SOLS Services - Typical Questions
Sample of "typical" questions received and answered about SOLS services.
Many of your queries can be answered by consulting the
Clearinghouse Topic Index
to a selection of links by SOLS staff on various topics of interest to
public library staff and boards
Q: I am looking for “gentle reads” genre.
A: Consult our Clearinghouse page
Literature and Fiction Resources page under
Genre: Gentle Reads
Q: Can you get copy cataloguing from AMICUS?
A: Yes. See instructions on
Downloading MARC records from AMICUS, a resource in
Technical
Services Resources section of our Clearinghouse
Q: For budget purposes, can you tell me what the average cost of a book is?
A: The following link to the Library Services Centre (LSC) provides
information on the average price of library books. See the link to Analyzing Canadian
Library Purchasing Power for Books and Materials on the sidebar. You may also be interested in our selection of links on
collection evaluation tools in our Clearinghouse on the
Collection
Development Resources page
Q: Where is Walter Harris Memorial Library?
A: It is part of Grey Highlands Public Library, formerly known as
Markdale. Consult our
Index to Public
Libraries in southern Ontario for information about other public
libraries. As much as possible we try to include the alternate names of
libraries, where that name has been in common use.
Q: Where can I find information about First Nations Public Library
Week?
A: You’ll find information about
First Nations Public Library Week
on the SOLS website under Marketing. You may also want tot consult the
First Nations
Resources page of the Clearinghouse
Q: What resources are available for Aboriginal genealogy or family
trees?
A: You’ll find helpful information about Aboriginal genealogy on the
Library and Archives Canada website in the Frequently Asked Questions
segment of its Aboriginal Resources and Services section.
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/aboriginal/020008-3000.6-e.html
Q: How can a library describe the role they play in their community to
stakeholders and funders to justify the taxes being spent on that
library?
A: A good source for language that makes the case for library funding
can be found in the Library's Contribution to Your Community Manual
which can be ordered through SOLS. A revised edition will be available in May
2007. It describes both economic and social
ways the library contributes to the community and the language you can
use to express the value of the library. There is also a very good
description of the value of libraries in the British document “Framework
for the Future” that provides a good discussion on the value of reading
linking it to learning and "informed citizens".
You may also want to consult a selection of links on the
Socio-economic Benefits of Public Libraries, in our
Planning Resources page of the Clearinghouse.
Q: What is the eligibility criteria for a library to qualify for SOLS
van delivery service?
A: A library is “considered” for addition to delivery service when
it reaches 300 items and funding permitting.. The benchmarks are under the “Delivery”
section on website.
Q: How do we go about arranging trial access for a product offered
through COOL?
A:
To arrange for trial access to any of the products offered through COOL,
please contact Dayna Lintner at
or 1-800-387-5765, ext.
5130.
Q: Do you know of any sample Code of Ethics for Boards?
A: Consult our selection of links on this topic under
Policy
on the Board
Development Resources page of the Clearinghouse.
Q:
Do you have any sample purchasing policies or authority to make
financial commitments for library boards?
A: See SOLS resource page on this topic as its related to the
Policy Requirements under the Ontario Municipal Act 2001 section on
Procurement. SOLS and LSC has also produced a Library Development entitled
Ontario Public Library Purchasing Guide which can be downloaded from our
Publications page.
Q: Do you have any information on “Friends of the Library” groups?
A: Yes, SOLS publishes two kits, “Initiating a Friends of the Library
Group” and “Amalgamating Friends of the Library Groups.” The
Clearinghouse also has a selection of links entitled,
Friends of the
Library Resources
Q: Are there recommendations for the distance between library book
stacks for wheelchair accessibility?
A: You might find an answer in the Building Code regulations, which have
standards for wheelchair accessibility - section 3.8 of Ontario
Regulation 403/97 lays out wheelchair friendly widths for barrier free
paths of travel, etc. The government has a site dedicated to the
Ontario Building Code,
where you can also contact people and ask questions.
Since regulations can be difficult things to interpret, you might want
to check with other experts such as
Accessibility Ontario to make sure
that this is what you need to look at, and to ensure that they apply to
your building.
There are also links on the SOLS website on the
Facilities
Resources page that might be useful including a link to the
Ministry of Citizenship Accessibility Ontario portal and another one by
Wendy Scott from the National Library.
Q: Wanted to know if there were some sample Library Board policies or
guidelines related to friends groups.
A: Referred to the Canadian Friends of the Library site which points to
constitutions and bylaws adopted by some groups.
http://www.friendsoflibraries.ca/docum.html You may also want to
consult the
Friends of the Library Resources page of the Clearinghouse
Q: I am looking for the study done for CELPLO on combined
school-municipal libraries.
A: The study is available from our
Library
Administration Resources page of the Clearinghouse under
Schools and Public Libraries. For other
joint
use aspects you may want to consult our selection of links on the
Facilities
Resources page
Q: Do you have any samples of internet acceptable use policies?
A: Samples of internet acceptable use polices are available on the
Public Access to Internet page of the Clearinghouse.
Q: Can I get copies of the materials used at Kempenfelt Conference
Centre last fall?
A:
Kempenfelt information can be found in the
Training section of
our website.
