NHLA Blog

I'd like to announce three upcoming NHLA-ITS events. On June 24th, ITS will hold its first hands-on content management system working group meeting. We will begin building a library website using Drupal, an open source content management system application. The event will be held at the Hooksett Public Library and runs from 10am-12noon. (We thank Mark Glisson and Heather Shumway for hosting us in Hooksett!)

On July 15th at 10am, ITS will hold its first official quarterly drop-in meeting. We will be meeting at the beautiful Portsmouth Public Library, and we've blocked out up to two hours for the meeting. While we will discuss a few organizational issues, the remainder of the meeting will be for open discussion of IT topics librarians are facing, battling, dealing with or considering dealing with. All existing members and anyone who is interested in becoming a member (it's free!) are welcome. If you do plan to come, please email me so I'll have an idea of how many people to expect. And why not plan on going out for lunch in downtown Portsmouth afterwards! (We thank Sue McCann and Mary Ann List for hosting us in Portsmouth!)

On July 28th from 10am-12noon at the Madison Library, ITS will be holding its first North Country Roundtable Discussion on the topic of open source software. The discussion will be facilitated by The Bobbi Slossar of the NH State Library. Everyone is welcome. Please email Madison Library Director Mary Cronin if you plan on attending this meeting, so she'll have an idea of how many to expect. (We thank Mary for hosting us at the Madison Library!)

And if you can't attend any of these events, but are interested in joining NHLA-ITS and perhaps attending future ITS events, just email me, and I'll set you up to join our Google Group.

Posted by Steve B. at 09:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Please join NH youth librarians at the CHILIS Spring Conference on Thursday, March 27, 2008 at Webster Hall at Southern NH University in Manchester. The conference will feature the Kids, Books and the Arts 2008 showcase. NH Summer Reading Program Artist Stephanie Piro will also be on hand to sign your "G'Day for Reading" poster. The conference will include morning refreshments, lunch, the showcase, time with the presenters and the SRP artist, and opportunities to spend money. The cost of the all-day conference is $30 for CHILIS members (please check your membership status before registering) and $35 for non-CHILIS members.

Please note: Your registration is not confirmed until after Ann Hoey receives your check payable to CHILIS. We have limited seating this year, so please register early. Registration deadline is Thursday, March 20, 2008.

Posted by Ann H. at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently updated the NHLA's "Upcoming Events" webpage, and in doing so, was impressed by all the terrific programs our members have organized for us in the next 30 days. First, there is the CHILIS conference which takes place at the Portsmouth Public Library on Thursday, October 18th from 9am-3pm. Amongst the many topics discussed, one in particular is "Marketing Library Services to Teens with Technology." Should be interesting.

Then, on October 26th, the READS conference takes place at the Local Government Center in Concord, NH. The theme of the event is "People, Places and Things: Security in Today's Library" and registration is going through the roof!

But wait, there's more! On November 1st, NHLA's Fall Conference takes place at the Common Man Inn in Plymouth, NH. The theme of the conference is "The Modern Library: Service in the 21st Century: Graphic Novels, Programming and Social Software." The opening session "Entice, Educate and Excel with Comics!" sounds intriguing. And the closing session titled "Scriblio and Open Source Software for Libraries" features Casey Bisson, information architect at Plymouth State University. Very cool!

So get out there, network and enjoy learning from each other. The next 30 days should be a lot of fun!

Posted by Steve B. at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The workshop is going on around me, and I just want everyone to know how to get to the presentations offered today by Jessamyn West, Lichen Rancourt and Andrea Mercado.

Andrea's presentation can be found at www.slideshare.net/andreamercado. Her blog Library Techtonics is available at http://www.librarytechtonics.info/

Jessamyn's talk can be found at http://www.librarian.net/talks/delflk/

Lichen's talk will be found later today at www.remainingrelevant.net.

It has been a great day!

Posted by Andrea T. at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There is still room in NHLA Continuing Education workshop, “Everything You Want To Know About Library 2.0,” for those who are still interested in signing up. The registration deadline is this Friday, September 14. You should receive an email confirmation on that date that we received your registration. Please email sleonardi@amherst.lib.nh.us with any questions.

