Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Innovative Millennium Search Widget Code

After trying unsuccessfully to obtain Search Widget Code from Innovative Interfaces for our Millennium ILS, today I sat down to figure it out - or die trying!

We have had our Millennium ILS for three years now, and for the last couple of years, I occasionally do a search for this code. Absolutely nothing comes up. Many web 2.0 companies nowadays will give you the option to copy the 'Embed Code' (think YouTube or SlideShare), and VoilĂ ! your new-found widget works.

So, today, instead of doing a random search, I actually decided to call Innovative directly. When asked where I could find the Embed Code for a search widget, the very nice customer support person said "Millennium does not support code written for use outside its' OPAC; you might try the users group!".

I of course then asked why Innovative does not provide embed code for their own product, and her response was, "I'm not quite sure." When even the employees wonder why their company doesn't offer this, it is pretty sad!!

As directed, I visited the Innovative User's Group website, and searched the archives (something you can do even if you don't pay to join the group) for 'search widget code'. I immediately stumbled on several search widget conversations, and found enough code to come up with our own - turns out, it is a simple HTML form.

<form action="http://205.201.213.234/search/X"; name="mainwebcatalog">
<select name="searchtype">
<option value="X">Keyword</option>
<option value="t">Title</option>
<option value="a">Author</option>
<option value="d">Subject</option>
</select>
<input name="searcharg" type="text" size="25" title="Enter your search query." />

<input class="searchBtn" name="submit" type="submit"value="Search" />

<br /><a href="http://205.201.213.234/search/X" title="External link" target="_blank">more search options</a>

</form>

There are more things that you can add to this - I also found code for Popular Searches and more. At first, I struggled with the very first link; when I did a search, it would take me to our OPAC - the main page, not one with results. Turns out, I needed to add 'search/X' after our catalog's domain ["http://205.201.213.234/search/X"].

I'm about to add it to our website - all I've had is a link to connect the two. I have also seen some libraries that insert the OPAC directly into their website, and that is next on my agenda.

At this time, I have added a tab to our Facebook Page called "Search Catalog". Sweet.

Monday, October 11, 2010

MPL has Received a BTOP Grant!!

Finally, a project that will get me blogging!!

The Mancos Public Library has received notice that we have been awarded grant monies to total $23,571 for new technology in the Library!

Earlier this year, February to be exact, we were notified by the Colorado State Library (CSL) that they were organizing a state-wide opportunity to apply for a federal BTOP grant for Public Computing Centers in Colorado. The Mancos Library District was identified as a district that has a low income population, as well as low Broadband/Internet opportunities, and would qualify to apply for BTOP funds through the CSL grant.

While at the Annual Colorado Association of Libraries Conference (#CALCON10), I spoke with Sharon Morris, CSL, and she informed me that the State BTOP grant came through! As a result of their efforts, 76 libraries in the state will receive a total of $3.3 Million for technology!

We will find out more information in the weeks ahead, and I look forward to sharing this information, and the process, with you!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Butterfly is Now... - Colorado Library Marketing by Debbi MacCleod and Sharon Morris

This marketing push is NOT to encourage more people to come to the library - it is to increase awareness and support of libraries, so that when voting time comes, voters make the correct choices come voting time.

What's Next ?!

1600 small businesses launch every month in Colorado. Many of those get their start at the library.
Business? Libraries!
(other text: Business planning books. Market research articles. Rules and Regulations websites. Sources of funding and loans. Information experts available to assist.)

With 7.3% of Coloradans unemployed, many of those are searching for their next at the Library. Jobs? Libraries!

This year, more than 26% of Colorado's high school seniors failed to graduate. Many of the ones who succeeded had an advantage: a quality Library.
Literacy? Libraries!
(They had a photo of four children - one of which failed to graduate)

This year, __% percentage of Coloradoans travel every year. Audiobooks, Chilton Auto Manuals, Travel Guides, etc.
Travel? Libraries!

