Ms. Wann's wardrobe by SSD

Last weekend, I was wearing an old LSSRT t-shirt (SSD's predecessor) while I took my laundry off the clothes line. As usual in warm weather, my laundry included a couple of LSSRT or SSD t-shirts. That night, I slept in one of my collection 3x-size SSD t-shirts.

From the very first one (green, with a beautiful golden design by Maresa Kirk) to the most recent one (dark blue with the SSD logo in white), SSD t-shirts make up a surprisingly large percentage of my casual wardrobe. Since I've been in LSSRT/SSD from the beginning, it's fun to think about where the organization was when the t-shirt I'm wearing was produced, and how much we've accomplished since then. (The picture above shows the 1996 conference t-shirt; the picture below is the new book bag, which will premier at the 2009 conference)

We won't have a new t-shirt at the conference next month, but we will have a new book bag for sale. We'll be using the profits to establish an accessibility fund, so that we can make sure SSD events are available and accessible to all who would benefit from them.

So a new book bag will join my collection (2 SSD book bags so far), and I know the money will be going to a good cause.

Bob Welch, award winning Oregon author, Keynote at SSD Conference

Pebble in the water: How libraries matter more than they might know

Based on his Oregon Book Award – finalist book, American Nightingale, Welch discusses his four-year journey to research, write, promote it – and how integral libraries were to the process.

Welch is the general columnist at The Register-Guard in Eugene and twice has won top honors in the National Society of Newspaper Columnist contest. He has written 12 books, had stories of his published in numerous collections and been published in such magazines as Reader’s Digest, Sports Illustrated and Los Angeles Times. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and found of the Beachside Writers Workshop in Yachats, Oregon.

For more information visit Bob’s website at www.bobwelch.net

SSD Conference Registration Now Open!!

Click here to Register!

Breakout sessions available:


Book Repair for Libraries
Note: This is an all day session and all breakout sessions must be selected for Book Repair and there is a $30.00 supply fee. The class is limited to 12 people, though there will be a waiting list for those interested.
Presenter: Carolee Harrison, Conservation Technician with Portland State University; Kris Kern, Fine and Performing Arts Librarian with Portland State University, assisted by Diane Bolen, Willamette University & SSD Continuing Education Chair. This is the first part of an all day session. Book repair for libraries: a hands-on introduction to book structure, the basics of book mending for circulating collections, and the materials used for long-lasting repairs. Techniques covered will include hinge repair, tipping in pages, spine replacement and recasing. Participants are encouraged to bring their own books to work on; however, please note that work performed in this session is not intended for rare, valuable, or extremely fragile material. The session will also include a discussion on collection maintenance and how to prevent damage to books.

Time & Space Management & Organization
Presenter: Cindy Culpovich, owner of Organizing Your Space Organizing Your Space is here to bring order to your life. Living in an organized environment enables you to be productive, successful and creative. We can help you declutter and organize your space. Our mission is to help you become more efficient, allowing you time to do the things you love and follow your dreams. Organizing is my passion. It's challenging, fun, and immensely rewarding. The best part is helping people go from a chaotic environment to a calm environment and to see the benefits in their lives!

LSSCP: Library Support Staff Certification
Presenter: Karen Strege, co-director of LSSCP. ALA may establish a certificate program for library support staff (LSS) in January 2010. This program will cover the background, current developments and requirements and leave plenty of time for questions. Karen is a co-director of the LSSCP and a private consultant with an interest in planning and evolution. Previously, Karen was the state librarian in Montana and held other positions in public and community college libraries. http://www.ala-apa.org/lsscp/index.html

Introduction to CD and DVD Cataloging
Presenter: Richard Sapon-White, Catalog Librarian, Oregon State University Libraries This workshop will cover the basics of cataloging CD s and DVD s. Using a combination of slide presentation and exercises, participants will learn the MARC fields that distinguish these popular resources. Emphasis will be placed on selecting appropriate records and correcting bibliographic data. If time permits, processing issues will also be discussed. Richard Sapon-White is currently head of cataloging at Oregon State University Libraries. He is an active member of the International Relations Round Tables of both the American Library Association and the Oregon Library Association, as well as having served on various committees of the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services. Mr. Sapon-White has a master s in library science from Southern Connecticut State University, a second master s degree in public health from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a bachelor s degree in zoology from the University of Toronto. In 2005 he received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach cataloging at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.

