May 2017 Edition

Here's what you'll find in this newsletter:

  • A Message from the State Librarian
  • New Online Trade Name/Trademark Filing Available To Library Customers
  • Summer Reading Evaluations
  • Kwame Alexander Champions Summer Reading in new Public Service Announcements
  • Find a Performer for Summer Reading in Online Performer's Showcase
  • Career Transitions Database Assists Customers in Job Search
  • Support Researchers by Increasing Access to Newspaper Collections
  • AzLA Conference Proposal Deadline May 26th
  • Volunteer Narration at Talking Book Library
  • CE Events Update
  • New Infopeople Courses
May 1 was the scheduled date for making LSTA 2017 subgrant award notifications. Applicants were notified on that date that  Arizona’s federal fiscal year 2017 LSTA Grants to States allotment had not been finalized. The funds available to IMLS for LSTA Grants to States were under the Continuing Resolution, which was in effect until April 28 and extended to May 5, 2017. 

On Friday,  May 5, IMLS issued the following press release:  Federal Support for Museum and Library Services Assured for FY 2017.  It concluded with a quote from the IMLS Director,  Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew , “We appreciate the Fiscal Year 2017 appropriations support so that we can continue to advance the power of the nation’s museums and libraries to transform lives and improve community wellbeing.”

We look forward to hearing further information from IMLS about the state allotment and will then notify grant applicants concerning the status of their applications.   Thank you, everyone, for your patience.
Business Services in the Department of State has gone live with online trade names and trademarks.  No longer do customers need to come to downtown Phoenix to file.  If they don't have a computer at home, they can use their nearest public library's computers free of charge to visit the Online Trade Name/Trademark Program.  Please help us spread the word! 

These filings are only applicable in Arizona and are not substitutes for national filings. If patrons  want  to file nationwide, they may consult the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or  the State of Arizona Research Library, which is a U.S. Patent and Trademark Resource Center. 

From day one leading the Department of State,  Secretary Reagan has sought to improve access to public information utilizing available technologies.  

Beginning with a revamped homepage, online notary renewals, and a dedicated elections portal, citizens can easily find what they’re looking for within the numerous divisions and branches within the agency. 

Summer Reading hasn’t kicked off yet, but it’s already time to start thinking about evaluating the summer reading program.  Summer Reading statistics are due to the State Library by September 2, 2017.  To make sure you’re ready to submit your statistics on time, check out these two short webinars, which will walk you through how to use the patron survey and the Summer Reading Statistics tool.

Summer Reading Surveys & Evaluations Webinar Part 1--This Webinar will assist you in the use of the Summer Reading Survey for Patrons

Summer Reading Surveys & Evaluations Webinar Part 2--This webinar will assist you in using the Summer Reading Statistics tool for the final evaluation

Summer Reading Statistical data can be used to support management decisions, establish benchmarks and apply for grants.  Make sure you’re prepared to collect this valuable data before the summer begins!

Kwame Alexander, author of the 2015 Newberry Medal Winner The Crossover, is 2017’s Summer Reading Champion.  Kwame Alexander has recorded summer reading PSAs that you can use to advertise summer reading.  These PSAs reach out to different audiences—some are designed for kids and others for parents, teachers, and librarians. 

CSLP also provides Spanish-language PSAs, as well as other live-action and animated PSAs to promote summer reading and the 2017 theme of ‘Build a Better World.’  Some of them are even available for your library to customize.  To learn more, make sure you are logged in to cslpreads.org and select "proprietary downloads"

Inspire your customers with fun and educational performers this summer!  Magicians, puppeteers, storytellers, and more are just a click away on the Arizona Performer Showcase.

The Arizona Performer Showcase is a listing of artists, programs and performers that are interested in presenting to Arizona library audiences.  Each listing includes a performance description and contact information, as well as a recommended age group and audience size.

Don't see your favorite performer listed on the showcase? Encourage them to add their listing online!

