SIGNAL March 2005


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SIGNAL online 2005

Current edition: March 30, 2005

Published by the Southern Ontario Library Service

The introductory page for the Southern Ontario Library Service is www.sols.org. From that page, you can move to any other pages created by staff at the Southern Ontario Library Service, as well as to links to resources and professional information.

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In this issue:
1. SOLS WEB SITE REDESIGN
2. SOLS ANNOUNCES JOINT LOGO WITH OLS-NORTH
3. SOLS ANNOUNCES NEW JOINT VENTURE WITH OLS-NORTH
4. SOLS OPERATIONS PLAN 2005-06
5. PURCHASING GUIDANCE: EXCHANGE RATE ISSUES
6. CONSORTIA/CHARITABLE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS
7. NEW INTERLIBRARY LOAN CATALOGUE
8. ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY GUIDELINES ACCREDITATION
9. SOLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS – Updated to March 30th
10. TRUSTEE COUNCIL MEETINGS – Scheduled for April-May 2005
11. LIBRARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
12. SPECIAL MEETINGS
13. FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES' READING PROGRAM REACHES 1,400+ INDIVIDUALS
14. EXCEL REGISTRATION - Registration deadline Monday,May 2
15. ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE
16. SOLS CEO LISTSERV
17. SOLS BOARD SUMMARY- March 2005

============================================================================================== 1. SOLS WEB SITE REDESIGN
SOLS has redesigned its web site to mirror the organizational goals and objectives outlined in our Service Plan for 2004-2007. A parallel SOLS site for French content will also be launched in April 2005.

The new site is divided into 5 major sections:

About SOLS - This section outlines SOLS' mandate and mission, and provides links to our corporate reports, service plans, and Board information. You can also learn more about how to support SOLS.

Resource Sharing - The Resource Sharing section outlines our services as defined in Priority 1 of our Service Plan, "Libraries collaborate to make the most effective use of resources". This includes information on our Interlibrary loan system (INFO), Electronic resource purchasing (COOL), Consortial Purchasing Agreements (CPA), Delivery services, and buying pools for specialized materials, such as talking books, large print, DVDs and multilingual books and videos.

Library Development - The Library Development section outlines our services as defined in Priority 2 of our Service Plan - "Libraries equipped to meet future challenges and opportunities". This includes assisting libraries in achieving accreditable status, as well as providing specialized services for libraries in the areas of Board Development, CEO Searching, Facilities Planning, Funding Development, Strategic Development, and Technology Planning. There are links to Training and Networking opportunities provided by SOLS, as well as a comprehensive guide to our Publications. The Province-wide Research section outlines our three year agenda for library research.

Marketing - This section describes how SOLS presently supports the work of Ontario library organizations in marketing the value of libraries to Ontarians.

Links - The Links section contains the Index to Public Libraries in Southern Ontario, as well as a detailed collection of links to library related organizations. In order to expand the information available to libraries for planning and assessment, SOLS has also created a Clearinghouse, which is a comprehensive topical index to information. Links to selected SOLS information, as well as links to external sources, are provided in the Clearinghouse.

A search engine and site map are also available to help you find specific pages.

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2. SOLS ANNOUNCES JOINT LOGO WITH OLS-NORTH

Ontario Library Service-North and the Southern Ontario Library Service are pleased to continue to work together in building a strong provincial network of public libraries. For many years, OLS-North and SOLS have worked on joint ventures for the benefit of our clients. The two organizations have now committed to a planned strategic approach to our partnership, building on traditional collaborative projects, such as Interlibrary loan.

We are pleased to commemorate this commitment to our clients with a joint logo, which we will use to identify collaborative ventures. The logo integrates our two corporate identities, with the compass in the logo celebrating the geographic aspect of the partnership. Together, we look forward to continuing to work with you on building "Stronger Libraries for Stronger Communities". We are committed to working with you "Together – for the Distance". The logo is posted on the new SOLS website under the "Highlights" section.

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3. SOLS ANNOUNCES NEW JOINT VENTURE WITH OLS-NORTH

SOLS and OLS-North are delighted to announce a collaboration to introduce a core collection of electronic resources to Ontarians through their public libraries. SOLS and OLS-North are subsidizing the cost for libraries to participate in the NetLibrary eBook collection at a rate of $100 per library. This will cover 100% of the cost of participation for libraries serving populations under 15,000, including all First Nations libraries, and introduce 200 new libraries to the project.

This project will also lay the groundwork for other province-wide initiatives, such as those planned by the Ontario Digital Library, which will expand the digital content and services available to Ontarians.

This collection will be launched in the summer of 2005. Public libraries will be asked to participate in the selection process with a Collection Development Committee in the spring. Ontario’s Shared eBook collection is a project of COOL (Consortium of Ontario Libraries). COOL is a multi-sector buying group for electronic products involving university, college, school and public libraries. SOLS chairs the consortium and is the public library representative on the project.

Further information will be forthcoming but if you have any questions or comments, libraries in southern Ontario are asked to contact Barbara Franchetto by e-mail at or by phone at (800)-387-5765, ext.5104. A longer version of this message was also sent out through the SOLS CEOs listserv on March 17, 2005.

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4. SOLS OPERATIONS PLAN 2005-06

The SOLS Service Plan is posted on the website at http://www.sols.org/aboutsols/reports/index.htm. A companion document to the three year plan is the annual Operations Plan which is also published in the same section of SOLS’ website. The Operations Plan details specific goals, tasks and targets for the year and also includes the budget.

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5. PURCHASING GUIDANCE: EXCHANGE RATE ISSUES

The Rise of the Canadian Dollar and its Impact on Libraries Submitted by Ron Neems, SOLS Purchaser and Daryl Novak, SOLS CAO

Is your library gaining from the rising Canadian dollar? As we all know, the Canadian dollar has gained strength against its American counterpart. Five years ago it cost, on average, $1.54 to buy one American dollar. Today that average is below $1.30. This can have significant advantages for your library. If you have contracts with American vendors that you pay in US funds, you are already reaping the benefits of the improved exchange rates. However, given that a fluctuating exchange can make annual budgeting hard, many libraries sign contracts with American vendors paid in Canadian dollars. Long-term contracts, which include maintenance for library automation systems, are a good case in point.

Given that the vendor's costs are still being paid in constant American dollars, if you are paying in Canadian dollars, the vendor's profit has shot up radically over the last few years. For long term contracts, you could try to re-negotiate a better rate, say a discount of 10% for the balance of the contract, perhaps in return for extending the contract. For contracts that are expiring over the next few months, do examine the effect of the exchange rate carefully before agreeing to any extensions or renewals, and in tendering for new suppliers. Given the significant changes, you could consider building a redress mechanism into long term contracts for any major changes in the exchange rate. Bear in mind that any such clause could work against you should the American dollar gain significant strength in the future.

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6. CONSORTIA/CHARITABLE PURCHASING AGREEMENTS

SOLS negotiates charitable/consortia purchasing agreements (CPAs) on behalf of SOLS libraries. CPAs are ‘economies of scale’ pricing for the purchase or lease of a range of goods and services.

a) JanWay "Blast Off" Merchandise - SOLS is pleased to announce a new CPA with the JanWay Company, for the purchase of products that support the TD Summer Reading Program. This offer is exclusive to SOLS member libraries, and is for selected space themed items, imprinted with generic art that includes the 2005 SRP slogan "Blast Off", and the "@ your library" trademark. This CPA is the result of client requests, following the launch of the program by JanWay at the OLA Conference. We have successfully negotiated lower shipping costs and the elimination of brokerage charges, which will save individual libraries 10% to 15 % when compared to costs for non-SOLS libraries.

The flyer and order form are posted on the Summer Reading section of the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/marketing/summerreading/index.htm. Pricing is in Canadian dollars, and includes duty and brokerage. GST is additional. Orders are to be placed directly with the vendor using the order form. The order deadline is March 31. All orders will be shipped to SOLS during the week of May 16^th and will then be delivered via SOLS courier, to arrive no later than June 10. Invoicing will be by JanWay and direct to the library. Payment is due net 30 days.

The Canadian sales representative for the JanWay Company is Bill Lynch. He can be reached by e-mail at bill.lynch@sympatico.ca or by telephone at 1-416 244-4024.

b) Dell computers - New Charitable Pricing Agreement (CPA) for DELL computers is available to all libraries in Southern Ontario effective April 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005. The new features of the Optiplex GX 280 include faster memory DDR2 400Mhz, PCI Express Technology, 1MB L2 Cache, SATA hard drives and Enhanced Integrated Graphics.

The new price is $999.00, plus applicable taxes, with free shipping and a 3 year On-Site, Next Business Day, Parts & Labour Warranty. The cost of the monitors is extra. Some tier pricing for large volume clients is available.

