News Monthly Newsletter March 2004	Contents: Conservation at The State Library - Clara Ireland & Jean Underwood State Library Board Report Where is the LSTA Zephyr? - Missy Lodge New Kid On The Block - Rebecca Felkner OHSSAR Gift - Paul Immel March Levies & Bond Issues

Conservation at The State Library Doing our own "make over,"

Clara Ireland Library Consultant

Jean Underwood Library Assistant II

On television these days one can see a variety of "make overs" - from the people themselves to what they wear to their homes. At the State Library, we are doing our own "make over," setting up a book conservation program and repairing books to go back into the collections.

There has not been an established book repair program at State Library since the early 1980's. There were many supplies and some equipment left over from that program so our start up expenses were minimal.

Our collections contain books that are out-of-print and cannot be replaced. There are many books that are old and fragile and some fairly new ones with poor binding. Some are just worn from heavy use and need a little attention.

Some of our books are nineteenth century publications which is fairly typical for a research library that has been in operation since 1817. This is especially true of our Genealogy collection. As the federal regional depository for Ohio we receive all of the publications that are distributed through the Federal Depository Library Program. We are required by law to keep them unless the document is updated.

Last Spring we had a one day training workshop taught by Sue Dunlap, Conservator at The College of Wooster Libraries. Using recommended conservation techniques, we learned hinge tightening, tipping in and spine repair. By September Jean Underwood and I had begun to repair some of the books too fragile to remain in the collections. We were fortunate to have the Basic Book Repair Manual, a publication of the Ohio Preservation Council and the State Library of Ohio and several excellent books on book repair to consult.

From spine repair, tipping-in and hinge tightening our skills now include: hinge repairs, paper repair using Japanese mending papers, double sided xeroxing to replace badly damaged pages, rebacking, recasing, endsheet replacement, pockets, leather treatment, pamphlet sewing, map repair, and coming soon, map flattening. Probably the repair that we are most pleased to be doing is the hollow tube repair, which Jean figured out using the Basic Book Repair Manual as her guide.

Maintaining the collection ensures that we continue to have a collection. We who work at repairing books began utilizing in-house resources as soon as we became aware of them. We are able to turn out a durable, professional looking cover renovation for those paperbacks that were originally stapled or glued together; or spirally bound and are now falling apart.

The cooperative effort began as a result of having no heavy paper stock to replace paper covers. However, we do have a laminating machine. Double sided lamination is used to add strength to the 20 weight colored paper we have. It not only adds strength, but it also protects the contents of the book from the colored paper if the colored paper is not acid-free. Larry Walls is our laminating expert, and recently he ordered new laminating material in a matte finish. One now has to touch the cover to know that it is laminated.

Once the book is reassembled with its new covers and any other repairs that have to be done, it is then taken over to the Mail Room (a section of Transport and Facility Services) where staff spiral bind the book. The end result of this cooperative venture is that the materials we now put back on the shelf are much more user friendly and look so much better than they did before. This method also makes it possible to return the books to the shelves for use more quickly.

The current budget situation prevents outside book repair or replacement purchasing. The ability to repair many of these books in-house is our only method to continue to provide this information to our customers. The conservation of State Library materials has succeeded because of the cooperative spirit of the staff. Individuals have taken the initiative to pursue various ways to repair our heavily used materials.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jean Underwood, Paul Immel and Larry Walls of Research Services; Clara Ireland of Library Services; Mike Moyer, Patrick Betts, Kenny Lawson of Transport and Facility Services; and Steve Updegraff, Head of Transport and Facility Services for their hard work and dedication toward the State Library's efforts in continuing to serve its customers.
Cindy McLaughlin, Deputy State Librarian for Library Services

March State Library Board Report

The Board approved 25 federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) mini-grants, totaling $384,032. The State Library received 60 eligible proposals totaling more than $984,500. Under the current LSTA Five-Year Plan the LSTA Advisory Council is emphasizing the goals related to Services to Targeted Populations. Nine of the minigrants were awarded in the categories of Services to Targeted Populations and Services to Youth. Four of the funded proposals will focus on service to Hispanic populations and three target persons with disabilities.

