LDB July 2007
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Norma Blake, State Librarian, has instituted a “Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future” to continue the groundbreaking work begun by the Mid-Atlantic Library Futures Conference. The State Library recognizes that it is imperative to have input from the people who are shaping the future of
New Jersey’s libraries. To serve on this panel, interested staff from NJ Libraries need only complete the application found at the New Jersey State Library website: http://www.njstatelib.org/News/news_item.php?item_id=674 and return it by August 15, 2007 to Peggy Cadigan. - · New Statewide Databases Access: Access to all statewide databases is available through the Jersey Clicks portal effective July 3, 2007. In addition, a list of the individual database URLs for libraries to link from their websites is available. LDB staff is providing a list of the Facts on File databases libraries will need to delete from their websites unless the library is paying to subscribe to them for their customers. For the list of databases see: http://www.njstatelib.org/LDB/databases .
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· Get a Library Card Online allows potential library customers to register for a library card on the web. Get a Library Card Online was conceived by the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, which implemented a State Library funded pilot project, with 14 QandANJ participating libraries, to create and test this service. The pilot libraries have successfully used this new service for 18 months; more than 120 libraries are currently participating. Our goal is that all
New Jersey public libraries will make Get a Library Card Online available to their customers in the very near future. For more information see http://www.njstatelib.org/LDB/GALCO/. - · $200,000 was awarded by the NJSL to fund literacy programs at 11 public libraries across the state. For details on the literacy leadership grant program and the grantees, see http://www.njstatelib.org/News/news_item.php?item_id=685
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· Update on NJKI Funding: The State of
New Jersey budget for FY08 will provide $2 million to continue the New Jersey Knowledge Initiative. This is one million dollars less than is needed to continue the program at its current level. The intent of the State Library and the NJKI Task Force is to continue all NJKI databases for as long as the $2 million will last, which we expect to be until February 28, 2008, assuming vendor/publisher agreement.