The Adult Services Roundtable met on March 29th at the new Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest which is fantastic! In attendance were Katie Moellering (EOL), Mary Donlevy (EOL), Jason Brown (HV), Deni Owens (HV), Gina Robertson (Gardendale), Joy Lee (Clay), David Ryan (BPL), and Dianne Clark (Bessemer). We were led on a tour by our great friend and Reference Librarian Leslie West. After the tour we convened in the beautiful meeting room looking out over the forest to discuss A to Z Databases, a new database company whose product we recently previewed on a trial basis. The consensus among members at the meeting (as well as via members not present who provided an email response) was that the database was still too new for us to consider switching from Reference USA. Additionally, Ref USA offered the cooperative a discount to renew this year. The members at the meeting unanimously felt it would be in the county's best interest to remain with Reference USA for the time being.
Additionally, Amanda Bonner at Hoover requested that we share information regarding Free Legal Assistance for self-represented parties. This service is offered by the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program - check it out!
And speaking of they law, our topic for the meeting this month will be business and legal resources - please bring your books and ideas! We will meet at Emmet O'Neal Library on March 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the library's Conference Room.
Hi Everyone For those of you who attended the PLD presentation on Adult Programming at Homewood back in January, I have FINALLY added my presentation to the blog.
Also, in the very near future I will post some information about free or almost free speakers and programs in and around the Birmingham area. If you are outside Jefferson County and have some speakers you would like to add, please let me know!
The Adult Services Roundtable met on Tuesday, January 18th at Emmet O'Neal Library at 10:00 a.m. Our topic was best practices.
In attendance were:
Katie Moellering (Emmet O'Neal)
Mary Donlevy (Emmet O'Neal)
Dianne Clark (Bessemer)
Lorraine Walker (Five Points West)
William Darby (Eastwood)
We discussed best practices in various areas of day to day library business including paging list, staffing and collection development.
Changes to our downloadable collection were discussed.
We talked about magazines and circulation, newspapers, Consumer Reports (which is a favorite resource for many patrons) and use of databases.
We had a lively discussion about tax forms, the ease of receiving them (!!!!) and what we will do now that many libraries have received drastically fewer copies of them form than in previous years.
Lorraine brought a flyer from Five Points West that she uses to promote new books each month.
We discussed which libraries have and use televisions in their libraries (such as at Eastwood and Five Points).
We also discussed best practices for cell phones, computers and privacy issues and finally security issues.
Our next meeting is scheduled for March 29th. We hope to meet at Vestavia's new library for a tour.
The Adult Services Roundtable meeting took place on November 16, 2010 at Emmet O’Neal Library.
In attendance were: Theresa Davis (Hoover) Dianne Clark (Bessemer) Bonnie Bannister (Warrior) Sally Sizemore (Hoover) Patricia Guarino (Hoover) Mary Donlevy (Emmet O’Neal) Jared Millet (BPL) Deni Owens (Hoover) Katie Moellering (Emmet O’Neal)
Members of ASRT discussed the issue of ebooks. It was mentioned that the website would be re-designed to reflect new content including more drop down options for patrons to choose from. There is also a “buy it now” option which allows patrons to purchase titles directly rather than checking them out. A portion of the proceeds comes back to JCLC. In general, the website should have a cleaner look and better organization.
We discussed the forms of software required when a patron downloads title for the first time. In addition we discussed some of the problems patrons have reported when downloading.
Patricia Guarino told us Hoover will host meetings on a regular basis to cover developments and other issues with downloadable audio and ebooks. She also mentioned a project funded by Overdrive - an ebook accessibility program. called LEAP through which our library members apply and their fees are paid by Overdrive.
Information and an application can be found here: http://www.overdrive.com/files/LEAP.pdf
Hoover will be offering classes once a month on using ebooks. Staff from Barnes & Noble will be on hand to provide information on downloading, browsing the store and the library’s websiteas well as features of the Nook, how to download, etc. The library cannot and will not sell the Nook or take orders.
One of our members reported that Overdrive’s blog is very good and offers lots of tips and advice to its users.
Overdrive’s blog can be found here: http://overdriveblogs.com/library/
Remember, there is also a wiki for JCLC library staff to use. If you would like access to it, go to the Shared Resources section of the JCLC intranet. For a password to add to or edit the wiki, please email Elizabeth Swift
Our next meeting will be January 18, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Emmet O’Neal Library.
The roundtable has planned to meet at Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook) on the following dates for 2011:
January 18th March 29th May 17th July 19th September 20th November 15th
Topics to be covered next year will include Best Practices, visits to Vestavia and Clay, Business & Law topics, Customer Service Issues, and Serving Underserved Populations.
Below are the minutes from our most recent meeting. Please let me know if you would like to make any changes or clarifications.
Thanks!
Adult Services Roundtable
July 2010 Meeting
Reference Materials and Topics
In attendance were:
Deni Owens – Hoover
Jared Millett – BPL
Jason Baker – Trussville
Beth Hutchison – Homewood
Katie Moellering – Emmet O’Neal Library
Gina Robertson – Gardendale
John Newman – Avondale
Leslie West – Vestavia
April Wallace – Irondale
Ellen Lawrence – Springville Road
We discussed the trial offer by EBSCO for their Legal Information Reference Center. Jason Baker expressed interest and mentioned that this database might be a possible addition at the county level. The libraries were given a free trial offer for the Center which is still active.
If you would like to take a look at the database or have questions, please contact Katie Moellering (at Emmet O’Neal), as she can contact our EBSCO rep. to find answers.
We discussed various library's experiences with reducing or eliminating orders for print reference materials in the face of database offerings. We also discussed what happens when, during a budget crunch, those online materials are cancelled.
A few libraries mentioned that they are shifting some reference materials into the circulating collection for better visibility.
If you need a place to send reference books a few options were mentioned:
·Better World Books (which donates books to their partner programs around the world – see their website for more info)
·New Clay library may want some materials (although PLEASE call or email first!)
·Some libraries have had success using the APLS listserv to distribute their books to libraries (school and public) across the state.
Leslie West asked if the standards committee should look at its standards in regards to the reference collection if, in fact, many libraries are reducing the size of their reference collections.
Deni Owens mentioned that libraries should beware of a company that publishes books on demand which are nothing more than Wikipedia articles. Deni’s email to me said “The publisher that turns the Wikipedia articles into books is Books LLC. Watch out!”
She also sent a handout from Susan Spafford (Hoover) of her “must-have” reference books and/or materials.
We discussed the use of print and online materials in schools. Sometimes students come to the library stating that they need an online source but “can’t use the internet” and sometimes have difficulty understanding our databases are, in fact, legitimate sources.
Leslie West brought some of her favorite resources to share. Among them were a few books on dental care and eye care. These are favorites of hers because there are very few books available on these subjects and these particular titles, published by Omnigraphics, have a more universal lexile level.
Deni mentioned that Hoover has moved all career info to a career section with job interview/resume writing tips, etc. all in once place.
We discussed those books that frequently “disappear” i.e. G.E.D. books or in some places books on witchcraft. Bessemer used to purchase the GED books at a 40% discount then sell them to their patrons.
Another librarian stressed that we should be steering patrons to Learning Express to take tests based on various subjects.
We talked about Atlases and atlas stands as well as Opposing Viewpoints, antiques and collectibles and when we weed these particular subjects and subject areas.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 21st at 10:00 a.m. We will meet at Emmet O'Neal Library to discuss Community Outreach and Social Networking.
