The Library of Michigan's Quarterly Newsletter
Summer 2009

Welcome to LM4X, the Library of Michigan's newsletter. This quarterly publication offers updates about Library services and events and Library of Michigan Foundation programs for the public and library staff members throughout the state.

Comments or questions about LM4X? Contact editor Gloriane Peck at (517) 373-0685 or peckg@michigan.gov. We look forward to serving you better!

Collaboration, Commitment Key to Securing Statewide Broadband Connectivity

By Nancy R. Robertson
State Librarian

In this issue of LM4X, you'll enjoy a recap of the May 20 Michigan Broadband Summit, a gathering of some 200 librarians and community leaders who put their collective knowledge, energy and good ideas together to get the ball rolling on our state's plan for comprehensive broadband access. If you missed the summit, be sure to check out broadbandsummit.mel.org for updates, session recaps and more. Rest assured, this effort is just getting started!

Nancy R. Robertson

According to studies by the American Library Association and others, libraries are "the sole source of no-fee access to the Internet for nearly three-quarters of Americans without connectivity at home or work." That's a vast number of people who, simply because of their employment or socio-economic status, would - without public libraries - have no other means of exploring, enjoying and benefiting from the nearly limitless information resources that can only be found online.

The bottom line is that in order for libraries to continue to serve the public to the best of their ability, broadband connectivity must be a part of the equation. Providing access to information just isn't enough anymore. In today's competitive world, news and information must be available quickly and easily, and broadband makes it possible.

Budget is always a factor, but the good news is that libraries do not have to bear that burden alone. There are a great many businesses, organizations and associations with which to collaborate in order to reduce costs and redundancy in procuring bandwidth. The Governor's Broadband Task Force is at work on a statewide plan to submit for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, and a large factor in the success of that effort will be how well communities demonstrate their collaborative abilities - especially with libraries, schools, local governments, hospitals and other community-minded agencies.

The May summit was an excellent start, but this is a process that will require sustained commitment and energy to see it through until every Michigan library is able to offer broadband access to the communities it serves. Lend your voice and passion to the effort! For further information, contact Sheryl Mase, director of statewide services at the Library of Michigan, at mases@michigan.gov.

Nancy R. Robertson

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Michigan Library Advocates Attend National Library Legislative Day

Held May 11 and 12 in Washington, D.C., National Library Legislative Day featured visits with members of Congress on Capitol Hill as well as briefings on topics such as advocacy, the Library Services and Technology Act, copyright, broadband, school libraries and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Seven leaders in the Michigan library community attended in support of Michigan libraries and their services.

Michigan library advocates meet with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow during National Library Legislative Day in May 2009. From left, Ryan Wieber, director of Otsego District Library; U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow; Shirley Bruursema, chair of the Kent District Library Board of Trustees; Roger Mendel, director of Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative; Marcia Warner, director of Grand Rapids Public Library; and Sheryl Mase, director of statewide services at the Library of Michigan.

From left, Mike Smith, director of Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University; Sheryl Mase, director of statewide services at the Library of Michigan; Carol Johnson of Gale Cengage Learning; Marcia Warner, director of Grand Rapids Public Library; Shirley Bruursema, chair of the Kent District Library Board of Trustees; Susan Gilmore, representing the Michigan Association for Media in Education; and Ryan Wieber, director of Otsego District Library. Not pictured: Helen Wilbur of Gale Cengage Learning.

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Nearly 200 Librarians, Community Leaders Gather at Broadband Summit

By Sonya Schryer Norris
Web Site Administrator Librarian

The Library of Michigan's Broadband Summit, held May 20, drew nearly 200 librarians and community stakeholders eager to learn about how libraries, municipalities, businesses, hospitals and others could partner to bring broadband service to their communities. Librarians, county managers and city officials came from as far as the Upper Peninsula with particularly strong representation from the upper two-thirds of the Lower Peninsula.

Clockwise from bottom left, Carrie Lowe of ALA, John Windhausen of Telepoly Consulting, E-rate consultant Carol Underriner, Norma Bard, her daughter and husband, Phil, and Bob Bocher of the Wisconsin State Library. The Bards, of Michigan, are the family of Mark Bard, who was working for the ALA Washington Office when he was hit by a drunk driver in 2007. Mark remains in a coma, and the Broadband Summit was dedicated to him.

With sponsorship by the American Library Association-Office of Information Technology Policy in Washington, D.C., and support from the Library of Michigan Foundation, the Broadband Summit was held at the Kellogg Center at Michigan State University.

