“Retirement, Retention, and Recruitment: The Future of Librarianship in Colorado” is the title of an article in the 2005 edition of the BOWKER ANNUAL (pp. 446-51). This article provides a brief overview of the findings of the 2004 LRS study of the same name. The study was cited by Denise M. Davis, Director of the ALA Office for Research and Statistics, as “one of the more significant studies to be completed in 2004” (p. 435).
Keith
Lance_K@cde.state.co.us
Coming soon to a mailbox near you?Colorado Libraries’ summer issue, The Future of Librarianship in Colorado
Using the LRS study, ?Retirement, Retention, and Recruitment: The Future of Librarianship in Colorado? as a starting point, the summer issue of Colorado Libraries includes articles from a wide range of related topics and viewpoints. Look for the following articles:
? Today’s MLIS Students: What’s on Their Minds by Don Dickenson & M. Claire Williamson
? Why am I a Librarian? Conversations with a Cross Section of the Profession by Martin Garnar
? The Resilient Career by Kim Dority
? Back into the Fold: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Information Professionals within Libraries by Marcy Phelps
? Recruitment and Retention in Colorado’s Libraries: A State Library Perspective by Eugene Hainer
? Who Will Replace the Super Heroes? School Librarians and the Retirement Crisis by Jody Howard
? Meeting Recruitment and Retention Challenges Head On by Rochelle Logan & Art Glover
? The Decision to Retire: A Personal Story by Nancy Bolt
Zeth and I really enjoyed being the guest editors on this edition of Colorado Libraries. We would like to thank the authors for their terrific articles and cooperative spirit, as well the Colorado Libraries’ editors for this learning opportunity.
Let us know what you think of the issue. Oh, and don?t forget to take a close look at the very special cover.
Happy reading.
Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us
For more on The Changing Library Workforce go to: http://www.LRS.org/workforce.asp
This new Field Initiated Study addresses how libraries use time limits, if any, to restrict access to their public Internet terminals and whether such time limits have presented any problems. The study also identifies which libraries allow patrons to access chat rooms or perform instant messaging while using Public Library patron computers.
The study can be found at: http://www.lrs.org/field.asp
M. Claire Williamson
Williamson_c@cde.state.co.us
The 2004 Colorado Public Library Statistics are now availabe. View the Master File (in Excel) or use the Interactive Statistical tool to view statistics.
Statistics and Profiles in the traditional LRS formats will be available shortly.
Zeth
lietzau_z@cde.state.co.us
A preliminary report on the 2005 Academic Library Impact Study is now available on the LRS.org website at http://www.lrs.org/documents/academic/ALIS_prelim_post.pdf.
The study was conducted by the Library Research Service in association with the Colorado Academic Library Consortium during the spring of 2005. Nine Colorado colleges and universities participated in the study by administering two surveys ? one for undergraduate students and one for faculty who teach undergraduate courses. A total of nearly 3,700 individuals responded to the surveys.
The study was designed to identify ways that academic libraries help students learn and ways that these institutions provide support for faculty members? teaching activities and objectives. Additional analyses of the data will be performed and reported over the next few months.
Don Dickenson
Dickenson_d@cde.state.co.us
On June 10, the National Center for Education Statistics released the national public library database for 2003. The direct link to this file is http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2005362.
The 2003 edition of the E.D. TAB report, Public Libraries in the U.S., is not yet available, but we are watching for it and will let you know when it is available, too.
To stay on top of the latest available data and reports from NCES about public libraries, visit LRS.org’s National Statistics page for public libraries: http://www.lrs.org/asp_public/national.asp.
Keith
Lance_k@cde.state.co.us
Have you wondered which states provide funding for public libraries? Find out the answer to this question and much more. Check out this new informal national study compiled by Dianne Carty, Head of State Aid and Data Coordination, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The study can be found at: http://www.lrs.org/field.asp
M. Claire Williamson
Williamson_C@cde.state.co.us
Our latest Field Initiated Study examines the circumstances under which it is appropriate or not appropriate to e-mail library patrons. Find out what your colleagues think about e-mailing library patrons regarding fundraising events and other library-related issues.
The study can be found at: http://www.lrs.org/field.asp
M. Claire Williamson
Williamson_C@cde.state.co.us
The Library Research Service has just launched a new host of interactive tools that allow the viewing of Colorado Public Library Statistics as far back as 1987. With these tools, you select the years you would like to view, public libraries for which you would like statistics, and specific statistics that you would like to view. Your selections are reported in tabular or graphical format. Find these tools at http://www.lrs.org/asp_public/historic.
– Zeth
lietzau_z@cde.state.co.us
Teens in the Library – Findings from the Evaluation of Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development is a study by Chapin Hall, the Center for Children at the University of Chicago. This report describes the findings from the Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development Initiative, a 3-year, 9-site initiative funded by The Wallace Foundation to develop innovative models for public libraries to provide high-quality educational enrichment and career development programs serving underserved low-income children and youth.
For a link to the study report, visit http://www.lrs.org/topics.asp and look under the first heading, Children and Youth Services. While there, take note of the many other topics on which the LRS monitors, and provides links to, research. We would be please to hear your suggestions for new topics or new links to be added under existing topics.
Keith
Lance_K@cde.state.co.us