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January 30, 2006

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.

In this issue:

1. SOLS OPEN HOUSE
2. LAUNCH OF JOINT OLS-North/SOLS CLEARINGHOUSE
3. Annual survey
4. ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION - Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
5. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
a) Starbucks sponsors ABC Canada Literacy Program– Deadline: Wednesday, February 1, 2006
b) Ontario Trillium Foundation – Next deadline: Wednesday, March 1, 2006
c) HRSDC Summer Career Placements 2006– Deadline: March 31, 2006
d) Summer Jobs - YCW in Heritage Organizations - Deadline: February 18, 2006
6. SOLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR SPRING 2006 – Registration opens on Monday February 13th
7. LIBRARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS – Scheduled for February and March 2006
8. TRUSTEE COUNCIL MEETINGS – Scheduled for April – May 2006
9. First Nations Public Library Week 2006
10. First Nation Communities Read Program Announcements
a) SOLS Receives Government of Canada Funding Support
b) Jury Announces 2006 Title Selection
11. TD Summer Reading program 2006
12. Libraries Helping Libraries Program Launches Three More Partnerships in February
13. Clearinghouse - Training Resources for Library Staff
14. SOLS In the Community
15. SOLS CEO LISTSERV

1. SOLS OPEN HOUSE – Friday, February 3, 2006 6pm  

SOLS is pleased to invite library staff, trustees and supporters to an Open House in Toronto, during the time of the Ontario Library Association SuperConference.  Please plan on attending SOLS' Open House on Friday, February 3, 2006 between 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please RSVP to Sue Walls at 416-961-1669/1-800-387-5765 at extension 5105 or via email at no later than January 31, 2006.

2. LAUNCH OF JOINT OLS-North/SOLS CLEARINGHOUSE 

For a number of years, the staff at the Southern Ontario Library Service have maintained web links to resources of professional interest in the library community.  Initially called “Professional Information”, this section was renamed as our “Clearinghouse” last year.  This week, we are launching a shared version of the Clearinghouse.  Staff from the OLS-North and SOLS will continue to maintain a “Joint OLS-North/SOLS Clearinghouse as a comprehensive topical index to information.  In this way, we will be able to tap into the knowledge found in both our organizations in order to help our libraries.  While you can continue to use the address as http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/index.htm , you will now also be able to use http://www.library.on.ca/links/clearinghouse/index.htm

At this site, you will find links to selected SOLS information, OLS-N information, as well as links to external sources. Some of the topics in this list also support the EXCEL program. Please note that the OLS Clearinghouse is not a bilingual website.  Instead, resource pages are developed by topic and will reflect the available resources in either language as the need arises to support our various programs. One example is the “Centre global d'information” page, where French Ready Reference links can be found (located at http://www.library.on.ca/links/clearinghouse/readyref/centreglobalfr.htm ). Where resources have been developed in both languages, this will be indicated at the top of the page.

 
Topics on the Clearinghouse page include Accreditation Resources, Adaptive Technology and Accessibility Resources, Board Development Resources, Children's Services Resources, Collection Development Resources, Cybersites for Children, Digital Collections, Facilities Planning Resources

3. Annual survey 

The Heritage and Libraries Branch of the Ministry of Culture maintains statistics on public libraries in Ontario. These statistics are compiled using data from the Annual Survey of Public Libraries. The Annual Survey of Public Libraries provides important data on library services in Ontario.  It is one of the requirements for receiving the provincial library operating grant, and must be completed by libraries, and organizations that contract for public library service. 

Further information will be coming directly from the Ministry but, once again, staff from the Southern Ontario Library Service have been assigned to answer any questions or to provide assistance in completing the survey.  The deadline for libraries and local services boards to e-file the survey is March 31, 2006 and the staff person working with those libraries is Hélène Golden at 1-877-532-2901 or . The deadline for First Nations libraries is June 30, 2006 and the staff person working with those libraries is Patty Lawlor at 1-800-387-5765, ext. 5107 or .

4. ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

On June 13, 2005, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA 2005) received Royal Assent and is now law. The purpose of the AODA 2005 is to benefit all Ontarians by developing, implementing and enforcing accessibility standards in order to achieve accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities by 2025.

Standards will be developed in cooperation with people with disabilities, the Government of Ontario, representatives of industries and of various sectors of the economy with respect to goods, services, facilities, accommodations, employment, buildings, structures and premises.

For more information, please visit the Accessibility Ontario website at: www.mcss.gov.on.ca/accessibility/index.html or the French language website at http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/accessibility/indexf.html 

SOLS staff did plan to present a series of workshops on the issue of Accessibility this Spring.  We know that standards will be set in both the public and private sectors to address the full range of disabilities – including physical, sensory, mental health, developmental and learning. Standards could include:

• Accessible pedestrian routes and entrances into buildings
  • Lower counter heights at cash registers to accommodate wheelchairs
  • Large print menus in restaurants for the visually-impaired
  • Staff training in serving customers with learning disabilities.

The official library representative on one of the Standards Committee will be Cynthia Archer, although it is expected that others will be participating. 

Until standards are in place, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001 will remain in effect, and government ministries and other affected public sector organizations continue to have planning obligations in accordance with that legislation.  Municipalities will still have to submit yearly accessibility plans.  Public libraries are sometimes included in these reports, but not always included.   

As the standards are still a “work in progress”, it was decided that we would postpone these information sessions until more information is available.  In the meantime, we are working with the Accessibility Directorate of the Ministry of Community and Social Services to present information as it becomes available, and to ensure that every public library in southern Ontario is aware of the work. 

5. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  

In the “Joint OLS-North/SOLS Clearinghouse”, there are a number of valuable links to “Funding Development Resources” that can be found at http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/fundingdev/index.htm#Grants   Included in that section is a sub-section on “Grants and Grant-writing” that lists a number of funding opportunities.  The following grants might be of interest to libraries in Ontario.  

a) Starbucks sponsors ABC Canada Literacy Program– Deadline: February 1, 2006 

In mid-December, the ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation announced that Starbucks Coffee Canada has signed an agreement to be the sponsor of Gift of Words™ presented by Starbucks. The program, developed and managed by ABC CANADA, is a national funding initiative providing resources for public and school libraries and literacy organizations to expand their book collections and launch 'reading circles' that encourage students, their teachers and parents to read and learn together.  Organizations wishing to be considered for funding must apply directly to ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation using the application form at http://www.abc-canada.org/gow/. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2006.

b) Ontario Trillium Foundation – Next Deadline: March 1, 2006 

The Ontario Trillium Foundation delivers two granting programs, the Community program and the Province-Wide program. Public libraries became eligible for the OTF community program following the completion of the strategic initiative for small libraries.  Applications for grants for municipal libraries serving small communities (populations of 20,000 or less) must be submitted through the municipality.  Applications for grants for county libraries serving small municipalities (populations of 20,000 or less) must be submitted through the County Library Board.  Applications for grants for First Nation libraries must be submitted through the First Nation's Band Council.  A copy of the application process is posted on the Foundation’s website at http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/OTF-English/new/index.htm.  There is also a link to the Trillium website from the main SOLS page at www.sols.org.  The deadlines for the 2006 round of applications are March 1, July 1 and November 1 – at 5:00 pm on the deadline date.   

Please note: In the December issue of Signal, there was a list of the library projects which were announced on December 5^th (for projects submitted in July 2005) which you can use as a reference.  However, we did miss one library.  The Corporation of the Township of East Luther Grand Valley received a grant of $10,800 to purchase a digital microform reader and laser printer, which will allow students to have access to local history at the Grand Valley Public Library.

c) HRSDC Summer Career Placements 2006– Deadline: March 31, 2006 

This Initiative provides career-related work experience to students through the provision of wage subsidies to public, private and not-for-profit employers to create summer employment opportunities for students from 15 to 30 years of age (inclusively).  More information is posted on the HRSDC website at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/epb/yi/yep/programs/scpp.shtml.  The application deadline is Friday, March 31, 2006. 