Each segment of the summit will be available in streaming video thanks to the Merit Network, which provided some of the work as an in-kind contribution to the summit. Check broadbandsummit.mel.org in the coming weeks for the videos. Additionally, the Michigan Library Consortium provided in-kind support in hosting this site.

The day covered a wide range of topics, beginning with an introduction by State Librarian Nancy Robertson and a video from Governor Jennifer Granholm recorded specifically for the summit. Keynote speaker John Windhausen Jr. of Telepoly Consulting spoke on worldwide broadband deployment and how the United States ranks in speed, cost, and urban and rural service. Windhausen, a key Washington figure in telecommunications legislation and policy since 1984, was interviewed after his presentation by Scott Pohl of WKAR, and the interview was broadcast that night during the Michigan news on "All Things Considered."

Carrie Lowe of the American Library Association Office for Information Technology Policy moderates a Q-and-A period at the Broadband Summit.

The next segment focused on successful past and current partnership efforts, and stressed the need for communitywide action to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas. This segment featured Cisco Executive on Loan Kevin MacRitchie and Mike Weber, the interim director of the Northern Michigan Broadband Cooperative.

At lunch, Don Welch of the Merit Network spoke, and then Eli Nieburger of Ann Arbor District Library presented a video created by AADL Productions. AADL Productions is a special department of the Ann Arbor District Library devoted to the creation of digital collections that support the cultural, recreational and informational interests of the Ann Arbor community. The department created a 12-minute video on "killer applications," online products and services such as YouTube that require strong connectivity and often stress the capabilities of library networks. The video concentrated on planning for future applications.

In the afternoon, Bob Bocher of the Wisconsin State Library moderated a discussion on capacity planning with a panel made up of Jim Bruxvoort, Kent District Library; Steve Eiben, Ypsilanti District Library; and Laurie St. Laurent, Marshall District Library. They revealed how libraries of various class sizes handle their networks and plan for future traffic.

Following the panel, George Boersma of the State of Michigan Department of Information Technology and Pam Whitten of the MSU College of Communication, Arts and Sciences gave an update on the status of ARRA (stimulus) money for broadband in Michigan, in which libraries are key players. They discussed the steps the state has taken so far to determine the best ways to distribute the money and where the state is in the distribution timeline.

After the stimulus money update, the Library of Michigan's E-rate consultant, Carol Underriner of BTU Consulting, moderated an E-rate Success Stories panel. The panel was made up of Sheryl Cormicle Knox, the IT director at Capital Area District Library, and Roger Mendel, the director of Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative and interim director of Northland Library Cooperative. Sheryl discussed CADL's history with E-rate and how E-rate funds are helping the library system to lay fiber to each of its branches. Roger discussed the long-standing role of cooperatives in obtaining E-rate funds for Michigan libraries.

The day ended with a question-and-answer period moderated by Carrie Lowe of the ALA-OITP. It was made up of John Windhausen, Bob Bocher, Eli Nieburger, George Boersma and Carol Underriner, and covered questions that came up during the course of all of the summit.

Special thanks are due to the American Library Association-Office of Information Technology Policy for its sponsorship of this successful summit.

If you would like to view any segment of the summit, please check broadbandsummit.mel.org in the coming weeks.

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One Step, Many Solutions: Abrams Genealogy Seminar, Featuring Stephen Morse, Set for July 17-18

By Kris Rzepczynski
Michigan/Genealogy Coordinator

The Library of Michigan is pleased to announce that the 2009 Abrams Genealogy Seminar will be held Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, at the Michigan Library and Historical Center in Lansing. This fourth annual event offers a unique opportunity for researchers to spend two full days at the Library of Michigan, utilizing our vast array of genealogy resources and learning about specific topics of interest, including cemetery research, Michigan death records, online research for the British Isles, New England area research and much more.

Kris Rzepczynski

A highlight of the seminar will be a keynote address, co-sponsored by the Eaton County Genealogical Society, featuring Stephen Morse, famous for his outstanding One-Step Web pages at stephenmorse.org.

These online tools are an invaluable resource for genealogists on topics as diverse as Ellis Island ship lists, U.S., Canadian and British census records, and even calendar conversions and language translation. As in previous years, the seminar will include a library and archives research track, in which facilities with extensive genealogical and historical holdings will outline their collections. Participating libraries and archives are the Library of Michigan, the Archives of Michigan, the Burton Historical Collection at the Detroit Public Library, the Capital Area District Library in Lansing and the Allen County (Ind.) Public Library.

Stephen Morse

Additional information about the Abrams Genealogy Seminar, including the program schedule and registration information, are online at www.michigan.gov/familyhistory. For more information, contact the Library of Michigan at (517) 373-1300 or librarian@michigan.gov.