The charitable pricing achieved by SOLS is the best in the province for this computer model. Our price point has been guaranteed by DELL as the lowest price in the province for this product over the duration of our contract. The price point is lower than any Municipal, Provincial and large Library pricing available for orders under 100 CPU's.

If you have definite requirements and wish to place an order please send an e-mail to Daryl Novak at and include the quantity required, keyboard language (English or French), quantity of monitor(s) (if applicable) and style (mini-tower, desktop and small form factor). Please note once SOLS has issued its order release, ordering and invoicing will be handled directly by Dell. If you have any questions or concerns please email, as noted above, or phone Daryl at 1-(800)-387-5765, ext. 5135.

Further information on pending Charitable/Consortia Purchasing Agreements can be found at http://www.sols.org/resourcesharing/coolcpa/cpa/index.htm. On that Web page, the various CPAs are organized by product and service, as well as by Vendor. The contact person for most of the CPAs is the SOLS Chief Administrative Officer, Daryl Novak. Daryl can be reached at 1-416-961-1669 or 1-800-387-5765 ext. 5135 or by e-mail at . If you have ideas for the CPA, please do not hesitate to contact Daryl.

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7. NEW INTERLIBRARY LOAN CATALOGUE

The staff at the SOLS HelpDesk and INFO Operations announced that the new INFO Union Catalogue moved over to the INFO VDX production server on March 9, 2005. The new INFO union catalogue contains the catalogue output from 110 public libraries (87 in SOLS, 23 in OLSN). The total number of bibliographic records in the INFO union catalogue is 2,090,668 and the total number of holdings in the 2004 INFO union catalogue is 9,971,364. Further information related to interlibrary loan can now be found on the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/resourcesharing/INFO/index.htm.

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8. ONTARIO PUBLIC LIBRARY GUIDELINES AND ACCREDITATION

SOLS staff have been working with a number of libraries across southern Ontario in the area of using the Ontario Public Library Guidelines (OPL Guidelines) and possible accreditation. SOLS staff also posted a series of sample library policies on their Web site for use by any public library. These sample policies are now posted in the "Library Development" section of the new Web site at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/index.htm. From that point, you will be able to find the link to "Accreditation". Some of the "Accreditation Resources" can be found in the SOLS Clearinghouse section at http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/accreditation/index.htm. This would include the sample policies that were collected to assist libraries trying to work their way through the OPL Guidelines requirements.

One of the libraries that recently became accredited was the Lansdowne Branch of the Leeds and the Thousand Islands Public Library. There was a news article in the March 9, 2005 issue of the Gananoque Reporter about this accomplishment. The article began… "It was named as only the 20^th library in Ontario to receive accreditation. "A great deal of pride comes along with the designation," said chief librarian Yolande Lapointe. "In the library world, this is considered quite a big deal." "It means the Lansdowne branch had demonstrated we’re using public money effectively and responsibly, to provide adequate and consistent service and be a part of our community." …. The accreditation shows that the library has met the conditions set down by the Ontario Public Library guidelines and was awarded by the Monitoring and Accreditation Council.… Ms Lapointe said she first started looking at earning the title in the mid-1990s, but the process was put on the back burner during amalgamation of the townships. "The idea stayed with me," she said. "The library board decided last year that we were going to go for it." In order to do so, a lot of planning was needed as the library had to meet 124 guidelines and be audited. That included people spending an entire day looking at everything from polices within the library, to library board meeting minutes, and from accessibility of its facilities, to library service and community involvement."

More information about the accreditation process is posted on the "Accreditation" section of the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/accreditation/index.htm.

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9. SOLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS – Update to March 30th

Training information for this spring’s workshops, as well as electronic registration forms and maps, are available at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/training/clinicsworkshops/index.htm. Please note that only one of the sessions on expertise in gaining municipal support will be held. Extra locations have been added to the readers’ advisory workshop on Canadian genre fiction and the time & stress management workshop. The pricing structure for the policy writing workshop has been adjusted.

