OLA Hotline’s Blog

OLA website’s New look / Call for Fall OLAQ Articles / PLD Scholarship / Oregon Author’s Bibliography / Disaster Preparedness Workshop / Events for Book Lovers at OLA/WLA / OLA/WLA Conference Tips

Check Out the New Look of olaweb.org

Take a peek at olaweb.org and you’ll see a whole new look to OLA’s website after ten years. Our website is now being housed at MemberClicks, which is also the service that maintains the OLA membership database, calendar and most of the forms. There are many features that are only available to OLA members, such as viewing the membership directory. There are still some spots that are being tweaked and refined, but we are working diligently to get everything moved to the new server.

And you may well ask who is this “we” that has worked and is working on this new site. The members of the Web Site Design Task Force have been Wade Guidry, Mo Cole, Darci Hanning, Kevin Moore and myself. We also have many people involved with updating and maintaining the OLA units web pages, known as the OLA Webbies – thanks OLA Webbies!

If you have any ideas for information you would like to see available on the site, ideas for what you would like to see answered under the OLA FAQs, or notice any glaring hiccups with the site, please let me know at ola@olaweb.org

- Steph Miller, OLA Web Member Manager

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Call for Articles for the Fall 2008 OLAQ

Abigail Elder of Multnomah County Library and I have found ourselves guest editing the Fall issue of the Oregon Library Association Quarterly and we are hoping to make this issue a practical guide for new and current librarians on how to get a job in Oregon libraries, how to keep the job you have and how to change careers within librarianship. Do you have some ideas on what you think new or current librarians should know? Write an article for OLAQ!

The deadline for submissions to the Fall 2008 OLA Quarterly issue on professional development has been extended to July 1st.

Details for writing an article can be found at http://www.olaweb.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=64570&orgId=ola

Some ideas for articles (if you’re interested in picking up one of these topics, please do!):

• Have you considered becoming a manager?
• Why a great librarian still might not get the job (Looking at the librarian positions from an organizational perspective)
• Getting a degree beyond an MLS
• What else can I do with an MLS degree?
• A day in the life of a librarian in different positions (law librarian, cataloger, IT, small library director, corporate librarian, etc)

Please contact us as soon as possible with your idea - Steph Miller at ola@olaweb.org

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PLD Scholarship Opportunity

The Public Library Division of OLA is offering up to $500 in scholarship money to one or more recipients to support attendance at the PNLA Leadership Institute in October 2008. For information about the Leadership Institute, visit the PNLA website at http://www.pnla.org/.

The full application form includes the specific requirements. Two of the most important are that the application is due April 30, 2008 and the applicant must be a member of the Public Library Division at the time of application.

If you have any questions please contact:

Carol Uhte, PLD Chair, 503.988.4223, carolu@multcolib.org

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New Oregon Author’s Bibliography

The new Oregon Authors Bibliography 2006-2007 is now available from the OLA website under the Publications section!

https://web.memberclicks.com/mc/quickForm/viewForm.do?orgId=ola&formId=27383

This double issue holds over 350 entries with Oregon books and Juvenile literature clearly marked for you. This is an invaluable reference resource for building your collection! The double issue costs $30.00! Get your copy now!

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Disaster Preparedness Workshop

MayDay! MayDay! MayDay!

Who can forget the devastating photos from Hurricane Katrina? And did you know that the literary archives of Helen Keller were lost in the destruction of the World Trade Center? These recent disasters underlined the need for disaster preparedness for libraries and cultural heritage institutions. The Society of American Archivists took action by creating the MayDay initiative in 2006 to encourage organizations that hold literary and cultural resources in trust take at least one step towards preparing for a disaster. On Thursday, May 1, thousands of libraries, museums and archives throughout the United States will take time to do just this.

The PORTALS DIRG Committee and the OLA Preservation Roundtable invite you to a Disaster Response Plan Workshop. We’ll have templates available if you are just starting, or you can share your plan with others. We’ll share information about local resources and training opportunities. We’ll swap stories of our own experiences with disasters, great and small, and together, we will take that one small step towards ensuring the protection of our heritages.