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Park & Read Makes State Park Passes Available Free to Library Patrons

By Betsy Hull
Continuing Education Coordinator

Thanks to Park & Read, Michigan's great outdoors is easier to enjoy this summer if you have a library card. This pilot program sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in partnership with the Library of Michigan and Macy's department store features 150 Michigan libraries. A free daily pass - good for seven days at any of the 77 participating Michigan State Parks - is available to library patrons to encourage the use of the parks. The DNR will collect the passes and is responsible for the data compilation.

Betsy Hull

Park & Read is similar to the highly successful Museum Adventure Pass program running in seven counties surrounding Detroit. However, Park & Read is open to libraries in all counties. The number of passes available at each library is based on its legal service area. The program runs until Sept. 25.

For information, call Maia Stephens at the DNR at (989) 225-8573 or (517) 373-8378, or e-mail her at stephensm3@michigan.gov. Contact Betsy Hull with your library questions at (517) 373-3746 or hullb1@michigan.gov.

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LSTA Modeling the Future Grants Awarded

By Karren Reish
Library Grants Coordinator

The Library of Michigan recently announced the recipients of three federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Modeling the Future grants. We received a number of excellent proposals and selected three that proposed innovative outreach to underserved populations. Each project also can be readily re-created in other libraries, using the project manuals the grantees will write as part of the grant requirements.

Karren Reish

• Peter White Public Library in Marquette has been granted $33,050 to conduct a research and action project designed to investigate new methods of delivering quality library services to remote, rural or isolated communities.
• Riverview Public Library has been granted $25,028 to create a resource center and training programs to assist immigrants in southern Wayne County in their transition to American life.
• Superiorland Library Cooperative has been granted $49,860 to involve teens in a multi-library effort to identify "library 2.0" best practices and implement them in a virtual branch library designed just for teens.

We look forward to seeing these projects develop and providing the manuals to the library community as the grant recipients complete them in fall 2010.

The 2008 annual report for LSTA funding in Michigan, the Library Services & Technology Act Michigan Report for 2008, is now online. You also may order copies using the Library of Michigan's publication order form at www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-18835_18893-74205--,00.html.

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A Notable Night at the Library of Michigan

The Library of Michigan Foundation hosted the annual Night for Notables celebration April 18. A tribute to all of the 2009 Michigan Notable Books authors, the program included featured speaker Christopher Paul Curtis - recipient of the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award, and author of 2008 Michigan Notable Book Elijah of Buxton - and book signings with 16 of this year's 20 Notable authors. Governor Jennifer Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern mingled with the authors at an event before the program.

The Michigan Notable Books list is the Library of Michigan's annual selection of books that reflect the state's rich cultural heritage by highlighting Michigan people, places and events. For more information about Michigan Notable Books, please visit www.michigan.gov/notablebooks.

Tom Gennara of Gennara Photography

State Librarian Nancy R. Robertson (left), Governor Jennifer Granholm and First Gentleman Dan Mulhern (center) with 16 of the 2009 Michigan Notable Books authors at the Night for Notables event at the Library of Michigan in April.

Tom Gennara of Gennara Photography

Governor Jennifer Granholm and State Librarian Nancy R. Robertson celebrate the 2009 Michigan Notable Books at the Night for Notables at the Library of Michigan in April.

Tom Gennara of Gennara Photography

Author Christopher Paul Curtis at the Library of Michigan's 2009 Night for Notables event celebrating the 2009 Michigan Notable Books and their authors.

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Data Digest - a Valuable Tool for Public Libraries and Stakeholders - Now Available

By Terri Doyen Assaf
Library Data Coordinator

Michigan's public libraries continually strive to meet the information needs of our state's residents and public servants. Organizations and individuals often rely on library statistical data in decision-making for both short- and long-term planning. Compilation of statistical data in an easy-to-use format is vital in successfully analyzing library needs assessments.

The 2008 edition of Michigan Public Libraries Data Digest is now available, and copies have been mailed to all public libraries and branches. Information published in the digest reflects the activity of 379 main libraries, 277 branch libraries and 16 bookmobiles providing public library service in Michigan. Data was collected and submitted via the Fiscal Year 2007/2008 Public Library Annual Report/State Aid Application for public libraries' fiscal years completed prior to Oct. 1, 2007.

The Michigan Public Libraries Data Digest provides an excellent snapshot of how the state's public libraries operate and the various ways they serve the people of Michigan. It is also an effective tool to promote the value and importance of our state's libraries. The Data Digest publication was instrumental in Michigan receiving the 2007 Helen M. Eckard Award for Exemplary Use of Public Library Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. The Michigan publication has inspired several states, including Kansas, Mississippi and South Dakota, to produce their own versions.

The latest Michigan Public Libraries Data Digest contains statewide data as well as data pertaining to each of the individual library class sizes. It graphically depicts five-year spending and service trends, and pie charts illustrate fiscal year spending and service measures. In fiscal year 2007, Michigan's public libraries had $369.7 million in total operating expenditures and $62.8 million in total capital expenditures. Library visits were nearly 50.4 million, a 4 percent increase from the previous year. Total circulation increased 7 percent for the same time period. All Michigan public libraries provided Internet access to library patrons, with 72 percent of libraries also providing wireless capability.

These facts are just a few of the elements found in the 2008 edition. The cover presents a stunning photo of the lighted Mackinac Bridge at night. It is an ideal library-ready reference tool, and library stakeholders are sure to want personal copies. Additional copies for distribution to library boards and other organizations are available at no charge by utilizing the order form at www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-18835_18893-74205--,00.html. The Library of Michigan reserves the right to limit quantities.

Questions regarding the Michigan Public Libraries Data Digest may be directed to Terri Assaf, assaft@michigan.gov or (517) 373-3828. I am also available to provide customized reports for individual statistical needs. The Michigan Public Libraries Data Digest in PDF format, complete library data files in Excel and additional statistical information are accessible on the Library Statistics and State Aid Web page.

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Watch for Michigan Reads! Updates Throughout the Summer

By Jolee Hamlin
Youth Services Contractor

The Library of Michigan is pleased to again offer Michigan Reads!, the one-state, one-children's-book program devoted to boosting early childhood literacy. An author tour is planned for late September and all of October. Additional information — including the title of this year's Michigan Reads! book, as well as dates and locations of the author tour visits — will be posted throughout the summer at www.michigan.gov/michiganreads. The Library of Michigan is also happy to announce that Target continues its generous sponsorship of Michigan Reads!

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Library of Michigan Moving Forward with Plinkit Web Sites for Small, Rural Libraries

By Sonya Schryer Norris
Web Site Administrator Librarian

The Library of Michigan has joined the Plinkit collaborative! Plinkit provides easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain Web sites suited to small and rural libraries - and best of all, the Library of Michigan is picking up the tab. Do you not have a Web site because you lack the technical expertise to set it up or maintain it?

This screenshot shows the Web site for a library in the Plinkit collaborative.

Plinkit is the answer, because the Library of Michigan and Enfold Systems will do the heavy lifting. If you or your co-workers can use Microsoft Word, you will be able to update your Web site using Plinkit.

Do you already have a site, but it's expensive, cumbersome or not doing all that it could for your staff or patrons? Come over to Plinkit by copying and pasting your old site.

The Plinkit Web sites will contain space for statewide information such as MeL databases, but individual libraries will provide primary content and update their sites locally. Patrons will have homepage access to hours and contact information, the ability to search a library's online catalog (where applicable) and a calendar of events. Plinkit provides functionality to search the site and showcase upcoming news. There is a separate section for kids and teens, as well as an online e-resources section where you can share photographs or showcase other digital collections such as local history information. There is also an option to include a database of community organizations and a staff-only section where library employees may share documents and a calendar. And much more!

The next step in bringing Plinkit to Michigan libraries will be the formation of an advisory committee to create a Michigan-specific template. Watch Michlib-l for a call to participate in the advisory committee. After that, a pilot group of libraries will be selected. Would you like to be a pilot library? Contact Sonya Schryer Norris at (517) 373-4457 and stay tuned to LM4X for Plinkit updates!

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New Resources for Planning Author Visits Available Online

By Karren Reish
Michigan Center for the Book Coordinator

The Center for the Book has expanded the resources available on its Author Visits site, www.michigan.gov/authorvisits. You can join a listserv to share tips and recommendations, and find other libraries interested in sharing costs to host author visits and other literary events. The Michigan Library Author Visits blog features posts about coming author visits to let you know when and where to go to see if a particular author would be a good fit for your library or whether your library can be added to an author's trip.

The Author Visits page also includes information on planning, finding authors, setting up for events, sample contracts, etc. Stop by and take a look, and join your colleagues in bringing literary events to your patrons. If you have any suggestions or author visits you would like listed, please contact Karren Reish at reishk@michigan.gov.

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Center for the Book Announces Letters about Literature Winners

By Karren Reish
Michigan Center for the Book Coordinator

The Michigan Center for the Book and the Library of Michigan participate in the annual Letters about Literature program presented by the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target. This national reading-writing contest invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to write letters to authors of books that have changed their lives.

