Viva la Plinkit!

TSLAC reports that the Plinkit program, which makes it easy for a library to create a website at no cost, will continue to be supported for the foreseeable future.

This is good news at NTLP, where we currently support 25 Plinkit sites for North Texas libraries. (See the list at http://www.ntrls.org/plinkit/ ) These websites are hosted at the Texas State Library, with administrative and tech support shared between TSLAC and NTLP. Each library has control over its own site's content and appearance.

If you have been thinking about a Plinkit website for your library, now is the time! Contact NTLP for more information.

Congrats to the Librarian In Black

Congratulations to Sarah Houghton-Jan, whose Librarian in Black  was awarded the Salem Press Library Blog Award for best general interest blog!


If you haven't heard, Sarah will be in North Texas presenting at the upcoming TechNet  Annual Conference on August 3rd.  Registration is open but filling up fast!  Don't miss this chance to hear Sarah and the rest of the awesome lineup of presenters at TechNet.

Ideas for Promoting YA literature

Here's a list of ways to promote YA literature using technology, from the edtech VISION blog. I especially like the creative use of a digital frames as a low-cost version of an electronic sign.

Thanks for sharing the blog, Carolyn Brewer!

TechNet Registration is Open!!!

TechNet 2011 

The 4th annual NTLP Conference for Library Technology 

Quick Response to Technology 

Wednesday August 3, 2011 

8:30-9 a.m. Sign-In  

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Conference 

Decatur Civic Center 

2010 West US Hwy 380; Decatur 76234 

Training Sessions ~ Exhibitor Demonstrations ~ Technology Petting Zoo 

Dedicated Time to Visit the Exhibit Hall ~ Refreshments ~ Up to 7 CE/CPE hours 

Time for Networking with Peers ~ Lunch ~ New This Year: Networking Café 

Intended for all library personnel  whose responsibilities involve the use of technology, 

whether at the most basic or the most expert level. 

Registration Fee: $25 through June 30;  $30 beginning July 1 

Lunch will be provided for all registered participants. 

Register now at http://www.ntrls.org/ce/.  

Note that seating is very limited and - with Sarah Houghton-Jan, 

Michael Porter, Jessamyn West and Rachel Vacek among our speakers for this

very reasonably priced conference - we expect to reach maximum capacity right away!

Additional information: http://www.librarytechnetwork.com/ 

A resource for job seekers and those who support them

Most of you are probably familiar with TWDL (Texas Workskills Developments in Libraries), a cooperative effort between NTLP and several other system offices designed to help libraries meet the needs of job seekers in their communities.


Here's another online job-related resource, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration to share with your staff, volunteers, and library users:


"Workforce³ One is an e-learning, knowledge sharing webspace that offers workforce professionals, employers, economic development, and education professionals a dynamic network featuring innovative workforce solutions. Online learning events, resource information, and tools help organizations learn how to develop strategies that enable individuals and businesses to be successful in the 21st century economy."


There are free podcasts, webinars, newsletters, and 11 different virtual communities, ranging from topics such as Youth Connections, Older Workers, and of particular interest to public libraries, the Partnerships Community of Practice group.  The Partnerships CoP focuses on community organizations and non-profits which are committed to helping Americans succeed in the labor market.


There is a wealth of information and resources on the website and I hope you enjoy checking it out.

2011 NTLP Award Winners Announced!

NTLP is proud to announce the award winners for FY2011.  We are honoring the award winners on our website instead of holding an awards ceremony this year. Thanks to the the Awards Committee for reviewing the award nominations and making the difficult choice in selecting winners.  The winners are:

Margaret Irby Nichols Award

Denton Public Library with Library Larry 

 Co-Winner of the Library Project/Program Award
for Libraries Serving Populations between 6,001 & 50,000

Decatur Public Library and Furry Friends Fundraising

Co-Winner of the Library Project/Program Award
for Libraries Serving Populations between 6,001 & 50,000

Saginaw Public Library Literacy Program

Check out the NTLP homepage for a detailed description of these programs and video links for the winning submissions. Congratulations to the winners.  Great job!

One Book, One Twitter?

For all you Twitter fans out there - here's a creative use of social networking to create an online book discussion:

What if Everyone on Twitter Read the Same Book?

"Jeff Howe, the author and journalism professor who coined the term “crowdsourcing,” wants to take [social networking book clubs] a step further and use Twitter to create the world’s largest virtual book-reading club. Howe is partnering with The Atlanticmagazine on a project called 1book140 that starts on June 1 and will Twitter-fy one book a month as selected by users."

It starts today, June 1, and the first book up is The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood.