Welcome to the Kentucky Virtual Library's blog.
Posted: October 28th, 2010 | By: Enid
The letter of intent for participating in KYVL for this fiscal year is due today, 29 October. We have been emailing about the new funding model for several weeks and the process is coming to a close. If you have not received an email from us about the new funding model and the fee change for your library, please get in touch so we can resend it immediately. If you cannot meet the deadline, please let us know – we will be happy to work with you.
For the first time, public school districts are asked to cover their own participation fee. Any questions about this, the history or funding formula, and the estimated assessed fee, email us.
You must be a KYVL member to participate in the ground courier service for inter-library loan and delivery of course materials. For the public libraries, community & technical colleges, and public universities, KYVL provides this service to your library at no cost. If your library is not a Kentucky Virtual Library member, courier service cannot be purchased. Without a signed letter of intent for your library, your courier service will be discontinued at the end of December. Your library may not be a lender but consider the mailing costs of returning the items borrowed for your patrons. Also consider you may have to pay to have items shipped from the lending library.
You must be a KYVL member to access the KYVL research databases. For these subscriptions, state agencies subsidize your access with over $1 million in contributions. Participating libraries also receive discounts on other products from the KYVL vendors on master agreement such as EBSCO, Proquest, etc. because of the contracts or because of our purchase of basic resources. Participation in KYVL provides you a core collection of resources at a very low cost compared to the vendor retail costs. KYVL resources are licensed for KYVL members only. Without the signed letter of intent, in mid-November we will begin the process of suspending logins and finally blocking IPs of non-members by 17 December.
Information on the process, including the presentations from last week, can be found on the KYVL Advocacy page. http://www.kyvl.org/advocate.shtm
About the funding model – http://www.kyvl.org/docs/FundingPPT.pdf
Who is participating? Check the Advocacy page – we are tracking who has returned their district or library’s letter of intent.
More detail on the history and formula for the model has been provided to the school district leadership and directors or deans at member libraries in previous communications. If you have any questions, please contact us. Again, if you need your letter sent to you or your director or dean again, contact us.
We appreciate your continued support. Thanks to all who have already sent in your Letters of Intent!
Posted in: Budget, News, Strategic Planning, partnerships | Comments Off
Posted: October 26th, 2010 | By: Enid
The webinar has been archived at:
https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2010-10-27.0831.M.F416DE271D904B3481688D10A681B4.vcr&sid=849
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Good morning!
Tomorrow, 27 October at 11am Eastern time, the SREB (Southern Region Education Board) is hosting a webinar entitled: ”Virtual Libraries Can Save Your Job, School and Sanity!” Please consider joining us as experts from multiple Southern states share the commonalities in K-20 virtual library offerings and partnerships.
The webinar will address: Access, Interfaces, Journals and Magazines, Licensed Digital Content, Primary Resources, Resources for Research
Presenters:
Denise Oliver, Alabama Virtual Library
Merryll Penson, GALILEO
Enid Wohlstein, Kentucky Virtual Library
KYVL, the Kentuckiana Digital Library and Kyleidoscope will be included in the webinar, along with our colleagues in parallel projects in Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia.
The webinar has been promoted to K12 specifically in the SREB states but anyone with an interest in digital libraries, virtual libraries, the similarities and differences between our states and the benefits of these collaborative initiatives would benefit.
The webinar is open to anyone.
Hope you are enjoying the beautiful autumn weather.
Thank you,
Enid – KYVL Director
Tags: Kentuckiana Digital Library, Kyleidoscope, SREB
Posted in: KY History, Kentuckiana Digital Library, News, partnerships | Comments Off
Posted: October 15th, 2010 | By: betsy
By now, most of you will have probably heard something about KYVL’s new funding model and fee structure. The KYVL Strategic Planning Steering team, along with the Funding Subcommittee have finalized our new funding model – designed to make KYVL more self-sustaining and less dependent on state agency funds.
There will be three special webcasts where KYVL staff and members of our Strategic Planning Steering Team will answer questions about the new fee structure and related issues. Anyone with an internet connection and a telephone may attend.
To join a webcast, click the appropriate date/time below:
October 20, 2010 – 3:00 PM Eastern
(Click here to add this meeting to your Outlook calendar)
October 20, 2010 – 5:00 PM Eastern
(Click here to add this meeting to your Outlook calendar)
October 21, 2010 – 11:30 AM Eastern
(Click here to add this meeting to your Outlook calendar)
We will be taking questions in advance of the webcasts, so please be sure to submit your questions via this form.
For more information, please visit our Advocacy page.