Posted by Sarah L. at 09:21 AM | Permalink

Save the date: Thursday, October 18, 2007.  CHILIS will hold its fall conference that day from 9:00 to 3:30 at the Portsmouth Public Library.  Come and learn about dealing with special needs children during storytime, marketing your library collection, and drawing teens in with technology.  Fred Reidy will be there with his puppets for sale, Ladybug stickers will be sold, and the new Flume Award poster will be available for purchase.  The registration form will be on the CHILIS website and this blog soon.

See you in Portsmouth! 

Posted by Steve B. at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you all hopefully know, the READS Annual Fall Program and Business Meeting is taking place on October 26, 2007 at the New Hampshire Local Government Center, and the theme is "People, Places and Things: Security in Today's Library". And now, you can download the schedule of events and the registration form here. How convenient! So why not download the form, print it out, fill it in, and send it back to the Local Government Center right away! You are sure to get your money's worth.

Want another reason to attend? You will get to see the presentation of the 3rd annual READS Award of Excellence.

Posted by nhlablog at 04:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Join us on September 24th at the Hooksett Library for Everything You Want to Know About Library 2.0.

Jessamyn West (Librarian.net), Lichen Rancourt (Remaining Relevant), Andrea Mercado (Library Techtronics) will explore Library 2.0.  They will be joined by Bobbi Slossar for GEEK Sessions (small groups with specific questions)in the afternoon.  Watch for more details coming soon. Brought to you by the Continuing Education Committee.

Posted by Andrea T. at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Rob S. at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What an informative, elegant, and just plain fun (and funny) conference last week at the Mount Washington Hotel. I learned a lot more that I expected, and laughed while I was learning, which is by far my favorite method.

I have a suggestion for a "track" for the 2008 NHLA Conference, and after several discussions with various other people in other roles within their libraries, think that it would be fairly popular. It would start with

1. Hiring the right person for the job and the library
go to...
2. Training for excellence
3. Evaluations of staff and directors by directors and trustees
4. Raises (scales, COL's merit?)
and end with... 
5. Dealing well with personnel problems  

Any comments?
Thanks committee!! Mary Ahlgren

Posted by Mary A. at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks to all the libraries that helped to raise money for the Great Stone Face Award by distributing vouchers for the Barnes and Noble fundraiser! Many librarians played a role in helping to get the word out about this two day event on April 20th and 21st - the beautiful weather translated into slow business in general for the Barnes and Noble stores, but thanks again to all who participated!

Posted by Sean F. at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Salem store voucher for the upcoming Barnes & Noble fundraiser event is now available! Just click on the link below. To simplify life, I've also provided links to the other vouchers already posted on the blog earlier.

• Download the Salem store voucher here
  
• Download the Nashua store voucher here.
• Download the Manchester store voucher here.
• Download the Newington store voucher here.
  

Would you like to help NHLA fundraise for the Great Stone Face Award? Please join us at the Barnes and Noble stores in Manchester, Nashua, Salem and Newington (next door to Portsmouth). If you're interested and would like more information about this fundraiser, please read the "Barnes and Noble Bookfair" post on this blog. Contact Sean at 448-2459, or email sean.fleming@lebcity.com to volunteer.

The activities that volunteers are needed for are as follows:

• Manchester B&N on Saturday (time slots for each activity – 10-12, 12-2, 2-4). Activities include face-painting, making a bookmark for your favorite librarian, and storytimes.
• Nashua B&N on Friday (6:30-9?) Activities include assisting with the poetry slam.
• Newington B&N on Saturday (times are flexible – whenever you can be there). Activities include face painting, bookmark making, and making a present for your local librarian.
• Salem B&N on Saturday (time slots for each activity – 10-12, 12-2, 2-4). Activities include face-painting, making a bookmark for your favorite librarian, and storytimes.

Thanks for your help!

Posted by Sean F. at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

• Budget cut - slide back! 
• Patron thanks you for your help - skip ahead!
• Can't answer the library literature trivia? Stuck!
• And avoid the black hole of burnout at all costs!

Also, the CHILIS Spring Conference takes place next Thursday, April 5th at Sawyer’s Banquet Facility in Plaistow, NH. For more info, visit the CHILIS Spring Conference webpage, http://www.chilisnh.org/springcon.html.

