Alaska Library Network

New ListenAlaska web banners added

Kerri Canepa — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:35:21 +0000

Do you offer ListenAlaska to your users and want to create a visual link to that service from your web page? ALN has several web graphics and newly added web banners that can be turned into clickable images.

Go here to find web images and other promotional materials for ListenAlaska.

Two New Partners join ListenAlaska

Kerri Canepa — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:12:35 +0000

The Alaska Library Network is pleased to announce that the Homer Public Library and the Valdez Consortium Library have joined ListenAlaska bringing the number of libraries participating in this program up to 16. The service went live in late August and already 275 items have been checked out by their patrons!

The ListenAlaska catalog currently holds 4720 titles which includes WMA and MP3 audio books and also music. Since 2006, over 68,000 check-outs have occurred to over 5400 patrons!

More information about ListenAlaska can be found on the Information about joining ListenAlaska page.

OverDrive Media Console v3.2 Expands iPod® Compatibility with WMA Audiobooks

Kerri Canepa — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:24:53 +0000

OverDrive has just released a new version of the OverDrive Media Console that allows iPod® users access to WMA format titles!

To download v3.2 go here. All new users will automatically download the latest version, and existing users will be prompted to upgrade to the latest and greatest version of OMC (scheduled for late June).

Nearly all OverDrive WMA Audiobooks in the ListenAlaska collection will now be compatible with the iPod®, iPhone™, iPod touch®, and iPod nano®, as well as Zune® and thousands of other portable devices, with a simple upgrade of OverDrive Media Console to version 3.2 on Windows® PCs.

In addition to enhanced transfer functionality, the new version of OverDrive Media Console also offers several highly requested features, which allow users to:

Send MP3 Audiobooks to the iTunes® Library with Transfer Wizard.
Burn audiobook parts to CD in just a few clicks using Burn Wizard–on all supported Windows operating systems.
Perform a test burn.
Enjoy a new playback option wherein OverDrive Media Console automatically resumes playback from the most recently played point.
Let OverDrive Media Console alert them of software releases and news about the software–automatically.
With iTunes v8.1.0.52 (or newer) in place, use Transfer Wizard to send titles to the iPod shuffle®.

ListenAlaska now features flexible due dates and star ratings

Kerri Canepa — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:48:39 +0000

You asked for it, you got it – flexible due dates! Now you can check out ListenAlaska audio book titles for either a week or two weeks. Music can be checked out for 3, 5 and 7 days. You can change the date at the time of check out or you can go into your My Account and select due dates to default to whatever period you choose when checking out. To set up these default periods, go to My Account and then select Lending Periods.

Another new feature is the star rating. Once an item is checked out and during the loan period, you can rate it from one to five stars. As others rate the same item, an average rating will be displayed in the catalog record. To add ratings, go to My Account and then select My checked out items.

Planning for SLED 2 – Request for Information (RFI)

Kerri Canepa — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:11:49 +0000

SLED2 is a statewide library system envisioned to provide all Alaska residents with a 21st century learning and discovery experience encouraging knowledge creation and dissemination, cultural enrichment, and intellectual and technical innovation. Goals are to provide equal and best possible access to print, electronic, and other resources of Alaska libraries, cultural and educational institutions while maximizing institutions purchasing power and giving taxpayers the best possible return on their investment. Key components are a shared patron database, a traditional union catalog, multiple methods of access and authorization, federated searching and/or a full portal, unmediated patron self servicing of requests, and all the functional modules of a traditional ILS.

Read the informational brochure.

The RFI is an important part of the planning process for the next generation ILS for Alaska. System vendors are invited to participate in the planning process by responding to the RFI by June 29, 2009.

RFI document

Overdrive Media Console for Macs on ListenAlaska

Kerri Canepa — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:25:07 +0000

Overdrive has released the new Media Console for Macs and it is available on ListenAlaska. Mac users can not only download content but also burn it to CDs and transfer it to Apple devices. More information can be found in Overdrive’s press release:

http://www.overdrive.com/aboutus/getArticle.aspx?newsArticleID=20081119

ALN to elect first Board of Directors

Kerri Canepa — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:17:03 +0000

Nominations are now being accepted to elect the first formal ALN Board of Directors. All nominees must be from member libraries. The Board consists of seven Directors which includes six appointments to represent the following (all open) as well as a representative for the Alaska State Library (State Librarian or designee):

Academic libraries
Public libraries
School libraries
At-large rural libraries
At-large special libraries
At-large Native libraries

Nominees for at-large board positions need not work in rural, special or Native libraries although members who do are encouraged to run.

