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