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Starting September 14
Emily Bainter writes this preview: SILO Webmail will be migrating to a new system next month. Beginning Monday September 14, library staff will need to follow a few easy steps in order to access your SILO email.
This will be a firm switchover, not gradual. No action needs to be taken prior to September 14. Detailed instructions will be coming soon, but if you want to be prepared, be sure to have your SILO email address and password handy. If you don’t know your password, contact the Library Resource Technician (LRT) for your District.
All of your emails and folders in your current account will be migrated over to the new system and instructions for accessing the new SILO Webmail via Outlook as well as mobile devices will be available by September 14.
AtMail, the new SILO Webmail client, offers additional features and an updated interface. This new service is cloud-based, giving you easy access to your emails from anywhere. This also means that power outages affecting State Library servers will no longer impact SILO email service.
Watch for more information coming soon, but in the meantime, put a reminder on your calendar—September 14 is the date for the new SILO Webmail switchover!
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In a disappointing but not surprising decision, the State Library Education Team has decided to suspend our annual Learning Circuits this fall. For several years, Learning Circuits (formerly known as Town Meetings) were held annually in the fall—and in person—in six locations around Iowa, typically with one location in each District. Learning Circuits, like their Town Meeting predecessor, are a popular event with a full day workshop and great opportunities for State Library staff to mix and mingle with local library staff around the state.
But with the fall months just around the corner, the Coronavirus situation remains fluid and uncertain, so we’ll suspend our fall gathering for this year. But that’s not to say that Iowa library staff will be bereft of learning opportunities! As our agency and countless other education providers have done since March, we’ll continue to provide online training, roundtables, and webinars in the months ahead. For instance, two notable conferences have transitioned to online formats this fall:
ARSL Online Conference
The Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) has scheduled its 2020 conference for September 28-October 2. ARSL’s 2020 virtual conference theme is SOAR with Libraries: Sharing Our Amazing Resources. Conference fees vary: $50.00 for ARSL members, $65.00 for non-members, and $25.00 for trustees or Friends Groups / Foundation affiliates. There are also group rates available in order to register several people on a library staff. This virtual conference runs from Monday-Friday, each day runs from 9:00AM-1:00PM, with multiple sessions to choose from, as well as keynote speakers each day and a virtual exhibit hall. Registration is open at this link
ILA Online Conference
The Iowa Library Association has scheduled its 2020 conference for October 14-16. ILA’s conference theme is Vision 2020. Keynote and breakout sessions are still being determined, click back on this webpage in the coming weeks as this virtual conference comes together
More From The State Library
So while our anticipated Learning Circuits won’t happen in the familiar way this fall, there’s no shortage of learning opportunities ahead. Like three more Boardroom webinars—Sept10, Oct8, Nov12. Another Big Ideas Book Discussion in November, all manner of youth services programs, and self-paced classes too. Online learning is the way of things and the next best thing to being there!
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Recently, libraries have been asking about receiving an invoice to renew a copyright license. At first glance, that invoice might look suspicious, but it is legitimate. And if you don't remember having paid this before, that’s understandable, too. It’s now been three years since public libraries were urged to do this in their role as as “online service providers.”
The DMCA license—which stands for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act-- renews for $6.00 every three years. The license recognizes the public library as a provider of public Internet access and helps to alleviate problems when people illegally download content via the library's computers.
If your library has ever received a “cease and desist” letter from your Internet service provider, you’ll appreciate the benefit of this license. It’s not uncommon for public libraries to be notified of illegal downloading activity happening on the library’s computers, typically by people illegally downloading movies. So this DMCA license indicates that a public library will pledge to curtail illegal use of its public Internet computers and to report the library director (typically) as an "agent."
About DMCA & Designating an Agent
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides safe harbors from copyright infringement liability for online service providers. In order to qualify for safe harbor protection, certain online service providers—like public libraries—must designate an agent as the person who will receive notices of copyright infringement.
To designate an agent, a service provider must do two things: (1) make contact information for the agent available to the public on its website and (2) provide that same information to the federal copyright office, which maintains a centralized online directory
of designated agent contact information for public use. The service provider must also ensure that this information is up to date.
So in short: yes, this invoice for $6.00 regarding the DMCA is legitimate and should be included in upcoming bill payments. For a good refresher, find background reading and video clips specific to the DMCA and Iowa libraries posted on the State Library’s website.
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Look For Three Webinars This Week
Transform Your Stacks
Tuesday Aug18. 1:00-2:00PM. Transform Your Stacks helps identify and seize on opportunities to innovate circulation strategy and transform stacks into modern book showrooms that drive library usage and circulation. Presented by building consultant David Vinjamuri, this program covers the basics of merchandising and displays, as well as a practical guide to making small changes in the library that have a big impact. This workshop includes a brief case study of a small library evaluating pathways for reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Staff or Patrons (Potentially) Have Coronavirus
Wednesday Aug19. 1:00-2:00PM. Are you wondering how your library should handle community-related COVID19 exposure (or potential exposure) ? This webinar will walk through some considerations to keep in mind if you're told of a staff member or patron with a positive test or potential exposure. We will include some of the legal issues, as well as policies, procedures and other considerations. There will also be a chance to ask questions of the presenters.
PopYS Live: Discover Great Places Through Reading
Thursday Aug20. 1:00-2:00PM. Every year, a list of books representing the literary heritage of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands is distributed by the Library of Congress Center for the Book during the National Book Festival. This year, the festivities are moving online! Find out more about the program Discover Great Places Through Reading here http://read.gov/greatreads/ Facilitated by Angie Manfredi, this program reveals Iowa's 2020 selection for the Discover Great Places Through Reading list. Attendees will be joined by the creators of this year's selection, learn more about the book and ways to promote Iowa’s pick in your library programming.
Check inside the C.E. Catalog for more details
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