http://www.lrs.org/ Research and Statistics about Libraries - Special Libraries en-us http://www.lrs.org/blog/rss.xml A new Fast Facts, "Use of Statewide Databases Skyrockets in 2009: Patrons Benefit from Additional Databases and Training," has been published!

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This Fast Facts examines the use of electronic databases in Colorado libraries in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 and explores the impact of librarian training and a larger database package on overall database use.

To read this Fast Facts, visit our Fast Facts page or click on the title above!

- Lisa http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=312 How critical is reference to the survival of libraries? Should the library profession do more to promote reference services? In less than a minute you can tell us what you think about reference services.

Let us know what you think at: http://surveys.lrs.org/respond.php?sid=50

Why This Topic
The questions on this survey were inspired by a discussion on a national listerv for virtual reference librarians. It was a fascinating discussion with varied opinions being expressed on everything from usage to promotion. Of course, LRS staff were curious about what the folks in library land thought about these issues. So, here is the second LRS 60-Second Survey: Reference Service - Where is it Going?

About 60-Second Surveys
The 60-second surveys are intended to capture respondents' gut-reactions to questions about very specific topics. Intended to take less than a minute of the respondent's time, these are truly quickie surveys. This is not a scientific study, but rather a reader poll-style survey (think online magazine survey).

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=265 From the DU LIS Program:
The University of Denver Library and Information Science Program is proud to announce a new specialization in law librarianship. Beginning Fall Quarter 2009, LIS will be adding a rotation of courses specifically created to educate law librarians. Students completing the program will receive a Master's of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree with a law specialization.

In conjunction with the new curriculum, LIS is launching the University of Denver Law Librarian Fellowship Program. Thanks in part to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, LIS is offering up to 10 full-tuition fellowships for study beginning September 2009. Fellows must be full-time students and are expected to complete the program within the two-year fellowship window.

In addition to coursework, Fellows will gain valuable practical experience through a partnership with the Westminster Law Library. During their first year Fellows will spend 6 hours per week at Westminster working with the library's librarians and staff. During their second year Fellows will spend 12 hours per week at the library.

To apply, students must complete an online application to the Morgridge College of Education, Supplemental LIS Admissions Materials, and the Law Librarian Fellowship Application. Application information is available on the College of Education website.

The application deadline is December 1, 2008.
For more information, please contact Chris Hudson, Project Coordinator at (303) 871-6683 or Chris.Hudson@du.edu.

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us
http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=257 The three new Field Initiated Studies (FIS) posted should interest a wide range of librarians and library directors.

The Criminal and Credit Checks on Employees and Volunteers FIS is a summary of responses to a question regarding who is using criminal and credit checks as a pre-employment screening process. The question was posed to the Colorado Public Library Directors listserv by Claudine Perrault, director of the Estes Park Public Library.

The ILS Used by the Rocky Mountain Chapter and Solo Division of SLA FIS is a summary of responses received by Mariwayne Scully and Emily Lynch of Mountain States Employers Council when they asked the Rocky Mountain Chapter and Solo Division of SLA listserv what Integrated Library System they use, if they are happy with their system, and what previous system they have used.

The Language Competency and Hiring Survey FIS includes the results of a survey posted by Eladia Rivera of the Boulder Public Library to the REFORMA-CO listserv. The survey asked what types of pre-hire evaluations of language proficiency are done, if any, for applicants with second language skills. It was also asked if there was any type of incentive for second language speakers and if so, in what form. Finally, the survey asked if language training for staff was paid for by the library or local government. Many comments were also added by respondents.

For more information, click on the titles above or visit our Field Initated Studies section.

-Jamie
http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=248 Based on interest expressed at the May 2008 Colorado Public Library Directors (CPLD) meeting, a survey was developed by LRS and distributed by James LaRue (Director of Douglas County Libraries) through the CPLD email list. The purpose was to assess existing hardware, software, and personnel costs associated with existing integrated library systems (ILS) in public libraries, as well as gauge interest in a statewide consortial ILS. The results of this survey are now available at: http://www.lrs.org/technology/ils/.

Links on the page include:
* Public Library ILS Survey Results Summary
* Survey Report and Results
* Open Source ILS - CO Libraries Task Force
* What's with all this ILS talk?

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=240 "Librarianship as viable career" is the liveliest discussion we've seen on libnet in awhile. Obviously many of us feel passionately about being librarians and have strong opinions about the value of an MLIS degree.

