The Library of Michigan's Quarterly Newsletter
Fall 2009

Welcome to LM4X, the Library of Michigan's newsletter. This quarterly publication offers updates about Library services and events and Library of Michigan Foundation programs for the public and library staff members throughout the state.

Comments or questions about LM4X? Contact editor Gloriane Peck at (517) 373-0685 or peckg@michigan.gov. We look forward to serving you better!

Help Shape MeL by Participating in Survey

By Nancy R. Robertson
State Librarian

For libraries large and small, urban and rural, we know that the Michigan eLibrary (http://mel.org) has become a huge part of the many services and resources offered to your communities. We think that's exactly as it should be! The Library of Michigan has, for several years, devoted a substantial portion of our state's Library Services and Technology Act funding to enhance, strengthen and promote MeL's resources, making MeL a valuable complement to your existing library service. And we do it all for the benefit of Michigan residents.

Nancy R. Robertson

In light of budget constraints and an uncertain funding future, we think it's in everyone's best interest to ensure that we at the Library of Michigan are making the most of those LSTA dollars. Here's where we need your help, or more accurately, your feedback.

Recently, we sent out to libraries notice of a Web-based survey, with the aim of answering three key questions about MeL from the perspective of library staff and library customer: 1) What are we doing right? 2) What areas might need improvement? And 3) Where should we be directing MeL's focus and resources? Seemingly simply questions, but critically important to MeL's long-term success and funding.

Our approved five-year plan for expenditure of LSTA funds includes the commitment to spend a significant portion of our funds on MeL and all of its components and to periodically evaluate our projects to ensure that the federal funds are having the intended effect on the end user.

That's where you come in! It is my sincere hope that everyone who cares about quality library service take the 10 to 15 minutes needed to share their thoughts about MeL's viability, content and future. Further, go the extra step and invite key staff members and your patrons to share their input (either at a designated in-library computer or through a link on your Web site). For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/lsta.

The Michigan eLibrary is a key part of every Michigan library's public presence and offerings to customers. With your honest insight and good ideas for shaping its future, MeL will continue to play an increasingly important role in Michigan residents' search for quality, user-friendly information.

Thanks for your help!

Nancy R. Robertson

Top of Page

State Librarian's Excellence Award Nominations Due Sept. 11

The Library of Michigan Foundation's State Librarian's Excellence Award is given annually to a library (any type) that exemplifies excellence in customer service. Nominations for the 2009 award are due Sept. 11. Criteria and a nomination form are available online at: www.michigan.gov/documents/hal/lm_09Criterea_for_Excellence_271287_7.pdf.

Only one library in the state receives this prestigious award each year. The recipient library will get a $2,000 cash prize sponsored by the Roger & June Mendel Fund and a distinctive trophy for display in its public area. Additionally, two Library of Michigan Foundation Citations of Excellence will be presented, and the recipient libraries will receive an attractive small trophy for display.

This year's winners will be announced and the awards will be presented Nov. 5 at the State Librarian's luncheon at the 2009 Michigan Library Association annual conference in Lansing.

Top of Page

Michigan Reads! Picks The Pout-Pout Fish to Promote Early Childhood Literacy

By Jolee Hamlin
Youth Services Contractor

The Library of Michigan was thrilled to announce at the first-ever Young Folk BookFest, held Aug. 8 in East Lansing, that the 2009 Michigan Reads! selection is The Pout-Pout Fish by Grand Ledge resident Deborah Diesen. The book festival was hosted by Michigan State University Press as part of the Great Lakes Folk Festival.

The Pout-Pout Fish encourages young readers to swim along with the pout-pout fish as he spreads the "dreary wearies" before discovering he truly isn't "destined" to be glum. TIME magazine named the book one of the Top 10 Children's Book of 2008, proclaiming, "Younger kids will love the repetition of the verses in this tale ... and ... the richly colored turquoise, coral and violet ocean dwellers, from the 'slender squiggly' squid to the clam with a 'pearl of advice.'"

The Michigan Reads! program is an extension of the "one book, one community" concept. While most of these efforts focus on adult or teen reading, the Michigan Reads! program highlights the importance of reading and sharing books with children, early and often. To this end, each public library and its branches, Head Start classroom, Great Start Readiness Program (preschool) and public school building serving kindergarten through second grade will receive a tool kit including hardcover editions of the book, bookmarks with early literacy tips for caregivers, posters, stickers and a programming manual packed with ideas.

