November - December 1998

In this Issue:

• New State Librarian joins WSL
• No plans to include State Library in reorganization
• Council to hear economic role of libraries
• Prometheus sculpture vandalized
• Town of Hanna re-opens library
• WYLD Things
• A WYLD reception awaits legislators
• Conference focus on the Internet
• Did you know?
• Personel-ly Speaking
• Women's kinship explored
• Deering honored for her poetry
• News Briefs
• Around The State
• Job Opportunities
• Libraries kept close eye on elections
• Do you have news of note for the Outrider?

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New State Librarian joins WSL

Boughton comes to the Wyoming State Library from Casper, where she served as director of the Natrona County Library. Governor Jim Geringer announced her appointment in November, after she was chosen through a national search and selection process.

"I am impressed with Lesley's strong background in Wyoming library issues and her involvement in statewide telecommunications and education projects. This is an important position and I am pleased that the state of Wyoming will have someone of this caliber directing this division," said the governor.

During the nearly 20 years Boughton has worked in Wyoming libraries, she has been director of Carbon County Library in Rawlins and Platte County Library in Wheatland, as well as Natrona County.

She has been Wyoming representative to the American Library Association's policy making council and member of several ALA committees and task forces as well as the Patent and Trademark Library Association.

Boughton served as president of the Wyoming Library Association (WLA) and on numerous committees, chairing the continuing education and legislative committees. She received the WLA Distinguished Service Award in 1991.

She has also been a member and chair of the Wyoming Telecommunications Council, member of the Goals 2000 Panel, Wyoming Department of Education, and Technology and Education Project Request for Proposal committee.

Boughton received her bachelor's degree from Connecticut College in New London, Conn., and her master's in library science from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Jerry Krois has been the acting state librarian since April.

No plans to include State Library in reorganization

Representatives from the State Library Board, State Library staff and Wyoming Library Association attended the legislative committee meeting. Both the Board and WLA adopted resolutions supporting a move into a new Department of Information and Technology as long as the State Library remained intact as a division and the WSL board stayed with a singular purpose. The new department was to have been responsible for information policy and technology planning.

WSL was not included in the revised plan approved at the Dec. 8 meeting of the Joint Interim Committee on Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources. Committee members voted to file a bill to take the remaining divisions of the DOC and create the new Department of Parks and Cultural Resources with the addition of the Pioneer Museum at Douglas. The recommendation also included moving the 27 state licensing boards into A&I. The State Library is not mentioned at all.

The committee and the entire legislature will have the opportunity to discuss the issue and hear additional input during the 1999 session which begins Jan. 12.

The Wyoming State Library has been in continuous operation since its inception on Dec. 16, 1871. It began as a territorial library and was an autonomous agency for 120 years. With major reorganization of state government, the library moved into the Department of Administration and Information in 1991.

Council to hear economic role of libraries

The two library leaders plan to encourage the Wyoming Business Council to create partnerships with the Wyoming library community to ensure that the council as well as individual entrepreneurs have the information they need to be successful.

The Wyoming Business Council came into existence July 1, 1998. Co-chaired by Governor Jim Geringer, the council encompasses a variety of business development programs. Chief Executive Officer John Reardon is leading the early development phases.

Prometheus sculpture vandalized

The Prometheus sculpture was commissioned in 1972 by the Friends of the Natrona County Library and by a group of Casper residents and businesses. It was cast in Italy and unveiled in 1975. The sculpture weighs half a ton and is mounted in seven tons of concrete and reinforcing steel It represents Prometheus, a rebel against injustice, giving man the gifts of knowledge and culture.

The sculpture shows the Greek god Prometheus bringing fire from the heavens as a gift to humanity. Part of the metal representing the flame Prometheus held in his hands was sawed off. Police initially estimated the damage at $2,000, but it may cost more since some of the damaged pieces are still missing.

Natrona County's Prometheus was the creation of internationally-known sculptor Robert I. Russin, who was then an art professor at University of Wyoming(UW). Other works of his include the Lincoln Monument on Interstate 80 and the Nuclear Family in Prexy's Pasture at UW.

