OLIS Links

Library Links

Learn to speak like a pirate

By karen | September 19, 2011

Speak Like a Pirate!Avast mateys, September 19 be talk like a pirate day, aarrr.

And now, for a limited time, you too can learn how to speak like a pirate via Mango Languages.  Yep, there’s Mango Pirate . . . and here’s more information from our friends at Mango:

Ahoy, mateys! Be ye ready fer some swashbucklin’ and carousin’? Learn the art of pirate parley from a true gentleman o’ fortune: the Mango Languages Pirate Language course has risen from the depths o’ Davy Jones’s Locker ter make a reappearance just in time fer International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th) . Ye’ll be learnin’ the proper way to hail yer cap’n and get the landlubbin’ scallywags on board a-sailin’ smartly, among other phrases ye’ll be needin’ on the high seas.

Mango Pirate is only available for a limited time. Learn more about Mango’s Pirate Course on the Mango YouTube channel:

And if pirate is not your cup of rum, then there’s over 50 other languages to choose from at Mango, including 15 English as a Second Language courses.  Check it all out on AskRI, ye scallywag!

PS.  If you want to stay updated on all the cool things happening in Mango-land, subscribe to their always entertaining newsletter.  Go to the Mango Languages website, and on the bottom left subscribe to the newsletter.

Topics: News & Information, Resources | Comments Off on Learn to speak like a pirate

RICH extends grant application deadline

By Donna DiMichele | August 31, 2011

Due to ongoing power-outages across the state after Hurricane Irene, RICH is extending the September 1st deadline for filing the Major Grant Intent to Apply form. The new deadline is Tuesday, September 6th by 5 p.m. The deadline to submit the Major Grant application remains October 15th by 5 p.m.

Original grants announcement on Rhodarian

 

Topics: Grants, News & Information, Resources | Comments Off on RICH extends grant application deadline

Gateway to Knowledge exhibit at Newport Public Library

By Donna DiMichele | August 30, 2011

A specially designed 18-wheel truck will be bringing treasures and information from the Library of Congress to Newport, RI, on Tuesday and Wednesday September 6 and 7.   The exhibit, the Gateway to Knowledge, is located in the Bellevue Gardens lot at the Corner of Bellevue Ave. and Memorial Blvd. It is open from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. On September 6, Congressman David Cicilline will participated in a 10:00 A.M. ribbon cutting ceremony.

The exhibit includes programming for teachers, students, and provide relevant and engaging learning experiences for lifelong learners. It features several areas of museum style exhibits, computer terminals displaying Library of Congress websites, and facsimiles of an assortment of documents. Featured artifacts include a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson’s hand with edits by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams; the 1962 drawings for the comic book that introduced Spider-Man to the world; and the handwritten manuscript to Jelly Roll Morton’s “Frog-i-More Rag.” Two docents, who are knowledgeable about the Library of Congress and its collections, will staff the exhibit.

“The Newport Public Library is pleased to be hosting the Gateway to Knowledge exhibit.  This is a great opportunity for people to share in the wealth of knowledge that the incredible collection of the Library of Congress offers them,” said Regina Slezak, Library Director.

The exhibit and its tour are made possible through the support of the Bernie and Audre Rapoport family.

Further information about the exhibit

Contact:  Regina Slezak, 847-8270 x102

Topics: Events, News & Information | Comments Off on Gateway to Knowledge exhibit at Newport Public Library

Need assistance after the hurricane?

By Donna DiMichele | August 29, 2011

If Hurricane Irene caused damaged to cultural heritage collections there are specific resources to help in recovery. Professional conservators are available to help you assess collections damage and take the proper steps for recovery. Archives, libraries, historical and preservation societies, museums, and historic sites are all eligible.

Heritage Emergency National Task Force
Information on Major Disasters, reporting damage to a cultural institution or collections

If the damage is primarily to paper-based collections, contact Northeast Document Conservation Center Disaster Assistance Hotline  978-470-1010 Additional information

American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the national association of conservation professionals, offers free emergency response assistance to cultural organizations.

Office of Library and Information Services Disaster and Preservation page offers resources for coping with disasters.

Topics: News & Information, Preservation, Resources | Comments Off on Need assistance after the hurricane?

Be Prepared said de Cervantes

By Donna DiMichele | August 25, 2011

“Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory” Miguel de Cervantes

Warned by NOAA and RIEMA, armed with your disaster plan and supplies; you will be prepared for the impact of of Hurricane Irene.