Initial terms will be chosen by lottery for 1, 2 and 3 year terms. Subsequent appointments will be for staggered 3 year terms. Directors, except the representative of the Alaska State Library, may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Nominations are open to any ALN member. You may self nominate, nominate someone within your organization as your library’s representative or nominate another member. When nominating others, please contact them and confirm their interest in a Board seat prior to nomination. The list of member libraries can be located here.

Nominations should include name of the nominee, member library name and Board seat representation. Nominations will be accepted until December 31, 2008. Elections will be held in January, date to be determined.

Please send nominations to:

Barbara Berg, Nominating Committee Chair
bbe...@juneau.lib.ak.us

Questions should be sent to:
a...@alaska.gov

ALN Work Camp report

Kerri Canepa — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:36:16 +0000

Twenty librarians representing all types and sizes of libraries from across Alaska met September 10, 2008 to assist the Alaska Library Network. Four groups tackled a series of suggestions from libraries for ALN programs and services by prioritizing them and then developing action plans. It was intense, hard work but the results were nothing short of remarkable. At the end of the day not only were there action plans but all priorities were critiqued and commented on.Â In brief, the priorities, as determined by the groups, are as follows:

Priority 1 (highest)

Develop a cataloging service for libraries (reenvisioned as Meeting the needs of small libraries
Identify, locate and coordinate inclusion of other Alaskan digital projects into the Alaska Digital Archives
Document delivery, both electronic and physical
Create database consortia for libraries to share databases that aren’t available through the Digital Pipeline

Priority 2

Develop improved authentication
Develop reference support (reenvisioned as Expand reference support)
Develop training opportunities for specialized topics (reenvisioned as ALN training coordinator)
Pursue vendor discounts for group purchases

Priority 3

Develop shared automated system with shared catalog and library cards
Develop web page templates and/or hosting for small libraries
“Try before you buy” – providing new technologies/media/items to libraries to review
Develop specialized servicesÂ

Priority 4

Provide an automated reader’s advisory service
Coordinate and/or cover costs of traveling exhibits
Develop tutorials for using the databases, conducting research, etc.

Once the groups had chosen and explained their priorities, participants were asked to choose the top two priorities in their opinion. Their top four priorities were:

Create database consortia for libraries to share databases that aren’t available through the Digital Pipeline
Identify, locate and coordinate inclusion of other Alaskan digital projects into the Alaska Digital Archives
Develop training opportunities for specialized topics
Develop shared automated system with shared catalog and library cards

The ALN interim board met on October 7 to discuss the priority recommendations. Taking into consideration both the priorities of the groups and the participants, the board selected the two highest rated priorities forÂ the Coordinator to address in the short term. The priorities and the actions to be undertaken are:

Create database consortia

Survey ALN members (and potential members) to create inventory
- Similar questions as last year’s Electronic Resources Survey
- New questions to determine existing purchasing consortia, price paid and how price calculated
Encourage vendors to develop countercompliant statistics
- Assist Jeremy Frank, JPL, with work already underway

Alaska Digital Archives

Identify digital projects around Alaska
- Work with Frances Field, Archives Rescue Corps, who is surveying archival collections
- ARC survey includes questions about digitization, metadata, preservation needs and digital rights
Facilitate reunion/reformation of Alaskana working group
- Convene and facilitate initial meeting

In addition to the above activities, the Coordinator will continue to work on other projects such a group purchase services and membership recruitment.

Priority activities will be revisited when the formal board of directors is elected and begins their term of service next March.

New service! PlayAway lending collections available to members

Kerri Canepa — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:08:47 +0000

ALN has five collections of PlayAway titles available for members to borrow. Each collection has 13 titles and can be borrowed for six weeks.

This service is free to members!

Information about the lending collections can be found at Products & Services>PlayAway Lending Collections or by going here.

ALN Work Camp

Kerri Canepa — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:39:41 +0000

ALN Work Camp