For the 2009 program, we received many heartfelt, thoughtful letters. Thanks to the students who participated and congratulations to our three state winners and semi-finalists. Nilesh Raval, our Level III winner, is also a national honorable mention winner!

The 2009 winners are:

• Valerie Reeves of Mancelona for her letter to Erin Hunter about Warriors: Dawn - Level I (Grades 4-6)
• Daniel Harrison of Kalamazoo for his letter to Ben Mikaelsen about Touching Spirit Bear - Level II (Grades 7-8)
• Nilesh Raval of Saginaw for his letter to Jhumpa Lahiri about The Namesake - Level III (Grades 9-12)

The state winners receive a $50 Target gift card, and their community library receives a grant of $300 for materials for children or young adults. The national honorable mention winners receive an additional $100 Target gift card, and their community library receives an additional $1,000 grant for materials.

You can read the winning letters at www.michigan.gov/mcfb by following the Letters about Literature link. More about the program is available at www.lettersaboutliterature.org.

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Help Your Library Win $1,000 While Helping Families Save for College

By Judith K. Moore, CFRE
Executive Director, Library of Michigan Foundation

The Library of Michigan Foundation is pleased to announce the second year of its successful partnership with Michigan's 529 college savings programs, the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP). This year the program is called "Get Creative @ Saving for College!"

First and foremost, the program encourages parents to sign up their children for their local library's summer reading program. It also gives parents a chance to win $1,500 toward their child's future college education and helps families become aware of the need and opportunities to start saving for college today. As an added bonus, six participating libraries will have a chance to win $1,000 cash toward future summer reading programs.

During these difficult economic times, we are pleased to present a program that gives families an opportunity to look to the future and plan for their children's education.

We hope all Michigan libraries will choose to participate this year. This is a program where everyone wins!

Questions? Contact Judith Moore at (517) 373-4470 or moorej10@michigan.gov.

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Dealing with Vanishing Newspapers

By Kevin Driedger
Cataloger and Collections Conservator

Newspapers have long been a vital part of a library's collection. Library patrons quickly devour today's paper in search of current events and opinions, financial futures and friends passed on, while newspapers of the past give patrons an account of events and lives gone by. This year marks the 200th anniversary of newspaper publishing in Michigan. The Michigan Essay; or The Impartial Observer published its first, and possibly only, issue on Thursday, Aug. 31, 1809.

Kevin Driedger

In the years following, Michigan developed a robust and active newspaper industry. These newspapers play an important role in documenting such things as the political convictions of their publishers, integral events in local, state and national history, decisions by local school boards and the births, marriages and deaths of community members.

Newspapers are published to be read today, then quickly replaced by tomorrow's or next week's paper. Yesterday's papers fill our recycling bins, protect our valuables when we move or help us light a fire. Libraries around the state, however, have a long-standing practice of holding onto local newspapers because librarians know that yesterday's news quickly becomes tomorrow's history. Newspapers are the first draft - and sometimes the only record - of history for the communities they serve, and local libraries endeavor to preserve that history.

Newspapers and libraries have developed a good, complementary working relationship. Journalists capture the stories of local importance, and publishers print these stories in the paper, while libraries purchase a copy of the paper for today's readers and also preserve it for future readers, typically on microfilm.

This relationship, however, is beginning to break down. Newspapers are shrinking, moving some or all of their content online or discontinuing publishing altogether. Smaller newspapers and smaller newspaper staffs mean fewer local journalists documenting fewer local events and local newspapers printing less local news. Therefore libraries are collecting, and preserving, less local history for future historians.

While online newspaper articles provide wonderful access for today, there are serious questions about whether this content will be available for tomorrow's reader. Online access provides fewer opportunities for communities to safeguard their history. Public libraries are not able to own - or preserve - a physical copy of these newspapers or their content. A publisher may choose to provide ongoing access to the newspaper's online archive, or it may not. And if a newspaper goes out of business, the whole question of access to its online archives may be moot.

Libraries love newspapers and want them to succeed, but we are in the midst of a publishing revolution. Nobody knows what Michigan's newspaper world will look like in 20 years, let alone another 200. Libraries will surely remain, as will the public's need to know their community's history. Libraries need to begin exploring how they might fill the gaps left by shrinking newspapers. How can libraries, as community information hubs, fill the role of documenting and preserving the history of the communities they serve?

I invite libraries to share your ideas for how your library plans to compensate for these vanishing newspapers. I will gladly include your ideas in a future issue of LM4X. Please send your ideas to driedgerk@michigan.gov.

