Do you have printing horror stories? Are you often frightened by reams of paper abandoned at the printer? Do you have a spooky ghost that keeps printing and then vanishing? Do your patrons turn into scary goblins when they hear how much they owe in printing charges?

Learn how libraries make sure patrons print what they need, and turn printing distress to printing success. Topics to be Covered:
To Charge or Not to Charge
Print Management: Software and Other Solutions
Printing from Patron Laptops

To discuss these print management issues and more, attend the October MaintainIT Cookbook Book Club Webinar. This month we read and discuss Meal Plan 6 from Recipes for a 5-Star Library. The chapter is available as a free download here: http://maintainitproject.org/files/CB2_Meal%20Plan%20Six.pdf.

MaintainIT hosts Cookbook book clubs each month. These informal and informative sessions focus on practical solutions to supporting public access computing. Bring your questions and your experiences to share.

Title: Meal Plan 6: Print Management
When: Oct. 28, 2008 9 AM Pacific/10 AM Mountain/11 AM Central/Noon Eastern
Duration: 1 hour
Register: https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/wir64hcidxm3/puazkr0hysid

--Stephanie Gerding, MaintainIT Contributor
http://stephaniegerding.com

Midway (B.C.) Public Library Goes Live with Evergreen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Norcross, GA – October 9, 2008

Midway Public Library has become the 10th library in British Columbia’s SITKA consortium to go live with Evergreen, the consortial-quality open-source library automation software.

Midway Public Library’s migration to Evergreen is one more step in a process that will see up to 17 SITKA libraries running Evergreen by the end of 2008. Two pilot libraries migrated in 2007. Equinox Software Inc., the support and development company for Evergreen, is providing ongoing 24/7 technical support for SITKA’s Evergreen implementations.

“We are delighted to see SITKA’s Evergreen implementations rise into the double-digits,” said Brad LaJeunesse, Equinox company president. “SITKA’s commitment to Evergreen demonstrates the solid value proposition of open source.”

SITKA is following a gradual approach to moving libraries over to Evergreen; libraries opt-in on their own schedule. Many libraries are anticipated to join over the next several years when their existing automation vendor contracts expire. Midway Public Library joins Prince Rupert, Fort Nelson, Powell River, Terrace, Whistler, Houston, Pemberton, Burns Lake Public Library, and Smithers Public Library on the SITKA Evergreen system. The collective holdings for all 10 libraries are at http://catalogue.bclibrary.ca and a description of SITKA can be found at http://sitka.bclibraries.ca/ .

About Evergreen

Evergreen is consortial-quality, open-source library system software. Evergreen was initially developed to support Georgia PINES, a resource-sharing consortium with over 270 public libraries. While Evergreen was designed from the ground up to meet the needs of very large, high-transaction, multi-site consortia, its robust, fault-tolerant architecture elegantly scales down to the smallest sites. Evergreen is also adaptive software that due to its service-oriented, standards-compliant design can nimbly evolve to meet changing library needs and user expectations.

From its debut in September 2006, Evergreen has consistently outperformed expectations and resulted in acclaim and praise from users worldwide. Evergreen has received significant attention, including a Technology Collaboration Award from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Additional Evergreen implementations include the Michigan Library Consortium, the Indiana Open Source Initiative, and several smaller implementations, such as Kent County Public Library in Maryland and Marshall Public Library in Missouri. For more information about Evergreen, visit http://evergreen-ils.org

About Equinox Software, Inc.

Founded by the original Evergreen designers and developers, Equinox Software is a growing team of skilled developers and other professionals who provide comprehensive support for Evergreen, the consortial-quality, open source Integrated Library System (ILS). Equinox develops, supports, trains, migrates, integrates, and consults on Evergreen, and engages with the rapidly expanding Evergreen community. Instead of one-size-fits-all support, Equinox works closely with libraries to ensure Evergreen is implemented in the manner that best fits their individual needs.

In addition to support, custom development and integration services, Equinox offers complete Evergreen hosting packages for libraries wishing to outsource their ILS infrastructure. Equinox also provides consulting services for libraries seeking more insight into the value proposition of open source software.

Press contact: Corinne Hall, corinne@esilibrary.com, 678-269-6113

For more information on Equinox Software, please visit http://www.esilibrary.com.

Evergreen is open source software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL. Evergreen and the Evergreen Logo are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of the Georgia Public Library Service.

Text a Librarian Makes it Easy For Libraries and Schools to Create Their Own Mobile Messaging Reference Services
Live, mobile Q&A system to power top universities, including UC Berkeley and the University of Kansas

San Francisco, CA–October 8, 2008—Every year, libraries answer more than 374 million reference questions, according to the American Library Association. Mosio, the award-winning mobile Q&A community, today announced the launch of Text a Librarian (www.textalibrarian.com), a new service that helps libraries set up mobile Q&A systems so they may answer students and patrons’ questions instantly via text message to any mobile phone.

On average, Americans text almost twice as much as they talk on mobile phones, according to a recent Nielsen Mobile Survey, making it a preferred means of communication while on-the-go. However, setting up a mobile text communications network for a library or school can be a daunting process: short code negotiations with all of the cell carriers, complicated software and/or hardware development, and extensive training—costing tens of thousands of dollars a year and months of setup.

Now, with Text a Librarian, any library or school can create their own secure, live mobile Q&A SMS reference service in just minutes, with zero hardware to buy or software to setup with packages starting at just $99/month + set up fees per library/branch. Text a Librarian works across all major carriers, mobile phones and devices, and works seamlessly with existing email and IM systems. Students and users simply text (or email) their question and it shows up live on the library or school’s own private and secure Web dashboard for them to answer back instantly.

