FROM THE DESK OF THE STATE LIBRARIAN
As we start the New Year, I would like to inform the New Hampshire library community of a new program that we at the State Library plan/hope to institute this year. For about a year the Services to the Blind and Physically Handicapped Section of the State Library has been offering a small group of its clients access to downloadable audio books. This program was instituted along with four other institutions: the Oregon State Library, the Colorado State Library, the Delaware State Library, and the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center. This group, known as Unabridged, has pooled its resources to purchase content for the clients to download and to pay for the services of a manager of the program. A number of libraries in New Hampshire are investigating use of this technology for their patrons. There are a number of vendors who offer the services with various programs and options. The unabridged group has been using the services offered by Overdrive, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
At a meeting held at the State Library in October, 2005, more than 35 librarians came to discuss the need to provide this service to library patrons and the hurdles that need to be overcome to make this happen. The major stumbling block for many libraries appears to be coming up with the set-up costs to use a vendor to supply the content wanted...This involves configuring the library's ILS library system to identify available titles and remote patron access for this service. The State Library is working with vendors as part of its statewide database licensing program to facilitate this important component of bringing this program about for all libraries that want to take advantage of the service.
A follow-up meeting was held in December 2005 with about 10 librarians serving as a task force. Our goal is to have the program in place as soon as possible. Thank you to all the librarians who have attended the meetings held at the State Library, together we can make this happen.
-Michael York, State Librarian
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| A look at the Capitol Building and construction of the new Visitors Center. Photos courtesy of Lois Corcoran, Silsby Free Public Library, Charlestown |
Arriving at Union Station,
Washington DC. Photo
courtesy of Janet Angus,
Merrimack Public Library. |
 A look at the architecture of the
National Museum of the American
Indian. Photo courtesy of
Janet Angus, Merrimack Public
Library. |
 Our visit to the Library of Congress and
a talk by Librarian of Congress, Dr.
James Billington. Photo courtesy of Lois
Corcoran, Silsby Free Public Library,
Charlestown. |
 Close-up of the glass used at
the National Museum of the
American Indian. Photos
courtesy of Lois Corcoran,
Silsby Free Public Library,
Charlestown. |
 "It was a wonderful experience; very fast paced and exciting. This was my first trip to Washington, DC, now
I want to make plans to return. When I relayed the events of the day to my colleagues at school, the question
was asked of me "would you want to do that again?" My response was "in a heartbeat...however, not the next
day!" I feel very fortunate to have been part of this great day."
Kathy Ryan
Sandwich Center School
Center Sandwich |
 Dome of the Library of Congress.
Photo courtesy of Lois
Corcoran, Silsby Free Public
Library, Charlestown |
 The Capitol Building and
Fountain. Photo courtesy of
Lois Corcoran, Silsby Free
Public Library, Charlestown. |
 Photo courtesy of Janet Angus,
Merrimack Public Library. |
 Our host, Congressman
Charles Bass, at lunch with
the N.H. Librarians' Day
participants at the Capitol
Building. Photo courtesy of
Janet Angus, Merrimack
Public Library. |
| "I think the day was wonderful despite the rain. The only thing that might have been better was to plan for the
tour at the Capitol Building to coincide with the lunch, but I assume that was because of the Librarian of
Congress and his time slot. I know the time at the Indian Museum was short and we didn't go back at break
time, but I know some did. For such a short time in the Capitol, I think it is well worth it. It's day away and
with such good company."
Janet Angus, Director
Merrimack Public Library |
 Waiting in the rain at the
National Museum of the
American Indian. Photo
courtesy of Janet Angus,
Merrimack Public Library. |
 "It was a wonderful but exhausting day. I enjoyed most of the day, but was disappointed in the short time we
had at the Indian Museum. After all the other tours and walking most of us were too tired to head back there
in the opposite direction of the train station. The Library of Congress is much closer to the station. Perhaps in
the future you could start the day there if it is convenient for their staff or start the day with the tour of the Capitol
and then you would be there already at lunch time. After lunch you could do either the Capitol tour or the Library
of Congress whichever wasn't scheduled first thing, they are so close together, then you would have a lot
of time to walk further down the mall to other places. You could schedule a group tour of a museum and be
sure we would have plenty of time there. People could then use the free time at the end of the day to explore
the museum further or go somewhere else. People could also opt to skip the museum tour altogether and go
to another museum of their choice and have plenty of time of explore before leaving."
Amy Friedman
Hills Memorial Library, Hudson |
 Library of Congress. Photos courtesy
of Margaret Beinder, Kearsarge Regional
High School, Sutton. |
 "I personally enjoyed every minute of the day,
despite the rain and sore feet, how could anyone
not be awe inspired by the sights that we
were shown. The sweeping sandstone building
that held the Native American Indian Museum
was just breathtaking. The Library of
Congress tour was very informative and I
wished that I lived closer so I could visit the
various rooms and just sit and admire the
view. Meeting Rep. Bass was a treat, he is
most personable and funny! And if you get a
chance, thank Rep. Sununu for the loan of his
aide Harrison. He was a tremendous tour
guide, it was his first one! I met some wonderful
librarians and look forward to going again
next year and have told anyone who will listen
that this is a trip not to be missed."
Victoria Lang
Meredith Public Library |
 Library of Congress. Photos courtesy of
Margaret Beinder, Kearsarge Regional High
School, Sutton. |
 "Overall it was great, not much you can do
about rush hour train traffic. With only 20 minutes
in the Indian Museum, however, great, I
would have preferred to put the time back into
the Capitol and Library of Congress. Our brochure
had tickets for the house/senate, but a
small group of us had to convince one of the
young aides to take us up for a look. This
would have gone smoother if it had been officially
part of the tour (again, maybe in the time
allotted for the Indian museum). All other arrangements
were great. Thanks for a wonderful
day."
Glynis Miner, Director
Samuel H. Wentworth Library
Center Sandwich |
 Library of Congress. Photos
courtesy of Margaret Beinder,
Kearsarge Regional High
School, Sutton. |
 The old Supreme Court. Photos
courtesy of Margaret Beinder,
Kearsarge Regional High School,
Sutton. |
| "I had a great time. It was my first time in Washington and I thought it was terrific. I could not stop talking
about the architecture. I have never seen so much marble, just amazing. I already have a list in my head of
places I want to visit next time I go."
Tammy McClure, Director
Fuller Public Library, Hillsboro |
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Rotunda at the Capitol Building.
Photos courtesy of Margaret
Beinder, Kearsarge Regional High
School, Sutton. |
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Learning about the Lucky Star at the
Capitol Building. Photos courtesy of
Margaret Beinder, Kearsarge Regional
High School, Sutton. |
"Thank you so much for your efforts. I thought it was a great trip. I was glad to go back on my free time to
the American Indian Museum, because I would have been very unhappy if that 20 minutes were all I had there.
The Librarian of Congress was too verbose, and I would have liked to have seen more of the Library. I did appreciate
much of what he had to say; he made me proud to be a librarian. Waiting around for the congressman
was not fun. We already had to wait too much for check-ins, etc.; the price of security. I would very much like
to go again sometime."
Diane Taylor
Main Street School, Exeter |
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