Proquest Newsletter Available

ProQuest has created a New York e-mail newsletter to help libraries make the most of ProQuest Platinum, currently available to all libraries as part of the NOVEL-NY program. You can sign up to receive the newsletter at http://www.proquestk12.com/signup (there are many subscription options on this page; the NY Newsletter signup is located at the very bottom of the page.) You can also read past issues online at http://www.proquestk12.com/news.shtml (again, scroll until you see the NY State Flag to read the NY newsletter.)

Grant Opportunity - The American Dream Starts @ your library

The American Library Association (ALA) received a $750,000 two year grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation to continue “The American Dream Starts @ your library”. This new round of funding will help 70 public libraries in Dollar General communities expand their literacy services for adult English language learners.

To be eligible, the applicant institution must be a public library or a public library with a bookmobile providing literacy services for adult English language learners, and must be within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center, or corporate office (there are Dollar General Stores in Gloversville, Amsterdam, Fonda, St. Johnsville, Palentine Bridge, Cobleskill, Schenectady and Scotia). Each funded library will receive a onetime $5,000 grant.

Applications for funding must be submitted online and are being accepted through Sunday, February 28, 2010. Selected applicants will be notified in April, 2010. Complete information and a grant application form can be found at http://www.americandreamtoolkit.org/index.html

Webinar - George and Joan on Partnerships and Collaborations in Tough Times

Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/364/index.html
Cost: Free!
Presenters: George Needham and Joan Frye Williams

Tough times call for tough choices, and one of those choices is how to get the most out of every resource at hand. One way to do this is through strategic and intentional partnerships and collaborations. But how do you form these partnerships so that the library, the partner, and, most important, the community all benefit?

In this webinar, consultants Joan Frye Williams and George Needham will discuss:
- The special challenges and opportunities tough times present for partnerships
- The difference between partners and donors
- The five things you need to know before you enter into any partnerships
- Finding a partner: the hard way and the easy way
- Tips for convincing people to support collaboration

With their characteristic humor and energy, Joan and George will present real world examples of successful collaborations that have allowed libraries to extend their reach and improve their communities. This webinar should be of interest to librarians, trustees, branch managers, grant writers, and any member of the library community who seeks to work with outside organizations.

There is no pre-registration required for this webinar. Just click the link above starting at 2:30 PM and listen in.

StoryTubes 2010 Contest

StoryTubes is here! From New York to California, kids in grades K to 12 are talking up their favorite books. You can too!

Along with a parent or guardian, make a 2-minute video about a favorite book; upload the video to YouTube; and visit the StoryTubes website and send in the link to their uploaded YouTube video using the online Contest Entry Form. Beginning in March, videos become part of a national contest, with voting taking place each week! Prizes are awarded to kids and their sponsoring libraries or schools. Get all the rules and more info at the StoryTubes website.

Readers Advisory for Homebound Patrons

Those of you who peruse the Fiction-L listserv are no doubt familiar with Robin Beerbower and Sonja Somerville. Their article on the Libraries Unlimited blog talks about reader's advisory for homebound patrons. At the end you will find a good list of websites to help with selection for people who can't come to the library. http://lu.com/ranews/dec2009/beerbower.cfm

Webinar - Copyright Law Update 2010

Date: Thursday, January 14, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Place: Online at http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/348/index.html
Cost: Free

Put this webinar on your schedule if you want to: Get updates on new copyright tools and best practices that can be helpful for libraries; Learn the latest developments in copyright laws and cases, including the latest in the Google Book Search case, e-reserve and coursepack lawsuits.
Learn about a simple procedure to file with the Copyright Office to minimize liability for user supplied-content.

This webinar will be of interest to library staff who confront copyright issues in designing web pages, making digital copies for interlibrary loan and e-reserves, and will help those who fear receiving copyright infringement notices.

No pre-registration is necessary, simply visit the link above to sign in to the webinar beginning at 2:30 PM on 01/14.

We Love Libraries Lottery (aka win free money!)

Everyone says they love libraries, but Sisters in Crime is putting their money where their mouth is. The group, which promotes women crime writers, has initiated a "We Love Libraries" lottery. Monthly grants of $1000 will be awarded from January through December 2010. At the end of each month, a winner will be drawn from entries received at its website. Only U.S. libraries may enter the drawing. To enter, simply complete the entry form and upload a photo of one or more of your staff with three books in your collection by Sisters in Crime members. You can find a list of members on the website here.

It's Tax Time...

The NYS Department of Taxation and Finance has set up a website for libraries to order NYS tax forms and posters. There is also a dedicated Library Outreach telephone number for libraries to report problems and ask questions. Visit http://www.nystax.gov/lib/ for all the details.

Grant Opportunity - Captain Planet Foundation

The mission of the Captain Planet Foundation is to fund and support hands-on environmental projects for children and youths. The foundation also works to encourage innovative programs that empower children and youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. Through environmental education, the Captain Planet Foundation believes that children can achieve a better understanding and appreciation for the world in which they live. In order to be considered for funding, proposals must promote understanding of environmental issues, focus on hands-on involvement and involve children and young adults. Proposals must also include adult supervision and commit to follow-up communication with the Foundation; specific requirements will be explained once the grant has been awarded.

ELIGIBILITY: All applicant organizations or sponsoring agencies must be exempt from federal taxation under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501, in order to be eligible for funding.

FUNDING: Generally the range of grants awarded by the Foundation is $250-$2,500.

DEADLINE: Deadlines for submitting grant applications are March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Grant proposals are reviewed over a period of three months from the date of the submission deadline. All applicants will be informed of their proposal’s status within four months of the application deadline.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Captain Planet Foundation, 133 Luckie Street, 2nd Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303; or call: (404) 522-4270.