Newsletter idea!
Hey, all! Well, looks like the Grand Muse of Inspiration hath struck me over mine head with Her Almighty Anvil of Ideas — yet again. This time, it's about the currently stagnant newsletter. My grand idea is [drumroll]...
...Make the newsletter an e-zine!Here's my reasoning, and the arguments supporting my claim.
If the newsletter were produced as an e-zine, rather than a literal newsletter, it would obviously be published (digitally), but not "printed," per se. The advantages of digital publishing lend themselves to the primary "pros" that I could think of in making the newsletter an e-zine:
There are no hard-and-fast publication "deadlines."As I think past newsletter attempts have confirmed, we are all a bunch of lazy forgetful people, who can't remember what we've agreed to write, or when something's due, or had things unexpectedly come up on our schedules, or...well, I could go on forever. Digital publication would allow:
- easier, more flexible time management;
- faster posting of "timely" pieces (keeping track of an election of some sort, for example, or reviewing an ongoing show before it stops playing, etc.); and
- a more flexible article submission process — articles would be written "whenever," and submitted to the editor or moderator, who would then approve the piece or send it back for editing (or rejection!), and (once again) the final article could be published "whenever."
Digital publishing isn't limited by the cost of printing.This results in:
- no necessary length-limit of pieces; and
- a publication in full color.
Because an e-zine is digital, it is aided by the advantages of the internet.Since we'd have the web's functions on our side, we could have:
- fancy graphics, and professional and eye-catching layout;
- links in articles to relevant sites or topics; and
- easy promotion of TAB by simply linking to the TAB site — in fact, we could promote the library in general this way, by linking to the Lexington Public Library web site. (Like I just did! See?)
Of course, there are also cons to publishing the newsletter as an e-zine (I've thought of three). These I'll address next — and, after that, my proposed solutions to overcome these possible disadvantages.
- It may be hard to advertise the newsletter outside of the internet.
- Since everything would be digital, of course, there would be no hard copies.
- Once again, since everything would be digital, the newsletter would be inaccessible to people without internet access — including our article writers, as well as our audience.
Here are my proposed solutions to these "cons."
- To advertise, we could make lots of eye-catching fliers (perhaps reflecting the layout of the newsletter's website?) to put around libraries, and perhaps even around town — posting them on bulletin boards for public use in places offering free internet access or wi-fi. The fliers could also be put in clear plastic picture frames, or some other sort of stand, and set around libraries' computers and computer tables.
- These flyers could also play up the free internet access at libraries, which would both let internet-less people know where they could see the newsletter/e-zine and advertise for the library!
- Writers wouldn't have to get a blogger.com account — everything would have to go through the editor or a moderator for approval, anyway, so they could control not only what gets published, but also when something gets published.
- For hard copies, we could post abridged selections (a sort of "crème de la crème" of the e-zine) or another sort of compilation of articles quarterly — or even biannually — rather than monthly. Publishing hard copy less frequently would also cut down on printing costs, and allow for more content per edition. We could advertise the quarterly/biannual publication of hard copy on the e-zine and stir up hype for it, boasting the benefits of owning a hard copy and suchlike, and perhaps consequently get more people to take copies once they come out.
The only "con" I can find in my solutions is that, after experiencing all of the benefits of an e-newsletter, it may be difficult to find sufficient benefits of owning a hard copy to "boast" to the public. Perhaps we could put some
"never-before-seen bonus features!" in the hard copies as "taking" incentive.
Well, that's my opinion. What's yours? :-)
— Laura W.
Potentially Useful Site Information from Long Ago
As I was browsing the archives looking for the old site rules, I came across some potentially useful technical information about how to use this site -- coincidentally, it was in the same post as the site rules. I updated it a little (as to dates and such) so it wasn't quite as confusing. :-)
"Until further notice, here's some general information about this site.
- At the very top of this page is a silverish bar. That's the search feature. Oddly enough, clicking on either "search this blog" and "search all blogs" results in searching for your keyword in all the blogs. I don't know why, but it does. It's weird like that. To search, type in your keyword(s) in the white area.
