PC World – How to Recover (Almost) Anything

PC World – How to Recover (Almost) Anything 

Just found out that you deleted the wrong spreadsheet? Forgot your Windows password? Don’t despair. You can take care of these and many other goofs with the following tips.

Kirk Steers, PC World

50 Years of Reading Free – YALSA

50 Years of Reading Free – YALSA

Banned books are nothing new but check out this wikipedia article and the list of young adult books that have most often been banned. Did you read these books as a youth?  Have they been banned for good reason?  Are kids still reading them?  An interesting article and a lot of good literature that deserves to be read.

From the article: 
“Today, censorship is broader and better organized than in other eras. Before Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press in the mid-15th century, ordinary people did not have unlimited access to the printed word, so there was more emphasis on controlling the spoken word. Once print became available and affordable, especially through newspapers, newsletters, magazines, chapbooks and broadsides, print censorship became widespread. Many different forms of censorship exist; one needs look no farther than the Patriot Act to see how insidious and entrenched censorship is in the United States. While other nations have traditionally admired and aspired to emulate the freedoms granted by the first amendment to the US Constitution, these freedoms—religion, speech, the press, and assembly—are seriously at risk in American schools, libraries, and even homes. “

Travel grants for ALA Available

In addition to NLLN Continuing Education Scholarships, there are a large number of awards available for attendance at the ALA Annual Conference next summer. Read through this list for some great possibilities depending on your interests, background, and experienc. 

Here is a list of travel grant/award opportunities for the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA, June 26-July 2, 2008

http://discuss.ala.org/marginalia/2007/09/25/travel-grants-for-attending-annual-conference

Sharon Lerner Scholarships available from MLA

One last opportunity to apply for the Sharon J. Lerner scholarship for the MLA Conference. This scholarship is a competitive scholarship but could be awarded to up to 3 recipients. Scholarship recipients would have their MLA Conference registrations paid and would be honored at the Awards banquet. The criteria for this award is as follows:

      1. Must be a current MLA member or become an MLA member if the scholarship is awarded to him/her.

      2. Successful applicants are MN library workers providing children’s or young adult services.

      3. Must have two or more years of library experience.

4. Applicants have either never attended an MLA conference or have attended an MLA conference sometime in the past, but would be unable to attend in the current year with out financial assistance.

5. Scholarship recipients agree to: attend the MLA Annual Conference, provide a newsletter article for MLA on the Annual Conference, become a member of MLA and join the Children and Young People’s Sections.

All applications must be received by October 1.
For a copy of the application, contact Heidi Hoks at hhoks@carverlib.org  or 952-4503.

Thank you,
Heidi Hoks
MLA President

Kid’s Page

Kid’s Page from the federal government is a  place for kids to explore, discover and learn. This fun site has tons of cool information; it’s divided into four topics:
Everything Art, History and Culture, People and Places, Science
and Nature. You can design your own sculpture online, take a
virtual trip to the Galapagos, and play the Viking board game. Pop
quiz: How deep in the ocean does the giant squid live?

This is a great site for librarians, teachers, parents — and Kids!

Fargo Pub Lib Children’s Coordinator job open

The Fargo Public Library is seeking a dynamic Children’s Coordinator to be responsible for the development, coordination, promotion and management of library service to children, their families and caregivers.  This position will work with other children’s and branch library staff to provide programs, including Summer Reading Program and preschool story time, develop other services and programs for children, assist in developing a strong children’s collection, and network with community schools, organizations and agencies.  Successful candidate will have an ALA-accredited MLS or school media specialist credential, previous experience working in libraries, and previous experience working with children, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to obtain a valid ND/MN driver’s license.  Salary range:  $3,042 to $3,310/month.  To apply submit resume, cover letter, 3 professional references and online application form through the City of Fargo’s web site: www.cityoffargo.com/hr/apply .  Review of applications begins October 5, 2007.

Nominate Academic Librarians for ACRL Awards

ACRL seeks nominations for 2008 awards
recognizing outstanding achievements in academic librarianship

For more than three-quarters of a century, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) has been committed to celebrating the achievements of academic and research librarians through the presentation of awards, grants and fellowships.  With almost $34,000 donated annually by corporate sponsors, ACRL has and will continue to nominate, select and honor the very best in academic librarianship.   To read the full press release, click here: Press release for ACRL nomination information

Keith Curry Lance: Preview of National School Media Centers Survey Results

See and hear Keith Curry Lance’s preview of the National School Media Center Survey report that will be announced in Oct at the AASL Conference in Reno.  Interesting comments about the need for this information, age of collections, and “survey fatigue”.

Click here for a brief video clip of Lance.

