NMRT Notes

By Aisha Conner-Gaten

In 2015, library budgets fell in many cities and even nationally, with a $2 million dollar shortfall for the Library Services and Technology Act from 2014. Very often, these budget changes are the result of political battles happening far from the library’s door. Budgetary impasse causes libraries to decrease programming and reevaluate technology needs, sometimes going so far as to close computer labs and limit tech support for users. While saving a few dollars on software may not seem like much in a time of such uncertainty, having less expensive and free options for both your peers and your users can increase morale and enable you to do your job well with very little money.

Free can mean many different things today, particularly in an age of streaming services coupled with confusing copyright laws. For the purposes of use in the library, you may encounter two specific types of software and tools: freeware and open source.

Freeware, also called proprietary software, is developed by some creator to users usually for low or no cost. However, the software cannot be redistributed or modified by users without the creator’s permission including original source code. Users must agree to some licence terms that state they will not abuse this software and will make no changes without the permission of creators. Examples of freeware include Handbrake, video conversion software, and the Firefox browser. While you can often customize software with extensions and add-ons, the initial service remains unchanged according to the creator’s intent.

Open source software is also low cost or free, but shares its source code with users that can be viewed, modified, and shared with others. While they must agree to some license terms upon use, open source software accepts changes made by users and may incorporate those changes in their final programs and applications. Examples of open source software include the Linux operating system and LibreOffice document suite.

NOTE: Technically there is also a third category, called Free software that carries traits of both freeware and open source software; completely free to use with users able to modify and share as they see fit. Some open source software also falls under this category.

Considering most librarians will not need to modify the code of a program to use it in the library, we will discuss freeware, open source software, and free software by their uses. Most of these resources can be employed in media editing (pocket videos and tutorials), document editing (for resumes and homework), and instructional design (infographics and word clouds).

Media Editing
Audacity: http://web.audacityteam.org

• Edit and record audio files with ease
• Available for Mac and Windows OS
• Exports to mp3, wav, flac, and more!

VLC Player: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html

• Plays all sorts of media files (mp4, mp2, mkv, webm, wmv, etc.)
• Available for Mac and Windows OS
• Can do some media conversion but limited success

GIMP: https://www.gimp.org

•  high resolution image editing (think Photoshop)
•  Available for Linux, Windows OS, and Mac OSX

iPiccy: http://ipiccy.com/ and Lunapic: http://www122.lunapic.com/editor/

• Online photo editor

Picmonkey: http://www.picmonkey.com/

• General image editing in browser
• Save as png or jpg to Computer, Dropbox, OneDrive

Document Editing
Open Office Suite : https://www.openoffice.org

• Lagging in development so great alternative is Libre Office (see below)
• Think of it as Microsoft Office Suite for $0!
• Available for Mac and Windows OS
• Import, edit, and export formats like doc, docx, ppt, xlsx, csv, and more!

LibreOffice: https://www.libreoffice.org

• Office Suite for $0
• Compatible with Microsoft Suite including Publisher!
• Cross-platform compatibility (features don’t change with OS)
• Imports videos, graphics and ebook formats

GnuCash: https://www.gnucash.org

• Accounting software for personal and small business use
• Available on Linux, Windows OS, and Mac OSX
• Evernote: https://evernote.com/
  Task manager, content collections, and notes
• Requires sign up with email with free account
• Available for Windows OS, Mac OSX and mobile devices

Instructional Design
Piktochart: http://piktochart.com

• Tool to make infographics (maybe about your organization!) with no experience required
• Requires free account signup
• Exports to png and jpg formats

Wordle: http://www.wordle.net and Tagxedo: http://www.tagxedo.com/

• Make a word cloud for adverts, presentations, etc.
• Save as png or export for printing

Slidebean: https://slidebean.com/

• Presentation slide templates, stock photos, metrics, and collaboration
• Requires free account sign up

Odyseey: https://cartodb.github.io/odyssey.js/\

•  Create multimedia stories in browser
• Share to social media, embed, or download

Text2Mind Map: https://www.text2mindmap.com/

• Mind mapping tool for browsers (organize your thoughts)
• Save in the cloud or download as pdf or jpg

Jing: https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html

• Screenshot and screen recording with audio
• Free account sign up
•  5 minute video length limit
• Export to screencast.com or save locally

SnagIt: https://www.techsmith.com/snagit.html

• Screenshot and basic editing
• Free account sign up
• Export by link, email, screencast.com, and cloud storage

Screencast-o-matic: https://screencast-o-matic.com

• Runs on Windows with Java enabled browser or via download recorder
• 15 minute video length limit
•  Export locally