Anytime is a good time to review your disaster plan. However, with Hurricane Irene barreling up the East Coast, now is the time to make sure everyone in your library* knows the who, what, where and how of your plan. Even if Hurricane Irene does little or no damage in Rhode Island, hurricane season continues. Preparing now means your institution is prepared for the remainder of the season as well as for other disasters that may occur.

*While Rhodarian is oriented to RI librarians, the same advice applies to any cultural heritage institution.

Follow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for updates
Follow your local forecast, enter your city/town and state at the left panel

The OLIS website offers many resources for Disaster and Preservation. Other useful resources include:

RI Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA)
Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) and its Twitter feed @NEDCCJulie
Heritage Preservation’s Preparing Your Institution for Hurricanes

RI-Plan for Rhode Island institutions
Not in Rhode Island? dPlan for institutions not in RI

Topics: News & Information, Preservation, Resources | Comments Off on Be Prepared said de Cervantes

Does your library foster civic engagement?

By Donna DiMichele | August 24, 2011

The ALA Center for Civic Life is mapping civic engagement activities in libraries and wants your help!  The Center is interested in learning more about more about civic/community engagement activities in libraries.

ALA urges librarians to complete the survey so the Center can use the data to map their civic activities, highlight the important work undertaken by libraries, and create linkages among similarly minded local and national groups.  Recently, the Center partnered with a number of civic organizations to foster community engagement; among them: the American Democracy Project; America Speaks; the Urban Libraries Council; and Journalism that Matters. the ALA Center for Civic Life will continue to identify local partners involved with civic life as well as link up with national organizations pursuing similar civic goals.

Survey

Topics: 21st Century Skills in Libraries, ALA | Comments Off on Does your library foster civic engagement?

Adult Literacy Mini-Conference CANCELLED

By Donna DiMichele | August 12, 2011

The Literacy Volunteers of Kent County, RI, is offering the 30th Anniversary Adult Literacy Mini Conference Saturday, September 17, 2011.

Speakers include Dr. Judy Blankenship Cheatham, Reading Is Fundamental; David C. Harvey, President and CEO of ProLiteracy; and Dave Whitaker, former Executive Director of the Literacy Center for the Midlands in Omaha, Nebraska.

The conference runs from 9:00am – 3:30pm and will take place at the Coventry Town Hall. Registration is required: Tutors, Educators, and Volunteers $20.00; Students $10.00

Speaker biographies, a detailed agenda, registration information and other details are online.

Topics: Events, Literacy, News & Information | Comments Off on Adult Literacy Mini-Conference CANCELLED

RI Historical Society awarded grant for Library

By Donna DiMichele | August 9, 2011

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the Rhode Island Historical Society a grant to support preservation of its Library collections. The project title is “Environmental and Security Upgrades to Preserve Library Collections” and comes under the Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections category of grant awards. The project is described as: “An implementation project to install a sustainable environmental control system and make building improvements and security upgrades to preserve collections documenting the history of Rhode Island from pre-European contact to the present.”

The awards were announced in the August 4th edition of National Coalition for History newsletter.
Complete list of NEH grant awards.

Topics: News & Information, Preservation | Comments Off on RI Historical Society awarded grant for Library

Exhibit Opportunity Discover Earth: A Century of Change

By Donna DiMichele | August 9, 2011

The ALA Public Programs Office, in partnership with the National Center for Interactive Learning at Space Science Institute, the Lunar and Planetary Institute and the National Girls Collaborative Project, is accepting applications for a new traveling exhibition opportunity for public libraries.  Online applications must be submitted to ALA by September 2.

The Discover Earth exhibition will focus on local earth science topics—such as weather, water cycle, and ecosystem changes—as well as a global view of our changing planet. The primary message of the exhibition is that the global environment changes – and is changed by – the local environment of all exhibition hosts’ communities. Interactive, multimedia displays will allow exhibit visitors to interact with digital information in a dynamic way, encouraging new perspectives on our planet.

Application and guidelines

Topics: 21st Century Skills in Libraries, ALA, Grants | Comments Off on Exhibit Opportunity Discover Earth: A Century of Change

Public Library Digitization Projects

By Donna DiMichele | August 5, 2011

The ALA Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) recently started a new publication series titled OITP Perspectives. The first one is just the ticket for small and medium sized public libraries planning for digitization! OITP characterizes the paper as “an overview of digitization challenges . . .,  presents options for large-scale digitization projects, and suggests ways to share newly created digital collections.” Read the publication online on the ALA website.

Topics: ALA, Preservation, Technology | Comments Off on Public Library Digitization Projects


« Previous Entries Next Entries »