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| From the Field - Brad Stephens |
In the know for the new year
Ever wonder what some of those cryptic acronyms in email messages really mean? (You know
things like BBIAB, IMHO, L8R, and others) Then this is a great site for you. After a quick
look at Netlingo you'll be able to keep up with even the most "hip" netsters.
And remember if you like this site GMTA (you'll have to look that one up :)
Want to know more?
What a pain!
The use of ergonomic keyboards and other devices is a growing trend in the computer
industry. Do you have one? Do you need one? This article will help to answer this question
and will let you know what else can you do to save yourself from RSI (Repetitive Strain
Injury).
Want to know more?
Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| The Director's Desk - Millie Fry |
Substitute Librarians and Support Staff Needed
Recently the director of a member library suggested that NOLA include the names of
substitute librarians and support staff in our new Experts on Call database. Apparently some
libraries have difficulty locating subs that have experience so the idea sounded good to
me. Please ask your substitutes if they would be interested in being included and show
them the Experts on Call database on our Desktop. If so, send me their name and phone number. NOLA will send them a
form requesting information such as: name, address, phone, counties they are willing to
work in, education, experience with automated systems (e.g. DRA, Follett), experience with
software packages (e.g. Word, Access) experience in libraries (e.g. Reference, Youth
Services), and the number of years of experience working in libraries. With your
assistance, we will add the names of substitutes to NOLA's database. If you haven't
checked out our new Experts on Call, do so today. Contact Brad Stephens, NOLA Technology Coordinator, if you
need the username and password.
Nationally Recognized Fundraiser Will Write Desktop
News Column
I am pleased to announce that Susan Golden will write a monthly column for The Desktop
News beginning in January. Susan is the author of "Secrets of Successful
Grantsmanship: A Guerrilla Guide to Raising Money," the best-seller published by
Jossey-Bass. She is a consultant who provides counsel to nonprofit organizations on
capital campaigns and grantseeking. Her experience is based on working with over 100
organizations and raising over $700 million. Watch for her column - coming soon to
The Desktop.
NOLA Office Will Be Closed For Holidays
Just a reminder - the NOLA office will be closed on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 for
the holidays. The Staff wishes you a very happy and safe holiday season.
NOLA Notes and Continuing Education Catalog
The February 16, 1999 Quarterly Membership Meeting announcement, the NOLA Notes, and the
Continuing Education Catalog will go in the mail the first week of January. If you have
not seen them by January 13 or you want additional copies, contact Rose Marie Pecchio.
Return Your Letter of Intent, AccessOhio and Daily Delivery Forms
To complete the development of the 1999-2000 NOLA budget by the end of January, we need to
receive your library's Letter of Intent, AccessOhio and Daily Delivery forms by January
22, 1999.
The AccessOhio invoices will be mailed to participating NOLA libraries in late January
since our agreement with Auto-graphics expires on February 28th and we will need to send
them payment for the year covering March 1, 1999 - February 29, 2000.
Items submitted by:
Millie Fry - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| Kids Connect - Sue McCleaf Nespeca, Youth
Services Consultant |
Last minute holiday shopping OR Practice what you
preach....
While standing in line at the Dollar General Store buying some of those nifty gift bags
for $1.00 a bag instead of $3.95 each at other stores, I noticed the lady in front of me
had an entire cart loaded with tons of (junky cheap) toys. The types of toys that would be
broken in less than a week and that children would lose interest in after approximately
three minutes. Suffice it to say that I had to bite my tongue and sing Bobby Helms
"Jingle Bell Rock" to myself five times so that I would not say anything. But
what I wanted to say was, "Why not ditch that cart of junk and buy some good books?
They'll last a lifetime. I'll even go with you to the book store on the other side of the
plaza and pick some out if you want." But of course, I said nothing.
The nice thing about working in the library is that we do not need to bite our tongue. In
fact, if any youth services librarian is not constantly recommending buying books as gifts
for children, I would say shame on you and my wish for you is "Grandma Got Run Over
by a Reindeer" playing on your brain for the next week. After all, we should practice
what we preach.
When giving books to my nephews and nieces while they were growing up (I still do but it
is getting tough now that most of them are in high school and their reading interests are
really hard to discern), I clearly remember the reaction of two of my nephews to my
Christmas gifts. The eldest would pick up the gift and say "It's from Aunt Sue so it
must be books" and then pitch it over his shoulder and get to the "good
stuff". His younger sibling loved the books and would later tell me "I not only
read the books that you gave me, but I also read the ones you gave to Larry because there
was no chance he was going to read them." And now Larry is finishing up trade school
with semi-decent grades, but his brother was on the highest honor roll possible all
through high school and received early acceptance to Penn State University in his senior
year of high school. Hmmm...... I wonder if there is any logic to this........
I realize that most of you are probably at a different place than I am - I have much
shopping yet to do, and Christmas cards will be done after Christmas.
But in case anyone else is where I am, here are my selections for the best books to give
this year. And for those of you who have already started shopping for next year's gifts or
have birthday gifts to purchase in the next year, consider this list. And make sure you
have several copies of the titles below for your library collection.
For Babies
These little board books are just perfect for babies and parents will probably remember
most of the tunes.
Wells, Rosemary. The Bear Went Over the Mountain. Scholastic, 1998.
Also, Old MacDonald and The Itsy-Bitsy Spider.
For Children Preschool Age through Grade 2
I always recommend anthologies - you get several wonderful picture books in one book. Of
course, the best on the market right now is by Janet Schulman.
Don't let the high price tag scare you - it has a nice discount.
Rey, Margaret. The Complete Adventures of Curious George. Houghton Mifflin, 1995.
Schulman, Janet Editor. The Twentieth Century Children's Book Treasury. Knopf, 1998.
Shepard, Ernest. The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh. Penguin, 1996.
For Older Kids
MacCaulay, David. The New Way Things Work. Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
A revised edition of the book that was on the New York Times Best Sellers List years ago.
Outstanding!
Reynolds, David. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary. DK Publishing, 1998.
Reynolds, David. Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections. DK Publishing, 1998.
For Trekkie fans - and after all, there is the movie......
Scieszka, Jon. Squids Will Be Squids: Fresh Morals, Beastly Fables. Viking, 1998.
What can I say - it is a Scieszka & Smith production. Author and illustrator of Stinky
Cheese Man, this is sure to be popular. These are twisted morals in
the tradition of Aesop.
Steiner, Joan. Look-Alikes. Little Brown, 1998.
This is a book to pore over for hours - for young and old alike. For graduates of Where's
Waldo. Even parents will be enthralled.
Items submitted by:
Sue McCleaf Nespeca - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
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