Omeka.net: https://www.omeka.net

• Host collections, exhibits, digital objects online
• Free account sign up
• Free account has 500MB storage, 1 site, 14 plugins, and 5 themes.
• If you host your own materials, use open source omeka.org

Citation Management
Bibme: http://www.bibme.org

• Search materials, import bibliographic info, and export full bibliography in APA, MLA, Chicago, or Turabian format

Citation Machine: http://www.citationmachine.net

• Generate citations (100s of styles)

Zotero: https://www.zotero.org

• research material collection tool (take notes, create bibliography)
• Available for Windows OS, Mac OSX, Linux
• Collaborate with groups

Not sure what software you need? Take a look at these guides to get started:

• Creating tutorials with free online resources: http://researchguides.csuohio.edu/c.php?g=233071&p=1548036
• Employing technology in library setting: http://findyourhat.com

Works Cited

Deppen, Colin. “Tested by Budget Battle and Funding Cuts, Pa. Libraries Buckle.” Penn Live. PA Media Group, 28 Dec. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.pennlive.com/news/2015/12/tested_by_budget_battle_and_fu.html>.

Dillon, Mike, and Christina DiCaro. “Governor Cuts Library Programs In Budget – California Library Association.” California Library Association. California Library Association, 9 Jan. 2015. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.cla-net.org/?832>.

“FREEWARE GUIDE – Your Guide to the Best Free Software and Freeware Sites!” FREEWARE GUIDE – Your Guide to the Best Free Software and Freeware Sites! Freeware Guide Network. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.freeware-guide.com/>.

Sheketoff, Emily. “Federal Library Funding Cut in Proposed Budget.” District Dispatch. ALA District Dispatch, 2014. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.districtdispatch.org/2014/03/federal-library-funding-cut-proposed-budget/>.

“What Is Free Software? – GNU Project – Free Software Foundation.” GNU Operating System. Free Software Foundation. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html>.

“What Is Open Source?” Opensource.com. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.

In the spirit of ALA’s NMRT, the Student Chapter of the Year Award is presented in recognition of a chapter’s outstanding contributions to the American Library Association, their school, and the profession. The purpose of the award is to increase student involvement in ALA through student chapters, and to recognize future leaders in the profession. The Student Chapter winner will receive $1,000 to help defray travel expenses to ALA Annual; the winning chapter and the runner up will each receive a certificate. Both will be recognized at the NMRT Student Reception at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. The seven categories of Student Chapter of the Year Award criteria include:

Membership Engagement
Programs
Communications
Leadership
Financial Health
Awards and Honors
Student Chapter Advisor Statement
All ALA Student Chapters in good standing are eligible to receive the ALA Student Chapter of the Year Award. There is no limit on the number of times a student chapter may win the award. Any ALA Student Chapter advisor, Student Chapter officer or member, or ALA member may nominate a Student Chapter, and self-nominations are encouraged.

Please e-mail the completed form and any supporting documents in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format to the committee chair, Kelly Robinson (robinsk2@erau.edu). Deadline for submitting completed nomination forms is March 2, 2016, 11:59pm EST. All nominations will be acknowledged upon receipt.

More information, including the nomination form, may be found here: http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/awscotya/scotya

Want to get the most out of your Annual Meeting in Orlando? Reserve a room in the NMRT Annual Hotel block. Space is limited, so book today! The block is at the Avanti Resort located on 12562 International Drive.

The Avanti Resort features include:
· 0.9 miles from the Convention Center
· Shuttle to Convention Center
· 2 Restaurants/Lounges
· High Speed Internet Included
· Business Center/Fax
· Exercise Facility
· Pool

Go to http://www.avantiresort.com/amenities-en.html to learn about other services and amenities available at the Avanti Resort.

ALA Rates for the Avanti Resort:
· Single: $99
· Double: $99

You must register for the Annual Conference before you can book a room at the ALA-rate.
· If you previously registered for the 2016 Annual Conference by purchasing the bundled registration, you can book a room in the NMRT block by calling 800-584-9047. Don’t forget to mention that you are looking for a room in the NMRT block.
· If you are registering for the Annual Conference online through ALA, make sure to mention that you are a member of NMRT.

Need a roommate to keep costs down or just want a conference buddy? Consider posting or responding to room share requests made on NMRT-L, other listservs, and the NMRT Facebook page.

Disclaimer: NMRT is not providing a roommate matching service this year.

Information about the 2016 ALA Annual Conference, including travel and hotel information is available at: http://2016.alaannual.org/

Are you heading to Midwinter 2016? Then be sure to check out the Google Map created by the NMRT Annual Conference Local Information Committee. This Google Map features various restaurants, lodging, and attractions in and around Boston. This map is a great idea for conference attendees, who are still planning their trip to Boston.