“Public Libraries Connect Communities” Report

ALA | 2006-2007 Report  ” Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study, 2006-2007″

The Public Library  Funding and Technology Access Report is now available. This report undertaken by ALA and the Gates Foundation reveals the state of our country’s public libraries in regard to public access computers, funding, space, and much more.

This significant report is available in full for download, or you can read individual sections. A press release regarding the report and briefly summarizing its content is available at http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/september2007/plfta07.htm

Best Small Library Award

 Best Small Library in America Award Nomination GuidelinesPostmark deadline: November 5, 2007 Library Journal’s annual award for the Best Small Library in America, cosponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was founded to encourage and showcase the exemplary work of these libraries. Now in its fourth year, the award honors the public library that most profoundly demonstrates outstanding service to populations of 25,000 or less (see below for eligibility). The winning library will receive:-A $15,000 cash award, -A feature story in the February 1, 2008, Library Journal, -Membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2008, and -A gala reception at the conference.  Members of the editorial board of Library Journal, librarians from around the country, and a representative from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will judge nominations based on key factors, including:  -Creativity in developing services and programs that can be replicated by other libraries  -Innovation in introducing and supporting public access computing, educating patrons in its use, and measuring the impact of this technology usage  -Use of technology to expand the reach of library services  -Demonstrated community support  -Success in developing cooperation with other libraries  -Partnerships with other agencies and businesses  -Increase in library use, particularly by new users  -Evidence of library’s role as community center  Keeping the factors above in mind, please tell us how, in the last two years, you have raised the profile of the library in your community, reached out to new users and remote users, and used technology to support and grow patron access to materials and information. Please also describe the use of public access computers (PACs) in your library and how you anticipate sustaining PACs and adapting to the next generation of users. In your description of your collaborations with others, please give examples of how the library has become a model for the partnering organization and how the organization has become a model for the library. Submission Requirements: Anyone can nominate a library-the library administration itself, patrons, members of the community, library peers, etc. There is no entry fee, but each entry must include the following information:  1) Name, address, phone number, and email of nominee and the name of the contact person, as well as contact information for the submitter if different from the nominee.  2) A written explanation of up to two pages (or a list of bulleted narrative points) that clearly enumerates how the library’s accomplishments fit the criteria for the award listed above. (Note: Entries that describe programs and their effects on the community will be especially helpful to the judges in rendering a decision. Supporting materials, such as brochures, testimonials, press clippings, etc., may be included and are helpful, but they are less important than the written narrative.)  3) Photo(s) of library, staff, and patrons, if possible. 4) Letters of reference from two library peers. (A library peer is someone who is knowledgeable about libraries in general and knows the nominated library well, but who is not employed by the library in any capacity. Examples include librarians at neighboring libraries or colleagues at the state association or the state library.) 5) Statistical data: Population served Total annual budget (if you are part of another body of government, note if you pay utility bills, IT, etc.) Per capita budget Circulation Materials budget (including electronic databases) Physical visits (door count) Virtual visits (e-use, if collecting this data) Number of staff Percentage of staff who are professional librarians. Most libraries collect such data, but if you do not have all of these statistics, then submit those the library does have. Also, please detail whether the nominated library is a member of a consortium/county-wide service district-what services are provided by it (technology support, training, databases, etc.), what role does the library play in it? The judges do not make selections based on numbers, though they are helpful in giving context to the written submission.  Eligibility Requirements: 1) A single library serving a community with a population of 25,000 or less is eligible (latest Census). 2) Area library districts or systems may serve an aggregate population of greater than 25,000, as long as the service area of the library includes an area or a community with a population of 25,000 or less. The prize money must be used to benefit that population.  3) A single county or town with a population over 25,000 that is served by two or more library districts or systems operating entirely within the bounds of the county or town may qualify as long as the service area of a given library includes a rural area or a rural community or the population of the library’s jurisdiction is 25,000 or less. The prize money must be used for that area.  4) A single community with a population greater than 25,000 and having a library with one or more branches may qualify. The library must have a service area that includes a rural area or community that does not exceed a population of 25,000. The prize monies must be used only for the benefit of the rural or community population under 25,000. Similarly a single community with a population greater than 25,000, which also provide library service to an adjoining community of 25,000 or less population by contract, may also be eligible, provided the prize is used entirely to support the smaller community.  5) A single community library serving a population greater than 25,000 and not providing service to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for the award.  Send the nomination, postmarked deadline November 5, 2007, to: Library Journal’s Award for theBest Small Library in America c/o Library Journal 360 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10010 If you have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact Rebecca Miller at miller@reedbusiness.com or by phone at 646-746-6725. Rebecca T. MillerExecutive EditorLibrary Journal360 Park Avenue SouthNew York, New York 10010646-746-6725miller@reedbusiness.comwww.libraryjournal.com