Rhodarian

WebJunction Turns 5

Karen — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:04:29 +0000

WebJunction launched on May 13, 2003. Now it’s five years old and includes 15 partners, over 30,000 members and more than 20,000 pieces of content. WebJunction is an online community for library staff, but it’s much more than that. It’s a collaborative space for library discussions, it’s resources for librarians, it’s a place to go for continuing education, it’s programs, knowledge, sharing and learning.

This summer Rhode Island will become a WebJunction member, along with Georgia, Idaho, and Ohio, boosting the number of community partners to 19. We look forward to bringing the WebJunction community to RI, but more importantly, we look forward to making RI part of the WebJunction community.

But you don’t have to wait until this summer to join WebJunction or investigate the wealth of resources available there. See where WebJunction has been and where it’s going as the community celebrates five years. Sign up to become a WebJunction member and start taking advantage of the many resources available there - you don’t have to wait for WebJunction RI to launch and you’ll automatically become a member of the RI community when we launch the website in late July. Stay tuned for more WebJunction news . . .

RIHS Library Open House, May 17

Administrator — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:46:04 +0000

Lee Teverow writes from the RI Historical Society Library:

On Saturday, May 17 the doors of the RIHS Library will be open to one and all for a look at the newly painted Reading Room and lobby. Take the opportunity to browse the Library’s broad range of materials reflecting the people and history of Rhode Island. The Library is open for research Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Open House:

Saturday, May 17
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Rhode Island Historical Society Library
121 Hope Street, Providence

For more information contact Lee Teverow
(401) 273-8107 x10 or lteverow@rihs.org

Visit the library online to view more RIHS library events.

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

Joe — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:14:55 +0000

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

Joe — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:54:45 +0000

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

Joe — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:22:19 +0000

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

Joe — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:13:28 +0000

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

Beth — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:55:51 +0000

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

Beth — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:49:05 +0000

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

Joe — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:25:42 +0000

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

Administrator — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:27:32 +0000

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.