NILRC News & Thoughts to Share

High Cost of Driving Ignites Online Classes Boom

High Cost of Driving Ignites Online Classes Boom
by Sam Dillon
July 11, 2008, The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/education/11colleges.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

… “The vast majority of the nation’s 15 million college students - at least 79 percent - live off campus, and with gas prices above $4 a gallon, many are seeking to cut commuting costs by studying online. Colleges from Massachusetts and Florida to Texas to Oregon have reported significant online enrollment increases for summer sessions, with student numbers in some cases 50 percent or 100 percent higher than last year. Although some four-year institutions with large online programs - like the University of Massachusetts and Villanova - have experienced these increases, the greatest surges have been registered at two-year community colleges, where most students are commuters, many support families and few can absorb large new expenditures for fuel.” …

Governor Cuts Budget

Governor Cuts Budget

Based on a quick review of the governor's veto message on House Bill (HB) 5701 (the major budget bill), it appears to be a massive cuts for the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS). The governor has completely vetoed $3,695,000 in SOS appropriations and line item reduced $22,543,300 in other SOS spending for a total budget hit of $26,238,300. The total budget reductions on HB 5701 are $1,253,638,333, combined with his budget cuts on three senate budget bills, the governor's total cuts equal roughly $1.5 billion.

In ILA's examination of the governor’s action, it appears that library reductions in:

• school per capita from $1,150,000 to $1,025,000 ($125,000 reduction),
• technology grants from $1,002,900 to $644,900 ($358,000 reduction), and
• library construction grants from Live and Learn from $925,800 to $620,800 ($305,000 reduction).

Total of $788,000 reductions. You can find the cuts on page 31 of governor's budget message, the link is:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB5701gms.pdf, compare and look at page numbers 230 and 231 in HB 5701 as passed the Illinois General Assembly, link is:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB5701enr.pdf

ILA will seek confirmation of this analysis with the Illinois State Library and will continue to monitor any further developments in Springfield during the special session. The Illinois General Assembly now has fifteen days to either accept or override any or all of the governor's cuts. If they take no action, the cuts will be effective. The remainder of the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget as passed by the Illinois General Assembly is now in effect.

"Learning Virtually: Online Professional Development for Library Workers with Tight Budgets and Full Schedules"

Archived webcast of a very good program...JWB

"Learning Virtually: Online Professional Development for Library Workers with Tight Budgets and Full Schedules"
Recorded at American Library Association Annual Conference
June 28, 2008

http://www.learningtimes.net/ala2008

Session Description: Planning training and professional development for library staff or for yourself? Have limited funds? How can e-learning be a solution for your library or institution? Many innovative technologies are available in delivering flexible and inexpensive on-site programs. This free online program -- which was webcast live from the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim -- featured some current trends in e-learning as addressed by creators, experts, and librarians involved with virtual learning, the role of the e-learner, and the use of virtual space in training and development via e-learning. This was a joint program by CJCLS, CLS, and DLS.

Moderator: David Wright, Surry Community College

Panelists: Jonathan Finkelstein, Founder & Executive Producer, LearningTimes, and President of LearningTimes Network; Dan Balzer, Learning Architect, BP; Elaine Fabbro, Senior Reference Services Librarian, Athabasca University; Jon Stahler, Web Services Manager, ACRL.

Two Additional Assessment for Information Literacy Scheduled

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I want to let you know that two more of the Assessment for Information Literacy
Learning Leadership Workshops have been scheduled in central and southern
Illinois. On July 23, ISU professor Dianne Gardner and I will be presenting the
workshop at Rend Lake College in Ina. On July 24, we will be presenting the
same workshop at Illinois State University.

In brief, these workshops will provide librarians with tools to administer and
use an excellent needs assessment instrument to enhance information literacy
learning. These programs will also result in a cadre of information literacy
leaders who will help Illinois build a statewide culture of information
literacy.