Posted in: Budget, News, Strategic Planning | Comments Off
Posted: September 22nd, 2010 | By: Enid
Last week at the KY Library Association conference, seven public and school libraries were awarded grants totaling $7,500 from proceeds of the 2009 Kentucky Book Fair. Congratulations to all!!
- $1,500 to the Academy@ Shawnee in Louisville to increase student literacy skills.
- $1,500 to Caldwell County High School in Princeton for contemporary biographies and social sciences books.
- $500 to Fairdale Elementary School in Jefferson County to enhance the collection of books on countries and cultures.
- $1,000 to Jamestown Elementary School in Russell County to purchase high interest books for reluctant readers.
- $1,500 to Lee County Public Library in Beattyville to aid in the recovery from a disastrous water main break.
- $750 to Mayfield Middle School in Graves County to add to the biography collection.
- $750 to Newport Junior High School in Campbell County to expand the number of social science books.
Since the inception of the book fair in 1981, more than $300,000 has been awarded to libraries across the commonwealth. Each year approximately 150 authors attend the Kentucky Book Fair to autograph and sell copies of their latest books. The event draws about 4,000 patrons to purchase books and related media, with proceeds used for operations of the fair and the library-grant program.
Kentucky Book Fair Inc., a nonprofit organization, was founded to coordinate the annual Kentucky Book Fair, with proceeds supporting Kentucky’s libraries and literacy programs.
The 2010 Kentucky Book Fair is Saturday, Nov. 13, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Frankfort Convention Center. Proceeds from the 2010 book fair will be distributed in 2011. For more information, visit http://kybookfair.org/2010/.
Judith Gibbons
Kentucky Book Fair Grants Chair
Posted in: News | Comments Off
Posted: June 28th, 2010 | By: betsy
As many of you may be aware, our Courier Service is about to undergo some changes. The bottom line: Lanter Delivery is not renewing the contract with the Commonwealth and the service provided to KYVL will cease mid-August.
What has happened? The Federal Reserve Banks has changed the business model, for many reasons. “These changes have enabled the Reserve Banks to reduce their national check-processing infrastructure so that, by early 2010, they expect to be processing paper checks at one location nationwide, down from 45 in 2003.” [http://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm, retrieved June 22, 2010] The federal system was a major part of the Lanter Delivery infrastructure and without it, LDS cannot continue service to KYVL without having to increase fees by more than double. Rather than continue with an unsustainable model, LDS is pulling out of this market.
KYVL has started working with Finance to release a request for bids – our buyer has all the documentation, volume and route information to create the bid. Finance is fully aware of our deadline and the impact on hundreds of organizations in Kentucky should the service have any type of lull.
Lanter has committed through mid-August. We’ve had a couple of reports that we have some drivers who are telling their libraries incorrect information. If you hear of such discussions, please notify us or feel free to clarify for your staff. You may recall in 2007 it was the KYVL Resource Sharing Workgroup who assisted us in creating the RFP and conduct the bid evaluations. As far as we know, we will employ a similar approach this time – the KYVL Resource Sharing Workgroup will assist with statistics, needs analysis, service allocation across the state, etc.
Feel free to contact Enid Wohlstein (enid.wohlstein@ky.gov) with questions. We may be in blackout soon so please be assured that covering this service is of the highest priority for us and we will share information with you and the membership as we are able.
Posted in: Courier | Comments Off
Posted: May 14th, 2010 | By: betsy
We are pleased to announce this year’s winners. Awards were distributed during the awards ceremony on May 11th at the STLP State Championship.
Thank you to all the teams and schools who submitted entries. Every year, the judges say how difficult it is to make selections. Congrats to everyone who submitted!
The winners are…
Elementary Division
1st place winner
North Warren Elementary School
2nd place winner
Cumberland Trace Elementary School
3rd place winner
Erpenbeck Elementary School
Middle School Division
1st place winner
R.A. Jones Middle School, Team 3 (Alley Poe)
2nd place winner
Drakes Creek Middle School, Team 5 (Kaitilin Wheeler)
3rd place winner
Drakes Creek Middle School, Team 4 (Kellie Douglas and Trevor Martin)
High School Division
1st place winner
Greenwood High School, Team 1 (Meghan Wilson and Lindsey Pillow)
CONGRATULATIONS ALL! Good luck next year.
Posted in: partnerships | Comments Off
Posted: April 29th, 2010 | By: betsy
The KYVL needs your help to evaluate our databases and their accessibility. Could you please complete a short survey by clicking on the appropriate link below?
