upcoming school year. Pepsi is allowing us to contact libraries over the next 45 days - then, at the end of September, they will evaluate where they are at, how much they've spent, and determine what to do for next year. However, they will underwrite the cost of the service in future years for ALL libraries signing up for the service this year. As I said, I will do everything I can to make it affordable for your library system.

I look forward to talking with you in the next few days, after you've had an opportunity to review the website and information.

....Soooo....what do you think about this? Something interesting you may want to take advantage of?

New Product: Universal Class from Recorded Books

2010-07-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Universal Class is an online educational service providing a diverse offering of intellectually stimulating courses for people interested in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Lifelong learning not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development, but also competitiveness and employability.

Something for Everyone - Over 500 courses covering a wide range of subjects
Live Instructors – Real instructors moderate each course, grade assignments and interact with students to better guide their learning
Course Recognition - The ability to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) that meet an international standard
Video Based Lessons – Lessons are presented using engaging, state-of-the-art video presentations
Graded Tests - Multiple choice, written, field work and hands on assignments
Collaborative Learning Environment - Connect with other students in group forums or post a classroom blog
Guided Instruction - Progress tracking and continual feedback throughout a course
Certificates of Achievement - Upon completion of a course (note: these courses are not for college credit)
Library Services – Including remote patron access via the internet, unlimited patron access to all courses, library administrative site with reporting

Visit our website for more information: http://www.recordedbooks.com/

Features of Universal Class:

• Over 500 Courses
• Real Instructors with Continual Feedback
• Engaging Video-based Lessons*
• Collaborative Learning Environment
• Certificates of Achievement
• Continuing Education Units That Meet IACET Standards
• Affordable Pricing for All Libraries

Webinar Schedule
Join us for a free, online demonstration of Universal Class. In this short, 45 minute webinar we will explain how the system works, demonstrate the program live, answer your questions and even give out a few door prizes! Space is limited so sign up today.

Tue, Jul 20, 2010 11am - 11:45am
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/681996306

Tue, Aug 3, 2010 11am - 11:45am
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/342750203

Tue, Aug 17, 2010 11am - 11:45am
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/122421634

Internet Librarian Discount

2010-07-31T16:19:00.001-07:00

You can find information and registration form for Internet Librarian 2010 on our site now, at http://www.califa.org/2010InternetLibrarian.php. Register for this awesome conference and get a discount through Califa.

from today's Miami Herald

2010-07-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/21/1740966/72210.html

New partnership with OCLC

2010-07-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce that Califa is now partners with OCLC - the full press release is below. Let us know if you have any questions!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bob Murphy +1-614-761-5136
murphyb@oclc.org

OCLC and the Califa Library Group announce partnership

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 21, 2010—OCLC welcomes the Califa Library Group as the newest partner in the OCLC Partnership Program.

As Partners, OCLC and Califa will collaborate on programs and activities to enhance services and expand educational opportunities to members of both organizations. This new partnership enables both organizations to explore new ways to anticipate and address the needs of shared members. Initiatives will include improving access to information to maximize the use of OCLC products and services, collaborating on online events and conferences with a focus on new technologies, and opportunities to expose new trends in funding and education.

The Califa Library Group, a not for profit membership cooperative serving libraries and information organizations in California, has been an active participant in OCLC cooperative services such as cataloging with WorldCat and group services. As an OCLC Partner, Califa and OCLC will work together to share information, educate and inform members of both organizations for the benefit of libraries and their users.

“We look forward to the opportunities created for Califa members that a partnership with OCLC offers. We are especially interested in collaborating on virtual training on new technologies,” said Linda Crowe, Califa Library Group Executive Director.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Califa to our growing Partnership Program,” said Cathy De Rosa, OCLC Vice President, Global Marketing. “The collaborative programs and services we can deliver together will allow members to take full advantage of current technologies that can improve efficiencies for Califa groups and libraries.”

The OCLC Partnership Program offers value-added services to OCLC member institutions through the development of strategic partnerships with library consortia, groups, networks and other membership organizations. OCLC and its Partners work together to strengthen member relationships and develop programs and services to serve the needs of shared members. For more information about the OCLC Partnership Program, or to learn more about becoming an OCLC Partner to deliver new service options or training to members, contact OCLC at partnerships@oclc.org.

