Mark your calendars!
Posted on 09. Oct, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
The 2012 ARSL Annual Conference will be help in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 28, 29 and 30, 2012. It will be in the Sheraton Raleigh located downtown, within easy walking distance to restaurants, museums and other entertainment. More details will be announced soon, but be sure to mark the dates on your calendar today.
Member Power
Posted on 29. Aug, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
One of the highlights of our year as an organization is always the conference. The opportunity to see old friends and the possibility for making new ones creates an excitment that cannot be duplicated by other events. Perhaps because we are a association of library staff who are, for the most part, isolated during the year, or perhaps because our work in small communities gives us insight into the power of face-to-face networking, the conference is always a big deal. I cannot encourage you strongly enought to do what you can to be there.
But beyond the 3 days that make up the annual conference, I encourage you to become active in this, your organization; for this is your organization. A place where those serving as a vital element in the life of their community can communicate, and sometimes commisurate, about their situations. Where you can “pick the collective brain” for solutions, and resources from those who are doing what you are doing, in the next town down the road. ARSL is an organization for you, powered by it’s members.
At the conference and for several weeks after, we will be issuing a call for committee members. As a growing organization, with an all volunteer board, we rely on the help and participation of our members. If you are in Texas for the conference, stop by the table we will have set up with committee information and see what part you can play. If you cannot come to Texas, look for that same message over the listserv. There is a piece to this puzzle that has your name on it. Get involved. It is the best way to assure that the ARSL remains your organization, carrying your message and speaking with the voice of rural librarians everywhere.
But can you afford to not be there?
Posted on 15. Aug, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
My library, like libraries everywhere, has had to evaluate and re-evaluate and re-re-evaluate where we are putting our money. One of the pluses to dwindling funds is that it forces you to select what is truly important, which of your community’s needs are of utmost priority? Programs, collections, staff salaries, outreach, facilities . . . where should the money go? Too often, one of the first line items to be cut is staff training. Seen as a nice plus, more often than not, boards and even library staff do not place this item in the top tier for funding. Instead, it is something that is done if there is money. I say that philosophy is hogwash. In person training provides opportunities that no other training can offer, and it is vital to the growth of your library.
Training, especially in this day and age of fast changes and even faster technology, is a necessity, not a want or a desire – a must have necessity. And for those working in isolated, rural or small libraries who do not often have access to in-house or collobrative training, it is even more urgent. Think of the benefits of an in person training day – you get your batteries recharged, you get to talk to and hear about wonderful, new and exciting ideas that others in your situation are accomplishing and ask them how did they do that? You have the chance to build your network of experts whom you can contact over the next year and bounce ideas off of and share opportunities for online training. It is a time to immerse yourself, even for a day, in the pool of “What we could do”.
The ARSL conference is coming up in a month. This conference is designed for you – the library staff and board members working in small, rural, perhaps isolated places who want to infuse some new ideas, network with new friends and ask quetions of those who are doind what you want to do. I know that budgets are tight, that travel money is difficult to come by, but I believe that you will not find a better bang for your buck. There is little Theory here – it is substance, practical and down to earth. I encourage you to talk to your board, your Friends, your rich uncle and get yourself to this conference. It is an investment in your professional life and in the life of your library that I believe you will find pays big returns in the coming months. You can not afford to miss this opportunity.
See you in Frisco, Texas!
Join your colleagues at the 2011 ARSL Conference!
Posted on 05. Aug, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
Join your colleagues at the 2011 ARSL Conference!
Registration for the annual Association for Rural & Small Libraries
Conference continues at www.arsl.info.
It will be held in Frisco, Texas, on September 8-11 and will be infused with a welcoming atmosphere
and sense of camaraderie unlike any other conference. Also, ARSL is pleased to announce that the University of North Texas as our conference sponsor. Online registration ends August 28, 2011. You may register in-person at the conference after that date.
Affordable
* Registration for the full conference is only $200 for
members and $250 for non-members.
* Conference hotel rates are only $109 per night. (Rooms
are going fast, so book yours soon.)
* Free events are scheduled throughout including a
pre-conference mixer, morning yoga classes and closing luncheon.
* A field trip to the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas is only
$20.
