NLCommunicator February 99

NLC ommunicator
February '99 Vol.13 No.2 ISSN 0895-0806 phone: 402-471-2045, 800-307-2665
Timely information from the Nebraska Library Commission

[Announcements]

Diana Dreith has been hired as part-time Office Clerk II in Talking Book and Braille Book Circulation at the Nebraska Library Commission. Diana and her husband have managed their own office supplies business for nineteen years and continue to do so.

Administrative Secretary Elaine Miller left the Library Commission at the end of January. Thanks to Elaine for your contribution these past eight years. Best wishes!

The Nebraska Newspaper Project, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, announces the availability of a new CD-ROM product, "A Guide to Nebraska Newspapers: 1854-Present." The guide provides information about all known general newspapers published in the state since 1854. Searchable by title, city, county, and date of publication, the guide visually displays relationships among papers using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This useful tool for genealogical researchers is designed for use on IBM-compatible computers. Copies for public and academic libraries in Nebraska are free. Contact: Katherine L. Walter, Project Director, Nebraska Newspaper Project, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, N209 Love Library, Lincoln NE 68588-0410, phone: 402-472-3939, fax: 402-472-5131, e-mail: <kayw@unllib.unl.edu>.

A Periodical Database Teleconference will be held on February 26, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CST at satellite sites across Nebraska. The Gayle Group (formerly Information Access Company), H.W. Wilson, OCLC and University Microfilms Inc. will answer questions on current and future products and services. The goal is to make planning and management of electronic databases more effective. This program is part of the Nebraska Library Commission's statewide license from the College of DuPage. Any institution with access to a satellite dish may downlink at no charge. Contact Ellen Van Waart for the satellite coordinates, 402-471-4004 or 800-307-2665.

The Nebraska Library Association's Legislative Day Luncheon is set for February 17, from noon to 1 p.m. CST. The buffet luncheon will be held at the Lincoln Women's Club, 407 S. 14th St., Lincoln. Library staff and supporters will escort their senators to the lunch. Contact Brenda Ealey, Legislative Committee Chair, Southeast Library System, 5730 R St., Lincoln, NE 68508, 402-467-6188 or 800-288-6063, e-mail: <bealey@nol.nol.org>. See the Committee home page for more information, http://www.nol.org/home/NLA/legcomm.html.

Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner announced the funding of a statewide Motion Picture Licensing agreement for all 275 public libraries in Nebraska. Nebraska public libraries are now licensed to show videotapes of motion pictures in local library facilities, at no charge to the libraries. For more information see the Library Commission home page, http://www. nlc.state.ne.us/, search on Video License.

The Nebraska Library Commission recently reminded the press that libraries across Nebraska now offer the electronic information access that their customers need. State funding approved by the 1998 legislature and governor in the amount of $400,000 was added to the Library Commission's budget for fiscal year 1998-99. These state funds were used to contract for online databases, including full-text articles from hundreds of journals and periodicals, for local public libraries, school media centers, and college libraries across the state. Nebraska library staff are encouraged to promote this service with local media. Soon it will be time to renew statewide database subscriptions. The Library Commission would like your help in evaluating past subscriptions and in setting priorities for future subscriptions. A series of focus groups are scheduled across the state, covering existing subscriptions, additional subscriptions, and training. Register to attend one near you on the Library Commission home page, /, search on Database Focus Groups, or contact Jeannette Powell, 402-471-7740 or 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jeannette Powell. If you are unable to attend a focus group, please complete the feedback form online. Comments from previous groups are available for response. For more information see the Library Commission home page, /, search on Electronic Information Statewide.

The Nebraska Library Commission announces that public libraries are eligible to apply for grants for special projects in the area of children's services. Written grants must be submitted to the Library Commission by February 28. (This is a correction to the date published on the application forms.) For a packet with guidelines, explanations of the target areas, criteria for award and an application form, contact Mary Jackson, 402-471-4006 or 800-307-2665, or Sally Snyder, 402-471-4003 or 800-307-2665, e-mail: Sally Snyder. For more information, see the Library Commission home page, /, search on Children's Grants for Excellence.

Spring 1999 Children's Book Reviews will be taped on April 9 and 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. CST and broadcast on April 21, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST. Nebraska librarians and media specialists are invited to attend the taping sessions at the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications Commission and Network, 1800 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln. Twelve Nebraska reviewers will give short reviews of the newest and best children's and young adult books, focusing on the Caldecott/Newbery medal and honor books. Anyone that would like to tape these sessions direct from the satellite broadcast is welcome to do so. The NEB*SAT 102 satellite coordinates are: Spacenet 3, Channel 4. Tapes with lists may be borrowed from your system office or from Library Commission Information/Reference Services after April 24. For more information contact Mary Jackson, (see previous).

The Youth Advisory Board met January 22 via teleconference, discussing ways to improve access to Internet for small libraries, better ways to serve Spanish-speaking children, and school-library partnerships. The Board plans to explore Nebraska Guidelines for Children and Internet at the next teleconference meeting in April (date yet to be determined). For more information, see the Commission home page, /, search on Youth Advisory Board.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced the winners of the Newbery and Caldecott Awards on February 1. The 1999 Newbery Medal winner is Holes by Louis Sachar. The 1999 Caldecott Medal winner is Snowflake Bentley, illustrated by Mary Azarian, text by Jacqueline Briggs. For more information see the ALSC Web page at http://www.ala.org/alsc/.