- To the right of the page is a sidebar. That is the menu. At the top is a general description of TAB, it's purpose, the website, and the purpose of the website. This general description will probably change in the near future, when the website gets more "off the ground."
- Underneath the description is a list of links under the heading "Previous Posts," with links under it. These links go to...you guessed it, previous posts. Clicking on one will display that post in the main window. The list will grow as more posts are added.
- Underneath the "Previous Posts" links is the heading "Links," with various library-related links under it. These links will not display their contents in a new window, so make sure your browser's "back" button is working!
- Underneath that is the heading "Archives." After a certain number of posts are made, the older ones stop showing up under the "previous posts" section (which only catalogues the latest 10 days' worth of posts) and go into the archives. The archives are labeled by month and year; this month's posts will go into the "September 2005" archive section.
- Underneath that is the heading "Contributors." These show various links, which show who's a member of the TAB site. Clicking on the links display their Blogger.com profile (if they've written one) and all blogs they're a member of on Blogger.com.
- Directly under this post, there are several links. One displays the time. Clicking on the "time" link will lead to a page with just this post on it. That is the "permanent link" page. Like the "previous posts" section, the main page will only display the most recent posts. Linking to the main page to show a particular post may not display the post you want after a certain time; linking to the "permanent link" page will always show that post.
- To the right of the "permanent link" is a link that says "[x] comments." This link will take you to a pop-up window. That is the comments page, which displays all comments on that particular post and gives you a form for you to add your own comments to the post. Administrators have the ability to edit or delete posts, or delete comments, which violate our current "site rules."
-- Laura W.
RE: QUERY: Personal attacks/blog debate? (from Heather D.)
I know I wasn't the only one wondering about Heather and Katie's comments about "personal attacks" and "debate" on the site. I asked Heather about it, and here's what she said:
"I have a question about the whole "blog's not a place for debate" and "no personal attacks" thing -- namely, "What brought that on?" Did you find a comment that sounded debate-triggering or like a personal attack, or was it a random warning? Just wondering if we did something wrong... :-/
No, I haven't seen anything objectionable. Katie and I should have posted our "election rules" before nominations even started. But, with the grant program going on this weekend, I've had little time to think about it. I can see how you might have read it as a reactionary remark, because of the timing. But, it was just a rule I meant to post at the begininng of the elections, that I ended up posting after the fact. I think we are all painfully aware that both elections and online forums can many times become unpleasant. That's all I was trying to avoid. So far, I think everyone has conducted themselves honorably.
Heather"
Just thought it'd clear some things up. :-)
-- Laura W.
Site rules?
Hello yet again, everybody. (Getting sick of me yet? :-P) Heather and Katie's remarks about the "no debates/no personal attacks" whatnot reminded me of something I've been meaning to do for a while.
When the site was all new and sparkly, the current webmaster, webmistress, and I (yes, we had two webmasters, for unknown reasons) came up with a few temporary rules for the site. They were mainly put in place to keep everyone from running amok until the other officers and members could decide on some set rules.
Unfortunately, that never happened. Why, I'm not sure; but quite possibly because the site wasn't used or visited last year, nearly as much as it is this year. (Seriously -- the site has a backlist of 11 pending invites from last year to old TAB members who either ignored it or figured it was spam. >_<) But, anyway, back to the site rules. Here's the rules as they were last:
CURRENT SITE RULES! (much cheering and booing commences)
This may disappoint some of you, but our site needs to have some rules. Remember, the rules listed here are only temporary; the exist only until I can hold conference with the other admins and TAB officials and decide on the official ones. But, until then, here are our rules. (more cheering and booing commences)
1. Watch your language! While we certainly don't wish to infringe upon freedom of speech, I prefer that this site be relatively "family-friendly." Curious parents may come here to look for event dates, see what events we're planning, find out what we discussed in the latest meeting, or to see if their children would be interested in TAB. We don't need them deciding that we're a bunch of good-for-nothing, vagabond, Satanist hooligans, and would be a bad influence on little Jimmy. This rule applies to both what you say and how you say it -- posts or comments that include personal attacks on others will immediately be susceptible to deletion.