A detailed summary of the funded projects can be found at http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/lstafunded.html.

Missy Lodge, Library Programs Administrator, presented a policy for the disposition of equipment purchased as part of an LSTA grant. Federal regulations state that once equipment is no longer used for the purposes for which it was acquired, the equipment reverts back to the funding agency. The potential closing of libraries due to budget issues has necessitated a policy for how such equipment would be reallocated by the State Library. Following discussion the Board voted to approve the policy as recommended by the LSTA Advisory Council.

Carla Southers, Assistant Director, Office of Curriculum and Instruction for the Ohio Department of Education, discussed Department of Education programs that involve school libraries. The Department has developed seven guidelines for school libraries, based on a standards-based education.

Michael S. Lucas, State Librarian, discussed the upcoming budget process. The State Library faces a 4% budget cut for the remainder of fiscal year 2004, ending June 30, 2004. There will be an additional 6% budget cut for fiscal year 2005. Mr. Lucas was informed that the baseline for the fiscal years 2006-07 will be the reduced 2005 amount.

To deal with the 4% budget cut in fiscal year 04 General Revenue Fund dollars, the Board passed revised contracts for the regional library systems and for the regional libraries for the blind and physically handicapped in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Mr. Lucas introduced Marion Cochran, the new executive director of the OVAL regional library system.

The Board approved the lists of external and internal reviewers for the State Librarian's interview panel.

The Board was given the revised State Library Vision Statement draft for review and comment.

The next State Library Board meeting will be Thursday, April 29 at 1:00 in Columbus.

For the minutes of State Library Board meetings, go to http://winslo.state.oh.us/boardmin.html.

Where is the LSTA Zephyr?

Missy Lodge Library Programs Administrator

Since July 2000 the LSTA office has published an electronic newsletter entitled the LSTA Zephyr. This publication gives an overview of previously funded, successful LSTA projects, provides information from IMLS, presents updates on LSTA projects and the LSTA Advisory Council and imparts monthly grant announcements.

Faithful readers have noticed that the last issue of the Zephyr appeared in December 2003. Many wondered if the Zephyr was no longer being produced. Actually, what has occurred during the last three months was an evaluation of the Zephyr to assess whether it was the most effective communication tool for reporting details on the LSTA program in Ohio.

Staff analysis has determined that although the Zephyr provides good information, it reaches a limited audience. Additionally, the short articles do not allow for an in-depth look into the programs and projects of LSTA. The decision has been made to merge the Zephyr with NEWS.

On alternate months, an in-depth Zephyr article will appear in NEWS. The article may focus on a successful LSTA project that could be easily replicated in other areas of the state by libraries with similar needs. Or the article may focus on a specific LSTA initiative of the LSTA Advisory Council. LSTA grant announcements will appear monthly in NEWS as appropriate.

To initiate this new approach to Zephyr, the April issue of NEWS will contain a Zephyr article discussing a new LSTA grant program which will initiated at the Planning for Library Services to Persons with Disabilities workshop to be held at the State Library in June. The article will detail how the grant program and workshop came to be and include information on the Disability Issues Task Force, as well as give an overview of the workshop and grant program.

LSTA and State Library staffs hope customers will find this new format informative. As always we invite your comments and suggestions on the Zephyr or on any aspect of the LSTA program. Please send them to Missy Lodge, Library Programs Administrator at mlodge@sloma.state.oh.us

LSTA Grant Announcements

The first round of Continuing Education grants were due at the State Library on March 1. Ten proposals were received and have been sent to reviewers. Recommended proposals will be taken to the May 11 State Library Board meeting for funding.

