2009 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute

We’re down to the wire for the 2009 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute.

In the time OLSSI has been around, the economy has never been worse, and funds for libraries has probably never been so tight. While it’s not uncommon for a professional conference to end up costing $1500 or $2000 with hotel rooms, meals, etc., we still think our conference/retreat is bargain at $225.00.

Here is short list of four additions to the 2009 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute:

1. We are proud to announce that our keynote speaker will be Jason Thomas, Sergeant USMC, retired. This brief note cannot do the man justice. Mr. Thomas received a number of awards for his search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. He would become a subject of the Oliver Stone film, World Trade Center, and he and his family would appear on a special two-hour episode of the television show, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

For more information, please visit: http://www.theJasonThomas.com/

2. Another addition to OLSSI’s Sunday night festivities will be James A. Willis, author of the book Weird Ohio. Mr. Willis will give a presentation of the equipment he uses with his paranormal research and investigation team, the Ghosts of Ohio. He’ll then take all interested outside for ghost tour of the Denison campus!

From their website (http://www.GhostsOfOhio.org/):

3. Also opening night, the OLSSI Super Spectacular Costume Contest!

With the “Meet & Greet” reception at 5:00 PM, and dinner and opening ceremonies at 6:00 PM, there’ll be plenty of time to show your Super-Self! So come dressed as your favorite superhero, villain, or one of your own making! The winner will get the Superhero Prize Pack, which includes:

The Pulitzer Prize winning book –

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, by Michael Chabon, all four Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve on DVD, a Spider-Man fleece blanket, and the Marvel Comic Book Library – 100 digital comic books on CD-ROM, all in a star-spangled Captain America tub!

So, Mask Up!

For photos, go to: http://a-whole-lotta-olssi.weebly.com

4. And finally, while we’ll be handing out giveaways Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, nothing beats a Grand Prize! After our final presentation on Tuesday, we’ll be giving away a weekend getaway to The Inn & Spa at Honey Run!

Your two-night stay in the Main Lodge can actually be any time of the week you choose!

The Inn is nestled on 70 acres in the heart of the Ohio Amish Country in Holmes County, between Millersburg and Berlin, Ohio.

For photos and more information, go to: http://www.innathoneyrun.com/

* * * Registration closes Wednesday, July 15^th. You can contact Secretary/Treasurer Tanya Ellenburg-Kimmet for your all your registration needs at the following:

Fax: 937-775-2356
Phone: 937-775-2094

Email: tanya.kimmet@wright.edu

U.S. Mail:

Tanya Ellenburg -Kimmet

OLSSI Secretary/Treasurer
Digital Services
Wright State University

3640 Col Glenn Hwy
Dayton, OH 45435 USA

OLSSI 2009:

The Ohio Library Support Staff Institute, has opened registration for OLSSI 2009!
The Superheroes of YOUR Library: SUPPORT STAFF !

August 2 – 4, 2009
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

* We’ve added a discounted Early Bird Registration Rate of $200 until May 15th.
* And our scholarship contest is still open for first-time attendees!

Class Descriptions: http://www.olssi.org/index_files/Page727.htm
Registration Form: http://www.olssi.org/index_files/Page736.htm
Scholarships: http://www.olssi.org/index_files/Page834.htm

www.OLSSI.org

OLSSI SUPER Scholarships

~ OLSSI SUPER Scholarships ~

OLSSI Scholarships are awards covering the entire $225 registration fee for the annual Ohio Library Support Staff Institute. This will allow three people to attend the 2009 Institute free of charge. To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be presently employed as a library support staff member.
2. Be a first-time attendee of the Ohio Library Support Staff Institute.
3. Agree to contribute to the planning the 2010 Institute as a Steering Committee member.

How to Apply:
Please write, in 200 words or less, why you would like to attend the Institute, and how you think attending OLSSI will help you and enhance your library/work performance.

* All applications must be written by the applicant, and not their supervisor(s).
* The Scholarship Contest begins at 8:00 AM, March 21, 2009.
* Deadline for scholarship entry is 5:00 PM, April 21, 2009.
* Winners will be announced on or before April 24, 2009.

Please remember to provide the information listed below, along with your essay.
Please send via e-mail to OLSSI.scholarships@gmail.com

Good luck & we hope to see you at Denison University for OLSSI 2009 !

Name: __________
Title: __________
E-Mail Address: __________
Library/Institution: ___________
Address: __________
City/State/Zip: __________
Phone: __________
ESSAY
200 words or less.
Why would you like to attend the 2009 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute?
How do you think attending OLSSI will help you & enhance your work?

* OLSSI dates:
Scholarship contest: March 21 – April 21, 2009. Announcement April 24, 2009.
Early Bird Registration: April 1st - May 15th.
Registration- May 15th - July 15th.
OLSSI 2009: August 2 – 4, 2009

www.OLSSI.org * http://www.OLSSI.org/index_files/Page834.htm

Open Source SWRS RFP

OHIONET, on behalf of the State Library of Ohio and a multistate collaborative of State Libraries and regional library groups, has issued an RFP to identify and acquire an open source statewide resource sharing platform. The desired product would provide a seamless resource sharing solution, developed and released under an open source framework, in an environment of disparate integrated library systems (ILSs). Specific information about the goals, requirements, timeline, and process is documented fully within the RFP, available at http://www.library.ohio.gov/swrs/rfp

We strongly encourage all organizations and/or software vendors to read the RFP and consider responding to the RFP if the proposal is within the scope of your products and company's offerings. Formal responses must be submitted by January 30, 2009 by 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time to be considered.