About OCLC

Founded in 1967, OCLC is a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing library costs. More than 72,000 libraries in 171 countries have used OCLC services to locate, acquire, catalog, lend, preserve and manage library materials. Researchers, students, faculty, scholars, professional librarians and other information seekers use OCLC services to obtain bibliographic, abstract and full-text information when and where they need it. OCLC and its member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the world’s largest online database for discovery of library resources. Search WorldCat on the Web at www.worldcat.org. For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

About the Califa Library Group

The Califa Library Group is a not for profit membership cooperative serving libraries and information organizations in California. Established in 2004 with LSTA funding from the California State Library, Califa collaborates with members and provides leadership for cooperative negotiations to help ensure that members receive quality information resources. With over 220 members, including most of the public libraries, Califa is the largest library network in California. Califa’s membership includes all sizes and types of libraries – academic, research, public, school, corporate, medical, law, and special. A Board of Directors, elected by and from the membership, governs Califa, which is based in San Mateo, California with an office in Los Angeles. For more information visit http://www.califa.org/
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OCLC, WorldCat and WorldCat.org are trademarks/service marks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.

Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service marks of their respective owners.

Califa now represents mk Sorting Systems

2010-07-14T23:50:00.000-07:00

mk RFID Book-Drop with Mini Sorter

Libraries can benefit from a sorting solution that offers space saving options and automatically sorts all library materials. The two bins can be specified to sort children books/adult books or books/media or ready to re-shelve/special handling. The sorter uses RFID and automatically updates your ILS in real time. Califa offers the mk Mini Sorter in various options including wall integrated, or access with outdoor/indoor book drops or stand alone with enclosures to be placed in the public area of the library. Contact Califa for additional information.

mk LibDispenser

German engineering has produced the newest version of automatic book and media dispensing for libraries. This technologically advanced solution integrates with your library ILS system and allows patrons to browse the catalog, check items in and out and also place holds. This stand alone branch allows for 24 hours access to library items anytime and anywhere. Alameda Free Library has set up the first location in the U.S. and the Peninsula Library System will be installing their dispenser in the Millbrae Bart Station later this year. For more information, contact califa@califa.org

Gale PowerSpeak update

2010-07-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

If you were one of the libraries who made the June 30 deadline for the offer for small libraries from Gale for PowerSpeak, congrats! You got a really good deal! If you were unable to make a decision, but would still like information on the product, and pricing, please contact either Gail Bandish or Patti Brown Finnie at Gale - they may be able to work with you.

Update from Mango Languages

2010-06-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Mango Languages has announced the latest addition to its growing family of products with the launch of Mango Take-Out. Designed to provide Mango courses on a USB device, Mango Take-Out enables patrons of those libraries that currently offer the Mango program to complete the courses on their own personal computer.

The Mango Take-Out program, which is initially available only to current Mango library partners, is available in 12 languages: Spanish, French, Mandarin, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, German, Russian, Portuguese, Hebrew, Irish and English as a Second Language (ESL) for Spanish. The program is easy to use, as the user simply inserts the USB device into the port and clicks on the icon. There are no installations and the program will auto-run.

By catering to the user who is interested in our courses but not able to spend the appropriate amount of time at the library personally, Mango Take-Out allows them to work through the program, from their own computer without the need for internet access.

Since its founding in 2007, Mango Languages has grown to become one of the world's leading providers of online language learning products. That growth will continue throughout 2010, as the company plans to enrich content within current offerings and introduce several new products, languages and features to the market, each of which will target a specific user profile and meet that user's needs.

View upcoming webinars here.

article on Freegal

2010-06-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Check out this article about Santa Clara County's launch of the Freegal music service.

Library first in state to launch 'free music' program
By Matt Wilson
mwilson@community-newspapers.com
Posted: 06/14/2010 07:34:11 PM PDT
Updated: 06/14/2010 07:34:12 PM PDT

The Santa Clara County Library has a long history of letting people borrow items, but now the library is actually giving patrons something to keep.

