Google Donates 100 Computers to Vermont Public Libraries and Adult Education Sites

Effort supports public computing at 42 libraries and adult education sites

Montpelier, VT – Google has donated 100 computers and funding for software to Vermont public libraries and adult education sites.

Vermont State Librarian Martha Reid announced the gift, which is valued at nearly $25,000 combined.

“Our local libraries have become the hubs of connectivity in many communities and we are very pleased with this public private partnership,” said Governor Peter Shumlin. “This puts power in the hands of Vermonters seeking free access to the Internet and all the benefits – for education, employment opportunities and more – that offers.”

The donation, part of a larger effort by Google to donate surplus equipment from their offices, includes desktop computers and flat screen monitors, keyboards and mice, all completely refurbished and loaded with the latest software operating systems. None of the computers is more than three years old.

VT Library Tech Club and Tech Unconference

Greetings. I’d like to take this opportunity to invite anyone with an interest to join what we’re calling the VT Library Tech Club. It’s intended to be an informal group to discuss technology in libraries, to ask questions, share experiences, and collaborate within the state. We’re not assuming a particular level of experience with technology, just an interest in the topic. We’ve created a Google Group to give us a venue for communication – it’s located at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/vt-library-tech-club . Or, if you have any questions, or would like to join, please feel free to get in touch with me at jmuse@colchestervt.gov .

In addition, I’d like to mention the Library Technology Unconference, which is taking place on Thursday, September 13^th, from Noon-4:30 pm, in Berlin:

New Advocacy Tool – Mobile Commons

ALA has now made it easy for all of us to respond to email alerts that are sent out asking us to call our legislator on behalf of the most recent bill or action.. Text!

Here’s what to do:

Text “library” to 877877. You will receive a message back asking for your address. Send that info back. From now on, when there’s a legislative alert from ALA relating to library and information issues they will send you a text.

FREE Koha Demo from ByWater Solutions!!

Hello everyone,

I’d like to invite you to join Nicole C. Engard, Koha Documentation Manager and VP of Education at ByWater Solutions for a free Koha 3.8 introductory demo webinar. If you’re considering and open source ILS or just curious about Koha please join me!

Vermont State Parks Pass and Oh Ranger! App

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources just announced a free Vermont State Parks App:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/oh-ranger!-parkfinder-vermont/id509618668?mt=8

As Parks Passes start to go out, this would be a wonderful thing to promote with the passes for library members with smart phones and tablets.

It might even be a great time to promote certain apps that have to do with the great outdoors, like the Audubon Guide Apps, which are a little pricy but I use them all the time myself and that purchase supports local business (Green Mountain Digital).

http://www.greenmountaindigital.com/

What are your favorite reference apps that you tell patrons about?

Cloudy with a Chance of Connecting to the Future!

New England Library Association – Information Technology Section
2012 ITS Spring Event
Cloudy with a Chance of Connecting to the Future!
Friday, June 8, 2012
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Worcester Public Library
3 Salem Square, Worcester MA 01608

Registration fee includes lunch!

NELA members $50
Non-members $65
Library School students & unemployed librarians $35

Digitizing Collections for Small Organizations – May 16 – June 13th

A discussion lead by Jess Weitz of Brooks Memorial Library and Forrest Holzapfel of the Marlboro Historical Society

Small town cultural organizations, such as libraries, museums, and historical societies, are community-anchored institutions that provide access to unique, local information and objects that are unavailable elsewhere. But budget-strapped organizations often do not have the funding, staff time and expertise, or technology to devote to digitizing these collections.

The importance of creating digital collections for small organizations is only increasing. Cultural changes have demanded more user-friendly ways to access information, such as from home or on mobile devices. In addition, social media, digital collaboration and crowdsourcing are now available to help create forums for sharing digital data.

Words Fly Up: The New Digital Environment and its Challenge to Higher Education

Charles (Chuck) Henry, President, Council on Libraries and Information Resources, will give a talk, Words Fly Up: The New Digital Environment and its Challenge to Higher Education, at Middlebury College (Axinn 232) on April 23 at 4:30 p.m

He looks at ten of the very large projects being developed at a national scale in the U.S., and explores ways these unprecedented efforts, if developed as elements of a coherent ecology, will challenge our understanding of culture, learning, and the organization of higher education.

Vermont's Digital Future Conference

Tuesday May 8, 2012 from
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Champlain College, South Willard Street, Burlington VT 05401
Broadband connections can open opportunities in all sectors and for all Vermonters. On May 8th, join leaders from around the state to set the path for using Internet technology to create jobs, strengthen our communities, reinvent schools and increase citizen participation.
Read more→

Vermont Library Conference 2012

This Ain’t Your Mama’s Library
Creating a New Generation of Library Services for a New Generation of Library Users
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
St Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont

This year will feature a keynote address by Michelle Gorman and a Book Cart Drill Team Competition. For more information on programming, visit the Conference Website at http://www.vermontlibraryconference.org/