2. Keep things relevant! Chatter is fine and good. However, too much extraneous chatter just takes up time -- and, on the internet, bandwidth. Please restrict irrelevant topics to meetings and personal messages, as posts and comments consisting of them will be susceptible to deletion. I would like to have a "forum"/message board for this sort of thing -- good books, local (non-library) events, etc. -- but as I am a language geek and not a computer one, we can't do this at the moment. This rule may change or alleviate in the future.
3. Don't be afraid to ask questions! The primary purpose of this site is to encourage discussion outside of meetings. If you don't understand something, say so! If the other members are unable to answer your question, the admins and officers will try their best to answer it. Of course, this is still susceptible to Rule #2: keep your questions TAB- or library-related. Questions such as "Why is the sky blue?", "Why is my little brother such a brat?" and "Is the new N-Town Boys's CD ever going to come out?!" will most likely not be answered (unless someone really wants to).
These rules were written to be temporary at most, yet no one's really done anything yet to change them. As a matter of fact, I have a suspicion that they're so far back in the archives by now that few people even know they exist. Methinks it's time for a revamp, non?
I'd like to hear from y'all.
* What should we add? What should we change? What should we just re-word, or re-apply? Why? For example, rule #1 was made to both cut back on four-letter-word-filled comments that's primary purpose was to attack or offend, as well as (again) personal attacks. Rule #2 was made in response to a completely random, irrelevent, one-word comment someone made on one of the first posts.
**Anyone think we should bring this up at the next TAB meeting, too? :-)
-- Laura Webb
*Yee-haw.
**If you're curious, that comment was "Pie."
Aaaaarg! (Postingness troubles)
Hello, all! Just thought I'd add something to my "instructions on posting" I put up here a while back. 'Tis has to do with the ability to comment on posts.
At the bottom of the text window that you type your post in, there's a little option entitled "Allow New Comments on This Post". There are three options (sometimes just two, Yes and No): "Yes", "No", and "No, and hide existing comments".
As default, it is set to "No" or "No, and hide existing comments". THIS IS NOT GOOD. Please, please remember to change it to "Yes" before publishing your post, or else no one can comment on it! Admins (such as myself) can go back to each post and change the options to "yes", but it would make it so much easier on us if it were checked in the first place.
Another, more minor thing having to do with comments is the new feature I added to the comments -- the
"word-verification" screening. This is simply so that the website doesn't think you're a spam bot. I turned this feature on because, since about Tuesday, there's been a lot of irrelevant, anonymous comments, all of which telling us to go to some-site-or-another (in essence, spam). Most of these comments aren't made by individuals, they're made by spam bots -- so the screening should help cut back on all the rubbish.
Thanks for ye're time (if you bothered reading this far)! I'm going to go post some other stuff that's been floating around in the back of my head for a while. :-)
-- Laura W.
I'm running for re-election!
Hello all, Laura Webb speaking — er, typing. As you can probably tell from the subject line, I'm running for TAB President again. Lemme tell ya a bit about my personage...
I'm a 15-year-old sophomore homeschooled only-child here in Lexington, KY. This'll be my fourth year in TAB.
I have a dog in a wooden box above my piano (she's cremated), and a cat who likes to step on my face while I'm trying to sleep. I also have two parents who think my cat is theirs. I
also have a rather odd sense of humor.
I consider myself a moderate in beliefs and temperament: I value diplomacy and compromises rather than the typical goal of "unwavering, un-compromising leader" so many politicians today seem to strive for. This means that I can get along with pretty much everyone — goths, preps, liberals and conservatives alike. This also means that I have a wide range of crazy friends who constantly argue with each other, but that's okay, I’m a “people person.”