At the start of this month, the library system became the first in California to offer residents free music downloads.

The county library system, which includes the Cupertino Library, has a new digital music service that lets library card holders search for music and download songs permanently at no charge.

The service, Freegal, is an online database that provides access to songs exclusively from Sony Music Entertainment's catalog of artists. Each library card holder can download three songs each week in MP3 format. The file is permanently saved onto computers, smart phones and other devices with access to the catalog and MP3 capabilities.

"We have been waiting a long time for a service like this that delivers great music, compatibility with lots of devices and simplicity of use. We think this will be incredibly popular with our patrons and will help the library in marketing all its services to the community," said county librarian Melinda Cervantes.

The library system is the first in California to offer the service, which launched the first week of June.

"This is a brand-new type of product that has not been available to libraries before," said Nancy Howe, a deputy county librarian.

Offering music to library patrons isn't new, but this service is on a wider scale than what
is currently available.

"We've had CDs you can check out for a long time now and we have had some streaming music, but this is unique in terms of the range of offerings," said Howe. "The library has a been a place where you can check out music for a long time. The formats have been changing on us, and we have not been able to offer our patrons the [genres] that suited everyone."

Library officials estimate that there hundreds of thousands of songs available in the collection, which covers all of Sony's record labels.

"We wanted to offer something that everyone can enjoy. This is the one that caught our attention," Howe said.

Users can start downloading another three songs each Sunday at midnight when their account resets. Every song has a sample clip patrons can listen to before downloading. The service will work with any MP3 player, including iPods, and songs can be loaded into iTunes, according to library officials.

Currently the service is available remotely only. The county purchased a subscription to the service for one year at a cost of $23,300.

Howe estimates that there are about 1.6 million digital county-wide retrievals on the system's various collections each year, which include digital books and other media. The library system is trying to keep pace with the evolving technology of the day.

"We've had our toe in the water for a while now," she said.

Santa Clara County Library provides library services to residents in Cupertino, Campbell, Saratoga, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and unincorporated areas of the county. Howe reminds residents that anyone in the county can get a library card and use the system.

For more information about the service or to inquire about getting a Santa Clara County Library card, go to www.santaclaracountylib.org.

Upcoming Powerspeak webinars

2010-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

Gale is hosting a few upcoming webinars on Powerspeak. If you are unable to attend any of these, please let Patti Brown Finnie or Gail Bandish know, and they will work with you to set up a time that works for you.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

10:00 am PDT: Powerspeak Languages Webinar

Join the Audio Conference

Dial-In:

1 (866) 635-4644

Passcode:

9462290#

Join the Web Conference

To join the web conference, click here

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

10:00 am PST and 1:00 pm PDT:

Powerspeak Languages Webinar

Join the Audio Conference

Dial-In:

1 (866) 635-4644

Passcode:

9462290#

Join the Web Conference

To join the web conference, click here

Thursday, June 24, 2010

10:00 am PDT and 1:00 pm PDT

Powerspeak Languages Webinar

Join the Audio Conference

Dial-In:

1 (866) 635-4644

Passcode:

9462290#

Join the Web Conference

To join the web conference, click here

Upcoming BYKI Patron Training Webinars

2010-06-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have BYKI, or are considering adding it, please see below:
---
Recorded Books will be hosting monthly online tours of your Byki Online service. These tours consist of a comprehensive overview designed so that your patrons can get the most out of their Byki Online user experience.

Topics covered in this short 45 minute program will include:

- Creating user accounts
- Selecting Lists and Using Byki Cards
- Managing and Refreshing Learned Items
- Using Learning Activities
- Using Pronunciation Analysis
- Using Blogs, Twitter, FaceBook and Word of the Day features
- Best practices for language learning

These webinars are open to all patrons at your library whether they are currently using Byki Online or they would just like to know a little more about it.

This email invitation is designed so that you can forward it to individual patrons or all of the patrons in your library. Our webinars can accommodate up to 1000 people, so the more the better!