Career Transitions is a self-paced application that walks job-seekers through the entire process from assessing strengths and interests, to exploring new opportunities, to ultimately improving the chances of landing a job.

Start by exploring career paths.  Career Transitions offers a career assessment tool to help identify what kind of jobs match your customers’ interests.  You can also use your experience to help customers find new jobs, or browse career paths to find new options.  Each career field recommended includes a list of typical activities, average salary, predicted growth, and more.

Career Transitions also prepares customers for the job search.  Resume Builders allow customers build their resume one section at a time, and each recommended field of information includes an explanation of why the information requested is important.  The site also includes sample resumes to use as templates for success.

Career Transitions even offers an interview simulation.  This is a unique and engaging way for customers to improve their chances of success in interview situations.  Customers will learn a proven strategy for answering the most common types of questions--in a realistic setting.

For customers looking for a new career path, Career Transitions is an excellent tool.

While newspaper collections are an invaluable resource for researchers, preserving and providing access to newspaper collections can be a challenge.  The State of Arizona Research Library offers collections and services to help make managing your newspaper collections easier.

To help expand your patrons’ access to newspaper collections, make use of the State of Arizona Research Library’s collections via ILL.  The Research Library subscribes to 99 Arizona newspaper titles, and has a current collection of over 23,000 microfilm, covering titles from all 15 counties.

If you have a digitization project your library is working on, the Research Library team can help provide resources to advise you on your project.  To get started, check out the Library of Congress’ standards for preservation and digital conversion.  These guidelines can be especially helpful when selecting vendors and ensuring they provide quality work.   

Got more questions?  The University of Arizona Library and the State of Arizona Research Library have worked together on newspaper digitizing projects and will be at AzLA in October, so bring your questions and project ideas.  In the meantime, contact us by phone or email.

The Arizona Library Association Conference has extended the deadline to propose a conference session to May 26th.  This year's conference theme is: "Because of YOU...Libraries Transform."

If you plan to present a program, poster presentation, round table, or blitz session, be sure to have your proposal in by Friday, May 26th!
Did you know that the Talking Book Library trains their volunteer narrators who record local talking book titles?  Micha Espinosa, Associate Professor of Voice and Acting at Arizona State University, presented Narration Training to the Talking Book Library's recording volunteers in January. Professor Espinosa focused on breath control and reading techniques.  She provided a number of suggestions to help prepare for and encourage good narration results, such as yawning to help stretch the mouth as well as the upper body.

Offering training to volunteers is just one of the ways the Arizona Talking Book Library provides exemplary service to the visually impaired and those who cannot hold a book. If you have patrons facing visual impairments, be sure to refer them to the Arizona Talking Book Library.  If your library or a partner organization would like a presentation on the services the Talking Book Library provides, you can request a presentation using this form.

Thanks go to the Arizona Friends of Talking Books for funding this training.   
Library Services Continuing Education Events

Due to packed schedules because of Summer Reading, Library Services will not be offering in-person CE courses during the summer.  Look for new CE programs starting in August.

For professional development over the summer, please turn to the online Infopeople courses and CE webinars, posted below.

New Infopeople Courses

Library Development has purchased a selection of registrations for online courses offered by the California State Library's Infopeople. These courses are available to Arizona library staff on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be expected to complete your course and fill out a short evaluation form before enrolling in another.

To learn more about any of these courses, visit the Infopeople website. Before registering, you will need to email Dale Savage to receive a coupon code. Please use your work email and include your name, email and phone number, and your library's name,  library type, address and phone number and the course you wish to enroll in., 

Continuing Education Webinars
The links below provide access to free CE webinars for professional development.

Webinars listed on Webjunction are all free and available for anyone to access.

Library Services is part of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State. The branches of Library Services include Library Development, the State Library of Arizona, the Arizona Talking Book Library, and the Digital Arizona Library.  Library Services programs and activities are supported in part with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Holly Henley
State Librarian and Director of Library Service
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Contact
Library Services 
http://www.azlibrary.gov/libdev