Relatable
* Birds of a Feather facilitated group discussions offer a chance
to gain new perspective while consulting with others about topics
affecting your library such as Summer Reading Club #’s, Fines and Dewey
Alternatives.
* A Member MatchUp will be offered, pairing those new to the ARSL
conference with experienced conference-goers.
* Sessions are geared towards all levels of service that you
provide: Adult, Teen and Children’s Programming, Trustee/Board
Development, Community Partnerships, Technology Issues and much more!
Surprising
* Free, instructor-led yoga sessions in the mornings.
* A session on Recycling Books for Fun & Fashion will be offered.
* National library leaders peeking around the corner during a
What’s Next general session.
Still not convinced that you should register? Read Sarah Washburn’s (of
TechSoup for Libraries) post: Best conference, hands down: ARSL!
I’ll see you in Texas…
Tena Hanson
ARSL Membership Development Committee, Chair
ARSL Conference in this month’s issue of ALA Direct.
Posted on 04. Aug, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
We are eagerly anticipating the ARSL National Conference in Frisco, Texas.
In case you were wondering, here is a taste of what is coming during those three days!
“Featured presenters will include Linda Braun, nationally-known library technology consultant and past YALSA president; Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, creators of the “Unshelved” comic strip; and Joe Bob Briggs, TV personality, film critic, author and champion of intellectual freedom.
Free events and activities at the conference include the pre-conference mixer, instructor-led yoga sessions in the morning, Birds-of-a-Feather discussion groups and the closing luncheon. Attendees new to the conference can be matched up with more experienced conference goers to get the most out of their ARSL conference experience.
For more information about the conference, and to register, please visit www.arsl.info.”
The entire post can be found here – ALA Direct On the ARSL Conference
Posted on 10. Jun, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
Heading to New Orleans for ALA Annual?
List of sessions and events relevant to the work you do in your rural library. Be sure to join two of our ARSL board members, Larry Grieco and Dwight McInvaill, and this year’s ARSL Emerging Leader, Sharon Michie, for Public Programs that Work in Rural Libraries on Saturday, June 25, from 4-5:30. And if you have additional not-to-be-missed recommendations for folks attending the conference, be sure to post them to the listserv! – Jennifer Peterson
Sessions Recommended to ARSL Members attending ALA Annual in New Orleans 2011(Compiled by Jennifer Peterson, ARSL board member)
Browse ALA Annual Conference Schedule: http://connect.ala.org/conference/ala11 and verify times and locations for events listed below.
Turning the Page 2.0 http://connect.ala.org/node/137992
Friday, June 24, 8:30am – 12:00pm
Convention Center, Rm 345
Description: Turning the Page 2.0 addresses core issues of advocacy, communications and relationship building in a convenient blended-learning format. This half-day kick-off introduces librarians and supporters to the basic tenants of TtP 2.0. Participants will leave this pre-conference ready undertake a six-week course of synchronous and asynchronous online work aimed at completing an individual advocacy work plan. Attendance at this meeting is encouraged but not mandatory for participation; non-members are welcome. For additional information: http://www.pla.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/turningthepage/index.cfm
Beautiful (and Cheap) Websites and Tools for Low-Tech Libraries http://connect.ala.org/node/137211
Saturday, June 25, 8:00am – 10:00am
Convention Center, Rm 343
Speaker: Bob Keith, Technologist, New Jersey State Library
Speaker: Veronica Rutter Reynolds, Web & Collection Dev. Librarians, New City Library
Description: No money? No technological savvy? No problem! With the incredible rise of content management systems and open source tools, no library needs to be without technological necessities. The presenters will display several easy tools to create simple, clean websites as well as other tricks like tracking reference questions using Google Apps or set up an SMS service using Meebo. In this economy, no one can afford NOT to know about these tools.
Diversity and Outreach Fair (ALA) http://connect.ala.org/node/137618
Saturday, June 25, 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Convention Center, Special Events, Halls I/J
Description: The annual Diversity and Outreach Fair celebrates local library services, programs and collections to underserved and under-represented communities. Visit with program implementers, learn details and strategies for success, and consider how they might be repeated in your library community. Enjoy the festive atmosphere while networking and learning about these important programs! Sponsored by DEMCO, Inc.