Automation proposals were due at the State Library on March 24. Ten proposals were received. The review process will begin shortly and recommended proposals will be taken to the July State Library Board meeting for funding.

The Full Grant RFP is available on WINSLO at http://winslo.state.oh.us/publib/lstafull.html. Proposals are due at the State Library May 19, 2004.

New Kid On The Block Called to perform many different tasks.

Rebecca Felkner Library Consultant

As a Library Consultant at the State Library, I'm called on to perform many different tasks. I plan workshops, visit libraries throughout the state, participate on the web redesign committee, write publicity about the State Library and Ohio libraries, work with the Ohio Regional Libraries, assist with electronic database training, serve as a liaison to LSTA grant committees, help coordinate the 2004 Summer Reading Program workshops, and many other things. Those are just a few of the tasks that I know about. As my tenure here continues, I'm sure I'll discover all sorts of tasks that are part of a Library Consultant's responsibilities.

My background is conducive to being a generalist. Among other things, I've worked as a program planner at the American Library Association, as a reference librarian in public, academic, and special libraries, and have worked with theater companies and written scripts for radio shows. At the American Library Association I also created and maintained web pages, wrote publicity, created budgets, coordinated national conferences, and performed numerous other tasks. You could say I'm a jack-of-all-trades.

Of course in the modern library world, probably 99% of all librarians are jacks-of-all-trades. Our intention as Library Consultants in the Library Programs & Development department is to be available as resources and to make resources available for Ohio librarians who may need a helping hand. We collect resources on different topics and organize them by subject in the Librarian's Toolkit, http://winslo.state.oh.us/services/LPD/index.html. We can research particular topics for librarians who either don't have the access to as many databases as we do or who simply don't have the staff to devote to the problem. We provide specialized training to library staff on electronic databases, and basic library skills like reference, cataloging, and collection development. We are available for other services that may arise.

If you or your library need help with any issue, we hope that you contact us at lpd@sloma.state.oh.us.

OHSSAR Gift Highlights The Importance Of Outreach And Partnership

Paul Immel Genealogy Librarian

The Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution (OHSSAR) has presented another volume of its Revolutionary War Patriots series to the State Library of Ohio's genealogy collection. This donation, along with others made in the past and more planned for the future, makes the State Library of Ohio the depository for OHSSAR publications.

Larry Parker, President of the OHSSAR, presented the book to Paul Immel, genealogy services librarian, on March 5, 2004. Also in attendance were Steve Kelley, OHSSAR State Government Liaison and Gretchen Persohn, head of the research services department at the State Library.

Mr. Parker and Mr. Immel agreed that the Sons of the American Revolution and the State Library of Ohio should have a close partnership. The S.A.R., for its part, will continue to donate items from monies in its annual book fund and books produced by the state society and local chapters. The State Library will provide a speaker to the fall OHSSAR state conference and to local chapter meetings. Also, OHSSAR members and prospective members will be encouraged to use the State Library's genealogy collection and make personal donations of items. Such a partnership is a win-win for both sides.

(left) Larry Parker, President of the OHSSAR and (right) Paul Immel, genealogy services librarian.

As budgets have tightened in the past few years, the family history area has become more dependent upon the generosity of organizations and individuals for collection development. In addition to the OHSSAR's gifts during the past year, the Ohio D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution) has donated the Millennium Edition of the D.A.R. Patriot Index. Other donations include genealogical and local history reprints, and publications from local chapters of the Ohio Genealogical Society. The library also engages in trading duplicate book donations with other libraries throughout the country in order to bring new titles to the collection.

The success of the State Library's genealogy collection rests upon reaching out to organizations like the OHSSAR.

In addition to hereditary societies, we have made presentations to local chapters of the Ohio Genealogical Society, senior groups, business organizations, and those of an ethnic and religious nature. We need to continue to speak out about our services and partner where possible. This can only increase our usage, but more importantly, bring genealogical services to Ohio citizens who need them.

March Library Levies & Bond Issues