Workshop #1 - Working Alone

Friday, April 15, 2005 from 10am to 2:30pm, Gravenhurst Public Library
Friday, April 29, 2005 from 10am to 2:30pm, Shelburne Public Library

Workshop #2 – TD Summer Reading Club information sessions

Ottawa Public Library - Friday, April 1, 2005 from 9am to noon, at the Stittsville branch
Toronto Public Library – Tuesday, April 19, 2005 from 2pm to 5pm, at the Agincourt branch [east]
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 from 2pm to 5pm, at the North York Central branch [north]
Thursday, May 5, 2005 from 2pm to 5pm, at the Lillian H. Smith branch [downtown]
Friday, May 6, 2005 from 2pm to 5pm, at the Albion branch, Etobicoke [west]

Workshop #3 – Securing Municipal Support

Cancelled - Tuesday, April 5, 2005 from 10am to 1pm, Kitchener Public Library
Thursday, April 7, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Barrie Public Library
Cancelled - Tuesday, April 12, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Quinte West Public Library – Trenton

Workshop #5 – Jumpstart your Policies

Friday, May 6, 2005 from 10am to 4pm, Innisfil Public Library – Lakeshore branch
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 from 10am to 4pm, Hanover Public Library
Thursday, May 12, 2005 from 10am to 4pm, Kingston Frontenac Library – Isabel Turner branch
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 from 10am to 4pm, Pembroke Public Library

Please note: The cost of workshop for first registrant is $64.20 ($60.00 plus GST & this price includes lunch). We have adjusted the pricing for this workshop in order to encourage the participation of Trustees. Libraries registering two people for the workshop will only pay $16.05 ($15.00 plus GST) for the second participant (trustee or staff person). Two people registering from the same library will share a computer. The maximum number of people per computer is two.

Workshop #6 – The Eh List of Canadian Genre Fiction

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Brantford Public Library – Main
Thursday, May 19, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm St. Catharines Public Library – Main
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Cobourg Public Library
FULL Extra session arranged: Monday, June 13, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Barrie Public Library

Workshop #7 – Managing Time and Managing Stress

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Ramara Centre – Auditorium, Orillia
Monday, May 30, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Petawawa Public Library
Wednesday, June 1, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Trent Hills Public Library – Campbellford branch
Extra session arranged: Wednesday, June 8, 2005 from 1pm to 4pm, Augusta Township Public Library

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10. TRUSTEE COUNCIL MEETINGS – Scheduled for April-May 2005

Trustee Councils meet twice a year and all public library boards may send a representative. While all appointed trustee council representatives will receive a print mailing of the agenda, the dates of the upcoming meetings are as follows. Further information is posted under "Networking Opportunities" at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/networking/trusteecouncils/index.htm

Trustee Council meeting, area 1, Saturday, April 23, 2005 from 10am to 1pm, Oxford County Library – Ingersoll branch

Escarpment Trustee Council meeting, Saturday, April 23, 2005 from 10am to 3:30pm, Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library – includes trustee training session from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Trustee Council meeting, area 3, Monday, April 18, 2005, from 6pm to 9pm, Hanover Public Library (new date)

Trustee Council meeting, area 4, Tuesday, May 3, 2005 from 6pm to 9pm, Innisfil Public Library – Lakeshore branch

Trustee Council meeting, area 5, Saturday, April 30, 2005 from 10am to 3:30pm, Markham Public Library – new Angus Glen branch - includes trustee training session from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Trustee Council meeting, area 6, Saturday, April 23, 2005 from 10am to 3:30pm, Belleville Public Library – includes trustee training session from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Trustee Council meeting, area 7, Saturday, April 30, 2005 from 10am to 3:30pm, Renfrew Town Hall – includes trustee training session from 1:30pm to 3:30pm (new location)

Trustee Council meeting, area 8, Saturday, April 23, 2005 from 10am to 3:30pm, Brockville Public Library – includes trustee training session from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Please note that at five Trustee Council meetings, there will be a training event held after the Trustee Council meeting. This training event will be in conjunction with OLBA. The five meetings are #2 (Escarpment at Niagara-on-the-Lake), #5 (Markham), #6 (Belleville), #7 (Renfrew), and #8 (Brockville). At each of these meetings, there will be a teleconference presentation from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, followed by a facilitated discussion which should last about 45 minutes. The day should finish by 3:30pm. The topic will be "Strategic Planning" and the speaker will be Jim Morgenstern. More information on these sessions will be posted by mid-March, along with the Trustee Council agendas, on the SOLS Web site at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/networking/trusteecouncils/dates.htm

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11. LIBRARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS

SOLS provides an opportunity for library staff members to meet and discuss issues of common interest. Committee meetings of area libraries often involve a special clinic on a particular area of interest. This spring, the clinic will revolve around collection development information. Information about the meetings, including an agenda for each meeting, is posted on the SOLS Web site at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/networking/librarycommittee/index.htm.

