CONTENTS 1. INFOLINK Spring Membership Meeting 2. Diversity Initiative Workshop Series 3. Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community & Their Families 4. Contract Awards - Library Website Development Project 5. CE Updates 6. ListenNJ - from a user... 7. New Member - CISSL 8. Library Events INFOLINK Spring Membership Meeting Thursday, May 15, 2008 Scholarly Communications Center, Alexander  Library Rutgers University, New Brunswick AGENDA 1:30 Networking & Refreshments 2:15 Business Meeting: FY09 Plan, Budget, and Slate 3:30 Program: Celebration of both Senior Spaces and Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community & Their Families [ back to top ]   2. Diversity Initiative Workshop Series INFOLINK and the INFOLINK Diversity Committee developed a Diversity Initiative (DI) Workshop Series to assist libraries that may be planning diversity programs or a multilingual collection, but do not know where or how to start. Seven libraries were accepted as participants: East Orange PL (Pamela Holmes), Edison PL (Judy Mansbach), Hillside PL (Miriam Bein), Irvington PL (Joan E. Whittaker), Old Bridge PL (Margery Cyr), South Brunswick PL (Chris Carbone), and Middlesex County Law Library (Betty Agin). The law library application was a big surprise since we promoted this project to public libraries. However, in her letter, Court Law Librarian Betty Agin said that she is the committee chair for the NJ state court libraries. She said she applied in order to use the information from the workshop to further development and promote diversity programs for the court users and the law library patrons. INFOLINK is delighted to support this strategic goal that has the potential to impact state court libraries. Two staff members from each contracted library are required to attend all four sessions. They will develop an action plan by series end. The series begins with evaluating the new groups that are moving into areas by doing a Community Needs Assessment Survey. The INFOLINK Diversity Committee will manage the series and guide the contracted libraries from “planning to implementation” of their diversity initiative action plan through the following four workshops: Community Needs Assessment and Census Data Use Cultural Awareness Marketing to Your Community Developing an Action Plan INFOLINK is subsidizing 100% of total cost for the four workshops. This is grounded in our strategic plan to enable libraries to serve the full diversity of their communities. At the end of the series, each library is eligible for subsidization -- up to $500 – of their action plan’s project or program implemented by September 1, 2008. We will share the results. [ back to top ] 3. Welcoming Library Spaces for the Autism Community & Their Families [ Photo above - Contract Managers Meeting, INFOLINK Office, Piscataway ] Left to right: Meg Kolaya (Scotch Plains PL); Dan Weiss (Fanwood Memorial Library); Jeannine Creazzo (Saint Peter’s University Hospital Library); Evan Davis, Judy Mansbach (Edison PL); April Judge (West Caldwell PL); Carol Piersa (The Children’s Institute, Verona); MaryEllen Firestone (East Brunswick PL) New Wiki Our Welcoming Library Spaces contract libraries have been busy. To keep the membership in the loop as the contracts progress, there is a new project wiki available at http://infolinkautism.pbwiki.com . Thanks to the dedicated library staff who share their project’s progress via the wiki. Feedback from Jeannine Creazzo, Saint Peter’s University Hospital Library. This award provides an opportunity for the continuing collaboration between the Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County and Saint Peter’s University Hospital.  The hospital’s medical library will provide vital and significant resources to the families of the infants, children and adults who are served by the Association’s unique continuum of care. Jeannine and her staff, using KOHA, have posted a list of new resources via the catalog’s virtual shelf. Visitors may go to: http://stpeters.kohalibrary.com/cgi-bin/koha/opac-shelves.pl An Invitation INFOLINK and the contract libraries are celebrating Autism Awareness Month and the impact of libraries on communities with a reception on Monday, April 28, 2008 3:30—4:30pm The Children’s Institute, Verona Invitees are state legislators in the INFOLINK Districts.  