Town of Hanna re-opens library

The branch had been closed since Jan. 17, 1997, when frozen water pipes flooded the building. The library lost about 450 books in the flooding, but most of the collection was salvaged.

After attempts to relocate the library failed, the Hanna Town Council, Lions Club of Hanna, private volunteers, county library board and county commissioners joined forces to repair the current building at a cost of about $12,000.

Peggy Forister is now the library branch manager. She underwent training at the Elk Mountain and Saratoga branches to prepare for her new position. The branch resumed regular hours on Nov. 25.

WYLD Things

• WYLD WEB2 page designs are complete for this version of WEB2. The design was perfected with the help of the WYLD WEB2 PAC Design Committee and representatives from Alpha sites.

  This version of WEB2 still has a few problems, one of which is a slow response time. Another problem is that WEB2 lacks highlighting at the first hit list level, so when performing a search the first hit list of results does not highlight which items are located within your library.

  The following alpha sites currently have limited use of WEB2: Fremont County, Park County, Laramie County, Platte County, Western Wyoming College and the State Library. Albany County will be implementing some stations by February and Campbell County plans to convert to WEB2 in January.

• DRA has announced the release of the new version of WEB2 which will ship before the end of the year. The new version may offer better limiting capabilities and a Reserve Room for college libraries.

  The PAC Design team has recommended many modifications for the new version of WEB2 so it will take some time to prepare the new version for library use. If there are no significant problems in development the tentative date for release of the new version of WEB2 in WYLD is March 1.

• Representatives from all but two of the 56 WYLD libraries attended WEB2 training in December. With the training, WYLD libraries should be ready to set a date locally for the implementation of WEB2. Training by the outside vendors EBSCO and SIRS and the general principles of WEB2 page use will be easily transferable to the new version of WEB2.

• The State Library has purchased the right to use new security software in any WYLD library. Security training was provided by the state library to nine technically oriented staff members of WYLD libraries located in different regions of the state. These technical staff members will now be able to assist libraries in each region with installing the new security software on PAC stations.

• The installation of WEB2 requires a new telecommunication strategy along with greater telecommunications capacity. Currently, telecommunications capacity to support WEB2 is in place or on order in all full member WYLD locations. Slow-downs are still experienced in Kemmerer, Thermopolis and Sheridan. New lines have been ordered for these libraries to correct the problem.

  Costs for WYLD telecommunications have doubled compared to old rates. Increased costs may affect the ability of WYLD to fund additional database products, and member libraries may experience a slight increase in telecommunications costs in future years.

• The Database Products committee met twice this fall to collect suggestions for the purchase of additional databases and to measure the prospective pricing against WYLD libraries funding capabilities.

  Recommendations from the committee were to have trial access to only those products that WYLD can fund without additional costs to member libraries and trial access to databases that may be similar to present products. Trial access will probably begin mid-January for the following products: Electric Library, "What Do I Read Next?" along with the "Most Studied Authors" Gale product, Wilson Select full text and possibly an Encyclopedia.

A WYLD reception awaits legislators

Just prior to the event, there will be a briefing by the WLA legislative committee in the Cheyenne Club Room West at 5 p.m. WLA members are invited and encouraged to attend and to the legislators about libraries.

This year the focus will be on WLA's commitment to a statewide library card, now known as the "WYLD card." Each legislator will be given a WYLD paw print sticker for his or her library card to remind them that WYLD is a statewide cooperative event.

WLA members should bring a dish, treat or dessert to share, or contribute to the association to help defray expenses.

Monetary contributions may be sent to Laura Grott, and requests for electrical outlets should be emailed to Alice Hild Farris at afarris@will.state.wy.us.

Conference focus on the Internet

Chris Van Burgh, statewide outreach librarian, and Emily Sieger, state government information coordinator attended valuable sessions on Internet trends, digitization, search engines, training, metadata and Web page development and use. They also toured the exhibition hall to view demonstrations of software and electronic databases. They will be able to incorporate what they learned into future training and projects for the State Library.

