This Week on L-TV: May 11 to May 14

May 8th, 2008

L-TV 117 Interview with Ron McLarty
Debbie Barchi interviews Ron McLarty about the selection of his novel “The Memory of Running” as the 2007 title for Reading Across Rhode Island and on his duel careers as a native born Rhode Island author and actor.
Sunday, May 11     - 12:30 pm
Monday, May 12     -    2:00pm
Wednesday, May 14  - 9:00 pm

L-TV is shown on the Statewide Interconnect Channel A which is cable
Channel 13

This Week On L-TV: May 4 to May 7

May 1st, 2008

L-TV 128 To Kill a Mockingbird: The Big Read & the West Bay Collaborative 
Fran Farrell Bergeron interviews Greg Rubano, Educational Consultant for the West Bay Collaborative and NEA Big Read Director Rhode Island 2008. The roll of the West Bay Collaborative, the scope of the Big Read project and the significance in the selection of “To Kill A Mockingbird”, are all discussed.

Sunday, May 4       -  12:30 pm
Monday, May 5       -  2:00 pm
Wednesday, May 7  - 9:00 pm

L-TV is shown on the Statewide Interconnect Channel A
which is cable Channel 13

Risk Management for Independent Public Libraries

April 29th, 2008

What type of insurance coverage should your library have? While this question has as many answers as there are unique situations in each library, here are four areas independent library boards and directors need to consider.

First, any building that has public traffic needs General Liability Insurance. General Liability Insurance covers bodily injury, property damage and personal injury for negligent acts. Typical coverage for a public building includes $1,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate.

Next, because they make decisions that may effect employees and patrons to the library, members of the Board of Trustees should be protected so there is no risk to their personal wealth. Therefore, the Board Members should have Directors and Officers Insurance with employment practice liability included.

Thirdly, if the library owns the building that it occupies, the library should have Property Insurance on the building and any contents in the building. If the collection includes valuable documents, works of art or literature, you may want to consider insuring those items separately through an Inland Marine Policy with provisions for fine art and valuable papers. Establish the value of each of these special items separately. Limits of coverage may reflect the market value of the piece or may be some lesser amount that is intended solely for repair in the event of damage.

Lastly, if the library owns a vehicle, then the library needs to have vehicle liability insurance.

It is recommended that the library discuss its insurance needs with an insurance agent to minimize risk from unforeseen natural disasters and litigation.

This Week on L-TV: April 27 to April 30

April 25th, 2008

L-TV 123 Travel Books
Fran Farrell Bergeron interviews L-TV co-host Kathryn Taylor about Kathryn’s worldwide travels and adventures and the books that provide good insights before and after each journey.

Sunday, April 27 -  12:30 pm
Monday, April 28 -  2:00pm
Wednesday, April 30 - 9:00 pm

L-TV is shown on the Statewide Interconnect Channel A which is cable Channel 13

2008 State of Americas Libraries

April 25th, 2008

From the American Library Association comes a report on the state of America’s Libraries. It affirms that “Libraries of all kinds continue to be engines of learning, literacy, and economic development in communities nationwide. Americans are acting on their conviction that school library media centers are a key element in delivering the kind of education the next generation needs in order to succeed in a global society, and public libraries are redoubling their efforts to serve linguistically isolated communities.” Check it out.

Library Grants from 3 organizations

April 24th, 2008

District Dispatch has posted grants from three organizations: Kresge Foundation: Capital Challenge Grant Program; Grassroots Programs for Children Funded: United Methodist Church: A Brighter Future for Children and Youth; and Grants Promote Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities: Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

This Week On L-TV: April 20 to April 23

April 17th, 2008

L-TV 122 Science Fiction and Fantasy
Fran Farrell-Bergeron hosts East Providences’s Rumford Branch librarian Denise Inman and Westerly Public Library director Kathryn Taylor in a discussion on what makes good science ficiton and how science ficiton differs from fantasy.

Sunday, April 20 - 12:30 pm
Monday, April 21 - 2:00 pm
Wednesday, April 23 - 9:00 pm

L-TV is shown on the Statewide Interconnect Channel A
which is cable Channel 13

OverDrive Breaks the iPod Barrier

April 10th, 2008

Last month OverDrive announced that it will make some of its audio titles (about 15% of the present catalog) available in MP3 format without digital rights management (DRM). These titles would be compatible with nearly every MP3 player available, including the iPod. MP3 Audiobooks will be available at the end of May, and available to libraries at the end of June - great news for the legions of iPod owners!

Read more about downloadable audio in the March 19 edition of Library Journal.

This Week on L-TV: April 13 to April 16

April 9th, 2008
L-TV 119 E-Zone
Fran Farrell-Bergeron talks with Christopher LaRoux, the director of the Greenville Public Library, and Mattie Gustufson, the collection librarian at the Newport Public Library, about the Rhode Island Public Library E-Zone, a new library service that enables people to browse, check out, and download best selling digital titles 24/7 to their PCs and PDAs from home. the office, or anywhere with access to the internet. This digital collection of audio books, e-books, music and videos is now available to anyone with an Ocean State Library card.
L-TV is shown on the Statewide Interconnect Channel A which is cable Channel 13 at the following times:
Sunday, April 13              - 12:30 pm
Monday, April 14              -  2:00 pm
Wednesday, April 16         -  9:00 pm

Willet Free Library featured in SO Rhode Island Magazine

April 8th, 2008

The April 2008 edition of SO Rhode Island, a magazine that focuses on people and places in southern Rhode Island, has a two page feature on the Willet Free Library. Go to http://www.sorhodeisland.com/findus.html for a list of places that distribute this free magazine.