I'm not just a member of TAB, I'm in other organizations, too — this will be my third year in 4-H, and my first year in Roots 'n' Shoots (a program started by Jane Goodall). I've volunteered at places like God's Pantry Food Bank, the state fair, the Explorium (formerly the Lexington Children's Museum) and it's annual Museum-Go-Round, Teen Court, and a nursing home. I've also been a volunteer camp counselor for two years at 4-H camp. If I can manage 30+ kids in the woods who freak out whenever they see a garden hose because they're convinced it's a poisonous snake, I think I can manage teenagers in a library. :-)
I think I should be elected TAB President for both the reasons above, and for my skills. I can be a leader in nearly any setting. I'm organized and responsible (to a level of OCD — I even have a special TAB-folder with a built-in filing cabinet!). I have good equipment for a wide range of purposes. I have connections in many different fields: I know people from New Mexico to Chicago to Pennsylvania to France, I know people in many different organizations — if I don't know someone in a given field, chances are that I know a sister of a friend of a cousin who does. I get things done, and celebrate after successes — I created this site, after all. ;-)
Well, I suppose I’ve rambled enough — the rest will have to be left to the general populace. À la Fortune!
— Laura Webb
Former TAB President
Phone: 859.312.4466
E-mail:
endlessabyss246@aol.comAIM: endlessabyss246
IMPORTANT SITE INFORMATION -- READ!
I need e-mail addresses!Okay, so I was a bad, lazy girl at the last (first?) meeting, and forgot to mention a VERY important detail concerning the TAB site.
You need to be a member. (Yeah, yeah, I'm pathetic.)
In order to do more than post anonymous comments to other posts, everyone needs to give me their e-mail addresses (preferably with whosoever's name next to it!), so I can send thee thy invites to be an LTO member. The e-mail will give instructions on how to sign up (don't worry, it's free), so if you follow the instructions, you should be fine. Remember, the sooner you check your e-mail, the sooner you'll be a member!
As to "how to post":Once you're a member, go to
http://www.blogger.com, click on "Lexington TAB Online" (under "blogs"), and you should be able to figure it out from there. I'm an admin, which means that what I see looks a little different than what non-admins see: if you have any trouble, just ask me.
Phone: 859.312.4466
E-mail:
endlessabyss246@aol.comAIM: endlessabyss246
Thanks!
And...you're welcome?
Laura Webb
Former TAB President
Current Meeting and Program Schedule
Picked this up from Heather D. after the 08/11 Illumination program; thought it'd be a good idea to post it here.
Events in blue are held at the Beaumont branch; those in red are at the Tates Creek branch. Not everything is red or blue because not everything is at a library (like the shopping trip, vor example) and some things have already happened. (A date in bold is one that hasn't happened yet, but after the date of the event, it will be un-bolded.)
Lexington Public Library Teen Advisory Board
2005-2006
Meetings and Programs
All dates are subject to change.
Thursday, August 4, 7:00 pm - Preparation Meeting for Introductory Meeting
Monday, August 8, 7:00 pm - The Medival Art of Calligraphy for Teens
Thursday, August 11, 7:00 pm - The Medieval Art of Illuminations for TeensThursday, September 1, 7:00 pm - Introductory TAB Meeting, Beaumont
Wednesday, September 14 - Anyone wishing to be an officer posts his or her info on the blog by this date. Members email votes to Heather.
Thursday, September 15, 6:00 pm - Movie Night: Star Wars -- A New Hope, Beaumont
Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Tates Creek
Tuesday, October 25, 6:00 pm - Movie Night: The Night Before Christmas, Tates Creek
Thursday, November 10, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Beaumont
Tuesday, December 6, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Tates Creek
Thursday, December 29, 6:00 pm - Movie Night: To Be Announced, Beaumont
Thursday, January 19, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Beaumont
Tuesday, February 14, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Tates Creek
Tuesday, February 21, 6:00 pm - Movie Night: To Be Announced, Tates Creek
Thursday, March 16, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Beaumont
Thursday, April 27, 6:00 pm - Movie Night: To Be Announced, Beaumont
Tuesday, April 11, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Tates Creek
Thursday, May 11, 7:00 pm - TAB Shopping Trip
Thursday, May 18, 7:00 pm - TAB Meeting, Beaumont
Another TAB Notice
"Hi, everybody!
The first meeting of the Teen Advisory Board is Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 pm. This will be our introductory meeting for new members. We are going to try to make it more of a social event than a meeting, so I'm hoping that all of you can come and help welcome new members. I'd like as many people as possible to come at 6:30 and help set up. We'll have pizza and other refreshments!
