July 1, 2009 -- As Library Maintenance of Effort (MOE) is a complicated formula under normal circumstances and a very challenging prospect in light of legislative changes and financial unallottments, the SELCO Librarian offers specific details on the significant changes and calculations.

• Library MOE: Significant Changes to Maintenance of Effort in 2009
• Library MOE: Just How Will It Be Calculated?

June 30, 2009 -- In observance of Independence Day, the SELCO office will be closed on Friday, July 3.  There will be no Automation Support on Friday or Saturday, the 4th.  Also, there will be no Delivery Service on Friday.  

June 22, 2009 -- United We Serve, the volunteer initiative put forth by President Barack Obama, begins today and runs through September 11, 2009.  The initiative officially kicks off today at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco with a keynote address by First Lady Michelle Obama at 2:30 PDT (4:30 CDT.)  According to the initiative's website, Serve.gov,  

"United We Serve" is a nationwide service initiative that will help meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. United We Serve is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.

ALA is a partnering in this effort as well.  From a press release from ALA,

"This presents a great opportunity for libraries of all types to involve young people as volunteers," said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels.  "This will also be a great opportunity to educate the public about the importance and vitality of America’s libraries."

If your library or other organizations in your area have volunteer opportunities available, you may register those opportunities at Serve.gov (click on the Register Now button under Register Your Project or click here to be taken to the online form.)

Other helpful information:

• Press Release announcing United We Serve
• Video Announcement of United We Serve from President Obama
• Serve.gov, the official website for United We Serve
• Website for ALA's United We Serve information

June 16, 2009 -- Are you a library paraprofessional, library support staff member or media specialist looking to learn more about library services?  Then Branch Out 2009 is the conference for you!  Branch Out 2009 -- Beyond Your Comfort Zone will take place on August 4-5, 2009 at the Willmar Conference Center--Holiday Inn in Willmar, MN.  Programs include What is Library Service Day 1, Service to Teens, Stress Management, Managing the Small and One Person Library, Online Learning and Training Platforms, and more, including a special appearance by the Minnesota Crime Wave.  To register for the program and for more detailed information, please visit the Branch Out 2009 homepage by clicking here.  Deadline for registration is July 17, 2009.  Register today to branch out beyond YOUR comfort zone!

June 12, 2009 -- The June 18th meeting materials for the ILS Operations and Technology Policy Joint Committee Meeting has been posted to the SELCO website.

June 8, 2009 -- Libraries and other organization working with youth are invited by the President to engage in a Summer of Service.  As the White House continues its plans, the American Library Association (ALA) shared details with its members.  The President will make a public announcement on June 22 and the Summer of Service will conclude on September 11, 2009.

June 5, 2009 -- Due to sudden illness with the Gold Cross courier driver on route 1, a substitute driver has been recruited to finish the route today, starting with Owatonna Public Library.  You will need to anticipate a delay of at least 2 hours.  Our apologies for this, especially on a Friday.

June 2, 2009  -- The Go-Live of the Chatfield Brass Band Music Lending Library continues, as additional information of interest to our Online Libraries went out as an ILS Bulletin this afternoon. Read this and other bulletins here.

June 2, 2009 -- Meeting materials for the June 2009 SELCO Advisory Committee Meeting have been posted.  The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in the Avila Room at the SELCO office or you may join us online (see June 2009 Online Meeting Instructions document for more information.)  Hope to see you there!

June 2, 2009 -- The Chatfield Brass Band & Music Lending Library online catalog is now networked with 84 other public, school, academic and special library catalogs as part of the SELCO Integrated Library System.  According to Library Director Teresa Cerling, the Chatfield Brass Band & Music Lending Library has the most extensive collection of loanable popular, challenging, and rare sheet music for bands in the United States and serves customers from around the world. 

The SELCO System will allow college, high school, and community bands, as well as other musicians, to browse and select musical scores and instrument parts online.  Customers will also be able to pay small handling fees online since most of the items requested have to be mailed.  With the upgrade, the Library now has about 34,000 cataloged titles.  Funding for the upgrade was provided by a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant administered in Minnesota by the State Department of Education's Library Services Section.

