Administration - 603-271-2392

The U.S. Census Bureau has designated the NHSL as a community partner. Since federal monies are tied to Census figures, all public institutions have a vested interest in helping to collect accurate data for the U.S. Census. The state library will be helping to promote participation of NH residents in the 2010 U.S. Census by giving public libraries mouse pads with a promotional message about the U.S. Census. These mouse pads are arriving via van sometime in early January. We ask that public libraries place the mouse pads at their public access computers during the first few months of 2010. Libraries will receive one or more mouse pads depending on the size of the community they serve.

The NHSL will also be encouraging libraries to put together a promotional display about the Census. Those libraries that develop a display are asked to send a photo of the display to Ann Hoey and will be entered into a raffle to receive a copy of Anno's Counting Book, a children's counting book that can be added to their collection.

Both promotional items--the mouse pads and the books--were purchased from NH vendors.

More information about this project will be sent via listservs as well as in an informational letter that libraries will receive along with the mouse pads.

Electronic and Government Information Services - 603-271-2143

Diana Degen has retired from the state library effective December 31, 2009. We wish her a happy, healthy retirement. Please refer questions about databases and other issues related to Electronic and Government Information Services to Bobbi Slossar.

It is open enrollment season for the NH Downloadable Audiobooks Consortium! If your library is ready to join the consortium at this time, please reply directly to Bobbi Slossar at BobbiLee.Slossar@dcr.nh.gov and she will get the process started. This round of libraries would begin to offer the service to their patrons at the beginning of February.

Here are a few things to know:

• There is an annual fee to belong to the Consortium. The fee is based on the population of the community you serve. This fee is used to purchase digital content.
  • Populations under 2500: $220/year.
  • 2501-5000: $550/year
  • 5001-10,000: $700/year
  • 10,001-20,000:$1400/year
• There is no longer a set-up fee to join the Consortium.
• There are 150 NH public libraries taking part in the Consortium!

Library Development Services - 603-271-2865 (Concord) 603-419-0086 (Lancaster)

Happy New Year!

As the new year begins, the assembling of your data from 2009 begins. Many libraries are expecting that the data will help them quantify just how much busier in service measures and how much reduced in resources they were.

The NHSL plans to open the annual NH Public Library Annual Report (NHPLAR) data collection for 2009 by 01 March 2010, with the collection closing on 19 April 2010. Any library which has not started their data entry by 31 March will be contacted with a reminder. Watch for information online at www.nh.gov/nhsl/lds/public_library_stats.html and/or on the NH Public Library Statistics Blog at nhpublibstats.wordpress.com/

Any questions or requests for assistance should be directed to Tom Ladd at NHSL, via e-mail at Thomas.Ladd@dcr.nh.gov or by phone at (603) 419-0086.

The NHSL updates a list of FREE online library education Webinars each month on the NHSL website at www.nh.gov/nhsl/training/modules/Webinars.html

Titles of January Programs:

• Bite-Sized Marketing: Realistic Solutions for Overworked Librarians
• Introduction to GASB-54
• Twenty-first Century Reference Collections
• An Overview of Website Accessibility
• New Copyright Tools and Best Practices: Copyright Law Update 2010
• OCLC Quarterly Update
• Let's Get Social: Photo and Video Sharing
• TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!
• Helping Your Patrons Help Themselves
• FiLBeRt Roundtable Discussion: The Future of Libraries, Books, and Reading
• George and Joan on Partnerships and Collaborations in Tough Times
• Next-Generation Network Security for Schools and Colleges
• Clinical Trials
• Libraries and Workforce Recovery
• Making the Best of a Shrinking Budget: Creative Practices in a New Economy
  

Technical Services - 603-271-2316

The state library bid goodbye to Diane Callahan, who retired from the state library the end of December after many years of service. We wish her well.