Also at the conference were Wyoming librarians Paula Wolfe of the University of Wyoming, Marjorie Elwood of the Laramie County Library System and Dorothy Middleton from Cheyenne East High School.

Van Burgh and Sieger concluded that the Wyoming State Library is on track in terms of Internet training, use and selection of resources, but that there is a critical need for WSL staff to keep up with the rapid changes occurring.

They recommended:

• WSL should continue to support attendance at this and other Internet-related conferences.
• Attendees communicate what they learn to WSL staff, the Wyoming library community and Wyoming residents.

Did you know?

Personel-ly Speaking

• WSL Development Officer Judy Yeo received the John G. Lorenz Award from the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) for good work performed on library survey data.
• Norma Cloyd was recently recognized by the Department of Administration and Information (A&I) for completing 25 years of service with the state of Wyoming.
• Susan Vittitow joined the Public Programs, Publications and Marketing section as a public information specialist in late October.
• Emily Sieger's name is listed incorrectly in the 1998 Wyoming Libraries Directory. For those trying to reach her, her email is esiege@missc.state.wy.us.

Women's kinship explored

Their newest project is A Tough and Tender Kinship: Writing by Rural Woman about Women. Editors Linda Hasselstrom, Gaydell Collier and Nancy Curtis plan to prepare a selected collection of writings about the kinship between rural women in the interior West of the United States and Canada.

Writers may send true personal stories in prose or poetry form about women — friends, neighbors, women they've observed — who have influenced them. The content of the book will be shaped by the women who write it. The editors will make a special effort to present a book that reflects the ethnic and cultural diversity of women in the rural West.

The editors of A Tough and Tender Kinship are all writers, rural westerners and experienced researchers with interests in the history and culture of the West.

The editors will only accept true, first-hand stories from the original writer. They ask that people not send previously unpublished books, artwork, photographs, albums, tape recordings or unedited diaries.

Submissions may be sent to Women Writing, P.O. Box 169, Hermosa S.D., 57744. Complete guidelines are also available from this address. Deadline for manuscripts is April 1, 1999.

Deering honored for her poetry

Deering was awarded a one-week residency at Devils Tower by the Devils Tower National Monument's Writers in Residence Program, co-sponsored by the Park and Bear Lodge Writers of Sundance.

Deering also received a $2,000 literature fellowship for 1999 from the Wyoming Arts Council, which was announced at the annual ARTSPEAK conference in October. She has had poetry published in the 20th anniversary issue of the Owen Wister Review, and in the 1998 WyoPoets chapbook.

News Briefs

• The Library Media Project (MacArthur Foundation Library Video Project 1988 - 1998) has a free Librarian's Tool Kit available which includes "funding" and "programming" models and templates that will guide librarians through the process of building their video tape collection, as well as to help them create and publicize events for their community. The Tool Kit will tie in with the MacArthur Foundation's upcoming curated video consortium on the "Issues of Aging," which will be mailed in the spring of 1999.
• The Wyoming State Library (WSL) has another beautiful packet from the U.S. Postal Service, called "Take a Field Trip Though the 1980s". This packet includes comic books about significant events as spotlighted through stamps as well as 30 topic cards to be used with students and 10 teacher lesson cards. The materials are colorful and could be useful for students in grades 4 through junior high. This packet is available to anyone in Wyoming who could use it — probably a teacher or library media person — first come, first served. Request from Judy Yeo in the WSL Library Development Office at 800/264-1281, choice 1, option 3; 307/777-5914.

  Additional packets can be requested free of charge from the U. S. Postal Service at 800/450-4636. Those interested can sign up to enroll in the program and receive the packets when they come out on an ongoing basis.

• The Academic Section of the Mountain Plains Library Association (MPLA) is sponsoring a research paper forum at the MPLA/Montana Library Association conference next year in Big Sky, Mont. Papers will be selected by a jury of peers, and each author selected will make a 20-minute presentation at the conference. A panel of judges will award $100 for the best presentation.

