SWON Libraries

As the summer starts to wind down, we thought it would be a good time to update you on happenings at SWON Libraries.  There is some important information in this message.  So please read it and pass it on to others in your organization.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us.  We love to hear from you!

Glen Horton continues to serve as Interim Executive Director.  In addition to regular activities, the staff has spent the past several weeks planning an office move.  The lease on our current office ended and we found a much better deal just one mile from our current location. As of August 27, our office will be located at 10901 Reed Hartman Highway, Suite 120, Blue Ash OH 45242.  Please update your records. Our phone numbers will remain the same, but our phones and website may be down around the 26th and 27th.  We do not have a dedicated training space at our new office, but there is a seminar room and conference room directly across the hall.  So we will continue to hold some programs and meetings at our new space.

Vicky Sweeney, our Continuing Education Coordinator, has accepted a branch manager position at the Franklin-Springboro Public Library.  Her last day as a full-time employee will be September 10.  However, Vicky will continue to work one day per week for SWON Libraries.  Her email address will continue to work, but most communications should be directed to Glen Horton.  We wish Vicky the best of luck in her new position, but we are also happy that she will still be able to help with SWON Libraries events.

At their August meeting, the Executive Board discussed the Executive Director and CE Coordinator vacancies. The group decided to begin the hiring process for an Executive Director with CE responsibilities.  A Search Committee has been formed and they plan to have the position posted by the end of August.  We appreciate your patience over the next few months while we work on restoring our staff.

Much is also happening with our other committees.  The Strategic Planning Committee continues to work on a draft plan.  A new Policy and Operations Committee has been formed and will hold their first meeting next week.  Delivery service was suspended about a year ago, but a new Delivery Committee will soon evaluate and explore ways to restore the service.  These committees can still benefit from additional volunteers.  So please reply if you are interested in serving.  You can find a list of all our committees at http://www.swonlibraries.org/groups

Finally, we want to make sure that you put our Fall Membership Meeting on your calendar.  Beverly Cain, the State Librarian of Ohio, will be our guest speaker.  The meeting will be held on Friday, November 12, but the location is still to be determined.  Directors of member libraries are encouraged to attend, but anyone is welcome to come to the meeting.  There will be lots of important updates and opportunities to provide your input.  So please come if you can.

Again, we love to hear from you.  So please contact us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions.  Thank you! 

These are just some of the great events that SWON Libraries is sponsoring this summer.  For a full listing, visit our Event Calendar.

August 6th  Picture Book Read-In--15th Annual Event
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
All Saints Parish

August 17th  Customer Service
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Boone County Public Library - Main Library

August 25th  Customer Service
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Boone County Public Library - Main Library

September 1st  Basic Legal Reference for Public Libraries
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Wilmington Public Library

September 16th  Copyright for School Librarians and Educators
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
At your desk--through WebEx

The Regional Library Systems of Ohio have opened registration for TechConnections 2010.  This year the conference will be an online event delivered straight to your computer.  There are a total of six sessions (one per week) running Wednesdays from July 21 until August 25.  Each session begins at 10am EDT and will run 45-75 minutes.

All sessions are linked by a common theme: providing services to mobile and remote users.  The first and final sessions will be presented by Nicole Engard, Director of Open Source Education at ByWater Solutions.  Nicole speaks frequently to libraries on topics such as open source and mashups.  Check out the full list of sessions:

• Providing Services to our Remote Users: Library Mashups
• Virtual Library Management in a Multi-Campus Environment
• Ask Emma! On the Road to Virtual Reference
• To Build, or Not to Build: What M-Learning Means for Your Library’s Information Commons
• How to Create a Facebook Application
• Providing Services to our Remote Users: Open Source Solutions

Participants can attend all six sessions for the single cost of $45.00.  Session descriptions and registration can be found at the TechConnections website