Monday Morning Eye Opener 4/13/09

Happy Easter and Happy National Library Week!

1) It’s WILBOR Time
2) For Trustees: Evaluating the Library Director
3) Meetings / Events This Week

1) It’s WILBOR Time: This is big news—another enrollment window is now open for libraries to join WILBOR, a consortium providing affordable access to downloadable audio books. There are currently 96 participating libraries across 4 LSAs—and 31 of those are Northwest libraries! WILBOR is a multi-type consortium, with Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Sioux City Community Schools, and Northwest AEA in the mix.

WILBOR launched in June of 2008 and now boasts a collection of over 1,800 digital audio books. Approximately 65 titles are added each month. The average cost per title (based on opening day collection) is $51.00. That’s what’s meant by “affordable access”—few small libraries could provide a collection of over 1,800 audio books in any format. That’s what makes WILBOR such a great deal—and the fact that you’re introducing current technology in an entirely new format.

How much? The cost to join is $300.00 plus .10cents per audiobook circulation in FY07-08. This is an annual fee assessed by the Consortium. To that number, add a one-time $500.00 setup fee. The initial setup fee is assessed by OverDrive, the vendor behind the content. But again, that’s a one-time-only charge; in subsequent years, the cost goes down to the annual $300+ Consortium fee.

For newcomers, the service will begin on or about July 1. So to meet this spring enrollment, newcomers are required to complete 2 Letter of Agreement; copies are available at Northwest LSA office. Signed Letters of Agreement must be returned to Central LSA office by May 15. Your first payment will be due in mid-July. Central LSA office invoices all participants; checks are made payable and sent back to Central LSA.

Staff at Central, Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast LSAs make up the WILBOR Management Team. We also have lots of help from participating library staff who serve on various committees. And the staff at OverDrive also conducts webinars to familiarize people with the product.

We encourage you to grab hold of this opportunity to provide a brand new service for your patrons! Toward that end, Northwest LSA will be holding WILBOR Information Sessions in our online classroom. The information sessions are scheduled for April 29 and May 1 (9:30AM and 1:30PM each day—choose whichever time is most convenient) These sessions are informal, without c.e. credit, just a chance to explain the program to new comers (might serve as a nice refresher for current WILBOR members, too) No registration required; classroom link will be provided at a later date.

It’s definitely WILBOR Time. And once you sign up, well then it’s Miller Time! Call NWILS office with questions and to request copies of the Letters of Agreement.

2) For Trustees: Evaluating the Library Director: The State Library is sponsoring an ICN program for library boards next Tuesday April 21. The title is “Evaluating the Library Director” from 5:30PM—7:00PM. From the catalog description “…One of the responsibilities of the library board is to regularly evaluate the library director. In this program, we'll discuss why an annual evaluation is important, what needs to be in place before an evaluation can take place, evaluation format, setting up a systematic process, & acting on results…”
The State Library reports that this topic of director evaluations is among the classes most frequently requested by library boards. If that’s the case, we should see a full house  Sandy Dixon and myself will be co-presenting. Northwest Iowa ICN locations are the public libraries in Hawarden, Orange City, and Spencer, plus BVU in Storm Lake and Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City. Please register online in the c.e. catalog, where you’ll find specific directions to the ICN rooms.

3) Meetings / Events This Week: Well, it’s National Library Week so you’ve got that going on  If the festivities are winding down by Friday, then catch “Keeping Current in Library Land” (April 17) sponsored by the Plymouth County Libraries. Even though this is billed as Plymouth County Staff Development, staff from libraries near or far are welcome to attend. At this writing, we’re expecting people from Sheldon, Larchwood, Sanborn, Ruthven, Alta, and Ashton. How great—the more the merrier—plus 3 c.e. credits.

Le Mars P.L. is hosting; registration at 9:00AM; program from 9:30AM—12:30PM. Online registration is open through Wednesday. Here’s a peek at the agenda:
• Welcome & Intros
• Keeping Current = means current awareness but also using new tools for new efficiencies
• Vocabulary Quiz
• Journal Alerts in EBSCO
• Subscribing to Online Newsletters
• MS Office 2007
• An Assortment of Cool Tools

Previous issues of Monday Morning Eye-Opener are archived on NWILS website…