  Authors must be current members of MPLA. Papers must be original, not published or presented elsewhere. To enter, submit an abstract one-and-a-half to four pages in length by the deadline of Jan. 22, 1999 to Connie Lamb, 4226 Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo UT 84602, 801/378-6196, Connie_Lamb@byu.edu. Authors selected will be notified in March.

• Community Systems of Bozeman, Mont., is presenting "Get that Grant: Grantwriting from Conception to Completion" in Casper from March 29 to April 1. The four-day workshop is designed for those who want to write effective grant proposals, find new funders and successfully manage the grantseeking process. Participants will receive individual assistance and follow-up critiques of their grant proposals. The cost of the workshop is $595; additional registrants from the same organization may attend for $545. Registration deadline is March 5, and enrollment is limited to 30. This is a hands-on program, so participants should bring their grant proposals or ideas with them. For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Western Wyoming Resources Conservation and Development Area Council, 1471 Dewar Dr. #106, Rock Springs, WY 82901, 307/382-3982.
• The number of libraries offering public access to the Internet has increased dramatically, according to a new survey sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), but most are only able to offer limited access due to technological limitations.

  The 1998 survey found 73 percent of public libraries offer basic Internet access to the public. Another 10 percent are connected but do not offer public access. Many do not have adequate bandwidth to provide high quality access, including graphics, sound and video.

  The survey also found that nearly every public library has or is developing a policy governing acceptable Internet use. Approximately 14 percent use Internet filters

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• The Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), a division of ALA, has introduced a Web site at www.lita.org/jobs/ to match information technology job seekers and employers. New jobs will be posted each Wednesday at midnight
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• The Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement published a schedule of application notices and deadlines for grant programs in the Federal Register (November 3, 1998, v63, n212, pp. 59435-59455; http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/1998-4/110398a.html). Of special interest to school library media specialists are the application deadlines for the 21st Century Learning Centers program and the Technology Innovation Challenge Grant program.

  Applications for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers were made available on Dec. 3 with a deadline of May 1, 1999. For further information on 21st Century Centers, contact 202/219-2128. Application forms and other information are at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/21stCCLC/

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• Technology Innovation Challenge Fund Grants applications were scheduled to be made available on December 7 with a deadline for receipt of February 12, 1999. The grants support the development, interconnection, implementation, improvement and maintenance of effective educational technology infrastructure. The FY99 funding for Technology Innovation Challenge Grants was $115 million. For further information contact OERI, 202/208-3882 or go to www.ed.gov/Technology/challenge/
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Around The State

• After a year-long search, the Weston County Library Board hired Elizabeth Barritt of Upton as director of Weston County Library. She began work in her new position Nov. 16. The board selected Barritt on the basis of her experience in business and volunteer work. She was coordinator for the Weston County Adult Literacy program for three years and is the bookkeeper for her husband's business, Barritt's Pallet Shop. She also serves on the board of directors for the Weston County Historical Society and as secretary for the Upton Chamber of Commerce.
• Diana Oedekoven is now the librarian at Northwest Wyoming Community College's Gillette campus library. Oedekoven moved to Gillette from the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, where she was Adult Services Supervisor and Reference Librarian.
• Irene Kraft retired on Jan. 4 from the Laramie County Community College Library, after working 22½ years as a library technician in the cataloging department. Over the years Irene has witnessed many changes from the days of typing each card on a typewriter to the use of a completely electronic catalog.
• Julie Frost replaced Cherylnn Davis as a cataloger in tech services at Sweetwater County Library. Micki Gilmore was hired to replace Frost at SCL as full-time circulation librarian. Patty Still was hired as a full-time circulation librarian at Rock Springs Library, the position vacated when Deanna Merry resigned. Farson Branch Librarian Dee McGowan has returned to work following brain surgery.