If anyone from the membership wishes to attend, contact the office (732-752-7720) for directions and required parking instructions from the school. Thank you. [ back to top ] 4. Contract Awards - Library Website Development Project Congratulations to the following libraries on their selection for the FY2008 Library Website Development Project: Monroe Public Library—Irene Goldberg Glen Ridge Public Library—John Sitnik Kearny High School Library—Sally Roessler West Essex Jr. High School Library—Catherine Spinella. Each library indicated different goals in their project application. For example, Irene Goldberg, Monroe Township Public Library Director shared, Our goal is to increase service to the younger, web savvy adults and families in Monroe Township. The 90-year-old Glen Ridge Public Library building is undergoing major interior renovations funded through a Capital Improvement Bond. Library Director John Sitnik shared, It would be wonderful to debut a new library website along with a newly renovated library! Sally Roessler, Kearny High School Librarian, indicated, We hope to create a library site that will become an integral and permanent part of our academic community — the “go to” place for electronic information. The librarians in the West Essex School District feel it is time to revamp and redesign the existing website to improve access to information and to communities served by the libraries — students, faculty, and parents. Mi-Sun Lyu will serve as the project manager.  The selected libraries will participate in six full-day training sessions. Training is intensive and primarily hands on with project launch targeted for May 2008. We applaud such energy and dedication! [ back to top ] 5. CE Updates Mi-Sun Lyu, Program & Services Coordinator 2008 Spring CE registration has been going strong since the CE schedule was announced in January.  Several workshops filled quickly, and I would like to thank everyone who has registered and attended our programs.  In addition to several workshop repeats including “Great Web Design with CSS (now as two-full-day workshop)”, “All Things Google”, and “DreamWeaver”, I am excited that we are introducing new topics: “Gaming & Libraries”, “A Perfect Fit: Programming that Fits Your Community and Your Budget”, “From Here to There: A Seven Step Website Recovery Program”,  “The Electronic Canvas: Designers Beware!!” and “Emerging Technologies”. From Here to There: A Seven Step Website Recovery Program April 10, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm @ Clark PL Program Flyer There's a process to take when transforming web sites that feature poor design, confusing navigation and outdated content to a site that leverages the power inherit in web design standards.  Just how do you go about turning a nightmare site into a dream one that can evolve as situations change?  Do you have to start all over again or can something less drastic be done?  What are the tools and skills needed to accomplish your vision?  From Step One - Taking Stock through Re-launch discuss what steps you need to take in developing and executing a plan that will integrate your original vision for your site with what you've learned since its launch. Emerging Technologies May 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm @ Monroe PL Program Flyer This workshop will include a rapid and concise summary of current technology trends such as blogging, Internet feeds, podcasting, instant messaging, tagging, wikis, and RFID. Discuss how today’s hot technologies fit into the library landscape. At the end of this workshop you will be able to: - List key aspects of integrating current technologies into your library services - Describe blogging, podcasting, instant messaging, tagging - Define terms such as feed, RSS, folksonomy, RFID, and wiki. Tech Talks – About Open Source INFOLINK and the INFOLINK Technology Committee present another solid Tech Talk Series with three programs about Open Source this Spring. The first Tech Talk – OPALS-NA - History & Future of An Open Source ILS – was presented by Harry Chan, Media Flex Inc. on March 6 at the Clark Public Library. The program chronicled the history of a successful open source integrated library system. The presenter also examined how open source partners managed setbacks and successes and how these experiences became opportunities to identify and assemble the support and development framework that is essential for open source applications that libraries use to serve the public. The program was very successful, and participants evaluated it very informative with solid background information about Open Source ILS. Many shared that they had been skeptical about the feasibility of an Open Source ILS for their library, but Harry Chan’s program made them re-think Open Source. The participants also asked for more programs about Open Source related topics in the future. INFOLINK and the INFOLINK Technology Committee will take that into consideration for future Tech Talk programs and the Tech Day Conference in 2009. You missed the first Tech Talk program? There is still time to register for the two upcoming Tech Talk programs: Next Generation Catalog – The Library OPAC Meets Web 2.0 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 @ Rahway Public Library Led by Andrew Nagy, Villanova University No Geeks Required: Open Source Public Workstations, Options and Issues Thursday, May 22, 2008 @ Monroe Public Library Led by John Houser, PALINET Please find more Tech Talk program information at http://www.infolink.org/services/education_and_training/flyers/techtalk08.pdf ATTENTION - School Librarians! This Spring INFOLINK and the INFOLINK School Group present two wonderful programs with Hilda Weisburg for school librarians. We offered two well-received workshops with Hilda last Fall, so we are bringing her back again.  