Nebraska Development Network's 1999 Annual Membership Meeting and Banquet will be held March 1-3 in Lincoln at the Holiday Inn, 141 North 9th Street. An early-bird discount is available for registration before February 19. For more information, contact Ken Shea at 402-471-3781 or 877-814-4707.

If you do not have access to the Internet World Wide Web, contact Laurie Ptacek, 402-471-2045 or 800-307-2665, for print information about the previous announcements.

Preparation of this newsletter was supported in part by funds allocated through the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the United States Institute of Museum and Library Services.

lightbulb [Continuing Education & Training]

Advanced OCLC Interlibrary Loan

February 18, 9 a.m. - 12 noon CST, Library Commission, Heron Room.
Contact: Jeannette Powell, 402-471-7740 or 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jeannette Powell.

How to handle problems beyond the basic interlibrary loan requests and streamline your interlibrary loan process. Topics include: workforms for items not cataloged in OCLC; creating constant data records and macros; setting up custom holdings paths; using union lists; dealing with FirstSearch ILL requests; ILL Fee Management (IFM); and statistical reports. Audience: Current OCLC ILL users wanting advanced training. Prerequisites: Knowledge of the OCLC ILL system. CE Credit=3.

OCLC's Interlibrary Loan MicoEnhancer for Windows

February 18, 1 - 4 p.m. CST, Library Commission, Heron Room.
Contact: Jeannette Powell, 402-471-7740 or 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jeannette Powell.

How to use the ILL ME for Windows software. Topics include: loading the software; customizing options; printing message file items; entering message file updates; using constant data; scheduling batch loads; and setting up macros. Audience: OCLC ILL users currently using or interested in using ILL ME. Prerequisites: Knowledge of the OCLC ILL system. CE Credit=3.

Winter Workshop: "Take the Initiative"

February 22, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST, Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 801 E. Benjamin, Norfolk. Contact: Carol Speicher, Northeast Library System, 402-564-1586.

"Take the Initiative" is the theme for the Northeast Library System 19th Annual Workshop for librarians, school media specialists, and trustees. Presentations include: Genealogy Workshop; Top 10 Federal Documents; Importance of Marketing the School Library Media Center; Local Funds for Long Term Library Support; Adult Book Reviews; E-Rate Update for Schools; Young Adult Books for Reluctant Readers; and FirstSearch Focus Group. Registration: $10 by February 12, made out to Northeast Library System, 2813 13th Street, Columbus, NE 68601, or $15 on the day of the Workshop. Includes handouts, refreshments and lunch.

Introduction to MARC Cataloging for Books Format

February 22, 1 - 4 p.m. CST, Mid-Plains Community College, Room 112, 601 West State Farm Road, North Platte.
February 23, 9 a.m. - 12 noon MST, Oshkosh Public Library, 405 West First Street, Oshkosh.
February 24, 9 a.m. - 12 noon MST, Bluffs Business Center, lower level conference room, 1517 Broadway, Scottsbluff.
March 9, 9 a.m. - 12 noon CST, Library Commission, Crane Room, 1200 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln.
March 11, 1 - 4 p.m. CST, Omaha Public Library, Willa Cather Branch, 44th and Center Streets, Omaha.
March 23, 9 a.m. - 12 noon CST, Valentine Public Library conference room, 324 N. Main Street, Valentine.
March 24, 9 a.m. - 12 noon CST, Broken Bow Public Library meeting room, 626 S. D Street, Broken Bow.
Contact: Jeannette Powell, 402-471-7740 or 800-307-2665, e-mail: Jeannette Powell.

This workshop will include: definition of MARC and why it is important to libraries; how a printed catalog card compares to a MARC record; the components of a MARC record; and what do all of those numbers and letters in the MARC record really mean? Participants should come with questions and examples of cataloging problems or MARC records they have had difficulty understanding. Audience: Those who would like to understand MARC cataloging and are familiar with basic cataloging rules and principles. A minimum of six attending is needed or the class will be cancelled. Instructor: Kimberly Shelley. CE Credit=3. Cost: $10.

Disaster Planning

March 12, 11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. CST, College of Dupage Teleconference Series 1998-99, various sites.
Contact: Ellen Van Waart at 402-471-4004 or 800-307-2665.

What would you do if water started leaking from the ceiling? Do you know where the nearest fire extinguisher is? How about the fire alarm? Where should you go if severe weather strikes? Should you put out a fire or run out of the building? Whom do you call after disaster strikes? What do you say to the news media? Do you have a backup for your computer or Rolodex? What do you do with wet books to prevent them from molding? Do you have a list of companies and services that can help you after a disaster? Leave this teleconference with the beginnings of a disaster-planning manual. Learn what's available on the Internet to help you do this most important task. The Nebraska Library Commission purchased a statewide license to downlink five teleconferences produced by the College of DuPage to support the continuing education efforts of library personnel throughout the state. The programs are a combination of the very successful "Soaring to Excellence" and "Dancing with Change" series. With a statewide license, the Library Commission offers institutions unlimited access to downlink each program and make videotapes for the use of the participating institution. If your institution is interested in downlinking, contact Ellen Van Waart (see above). The satellite coordinates are mailed out to these sites before the program. Supplementary program materials will be available at the College of DuPage Web site, http://www.dupage.edu/main.html. CE Credit=2.

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