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Mahoney Children's Workshops Highlight Ways to Connect Boys with Books

By Jolee Hamlin
Youth Services Contractor

In this year's stimulating and timely Mahoney Children's Workshop program, librarian, educator and author Michael Sullivan will provide tools to overcome the many challenges that essentially program boys out of reading and using the library. Participants will learn effective ways to attract boys to library programs in the "tween" years and to enhance their interest in books and reading over a lifetime.

Author of Connecting Boys with Books I & II and Fundamentals of Children's Services, Sullivan offers practical and proven programming ideas to build on the unique developmental needs and interests of boys in middle-stage years, including reaching out with stories that resonate with boys, encouraging independent reading and talking about books in ways that entice boys.

The workshop will be offered at three different locations, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at each library:

• Aug. 25 at Escanaba Public Library
• Aug. 27 at West Branch District Library
• Aug. 28 at Hastings Public Library

The registration deadline is Aug. 12. Registration is $35, which covers the cost of meals. For those interested in continuing education credits, .5 CEUs will be granted. For more information or to register, please go to www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668-197517--,00.html.

The Mahoney Children's Workshops are made possible through the support of the Alice C. Mahoney Fund, administered by the Library of Michigan Foundation. These workshops are intended to provide convenient, low-cost professional development experiences for youth librarians in regions of Michigan where these opportunities are not as readily available.

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Library Staff, Advocates Honored at the 2009 Small and Rural Libraries Conference

Roger Mendel received the 2009 Fyan Small and Rural Librarian Award for his lifetime achievement in the profession. He is pictured with his wife, June, son Spencer and daughter-in-law Missy.
Roger Mendel began his Michigan career in 1970 as director of the Alpena County Library and the Northland Library Cooperative. Roger served in those positions until 1986 when he became the full-time director of Alpena County Library. He left Alpena in 1998 and became the director the Mideastern Michigan Library Cooperative in Flint. In the 1960s, Roger spent two years in the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. He earned a master of library science at Western Michigan University in 1966 and worked at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries in New York before moving back to Michigan.

Anne Belanger, program director at the Presque Isle District Library, was honored with the Outstanding Service Award. She is shown here with her mother, Marlowe.

Shirley Murray, of the Friends of the Interlochen Public Library, received the Trustee Award.

The Outstanding Youth Services Award went to Gemma Lamb of the Friends of the Ironwood Carnegie Library. Gemma could not attend the Small and Rural Libraries Conference because of a previous library commitment.

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MeL.org News to Know

By Deb Biggs Thomas
MeL Coordinator

MeL Database Contract Extension

In the spring issue of LM4X, we mentioned that an evaluation of the MeL databases would begin this summer. After much thought, we have decided to extend the contract with our vendors for the current MeL databases an additional year. This means that we will plan for these particular resources to be available through Sept. 30, 2011. We still plan to assess how well the databases work for you and your library users, what new content you would like to see in MeL and whether you would be willing to try out any potential additions. We will be using a variety of methods to encourage input - surveys, listservs, e-mail, etc. Stay tuned...

Deb Biggs Thomas

MeL Databases Camtasia Video

We are delighted to offer our first in a series of short videos on the various components of the Michigan eLibrary. Our MeL Databases Quick Guide provides a short overview and navigation tips so you and your patrons can easily use these great resources! Check out this quick nine-minute tutorial available on MeL's Facebook page, LinkedIn group, and on the MeL About page (mel.org/MeL--AboutMeL.php) and the MeL Promotions page (mel.org/SPT--BrowseResources.php?ParentId=894).

MeL Study

As part of our Library Services and Technology Act requirements for the Michigan eLibrary, we are about to embark on a study to be conducted by a professional survey research firm. Using a variety of survey methods, we will assess all components of MeL.org. Michigan libraries and their patrons will be questioned, and the results will provide us with a good basis for taking the Michigan eLibrary forward. We expect the MeL study to begin this year; an update will be provided in the next issue of LM4X.

MeLCat by the Numbers

As of June 1:

• Total number of libraries activated in MeLCat: 358
• Academic: 40
• Public: 283
• K-12: 20
• Combination (school/academic/public), Cooperative, Special and Tribal: 15
• Items available in MeLCat: 38.6 million (9.2 million bibliographic records)
• Average weekly MeLCat requests in 2009: 16,843
• So far in 2009, MeLCat has had 370,555 requests, with a fulfillment rate of 88.5 percent.