We scheduled the following two workshops based on the discussions among the INFOLINK School Group and feedback from school librarians in the cooperative. (Porgram Flyer) Saturday, June 7, 2008 @ Clark Public Library - How to Write Your Vision and Mission Statements    (9:30 am – 12:30 pm) - Time Management    (1:30 pm – 4:30 pm) Suggestions?  Questions? Do you have any suggestions or ideas for potential CE programs?  Need more information or have questions?  Please contact us at 732-752-7720! CE Schedule and Workshop Descriptions at: http://www.infolink.org/services/education_and_training/ CE Online Registration at: http://www.infolink.org/services/education_and_training/registration_form/ [ back to top ] 6. ListenNJ—from a user... [Reprinted with permission.] Just wanted to say "Thank you" for ListenNJ.com. With an hour commute each day, audiobooks are a godsend. ListenNJ.com gives me such a wider selection and the waiting list procedures are great, making it just a matter of time before I get the hot new titles. I used to go among three libraries trying to find new, interesting books on tape; now I have a great selection and downloading is just few steps away. I bought an MP3 player just to listen to your books and it is the best investment I've made. Plus, no mangled tapes or skipping CDs. Yeah! The MP3 player is so small, I can listen to audiobooks while I do chores around the house, like raking leaves or doing laundry. With little kids, my reading time was crunched to a few minutes before bed; now I can "multitask" and read again. Thanks, Mike Horan, North Brunswick, NJ [ back to top ] 7. New Member The Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL) INFOLINK welcomes CISSL as a new member in our Library Related Agency category. Voting Rep Pam Chesky shares, I’ve been fortunate to have had previous experience with Infolink; way back in the early years I served on the Infolink Board as a School Library representative. It is so exciting to see the relationship between Infolink and CISSL develop! The timing is perfect…just as CISSL begins a study of school library media centers in NJ hoping to answer the questions: What do good school library media centers in NJ look like? How do they make an impact on student learning? The mission of CISSL is to provide the community of scholars and practitioners an arena to develop and exchange research and scholarship enhancing learning in school libraries in New Jersey, in the nation, and worldwide. To learn more about the work of CISSL please visit http://www.cissl.scils.rutgers.edu [ back to top ] 8. Library Events New Jersey Library Association (NJLA). The NJLA Conference is April 29th through May 1st! Did you know the information and registration are out. You can even register online this year! Early Bird Registration is until April 4.  Note that all hotel reservations MUST be made by April 15th for the conference rate. Go to www.njla.org. Chair Cindy Czesak and the NJLA conference committee has developed what promises to be another great conference. Thinking Ahead Symposium Salt Lake City March 13-15 The Thinking Ahead Symposium was an interdisciplinary forum that fosters conversations about issues affecting the future of America’s libraries. Topics this year included Trailblazers, Society Tech, Transformations, Democracy in Libraries, and Future Vision. For the program notes, go to: http://www.thinkinglibraries.org/?page_id=21   [ back to top ]   INFOLINK The Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative 44 Stelton Road Suite 330 Piscataway, NJ 08854 www.INFOLINK.org Phone: 732-752-7720 or 1-866-505-LINK FAX: 732-752-7785 or 1-800-793-8007 Staff Cheryl O’Connor, Executive Director Mi-Sun Lyu, Program & Services Coordinator Nanette Cox, Business Admin Carol Fishwick, Members Services Executive Board Emily Snitow, President Roberta Bronson Fitzpatrick Jeannine Creazzo Judith Gardner Elizabeth Gloeggler John Hurley Mark Jackson Dorothy Key Mary Lewis John Malar Lina Podles Carolyn Ryan Reed Pat Reilly JoAnn Tropiano Sharon Rawlins