d) Summer Jobs - YCW in Heritage Organizations - Deadline: February 18, 2006 

The Canadian Library Association is a partner of the Department of Canadian Heritage in the administration of the Young Canada Works (YCW) program. As part of the Youth Employment Strategy, the program gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to find employment in a sector that promotes Canadian heritage and culture.  Application forms and further information about the program are available from the Canadian Library Association website at http://www.cla.ca/awards/ycw/index.htm . Further Information on the Young Canada Works website at http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/ycw-jct/html/apply_all_e.htm

6. SOLS TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR SPRING 2006 – Registration opens on Monday February 13th 

One of the “ends” for SOLS is that “libraries are equipped to meet future challenges and opportunities”.  With this in mind, SOLS is pleased to present a variety of workshop topics in the Spring of 2006, including the following titles.  

Workshop 1.       The Next Generation in Public Access Computing
Workshop 2.        Who’s on first? Making sense of fundraising roles and responsibilities
Workshop 3.       Know where you are: Understanding your library’s current reality by means of a Situational Analysis
Workshop 4.       Science Fiction and Fantasy: Explore the genre that expands the mind
Workshop 5.       The Other Official Collection: “yes, you can buy that in French!” 
Workshop 6.       Community Development – Public Libraries at the table
Workshop 7.       Choosing and Using Books for Boys (and Girls)
Workshop 8.       TD Summer Reading Program Orientation 

We hope that you will find this selection interesting and relevant.  Further information about those workshops is posted on the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/training/clinicsworkshops/index.htm  

To register for a workshop, please go to the SOLS Training page, available at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/training/clinicsworkshops/index.htm   and follow the links to the appropriate registration form. Maps for each of the training venues will also be available, by a web link, within the registration forms.

Also AudioBook Demo Day – SOLS staff have arranged for an AudioBook Demo Day that will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at the Bathurst-Clark Resource Centre of the Vaughan Public Library, located at 900 Clark Avenue West in Thornhill. From 10 am to noon, the vendor will be Michael Aprieto from netlibrary.  There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.  From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the vendor will be Claudia Weissman from Overdrive.  Participants will have a chance to see the latest in AudioBooks, evaluate the products, and have their questions answered. So that we can plan the numbers, please indicate your participation to as soon as possible.  In your e-mail, please indicate how many people from your library will be participating, and also if you will be staying for lunch (at a cost of $10.00 per person).

7. LIBRARY COMMITTEE MEETINGS – Scheduled for February and March 2006 

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 or presentation on a particular area of interest.  Later, this spring, the clinic connected to the Library Committee meetings will revolve around book-based programming.  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 next round of Library Committees will be held as follows:

Prescott-Russell Comité des services en français  - Monday, February 13, 2006, Bibl. pub. de - Succ. de La Nation - Succ. de St-Isidore,  10 am – Meeting
Lanark -Tuesday, February 21^st at the Carleton Place Public Library
Renfrew - Thursday, February 23^rd– Pembroke Public Library
Leeds and Grenville - Wednesday, February 22^nd, North Grenville Public Library - South Gower Branch
10 am –roundtable & then talk by North Grenville CAO on the library’s relationship with the municipality
Peterborough - Monday, February 27^th at Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Public Library – Lakefield Branch
10 am roundtable & 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm- Dealing with a Difficult or Angry Person workshop by Dave Rogers of ESAO
Saugeen - Monday, March 6^th North Perth Public Library – Listowel Branch
10 am roundtable & 1 pm Community Development Training Lorna Heidenheim, Executive Director - Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition
Tri-County (Hastings-Prince Edward-Northumberland) - Monday, March 20^th , Stirling Public Library
10 am roundtable & 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm-- Dealing with a Difficult or Angry Person workshop by Dave Rogers of ESAO
Simcoe-Muskoka - Friday, March 24^th – New Tecumseth Public Library – Beeton Branch
10 am roundtable? & 1-2:30,   Presentation: What about the Boys?:  Looking at Gender and Reading – Shelley Stagg Peterson

The next First Nation Gathering, called “Our Way Forward: The League of Extraordinary Librarians”, will be held from May 8^th to 12^th at North Bay.