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MeL Usability Study Considers Teen Gateway

By Sonya Schryer Norris
Web Site Administrator Librarian

On March 30, Sonya Schryer Norris of the Library of Michigan and Christine Ayar of Evanced Solutions conducted usability testing of the MeL Teen Gateway at Huron High School in Ann Arbor. The MeL Gateways have been tremendously popular, especially compared to the pathfinders of the previous site design (the pathfinders were the links on the left side of the page that covered the topics of the old MeL Internet.). The Teen Gateway has seen usage increase more than 400 percent from the Teen Pathfinder. The resources on the page have not changed - we still have databases, Web sites and suggested MeLCat searches - but the layout has changed to make the database offerings the focal point of the page. We decided to test the Teen Gateway to see if it was meeting teen needs in a user-friendly way.

Sonya Schryer Norris

We spent about 30 minutes each with 14 students representing a good gender, ethnic and racial mix of participants. The students completed 10 tasks on the MeL Teen Gateway, and we monitored the movements of each participant - which databases or resources they utilized to find results, what search terms they used and whether they were successful at finding an answer. We also recorded comments students made while completing the tasks.

Teens in the study reported that they most often use Google, Wikipedia and other search engines to find resources for school assignments. But they also said that teachers asked them to find specific types of resources such as newspaper articles. Eighty-six percent reported that it was very important to them to be able to find resources that would count toward homework assignments, and when asked whether they thought the resources in MeL were reliable, a typical comment was, "I think the information MeL provides is very accurate because it is from articles, magazines and books; not from random Web sites."

When looking for information on the site, students were able to locate databases that contained specific resource types such as magazine, journal, newspaper and encyclopedia articles. Participants were somewhat less successful at answering specific questions once they were inside a database. One reported, "I encountered some random articles in the first pages of some results from MeL, and I generally felt that the information was less about my specific topic than I would have liked."

One area of concern was the ResearchPro search box that we put on the site for testing. The ResearchPro search is a regular-looking search box that enables a user to search a specific set of MeL databases. It queried the majority of the databases listed on the gateway. All respondents said it was "somewhat" or "very" important to have a search box that gives good results, but that wasn't what we observed of the experience of this user group with the ResearchPro search box. To put it in the words of one of the more eloquent students, the "search algorithm seems underpowered."

We gave students the guideline that they could use the gateway search box up to three times during the 10-question test. Our initial concern was that, accustomed to Google, the students would use the search box for every question. Instead we found that students used it only about half of the number of times they were allowed because they got so few correct results using it. Participants located correct answers using the ResearchPro search less than 25 percent of the time when they used it. Due to this study and other information about ResearchPro, State Librarian Nancy Robertson has decided not to implement ResearchPro searching on the gateways, although it is still available on the MeL Databases page, with the button "Search Multiple Databases."

Participants were positive about the Teen Gateway in general - 100 percent of the 14 respondents reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied by the performance of the gateway.

These results lead us to believe that while Google, Wikipedia and other search engines are obvious destinations due to ease of use and relevancy (although perhaps not quality) of results, the reliability of MeL's resources is a highly desirable feature for teens. As one student said, the "Google search seems more functional, although for finding peer reviews and research papers done that are reliable, the Teen Gateway seemed like a good resource." Teens recognize the need for trustworthy resources, and we believe that increasing the use of MeL among teens is primarily a question of education: exposing them to the availability of the site and the quality of MeL's resources.

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Youth Volunteers for Public Libraries

By Lance Werner
Library Law Specialist

Some time ago, the Library of Michigan was asked if the Youth Employment Standards Act (the Act), 1978 PA 90, MCL 409.101 et seq., would prevent someone's 13-year-old granddaughter from volunteering to provide assistance for the summer reading program at the public library. This article, highlighting the discussion that took place as a result, may prove educational for librarians with questions regarding youth volunteers in public libraries.

Lance Werner

In the question, the requestor indicated that his granddaughter sought a work permit for the purposes stated above but library staff informed him that a communication sent by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth prohibited persons 13 years of age from volunteering in the capacity sought. The requestor also indicated that the Wage and Hour Division had confirmed that the Act would preclude his granddaughter from volunteering in the fashion sought.

There are a number of prohibitions within the Act that restrict minors from engaging in certain work activities. The Act contains exemptions as well. Section 19 of the Act, MCL 409.119, contains a list of exemptions and states:

Sec. 19 (1) This act shall not apply to or prohibit a minor from engaging in any of the following activities:

*** (d) Services performed as a member of a recognized youth-oriented organization that is engaged in citizenship training and character building, if the services are not intended to replace employees in occupations for which workers are ordinarily paid. The phrase in the section quoted above says that a minor can render services to a "recognized youth-oriented organization." Such organizations obviously include those like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. However, an argument also can be made that a public library should be considered as part of that category.

Public libraries are in the business of providing informational and recreational materials to their patrons, including minors. Most public libraries have special collections for use by minors and also employ children's librarians. Clearly, libraries function as youth-oriented organizations.