In the OCLC study (from awareness to funding), it was shown that there is no difference between people that use the library, and don't use the library - also, there is no difference between the people that vote or don't vote for libraries.

This campaign is trying to shift people's perceptions of libraries. "Whatever is next for you, libraries help get you there!"

Campaign Rollout
The first year will be spent rolling out to the internal affiliated audience - getting the word out to Library staff, our volunteers, advocates, so that we all understand what the campaign is all about.

Next year, we can take the work that BHAG has done, and focus on rolling this out to external audiences.

4 Different Audiences

Internal/Affiliated
  • generate awareness and understanding of the campaign,
  • ensure consistent messaging delivery,
  • inspire to become ambassadors
Influencers (these are community 'influencers')
  • Strengthen perception of libraries,
  • build interest and engagement in campaign,
  • promote advocacy of libraries.
Decision/Policy Makers and General Public
  • Increase 'top-of-mind' awareness and relevancy of libraries,
  • shift perceptions,
  • prompt increased support and funding of libraries
Campaign Funding - have done initial contacting with the Colorado Foundation to let them aware of this. With the economy, this has not been greeted with enthusiasm. They would like to create a task force of people that can write grants for this funding. They will start writing in the next couple of months. Plan B, if no success with state-wide funding, that they will start regionally - a more of a 'grass roots' effort.

Campaign Website: http://www.whats-next-libraries.org/ (Not up now, hopefully this summer.)

This is a public awareness campaign, so when money is obtained, they will use different treatments of the main message. (Wyoming message was Libraries Bring the World to You. Their treatments were the mudflap girl, the windmill, etc.)

At this point the What's Next ?! is just a skeleton, they may fool around with the font, colors, etc. Tomorrow is the deadline for graphic designers to submit their design of the What's Next ?!


Libraries now can start using the What's Next ?! text right now! Use it in everyday speech, make a display in your library, etc.

Eventual success of this campaign is to have more pro-library measures be passed. Over time, improving people's perception of libraries, more donations, etc.

The logo formats will all be on the website - jpg, eps, etc, for libraries to use in many different ways.

CLiC 2010, Dan Lawrence on 'Grant Writing: Tips, Tricks, and the Deep Six'


Goals of this Workshop:

  • Identify key people, processes, and structures to have in place before starting to write (or not write) a grant;
  • examine key sections of a grant app, w/an emphasis on SMART objectives;

http://preventioncolorado.org/clic10/

Some General Funding Trends
  • Moving from funder to investment approach
  • fewer, but larger grants
  • continuing to fund current grantees
  • not as many grants to small organizations, but more to consotria of small organizations
  • suggesting diverse funding sources (e.g. matching or fund raising requirements)

Before you commit: Read, read, read!
  1. Read for guideleings, check due dates, # of awards, average size of grants, eligibility.
  2. Reread: for any technical requirements of application, preapproval guidelines, needs for letters of support, etc.
  3. Reread: for narrative content.

Tips for Getting Started

Impose a structure on the process early
organize a planning group, layout some tasks and get volunteers
work backward from due date to rough out timeline of deadlines (wyou will be behind)

Sample Scoring Guide - 100 pts.

Minimum Responsiveness Criteria (required)
Narrative (30 pts)
Capacity 5 pts
Action Plan 30 pts
Evaluation Plan 10 pts
Budget 25 pts

B. Narrative
Summary: Get attention and state your case
Needs Statement: define the problem (data)
Gaps: current lack of services or programs in area
Program Description: must match funder priorities, address your problem, be directly related to action plan

C. Capacity
  • aka: why you can trust us with your money
  • who we are
  • how we're qualified - e.g. history, governing structure, mission, primary activities, relevant partners, audiences, and services.

D. Action Plan
  • Use language of the strategies endorsed by funder (logic models?)
  • goals and objectives reflect those of funder
  • create a timeline that makes sense
  • activities should be specific and in chronological order
  • all activities relate to objectives
Goals vs. Objectives

Goals: Objectives
Broad Narrow
General intentions precise
intangible tangible
Abstract Concrete
Can't be validated as is Can be validated

Goal: Community members understand the value of libraries to their lives.