Additional professional development opportunities

1.  In addition to the two ESAO workshops called “Dealing with a Difficult or Angry Person” that have been arranged with winter library committee meetings in Tri-County and Peterborough areas, two others have been arranged in eastern Ontario – one in French and one in English.  There is a fee to cover the cost of the workbook ($10 plus GST). If you plan to attend these workshops, to ensure that there are enough workbooks, please register with at least 2 weeks before the date of the workshop.  The dates and places are as follows. 

·         Wednesday March 22^nd  - Athens Public Library- from 9:30 am to 1pm 
 

·         Monday, April 10^th - Bibliothèque publique du canton d'Alfred Plantagenet, Succursale Lefaivre - Monday, April 10, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (in French).  

2. An “On-line Ordering Training and Presentation” with the Library Services Centre (LSC) has been arranged for Monday, April 3^rd at the Cavan, Millbrook, North Monaghan (Bruce Johnston Branch) 1pm to 3:30 pm.  There is no charge for this presentation, but please register at

3. The Rideau Children’s and Youth Services Special Interest Group will meet at the newly renovated Petawawa Public Library on Thursday, April 6, 2006, in the morning.  There will be a sharing of summer program ideas and interesting books recently read.  Once the agenda is finalized, it will be posted on the SOLS website.

8. TRUSTEE COUNCIL MEETINGS – Scheduled for April – May 2006 

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, in chronological order, are as follows.  Further information is posted under “Networking Opportunities” at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/networking/trusteecouncils/index.htm

Trustee Council 6 – Saturday, April 22, 2006 from 10am to 1pm, - Tyendinaga Township (moved from May 6^th)

Trustee Council 7 – Saturday, April 22, 2006 from 10am to 1pm - Pembroke Public Library (This meeting will be followed by one offering of Workshop #2 entitled “Who’s on First? Making Sense of Fundraising Roles and Responsibilities” that is being offered at Pembroke from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.  Registration for that workshop is being handled separately at   )

Trustee Council 3 – Monday, April 24, 2006 from 6pm to 9pm - Shelburne Public Library

Trustee Council 1 – Saturday, April 29, 2006 from 10am to 1pm – Norfolk County – Simcoe Branch

TC #2 (Escarpment) – Saturday, April 29, 2006 from 9am to noon - Oakville Public Library, Central Branch (This meeting will be followed by one offering of Workshop #2 entitled “Who’s on First? Making Sense of Fundraising Roles and Responsibilities” that is being offered at Pembroke from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.  Registration for that workshop is being handled separately at   )

Trustee Council 8 - Saturday, April 29, 2006 from 10am to 1pm - North Grenville Public Library- South Gower Branch (moved from May 6^th)

Trustee Council 5 – Saturday,May 6, 2006 from 10am to 1pm – Kawartha Lakes – Lindsay Branch

Trustee Council 4 – Tuesday,May 16, 2006 from 6pm to 9pm   - Penetanguishene (with an OLBA teleconference)

9. First Nations Public Library Week 2006 

Ontario’s First Nation public libraries across Ontario invite their communities and neighbours to celebrate First Nations Public Library Week (February 13-18). For all the details about the Week, visit: http://www.library.on.ca/fnplw/2006/index.htm  or contact Patty Lawlor, First Nations Consultant, at 1-800-387-5765, Ext. 5107 or .

a)   SOLS Receives Government of Canada Funding Support 

SOLS has successfully applied for funding to support and expand the 2006 First Nation Communities Read program. The grant ($27,568) provides for the purchase and distribution of books in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, author-illustrator touring to First Nation communities in Ontario, a program poster and book stickers, and author-illustrator participation at the 2006 Ontario Library Association Super Conference in February and Canadian Library Association Conference in June. SOLS acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for this project.  

b)   Jury Announces 2006 Title Selection 

As Long as the Rivers Flow is the 2006 First Nation Communities Read title selection. Written by Larry Loyie with Constance Brissenden, illustrated by Heather D. Holmlund, and published by Groundwood Books, it’s a memoir capable of speaking to young and old. Set in 1944, it recreates the summer Lawrence Loyie was ten years old, the last summer he spent with his Cree family before a Canadian government program forced him to attend residential school. All libraries and communities across Canada are welcome and encouraged to celebrate As Long as the Rivers Flows in 2006 through readings, displays and programming. There will be a First Nation Communities Read 2006 promotion, including an author-illustrator presentation, book giveaway (subject to available supply) and book signing at the OLA Super Conference’s Expo Stage on Thursday, February 2. 