For Elementary School Students
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJB7VYTMR
For Elementary School Librarians and Educators
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJDLW2ANS
For Middle School Students
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJBZUZBH5
For Middle School Librarians and Educators
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJE582LMH
For High School Students
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJDF6276F
For High School Librarians and Educators
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJPPX8FW8
For Public Libraries
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJPPZ8FXF
For Academic Libraries
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJR5U9BX5
For Special Libraries
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22AJR869DCB
Your opinions matter very much. We strive to provide resources and interfaces that are both usable by and useful to your patrons. Any info you provide will be taken into account for future collection development and systems decisions.
Please feel free to forward this to other KYVL users.
Posted in: no category | Comments Off
Posted: April 5th, 2010 | By: betsy
As we near the end of KYVL’s fiscal year, it is time to switch out the KYVL passwords. Changing passwords on a regular basis allows us to keep our databases secure from unauthorized users. This password change will occur once per calendar year – the schedule based on the academic school year.
Over the past few days, we have released KYVL passwords for the 2010-2011 school year to our designated password contacts. These new passwords will become active on June 1, 2010 and may be used after that time. The old password will remain active until July 1, 2010, so that you and your patrons will have plenty of time to make the transition. The login IDs will remain the same.
You may give out the KYVL login information to any librarian, staff, student, educator or other patrons of your library. They may be posted throughout the library (on signs, posters, etc.); printed on bookmarks, pamphlets, or other materials; or even sent home to students, their parents or library cardholders via snail mail. Some of our member libraries have found some very creative ways to distribute the at-home login information. All we ask is that you do not post the login information to a website or listserv accessible by the general public.
Please direct any questions to the KYVL staff by using our Ask a Question form.
Have a wonderful day!!
Posted in: Databases | Comments Off
Posted: March 19th, 2010 | By: Enid
I am sharing this invitation on behalf of my colleague [and long-time friend] Phil Baughn, now CIO for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Please help COT and its many partners, including the Ky Dept for Libraries and Archives and so many public libraries, community colleges, the Council on Postsecondary Education, the universities and others as they seek to bring and/or improve access to high-speed Internet all over Kentucky. Please share the link everywhere you can — coworkers, patrons, family and friends. Thank you, Enid
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The Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) invites you to participate in an important survey on Home Broadband Internet Availability. Through Kentucky at Work, the Commonwealth is implementing various programs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). ARRA will provide a much-needed, one-time infusion of dollars to promote quality of life through investments in education, health care and public safety; and to make strategic investments now to position Kentucky for the future[1].
An important element of the program is to ensure that high-speed Internet (broadband) is available to many communities where such service has been lacking. Investment toward establishing affordable broadband services is important for the long-term well being of both households and businesses in our state.
As a first step towards increasing availability of broadband services across the state, we are requesting your input to identify broadband service availability. A survey to gather your input is available online and typically requires 5 minutes to complete.
Access the Broadband Availability Survey.
We thank you for your participation in this important activity that will have long term benefits for our Commonwealth.
Best regards,
Phil Baughn, Chief Information Officer
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Posted in: partnerships | Comments Off
Posted: March 10th, 2010 | By: Enid
The KySTE Conference is this week at the Galt House in Louisville. What is KySTE, some of you might ask?
Kentucky Society for Technology in Education and it is the 2010 Annual Conference
We have two sessions at KySTE this year… And we have great competition and complementary sessions all around us.
Today 10 March, 2pm, in the Laffoon Computer Lab, we have: KY Learning Depot: Kentucky’s Learning Repository
Jana Hickey and Lisa Johnson of Jefferson County Public Schools Jaeger Education Center are leading the presentation with Betsy and myself. And we are grateful for their involvement and passionate belief that the Learning Depot needs to be available to every Kentucky educator.
Session description: The KY Learning Depot is a single-point-of-entry repository of high-quality digital content aligned with standards and competencies for educators and learners in Kentucky. Formed by agency, school and postsecondary partnerships, the Depot provides Kentucky educators a centralized place to go to obtain rich, quality learning content to enhance courses, improve teaching, and engage students in learning. Learn first-hand how you can become a member of this new learning community for sharing, using and reusing peer-reviewed, digital content for your classrooms.
AND THEN, tomorrow March 11, 1:30 in the Taylor room, we have: Introduction to KYVL: for K-12 Educators presented by Betsy and myself [but mostly Betsy because she is totally in her element when "working a room" in training].
Session description: Whether you are an experienced user or have never seen KYVL before, this session will provide you with the perfect introduction to KYVL’s new website and search tool, as well as our wide array of resources for K12 librarians, students and educators.
If you don’t know about KySTE, then please check it out. If you are a librarian or library staff person, into technology and seeing tech become ubiquitous as well as an integral part of the teaching and learning process, I think you would find KySTE the place to be. Check out the KySTE website.
Have a great week!
Your KYVL and Learning Depot Director,
Enid
Posted in: no category | Comments Off
