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| From the Field - Brad Stephens |
Y99? A preview of coming attractions?
The impact of Y2K was felt a bit early in Sweden as a number of computer systems
had difficulty with the year 99 producing a number of minor "technoglitches"
which will likely be only the beginning as we move toward next January. Some of the
agencies impacted included airports, gas stations, and taxi services. Libraries
should be checking things like Security System, Accounting (software and hardware),
Integrated Library System (software and hardware) and Phone/Voice Mail Systems for Y2K
compliance.
Want
to know more?
Taking a bite out of spam!
Spam (unsolicited junk email) is a problem on the Internet. This email is usually
in large batches (10,000+ messages at a time) and is a major issue for many organizations
on the Internet. AOL has decided to do something about SPAM filing suit against a
California man for "digital trespassing and fraud". Look for other companies to
follow suit in the near future.
Want
to know more?
Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| From the Workshop Bench of Melissa
Lattanzi |
The New Year Exciting Continuing Education Calendar, is actually in the form of
a Calendar!
One of many new changes to Continuing Education is an online calendar. This calendar will make
it easy to see all of NOLA's events in a monthly setting. The calendar lists all the
events on a day and gives you a link to click on for additional information and to
register for the classes. Use this calendar to register for your workshops for the
upcoming months. If you have any suggestions regarding the calendar or any other
Continuing Education ideas please email me.
Watch your mailboxes your Continuing Education Catalog will be arriving shortly,
and Ed McMann's picture is not the envelope. I look forward to seeing everyone in
the new year.
Items submitted by:
Melissa Lattanzi - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| Education Station - Lori Putt/CE
Consultant |
Resolutions for the New Year
It's that time of year again...when we sit back, take a deep breath, and decide how we are
going to change our lives in a positive direction for the next year. Just think...in one
year, we'll be deciding how we can change our lives in the next millennium!
My resolution for the coming year is to "resolve to keep my resolution!"
Whatever yours is, consider this as a secondary commitment to yourself.
"Most good resolutions start too late and end too early."
Arnold Glasgow
Part of our resolution in the Continuing Education Department at NOLA for 1999 is to offer
you the latest, up-to-the-minute educational offerings that are available; at a price that
is affordable; and with subjects and information that you have requested. I believe that
this is one resolution that we can keep for 1999!
As you know, we have made significant changes to the Continuing Education Program for
1999, including the addition of Continuing Education Tracks for Library Directors,
Supervisors, Youth and Adult Public Services, and Support Staff. We do hope that you will
participate in these opportunities to continue your personal growth and knowledge
throughout the year. But, as with any new programs, there may be some "bumps" in
the road...don't ever hesitate to contact Melissa Lattanzi or myself (via e-mail or by
telephone) to ask any questions or receive clarification as it relates to the CE Tracks.
Remember the wise words of someone (who knows who?!) "The only dumb question is
the one that went unasked"
There will be an article in the upcoming NOLA Notes fully explaining the implementation of
the tracks, as well as complete information in the 1999 Continuing Education Catalog,
arriving on your doorsteps soon!
I'll leave you with one final quote for 1998:
"We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough"
Helen Keller
Stick to your resolutions for 1998, whether they be health related, family related, or
just for fun...you'll be glad you did!
Items submitted by:
Lori Putt - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| The Director's Desk - Millie Fry |
NOLA Forms Due By January 22, 1999
Just a reminder to NOLA library directors. The following forms are due by January 22,
1999: (1) Letter of Intent/Optional Program Selection, (2) AccessOhio, (3) Daily Delivery,
and (4) Membership Representative.
Items submitted by:
Millie Fry - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| Kids Connect - Sue McCleaf Nespeca, Youth
Services Consultant |
Happy New Year to All of You!
As I write this, the new year is only two days away.
When I was asked by my library director to write yearly goals for my department, my mind
began to wander and I started thinking about some simple wishes I had, certainly not long
term goals, just some simple hopes for 1999.
And here they are:
1. I wish more children would be interested in checking out books and occasionally
reading- rather than just playing games on the computers. Most do not even have library
cards.
2. I wish children using the computers would be more interested in seeing all the
wonderful things they could discover via the internet - rather than just searching rap
lyrics, checking out scantily clad women on the WWF site, or printing out how to cheat in
video games. I rarely see anyone doing anything else - no matter how much we try to
encourage other activities via library internet contests etc.
3. I wish the teen gang kids would find somewhere else to print off filthy rap lyrics
since most families have told us that they will not come into the library at night due to
their fear. (Yes we have security personnel).
4. I wish that at least once out of every ten times I jump up to help someone it would be
to find books or to search information for a homework assignment, rather than reboot a
computer.
5. I wish I had a dollar for every time I walked by a computer and noticed a child (or
adult) writing notes of a sexual nature in a chat room. I could retire. (Yes we discourage
this).
6. I wish I could move all the library computers into one windowed-in room and staff it
with two techie “bar bouncer” types.
7. I wish I could remember why I went to library school. Where was the class on truancy?
Somehow I missed the information on how to be polite while kicking kids out of the library
on a daily basis and being called every filthy name imaginable. After spending the last
ten years as a library consultant and not working in a library, I was not prepared for how
much it changed. “Working the floor” now has absolutely nothing to do with what
I learned in library school.
Well I guess my wishes paint a rather negative picture. And I certainly do not want anyone
to think that my problem lies with computers and the internet. Because the most exciting
thing that I discovered in ten years of being “off the floor” is how much I can
use the internet (with those few kids who are willing to learn) to help research homework
assignments. I rarely use a print encyclopedias anymore (why do I keep buying them?) - or
very few of the print reference books. The first and best place to go almost every time is
the computer. And that is exciting. But while doing that, I find our circulation is
dropping. We need to find ways to measure the use of our library rather than through
circulation statistics. I find records of the number of times and amount of time the
computers are used are now the most important statistics I have. Unfortunately, these
statistics are not used today to generate dollars for libraries. And I think it is
important to realize how much our role is changing - will we just become big computer
centers and instead of checking out actual books, will we be checking out those fantastic
hand-held computer books?
In the meantime, if you have any ideas for how to successfully steer more children to some
“positive” internet searching, please let me know.
We are having great success with our monthly trivia computer contests, and in January, we
will have children voting for their favorite book for
the Ohio Buckeye Children’s Book Award via the computer, rather than paper ballots.
They will also be able to vote from home.
Please send your creative suggestions to me via email ([email protected]) and I will
share with others in the future.
And again, have a wonderful 1999!
Items submitted by:
Sue McCleaf Nespeca - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
What's big and white and rapidly reducing in size? No...not Richard
Simmons....Glaciers! For glacier and other weather-related information, check out the 551 -
Geology, hydrology, meteorology page of the Ohio Reflinks Project. And, speaking of
Richard Simmons, follow-up on your New Years' resolutions by visiting 613 - Promotion of health for nutrition
and fitness advice.
Get involved with this exciting project! Join the members of the Ohio Reflinks Project at
their next meeting, Monday January 25 at the NOLA Office, 10 AM.
Items submitted by:
Reflinks Members [email protected]
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