The dates and locations are as follows:

Escarpment – Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at the Wainfleet Public Library. Meeting 10am to noon and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1pm to 3pm

Lanark - Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at the Carleton Place Public Library. Collection Evaluation Clinic from 10am to 12:30pm and Meeting 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Leeds and Grenville - Wednesday, May 11, 2005 (location to be determined). Meeting from 10am to 12:30 and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Peterborough - Monday, May 2, 2005 at the Campbellford branch of the Trent Hills Public Library. Meeting from 10am to 12:30 and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Prescott-Russell (Comité des services en français) - Monday, April 11, 2005 at the Russell Township Public Library/Bibliothèque publique du canton du Russell - succursale d'Embrun. Atelier : 9h30 Lignes directrices AND Monday, June 13, 2005 at the Champlain Township Public Library/Bibliothèque publique de Champlain - succursale de Vankleek Hill. Atelier : 9h30 à 1200h Service à la clientele. Réunion 13h30 à 15h30

Renfrew County - Thursday, April 28, 2005 at the Arnprior Public Library. Collection Evaluation Clinic from 10am to 12:30pm and Meeting 1:30pm to 3:30pm

Saugeen - Monday, April 18, 2005 at the Grand Valley Public Library. Meeting: 10am to noon and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1pm to 3pm

Simcoe/Muskoka District – Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at the Beaverton branch of the Brock Township Public Library. Meeting: 10am to noon and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1pm to 3pm

Tri-County (Hastings-Prince Edward-Northumberland) - Monday, May 9, 2005 at the Tyendinaga Township Public Library. Meeting from 10am to 12:30 and Collection Evaluation Clinic from 1:30pm to 3:30pm

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12. SPECIAL MEETINGS

Trillium Information sessions – Libraries serving municipalities with populations of 20,000 or less are eligible to apply for grants from the Trillium Foundation. Two information session are planned in the next few weeks: For Simcoe County and Muskoka District libraries, there will be an information session with Inga Lubbock from the Trillium Foundation on Wednesday, May 4, 2005, beginning at 10:30 am, at Simcoe County Administration Office in Midhurst. Please let Gwen Wheeler know who will be attending from your library.

For the libraries in Peterborough, Northumberland and Hastings counties, there will be an information session with Jackie Powell from the Trillium Foundation office in Peterborough on Monday, April 18, 2005, beginning at 1 pm, at the Bruce Johnston Branch of the Cavan, Millbrook, North Monaghan Public Library. Please let Peggy Malcolm know who will be attending.

TD Summer Reading Idea Swap – There was interest expressed from libraries far from Toronto or Ottawa, where workshops are already being held.

For libraries in Simcoe County and Muskoka District (and anyone else from the area who might like to come), there will be an "Idea Swap" for this year’s "Blast Off" Summer Reading program. The date will be Wednesday, May 4, 2005 at 1:00 p.m also at the Simcoe County Administration Office in Midhurst and running for 2 hours, depending on what people have to share. Please let Gwen Wheeler know who will be attending from your library. We will then have an idea about the numbers, so that if someone wants to bring a handout or sample, we will be sure to have enough copies for each library. For libraries in Peterborough, Northumberland, Lennox & Addington and Hastings Counties, as well as Kawartha Lakes, Kingston-Frontenac and Prince Edward, there will be an "Idea Swap" for this year’s "Blast Off" Summer Reading program at the Campbellford branch of the Trent Hills Library. The Idea Swap will be held on Monday, May 16, 2005 at 1 pm. Please let Peggy Malcolm know who will be attending.

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13. FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES' READING PROGRAM REACHES 1,400+ INDIVIDUALS

Participation certificates will be en route shortly to libraries and other organizations that reported holding readings of the First Nation Communities Read 2005 title during First Nations Public Library Week in February. Based on information received to date, there were 100 readings held by predominantly First Nation public libraries across Ontario. The readings of SkySisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose and illustrated by Brian Deines reached 1,418 individuals. Congratulations to Mnjikaning First Nation Public Library which held the most readings (12) and reached the most individuals (204). The Mississaugas of the New Credit and Six Nations public libraries also both reached 100 or more people through the readings they hosted. Special mention goes to Ottawa Public Library’s Rideau Branch and Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East for celebrating the First Nation Communities Read program with their communities. Libraries that participated and haven’t reported yet are welcome to do so. Libraries are welcome to host and report on readings throughout 2005. The First Nation Communities Read participation form is available on the SOLS website at: http://www.sols.org/marketing/fnpubliclibraryweek/reportform.pdf

For more information about this or other First Nation public library initiatives, contact: Patty Lawlor, First Nations Consultant, SOLS, by phone at 1-800-387-5765, Ext. 5107 or e-mail at .

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14. EXCEL REGISTRATION – Registration deadline Monday, May 2^nd

EXCEL is a training program in managing a small public library or a community branch library, specifically designed for public library staff or volunteers who have little or no formal library training. It also provides an opportunity to upgrade library skills and management techniques, within a flexible and practical program. It is offered, in both English and French, through the Southern Ontario Library Service and Ontario Library Service-North, as a correspondence program with telephone tutors.

For the Summer 2005 semester, we are offering these courses in English:

Introduction to Public Libraries
Library Marketing
Collection Development for Young Adults (Revised)
Professional Development

For the Summer 2005 semester, we are offering these courses in French:

Introduction aux bibliothèques publiques
Techniques de communication
Principes de base du développement des collections

The registration deadline is Monday, May 2^nd. The course material will be shipped to students beginning on Tuesday, May 10^th, with the semester commencing Tuesday, May 24^th. Information about the EXCEL program as well as a registration form, is posted at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/training/excel/registration.htm.

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15. ADDITIONS TO THE WEBSITE

In the new SOLS Clearinghouse at http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/index.htm, there are further links on a variety of topics.

a) One Clearinghouse link takes you to Training Resources for Library Staff at http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/training/index.htm. At that point on the SOLS website, a link has been added for the course calendar of the Education Institute. This program partnership, also called The Partnership, was created by the BC Library Association, the Library Association of Alberta, the Ontario Library Association, and the Saskatchewan Library Association, to support the professional development of librarians and information professionals. The Education Institute continues to offer programs, workshops and events in various locations throughout the year. Virtual programs and courses are accessible on-line or by teleconference from the member's workplace or home. You can also reach the link through the "Library Organizations" link on the main SOLS page at http://www.sols.org/links/libraries/organizations.htm. From the list, select the "Ontario Library Association" and the link for the "Education Institute" on that website.

b) In the "Clearinghouse" section of the SOLS website, there is also a sub-section called "Reports of Interest in Library Research". This section includes links to research reports in the library field. The direct Web address for that section is http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/research/reportsofinterest.htm. Two recent reports have been added to that section. One report, called Change in store? An investigation into the impact of the book superstore environment on use, perceptions and expectations of the public library as a space, place and experience, written by Helen Cartwright, reports the main findings of a Masters dissertation submitted at the University of Sheffield in 2001. The text of full dissertation is at http://dagda.shef.ac.uk/dissertations/2000-01/cartwright.pdf. The second new report that has been added to the "Reports of Interest in Library Research" is called Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space. The report was compiled by the Council on Library and Information Resources and covers new research on the library "as a place". The full text is available free at http://www.clir.org/pubs/abstract/pub129abst.html

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16. SOLS CEO LISTSERV

SOLS maintains a list of all the e-mail addresses for SOLS CEOs. It is this list that is used to distribute Signal. Several times through the month, you may also receive other messages from SOLS. This month, the following message was sent:

Sue Walls sent a message to all SOLS CEOs on behalf of Suzanne Culp, OLBA President regarding Library Trustee Training workshops across Ontario for new and returning library board members. The workshop, called an Introduction to Strategic Planning for Library Boards will be presented as a teleconference by planning and management consultant Jim Morgenstern, who is well known in the library community. For further information, please contact Randee Loucks at

If you did not receive these messages, and would like further information, please contact the SOLS HelpDesk at 1-(800)-387-5765, ext. 4, or by e-mail to

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17. SOLS BOARD SUMMARY - March 2005

Assurance of Funding - MPP Visits - One of the four jobs of the Board is assurance of funding through advocating the provincial government for optimal funding and pursuing a variety of funding and resource development activities that support SOLS’ Ends priorities.

The Board continues to pursue its program to visit all MPPs whose ridings overlap SOLS’ service area, as well as most Cabinet Ministers. A total of 77 visits are planned and thirty-five visits have been completed to date. As part of the visiting program, there has been a lively correspondence between the Board and MPPs which, in itself, has served to raise awareness of SOLS and libraries with this important group of decision-makers.

