Do you believe it is September already?  I don’t.  So…another friendly reminder – only two more weeks to get your new Year 1 computers inventoried in TechAtlas.

You must complete the inventory by September 22 .  Kendra at TechAtlas has also added a few more webinars to the schedule.

Here is a link to the webinar schedule and also a link to some written instructions:

Webinar schedule: http://www.webjunction.org/techatlas-oppon/-/articles/content/65960957
Written instructions for completing the inventory: http://www.webjunction.org/techatlas-oppon/-/articles/content/65961293

HELP is available! If you have any technical questions inventorying your systems, please make sure you contact Kendra at TechAtlas. She is extremely helpful and nice.  For those folks that only have a few computers to inventory, the manual process may be the easiest – but consult Kendra on that.

Here is her contact info:

Kendra Morgan

TechAtlas Project Coordinator

WebJunction.org

morgank@oclc.org | 206.336.9211 | 1.800.848.5878

NOTE: Make sure you “mark” the computers that have been purchased with grant funds
When you do your inventory in Tech Atlas make sure you identify which of your new public access computers were purchased with grant funds. This is a required step that informs the foundation that the grant funds have been spent and the new computers were installed in the library.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

The long awaited “Match Verification Form” is now available for you to complete and submit once you have acquired your matching funds for Phase 1 of the Opportunity Online Hardware Grant.  I have attached this form as a PDF – you can type right in the form or print it out and fill it in separately.  If you type in the form, please save the PDF as a different file name. (If you need the form in a different format, like Word, please let me know) 

CLICK HERE to download the form: gatesmatchform

The form must be completed and submitted by fax or standard mail no later than March 15, 2009.  (Instructions are on the form). 

Computer Purchase Program

We are currently in the process of putting together all the necessary information to provide you with some options to purchase computers and peripherals through NELINET.  This is an optional program – you are not required to purchase through NELINET.  It will allow you the flexibility to debit from the funds you are to receive and NELINET/Gates will then disburse the remainder after you decide on your purchases.  Information on this program will be coming in the next few weeks. 

Please review the form promptly and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding any of this information or have questions regarding your match amount.   More importantly, I hope you have been successful in your fund raising efforts!

Communications Templates Now Available

To help in your efforts to promote your library’s advocacy initiatives and “get the word out”, we have provided a number of different templates that you can use.

Sample Press Release:
communications_sample_opportunity_online_press_release_final1

Sample Letter to Editor:
communications_sample_opportunity_online_letters_to_the_editor_final

For those of you who are (or soon will be!) working hard to complete your ALA/FSU surveys, I have attached a document that should be helpful to make sure you are officially “done”.  We are hearing from a number of libraries who may be confused on this step – so hopefully this provides some clarity.

Here is the attachement: errorchecking30october08

Once again, completed surveys are due November 7^th – you can access the site by going to http://www.opportunityonlinesurvey.org/.

The people conducting the ALA/FSU survey are making themselves available for any questions.

You can call them at 850-645-2197.  Also, the support e-mail is support@plinternetsurvey.org.  They have been pretty responsive to questions.

Here’s something the Providence Public Library is doing to raise funds for the Gates grant …

http://www.provlib.org/happening/news/pressreleases/pr100608.html

Great work!

PLA has provided details for you to access to online version of the great Advocacy Symposium.

To access Turning the Page online:

1. Click on www.sustaininglibraries.org, or copy and paste it into your Internet browser’s window. Click on the logo on the right for Turning the Page online.
2. Enter your registration code of 12345. Once you have entered your code, click the button to the right titled “Proceed to Register/Re-enter.”
3. The first time you access the website, click the large, green button titled “First Time Visitors Please Register Here.”
4. Complete the registration form. All fields on the form are required for registration. The email address and password you enter into this form will become your login to access the online training.
5. Click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page.
6. Once you have submitted your information, you will be redirected to the main login page. Input your email and password, and click “Submit.”
7. You will receive an email confirming your registration and verifying your email address and password.
8. Each time you return to Turning the Page online, you can login with your email address and the password you created.

We recommend that you take the site tutorial first to familiarize yourself with the format of the training. Click the “Tour This Site!” button to begin the tutorial. Make sure you have audio enabled on your computer. Once you have finished the tutorial, you can move on to the online courses. Please note: you must turn off any pop-up blockers before launching the courses. The required course work should take approximately four hours in total, but you can take as much time as you need to finish the courses. You can log off at any point and return later to continue. Your work will be saved.

If you have any difficulty with Turning the Page online, please feel free to contact us at sls@ala.org or 1(800) 545-2433, extension 5039. We are truly excited to offer you this program, and provide you, your staff, and your library supporters with this opportunity. We look forward to hearing your feedback about Turning the Page online!

By now you should have received information regarding the Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study survey conducted by ALA/FSU.  There may be some confusion for those of you who are Opportunity Online Hardware Grant participants.  In some cases, the state library agencies are also forwarding information to all public libraries to complete a similar, but different survey.

With that in mind, please make sure when you access the online survey that you are going to www.opportunityonlinesurvey.org.  There you will enter your library’s FSCS ID or NCES code for access.  Also, the survey must be completed by November 7, 2008. 

I have posted a list of everyone’s code on the Gates Grant information website at: http://grantupdate.wordpress.com/linksresources/

REGISTRATION DEADLINE extended to Monday, September 8^th - I have just received word from PLA that they have extended the deadline to register for Turning the Page – Advocacy Symposium in Danvers, MA on September 23-25^th.

REMEMBER: Up to three people from your library system are eligible to attend the conference, and we recommend that the library director, a trustee, and a local community supporter attend and ALL expenses for your hotel, travel and meals will be covered for the conference.  Because it is such a great opportunity, I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to attend.  

One thing that we’ve learned from the first round of training, last year, is that this training experience is really enhanced when grantees come in ‘teams’. – So even if you have already registered – feel free to register additional people.

I am hearing from some people that they have not received the registration information for the Advocacy Symposium from PLA in the mail as of yet. 

Registration is fairly simple, so here is pretty much all the information you need.  Keep in mind you can only register for the event that is for your particular state.

To register, simply visit the website link (below) – when registering you will see a drop-down box called “library system” where you will see your agency name.

PORTLAND, ME (NH & Maine only)

• Website: www.SustainingLibraries.org
• Conference code: 22783
• Deadline to register: August 15, 2008.

 DANVERS, MA (CT, MA & RI only)

• Website: www.SustainingLibraries.org
• Conference code: 10591
• Deadline to register: August 26, 2008

Also, registration access/information for ONLINE version will not be available until 1 week after each event.  Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.  If you have questions or problems registering, please contact Mary Hirsh – 312-280-5039 – mhirsh@ala.org at PLA.

Some of you have asked if they could see a list of contacts for those libraries participating in the grant.  To see this list (in PDF) format, simply click the RESOURCES tab on the top of the website.