What: MayDay Disaster Response Workshop

When: May 1, 2008 from 10:00am to Noon

Who: Sponsored by the Disaster Response Group of the Portland Area Library System and the Oregon Library Association Preservation Roundtable

Where: Oregon Historical Society’s Madison Room, 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, Oregon

RSVP: Email to: Shawna.Gandy@ohs.org

What to Bring: Yourself; your institution’s plan (if you have one); Disaster Preparedness and Response resources to share. Refreshments provided.

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Events for Book Lovers at OLA/WLA

We’ve got a great lineup of events for book lovers at this year’s OLA/WLA conference!

Portland’s landmark independent bookstore is sponsoring an Evening At Powell’s City of Books on Wednesday, April 16th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm (immediately following the Opening All Conference Reception). Enjoy refreshments, tours of the Rare Book Room and use your 20% discount coupon (provided to all conference attendees, courtesy of Powell’s)

For more information and driving directions, check: http://wla.org/olawla2008/powells.html

What could be more fun than meeting three of Oregon’s liveliest and most talented authors at the OLA/WLA joint conference? You’ll get your chance at the Oregon Authors panel from 2-4 p.m. Friday April, 18. Come early to get a seat and be sure to stay until the end; local authors Nicoles Mones, Cai Emmons, and Chelsea Cain will be sharing stories and highlighting their recent books, then sticking around to sign books and chat one-on-one. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Our Keynote and Banquet speakers will also be staying after their presentations to sign copies of their books.

*On April 17, immediately following his presentation, Keynote

Speaker Thomas Frank will be signing copies of his books: What’s the Matter With Kansas, One Market Under God, and The Conquest of Cool.

*Dr. Stuart Robertshaw will be bringing a selection of his books

to sign after the Banquet presentation on April 18.

For more information about the program, events, registration and hotels, check out the conference website at: http://wla.org/olawla2008

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OLA/WLA Conference Tips
The 2008 OLA/WLA Joint Conference in Vancouver, Washington is just around the corner! Here are ten time-tested tips for getting the most out of your conference experience.

1. Kick off your conference the fun way - at the All Conference Reception and Meet & Greet. On Wednesday, April 16 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm In the Hilton Heritage B room you can mix, mingle, eat, drink and find out more about OLA and WLA.

2. Wear comfortable shoes! This probably goes without saying, but it’s easy to underestimate how much you’ll try to see and do while you’re there. There are two conference venues: the Hilton Vancouver, and the Red Lion at the Quay, more than 70 workshops and events, book signings and don’t forget the time you’ll spend in the exhibits!

3. Speaking of the exhibits, be sure to visit the vendor booths and thank the exhibitors for coming to our conference. Feeling lucky? While you’re in the exhibit area be sure to pick up a raffle entry form for the Exhibitors’ Raffle. Winners will be drawn throughout the conference; check the Raffle Board in the Discovery room to see if you’re a winner.

4. Take some time to check out the local shopping attractions. Our location in Vancouver, Washington gives you two great cities to visit for the price of one. If you’re not sure what to do, all registered attendees will receive a discount coupon for Powell’s City of Books. In addition, some attendees will receive a discount from Barnes and Noble. Thanks to Powell’s and Barnes and Noble for their support!

5. Not sure if you want IFIG or NGIN? Unclear on the difference between TRIP and TSRT? All of those librarian acronyms are decrypted for you on page 5 of your printed program!

6. Rest your feet and catch up with friends old and new in the Networking Lounge, located in the Hilton Ash room. Over at the Red Lion, moms will find a space just for them in the Mothers’ Room (in the Poolside Room).

7. Show that you’re a hip librarian and raise money for the OLA MLS scholarship fund at the same time! Buy a temporary tattoo from the OLA Past Presidents Round Table in the Conference Center Lobby. Proceeds will help support future librarians!

8. If you are staying at the conference hotels, pack your workout wear to take advantage of the complimentary fitness facilities.

9. Be sure to fill out the conference evaluation!

10. Have fun!

Anne-Marie Deitering, anne-marie.deitering@oregonstate.edu

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