In addition, Diesen will tour Michigan in September and October to promote The Pout-Pout Fish, early childhood literacy and Michigan Reads! The tour dates and stops are:

• Benzonia Public Library, Benzonia: Sept. 24
• Herrick District Library, Holland: Sept. 29
• Mason County District Library, Ludington: Sept. 30
• Lenawee County Library, Adrian: Oct. 1
• Manchester District Library, Manchester: Oct. 6
• Pere Marquette District Library, Clare: Oct. 7
• Spies Public Library, Menominee: Oct. 9
• Sandusky District Library, Sandusky: Oct. 13
• Genesee District Library, Flint: Oct. 14
• Rochester Hills Public Library, Rochester Hills: Oct. 15
• Dowagiac District Library, Dowagiac: Oct. 20
• Hamtramck Public Library, Hamtramck: Oct. 22

"The Michigan Reads! program has - thanks in large part to Target's support and commitment to childhood literacy - really grown and thrived these last few years," said State Librarian Nancy Robertson. "It's gratifying to see children and families tap into the joy and excitement of reading, knowing that strong reading skills can help kids achieve their future life and education goals."

"I was thrilled when I heard that The Pout-Pout Fish would be the 2009 Michigan Reads! selection," Diesen said. "Writing it was great fun, and the illustrations that Dan Hanna created for the story really bring it to life. It will be a joy to travel to libraries this fall to share The Pout-Pout Fish with children all around Michigan."

Diesen believes that kids "need books and reading in the same way they need food and love - they need books and reading to flourish and grow. At home, at school, at the library," she said, "when parents and caregivers read to children, great things happen - now, and years down the road."

Please join us in reading The Pout-Pout Fish to every Michigan child in September and October!

Top of Page

Michigan Working for Broadband and Federal Stimulus Funding

By Sheryl Mase
Director of Statewide Services

Now that the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) is published (broadbandusa.sc.egov.usda.gov/files/BB NOFA FINAL 092009.pdf), due to the specificity of the application requirements, the State of Michigan decided not to submit an infrastructure application for the first round of funding. We did, however, apply on behalf of 15 counties for the public computer center and broadband adoption grant funding. The counties included in this first-round grant are: Chippewa, Clare, Gladwin, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Huron, Leelanau, Marquette, Menominee, Oakland, Oscoda, Otsego, Sanilac, Tuscola and Van Buren.

MSU telecommunications professor Kurt DeMaagd, who wrote the proposals on behalf of the State of Michigan, selected counties in which we were aware of an infrastructure grant also to be submitted in round one so that there would be a potential boost in speed along with the computers we would like to place in the public libraries.

The State Planning Consortium for Broadband is doing what it can to assist service providers in their proposal-writing efforts and collaboration. Go to www.michigan.gov/broadband for current information and sign up to receive updates.

Now that the first-round applications have been submitted, we are starting to think about the next round. The dates for the next round are not yet announced, nor are details of the grant requirements available. Nonetheless, we would like to begin preparing for the next round of applications. In the next round - contingent on the yet-to-be-published grant rules - we hope to cover many of the libraries we were unable to include in round one.

To help us prepare, we encourage you to begin collecting the following information for your library:

1. How many computers would you like to upgrade?
2. How many new computers would you like to purchase?
3. Do you have existing facility space for those computers?
4. If not, would a laptop loaner program (for in-library use) work for you?
5. Approximately how many patrons use your computers on weekdays? Weekends?
6. Do you currently offer any computer/Internet training classes? Would you like to?
7. How much of your library staff's time is dedicated to maintaining these systems?
8. Do you have any cash you can contribute to purchasing your new computers (last round required a 20 percent match)?

Although we do not yet have all of the details necessary to begin writing this grant, we hope that by beginning to collect this information and prepare for the forthcoming announcement, we will be better prepared to create a highly competitive grant proposal. We will put out a call for this information on the michlib-l list and also will make sure that the cooperative directors know when we begin to collect data for the next round.