A Day in the Life of a Library Assistant
Ever wonder what your peers around the state do all day at work? Well, now you can find out! Hear what motivates or inspires other support staff. Discover the differences between your jobs and theirs and find out which joys and challenges we all share.

Why can t we all just get along? (how to deal with difficult people)
Moderator: Jackson Stalley Have you ever found yourself bracing for a meeting or conversation? Then this session is for you! Participants will learn how to manage conflict resolution, work with emotions while developing healthy, objective work relationships and valuing differences that will help create a more productive work environment.

The Huddle: A round table forum
Moderator: Stacey Fiegi This session will afford the member the opportunity to get assistance and offer solutions for the myriad of real problems facing operations in all aspects of library services. Stacey Fiegi has been with the Klamath County Library for five years. She has worked in the Circulation Department, Reference Department and the Law Library. She has an Associate s degree in Office Systems Technology and a Bachelor s degree in Business Management Marketing. Stacey is also the mother of three children, ages 22, 20, and 18.

SSD Conference 2009

Gateways 2009

Step up your game: Tools for your job

Keynote Speaker:
· Bob Welch ~ an Oregon author / http://www.bobwelch.net/2009/Bob_Welch/Home.html

Date:
· Friday, July 17th, 2009

Location:
· Keizer Renaissance Inn (formerly Wittenberg Inn), 5188 Wittenberg Lane, Keizer, OR / (503) 390-4733 / http://www.keizerrenaissanceinn.com/

Registration fee:
· $70.00 for SSD / OLA members (same fee rate since 2007)
· $85.00 for non-members
Scholarships to attend are available: http://www.olaweb.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=61763

Registration opening soon.

SSD website:
· http://www.olaweb.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=61036

Questions?
Contact Lori Davidson: davidsol@wou.edu

Musings on old catalog cards

It's been a seriously long time since we closed the card catalog here at the State Library. However, in Tech Services, we still have a box of old catalog cards that we use for scratch paper. (After all, "re-use" is one of the 3 Rs!). I've become a little obsessed with looking at the cards before I scribble my notes on the back. It's partly to see what books the library had way back when. But it also causes me to muse about the people who did the cataloging, typed the cards, etc., in the pre-computer era. For instance, there's one in which the typist almost couldn't fit the title on the one line, so the period at the end of the title isn't all there. Was she relieved that it fit? Frustrated that it almost didn't? Then there are those neatly hand-written notes on the back; cryptic things like "t.c." Actually, I've been around long enough to know that was an instruction from the cataloger to the typist to make a title card. But what in the world, if anything, did "MMM", typed on the back of the card, mean?

I like thinking about the previous staff at my library, and how they worked with different tools, but were still doing what we're all doing today; providing access to information for their patrons.

Congratulations!

Congrats to Susan Gilmont for receiving Library Employee of the Year at the OLA conference!! Support staff rock!!!

Trouble in River City

How are you other support staffers being affected by budget cuts? I know we all appreciate how fortunate we are to have jobs, along with health and retirement benefits, given the state of the economy.

A colleague sent this out and I thought I would share it:


Notes based loosely on William Bridges Transitions: Making sense of life’s changes

Ending: When you are going through a change, [such as the City’s current budget situation], the shape of the world you are used to is being dismantled. Even if changes turn out to be positive, you need to mourn what you lose in the process. You are losing your identity as it relates to life before the change. If you aren’t that any more, what are you? This is a necessary part of the process of letting go of the past, emptying out what was.


It is unsettling to see the almost daily changes that are occurring. In my library, while the city is committed to no layoffs or demotions, they are not replacing staff as they leave through retirement or resignation; they are also encouraging voluntary furloughs.


So the workload is increasing for those of us who remain and any of us is vulnerable to reassignment. This is already happening, with several in Adult Services where I work being sent to other departments and other branches; some services are being combined or shifted to different departments. I don't mind working even harder; and I suppose I'll adjust if I end up somewhere else in this library system (but I sure won't be turning cartwheels!)

As Washington Irving said: There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse! As I have often found in traveling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position, and be bruised in a new place.

What's that you say? I'm lucky to have a job? Yes, yes I am.