As you may remember, these leaderships workshops are also being offered in the
Chicago area: on August 7 at the Metropolitan Library System's Burr Ridge
office; and on August 8 at the Metropolitan Library System's downtown Chicago
office.

The workshops are supported by an LSTA grant. There is no registration fee. To
register for the Rend Lake College and Illinois State University workshops,
simply contact me (dmward@ilstu.edu). We can accommodate 40 participants. To
register for the Burr Ridge and Chicago programs, please visit the Metropolitan
Library System calendar of events at:
http://www.mls.lib.il.us/calendar/

I am attaching a handout for the Rend Lake and Illinois State University
programs. If you have questions about any of the programs, feel free to contact
me.

We look forward to seeing you at one of these workshops.

Dane

Dane Ward
Associate Dean for Public Services
Milner Library, Campus Box 8900
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois 61790
Email: dmward@ilstu.edu

"Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

See this interesting and thought-provoking article
from the Atlantic. Plenty of implications for our work.

JWB

Let's Put Information Literacy on the Public Agenda for Illinois Higher Education

Dear Colleagues,

We have a unique opportunity to participate in regional public meetings to get information and technology literacy recognized as a priority in Illinois higher education. But, we must act now!

Starting on June 9th, public forums hosted by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHS) will be held around the state. Please consider attending the hearing nearest you (see the link to the schedule below) and speak in support of the need of Illinois residents for information and technology literacy in higher and career education.

A Public Agenda for Illinois Higher Education: Planning for College and Career Success
http://www.ibhe.org/masterplanning/default.htm

"What it is: The Public Agendafor Illinois Higher Education is a planning blueprint for the State of Illinois to direct state policies and resources to the higher education and career needs of Illinois residents and to address the current and future economic needs of the state. "

"Phase III: Development of Preliminary Public Agenda – May-August, 2008
NCHEMS will oversee regional forums to solicit input on Public Needs Report and Policy Audit Report from legislators, business, labor, civic leaders, K-12 and higher education faculty and administrators, and students."

Schedule of Regional Forums
http://www.ibhe.org/masterPlanning/RegionalForum/Invitation.pdf

This is our chance to put information and technology literacy on the statewide agenda for higher education. Let's not miss it!

Sherrill Weaver
NILRC Board, VP/President-elect
CARLI Board, Member

Loyola University's Information Commons

Spotlight: Loyola Information Commons

A joint project of the University Libraries and Information Technology Services, the Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons (IC) offers both space and the technology for group study and team learning, high-speed Internet connectivity including wireless, and comfortable spaces for serious work, reading, and relaxation. The IC is the ideal place to learn, share, connect, create and relax on Loyola's Lake Shore Campus. [ Permalink]
Read full article http://www.mls.lib.il.us/ennounce/2008/02_10/LoyolaIC.asp

Steve Cisler, “first internet librarian,” dies

Colleagues:

This is very sad news indeed. I relied on Steve's amazing knowledge on my Equity of Access Task Forces as ALA President and later on the work we did on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Steve
was one of a kind, and he will be greatly missed.

JWB

Paul Jones writes: “I met Steve Cisler at INET 93 when he was working for Apple as their digital libraries guy. Steve saw the internet as a great place for public libraries even then. For a while I saw a lot of Steve and then our paths diverged even though I was becoming more of a library person and he was becoming more of a technology person. Luckily for us all, Steve kept his librarian identity.” Many others are remembering Cisler, and a website has been established for remembrances....
The Real Paul Jones, May 15; Beyond the Beyond, May 20; San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, May 23; CommunityNetworking2008, May 21

Information Literacy Web site at Moraine Valley

The Moraine Valley Library is happy to announce a new Web site that we have created in collaboration with our communications department: Information Literacy General Education Expectations and Resources.

Malcome X Google Maps & Second Life Slides

The slides below describe a project at Moraine Valley Community College that integrated student writing into Google Maps and the virtual world of Second Life.

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