In addition, public libraries are recognized as youth-oriented organizations under the laws of Michigan. Section 6 of the Michigan Library Privacy Act, 1982 PA 455, MCL 397.606, contains language mandating that public libraries must take special precautions to prevent minors from accessing certain types of materials on the Internet. Based on this, it seems very likely that public libraries will be considered youth-oriented organizations.

Moreover, public library summer reading programs are designed to encourage reading among minors. Encouragement to read is encouragement to learn by another name. Encouragement to learn should be considered a character-building endeavor as required by section 19 of the Act, as cited above.

Section 19 of the Act provides that the actions taken by the minor must not be of the variety for which an employee normally would be paid. While it is true that a paid employee could assist "checking in children for the summer reading program" as the requestor described, it is also true that the library could just as readily utilize a young volunteer to perform these services. The advantages of having a young person do this are obvious. Other young people will see the volunteer performing this service and will be inspired to do something similar with their own lives. It also may pay big dividends with respect to library advocacy. It can be argued that the proposed services are of the type set forth by section 19 of the Act.

In light of the discussion above, the response was that there was a substantial likelihood that the requestor's 13-year-old granddaughter could volunteer in the manner described as an exemption to, and in accordance with, the Act.

Finally, the Library of Michigan, Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, lacks authority to give legal advice to any person or agency. The Library of Michigan simply furnishes informational and comment services. The discussion above is intended as an informational service only. If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, please contact Lance M. Werner, library law specialist for the Library of Michigan, at (517) 373-1299.

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HAL Highlights

More Family Fun at Mackinac State Historic Parks This Summer

By Casey Warner
Department of History, Arts and Libraries Communications Office

The "living history" sites and nature parks of Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) - always fun and fascinating destinations for travelers - have added several new features for the 2009 season, giving families even more reasons to visit.

MSHP sites include Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island State Park and Historic Downtown on Mackinac Island and Michilimackinac State Park, Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park and Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse in Mackinaw City. For visitor information, go to www.mackinacparks.com or call (231) 436-4100.

What's new in 2009?

Adventure Tour at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park With this park naturalist-guided tour, you'll appreciate nature in a way that you never have before. Trek through the forest canopy on the 165-foot-long Forest Canopy Bridge, feel the rush of wind on your face as you soar over Mill Creek on the 425-foot Eagle's Flight Zip Line and then venture up the 40-foot-high Nature Trail Climbing Wall. Native American Program at Colonial Michilimackinac Enter a waginogan, smell fish cooking over an open fire and immerse yourself in demonstrations of Woodland Indian material culture, foodways and crafts. A Native American interpreter focuses on the interdependence and diversity of the peoples who converged on this Great Lakes gathering place. Kids' Rendezvous Interpretive Playground at Colonial Michilimackinac Younger visitors can explore and learn in this interpretive playground containing a giant ground map of the Great Lakes, miniature palisade and cannon, multiple climbing structures that explore the route of the fur traders and much more.

The Forest Canopy Bridge is part of the Adventure Tour at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park.

Shipwreck Video at Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse
Explore the haunting world of shipwrecks with this audiovisual program that looks at a number of vessels that have sunk in the Straits of Mackinac over the years. The video includes underwater footage, interviews with survivors of the Cedarville and historic images to tell the stories of these ill-fated last voyages. Coming mid-summer.

Outdoor Bread Oven at Colonial Michilimackinac
Watch bread baked as it was in the past, and then taste it yourself! Historic maps of Fort Michilimackinac illustrate that such ovens, made of clay, were used at the fort.

Colonial Kids' Day at Colonial Michilimackinac
June 27, July 15 and Aug. 22
During these days dedicated to children, kids can enjoy games; hands-on, open-hearth cooking; 18th-century crafts; dressing in historical costumes; walking tours specially tailored to children and many other activities. Included in admission to the park.

Digging History Event at Colonial Michilimackinac
Aug. 4, 7 to 9 p.m.
This event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of continuous archaeology at Colonial Michilimackinac - it's still ongoing! By purchasing a timed ticket, you and your family will be able to screen and search for real artifacts like professional archaeologists do.

Kids' Fur Traders Days at Colonial Michilimackinac
Aug. 8-9
These special days will teach kids about the fur trade at Colonial Michilimackinac, featuring fur traders, a voyageur (French fur trader) re-enactment and other special events. This is also the weekend of the Compagnie Franche de la Marine Michilimackinac (Michilimackinac Marines) encampment. These re-enactors from around Michigan and the Midwest will portray both French and British colonists from the French and Indian War period. Included in admission to the park.

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