• Sheridan County's annual Friends of the Library Auction, held Nov. 14, was a tremendous success, raising $36,600 for the Sheridan County Library System in one night of good food and spirited bidding.
• Katherine Powell will start her duties as Children's Librarian at the Albany County Public Library on Jan. 4. Katherine has been a children's librarian for four years, a high school librarian for eight years and a special librarian for four years. She has an MLS from USC and a BA in Behavioral Science/Biology from California State.
• The Laramie County Library Foundation recently hired Karyl McBain Pierpont as director. She is relocating to Cheyenne from Dayville, Conn., where she most recently served as executive director of WICN Public Radio, Inc. She has 20 years of management and administrative experience and 13 years of experience in non-profit organizations. The Laramie County Library System Board of Directors appointed Rosalyn Wallach Baker, Linda Barker, Angela Bird, Perry Dray, Vanda Edington, Rick Frederick, Gary Imig, Michl McGee, Lucie Osborn, Dee Dee Raap and Jim Weaver as new board members for the foundation. Other community members interested in serving on the foundation board may contact County Librarian Lucie Osborn at 635-1032, ext. 120.

  George J. Guidry, M.D., recently donated $49,995 to the Laramie County Library Foundation to create a sculpture for the Central Library in Cheyenne. The art piece will also be used to create a new logo for the library system.

  The Laramie County Library System's Youth Advisory Board (YAB) recently received the 1998 Agnes Milstead award at the state convention of the Wyoming Library Association. The award "recognizes a public, school or special library for outstanding service to children or young adults." YAB meets monthly to plan events for teenagers and suggests prospective materials to add to the library's growing young adult collection.

• University of Wyoming Libraries' Health Science Information Network (HSIN) has joined with the University of Wyoming Information Network under the umbrella of Extended Library Services to form one information-providing entity. HSIN users may continue to request medical information and document delivery as they have in the past, but may now also obtain information on marketing, management and other business-related issues. Mary Henning is the new coordinator for UW Libraries' Health Science Information and Fee-based services. Long-time medical librarian Janice Gahagan has left HSIN to pursue other opportunities.
• Former Dubois resident Esther Mockler transferred stock worth $44,725 to the Dubois Friends of the Library for a much-needed expansion. Mockler moved to a ranch just outside of Dubois in 1931 with her husband Frank. She spearheaded a community effort to establish the first library in a log cabin in 1937. Three years later, she helped raise funds and enlist volunteers for the current building. The Dubois Friends will invest her latest donation in a previously established building fund.
• At Sheridan College's Griffith Memorial Library, Carrol Geisler has moved to the reference desk, and Debbie Iverson will take chief responsibility for library instruction this year. Margaret Brennemen is the new library technical coordinator, replacing Lisa Smith who left to take a position at the Sheridan Veteran's Administration Medical Center library in May. Harold Huber has moved to the library technical services area. In addition to the staff changes, Griffith Memorial Library has also seen an expansion in its computer lab.
• The Platte County Public Library System received $15,000 from the grandchildren of Frank and Louise Soward as a memorial. The family requested the money be spent to meet the needs of children and senior citizens.
• The Lincoln County Library has had a number of staff changes. Sue Adams and Patti Dana replaced Gerry Layne and Marita Wright on the circulation desk. Layne is now working at the Teton County Library. Lora Sanchez became children's librarian with the departure of Karen Smith, and Karyl Montgomery has replaced Kay Fatheree as administrative assistant.
• Daily Times cartoonist Charlie Williams was at Carbon County Library in Rawlins in December signing copies of his second book,"Don't Feed the Vultures, and other keys to Western survival." A former Sinclair resident, Williams now lives in Casper. Two new circulation clerks, Sharon Jones and Marilyn Pederson, have joined Carbon County Public Library.
• The Northwest College Hinckley Library archives have made images and documents from the Heart Mountain Relocation Center more accessible, thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund. Many of the more than 100 World War II photos of Japanese-Americans interned at Heart Mountain have been digitized and are on a Web site at www.nwc.whecn.edu/library/hmdp/heartmountain.htm. Grant dollars have also funded a public program and informational brochure, as well as providing for better preservation of the archival material.
• Libraries throughout the state are participating in book discussion series with humanities scholars. The last Outrider featured one series, Classic Views of American Life: Pulitzer-Prize Winning Fiction. Other series include Ordinary Lives: Memoirs of American Women, Community and the Western Landscape, Crime and the Cultural Landscape: A Series on Detective Fiction and Family Photographs: Relationships Among the Generations,
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• Many members of the Wyoming library community attended a reception on Dec. 13 for Barbara Fraley who retired as Johnson County Library director. Fraley, who worked for the library 23 years, resigned this year after breaking her hip. Johnson County community members have created a "Thank You Barbara Fraley Fund" to help defray the costs of her medical care. Donations to the Thank You Barbara Fraley Fund may be made at Wyoming Bank and Trust at 99 S. Main St., P.O. Box 950 Buffalo, WY 82834.