The NMRT Annual Conference Local Information Committee strives every year to provide relevant and usual information for all ALA members attending the Annual Conference; this is the first year the committee has also made a map for the Midwinter conference. The Boston map can be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/alamw16nmrt/home

Be sure to check the committee website in spring 2016 for information on the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, including more information about our inaugural field trip event to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!  Friday June 24, 2016 at 7:00pm.

http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/localinfo/localinformation

Beverly Ingle
University of North Texas

What drew you to library and information sciences?

Libraries have always been my refuge, my “happy place,” and my primary resource to fuel insatiable curiosity. Some of my greatest discoveries were made in the countless hours spent in libraries: learning to read with my mother at the Austin Public Library; uncovering the meaning of my maiden name, Rudkin (Flemish; “little red one”) in the library at David Crockett High School; dusting off an obscure book about saints and their symbols that I read cover to cover (twice) in the Fine Arts Library at the University of Texas; and reverently examining some of the oldest manuscripts in the National Library of Scotland’s collection.

What’s your dream job after graduation?

I am fortunate to enjoy what has been, and continues to be, a long and very successful career in marketing. Yet whenever anyone has asked what I would be if I weren’t a marketing strategist, without any hesitation I have always professed “a librarian!” That answer was never a surprise to anyone that knows me well, as they also know my love of books, manuscripts, documents, research and the thrill of discovering new information. After my most recent declaration of “I want to be a librarian,” my husband looked at me pointedly and simply said, “Then be one.”

I am currently working toward my MSLS at the University of North Texas from where I am scheduled to graduate in December 2017 with a graduate certificate in archival management, as well.

I hope to leverage and apply my experience in consumer psychology and marketing to increase the appreciation of and improve usage of archives and special collections, thus widening access to information and resources not typically read by the general population. A precise description of my dream job is still a little elusive, but I can adamantly say that I would love to be an archivist for an organization that knows its history is important and relevant, and wants to create an archives from scratch.

What do you like most about NMRT?

I enjoy NMRT because it is a pathway for new members to connect with one another and the larger ALA family.

What is Endnotes?
Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table is the peer-reviewed, scholarly journal of the New Members Round Table. Endnotes publishes one issue a year with 2-3 peer-reviewed articles in each issue. The articles published in Endnotes address a variety of issues faced by new librarians. Endnotes accepts research and practitioner-based articles, and its aim is to work with new authors to produce quality scholarly articles. Endnotes also features book reviews.

Who can write for Endnotes?
Anyone! Authors must be a member of the New Members Round Table at the time of publication, but membership is not required in order to submit an article for consideration. New librarians, library school students, and recent graduates are especially encouraged to submit their work for publication in Endnotes. More established library professionals can also write for Endnotes, but they must address topics that are relevant to new librarians. Most people who publish in Endnotes are experiencing the publication and peer review process for the first time, and one of the goals of the journal is to be a non-threatening and supportive place.

 
What is the publication process?
Article submissions can be sent to the Endnotes Editor at nmrtendnotesjournal@gmail.com. Once an article is received by the Editor, it is distributed to members of the NMRT Endnotes committee for peer review. The peer reviewers then evaluate the article on a number of factors, including the methodology, the relevance to NMRT members and new librarians, and the strength of the writing itself. They are then asked to make a recommendation for the article – it can be published with minor edits, published with major revisions, resubmitted for another review peer review after major revisions, or rejected. The overall recommendation of the reviewers is then communicated to the author. When at all possible, Endnotes provides authors with detailed feedback and suggestions for revisions.

What should articles be about?
Articles published in Endnotes can present original research or case studies, and are generally between 2,000 and 5,000 words long. Some articles report the results of an original research project such as a survey, while others describe the development of a new program or service. Some people have been able to write articles based on projects undertaken for an MLIS program or as part of their job, so don’t be intimidated – inspiration is everywhere.

Got an idea?
If you have an idea but are not sure if it fits the scope of Endnotes, email the Editor at nmrtendnotesjournal@gmail.com. General topics that might be appropriate for Endnotes include:
· Training and mentoring
· Job searching or hiring
· Developing leadership and management skills
· Library instruction and assessment
· Academic librarian responsibilities: hiring, promotion, and tenure
· Developing new collections or services
In general, anything that might be relevant to someone new to the library world!

For more information or to view previous issues, please visit http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/schres

The NMRT Resume Review Service Committee is recruiting volunteer resume reviewers and booth greeters for ALA 2016 Midwinter Meeting. We are in need of volunteers to greet participants, and/or review resumes and cover letters. Librarians from all types of libraries and specializations are invited to volunteer.

We are also taking resume review appointments. The NMRT Resume Review Service booth, located inside the ALA JobList Placement & Career Development Center, is open Saturday, January 9th, and Sunday, January 10th, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. The service is free of charge to anyone. Appointment are 30 minutes long and usually fill up quickly. While we encourage advance appointments, on-site walk-ins are seen as time permits.

More information about volunteering and making an appointment is available at http://bit.ly/1vArIPT . If you have questions, please contact the NMRT Resume Review Service Committee Chair, Melanie Kowalski at melanie.t.kowalski@gmail.com, or the Assistant Chair, Brandy Horne, at BrandyH@usca.edu.

If you are looking to connect with fellow new library professionals at your local state conference, you are in luck. ALA’s NMRT will be working with several state associations to help connect with new professionals in the field.

December

Where:  Hawaii Library Association Annual Conference (University of Hawaii @Manoa)

When:   Friday, December 4- Saturday, December 5, 2015

Time:    7:30-8:30am

Place:    Registration Booth

Look out for more information for following conferences next year!

March – Oklahoma Library Association

April – Washington Library Association, Tennessee Library Association, Alaska Library Association, Connecticut Library Association

May – Rhode Island Library Association, Delaware/Maryland Library Association, New Jersey Library Association

If you want to help coordinate something, email tinamarie.vella@gmail.com

This year the NMRT Online Discussion Forum will be hosting monthly discussions via the NMRT listserv- so be on the lookout for the prompts and we hope many of your can participate. These discussions are a great way for you to network and chat about current topics in the library field. It’s also a great way to participate in ALA if you cannot attend conferences. If you are not subscribed to the listserv already you can sign-up here: http://www.ala.org/nmrt/news/nmrtmailinglists

We will also be hosting live chats every other month. Our first live chat will be Monday, November 16 from 2pm-3pm EST/11am-12pm PST. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about upcoming chat events.

Please mark your calendars and participate if you can. More info will be available soon here: http://www.ala.org/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/online/onlinediscussionforum

The New Members Round Table (NMRT) is pleased to announce Mandi Goodsett as its representative in the 2016 Emerging Leaders program. Goodsett is currently working as the Performing Arts & Humanities Librarian at Cleveland State University in Ohio. She received her MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013. Before beginning her current position in 2014,  she spent a year working at Georgia Southwestern State University as Reference & Instruction Librarian.

Goodsett has served on a number of NMRT committees since becoming a member of NMRT in 2011, including the NMRT Footnotes, NMRT ALA Student Reception, and NMRT Endnotes committees. She also served on the NMRT Board as secretary from 2014-2015. Mandi’s research interests include the development of LIS education, the experiences of new librarians, and the use of technology in library instruction. She is excited for the publication of an article she co-wrote with Andrew Walsh titled “Building a Strong Foundation: Mentoring Programs for Novice Tenure Track Librarians in Academic Libraries” in C&RL in early November.

Goodsett is also in the process of beginning an organization for new information professionals in the state of Ohio. When Mandi isn’t geeking out about information literacy & library instruction, or doing homework toward a Masters in Adult Education, she enjoys traveling, playing her viola in a community orchestra, and baking treats for her library coworkers.

Mandi is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as NMRT’s 2016-2017 Emerging Leader. “NMRT has been such a welcoming and supportive group, and its programs and opportunities have helped me immensely in beginning my professional development as a new librarian,” she said. “I’m honored to continue my participation in the group as Emerging Leader, and I look forward to further developing my leadership skills.”

“Mandi has established an impressive record of leadership within NMRT and a dedication to collaborating with other professionals. We’re excited to support the professional development of someone so enthusiastic and committed to librarianship,” expressed NMRT President, Kirby McCurtis.

 Goodsett is the ninth NMRT sponsored Emerging Leader. Previous NMRT-sponsored Emerging Leaders are Linda Crook (then Shippert) in 2008, Alexandra Tyle-Annen in 2009, Janel Kinlaw (then White) in 2010, Megan Hodge in 2011, Heidi Steiner in 2012, Margaret Howard in 2013, Kate Tkacik in 2014, and Stacey Nordlund in 2015.

The Emerging Leaders program enables newer librarians from across the country to participate in work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA’s structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. As NMRT’s 2016 Emerging Leader, Goodsett will receive $1000 towards the costs of attending the 2016 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, MA, as well as the 2016 ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL.

NMRT, a round table of ALA, is an organization for people with fewer than 10 years of membership in ALA. To learn more about NMRT, visit http://www.ala.org/nmrt .