• LSTA --FY200 funded at $165.8 FY 2001 requesting $173 million
• ESEAVI & ESEA III (include S.1262 with S.2 reauthorization and H.R. 3008 companion bill reauthorization--$400 million school library materials and $903 million educational technology
• E-rate Universal Service Discounted Telecommunications Rates—Library supporters express their thanks to Congress for their support.
• Filtering --Resist Internet content restrictions and inappropriate requirements on eligibility for federal funds or the e-rate. Respect local decision making; libraries, together with their boards and with community input, are taking thoughtful and responsible approaches to these issues of providing Internet access.
• Copyright and Distance Education—Copyright Office released a study, Report on Copyright and Digital Distance Educationon May 25, 1999 recommending updating the current law exemptions for distance education
• Public Access to Government Information —Fund Federal Depository Library Program and GPO, ensure public access to government information through FDLP.
• Database Protection Legislation Two database protection bills introduced in 1999 with lively behind the scenes debate, especially (R-NC) Howard Coble’s The Collections of Information Antipiracy Act (H.R.354) and H.R. 1858 The Consumer and Investor Access to Information Act of 1999” by Tom Bliley (R-VA) John Dingell (D-MI). Librarians oppose H.R. 354 allows database owners to tightly control information. Support H.R. 1858 the bill narrowly focuses on prevention of distribution of pirated databases.

Does getting to know your legislators have an effect? It may. Traficant is listed supporting the Coble bill. Several librarians visited Traficant during ALA legislative day and explained the pros and cons of each bill.

ALA has available handout sheets discussing each of these topics. If you would like copies, call the NOLA office or information can be obtained via ALA web site at www.ala.org/washoff/legday.html

LIVE! At the Library 2000:
Building Cultural Communities ALA received $250,000 from John and James Knight Foundation supporting efforts to present theme-based cultural programming at local libraries.

NEH GRANT
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded $884,965 to the Consortium of the Big Ten universities and University of Chicago for preserve library materials. This is the sixth in a series of grants to assist with microfilming of European, German, Latin American and South Asian materials.

Computer Recycling
Ever wonder what happens to computers that are organizations put out for the trash?   They are loaded with toxic compounds and the large  number of obsolete computers in the next few years will make this a growing concern.
Computers and the environment

LoveLetters from the Net
Last week in technology was the week of the "ILoveYou" worm. A number of businesses and libraries were infected by the worm, and significant potential for further infection exists. The primer below will help you to understand the ILoveYou worm, how to prevent further spread and how to uninfect a computer.

Read more: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/zd/20000509/tc/how_to_beat_the_iloveyou_worm_101.html

University pays students to turn off the computer!
William Woods University realized that their student population was becoming too involved with technology and limiting their exposure to real world experiences. To reverse this trend the University is offering students $5,000 in annual tuition savings to attend cultural/educational events on a regular basis.

Want to know more?
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20000504/tc/college_rebate_2.html

Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

Does your library need to clean house but you just can't bring yourself the throw the stuff away? Try NOLA Auctions - a new service for member libraries. Beginning May 15th members can submit items for a NOLA-wide surplus sale which will run from June 1,2000 until July 1,2000.

At NOLA's online Auction you can sell (and buy) any library-related items online. To sell, just submit a description and digital photo of the item(s) you want to sell and the minimum price you will accept for it (them). NOLA will post the item(s) on our Web Site for member libraries and their employees to bid on. To check it out and for full details (the obligatory guidelines, rules and legal mumbo jumbo) go to: http://auctions.nolanet.org

Items submitted by:
Tom Casey - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE?
Drew wins for libraries!

The Regis game show continues, only this time it may benefit the libraries.  The first week of May was the celebrities chance to win a million dollars for their favorite charity.  Drew Carey was one of contestants and his charity was the 250 libraries in Ohio.  Drew Carey won $500,000.  We will have to see how he distributes this.When it comes to public libraries...Ohio Rocks!

Submitted by:
Melissa Lattanzi - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

Library Board of Trustee members have a critical role in the strategic leadership of the libraries that they serve.   Board members must be proactive, explicit about their values, and define the long range majority concerns for their libraries.

The role of the Board Member must be clearly written and understood by the Board as a whole, but also by the Library Director and staff.  Board members must stay out of "staff work" and the staff should not recommend what Board decisions should be.

Unfortunately, these roles are often confused - primarily because there was no defined "Job Description" for the Board members.  This is necessary when a new Board Member is oriented, and is important to regularly review for all Board members.   Highly effective libraries evolve when all individuals - board members, staff, and volunteers - work cooperatively to achieve meaningful results.

Board Member orientation is necessary so that they understand the following concepts:

• Vision and Mission of the Library;
• Activities - Answers to "Business" questions and boundaries that have been created within which the library operates;
• Goals - The future of the library for the next two to three years;
• Strategies - How to get from "here to there" in reaching goals;
• Operational Objectives - A look at one year in the life of the library;
• Action Plans - Very specific, time linked steps in achieving the operational objectives;
• Resources - Critical information on fiscal operations;
• Individual Expectations - Board defines expectations for Director; Board President defines expectations for Board members

NOLA Regional Library is offering a GREAT Board Orientation Program for all member library Board of Trustee members.  This evening workshop will provide participants with personal leadership skills that will strengthen the Board process, foster cohesiveness and strategic thinking among Trustee members, and will share six characteristics of highly effective Boards.

Two workshop dates are available:
Monday, May 15th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Avalon Inn & Resort, 9519 E. Market Street, Warren
Tuesday, May 16th from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, Rt. 90 & 45, Ashtabula

We strongly advise all new library Board of Trustee members to attend, along with their Directors, to learn the basics of trusteeship from an expert Non-Profit Board Consultant, Mary Merrill.

Registration will be accepted through Thursday, May 11th.  Dinner will be served to all participants.  Fees to attend are $30.00 for NOLA members; $50.00 for non-members.  If you have questions about the program, please contact Melissa Lattanzi, CE Coordinator, at (330) 847-7744 or at [email protected].

Items submitted by:
Lori Putt - Email
NOLA Regional Library System