Pass the Word

Many of you have answered previous questionnaires the Kentucky Oral History Commission (KOHC) have sent out over the last few years about oral history collections in your library. First off, thank you for helping us get a better handle on what is out there, and second, we now

have a system for you to better advertise and communicate about them. The website Pass the Word is now live and ready to be populated with oral history content from across the state.

We would like your oral history collections to be included on the site. In fact, you might already have Oral History collections on Pass the Word. A 1991 printed Guide to Oral History identified over 25,000 interviews at 41 repositories, including some libraries. If your organization has oral history collections listed in the Guide or were added as an addition in the 2001 online version of this guide, these records have already been added to the website and are waiting to be claimed by their respective owners. One more thing to think about, we have been talking with many of you in the last few years about early county oral history collections that were collected in the last 1970s- mid 1980s - many of those original collections ended up with the KOHC, with libraries maintaining access copies - we would love to have these access collections pointed to through this website as well. The goal is for people to be able to find and access collections,

whether the interview is available online or in-person.

This site can allow your patrons to easily locate and access these recordings. A centralized database allows patrons and researchers from all over to search for Kentucky's oral history collections and resources. This interactive tool offers more than just information about oral history collections. It highlights projects that have grown out of these collections, such as books, documentaries and school programs. The site provides a meeting point for oral historians to share current project information or queries. Content can be added and edited by the librarians and archivists charged with caring for each individual collection, thus facilitating continual updated access to oral history collections. Pass the Word represents the next phase in KOHC's commitment to facilitating access to Kentucky oral history collections.

Now it is time to explore and become familiar with the site. First check out the site from the patron side <http://passtheword.ky.gov/>  and then consider registering for a user account by going to http://passtheword.ky.gov/user if you have oral histories in your collection. After you have registered with the website, I will email the User Guide to lead you through the steps of importing your oral history collections to the site and assign any legacy records that might belong to your institution.

Please let me know if you would like some face-to-face time getting started with this. I am happy to visit you and do some training for you and any staff, volunteers or assistants that might help with this project. Our goal is to help you become familiar with the process of creating and managing content on the website along with assuming ownership of your own collections content on the site - new and old.

 

Please feel free to contact kate.sowada@ky.gov (502-564-1792, extension 4458) with any questions.

Pass the Word was funded through generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.

Reminder: ALCTS ANMIG September chat, Interviewing for a Professional Position

Don't forget to mark your calendar!

The interview stage of a job search can be riddled with emotions; excitement, nervousness, and stress to name a few. This chat will explore some of the ways you can be better prepared for your big day. Topics to guide our discussion include but are not limited to what activities your interview day may include, how you should prepare, how should you dress, what questions yo u might expect to get from the search committee, and what to expect after your interview is complete. While we will focus on academic libraries, many of the topics cross-over to other types of libraries. Please come with your questions and be prepared for a fun and informative chat! Deana Groves, ALCTS New Members Interest Group (ANMIG) Webmaster, will be your host along with the assistance of Liz Siler, ALCTS ANMIG Chair. The chat will be on September 13th from 2:00 - 3:00pm EST and is open to ALA members of all types.  To join the chat: connect.ala.org/node/186576.

To join the chat you must be active on ALAConnect and a member of the ALCTS  New Members Interest Group Community.  Here is more information how to do so:

 1.  Join ALAConnect:  If you want to log into ALAConnect, you'll need to log in to the ALA website with your ALA credentials, update your profile, and select the option to include yourself in Connect. Once you've saved this new preference, you should be able to log in to Connect using your ALA member information.

 2.  Join the community:  Go to http://connect.ala.org/node/85257 and click  the "Join" box under the search box in the left hand menu.

 3.  Once you've joined the community you can join the chat here:

http://connect.ala.org/node/186576.

Free Webinars from the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program

The Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSC), a national certification program that allows library support staff to demonstrate competencies and be certified by the American Library Association (ALA), will be hosting two free webinars, one on September 14th and one on September 17th.

The first will be an hour-long informational webinar <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/439046584>  at 2 p.m. CST on Friday, Sep. 14. The presentation will explain the value of this certification to Library Support Staff, employers, and library users. You will also have the opportunity to have all of your questions answered by program staff members. This webinar is open to all interested candidates. Register to attend at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/439046584

On Monday, Sep. 17 at 2 p.m. CST, the Library Support Staff Certification Program, will offer an hour-long informational webinar <https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/744489113>  discussing portfolio creation. Candidates in the program have two options for completing the competency sets needed for certification: taking and passing approved courses or compiling and submitting portfolios. This presentation will focus on helping candidates create successful portfolios for submission. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered by program staff members. For more information on the webinar and how to register, please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/744489113.=20

For more information please visit the LSSC website <http://ala-apa.org/lssc/>.

Idea Festival overlaps with KLA in Louisville

KLA fall conference attendees:  If you're getting to Louisville early, you might want to consider signing up for this IFU (Idea Festival University) class on Wednesday night:

Quality in an Age of Quantity: NYT Critic Sorts Thru the Noise Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM (EDT) Louisville, KY

$5 registration!  Sign up here:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4156793080

And remember that Idea Festival overlaps with KLA this year.  If your schedule allows, you may want to consider attending some other events:  http://www.ideafestival.com/.

temporary part-time position at Transylvania University Library

Transylvania Library is seeking a temporary, part-time reference librarian to aid students with their research and assist with supervision of library student workers. The individual selected will work between 15 and 30 hours per week in the afternoons and evenings and may include some weekends. The assignment will end on or before December 14.

Preference will be given to candidates who have a Masters in Library Science or a person pursuing their MLS degree.

This position will provide some excellent resume building experience to an individual who is just beginning in the career field.  It can also provide supplemental income to one with experience.

Please apply by September 14; however, resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.

Qualified candidates may submit their cover letter and resume as one document on-line by following the staff job openings link at www.transy.edu/jobs. Please write your cover letter to the attention of Jeff Mudrak, Director of Human Resources.  (Note: Only one document may be submitted when applying for the position.)

Transylvania University is an equal opportunity employer.