For more information about the First Nation Communities Read program, an Ontario First Nations public library community initiative, visit: http://www.library.on.ca/librarydev/networking/firstnations/communitiesread/index.htm or contact Patty Lawlor, First Nations Consultant, at 1-800-387-5765, Ext. 5107 or

The 2006 TD Summer Reading program theme is "Quest for Heroes", which includes community heroes, family heroes, heroes in myths and legends, modern heroes - the whole works!!  The illustrator for the 2006 TD Summer Reading program will be Martha Newbigging. Martha Newbigging has illustrated six children’s books, including Research Ate My Brain: The Panic-Proof Guide to Surviving Homework, written by the Toronto Public Library (Annick 2005), Attack of the Killer Video Book: Tips and Tricks for Young Directors, written by Mark Shulman and Hazlitt Krog (Annick 2004) and Archers, Alchemists and 98 Other Medieval Jobs You Might Have Loved or Loathed, written by Priscilla Galloway (Annick 2003).  Sample clip art for this program will be posted on the SOLS website shortly

The Libraries Helping Libraries: First Nation Public Libraries Development program launched by SOLS with a pilot project in 2004 welcomes three new partnerships between First Nation and non-native public libraries:

• Beausoleil First Nation and Pickering Public Libraries;
• Mississaugas of the New Credit Public Library and Mississauga Library System;
• Mnjikaning and Brockville Public Libraries.

Other programs already in place or recently announced include:

• Chippewas of Georgina Island and Pickering Public Libraries;
• Saugeen First Nation and Clearview Public Libraries;
• Curve Lake First Nation and Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Libraries.

One-third of southern Ontario’s First Nation public libraries are now participating in this award-winning partnership program. 

For more information, contact Patty Lawlor, First Nations consultant, at 1-800-387-5765, Ext. 5107 or .

13. Clearinghouse - Training Resources for Library Staff 

We love to see you and your staff at the SOLS workshops, and we know the benefits to meeting face-to-face with experts and people who do work that is similar to yours. But, if you are looking for opportunities for in-house training, you might want to check out some of the links on the “Training Resources for Library Staff” page of the SOLS clearinghouse http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/training/index.htm.  We have recently added some new links, and here is a sample of the resources that you will find in that section.

Ohio Library Council. - Orientation for new Library Employees http://www.olc.org/orientation/intro.htm#explore

If you have new staff with no previous library experience, the Ohio Library Council provides a basic orientation for new employees.  There are a few references that are Ohio specific but, overall, it’s a generic orientation.  

The Ohio Library Council has two other on-line courses, Ohio Reference Excellence on the Web  and Library Marketing, which can be found on their on-line learning page at  http://www.olc.org/online_edu.asp 

Illinois Library System - Library U – http://learning.libraryu.org/home

Library U is a free, web-based training resource for library staff, supported by the Illinois Library System and the Illinois State Library with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  An extensive offering of over 40 on-line courses is available in the following categories: Administrative Skills, Cataloguing, Community Building, Customer Service, Information Services, Library Operations, Library Principles, Marketing and Youth Services.  The courses could be used for training individual staff on skills such as MARC coding, or you could use the content from a course, such as Dealing with Angry Patrons, to provide training to a group of staff.  

Idaho State Library - Alternative Basic Library Education.  http://www.lili.org/forlibs/ce/able.htm

Like our own program, EXCEL, these on-line courses offered by the Idaho State Library are for library staff with no formal education in library science. But, unlike EXCEL, they do not focus on library management. The three categories of courses are: Collection Development, Technical Services, and Public Services. There are additional courses on youth services, services to school aged children, and young adult services, available through Idaho’s Supplemental Alternative Basic Library Education Program http://www.lili.org/forlibs/ce/sable.htm.