Of course, at the LRS we'd like to capture some of these opinions. Help us out by answering a few short questions about this hot topic at: http://surveys.lrs.org/respond.php?sid=31.

This anonymous 60-second survey is intended to capture your gut-reaction to questions about the value of an MLIS degree and its impact on employment opportunities.

Survey at: http://surveys.lrs.org/respond.php?sid=31

Nicolle and Zeth
Library Research Service
Colorado State Library
www.LRS.org http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=231 Librarians working in school, academic, special, and public libraries may be interested in the newest Field Initiated Study (FIS).

This study includes two documents, compiling resources about the responsible disposal of library materials. The Recycling in Libraries document includes a summary of the responses from three Libnet inquiries regarding weeding and disposal policies at public, school, academic, and special libraries. The Weeding document is a list of resources collected for Library People, Coloradoand#8217;s statewide friends group.

You may click on the titles above or see our Field Initiated Studies section for more information.

-Amanda
arybin@du.edu http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=227 Released each year as part of National Library Week, ALA's 2008 State of America's Libraries report covers trends in school, public, and academic libraries, as well as specific issues like outreach and diversity, legislation, and intellectual freedom.

Report webpage: http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/presscentera/piopresskits/2008statereport/2008statehome.cfm
Full report: http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/presscentera/piopresskits/2008statereport/draft-0001c-press.pdf
Press Release: http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/april2008/2008statereport.cfm

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=224 According to U.S. News and World Report, librarianship is one of "31 careers with bright futures." The article says, "Forget about that image of librarian as a mousy bookworm. Librarians these days must be high-tech information sleuths..."

Librarian: Executive Summary
Best Careers 2008 article

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us
http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=218 Have you ever looked at an hourly salary on a job posting and wanted to quickly know how it translated to an annual wage? Or vice versa? The Library Research Service now provides a simple wage calculator which allows you to provide hours worked per week and an hourly, weekly, monthly, or annual salary, and return wages for all of those time frames. Additionally, this calculator has been integrated into Colorado State Library's LibraryJobline.org. Now, as you look at a job posting, clicking on the word "Calculate" next to the salary information will open up a new window with our wage calculator, preloaded with the salary data for that job.

Zeth
lietzau_z@cde.state.co.us
http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=214 The data from the 2006-07 survey of library networks, cooperatives, and consortia (LNCC) is now available using three different search interfaces on the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) website.

The search interfaces include:

* Characteristics Search - use one or more organization characteristic
* Comparative Search - specify a base organization and compare it to organizations with characteristics similar to the chosen parameters
* Directory Search - locate an organization by name or location

LNCC database: http://cs.ala.org/ra/lncc/
More on the Library Networks, Cooperatives and Consortia study: http://cs.ala.org/ra/lncc/resources/index.cfm
ASCLA homepage: http://www.ala.org/ala/ascla/ascla.cfm

~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us http://www.lrs.org/blog/viewitem.php?post=207 The U.S. Department of Education recently released the report, Literacy Behind Bars: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy Prison Survey. This report summarizes the findings of the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) which assessed the English literacy of incarcerated adults. The first assessment since 1992, the 2003 assessment was administered to approximately 1,200 inmates (ages 16 and older) in state and federal prisons, as well as to approximately 18,000 adults (ages 16 and older) living in households. The prison sample is representative of the 1,380,000 adults in prison and the household sample is representative of the 221,020,000 adults in households in 2003. Both the 1992 and 2003 Assessments, define literacy as: and#8220;Using printed and written information to function in society, to achieve oneand#8217;s goals and to develop oneand#8217;s knowledge and potential.and#8221;

The assessment indicates there is a direct link between literacy and participation in certain activities in prison such as reading, using computers, using the library, and being given the opportunity for certain work assignments.

Many prisons have a library that is available to inmates. However, the opportunity for a prisoner to actually use the library is influenced by a variety of factors including; the hours that the library is open, procedures that inmates must go through to request a visit to the library or delivery of books from the library, and the extent and variety of reading materials available. (According to the Directory of State Prison Librarians 2002, 826 state prisons have a librarian. This is approximately 62% of state prisons according to the most recent report on the number of state correctional facilities in the U.S.)

In general, prison inmates who use the library have higher average prose and quantitative literacy than inmates who never use the library. The report explains, and#8220;Library use can be related to literacy in two ways; adults who have higher literacy levels may be more likely to want to access the library and find things to read, and adults who use the library and read more frequently may improve their literacy levels.and#8221;

This report is available at: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/2007473.pdf

~ Daphne
Eastburn_D@cde.state.co.us



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