Minnesota Public Library Budget Shortfalls: A Conversation

The WebJunction Minnesota <http://mn.webjunction.org/> Team (State Library
Services, Metronet, & Minitex) is pleased to sponsor and announce the following upcoming webinar produced by the Public Library Division<http://mnlibraryassociation.org/committees-subunits/public-libraries/>of the Minnesota Library Association <http://mnlibraryassociation.org/>.


*Please register today!*

To get more information and to register go to http://minitex.umn.edu/events/training/webinars.asp#228

Minnesota Public Library Budget Shortfalls: A Conversation

Monday, June 08, 2009 - 10:00 AM ? 11:30 AM (Central Time)

Register Here!<https://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/training/register.asp?sessionID=988>


The Public Library Division (PLD) of the Minnesota Library Association is
excited to announce their first statewide webinar, "Minnesota Public Library
Budget Shortfalls: A Conversation."

There are many in the Minnesota public library community who are struggling
with budget shortfalls during these challenging economic times. PLD has
invited library directors from various types of public libraries -- large
and small, from the metropolitan area and from greater Minnesota to share
their ideas.

Featured guest speakers are:

- Audrey Betcher, Rochester Public Library

- Pat Conley, Washington County Library

- Jennifer Jepsen, Martin County Library

- Mary Lukkarila, Cloquet Public Library

- Marian Ridge, Kitchigami Regional Library

- Kim Edson, Chair of PLD to moderate


Each presenter will be addressing the following three questions:

1) What is your organization doing to address shrinking budgets -
especially at a time when library use is growing?

2) How have you developed strategic priorities for using the available
funding - what to keep/strengthen, what do you let go?

3) Political Capital - How do/did you develop it, when do you spend it?
(i.e., How have you established your library's value to the community at a
time when there is fierce competition for funding from all of your sources?)


MLA's Public Library Division believes this webinar is just the start to an
ongoing conversation and a way for our library community to share its
collective wisdom. PLD has created an online group to continue and expand
the conversation via *WebJunction Minnesota* at:
http://mn.webjunction.org/738. Please join the group, participate, and share
with your Minnesota public library community. [To join the group be sure
that you have created an account with WebJunction Minnesota and have
affiliated with Minnesota].


*Who should attend?:*
Anyone interested in hearing from a panel of Minnesota public library directors and participating in a statewide conversation about public library budget shortfalls.

*Sponsors:*
The Public Library Division<http://mnlibraryassociation.org/committees-subunits/public-libraries/>of the Minnesota Library Association <http://mnlibraryassociation.org/> and the WebJunction
Minnesota <http://mn.webjunction.org/> Team (State Library Services, Metronet, & Minitex).

*Questions? Please contact:*

Kimberly Edson, Head of Readers Services, Rochester Public Library

PH: 507-328-2325; E-mail: kedson@rochester.lib.mn.us

* <kedson@rochester.lib.mn.us>*

--
WJMN Team
Ann Walker Smalley, Metronet
Deanna Sylte, Metronet
Mary Ann Van Cura, State Library Services
Jennifer Hootman, Minitex

Upcoming Conferences

FYI...


Two national associations will hold their conferences in Minnesota this
spring. For your consideration....

May 2 - 7, 2009
4th Annual International Reading Association Convention North Central
Minneapolis Convention Center
www.reading.org/General/Conferences/AnnualConvention/MinneapolisMain.aspx

June 5 - 6, 2009
National Freedom of Information Coalition Conference: 2009 FOI Summit
Marriott City Center in Minneapolis
NFOIC: http://www.nfoic.org/2009_summit?s=conference
Local Host: The Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MnCOGI):
mtreacy@onvoymail.com or www.mncogi.org.

Internship: Hennepin County Library

Library Outreach Services Internship
Hennepin County Library
Outreach promotes the use of the library by the nontraditional or under-served user through the development and support of programs and services.

The Outreach Department's goal is to bring the experience of the library and its resources to the community - in their homes, senior living facilities, rehabilitation centers, the correctional facilities of the county and through events held at the library.

Commitment:
One semester, 4 to 8 hours per week.

Wage:
This is an unpaid position which could be for college credit or work experience.

Job Location:
Main work location is at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, with some work in Downtown Minneapolis at the Juvenile Detention Center, in Plymouth at the Adult Correctional Facility, and in Minnetonka at the County Home School.

Application Deadline:
May 15, 2009.

Duties:
Duties may include the following:

Assist at outreach events aimed at first generation library users

Assist in classifying / organizing Adult Correctional Facility collection

Assist in compiling and analyzing data for Adult Correctional Facility programs and Deposit Collection booktalking program

Assist in creating documents for use in Large Print book club kits, including writing book discussion questions

Assist in implementation of resource workshops at Adult Correctional Facility

Assist in the creation, implementation and evaluation of a reading interest survey for use with the Deposit Collection sites, at the Adult Correctional Facility, and at the County Home School

Assist in weekly filling of information requests from Adult Correctional Facility

Plan, develop, and implement a book discussion group at the Adult Correctional Facility (women's) and District 287 (teens)

Plan, develop, and implement a project of interest related to Outreach

Requirements:
Intern must have taken at least one class in collection development, information services or public libraries.

To Apply and for Questions:
Submit a resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications for this internship to:

Tom.Grund@co.hennepin.mn.us
- OR -
Tom Grund
Hennepin County Library - Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 847-8518
For more information contact Patrick Jones at pjones@hclib.org or (952) 847-8859.

Oracle Finally Owns MySQL

Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, who had also recently acquired MySQL not too long ago. MySQL started life as an open-source database system that was built was used freely by developers and companies around the world. Even large enterprise systems use MySQL, and this may have possed a threat to Oracle.

In a move from the "own your competition" playbook, Oracle snapped up Sun Mirosystems and thus MySQL. MySQL is the the world's most popular open source database, so the acquisition of Sun by Oracle makes the world of database administrators shake. I'm sure the world of Java and Solaris is also just been tossed up into the sky.

We all know that during acquisitions lots of promises are made, but rarely are they all kept. What I thought was interesting was that there was no mention of MySQL in the Sun Oracle Press Release. I'm sure that there will be more news to follow as soon as the dust settles.