 Governor Signs E-12 and Higher Ed Bills Thursday, May 31, 2007 -- from Elaine Keefe, MLA and MEMO Lobbyist: E-12 Education and Higher Education Bills Signed: Tonight Governor Pawlenty signed the omnibus E-12 and Higher Education bills. The increased funding for libraries in these bills remains intact except for the $4.5 million appropriation to help with the costs of merging the Hennepin County and Minneapolis Public Libraries, which the Governor line-item vetoed. That money will simply fall to the state's bottom line and will not be spent. Given the bitter complaints about this appropriation that were made on the House floor by Republican legislators the veto is not surprising. In memory of Jerry Balm Wednesday, May 30, 2007 -- SELCO and SELS extend sincere sympathy to the family of SELCO/SELS Board Member, Jerry Balm, who died unexpectedly yesterday. Jerry was in his first term on the board, and was appointed by the Rochester Public Library. He was admired for his pragmatic outlook and attitude of fairness and balance. Obituary Jerry chatting with Ann at the Fall 2006 Membership Meeting 
Memorial Day Holiday Thursday, May 24, 2007 -- The SELCO office will be closed Monday, May 28th, in observance of Memorial Day. There will be no automation support or delivery that day. Delivery service on Tuesday will follow the usual Monday schedule. Interlibrary Loan Policy Survey Report available Tuesday, May 15, 2007 -- (from MINITEX) The MINITEX/MnLINK Interlibrary Loan Committee conducted a survey of recommended ILL policies in January of 2007. The survey also included two open-ended questions to assist in determining areas that need to be addressed. There were 146 responses to the survey. Future meetings of the ILL Committee will include discussion of the issues from the report and possible changes to the policy recommendations. Read the Report Technology Plan for FY2008-FY2011 Thursday, May 10, 2007 -- The SELCO/SELS Board of Directors approved the 2008-2011 Technology Plan for SELCO and SELS at the April meeting. Through a series of 10 Tech Planning Conversations held around the region between September 11th and December 18th, 2006, member libraries shared their technology needs and plans. The vision, goals, objectives, and strategies of the SELCO/SELS Technology Plan are an outgrowth of the conversations. Complete Technology Plan Congratulations, Bill DeJohn Tuesday, May 8, 2007 -- University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks has notified Bill DeJohn, Director of the MINITEX Library Information Network, that he will receive the 2007 President's Award for Outstanding Service. DeJohn will be honored during a reception at Eastcliff, the University President's residence on June 26, and will be recognized at the next meeting of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents on June 8. Southeastern Minnesota author is Minnesota Book Awards winner
Marshall Breeding speaks at SELCO Friday, May 4, 2007 -- Marshall Breeding, reknowned expert in library technology and Director for Innovative Technologies and Research at the Vanderbilt University Library, presented a full-day workshop, Tech Expectations at SELCO on Thursday, in addition to 4 other Minnesota library locations last week. The workshop was sponsored by the Minnesota Regional Public Library Systems and the Library Services and Technology Act administered by State Library Services. Breeding spoke about: The role technology plays in the creation,retrieval and delivery of library resources, functions and services; How to incorporate computer based resources and new technology in library services; Use of appropriate computer hardware and software applications for library functions and services; and The evaluation of electronic products and services and how to make appropriate recommendations for selection. SELCO Automation Librarian, Donovan Lambright and Marshall Breeding discussing library automation:  Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran blogged the workshop at the SELCO Librarian: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Maud Hart Lovelace Awards Wednesday, April 25, 2007 -- Today is the 115th anniversary of the birth of Minnesota author Maud Hart Lovelace. Each year her birthday is observed with the announcement of the Maud Hart Lovelace current year awards and nominees for the next year, which will be read and voted on by Minnesota's 3rd to 8th graders. This year's winners are Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret and Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements. More on the award at the SELCO Librarian, including the list of 24 nominees for the 2007-2008 award (a great summer reading list). Users' Group May 8th Wednesday, April 25, 2007 -- SELCO Online Libraries Users' Group will meet Tuesday, May 8th at 9:30 a.m. Check the SELCO Librarian for the day's agenda. SELCO/SELS members identify services priorities Wednesday, April 25, 2007 -- The SELCO/SELS Board of Directors received the final report of the SELCO/SELS Services Priorities Survey for 2008 Budget Planning at its April 24th meeting. Results of the member and board survey will be used in planning the SELCO and SELS FY 2008 budgets. Full report LSTA grant projects approved Friday, April 20, 2007 -- The Minnesota Library Advisory Council approved funding for 1 SELCO and 3 SELS grant projects. The projects, which will begin on July 1st, are:
End of Life and Support for Several Products Tuesday, April 10, 2007 -- SELCO recently announced the End Of Life for several software and hardware products. Effective 03-31-2008, these products will no longer be supported by SELCO. Click here for full text Library Supporters Visit Legislators Thursday, April 5, 2007 -- Library directors, staff members, trustees, Friends, and library users including students went to St. Paul on Library Legislative Day, March 28th, to remind their legislators that Libraries Strengthen Minnesota.  More Library Legislative Day photos on Flickr MEMO SE Region Spring Meeting Wednesday, April 4, 2007 -- from MEMO Co-Chairs Melanie Haugen and Sandy George: Please join us for our spring meeting in Winona High School's NEW Media Center. We will gather for snacks in the media center's "bistro" and then will hear Mary Alice Anderson, lead media specialist for Winona Public Schools, present information on the weeding and collection development process. This will be followed by a tour of the beautiful new media center, led by Terry Kroening, Winona High School Media Specialist. Discussion will continue over dinner at the Green Mill for those interested. Registration info Legislative Mashup Monday, March 26, 2007 -- SELCO has launched a mashup of information about southeastern Minnesota legislators. The mashup brings together information from a variety of sources, including photos, web links, and a list of libraries in each legislator's district. More on the SELCO Librarian Technology Plan Comments Invited Wednesday, March 21, 2007 -- For the next three weeks, March 21 - April 11, the new joint SELCO/SELS Technology Plan FY 2008 - FY 2011 is posted as a draft for comment from the SELCO/SELS membership and the SELCO/SELS Board of Directors. As part of its planning efforts, SELCO staff conducted ten Tech Planning Conversations around the region and incorporated the technology vision for the future based on comments shared. The joint ILS Operations and the Technology Policy Committee endorsed the draft at a recent meeting on March 15 and will review the final draft mid-April. Since many of the services provided by SELCO/SELS are either technology-based or impacted by technology, this plan will become an important tool in the organizational decision making process and a vital component for prospective grant applications. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Please send suggestions for additions, changes, clarifications, or comments to Executive Director Ann Hutton at: ann@SELCO.info or by calling the SELCO office: (507) 288-5513 or 1-800-992-5061. SELCO/SELS Technology Plan FY 2008 - FY 2011 Structures Committee Convenes Wednesday, March 21, 2007 -- The Structures Study Committee held its inaugural meeting on March 5th. They reviewed the project timeline that extends into FY 2009, approved a list of responsibilities, and initiated an assessment of governance models for possible consideration. Structures Study Committee Roster Rochester on Tour at the Capitol Monday, March 12, 2007 -- SELCO staff participated in Rochester on Tour at the Capitol. Ann Hutton, Barbara Misselt, and Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran talked to Legislators from across the state, reminding them that all Libraries Strengthen Minnesota. Photos on Flickr MEMO Members Hold Winter Meetings Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Members of the Southeast Region Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) held their mid-winter meeting at 2 localized cites in Owatonna and Spring Grove, in order to minimize driving for members. The table talk topic was the Information Literacy Scope and Sequence Standards. And a good time was had by all attendees, whether a media specialist, curriculum coordinator, or principal.  Plainview-Elgin-Millville School Library 3-Time National Winner Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Students at the Plainview-Elgin-Millville School Media Center have again won a national award in the Scholastic Book Fair Competition. They received their awards at a ceremony on Friday, March 9th. Photos on Flickr, Story on The SELCO Librarian. Spring 2007 Cooperative PC Purchase Tuesday, March 6, 2007 -- It sounds strange to say this with a foot of snow on the ground, but it's time for the Spring 2007 Cooperative PC Purchase. Details were sent out by email to Directors and Automation Contacts. Please return your order forms via delivery to Mike Flores at SELCO no later than Friday, 03-30. We will fill the orders in the first half of April with installations carried out in late April and May. If you have questions or need something that is not on the order form, please contact the SELCO Help Desk. Vote for Minnesota's Top Book Monday, March 5, 2007 -- Readers are invited to select the winner of the first ever Minnesota Book Awards Reader's Choice Award. Voting is open until April 15th at TwinCities.com. The winner of the Reader's Choice Award will be announced at the Minnesota Book Awards gala on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Saint Paul. The winner will receive a $500 prize in addition to the Award. Daylight Savings Patch Friday, March 2, 2007 -- Click here for instructions on installing the Daylight Savings Patch. Email has been sent out to Automation contacts with more information. No Delivery on Friday Thursday, March 1, 2007 -- Due to a number of libraries either opening late on Friday or not at all and with continued bad weather in the forecast, we are going to cancel delivery service tomorrow (3/2). Delivery will resume on Monday, the 5th. Thank you for your understanding. MnLINK plans downtime Monday, February 26, 2007 -- From the MnLINK website: The MnLINK Gateway will be taken down at 5:00 PM on February 27th to install some exciting new features. We expect the system to return to normal operation on Thursday, March 1. Meetings cancelled today Monday, February 26, 2007 -- The SELCO Structures Study Committee and the SELCO/SELS Executive Committee meetings scheduled for this evening are postponed one week due to bad winter driving conditions, which will be aggravated by darkness and blowing snow. Both Committees will meet Monday, March 5th: Structures Study Committee at 5:30 p.m. and Executive Committee at 7:00 p.m. SELCO closed for holiday Wednesday, February 14, 2007 -- The SELCO office will be closed Monday February 19th in observance of President's Day. Automation Support will be available that day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. via the Help Desk at (1-866)529-4469 or (507)529-4469. There will be NO delivery service on Monday. A regular Monday delivery will take place on Tuesday February 20th. LSTA grant projects approved for submission Tuesday, February 6, 2007 -- SELCO and SELS have received recommendations from the 2007 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant review panel to submit grant applications, following the required initial submission of a "Letter of Intent". Over $1.2 million was requested during the Letters of Intent process. The State Library has allocated $600,000 for the 2007 competitive LSTA grant program. Applicants and projects are:
MEMO SE Region Winter Get-Togethers Tuesday, February 6, 2007 -- The MEMO Southeast Region Winter Get-Together will be held in 3 locations this year, to make sure that all get to easily participate. MEMO membership is not required, just a desire to talk about school library media centers. Discussion topics will be MEMO's Information and Technology Literacy Standards and Scope and Sequence. Meetings will be held at the following locations:Contact the location Host or bmisselt@selco.info for reservations or to car-pool. Event Flyer | MEMO Documents LSTA grant projects approved for submission Tuesday, February 6, 2007 -- SELCO and SELS have received recommendations from the 2007 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant review panel to submit grant applications, following the required initial submission of a "Letter of Intent". Over $1.2 million was requested during the Letters of Intent process. The State Library has allocated $600,000 for the 2007 competitive LSTA grant program. Applicants and projects are:
No Directors' Roundtable Today Tuesday, February 6, 2007 -- Due to inclement weather and poor driving conditions over much of the southeast region, the SELCO Directors' Roundtable about Children's Services will not be held today. It is rescheduled for Tuesday, February 13th at 9:30 a.m. Library Community Welcomes Klinzing Friday, February 2, 2007 -- Minnesota library leaders gathered on January 26th to welcome new Assistant Commissioner Karen Klinzing, who is our representative for activities dealing with Minnesota’s libraries and school media centers. The reception was hosted by State Library Services, Minnesota Library Assosciation, and Minnesota Educational Media Organization. More info and photos on SELCO Librarian. Register for Minnesota Library Legislative Day March 28th Monday, January 29, 2007 -- Schedule and registration are now available for Minnesota Library Legislative Day. Register early--this year prepaid parking vouchers are available to the first 80 people who request and pay for them with their Legislative Day registration. Schedule | Registration form  19th Annual MBA Finalists Announced Saturday, January 27, 2007 -- SAINT PAUL , MN –The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Mayor’s Office of the City of Saint Paul , is pleased to announce the finalists in 8 categories for the 19th annual Minnesota Book Awards. Chosen on Saturday, January 27, by 24 judges from around the state, the finalists in the following categories are: . . . Click here for list on Friends site SELCO Launches New Structure Blog Wednesday, January 24, 2007 -- Part of the ongoing Structures Study is an environmental scan of current literature relevant to organizational structures. The SELCO staff Structures Team members are writing reviews of resources they have read and posting the reviews on the new Structures Blog, which goes live today. Each review has a full bibliographic citation and many have links to the full content for online documents. Each blog entry has a comments link to facilitate discussion among the members of the SELCO and SELS community. Structure Blog | Structure Study Timeline American Library Association announces literary award winners Monday, January 22, 2007 -- SEATTLE – The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books and video for children and young adults - including the Caldecott, King, Newbery and Printz awards - at its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. A list of all the 2007 literary award winners is on the ALA website. MINITEX/MnLINK ILL Policies Survey--respond by January 25 Wednesday, January 17, 2007 -- The MINITEX/MnLINK ILL Committee needs your feedback! The interlibrary loan policy recommendations that have been in place since July 23, 2002 are being reviewed. The 1999 recommendation report, reviewed in 2002, is online: MINITEX/MnLINK Interlibrary Loan Committee: Policy Recommendations. Minnesota libraries and schools are invited to participate in the review process through an online survey which ends January 25th.The policies cover these areas: Locally-owned material that is currently unavailable; Borrowing/lending materials in all formats; Loan periods; Renewals; Recalls; Overdue notification and fines; Lost or damaged materials Link to survey Library Legislative Day
Holiday January 15th Thursday, January 11, 2007 -- The SELCO office will be closed Monday January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Automation Support will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. via the Help Desk number - 1-866-529-4469 or (507)5294469. There will be NO delivery service on Monday. Delivery service on Tuesday will follow the usual Monday schedule. January 2007 Users Group meeting handouts Wednesday, January 10, 2007 -- Handouts and presentation slides from the January 2007 Users Group meeting have been posted on the SELCO Librarian blog here. "Go Live Day" in Houston Friday, January 5, 2007 -- Houston Elementary School went live as a SELCO Online Library on Wednesday. This culminates the Houston portion of the Community Libraries as Online Partners 2006 SELS LSTA Grant Project. Story and photos on SELCO Librarian. SELCO Catalog is growing Tuesday, January 2, 2007 -- from SELCO Cataloging Librarian, Kirby Johnson: During Calendar Year 2006, catalogers in SELCO Online Libraries added 66,532 new bibliographic records, 42,190 new authority records, and 202,954 items to the Horizon database. Regional News Archives Submit a news article |
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