14. SOLS In the Community

Patty Lawlor participated in a meeting of the Lieutenant Governor’s Literacy Coalition at Queens Park on Friday, January 27, for a briefing on His Honour’s literacy initiatives and to provide feedback on a proposed new initiative for Native children. 

Several SOLS staff members will be participating in OLA sessions.   

a) OLA Poster Session -  First Nations Reading Circle   Gwen Wheeler has prepared an OLA poster session on the First Nations Reading Circle Program . In the First Nations Reading Circle materials, the aboriginal culture and stories are promoted through theme-based reading programs.  Gwen will be available at the poster session on Friday, February 3^rd 12:00 – 12:45 in the Exhibit Hall.

In connection with the First Nations Reading Circle, SOLS staff prepared a manual on managing a reading circle program for children ages six to eight years. In addition, SOLS staff developed eleven theme-based program guides. At the poster session, you can drop by to see the manual, hear some of the audio material, and pick up sample copies of the theme guides.  All eleven guides are now posted on the SOLS website at http://www.sols.org/links/clearinghouse/firstnations/readingcircles/index1.htm  

b) Anne Marie Madziak is working with Deb Jackson on a session called “Charting new territory: The Library Board’s role in planning and budgeting for future success”.  This session is #318 and will be presented on Thursday, February 2^nd at 9:05 am.   

c) Rob Lavery is presenting a session entitled “Building Philanthrophy: Funding programs libraries should be doing”.  This session is #1017 and will be presented on Friday, February 3^rd at 9:05.  His second session is called “Please Mr. Postman: Starting a Direct Mail Campaign”, which will be presented with Ann Andrusyszyn from Barrie Public.  This session is #1709 and will be presented on Saturday, February 4^th at 9:05. 

d) Laurey Gillies will be presenting a session, with Jim Morgenstern, on the Library’s Contribution to your Community.  This session is #1314 and will be presented on Friday, February 3^rd at 3:45 pm. 

e) Patty Lawlor is involved in three OLA Super Conference sessions on Thursday, February 2:

• “Libraries Helping Libraries: Municipal and First Nation Libraries Two Years Later” (Session 302) at 9:05 a.m. This session provides an update on the award-winning pilot project launched by SOLS in 2004 in partnership with the Chippewas of Georgina Island and Pickering Public Libraries and the program’s subsequent growth.
• “Strategic Programming: First Nation Libraries Reach Out through Outreach” (Session 402) at 10:40 a.m. This session presents the First Nations Public Library Week and First Nation Communities Read programs as models for building profile and partnerships.
• First Nation Communities Read 2006 promotion on the Expo Stage at 12:10 p.m. This session presents the authors and illustrator of As Long as the Rivers Flow, the program’s 2006 title selection for a reading, book giveaway, and book signing.

15. 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 messages were sent:  

·         On January 5^th, Brenda Lewis sent a message to all CEOs regarding the Audio Book Demo Day that will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at the Bathurst-Clark Resource Centre of the Vaughan Public Library, located at 900 Clark Avenue West in Thornhill.  From 10 am to noon, the vendor will be Michael Aprieto from netlibrary. There will be a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the vendor will be Claudia Weissman from Overdrive.  The cost for lunch is $10. More information appears earlier in this newsletter.

·         On January 17^th, Barbara Franchetto sent a message to all CEOs regarding the Marketing Needs survey being undertaken by a marketing committee made up of librarians from libraries of Ontario and OLS-North to determine what grassroots marketing help is required. A survey was attached to the e-mail and is due back at the OLS-North office in Sudbury by Friday, February 17, 2006.   A copy of the survey is also posted on the OLS-North website at http://www.olsn.ca/index.php  

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

All issues of SIGNAL can be viewed online at http://www.sols.org/librarydev/publications/Signal/index.htm. However, if anyone would like to receive the e-mail version of this newsletter, please send a message to . You can reach the editor of SIGNAL at: or by telephone at 1-866-380-9767.