Perceptions of Libraries, 2010 http://connect.ala.org/node/138167
Saturday, June 25, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Doubletree Hotel, Madewood
Description: In Perceptions of Libraries 2010: Context and Community, OCLC explores how changing contexts impact how people perceive and relate to libraries and information sources. Technologies and economics are vastly changed from 2005, when OCLC released the first Perceptions report. Join Cathy De Rosa for discussion of trends, perceptions and attitudes of the information consumer from this 2010 study.
Public Programs that Work in Rural Libraries http://connect.ala.org/node/137333
Saturday, June 25, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Convention Center, Rm 346-347
Speaker: Larry Grieco, Library Director, Gilpin County Public Library
Speaker: Dwight McInvaill, Director, Georgetown County Library
Moderator: Sharon Michie, Branch Manager, Steele Memorial Library
Description: This will be a panel presentation and discussion of a variety of public programs with a proven success record in rural libraries. Each panelist will describe one or more programs that have worked in his or her library, from inception to implementation including the development of an idea, funding sources, target audience, and how to replicate in another rural library. Dwight McInvaill will describe “The Hurricane Project” and “The Smart Investing Project”, two programs that have worked in his rural library in South Carolina. Larry Grieco will describe his “Artist-in-Residence” program, in its third year at the Gilpin County Public Library in Colorado (winner of the 2010 EBSCO Award for Excellence), and his library’s ongoing viewing and discussion series, in the sixth year of showing 15 to 20 films a year; and his library’s twice-a-year poetry readings, “A Midsummer Night’s Poetry Reading,” and “A Midwinter Night’s Poetry Reading,” which have drawn capacity (50) crowds at his library for the past two years.
NEH’s Picturing America: Model Programs for Public Libraries http://connect.ala.org/node/137350
Sunday, June 26, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Convention Center, Rm 274
Presenters:
Speaker: Malore Brown, Program Officer, NEH
Speaker: Lainie Castle, Project Director, ALA Public Programs Office
Speaker: Amber Creger, Children’s Librarian, Chicago Public Library Woodson Regional Library
Speaker: Colleen Leddy, Director, Stair Public Library
Speaker: Laura Moran, Library Programmer, Western Sullivan Public Library
Speaker: Brandy Morrill, Librarian III, Chicago Public Library Chinatown Branch
Speaker: Jude Schanzer, Director of Public Relations and Programming, East Meadow Public Library
Description: Since Picturing America was launched by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 2007, 3,600 public libraries have been awarded this collection of American artwork. Public librarians who have the Picturing America artwork in their collections are invited to attend this session to learn more about developing related programs for public audiences. Model program formats presented will include book and media discussion programs, local history presentations, lecture series, poetry programming, and more.
Includes: Stair Public Library (Morenci, Mich.) – Located in a rural community, the Stair Public Library sought to offer a museum-like exhibit experience to their users with the model program “Picturing New York…in a Tiny Midwest Town.” The “New York, New York” Art Show featured related works from the Picturing America collection, as well art from local high school students. Library programs that highlighted the themes in the art displays included a musical performance, author visit, book discussion, storytimes for children and a gaming day at the library.
Come visit with ARSL board members at the ALA Affiliates Booth!
Sunday, June 26, 10:00am – 11:00am
Booth # 2122 in the Convention Center
We’ll be there to chat and share information about ARSL’s fall conference in Frisco, Texas. For more information about ARSL 2011 Conference: http://www.arsl.info/annual-conference-awards-calendar/frisco-conference-2011/
Bookmobile Sunday – Panel Discussion
http://connect.ala.org/node/137000
Sunday, June 26, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Convention Center, Rm 284
Speaker: Susan Baker
Speaker: MaryAnne Marjamaa
Speaker: Michael Swendrowski
Speaker: Kathryn Totten
Description: The annual Bookmobile Sunday program will feature a panel of experts discussing a range of bookmobile-related topics including advocacy, Bookmobiles 101, new bookmobile tips, bookmobile outreach, and bookmobile programming.