Job Opportunities

Library Director, Natrona County Library, Casper.

Natrona County Library serves 60,000 patrons through the main library, two branches and a bookmobile. Candidates for the position of director must have ALA/MLS and at least three to five years administrative experience including budget preparation and oversight. The position requires extensive knowledge of public library operations and strong communications skills. Salary is negotiable; minimum is $36,732. Interested candidates may send a letter of application, three professional references and resume to Search Committee, Natrona County Public Library, 307 E. 2nd St. Casper, WY 82601. Closes when filled. EOE.

Library Reference Services/ Government Publications Assistant, Griffith Memorial Library, Sheridan College

The Library Reference Services/Government Publications Assistant is responsible for staffing the reference desk, maintaining government publications and performing other library duties. Minimum qualifications include experience with state and federal publications collections and library reference work, ability to maintain accurate records, strong human relations skills, facility with written and oral communications, facility with MS Office and DRA Classic 5.1 and WEB2 or similar integrated software systems for offices and libraries, ability to organize and work with frequent interruptions. Successful teaching/training experience is desired, and a bachelor's degree is preferred. This is a full-time, benefited 12-month classified staff position which includes evening and weekend hours. Salary is $7.43 per hour. To apply, submit letter of intent, resume and required application form to: Sheridan College Personnel Office, P.O. Box 1500, Sheridan, WY 82801, 307/674-6446 ext. 6218/6126; FAX: 307/674-4293. Position is open until filled; application review is ongoing.

Libraries kept close eye on elections

When voters went to the polls in November, several libraries had a stake in the outcome judging from the response from an informal email survey.

More than one library is dependent on optional one cent sales taxes – a budget boon that can be pulled by the voters. Susan Simpson, Albany County Library director said their book budget is totally based on a one cent sales tax that went before the voters for renewal Nov. 3. Simpson said the measure carried in all but four or five rural districts with 58 percent of county voters approving. The Albany County Library also receives money from county.

Laramie County Library receives 10 percent of the county's 1 percent tax revenues. Laramie County residents approved the sales tax for another four years in November with 71 percent of the vote. Currently, the library's share is approximately $300,000 per year, which funds the materials budget. "It's really critical," said Lucie Osborn, library director. She explained that 1 percent dollars fund books, some audio-visual materials, software, WYLD indices and additions to the genealogy collection. Osborn said one advantage of sales tax funding is it increases over time with inflation.

Sheridan County voters also approved their 1 cent optional sales tax renewal. The Sheridan County Library System will receive $50,000 a year from this source of revenue. According to Cathy Butler, library director, these funds are quite significant, essentially funding the materials budget.

Campbell County does not depend on 1 percent money. However, Marcia Wright, library director, said they have been included this year in what appears on the One Cent information as "Youth Equipment and Programs". The library expects to receive $5,000 in book money for children and young adults from the tax which Campbell County voters approved this year.

Cynthia Twing of Johnson County-Buffalo said their library receives 1 percent money, but it was not up for renewal on this year's ballot. Twing said the county government gives money one year, the city the next. She describes it as a great subsidy for their book budget.

Platte County libraries did not have any funding issues before the voters this year, but Patty Myers, library director, reported that they were pleased with the results of the county commission race. Myers said the best library supporter, Charles Coleman was re-elected, and new commissioner Alden Prosser has provided antique cars for children's summer programs. "We feel blessed!"

Do you have news of note for the Outrider?

Send it to the Public Programs, Publications and Marketing office at Wyoming State Library, 2301 Capitol Ave., Cheyenne WY 82002

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