The "Get Real, Get Fit" programs are coming up in September and October. These are going to be library-based programs for teens and their families about nutrition and family fitness. I'm looking for parent and teen volunteers to help with the program. Part of the program is a short video about fitness and nutrition. I need parent and teen duos to help lead a brief discussion of the video after we watch it. The programs will take place at:
• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 – Tates Creek Branch (231-5580).
• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 – Beaumont Branch (231-5570).
• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 – Eagle Creek Branch (231-5560).
• 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 – Northside Branch (231-5590).
Please let me know ASAP if you and a parent can help out at any of these programs. I also hope that many of you will sign up to be participants in these programs. It would go a long way to prove the need for Teen Programing in the library!
Finally, I just got an email about a possible project for TAB this year. Take a look at it and see if you can come up with any ideas and think about whether you guys might like to work on a proposal and program for this grant:
Starbucks Foundation Offers Funding for Youth Literacy Programs
Deadline: September 1 and March 1, annually (Letters of Inquiry)
Through its Giving Voice program, the Starbucks Foundation(http://www.starbucks.com/foundation/), a philanthropic vehicle of the Starbucks Coffee Company, will fund programs for youth, ages 6-18, that integrate literacy with personal and civic action in the communities where they live. The Starbucks Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry from qualifying organizations that work with under-served youth in one of two areas: 1) Arts & Literacy -- programs that innovatively address literacy and learning for the21st century, provide high standards of excellence in mastering basic skills, and promote youth voices through a variety of venues; and 2) Environmental Literacy -- programs that offer place-based approaches to addressing environmental literacy and empower youth to be heroes for a sustainable environment in their own communities.
The foundation supports registered, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in the United States,as well as Registered Charities in Canada, that deliver services to youth and address at least one of the program's action areas.Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.
Visit the Starbucks Foundation Web site for program information, application procedures, and eligibility questions. RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/3498/starbucks
For additional RFPs in Children and Youth, visit:
http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_children.jhtml
Lorie Christian
NMLA Administrator
Heather Dieffenbach, Children's Librarian
Children's Department
Lexington Public Library
Beaumont Branch
3080 Fieldstone Way
Lexington, Ky, 40313
Phone: (859) 231-5570
E-mail: hdieffenbach@lexpublib.org
If I am unavailable, please feel free to contact:
Kelly Lamm, (859) 231-5570 "
TAB e-mail notice from Heather!
"I hope everyone had a great summer! I want to let you all know about a few things that are coming up at the Library.
1. There will be a
TAB meeting on
Thursday, August 4 at
7:00 pm at the
Beaumont Branch Library. This meeting is to plan the
introductory meeting for new members (which will be on
Thursday, September 1 at Beaumont). One complaint we've had in the past is that the first introductory meeting to new members is very boring. So, I want you guys to run that meeting. You can decide what we do and you can talk to the new members about TAB.
The TAB will be undergoing some big changes this year.
We will be joining forces with the Tates Creek Branch Library. The children's librarian there, Katie Camp, wants to start a TAB too, so we've decided to just share the one we already have. We will alternate the meeting locations between Beaumont and Tates Creek and Katie will be co-sponsor along with me. I hope you all can help me welcome a lot of new faces this year as teens from the Tates Creek area join our group.
2. On
Monday, August 8 at
7:00 pm a local artist will present a
Calligraphy workshop. Then on
Thursday, August 11 at
7:00 pm, she will present a
workshop on the medieval art of Illumination. Both programs are at the
Beaumont Branch library and are
free of charge. Just call
231-5570 if you would like to register to attend.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all again!
Heather Dieffenbach
Children's Librarian
Beaumont Branch Library
(859) 231-5570
hdieffenbach@lexpublib.org "
Disappointments
Well, folks, it looks like the poetry slam's cancelled. Only three people signed up for it in the end -- and that's including at least one of our TAB members. Sigh. I'm sure I'm not the only one who will mourn its loss, but I really can't think of what we can do to get the show back on the road; two or three contestants won't provide much competition, and will take more funding than it's probably worth.
I guess this will just have to serve as a lesson to plan things far,
far ahead, before any computer class can steal our room, and to give us lots of time for publicity.
I'm really sorry, guys... :-(
-- Laura W.