FREE One-on-One Consulting
Sunday, June 26, 1:30-5:30pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Magnolia Room
Description:
PLA, in partnership with the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, is pleased to present “Consultant’s Giving Back” at ALA Annual. Schedule a complimentary half-hour session with a nationally-recognized library consultant to talk over your library’s most pressing concerns.
List of more than 15 consultants who will be available: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclasections/ilex/2011consultantsgive.pdf
Registration is open through Monday, June 20. Schedule directly with your consultant of choice.
Raisin’ Readers: Improving Literacy for Rural Children and Youth
http://connect.ala.org/node/136989
Sunday, June 26, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Convention Center, Rm 348
Speaker: James Bartleman, author, As Long as the Rivers Flow
Moderator: Loriene Roy, Professor, University of Texas, Austin
Description: Rural, Native, and tribal libraries sponsor, host, and launch initiatives that support young and teen readers and their families. This program will feature the Honorable James K. Bartleman, Canadian diplomat, author, literacy advocate, and member of the Mnjikaning First Nation, to share his thoughts for engaging youth in literacy programs and read from his young adult novel, “As Long as the Rivers Flow.” As Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Bartleman initiated the Lieutenant-Governor’s Book Program in 2004, collecting over 1.2 million books to stock school libraries in First Nations communities; launched a program to pair Native and non-Native schools in Ontario and Nunavut; and set-up summer camps for literacy development in five northern First Nations communities.
President’s Program featuring Marilyn Johnson
http://connect.ala.org/node/137870
Monday, June 27, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Convention Center, Rm 274
Description: Join ALTAFF President Rod Gauvin as he hosts best-selling writer Marilyn Johnson (This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians can Save Us All). Marilyn has been a national champion of libraries and was the moving force behind ALTAFF’s “Authors for Libraries,” a large and growing group of authors who are willing and ready to speak out at the local and national levels about the importance of libraries. A book signing will follow.
Common Sense Preservation Assessment
http://connect.ala.org/node/137772
Monday, June 27, 10:30am – 12:00pm
Convention Center, Rm 269
Moderator: Mary McInroy, Reference & Library Instruction, University of Iowa Libraries
Speaker: Jacob Nadal, Preservation Officer, UCLA Library
Description: Learn common-sense approaches to preservation risk assessment and set priorities for collections care. Learn about proven models for preservation assessment; free tools for gathering information about your facilities and collections; and resources to help you understand risks and take effective action. This session will include time to connect with colleagues and talk with preservation experts about preservation issues shared by small, rural, and tribal libraries.
ALA Advocacy University: Frontline Fundraising
http://connect.ala.org/node/137622
Monday, June 27, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, River
Description: The hardest part of getting started with fundraising is figuring out what tools your library should use. The Frontline Fundraising Toolkit is an initiative of ALA President Roberta Stevens which empowers small and rural libraries to engage in fundraising without development staff. During this “town hall” session, you’ll interact with the toolkit writers who will walk through their sections which provide current fundraising techniques and information to help you build a long-lasting base of support for your library.
Other Resources for Browsing ALA Events:
ALA Annual Conference Schedule
http://connect.ala.org/conference/ala11
Programming Librarian
Guide to the ALA National Conference
http://www.programminglibrarian.org/annual/
Conference Proposals
Posted on 24. Mar, 2011 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
The 2011 Conference planning is well on its way! We look forward to a great time in Frisco, Texas, but we need your help.
Proposals are being accepted for workshops for the 2011 conference. The workshop times are one of the highlights for any conference, and the ARSL membership is no exception. If you, your library, your system or your staff are doing something new, creative and innovative that can be replicated elsewhere, consider submitting a workshop proposal.
The Online Proposal form is here . We look forward to seeing what wonderfully new and fun ideas you have to share with all the ARSL members.
So glad to have seen you in Denver!
Posted on 25. Oct, 2010 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
It’s been a week plus since our conference, and perhaps this is a little on the late side, but I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful turnout in Denver this year! The conference planning committee was overwhelmed and overjoyed at the response to this year’s conference program. It seems that the Programs and Presenters group found just the right speakers to meet the needs of your libraries and bookmobiles.
I hope you remembered to thank whomever may have been responsible for making sure you made it to Denver and have already started planning on how to get to Frisco next year. The dates for 2011 will be out shortly.
