LJ Names U of U's Kenning Arlitsch as 2009 "Mover and Shaker"

Kenning Arlitsch, Associate Director for Information Technology Services at the University of Utah Marriott Library, was named one of the "Movers & Shakers 2009" in the March 15, 2009 issue of Library Journal. Since 2002, Library Journal has selected top library leaders who are "shaping the future of libraries," particularly in the area of technology. Arlitsch was the driving force behind the Mountain West Digital Library (MWDL), which laid the groundwork for other digital collections such as the Western Waters Digital Library (WWDL) and the Utah Digital Newspapers (UDN). The LJ article can be viewed at http://www.libraryjournal.com/MS2009Inductee/2140336020.html

Pioneer Committee Meets at U of U

Members of the Pioneer Committee met March 11, 2009 at the University of Utah Marriott Library to strategize future improvements to the online resources across the state, especially in light of the current budget cuts. Agenda items included budget issues, database pricing, and promotion.

While details from the stimulus package for libraries are still forthcoming, LSTA grant money will likely be fully funded. Subscription prices for the major electronic resources will stay stable for the next year. The EBSCO sole source has been approved for one year, with a one year renewal and SIRS pricing will remain the same this year.

Future promotional activities will include involvement at the upcoming ULA Conference and possible improvements to the Pioneer web site. Since November, a campaign has been in place with FrontRunner riders, giving them easy access to all Pioneer databases on the train. The committee brainstormed ways of getting Pioneer more exposure in the press.

The Pioneer Committee is made up of representatives from the Utah State Library, Utah Education Network, academic libraries, K-12 school libraries and public libraries. The EBSCO databases and some others used by Utah colleges and universities, are part of Academic Pioneer, the portion of Pioneer that is targeted to higher education.

MWDL Site Shows Increase in Visits

The Mountain West Digital Library (MWDL) is showing a marked increase in site visits. The last 30 days has shown an increase of about 500 visits, bringing the total number of visits last month to 3,440. MWDL had been getting approximately 100-200 new visits each month, but has recently seen a peak in new users, possibly due to MWDL being mentioned as the American Library Association's "Digital Library of the Week," and then being highlighted in The Scout Report.

Latest Legislative Budget Update

David Buhler, Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs, Utah System of Higher Education, published the last weekly legislative report for March 2-6, 2009. Buhler states that "significant progress has been made in advancing Higher Education’s agenda. Budget cuts, while deep, are half of what had been projected, several higher education buildings have been funded, and all legislative priorities have either passed or are on track to passing in the final four days."
Budget details can be viewed in the report at:
http://www.utahsbr.edu/LegRpt/2009/Weekly%20Report%202009-6.pdf

Mountain West Digital Library Highlighted in Internet Resource Magazine

The Mountain West Digital Library was featured in the February 27, 2009 issue of The Scout Report. The Scout Report is the flagship publication of the Internet Scout Project. It provides a fast, convenient way to stay informed of valuable resources on the Internet. A team of professional librarians and subject matter experts select, research, and annotate each resource. The Scout Report can be viewed at:
https://www.umail.utah.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=97cef29b23694624b8c08a13b28a7924&URL=http%3a%2f%2fscout.wisc.edu%2fReports%2fScoutReport%2f2009%2fscout-090227.php

2008 NetLibrary eBook Use Announced

March 5, 2009 -- UALC's shared collection of ebooks, NetLibrary, is being used by patrons across the state. In 2008 NetLibrary was used a total of 18,101 times. Of the shared 2,299 titles, 1,985 titles were accessed. Since purchasing NetLibrary, 2,292 of the books have been opened a total of 121,844 times. Median uses is about 38.

Most used books in UALC shared netLibrary collection in 2008.

• A Child Called "It" : An Abused Child's Journey From Victim to Victor
• Fast Food Nation : The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
• Jewel of the Desert : Japanese American Internment At Topaz
• CliffsTestPrep GRE 2000
• Nova's GRE Prep Course 2004
• Fighting for Your Marriage : Positive Steps for Preventing Divorce and Preserving a Lasting Love
• A Companion to the American West
• Fed Up! : Winning the War against Childhood Obesity
• Crucial Conversations : Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
• Nova's GMAT Prep Course 2004

Professional Development Annual Retreat Announced

February 17, 2009 -- The UALC Professional Development Committee announced plans to host its annual retreat on Friday, August 14, 2009 at the University of Utah. This year's retreat is titled "Incorporating Outcomes into Library Measurement and Assessment" and will be presented by the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA).