One Maine librarian has volunteered to attend a focus group during the New
England Library Association Conference to help design the Gates computing
portal for public libraries. This focus group will meet on Tuesday, Oct.
22, 2002, 2:00PM-4:00PM
Sturbridge Host Hotel
Beverages/light snack to be served.
To quote from the invitation:
The sponsors are especially interested in input on what would be most
beneficial to you in a portal given your viewpoint as a front-line librarian
who works with the public and computers. You don't need a technical
background.
It would be excellent to have more than one Maine librarian representation
at this meeting. Please email [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> if you can attend. Or let me know and
I'll contact Marlene for you. Thanks so much. (This is new ground for us
and full of potential; see more info below). L
Linda H. Lord
Director, Library Development
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Telephone 207-287-5620
Fax 207-287-5624
E-mail [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Heroux, Marlene (BLC) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2002 11:23 AM
To: Sybil Brigham McShane; [log in to unmask]; Lord, Linda
Subject:
Hi- thanks for your help. Here is the invitation for the focus group. I've
also attached it as a word file, but some libraries have trouble opening
attachments. Please call me if you have any questions.
Marlene Heroux, MBLC
617-267-9400 ext. 250
****************************************************************************
**************
September 10, 2002
Dear public library staff member:
In May 2002, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a grant to OCLC
and partners including the Colorado State Library to build a Web-based
portal for public library staff to help them provide computing access. A
portal is a destination Web site that brings you back again and again by
offering a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums,
search engines, and on-line shopping. For more information about the
project, read OCLC's press release at:
http://www.oclc.org/oclc/press/20020502.shtm
<http://www.oclc.org/oclc/press/20020502.shtm> .)
You are cordially invited to help design this computing portal for public
libraries by participating in a focus group during the New England Library
Association. We are especially interested in input on what would be most
beneficial to you in a portal given your viewpoint as a front-line librarian
who works with the public and computers. You don't need a technical
background.
The focus group will be facilitated by Sara Laughlin, an independent
consultant hired by the Colorado State Library. It will meet on:
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002, 2:00PM-4:00PM
Sturbridge Host Hotel
Beverages/light snack to be served.
Participation is limited to 20 public library staff members representing the
six NELA states, including 3-5 slots for librarians in libraries serving
populations under 2,500 (mileage reimbursed for participants from libraries
serving populations under 2500 only, since they may not be attending NELA).
You do not have to register for the conference to participate.
Please e-mail Marlene Sue Heroux at: [log in to unmask] today to
reserve your space. Send the following:
* Name
* Title
* Name of Library
* Address (Street, Town, Zip)
* Phone
* Email Address
Prior to attending the focus group, please visit these leading portals to
get an idea of what a portal can do:
www.yahoo.com <http://www.yahoo.com/> has the highest customer satisfaction
ranking
www.ebay.com <http://www.ebay.com/> is second to yahoo in customer
satisfaction
www.aol.com <http://www.aol.com/> has the largest number of users
We hope you can join us.
Marlene Sue Heroux
Reference Information Systems Specialist
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
|