Assurance of Funding – Fundraising - SOLS’ Board launched a campaign to solicit individual donations to support the work SOLS does to assist public libraries. The campaign goals are to:

1. Develop organizational capacity to raise funds through individual donations.
2. Develop donors willing to give to SOLS.
3. Raise $30,000 for SOLS’ 05/06 budget.

A pilot stage of the campaign was initiated this fall and the target of $5,000 was achieved. The Board is now ready to pursue its main campaign for 2005/06 which is $30,000. The campaign will run from April 1 to September 30, 2005. We estimate that we will need to make 125 asks and achieve an average donation of $350 to reach the target. The strategy involves retaining all current donors, adding all new Board members as donors and engaging an additional fifty new donors. Donations will help SOLS continue its important work with libraries and enhance its programs. The ebook initiative described below is an example of the kind of enhancement that is possible through donations.

Operations Plan 2005/06 - Stronger Libraries Stronger Communities is SOLS’ Service Plan for 2004 to 2007. A companion document to the three year plan is the annual Operations Plan which is published on SOLS’ website. The Operations Plan details specific goals, tasks and targets for the year and also includes the budget.

Ebook Initiative - One of the key new initiatives this year is a collaboration with OLS-North to introduce a core collection of electronic resources to Ontarians through their public libraries. SOLS and OLS-North are subsidizing the cost for libraries to participate in the NetLibrary eBook collection at a rate of $100 per library.

This funding will cover 100% of the cost of participation for libraries serving a population of under 15,000, including all First Nations libraries, and subsidize the cost of participation for all other libraries.

For many libraries, this project will introduce the first-ever electronic product, and SOLS and OLS-North are committed to assisting these libraries to use and market this collection effectively. The project will also lay the groundwork for other province-wide initiatives, such as those planned by the Ontario Digital Library, which will expand the digital content and services available to Ontarians.

Ontario’s eBook collection is a project of COOL (Consortium of Ontario Libraries). COOL is a multi-sector buying group for electronic products involving university, college, school and public libraries. SOLS chairs the consortium and is the public library representative on the project. NetLibrary is a division of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, a nonprofit organization that provides computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing and preservation service to libraries worldwide. NetLibrary offers an easyto-use information and retrieval system for accessing the full text of reference, scholarly, and professional books. The shared ebook collection specializes in business, economics and management, medicine, sports and recreation, travel and geography.

Focus on the Ontario Public Library Guidelines - Another focus for this year is to expand the number of libraries using the Ontario Public Library Guidelines. The Guidelines is a planning tool developed by the Ontario public library community to help improve the quality of public library service across the province. SOLS is providing a series of training sessions focusing on self-assessment, policy development and Guidelines requirements for services.

The session on policy development, entitled "Jumpstart your Policies", will be of particular interest to trustees. It is being offered as follows (all sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.):

Friday May 6 at Innisfil PL, Lakeshore Branch
Tuesday May 10 at Hanover PL
Thursday May 12 at Kingston-Frontenac PL, Isabel Turner Branch
Wednesday May 18 at Pembroke PL.

Board Recruitment - SOLS’ Board operates on a three year term and the current term ends in June. Elections to the Board will be held at the spring Trustee Council meetings and the new Board will take office at the June 4, 2005 meeting. Each Trustee Council elects two representatives (except Trustee Council 7 which, being smaller than the others, elects one). To be eligible to stand for election or cast a vote, individuals must be their library’s appointee to the Trustee Council.

To help prospective Board members consider whether they wish to run for election, an information package and presentation were provided at the fall Trustee Council meetings. Information is also available on SOLS’ website. New members will receive a comprehensive orientation including an information binder, an orientation meeting scheduled for Friday, June 3 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. at SOLS’ office in Toronto, as well as a "buddy" – a fellow Board member with experience on SOLS’ Board to act as welcomer and host.

The outgoing Board also prepares a Legacy Document which is a reflection on the work of the Board and is meant to be a guide for the new Board, to assist it during the transition process and help it set directions for its term.

Next Board Meeting - The next meeting of SOLS’ Board is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at SOLS’ office in Toronto. Please note that this issue, as well as previous copies of the SOLS Board Summary, are also posted on the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/aboutsols/Board/index.htm.

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