From: Information Services [information.services@lib.state.ia.us]
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2006 7:44 AM
To: barb.corson@lib.state.ia.us
Subject: State Library of Iowa Update - July 2006

State Library Update
       

www.statelibraryofiowa.org
July 2006
Vol. 4, no. 3

 

In this issue:

*The State Library has wireless Internet access available for free

*The State library debuts a new Web site  www.statelibraryofiowa.org

*Send your state publications to the State Library for permanent storage - in any format

*Please tell us what you think about Iowa Publications Online - take a 5 minute online survey

*Check out videos from the State Library for your next staff training

*The State Library currently has a display of Don Berry photographs depicting Iowa and Warren County life in the 1920s through 1940s

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Looking for a quiet, comfortable place with wireless Internet access? The State Library can help. We have free wireless Internet access available in all public areas of the library. No password is required. If you are traveling to Des Moines for the day and don't have an office to use or you simply need to get away from your office for a few hours of uninterrupted work time, we invite you to come over and get connected in our beautiful library.

We are located at the corner of East 12th and Grand, in the Miller Building. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Parking is available directly north of the building.

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The State Library's Web site has a new look and feel. We hope that you will find it easy to access our services such as: setting up training on a variety of topics from medical research to using the Internet more efficiently;  requesting that a book or article be sent to you;  finding information on patents or trademarks;  or using our free on-line databases to find full-text articles and reference works.

Not finding what you're looking for? Try typing a word or two into the search box on the upper right hand side, it really works!

We welcome any comments or suggestions that you have about how we can improve our Web site. Please click here

Or...be a part of a Focus Group to provide feedback. If you use our Web site, we invite you to participate in a 1 1/2 hour Focus Group to help us provide you better service. If you are interested, please contact Barbara Corson at barb.corson@lib.state.ia.us or 515-281-4352, 800-248-4483.

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The State Library of Iowa has been the official depository for state publications since 1978. Our collections include many useful, important, and just plain interesting publications in a variety of formats including paper, DVD, video and digital.

According to Iowa Code 256.53 (2005), all publications produced by state agencies for the general public must be sent to the State Library to be permanently archived. Whatever the format of your publications, ensure their permanent accessibility by sending them to the State Library.

Five copies of publications in all physical formats should be sent to the State Library via local mail to: State Library of Iowa, State Documents Center, Miller Building; or to our mailing address: State Library of Iowa, State Documents Center, E. 12th & Grand, Des Moines, IA 50319.

On-line only publications should be deposited in our web-based depository, Iowa Publications Online (IPO), Iowa Code 305.10(1)(h) (2005). IPO is the official state depository for Iowa publications, meant for the public, that are created digitally. Your digital state documents should be deposited into IPO for permanent access by the public. There is no charge for this service. For more information go to http://publications.iowa.gov or contact us at 515-281-4315, 800-248-4483 or ipo@lib.state.ia.us.

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Help us improve Iowa Publications Online

We're asking current users of IPO to assist us. Please fill out a five minute survey and tell us what you think about IPO - and how we can improve it to serve you better. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=298252259486.

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The State Library has a large collection of videos suitable for staff meetings covering topics such as customer service, employee morale, communication, meetings, and more. The videos reviewed below can be checked out from the State Library through our online catalog at http://catalog.lib.state.ia.us. Search for the title and click on Request Title. You will need a State Library card number to log in, then tell us where to send the video or if you would like to pick it up. Or call 515-281-4102 or 800-248-4483.

If you don't have a State Library card go to our home page http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org and click on State Library Card.

Selected videos at the State Library:

The Leadership Pickles

Host Bob Farrell shares his tried and true approach to leading people, which consists of giving them what they need - leadership pickles - to do their jobs better and to serve the customer. Used properly, leadership pickles will reduce employee turnover, improve morale, increase productivity, and provide a better work environment as a result of stronger leadership.

Key learning points: Employees want and need certain things from you as their leader in order to follow you and succeed. These leadership pickles are: enthusiasm, confidence, and integrity.

For more information click here.

How Do You Put a Giraffe Into a Refrigerator?

If meetings and training sessions are an essential part of your organization, you know the importance of getting off to a good start. If your goal is to get everyone to contribute, this quick and quirky video is the way to achieve it. It will challenge any audience to think right out of the gate - and out of the box. Using fun riddles and entertaining animation, this short video will supercharge everyone's brain before the real business of the session begins.

The video's four problem-solving steps encourage everyone to look at challenges from a new perspective. Key learning points: consider simple answers before looking for complicated ones; think about the consequences of your actions; use all available information; and focus on the big picture, not just a small part of it.

For more information click here.

Keeping the Good Ones

Treat your team members as people first and employees second! This management and leadership training video deals with positive employee - manager relationships and employee retention. It will inspire managers and provide them with practical tools which they can use to keep the good people they already have. In the end, keeping the good ones comes down to connecting with each member of your team on a regular basis. The great news is that this doesn't cost the company a dime.

Key learning points: offer YOURSELF as a person, offer your TIME, and offer your APPRECIATION.

For more information click here.

How to Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less

In business as well as life, the failure to build trust and rapport can be insurmountable, while the rewards of a good first impression are almost immeasurable. This fun and motivational video will teach employees how to make a natural and genuine connection with everyone they meet. The skills shown in this video will have an impact on customer relationships and on personal relationships at work and at home.

Key learning points:  choose the right attitude - be welcoming, enthusiastic, curious and resourceful; send the right signals - with your face, body and voice; and get them talking and keep them talking - with a short statement and an open ended question.

For more information click here.

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16 photos from the Don Berry Photo Collection located at Simpson College are on display at the State Library.

The original collection features 4,000 negatives that were given to Simpson College in the late 1990s. A collaborative effort between professor of art David Richmond, Simpson's Dunn Library director Cynthia Dyer and public relations director, Michael Adams preserved these important images for future generations.

"The photographs are a wonderful document of Indianola and are a part of this town's heritage," said Adams.

The photographs on display are some of Berry's best work.

Berry began his career as a reporter for the Des Moines Register in 1903. After taking a leave to farm for many years, Berry purchased the Indianola Record in 1920, which is now the Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune. He remained editor and publisher of the Warren County paper for 40 years, retiring in 1960. He died in 1974 at the age of 94. 

Visitors are welcome to view the display between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the State Library, first floor east, Miller Building, E. 12th and Grand.

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OTHER SERVICES that the State Library offers free of charge are:

*The State Library's online catalog http://catalog.lib.state.ia.us gives you instant access to thousands of resources. If you find something you want, request it with a click of your mouse.

*Search for full-text journal articles and research using our online resources at http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/resources.

 

Barbara Corson
Program Director for Library Services
State Library of Iowa
E. 12th & Grand
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-4352
800-248-4483
barb.corson@lib.state.ia.us