Anyway – thank you to our Denver partners and local libaries for a warm and sunny time in the Mile High City! It was a conference to remember!
Hope to see you in Denver, Colorado
Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries
and
The Association of Bookmobile & Outreach Services
are pleased to announce that registrations are now open for their
2010 Joint Conference
Magic in the Mile High City!
to be held in Denver, Colorado at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel
October 14-16, 2010
There are some interesting, educational and exciting plans for this year’s conference.
The Keynote Speaker for Thursday’s Opening Session will be Dr Loriene Roy, past President of ALA. For the Closing Session on Saturday morning, Pat Wagner from Pattern Research will address the group. Both individuals are well known and respected speakers in the library world.
In addition, local author and radio personality Dom Testa will speak at an Friday Author’s Lunch. A Wednesday night Welcome Mixer is planned to allow you to meet old friends and make some new ones. There will be dine-arounds on Thursday evening and a Magic Show on Friday night. A time to visit bookmobiles, stop by the vendor tables as well as to reconnect with friends and associates from across the county will be included in this year’s schedule. Workshop selection is being finalized and workshop titles will be announced in a few weeks. Some of the topics for this year’s workshops include gaming in the library, using outreach programs for children and teens, ethics, library advocacy, and managing change.
Early Bird member’s rate for conference registration is $200. https://www.bcr.org/ARSL/conf10/index.html (good through 8/29/2010)
Three exciting pre-conferences are planned as well.
All are scheduled for Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Dealing with a Runaway Board will offer real world solutions for those who are having difficulty managing boards, directors or other library personnel who are out of control. A panel of experts will work with attendees to develop solutions for your situation.
10 Things You Should Know Before Disaster Strikes will take you step by step through disaster preparedness; what you need, who you should call and how to organize now, before a disaster hits your library. This workshop includes a hands-on salvage workshop for restoring damaged library materials.
Think Outside the Box is a 1/2 day tour of the two newest libraries in the Anything Library System. LEED Certified and completely Deweyless, these two new libraries offer an opportunity for you to see a different kind of library. Meet with the architect, talk to the directors and tour the facilities. Transpiration to and from the libraries is included.
The Crown Plaza Hotel - Denver Airport - is situated just outside lovely Denver, Colorado at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Minutes from the Denver International Airport, the hotel offers a lovely lobby area, a restaurant with a wide variety of meals, an exercise room, business center and swimming pool. All the rooms for the conference will have free internet access and the conference room rate is only $99 per night (single or double occupancy). This rate is good for 3 days before and after the conference, so plan an extra day and do some sightseeing. The hotel also will provide a free shuttle service to and from the Denver Airport. Be sure to ask about it when you register (303-371-9494). www.cpdenverairport.com
Conference registration information and an online conference brochure can be found at the following link: http://www.arsl.info/annual-conference-awards-calendar/denver-conference-2010
To register, please stop by the Conference Registration and Exhibitor website – https://www.bcr.org/ARSL/conf10/index.html
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming conference – please send email to arslannualconference@gmail.com
I really hope to see you there!
Library Olympians
Posted on 18. Feb, 2010 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts
Well the Vancouver Olympics have begun, with medals being given to those who are the fastest, the strongest, the best at what they do. I would, however, suggest that small and rural libraries have been involved in a Library Olympic competition of our own. Here are a few of the events that we see daily.
We have the Short Track Circulation Desk Relay Competition where staff strive to serve customers and check in items while not running into each other or tripping over the carts of items stored behind the desk.
There is also the Reference Desk Bi-athalon, an entertaining sport that requires the participants to do any two skills from the following at the same time: answering reference questions, offering reading suggestions, solving computer problems, fixing a stuck printer, explain why we can’t do your taxes for you or fielding phone calls. Points are given for style, smile, customer satisfaction and being able to discern what the customer wants versus what they actually asked.
If you like team sports then you should watch the infamous Downhill Weather SuperG which pits an entire library staff and their movie collection against the fury of Mother Nature in full winter mode.
and here is an Olympic quote for the week -
“The important thing in life is not to triumph but to compete.”
- Pierre de Coubertin (French Educator, primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894)
Keep Competing!