Posted by Steve B. at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I'm sure many of you know, NHLA is holding a two-day conference on May 17th and 18th at the Mount Washington Hotel, and the theme is "Connecting NH Libraries". As has been the custom for some time, the conference is a joint endeavor with the New Hampshire Educational Media Association, and from what I've learned so far, the conference program is going to be outstanding. Session topics range from graphic novels to disaster planning to "nuts and bolts" of audiobooks to social software to serving GLBTQ teens. So if you haven't registered already and/or made your hotel reservations, head over to http://nhlibconf.org and get connected.

Posted by Steve B. at 07:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

National Library Week, April 15 - 21st,  is fast approaching. Barnes and Noble is celebrating throughout New England with a Book Fair in each state on April 20th and 21st. Ways and Means Chair Sean Fleming, Rebecca Clerkin and I have been meeting with the Community Relations Managers (CRM) of the four NH Barnes & Nobles stores, Manchester, Nashua, Salem and Newington, since last fall. Barnes and Nobles will donate a percentage of the sales generated April 20 and 21st in the 4 NH stores to the NH Library Association for the Great Stone Face Award.

B&N Community Relations Managers are planning special events at each of the stores to draw in the community. Our job as New Hampshire Librarians is to publicize the event in our libraries, especially in the libraries around the four stores. To aid in that, special vouchers will be posted on the website for every library to print to hand to their patrons. If you are in a library close to one of the Barnes and Noble stores, please print off and distribute the vouchers. There will also be vouchers available in the stores, but corporate rules will not allow them to advertise their existence. Remind your patrons to take the voucher with them, or to ask for one on those two days.

As each store makes up its voucher, we will post it on the website for you to print and distribute.

• Download the Nashua store voucher here.
• Download the Manchester store voucher here.
• Download the Newington store voucher here.
  

Any voucher can be used in any store. They are different only in announcing different events at the different stores. 

Yes, this event makes money for Barnes and Nobles, but it also benefits NH Libraries. This big corporate giant did not need to offer to give us money; they truly believe in libraries and literacy. The more promotion we do, the more people in the stores with vouchers, the more money is generated for the Great Stone Face program.

If you have a contact with your local newspaper, cable channel, radio station, or any news media, please feel free to send out a notice about National Library Week and the Book Fair. This fundraiser will only be as successful as the effort we put into it. There are three librarians as contact people for each store and hopefully they will be drumming up enthusiasm in your area. Mark your calendars to start a push for this in early April.  Thank you!

Catherine Redden

Posted by Catherine R. at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever wanted to be able to find out about READS, CHILIS, URBANS or other NHLA events all in one place. Well now you can, thanks to our new Master Calendar. The Master Calendar can be seen by clicking on the "Master Calendar" link in the left-hand sidebar. The Master Calendar includes events for all NHLA meetings and events, including READS, CHILIS, URBANS and YALS events. If you would like an event added to the calendar, please send the webmaster an email and include all the relevant information (date, time, location, event description, etc.)

When viewing the calendar, there are separate tabs for "Month" view and "Agenda" view. Play around with both and see which one you prefer. In some ways, I prefer Agenda view. In other ways I prefer the Month view.

Unfortunately, right now Google Calendar does not allow me to assign categories to individual events, so there is no way to easily view all the CHILIS events by themselves, or all the READS events. I'm working on a makeshift solution, but for now that is not possible. Sorry!

Please send me any other ideas/suggestions for how I can improve the calendar feature. The goal is to make NHLA event information, and perhaps other related library events, easily available to NHLA members. With the Master Calendar, I think we're moving ahead in that direction.

Posted by nhlablog at 09:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Three READS roundtables will be  taking place in March

• Monday, March 26: Portsmouth Public Library, 10-12
• Wednesday, March 28: Peterborough Public Library, 11-1
• Friday, March 30: Pease Public Library Plymouth, 10-2.
  

Come play a game - Ups and Downs in LibraryLand, a board game ripped off/based on Chutes & Ladders.

• Budget cut - slide back! 
  
• Patron thanks you for your help - skip ahead!
  
• Can't answer the library literature trivia? Stuck!
  
• And avoid the black hole of burnout at all costs!
  

PRIZES PRIZES PRIZES  (and lots of fun)

Posted by nhlablog at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)