Objective: by june 30, 2010, 50% of the community will be able to name 3 primary library services

Objectives
Describe the steps toward accomplishing a goal
show priorities
provide targets for progress and accountability


SMART Objectives
S=Specific (who? What?)
M=Measurable: It tells you How Much change is expected
A=Achievable: It can be realisticall accomplished given current resources and constraints
R=Realistic: It addresses the scope of the plan and proposes reasonable action steps
T=Time-Phased: it provides a timeline indicating when the objective will be met.

Activites
Things you're going to do to make sure you accomplish the objective
Examples:
Convene advisory committee to discuss community perceptions of the library
(Example: Activity -- Implementation Timeframe -- Measure of accomplishment -- job title of person responsible)

E. Evaluation Plan
How will you asses what you're

F. Budget
  • Complete budget sheet if provided
  • Budget Narrative
  1. Personnel
  2. Direct Operating
  3. Contractual
  4. Travel
  5. Indirect (if allowed)
  • Double-, triple-, quadruple-check numbers match between budget sheet and narrative!
The Four P's of Preplanning
  • Processes
  • Permission
  • Planning
  • People
Processes
  • Read up on Grants and writing process
  • Grants for libraries; neal-schuman, 2006
  • The only grant-writing book you'll ever need, 3rd ed.; basic, 2009
  • grant writing for dummies, 3rd ed.; Wiley, 2009

Permissions: Know people, processes and rules for grants for your library
  • Who is allowed to work on grants?
  • How can you recommend a new project?
  • What are your board/municipal/etc. processes for approving or receiving funds?
Planning
  • 'Evergreen' file (documents and boilerplate)
  • Concept Paper
  • Funding Development Plan
People
  • Library Director / Leadership
  • Staff and Board representatives
  • Grant Coordinator
  • Community Advisers
  • Researcher
  • Writiers, editors, proofers
  • Implementation team
  • Subject matter experts
  • partners
Researching Grant Opportunities
See Locating Grand and Funding Opportunities on pg. 6 of handout
Free basics training and access to databases at Foundation Center Cooperating Collections. See: http://foundationcenter.org/collections/ccco.html

Questions? danl@rmc.org




Monday, January 25, 2010

Library Day in the Life, 2010: Day 1

Our library and community is a very small rural community... We do it all, none of us have MLSs, and we are all part time - including our director.

I do a lot from home.... Today, that's where I am! So, you'll also be hearing some of the other things I do during the day while I work from home - MAJOR multi-tasking!

Morning Email Reading and Responding

Second Life SLL Promotion - LibNet and Alliance Library Google group

Sent out a letter from the Parents Committee of the school

Talked on the phone to my sister and mother

Made some oatmeal and watched Monsters vs. Aliens with Mr. 3.

Worked on our HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning)system's remote connection. I and two other staff members log into the system computer each day to check for any alerts within the entire building system. We need to do this each day for the first year of operation of our new green library building.

Wrote and submitted Library News article to our local paper, Mancos Times.

Spoke with the Snow Shoveling team we hired to clean the 3 feet of snow from our rooftop and garage.

Made up weekly menu and created a grocery shopping list.

Began presentation background work for CLiC Spring Workshops. Sent email to my three other co-presenters. (4 presenters!? Yes, sounds like a lot, but we're doing a half-day session in a computer lab... Our very hands-on session will provide 4 avenues for our attendees to learn!) We will be presenting on the new Colorado Libraries 2.0 Project - which is a new state-wide program to teach librarians how to use and teach their patrons about web 2.0 tools (similar to Helene Blowers' 23 Things.)

IMd in Facebook with a patron, and answered their questions about posting pics in FB.

Picked up Mr. 5 from preschool and went grocery shopping.

After that, I was pretty much in family and Mama mode...