Top of Page

1897-1920 Michigan Death Certificates Available on the Web Through Seeking Michigan

The Michigan death records collection at Seeking Michigan, covering the years 1897 to 1920, is now largely complete. There are now more than 960,000 death certificates available for free at this site, meaning that the project is now 99 percent complete. These records - never before available electronically - are indexed for easy searching by name, death date, location and age, and hold tremendous research opportunities for genealogists, historians and students. This digital project is based on the Library of Michigan's collection of microfilmed Michigan death records from 1897 to 1920. Of the 302 rolls of microfilm, only one has not yet been added to the site; this roll includes records from 1919 for Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb, Manistee, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta and Menominee counties. Outside of these records, there are a few additional problematic records that will be added in the near future.

Death certificate obtained from Seeking Michigan.

The Library of Michigan and the Archives of Michigan launched Seeking Michigan in March to rave reviews. The information-rich site includes:

• More than 100,000 pages of Civil War documents;
• Approximately 10,000 photographs;
• A variety of Michigan sheet music;
• Nearly 1 million death records;
• A broad section about Michigan's 44 past governors;
• Works Progress Administration data (circa 1936-1942) about land and buildings throughout rural Michigan; and
• Oral histories with notable Michigan residents.

Seeking Michigan was made possible with generous funding from the Talbert and Leota Abrams Foundation, a Lansing-based nonprofit that primarily focuses on funding library and educational science programs. Since the mid-1980s, the Abrams Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million toward the development of the Library of Michigan's and Archives of Michigan's genealogy collection, including the digitization of the death records so crucial to family historians' research efforts. The National Historic Publications and Records Commission provided additional funding.

Top of Page

Michigan Political History Society Gifts Library of Michigan with Prominent Michiganians' Oral Histories

By Kim Laird
Head of Acquisitions & Periodicals

The Michigan Political History Society has given the Library of Michigan the James J. Blanchard Living Library of Michigan Political History, a collection of oral histories featuring a number of well-known Michigan political figures. Included are former state House Speaker Bobby Crim; U.S. Sen. Robert P. Griffin; former vice chairman of the state Democratic committee Adelaide Hart; former Attorney General Frank Kelly; former chairman of the state Republican committee Bill McLaughlin; and several UAW dignitaries.

The society has collected these oral histories during the past 10 years and plans to continue the interviews, working from a list of more than 50 people including former Gov. James Blanchard, U.S. Rep. John Dingell, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and U.S. Rep. Sander Levin.

To browse the full list of titles, please do a title search of ANSWER, the Library's catalog online at www.answercat.org, for James J. Blanchard Living Library of Michigan Political History.

Wayne State University's Reuther Library, University of Michigan's Bentley Historical Library, Michigan State University's G. Robert Vincent Voice Library and Michigan TV also received copies of the collection.

For more information about the oral history project, go to miphs.com/Oral.asp.

Top of Page

Abrams Genealogy Seminar Another Success

By Kris Rzepczynski
Michigan/Genealogy Coordinator

The 2009 Abrams Genealogy Seminar "One Step, Many Solutions" drew more than 200 family history researchers, librarians and genealogists from communities across Michigan and beyond to the July 17-18 event at the Library of Michigan. The participant who traveled the farthest hailed from Austin, Texas; several other attendees hailed from Boston, Chicago and London, Ontario.

Keynote speaker Stephen Morse, second from right, with staff from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.

Library staff is thrilled with the turnout, a boost in attendance from last year's event. The seminar - now in its fourth year - has enjoyed successive year-to-year increases in attendance, a testament to the growing popularity and continuing interest in family history and genealogy here at the Library of Michigan

The Library was pleased to partner with the Eaton County Genealogical Society in bringing the seminar's keynote speaker - Stephen Morse - to Lansing. Among the high points of the seminar, Stephen's fascinating talks on his One-Step Web pages, stephenmorse.org, demonstrated how to use his popular tools to better utilize online research time.

Genealogist Yvonne Koos of Grand Ledge was honored with the Library's Carole Callard Genealogy Appreciation Award, in recognition of her service to the Library of Michigan and the genealogy community. One continuing popular feature of the Abrams Genealogy Seminar was the program track featuring libraries and archives with significant genealogical and historical collections. Librarians from the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Ind., Capital Area District Library in Lansing and Detroit Public Library each offered insight and expertise for accessing and making the most of their respective collections.

Yvonne Koos, winner of the 2009 Carole Callard Genealogy Appreciation Award given by the Library of Michigan.

Thank you again to everyone - participants, speakers and Library of Michigan staff - who helped make this event the success that it was.

Top of Page

Improved Scanning Services Available

By Carol Fink
Rare Book and Preservation Librarian

Funding from the Library of Michigan Foundation allowed the Library to replace the Rare Book Program's 2004 planetary scanner with a state-of-the-art machine from Indus International.

In resolutions up to 400 dpi, the Indus Book Scanner 5005C scans books and flat file materials as large as 23" by 33" in color, gray scale and black and white. Images are generally sent to the requestor via e-mail or FTP delivery in a variety of file formats, although printing on 8.5" by 11" paper is also offered.

The built-in book cradle protects tight or fragile bindings from damage by allowing the operator to execute an infinite number of bed adjustments. Bright white LED lights eliminate much of the glare caused by polyester film encapsulation yet provide enough light to pick up even the lightest gray shades. The software allows the user to enhance a scan, when necessary, before the final image is saved.

With archival scanning services now possible, the Library of Michigan will be able to supply high-quality images for patrons, publishers and others needing sharp images for personal or commercial purposes.

Top of Page

Library of Michigan Accepting Submissions for 2010 Michigan Notable Books

By Kim Laird
Michigan Notable Books Coordinator

The Library of Michigan's Michigan Notable Books committee would like to thank the libraries that participated in the successful 2009 Michigan Notable Books tour. The Notable Books authors have shared with us how much they enjoy visiting your libraries to share the program statewide. The committee also would like to ask libraries to share information about the Michigan Notable Books program with authors who visit their communities, so they may submit books for consideration. Authors should submit three to nine copies of a book published in the 2009 calendar year or that has the copyright date of 2009. Unless otherwise requested, the Library of Michigan adds some review copies to its collection.

Books related to Michigan or by Michigan authors are eligible for the 2010 Michigan Notable Books program. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.

Please submit books for consideration or, at minimum, the title, author and publication information to:

Kim Laird
Michigan Notable Books Coordinator
Library of Michigan
P.O. Box 30007
Lansing, MI 48909-7507
lairdk1@michigan.gov
(Fax) 517-373-9438

Top of Page

Michigan Center for the Book Offers Teen Reading List, Author Visit Listserv

By Karren Reish
Michigan Center for the Book Coordinator

Michigan Teen Adventures The Michigan Center for the Book has published a brochure of young adult books set in Michigan. Michigan Teen Adventures is available in PDF format in the Michigan Book Lists section at www.michigan.gov/mcfb. Quark files are also available on request. If you're looking for a way to jump-start your teen reading program or young adult book club, put Michigan Teen Adventures at the top of your list!

Karren Reish

Author Visits

Wondering where your patrons' favorite authors are going to be next? The Michigan Center for the Book has created the author visit listserv and the Michigan Library Author Visits blog. Use these tools to see which libraries are planning visits, to comment on an author, to share tips and techniques, and to find possible collaborators to bring an author to a group of libraries. Sign up for the listserv at www.michigan.gov/mcfb in the Author Visits section, and find the blog at michiganlibraryauthorvisits.blogspot.com/. Join up and start making connections!

Top of Page

New Web Site Aims to Help Libraries Maximize Benefits of Patron-Focused Evaluations

By Karren Reish
LSTA Coordinator

The Library of Michigan has developed an informational and instructional Web site focused on effective outcome-based evaluation. The Web site includes presentations and links to online classes, sample materials and background information.

A consistent, well-designed evaluation system can improve staff efficiency and program quality, making it well worth the effort. Go directly to the Web site at www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668_54065---,00.html, or go to www.michigan.gov/ldds and click on the Evaluation link on the left side, and begin learning how you can improve your library's programming and management by gathering key information from your customers.

Top of Page

Sanders' Stellar Work with Government Documents Earns Her Spot on Federal Depository Library Council

By Sarah Lapshan
Public Information Officer
Department of History, Arts and Libraries

Ann Marie Sanders, regional depository librarian at the Library of Michigan, has been selected as a member of the federal Depository Library Council. The appointments of Sanders and four other new members were recently confirmed by Public Printer of the United States Bob Tapella. Sanders' three-year term begins Oct. 1, 2009. The Depository Library Council, composed of 15 members (each of whom serves a three-year term), advises the public printer on policy matters relating to the Federal Depository Library Program.

Ann Marie Sanders

The FDLP, which traces its roots to 1813, provides access across America to the published information of all three branches of the United States government through partnerships with more than 1,230 libraries ranging from public libraries to research universities. The U.S. Government Printing Office's announcement of Sanders' appointment cited her leadership in the Library of Michigan's ongoing effort to digitally archive state documents, as well as in the Library's participation in the OCLC Digital Archive Pilot Project.

"Ann Sanders is an excellent example of an advocate for the FDLP, providing public access to government information and serving as regional library coordinator. She understands the needs of depository libraries in collections big and small," said Robin Haun-Mohamed, director of collection management and preservation at the U.S. Government Printing Office. "In addition to her training sessions and annual meetings, she keeps the lines of communication open with the selective libraries in Michigan."

State Librarian Nancy Robertson praised Sanders as a committed champion for public access to government documents and as a key player in the discussions regarding cooperative actions for the regional depository libraries in the Great Lakes region.

"Ann has a passion for preserving, interpreting and making accessible the key government documents for our state," said Robertson. "Her dedication to the job at hand cannot be overstated. I have no doubt that the Depository Library Council will be positively influenced by Ann's contributions."

The Federal Depository Library Program has been responsible for collecting, organizing and preserving information by and about the U.S. government since 1813. These collections, more than 1,200 nationwide, can help individuals become citizens, start a business or patent an invention, learn a language, and know their history.

Sanders, an employee of the state library for 14 years, currently serves as the Library of Michigan's head of government documents. The Library of Michigan is the only regional depository library in Michigan. As such, the Library of Michigan receives and permanently retains all tangible and electronic materials distributed by the U.S. States Government Printing Office. The Library of Michigan's collection includes maps and publications in print, microfiche and electronic formats. As regional depository librarian, Sanders is responsible for both the Library of Michigan's collection and for providing statewide services to the 42 additional Michigan depository libraries that serve all citizens of the state who are seeking federal government information.

Her work and commitment have previously been recognized with industry accolades. In 2003 Sanders earned the Jennie Award from the Government Documents Roundtable of Michigan. Named for the award's first recipient, Jennie Cross, the Jennie is awarded only for outstanding service to the Michigan documents community. In 2006, the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association singled out Sanders for the Bernadine Abbott Hoduski Founders Award, an honor given to documents librarians who have made significant contributions to the field of state, international, local or federal documents.

Top of Page

Boys, Boys, Boys ... Is It Cool to Read or What?

By Sheryl Mase
Director of Statewide Services

What was the experience of the 75 participants in this year's Mahoney Workshop, Connecting Boys with Books, held in August at Escanaba, West Branch and Hastings libraries? They learned a lot about boys and why they are actually different from girls in terms of their approach to reading and books. Michael Sullivan, teacher, librarian, chess instructor, author, storyteller and expert on boys and reading, provided tools to overcome the many challenges that tend to alienate boys from reading and using the library. Michael brought along his books Connecting Boys with Books I & II, Fundamentals of Children's Services, and the Escapade Johnson books targeted for "tween" boys, as well as a host of other books that appeal to boys that he "book talked" to the groups in the second part of the day after spending the first part discussing just what makes those boys tick (and twitch!). Evaluations submitted by participants at the end of the workshops were consistently very positive. Attendees appreciated the practical ideas they could implement right away, the bibliography Michael provided (If you missed the workshop, go to www.talestoldtall.com to catch up!), and the review of research and studies on what actually makes boys and girls different in their approaches to reading.

Michael Sullivan at Escanaba Public Library.

The Mahoney Children's Workshops are intended to provide convenient, low-cost, high-quality professional development experiences for youth librarians in regions of Michigan where these opportunities are not readily available. The workshops are made possible through the support of the Alice C. Mahoney Fund administered by the Library of Michigan Foundation.

Top of Page

More WebJunction Classes Are on the Way

By Betsy Hull
Continuing Education Coordinator

WebJunction has proven to be a popular and worthwhile educational resource for Michigan libraries. In January, the Library of Michigan purchased 860 WebJunction online classes for Michigan library staff members to use. Who knew Michigan's library community would set a record for WebJunction class use? What was intended to be a three-year allotment was gobbled up in just four months!

