OLA Assoc. Management / New OLA Treasurer / OLAQ Decision / OLAQ Survey Results / DIGOR Meeting / HOLA Offers Conference Stipends
***OLA Association Management
At the October 2 Board meeting the organization entered into an agreement with Roberts Business Services to provide association management services. Necessitated by John and Julie McCulley’s (Professional Administrative Services) decision to streamline their client list the OLA Board researched and considered a number of management options. Shirley Roberts, now the former treasurer of OLA, expressed interest in taking on association management for OLA.
Shirley’s excellent work as treasurer built trust and confidence in her skills, and she has experience managing the Friends of Union County Libraries as a volunteer. Shirley incorporated Roberts Business Services in August, 2009. Transitioning from P.A.S. to Roberts Business Services is expected to be completed by December. The agreement covers administrative, financial, and web and member management for OLA.
Shirley continues as an instructor at Eastern Oregon University Pierce Library.
***New OLA Treasurer
Following the resignation of Shirley Roberts as Treasurer of OLA, the Board appointed Liisa Sjoblom to serve the remainder of the 2009-2011 Treasurer’s term of office. Liisa, Reference Librarian, Electronic Services at Deschutes Public Library last served OLA as Conference Chair of the 2008 Joint OLA-WLA Conference. Her grasp of the financial details and strong organizational skills impressed the Board. The OLA Board is honored that Liisa agreed to the Treasurer appointment. Please congratulate her!
***OLA Quarterly Decision
On August 24th, 2009 the OLA Board made the decision to switch to an online OLAQ with the Winter 2009 issue. The Summer 2009 online-only issue experiment went so well, and the savings were so substantial, that the Board did move forward with this significant decision. The Fall 2009 issue of the OLAQ will still be a print issue, as well as being available as a PDF in the OLAQ Archive on the OLA website. Given the theme with historical content and photos, the Board considered it a “collector’s item” and decided that a print version will serve best. You will be receiving that issue in the mail soon!
***OLAQ Survey Results
The summer survey of OLA members regarding the possible change to an online quarterly had a 22% response rate. It revealed that 67.1% of the respondents browse an issue right away and read selected pieces. Sixty percent said it was not important to receive a print version of the OLAQ and 80% said that they’d be satisfied or very satisfied with an online-only OLAQ. From comments and suggestions the OLA Publications Committee realizes we have some work to do on the format and we received good recommendations to pursue. The online format has advantages of live linking to more information and color images/photos can be used. Thank you to the survey respondents. As we all adapt to this change, please continue to give us feedback about your experience with the online OLAQ. Contact Diane Sotak at sotak@up.edu<mailto:sotak@up.edu> (or any OLA officer!)
***DIGOR Meeting
The Documents Interest Groups of Oregon will meet at Southern Oregon University, 11:00-3:00, on Friday, October 23. We’ll be in Room 329 of the Hannon Library (http://hanlib.sou.edu/about/directions.html). Anyone interested in government information is welcome to attend.
For our morning business meeting, agenda items include planning continuing education activities for the year, and a report from the Depository Libraries Council. In the afternoon, we’ll have a tour and overview of the Southern Oregon Digital Library.
If you’re planning to attend and will need a parking pass, please contact Deb Hollens (hollens@sou.edu, 541/552-6850).
If you can’t attend in person, but would like to attend the business meeting by speaker phone, please contact Deb *by Monday, Oct. 19*.
If you’d like to add items to the agenda, or are interested in carpooling, please contact Jey Wann, DIGOR Chair,( jey.a.wann@state.or.us, 503-378-5023)
***HOLA Offers Conference Stipends
The Oregon Library Association has a great deal for you!!! If your Oregon public library serves 10,000 people or less you could get $500 to cover (or help cover) your expenses to attend the national Public Library Association Conference March 23-27, 2010 in Portland! http://www.placonference.org//general_information.cfm
The PLA conference is considered one of the best library conferences ever and OLA and the HOLA (Helping Oregon Libraries Achieve) committee can make it possible for you to attend.
The HOLA committee has $10,000 to provide stipends to public library staff serving in communities of 10,000 population or less to attend PLA. We have to spend it this year and we want you to benefit. Those who aren’t already OLA members will be eligible for a paid OLA membership as well. You just have to apply by November 6th.
Even if you’ve already registered for PLA, you can still apply for the stipend! This is such a great opportunity to get an easy $500, don’t miss out.
Here’s all you do:
Fill out the brief application below and return it to me.
THAT’S IT. HOW EASY IS THAT TO GET $500?!?!?!?! DO IT TODAY!!!!
1. Library Name:
2. Employee participating in HOLA (your full name):
3. Phone number you can most easily be reached at:
4. Your email address:
5. Your job title:
6. Population served by your library, per the state library report:
7. Have you ever been an OLA member?
8. Have you ever attended an OLA or PLA conference?
E-mail completed applications to:
Leah Griffith: leah.griffith@newbergoregon.gov
Applications must be received by November 6, 2009.
Winners will also attend the OLA dinner on Wednesday evening of the PLA conference and have the opportunity to be partnered with a “coach/mentor” to gain some background and info on what attending a national conference is like, and winners will have someone familiar to have lunch with as well.