Click on the link to register for this month's webinar or select from one of our future webinar dates below.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Tue, Jun 22, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM PDT
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM PDT
Tue, Aug 17, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM PDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration
with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Friday Fun

2010-06-04T16:30:00.001-07:00

Gale Powerspeak offer for small publics

2010-06-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Gale has announced special pricing for PowerSpeak, their language learning product, for small public libraries who order by June 30. If you have fewer than 100,000 population served, and are interested in this product, email me for a quote. To trial, go to califa.org, then Members then Internal Documents. You'll need your Califa login/pw - email me if you don't have it. The trial login info is on that main members-only page.

Powerspeak features the 5 most demanded languages asked for by public libraries: Spanish, German, French, Mandarin Chinese, and ESL for Spanish speakers.

Powerspeak was founded on 30+ years of breakthrough research and has earned the unique distinction of being the leader in accredited online language courses.

Powerspeak works because it uses an arsenal of proven and effective teaching methods, not single-delivery techniques like listen and repeat, or memorization that have been shown to be ineffective. Vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation are all covered.

Powerspeak makes learning a language fun with an engaging adventure story and multi-modal interaction like audio, video, rich graphics and music to stimulate all learning types: audible, visual and tactile. The creator of LeapFrog brought his vision to Powerspeak.

Powerspeak makes it easy to learn a new language with the extensive use of the diglot weave, a teaching method that gradually weaves together the language you already know with the language that you want to know.

Powerspeak teaches culture and how to communicate fluently, effectively and appropriately while in another country.

Powerspeak was designed with significant input from an advisory board of public librarians looking to build a more effective language product than has been available until now.

EBSCO Legal Information Ref Center and LibraryIdeas' Freegal

2010-06-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

First, we now have pricing on EBSCO's Legal Reference Center's. Many of you are familiar with the fact that EBSCO signed an exclusive contract with NOLO to offer their titles as an EBSCO database. The material has been split up into two databases - the Legal Information Reference Center and the Small Business Legal Reference Center. If you order before the end of June, you will receive both databases for the price of one, for the first year. If you'd like a quote, let me know.

Secondly, our contract with FREEGAL, the music downloading service, has been approved. To get the best possible discount for everyone, we will need 150,000 downloads, collectively, by the end of the month. If you are interested in participating in this group purchase, or want more information, let me know.

Upcoming BYKI/ePrep/Transparent Languages webinars

2010-05-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

Upcoming webinars for BYKI/Transparent Languages/ePrep

Byki Online Language Service (we do these weekly):

Recorded Books invites you to an online demonstration of our new language learning system - Byki Online Library Edition. Byki (Before You Know It) Online is the most feature rich, effective and easy to use online language learning system available to public libraries today. Using the same core learning technology used by the US government, Byki Online will deliver results fast and bring users back to continue their learning time and time again.

Features of Byki Online:

Over 90 language options + ESL

Remote patron access

Easy, highly effective learning method

Pronunciation analysis

Grammar reference

Multiple learning activities

Individual progress tracking and library administrative portal

In this short, 45 minute webinar we will explain how the system works, demonstrate the program live, answer your questions and even give away a few door prizes! Space is limited so sign up today.

Wed, May 19, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Wed, May 26, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Wed, Jun 2, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Wed, Jun 9, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Wed, Jun 16, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home,

XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ePrep – Video SAT/ACT Test Prep Service (we do these bi-weekly):

ePrep is an online, interactive video based test prep service like nothing you have seen before. The ePrep method is much more effective than most traditional text and graphic test prep courses and is proven to increase test scores by 100’s of points.

Features of ePrep:

Videos model problem solving in the very environment that students will face on test day

Online service designed to be used remotely or inside of library

Supplemental resources including Study Hall, Vocabulary drills and more…

Parental Support - parent center with progress updates

Scheduler – email reminders keep student on track

In this short, 45 minute webinar we will explain how the ePrep service works, demonstrate the program live, answer your questions and even give out a few door prizes!

Space is limited so sign up today.