For more information and a free online demo, visit: http://www.textalibrarian.com

“Mobility is a way of life for most students and increasingly for society in general, making the way in which we stay connected a central issue for many schools and libraries,” said Noel Chandler, CEO and founder of Mosio. “Text a Librarian leverages Mosio’s award-winning Q&A platform to make it possible for students and patrons to tap into the wealth of knowledge of local librarians from their mobile phones, keeping patron information private and secure.”

Beta test clients include public libraries, schools and top Universities, including UC Berkeley and the University of Kansas.

"Mosio's service opens up a whole new world for us. Text a Librarian gives us an easy-to-use texting component, increasing student access to KU Info,” said Curtis Marsh, KU Info Program Director. "We need to communicate with students the way they communicate with each other. It is about time we began offering our service through text messaging."

Mosio has received numerous accolades for its mobile Q&A technology, including the prestigious SXSW Interactive Award for Mobile.

###

About Mosio (www.mosio.com)
Mosio.com is the award-winning mobile Q&A community that provides quick and fun answers to life’s questions on-the-go. Mosio is available for free on all mobile devices via SMS, Email, IM, Twitter and Dial2Do. Mosio’s latest innovation, Text a Librarian (www.textalibrarian.com), empowers libraries and schools to connect with students via mobile phone. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. More information is available at http://www.mosio.com.

Media contact:
Vincent Chang
(415) 806-1769
vincent@mosioproject.com

At the September 26, 2008, BCR Board of Trustees meeting, incumbent Board chair, Greg Cotton, Interim College Librarian, Cole Library, Cornell College (IA), welcomed new and returning members to the BCR Board of Trustees.

Ann Joslin, Idaho State Librarian, is serving her second consecutive year as the BCR Board of Trustees vice-chair. Cotton and Joslin, in addition to their duties during regular Board meetings, are joined on the BCR Executive Committee by newly elected representative Ann Marie Clark, Director, Arnold Library, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle (WA). Returning Executive Committee members include Gina Millsap, Executive Director, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (KS); and Mary Wegner, Iowa State Librarian. Brenda Bailey-Hainer, BCR President and CEO, serves as secretary-treasurer.

Four newly elected trustees participated in orientation activities prior to the Board meeting. New members are R. Cecilia Knight, Catalog Librarian, Grinnell College (IA), academic library trustee; and Jamie LaRue, Director, Douglas County Libraries (CO), at-large trustee. Nancy Allen, Dean and Director, Penrose Library, University of Denver (CO), research library trustee, and Gina Millsap, Executive Director, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library (KS), public library trustee, both were elected to a second term. All will represent BCR member libraries through June 2010.

BCR would also like to welcome two new state library representatives to the Board of Trustees. Patti Butcher, Director, Statewide Resource Sharing, is sitting on the Board on behalf of the Kansas State Library; and Sarah McHugh, Statewide Projects Manager, is representing the Montana State Library.

Dr. Lorraine Haricombe, Dean of Libraries, University of Kansas, Watson Library, Lawrence, was elected as BCR delegate to the OCLC Members Council, for a three-year term. She is joining Claudia Thornton-Frazer, Digital Initiatives Coordinator, Librarian, Cowles Library, Drake University (IA); and Sheryl Taylor, Director of Library Services, John & Louise Hulst Library, Dordt College (IA), in representing BCR on the OCLC Members Council.

About BCR

BCR brings libraries together for greater success by expanding their knowledge, reach and power. They offer a broad range of solutions and their hands-on, personal attention to each member enables them to deliver effective and timely solutions that help libraries keep pace with new developments in technology and services. BCR is the nation’s oldest and most established multistate library cooperative. Since 1935, the BCR team has helped libraries learn new skills, reach patrons, increase productivity and save money. BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. For more information, visit www.BCR.org or email info@BCR.org.

Every year, libraries answer more than 374 million reference questions, according to the American Library Association. Mosio, the award-winning mobile Q&A community, today announced the launch of www.textalibrarian.com, a new service that helps libraries set up mobile Q&A systems so they may answer students and patrons' questions instantly via text message to any mobile phone.

On average, Americans text almost twice as much as they talk on mobile phones, according to a recent Nielsen Mobile Survey, making it a preferred means of communication while on-the-go. However, setting up a mobile text communications network for a library or school can be a daunting process: negotiations with cell carriers, complicated software and extensive training -- costing tens of thousands of dollars and months of setup.

Now, with Text a Librarian, any library or school can create their own secure, live mobile Q&A SMS reference service in just minutes, with packages starting at just $99/month + set up fees per library/branch.
For more information and a free online demo, visit: http://www.textalibrarian.com.
"Mobility is a way of life for most students and increasingly for society in general, making the way in which we stay connected a central issue for many schools and libraries," said Noel Chandler, Mosio CEO and founder. "Text a Librarian leverages Mosio's award-winning Q&A platform to make it possible for students and patrons to tap into the wealth of knowledge of local librarians from their mobile phones, keeping patron information private and secure."

"Mosio's service opens up a whole new world for us. Text a Librarian gives us an easy-to-use texting component, increasing student access to KU Info," said Curtis Marsh, KU Info Program Director. "We need to communicate with students the way they communicate with each other. It is about time we began offering our service through text messaging."

About Mosio ( www.mosio.com)
Mosio.com is the award-winning mobile Q&A community that provides quick and fun answers to life's questions on-the-go. Mosio's latest innovation, Text a Librarian ( www.textalibrarian.com), empowers libraries and schools to connect with students via mobile phone. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. For more information visit http://www.mosio.com.
SOURCE: Mosio

Mosio
Vincent Chang, 415-806-1769
vincent@mosioproject.com