Earning Social Currency

Kim Young is a savvy entrepreneur who has spent over a quarter of a century helping craft connections and grow partnerships among businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, communities and their customers, supporters and residents. One of my goals is to have her provide training for NTLP library personnel and supporters.

In this article she not only explains the meaning and value of social currency but also demonstrates her typical style of packing lots of relevant information into a really small amount of the reader's - or listener's - time.

So read the article and then ask yourself ... just how much social currency does your library or supporters group have?

Library Lines: Eateries embrace reading event

This was brought to our attention by Bedford Public Library Supporter Karen Kersey:

Lexington - Food lovers and book lovers: keep your library cards handy during National Library Week in April. Local food establishments have partnered with “Lexington Reads … and Eats!” to offer a literary look into the savory (and sweet) side of town.

During the week of April 13-20, residents who bring their Minuteman Library Network cards with them to Wagon Wheel Nursery or to Bollywood Café will receive discounts. In the mood for a hot drink to sip or a tasty treat while reading? Go to Peet’s Coffee and Tea or to the Royal Bakery or Wilson Farms for a free small coffee or a literature-inspired treat. Find how the Mango Curry at Lemongrass compares with your vision of the food inspired by Madhur Jaffrey’s “Climbing the Mango Tree.” Details of local business participation will be available at Cary Library.

Special cards and flyers on the April events will be available at participating businesses and at the library. Events include naturalist John Root, authors Frances Moore Lappe and Katherine Hall Page, food-related movies, and book discussions with coffee provided by the Bedford Street Starbucks. A complete menu of events is always available at www.carylibrary.org.

School/Public Library Cooperation

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission seeks the input of school and public libraries in Texas in an important survey concerning cooperation between school and public libraries. If you are not the appropriate recipient for this survey at your institution, please take a moment and forward this message to that person on our behalf. Thank you for your time and assistance.
Purpose of survey:
This survey is intended to gather information related to the current state of cooperation between Texas school and public libraries. The results of this survey will be published, and they will be used to help develop a free online SBEC-accredited course on school and public library cooperation. The Texas State Library will announce the availability of the survey results and the online course.
Dates of survey:
Tuesday, October 30 - Friday, November 9, 2007
Estimated time required to complete survey:
5 -10 minutes depending on length of responses to open-ended questions
Who should complete the survey:
School and public library staff in Texas
To take the survey:
Please visit: http://txstatelibrary.cooperation.sgizmo.com/
For questions relating to the administration of this survey, please contact:
Naomi DiTullio
Distance Learning Consultant, Library Development Division
Texas State Library & Archives Commission
800.252.9386 (in Texas)
naomi.ditullio@tsl.state.tx.us

WebJunction Partners with Assn. for Rural & Small Libraries

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries is now partnering with WebJunction and is moving resources to its new home here at webjunction.org/ARSL. This means you can now find articles from the Rural Libraries Journal, back issues of the Rural Library Services Newsletter, ARSL Organization and Conference Information on WebJunction. ARSL members can now join the vibrant discussions surrounding rural issues and can provide suggestions and comments on the future of their organization. For more information see http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200674.htm