While it's great to see such strong interest in online education, the course pool is now depleted. Library staff members who received the access code but had not yet registered for classes will be denied access to the system.

However, don't put those thinking caps away just yet: The Library of Michigan is working with WebJunction to purchase additional classes to meet the tremendous demand. The new classes will require a new coupon code, and there will be limits on the number of classes that can be registered for at any one time. Please watch the WebJunction site or michlib-l for updates.

In the meantime, those folks who have already registered for classes may still access them. Please complete them! These classes cannot be removed from a registrant's course list and returned to the pool for others to use.

Again, the Michigan library community is to be commended for its interest in online learning! If you have questions about WebJunction classes, registration or availability, please contact Betsy Hull, continuing education coordinator, at hullb1@michigan.gov or (517) 373-3746.

Top of Page

New Certification Manual in the Works

By Betsy Hull
Continuing Education Coordinator

The Library of Michigan will soon provide an updated certification manual for public librarians in Michigan. New rules governing state aid to public libraries and cooperatives take effect Oct. 1, resulting in the need for an update to the 10-year-old manual. Among the rule changes is a consolidation of the number of public library certification levels from seven down to four. Additionally, once a librarian receives initial certification, there is no renewal process. Certification levels are permanent unless a librarian leaves his or her library for another position or receives a promotion from his or her current employer.

Betsy Hull

The new manual will provide a summary of the rules with an easy-to-read outline that explains the rules in plain English. It will be provided as a PDF on the Library of Michigan's Web site.

The rule changes were almost two years in the making, with formal hearings in November and December 2008. The rules were formally adopted in March and take effect when the state's new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Top of Page

Boot Camp for Beginners Draws 70 Library Staffers

Patrick Russell, who works at Portage Lake District Library in Houghton, was one of 70 who attended the Boot Camp for Beginners Workshop on June 1-3 at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.

Jerod Rinkus and Liam Battjes of Saugatuck Douglas District Library participate in the three-day workshop aimed at paraprofessional library staff members who need a formal introduction to library service. Presentations focused primarily on customer service, but other topics included library law and finance, readers' advisory, programming, technology and reference skills. The Library of Michigan holds Boot Camp for Beginners every spring.

Top of Page

MeL.org News to Know

By Deb Biggs Thomas
MeL Coordinator

MeL Featured Resources Gets a New Look!

You may be wondering what exactly is offered in this component of the Michigan eLibrary? Wonder no longer! When you go to MeL.org and click on the fourth choice in the center of the homepage - Featured Resources - you will find front and center, MeL News including our "News Archive," where we periodically provide updates on MeL resources and more. We've then followed the News with special topics that feature best Web sites on subjects of timely or keen interest to libraries and their clientele, as well as topics of special significance such as Michigan history.

Deb Biggs Thomas

Currently, you can find targeted information on Broadband for Libraries, Filing for Unemployment, Foreclosure Assistance, Great Relief in Bad Times: Libraries Can Help and Green Jobs and Business, as well as resources on the Idlewild Centennial 2012 and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 2009.

To the left on the page, you will find MeL's subject gateways for quick and easy access. We are delighted that MeL's Featured Resources now has a clean, easy-to-use interface, and we hope that you will visit often.

Keep the Michigan eLibrary Viable: Use MeL Promotional Materials

Promoting the Michigan eLibrary is key to ensuring MeL's availability for all Michigan libraries and citizens. We have developed an online Marketing Toolkit to assist you with this effort.

In the toolkit you will find links to MeL in various social networking media such as Facebook and Twitter, plus an order form to request free MeL promotional materials including bookmarks, magnets, posters, brochures and more. We also link out to our database vendors' Web sites, where you can find materials on how to most effectively promote and use the resources provided in MeL.

And there's more! We've provided select topical press releases, e-mail blasts and PSAs promoting MeL and local library resources that can be customized or used as a template to promote other aspects of MeL and local library collections. Is there something missing that you could use to get the word out about the Michigan eLibrary? Just let us know; we are happy to add it to our marketing toolkit!