Questions and comments can be directed to the State Library of Ohio. Contact information is specified within the RFP.

Thank You.

OLSSI 2008

The Hidden Treasure of Libraries: SUPPORT STAFF!
The Ohio Library Support Staff Institute is almost here !

Sunday, July 27th – Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at the University of Toledo.

Ahoy Mateys! The 2008 Ohio Library Support Staff Institute will set sail July 27 – 29, 2008 at the University of Toledo. OLSSI has planned outstanding programs, interesting lectures, and fun activities for participants.

Lodgings for all attendees and scallywags will be at the Crossings, which features air-conditioned 3-bedroom suites. Each attendee will have his or her own bedroom.

The University of Toledo has a beautiful campus, including Centennial Mall. This picturesque lawn area in the heart of campus was named “One of the 100 most beautifully landscaped places in the country" by the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Add in the 47-acre Stranahan Arboretum, the Center for the Visual Arts, six libraries, and the shops and restaurants of Toledo and nearby Sylvania, Ohio, and OLSSI 2008 is shaping up to be the best ever!

Grab the opportunity to network with peers, be exposed to new job-related skills and knowledge, and gain a sense of community and support from other library assistants throughout the state and region!

Classes include:
Audiobooks, eBooks, Music, & Video: Digital Downloads Without Pirating!
No Need to Draw Yer Cutlass! How Facebook Can Work for Libraries
Putting the Rrrrrr in PublisheR: Making a Brochure from a Template
Sail Ho! WorldCat Local and Resource Discovery
Charting the Frontier of the Internet: Web 2.0

So come and be a part of the fun and learning that is OLSSI !

To register & find out more, visit us online at:

www.OLSSI.org

Open Source Software ILS discussion/options

As you probably know, folks here at the State Library, library partnership organizations (including the Regional Library Systems, OHIONET, LibLime, OLC) and librarians across the state have had several sessions and discussions on the opportunities and challenges of utilizing an Open Source Software Integrated Library System (OSS ILS). In fact I believe that it was nearly exactly a year ago (April 07) that we held the first State Library-initiated “statewide” meeting to discuss options.

Since then I have had the opportunity to talk with many directors who are anxious about the state of vendor-driven ILS, particularly with regard to Horizon 8.0.

Several months ago, we had a meeting to discuss roles and responsibilities surrounding the possibility of offering an OSS ILS in the state of Ohio. Representatives from all Regional Library Systems, Dianna Clark (SEO), Stephen Hedges, Joshua Ferraro (LibLime), Doug Evans, David Namiotka (Director of IT, State Library) and I were in attendance. Although OHIONET was not able to send a representative, Michael Butler was aware of the meeting and was updated at a later time.

We have continued to have conversations on this topic and several questions have been raised:

Who can and/or should house a solution?

What solutions are being offered across the state?

Who is interested in a consortial OSS ILS solution?

What is the correct business model?

Koha OSS ILS is being implemented across the state. We are very fortunate to have LibLime here in Ohio. But as yet there has not been an implementation of PINES Evergreen software which is what the State Library of Georgia has implemented for most of the public libraries in that state. Several library directors have asked if there is a role for the State Library of Ohio regarding offering PINES Evergreen software for building a consortium.

You all probably know that I am very supportive of anything that will assist librarians in providing excellent library service to the residents of our state. But this specific topic is multi-faceted and gives me some concern. Whatever happens with the OSS ILS offering in the state, especially in the consortial arena, has the potential to have an impact on SEO – both positive and negative. Because SEO is an integral part of the State Library, I would like to make that impact as positive as possible.

Dianna Clark, Director of SEO, and I have discussed this frankly and openly. One of the options that we have discussed is setting up an OSS ILS consortium at SEO for libraries who are interested in taking advantage of the Evergreen software as is currently available. We have discussed offering this AS IS while at the same time we identify functionality which would enhance this software.

Please note: IF this were to be done, this would be done as an additional service, NOT as a replacement of the Horizon consortium of SEO. Funding of this service would be independent of the Horizon consortium funding.

We are in discussions with Equinox to determine the feasibility of this. These discussions have just begun. I wanted to let you know this was happening. I brought this up to the Governing Board of SEO on Monday, March 31st. They were supportive of looking at this option.

As we move forward with these discussions, I promise that I will keep you all apprised. While we have cancelled the April 23rd videoconference, we still have one scheduled for May 21st. This may be an opportune time to bring you up-to-date on our ongoing discussions. Please watch for details in the upcoming weeks.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you.

Jo Budler
State Librarian

Next-Generation of Statewide Resource Sharing Vendor RFI Presentations

On January 17-18, vendors who responded to the Request for Information (RFI) issued by RMG Consultants presented their proposals to the Ohio library community. The presentations were videoconferenced from the State Library of Ohio to the SEO Library Center, SERLS, SWON Libraries, NORWELD, and NEO-RLS.

Each vendor was given three hours to present their proposals, demo their solutions, and answer questions from the audience. The following links are to brief summaries of each presentation, based on the capabilities wanted for a Next-Generation Library Resource Sharing Solution for Statewide Resource Sharing, outlined in the October focus groups and November videoconference.

Equinox Software, Inc. presentation
SirsiDynix presentation
OCLC presentation
Auto-Graphics presentation