Thu, May 20, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Thu, Jun 3, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Thu, Jun 17, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Thu, Jul 1, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Transparent Language Library Edition Software (we do these bi-weekly):

Transparent Language Library Edition is a language learning software program designed to circulate outside of libraries. Language learning software has been around for years, but never truly available to public libraries as a circulating product. Single use copyright, high cost, replacement and durability issues have made maintaining a circulating collection impractical. Until now!!

Recorded Books invites you to join us for a webinar to learn more about this exciting new addition to our product line - Transparent Language Library Edition.

Features and benefits of our new circulating software:

◊ Multi-user license

◊ Easy to use, highly effective learning method

◊ Durable new media format (No CD’s!)

◊ Replacements available

In this short, 45 minute webinar we will explain how the software works, demonstrate the program live, answer your questions and even give away a few door prizes! Space is limited so sign up today.

Thu, May 27, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Thu, Jun 10, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Thu, Jun 24, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements

PC-based attendees

Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

2010-05-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

An announcement of upcoming webinars from Mango. These webinars are very informative, both for those considering Mango, and those who are new customers.

All About Mango

Mango Languages is fast, easy and the absolute most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language.

Join us for a one hour Webinar to learn more about:

1. Language Learning Trends
2. Our Methodology
3. Our Product Offerings
4. Lesson Demonstration

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Tue, May 18, 2010 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/345600056

Tue, May 25, 2010 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/274380433

Tue, Jun 1, 2010 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/664838416

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration
with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

New Vendor: Paragon Micro/EDU

2010-05-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to be able to offer Microsoft products, as well as a lot of other manufacturers' products, through Paragon Micro.

Paragon Micro/EDU is a Global Technology Reseller focused on the needs of hardware, software and professional services to our learning communities that include Libraries, Schools and Museums. Through our partnership with Califa we are able to offer group purchasing agreements for their member libraries with leading manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft and many more.

You can find out more about Paragon at their website, or follow them on Twitter or Facebook. And let me know if you would like more information.

Updates from Morningstar

2010-05-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

We just posted the new 2010 Morningstar Investment Research Center brochure on our site. Check it out and let us know if you want a quote.

Vendor Fair 2010

2010-05-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

We are thrilled that we will again be able to host our Vendor Fair at the Santa Clara University this summer. The date has been confirmed for September 1, 2010, and the vendors were notified on Monday, with several already confirming their attendance.

For those of you who attended last year, I promise that the event will be even better this year! The first thing to make it better? It's free for Califa members!!! We have increased the cost to vendors slightly so that we don't need to charge our members. And rest assured, the food will be just as good this year as it was last time. We also looked carefully at all the feedback forms last year, and will make many of the improvements that were suggested.

Check out our website for updated information - I just began posting info to califa.org/vendorfair2010.php

Hope to see you all on September 1 for another great day!

AWE Early Literacy Station Order Time

2010-04-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

It's time for the Spring AWE Early Literacy Stations aggregated order. Twice a year we work to aggregate the orders of all Califa members, so that everyone can get the least expensive price, whether you purchase 1 unit or 30. The total units are added up, and whatever threshold we're at for the entire group will be the price per unit that you'll pay. Check out the flyer with the pricing here, and let me know if you have any questions.

Bookbrowse and Boopsie

2010-04-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

First, Bookbrowse is offering free May and June access for any members who subscribe for July 1. There is no deadline, but the earlier you commit, the more free time you'll get. There are informational webinars coming up on April 13 and April 21. Check out their website for more details, and registration information.

Second, Boopsie, the company that makes mobile apps for libraries, has already set up a few of our members. They will be presenting a 90 minute webinar on April 22 at 11:30am that both covers information about the product, and will also feature current Califa customers sharing their own experiences setting up the Boopsie application. Henry Bankhead of Los Gatos Public and Lare Mischo of Seattle Public will both be available, and will be presenting their own library apps, and giving helpful hints and tips for those considering the Boopsie product. Email me back to register, and include your name, library name and email address.

BYKI and ePrep trials

2010-04-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that until April 20, you all have free access to two new products from Recorded Books - BYKI Online Language Learning and ePrep video test preparation. To check out these resources, go to califa.org, then Members and then Internal Documents. The login information is behind a login page. If you don't know your Califa website login and password, email me and I'll send it to you.