June 1, 2009 -- If you are a tad bit confused about what did and did not happen in the most recent session of the Minnesota Legislature and wondering what might and might not happen next, then Coffee & Conversation offers an option.  Report to the People will provide a venue for area legislators to summarize the session and discuss just what are the executive powers the Governor will use to balance the state budget.

• Monday, June 8, 2009
• 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• Rochester Government Center

May 29, 2009 -- Minnesota's Legacy Amendment raises revenue for Clean Water, Outdoor Heritage, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage.  Libraries will be beneficiaries of a portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage  funding.  The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will received 19.75% of the sales tax funds generated by the Legacy Amendment.  Libraries will be among the many recipients with specific appropriations for the Regional Public Library funding for the arts and education programs and the Minnesota Digita Library.  Legacy Amendment Funding FY2010-FY2011: Implications for Libraries, has been prepared by Mark Ranum, 2009 MLA Legislative Chair, as an introduction to this this new funding stream.

May 27, 2009 --As a preview for a coming presidential announcement, libraries should consider the potential for new volunteers interested in serving libraries.  On June 22, President Obama will announce a new volunteer opportunity.  This national initiative will encourage people to participate in volunteer service.  The Administration has approached the American Library Association (ALA) to participate and inquired about volunteer opportunities in libraries.

According to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, one focus will address children losing ground over the summer in education.  Sec. Duncan suggested asking volunteers to get people to sign up for library cards, supporting summer reading programs and collecting books to donate to the library.  ALA strongly suggested they suggest collecting money for library staff to buy books or ask the librarian what materials are needed.

ALA Washington Office representative, Emily Sheketoff, recommends libraries be ready to respond.  ALA believes the President's Call to Action will generate millions of volunteers around the country.  This new volunteer initiative will be managed by the Corporation for National Service, which is responsible for Americorps.

May 27, 2009 -- Mark your calendars!  SELCO will be hosting a back-to-school Boot Camp session on Wednesday, August 26, 9:30-4:30.  This session is for new school library media center personnel who need immediate knowledge of SELCO basic operations for the beginning of the school year.  Attendees will be introduced to members of the SELCO staff and learn pertinent information about basic circulation, the SELCO catalog, etc.  To view the event flyer, please click here.  To register for Boot Camp, please click here.  Hope to see you there!

May 21, 2009 -- In observance of Memorial Day, the SELCO office will be closed on Monday, May 25.  There will be no Automation Support that day. There will also be no delivery service on Monday.  A regular Monday delivery will take place on Tuesday that week. 

May 18, 2009 -- Are you a library paraprofessional, library support staff member or media specialist looking to learn more about library services?  Then Branch Out 2009 is the conference for you!  Branch Out 2009 -- Beyond Your Comfort Zone will take place on August 4-5, 2009 at the Willmar Conference Center--Holiday Inn in Willmar, MN.  Programs include What is Library Service Day 1, Service to Teens, Stress Management, Managing the Small and One Person Library, Online Learning and Training Platforms, and more, including a special appearance by the Minnesota Crime Wave.  To register for the program and for more detailed information, please visit the Branch Out 2009 homepage by clicking here.  Deadline for registration is July 17, 2009.  Register today to branch out beyond YOUR comfort zone!

May 18, 2009 -- Good news!  If you haven't had a chance to complete More 23 Things on a Stick, the deadline has been extended to June 20, 2009!  And anyone who is registered and finished at least 10 Things by June 20 will receive the completion prize.  If you finish all 23 Things, you will receive a bonus prize.  So, take your time and have fun!

May 18, 2009  8:10 AM -- The problems we were experiencing with Horizon have been resolved.  If you continue to experience problems please contact the SELCO Help Desk.  Thank you for your patience in this matter.

May 18, 2009  7:45 AM -- We are experiencing a problem with Horizon and are currently working on resolving it.  We will send out more information once the problem has been resolved.  Thank you for your patience on this matter.

May 14, 2009 -- The May 21 meeting materials for the Joint ILS Operations and Technology Policy Committee have been posted to the SELCO website.