Suzan Nyfeler sits down with Kam McEvoy to discuss Central Texas Library System's new grant program: Ready to Read. Suzan discusses the early literacy skills that Ready to Read promotes, and the importance of outreach to parents, teachers and caregivers so that every child will be ready to read.

Today you'll hear an excerpt from Chris Jowaisis's presentation to CTLS members at our fall membership meeting Friday, Sept 26. Chris lets us know about the Texas State Library's Budget, proposed changes to the Library Systems Act to allow multitype membership, TSLAC renovations, and an upcoming Connectivity grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kam McEvoy talks a bit about the MaintainIT Project, which collects and shares experiences about working with public access computing. This is a 3-year grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, under the supervision of TechSoup, a non-profit that matches software donations with non-profit organizations (like libraries!). MaintainIT's motto is - You don't have to reinvent the wheel -- you can learn from the experiences of other librarians that have faced the same challenges in providing robust public access to technology that you're going through.

Mike Buras, IT Specialist with Central Texas Library System, Inc., joins us to discuss factors that can keep your public access computers running smoothly.

We were thrilled to have Judith Black, professional storyteller, present the Stories Alive! workshop on June 20, 2008, at Austin Public Library. Judith emphasized that both the human details and the motivations behind characters' actions are critical in connecting an audience to the past. She also explained the role that storytelling plays in society. This podcast is an excerpt from her presentation.

Judith has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival and has served as Teller-in Residence at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesboro TN.  She’s used storytelling to train national park interpreters, social workers, hospital personnel, teachers, librarians and eldercare professionals.  Judith has recorded songs and stories for children and adults, published her own stories in books and magazines, performed commissioned works and one-woman shows.  Her stories are full of wit and grace, offering insight into our common human story. 

In a recent Reaching our Spanish-Speaking Audience (ROSA) workshop, Spanish-speaking community leaders in Austin were invited to participate in a panel discussion. Here is Nelson Salinas from AVANCE at that ROSA workshop, shedding light on this important population and talking about how libraries can better serve Spanish speakers.

AVANCE-Austin prepares primarily Hispanic low-income children, to enter preschool and elementary with skills necessary for success in school.  AVANCE children interact in a classroom environment that is rich in oral language opportunities, reading activities and
social relationships with adults and peers as well as age-appropriate cognitive stimulation.

In this podcast, we hear from Jennifer Patterson, Continuing Education coordinator at CTLS, Inc., who explains the nuts and bolts of long range planning:
-- what it is 
-- why it's useful to libraries
-- who are the active participants
-- resources for long range plans

CTLS and AIA Austin held a Library Design symposium recently where we were honored to have Julie Todaro , Dean of Library Services at Austin Community College, share her wisdom on creating library environments. Julie Todaro is one of our most regarded librarians in the state. Her department has created award-winning information literacy tutorials, an award-winning literacy program that reaches 15,000 students every year, and has expanded organization access to and management of ACC library services through Library 2.0 opportunities.

Julie and her department are currently building a new Round Rock general campus library with health sciences programs. ACC Round Rock will be their biggest campus to date. Over the past 7 years, ACC Library Services has renovated 2 libraries and in the most recent 3 years, they've built 3 new library environments.

 
This podcast is an excerpt from Julie's March 6th talk: New Libraries: The Agony and Ecstasy.

Resources:
ACRL/LAMA Guide for Architects
Designing a Fine Library
Designing Libraries: the Gateway to Better Library Buildings
WBDG: Whole Building Design Guide

When Georgetown Public Library began planning for a new library space, they decided to broaden their amenities to include community rooms and a coffee shop. Kam McEvoy interviews Eric Lashley, Director of Georgetown Public Library, to discuss how these new amenities have enhanced services to their patrons.

It's never too early to start thinking about Summer Reading Programs for your library! In this podcast, Suzan Nyfeler will talk about this year's themes for Texas public libraries and what's new for 2008. For more information, visit the Texas Reading Club website and the Texas Teens Read website.

Happy New Year! Make 2008 the year you incorporate merchandising into your routine at the library for increased circulation and improved patron satisfaction. Kam McEvoy at CTLS discusses the merchandising techniques that Kathy Schalk-Greene and Joan Bernstein from the Mount Laurel Library in New Jersey used to transform their library. For more resources, visit the Trading Spaces Website.

Today we speak with the wonderful Jennifer Patterson, Continuing Education Coordinator for CTLS, Inc., and former Branch Manager at Austin Public Library. In this podcast, we discuss:

- what kinds of nonfiction patrons want
- barriers to selecting nonfiction
- resources to help with nonfiction selection
- how to tailor your nonfiction collection to fit the needs of your patrons

What Jennifer has been reading lately:

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Ann Lamott
Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich