Read-In 2009

Photo Contest Winners Announced

The South Carolina State Library is pleased to announce the winners of the Third Annual National Library Week ‘Day in the Life of South Carolina Libraries’ photo contest .

 

During the days of April 12-18, South Carolina library staff members submitted a wide range of photographs of librarians working, teaching patrons, library events, and in some cases, just having fun doing what they love. Library staff members from all types of libraries were encouraged to submit photos that captured the essence of South Carolina libraries and librarianship. Winners will also be recognized on the South Carolina State Library’s web site and during the 2009 SCLA Annual Conference, October 28-30, 2009 at the Columbia Marriott. Judging criteria was based on composition, quality, subject, lighting, creativity, and the ability to capture the spirit of South Carolina libraries. A total of eight photos were selected winners in four main categories. Main categories were Best Overall, Librarians Helping Patrons, Librarians as Technology Gurus, and Most Humorous. Six honorable mentions were also selected. The State Library thanks everyone who participated in the contest!

 

To view all of the winning images, please view the press release in PDF.

 

All of the contest photos are available at the NLW Day in the Life of SC Libraries Flickr group located at http://www.flickr.com/groups/nlwsccontest2009.

Libraries - Partnering Possibilities with Social Security

Social Security is involved in a wide variety of new and important initiatives. They have asked libraries throughout the country to partner with them to share information about these initiatives with the American public.

Specifically, they have asked libraries to help promote their new

national campaign Retire Online. It's So Easy! This campaign features a new online retirement application that can be completed in as little as

15 minutes. The application is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov, and can easily be completed at any library computers. A brochure on the subject can be viewed at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10522.pdf.

In May 2009, as a result of the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act of 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to over 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries. A leaflet which discusses this in greater detail is available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf.

Later this year, Social Security will be launching their third annual Mother's Day and Father's Day campaigns promoting the Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. The agency will keep us updated as to when these new outreach materials are available.

Partnering with Social Security to promote these initiatives will benefit the populations libraries serve. One way you can do this is by linking to the agency's website at www.socialsecurity.gov. Publishing articles about these initiatives in your newsletters or other publications is another method of getting this important information out.

Finally, if you would like copies of the retire online or one-time payment brochures, or you need additional information from Social Security please e-mail Carolyn Houston at Carolyn.Houston@ssa.gov or call her at 410-965-7603. Please indicate the quantity desired (in units of 100) and where the publications should be shipped.

MP3 Players for Soldiers

This is a great story! Way to go Wyoming State Library!

Watch video

Coming off one of the largest deployments in Wyoming Mational Guard History, soldiers abroad and at home got a little something from the Wyoming State Library to make their time overseas a little easier. "In the past, we've had deployed soldiers come to us and ask us how they can get access to Wyoming library materials," said Lesley Boughton, State Librarian. "So, when we heard 900 Wyoming guardsmen and guardswomen were going to be deployed, we thought we'd be proactive and make it a little easier for them." It's called the Creative Zen MP3 Player and along with the player, soldiers will receive a special library card which will allow them to tap into the library's online media store. "These MP3 play

ers would allow those soldiers deployed to download audio books, and music and enjoy that while their deployed," Boughton said. Boughton presented the players to Major General Wright and members of the guard Wednesday afternoon. It was the library's way of reminding Wyoming soldiers their efforts over seas are appreciated and don't go unnoticed. "People we're very excited and appreciative," Boughton said. "So, it was nice to talk to them and hear them." It was all smiles as members of the guard walked up to receive their gifts, but more importantly, they were honored to know they were being thought of. "I think it's a priveledge that they would go out of their way to give a gift to guys over seas where they might not have an opportunity or have not thought about the opportunity for books, or music," said Srgt. Keith Reedy of the Wyoming Air Guard.

King County Library System - Look to Your Library

I really like how King County library has put together this easy to use web site for people who are looking for information related to how the economy is effecting them... check it out!

King County Library System - Look to Your Library

Facebook going on 200 million

clipped from onlinesocialnetworks.blogspot.com NYTimes: Facebook | Two Hundred Million And Counting ... WHEN Facebook signed up its 100 millionth member last August, its employees spread out in two parks in Palo Alto, Calif., for a huge barbecue. Sometime this week, this five-year-old start-up, born in a dorm room at Harvard, expects to register its 200 millionth user.

Facebook for Federal Agencies

clipped from fcw.com GSA signs agreement with Facebook The General Services Administration has signed an agreement with Facebook that clears the way for federal agencies to use the social-networking Web site, a GSA official told Federal Computer Week today. The official declined to provide details about the agreement but said it takes effect immediately. Earlier negotiations with sites such as Flickr and YouTube resulted in special terms-of-service agreements for federal agencies. The agreements resolve the government’s issues with standard terms and conditions governing liability limits, endorsements, freedom of information and legal jurisdiction (read FCW's story here). GSA has negotiated the agreements on behalf of all agencies because providers were reluctant to expend resources developing separate agreements with dozens or hundreds of agencies, GSA officials said. Agencies are already free to use Twitter because GSA found its standard terms of service compatible with federal use.

Facebook to be Made more Accessible

clipped from www.techcrunch.com Facebook Commits To Making Social Networking More Accessible For Visually Challenged Users Facebook is working together with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to make its social networking service more accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired. In a company blog post, the non-profit organization’s President, Carl Augusto, explains which problems visually challenged users encounter when surfing the web and how they’re able to overcome these issues with the help of website publishers, developers and designers.

Reading Rooster Recommends April 8 2009

Wellness Walk

Carmella Broome - Speaker @ the Center