Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Maybe you could get city leaders or your academic faculty involved in your library before they start talking about cuts or outsourcing:
from Vineland, NJ, comes a story about an "adopt a shelf" volunteer program. Volunteers are being sought to do shelf-reading once a week:
http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20081230/NEWS01/81230003

If you could get the leaders that are responsible for your library's budget involved, maybe they would see the value on the shelves and overhear the good work that the librarians do every day. Maybe you could take it one step further - name a range of shelves for each of your leaders, and highlight the contents in your next newsletter. Example: "On the Mayor's shelf this week, we have added ... to the already stellar collection of ..."
Feed that pride of ownership, folks!
Outsourcing/privatizing libraries again - only this time, in order to keep the buildings open without library service. Philadelphia mayor is planning to close 11 libraries to save money - but isn't stopping with closing the doors. He says the buildings will be turned into public centers that will be leased to new operators. Materials and computer access will stay, but librarians aren't promised in the new scheme.
From USAToday - http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/12/philly-to-close.html
From AP - http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilv_H8ecm3B1EC1nnfnvLVpBqmcAD95CVKH00

No matter what type of library you work in or use - is your library next?

Monday, December 29, 2008

Here is a grant opportunity for your library:
For the sixth consecutive year, CyberAlert, Inc. (www.cyberalert.com) the online media monitoring company, will award a minimum of 15 public relations grants to not-for-profit organizations. Each grant consists of one full year of free news monitoring / press clipping services, ranging in value from $2,700 to $3,900. In the previous five years, CyberAlert has awarded 102 grants to not-for-profit organizations, including 29 grants in 2008, with a aggregated value of over $275,000. Here's the list of 2008 grant recipients.
All not-for-profit, educational and charitable organizations in the United States and Canada are eligible to apply for the grants, except previous grant recipients. CyberAlert is accepting grant applications until December 31 and will announce the grant recipients in January. More information and a simple and secure grant application is available online at https://secure.cyberalert.com/grants.html.
CyberAlert also offers a 14-day f.r.e.e. trial of its media monitoring services to public relations, marketing and other communications professionals in corporations, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations. You can access the trial through an easy-to-complete secure online form at https://secure.cyberalert.com/ftorder_mmn.html. No credit card information is required or requested.
Contact:
CyberAlert, Inc.
Stratford, CT 06615
800-461-7353 X101
Nobody monitors the media better