MeLCat by the Numbers

As of Sept. 1:

• Total number of libraries activated in MeLCat: 360
• Academic: 40
• Public: 285
• K-12: 20
• Combination (school/academic/public), Cooperative, Special and Tribal: 15
• Items available in MeLCat: 39.48 million (9.35 million bibliographic records)
• Average weekly MeLCat requests in 2009: 17,852
• So far in 2009, MeLCat has had 839,063 requests, with a fulfillment rate of 89.6 percent.

Top of Page

QSAC: Quality Counts

Customer-Service Goals Guide QSAC Update Efforts for 2010

By Betsy Hull
Continuing Education Coordinator

With the Library of Michigan's Quality Service Audit Checklist (QSAC) program now nearly five years old, efforts are under way to refresh the standards with an eye toward customer service. QSAC began in 2004 as a voluntary management-standards program that assists public libraries by setting benchmarks in various areas, including governance and administration, human resources, services and collection development.

By meeting the benchmarks, libraries are rated at one of three levels: essential, enhanced or excellent. To date, 151 libraries have achieved the essential level, 31 have been rated enhanced, and four have captured the top rating of excellent.

A clear set of standards helps libraries demonstrate to the public how profession holds itself accountable to a standard of governance and financial responsibility - a very important public relations standard in today's economy when taxpayer dollars must be clearly accounted for.

The new and improved measures are slated to be finished by spring 2010. Several librarians from around the state have graciously volunteered to assist with this revision process. They include Suzanne Dees, Superiorland Library Cooperative; Evelyn Holzwarth, Hastings Public Library; Eric Magness-Eubank, Alpena County Library; Teresa Natzke, Franklin Public Library; Virginia Roberts, Suttons Bay-Bingham District Library; Richard Schneider, Muskegon Area District Library; and Kristen Valyi-Hax, Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library.

Coordinating the effort from the Library of Michigan are Karren Reish, library grants coordinator; and Betsy Hull, continuing education coordinator. Follow updates on this effort at www.michigan.gov/qsac.

Top of Page

Your Good Ideas

Houghton Lake Public Library Project Brings Together Kids, Community

By Donna J. Alward, Director, Houghton Lake Public Library
Kim Frazho, Technology Coordinator, Houghton Lake Public Library

Many public libraries regularly seek (sometimes beg!) funding support from local businesses to enhance public programming and services. Support could include money, a free bicycle for a prize, donations of computer equipment, or giveaways for summer reading prizes. The Houghton Lake Public Library staff has not had to seek (or beg!) funding from local merchants because they have generously supported the library for many years.

More than 60 children participated in the Houghton Lake Public Library's The Best of Houghton Lake for Kids by Kids project.

Technology coordinator/trainer Kim Frazho came up with a unique idea to express our appreciation to area merchants in a very tangible way. She and youth services librarian Pam Bauchan created The Best of Houghton Lake for Kids by Kids, an innovative volunteer literacy program that combined reading, editing and computer skills to produce a useful tourist brochure. This special after-school program encouraged and fostered involvement, knowledge and support of the local community and its resources. Staff hoped for at least 10 children to participate in this program in spring 2008, but at 3:15, the kids just kept coming! Sixty-four excited children arrived, ready to work and select favorite sites. Our local newspaper, The Houghton Lake Resorter, provided writing tips and guidance on taking photos and furnished a great group photo at the initial session. Other community volunteers assisted to keep the project moving toward the June deadline, when children gathered at two more sessions to assemble photos and drawings and to add text describing the not-to-be-missed sites at the "other Great Lake in Michigan!"

The cover of The Best of Houghton Lake for Kids by Kids brochure.

In spite of an extremely short timeline, the completed color brochure was presented to the Houghton Lake Merchants Association at its annual breakfast meeting and distributed (before the Fourth of July) at the library, the Houghton Lake Tourism Bureau, Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce, local restaurants, hotels, motels, rental cabins and cottages, other local business establishments, and the Michigan Welcome Centers in Clare, Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. The newspaper staff also produced feature articles promoting the brochure throughout the summer. This literacy project combined fun, adventure, laughter and a real sense of accomplishment on a job well done!

If you would like further information so that you can offer a similar project in your community, please contact the library at (989) 366-9230 or staff@hlpl.lib.mi.us.

Top of Page