Staff from HSLC and the POWER Library will be at the HSLC booth during the PSLA Conference (April 13 - April 14) in Hershey. If you are attending the Conference please stop by and see demonstrations of the VDX ILL system, and to learn more about Ask Here PA and POWER Library resources. We would also like to hear your comments and ideas about these services. Stop by booth 67, located next to the Commonwealth Libraries booth.

In addition, we invite you to two Technology Classrooms on the POWER Library. On Friday afternoon, April 13, from 5:25pm to 5:55pm, we welcome you to POWER Library: A Reintroduction to the Resources, presented by Lynn Ann Wiscount, Coordinator of Technology Services and Head of the POWER Library at the Schuylkill IU #29. On Saturday morning, April 14, from 10:50am to 11:20am, Commonwealth Libraries presents POWER Library: CyberSmarts. CyberSmarts: Staying Safe Online, targeting elementary and middle school students, is a unique collection of five Interactive e-books which give students hands-on experience in navigating the online world in a safe, controlled environment.

Finally, HSLC is pleased to sponsor this year's PSLA Keynote and Banquet Speakers. The General Session, which will be held on Friday morning, April 13, from 10:15 to 11:30, features keynote speaker, Pam Berger. Pam is an educational technology/library consultant and trainer with over 20 years of library experience, and is the Publisher and Editor of Information Searcher and author of Internet for Active Learners (ALA Editions). Her recent work includes national school and public library development initiatives and university research projects, including:

• Libraries for the Future National Equal Access Program in Arizona and Pennsylvania, Training Specialist; and

• Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant, Building Collaboration Through Technology: A Professional Development Model for School and Public Libraries, a partnership of the College of Information Science and Technology, Drexel University and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania, The State Library of Pennsylvania. Content Developer, Lead Trainer.  

The Conference Banquet, which will be held on Friday evening, April 13, from 7 to 9:30, features Jim Murphy, who is celebrated for his engaging and carefully researched nonfiction for young readers. His more than thirty-five books include two Newbery Honor Books, The Great Fire and An American Plague (which also won the Sibert Award), and Blizzard!, which was named a Sibert Honor Book. Other awards include three NCTE Orbis Pictus Awards and three Jefferson Cup Awards.

We look forward to seeing you at PSLA next week!

Are you new to Access PA/POWER Library? Have you used Ask Here PA and want to learn more about it? Or, do you need continuing ed credits?

Just a reminder that Access PA, POWER Library and Ask Here PA training is now available online through WebJunction with the following courses:

- Access PA Database Online Beginner Training

covers using the Access PA website, searching the Access PA Database, using the VDX ILL system, and keeping your library's holdings updated in the Database [7 Act 48 credit hours].

- POWER Library: AP Images

includes an introduction to the AP Images online interface, navigation and set-up options and searching each of the archives [3 Act 48 Credits].

- Understanding and Promoting Ask Here PA

focuses on understanding how Ask Here PA works and on using, evaluating and promoting this valuable service [3 Act 48 credit hours].

- VDX ILL System Version 4.1.3 Online Course

covers the new features available in this upgraded version, including new Work Queue labels, placement of notes, and new actions. [4 Act 48 credit hours].

Students are able to access the courses from any computer connected to the Internet to work independently any time of day or night. All certified Pennsylvania librarians and library aides are eligible to receive Act 48 continuing education credit hours upon completion of the courses. All who complete a course are able to generate a certificate of completion online. [3 Act 48 credit hours.]

To access the courses, eligible persons must create a free account on WebJunction, then request affiliation with WebJunction Pennsylvania.

Detailed Instructions for Registering:

• Visit the WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org/).
• Along the right-hand side of the PA WebJunction page, click the Request Course Access link.
• Complete the Request WebJunction Course Access form, indicating Pennsylvania as your State Partner.
• Course access requests may take 24 hours to process.

Once your WebJunction Course Access has been approved via email, follow the directions to enroll in any of the online courses from the WebJunction Course list, selecting Pennsylvania Courses, then Library Services to take one of the approved Act 48 credit courses listed above. If you experience any problems registering for a course, please email support@webjunction.org.

These instructions may also be found on the Access PA website by clicking the link labeled Access PA/POWER Library Online Training Via WebJunction.

A Good Question Gets A Good Answer: A Standards Based Lesson Plan for Using Ask Here PA is  available on the Ask Here PA website. This lesson plan is targeted for grades 9-12 but could be easily adapted for Middle School. The lesson plan focuses on teaching students how to frame a research question, which is a key element to effective and efficient inquiry. It addresses the following AASL standards for the 21st century learner: 1. (Inquire and think critically to gain knowledge) and 1.1.3 (Develop and refine a range of questions to frame the search for new understanding). Additionally, NETS standards and Common Core standards are provided. All lesson materials are available for download. The lesson preparation, sequence and follow-up activities are detailed. The lesson plan was developed by Charmaine Gates, Library Director, Archbishop John Carroll High School and is available online at: http://www.askherepa.org/lessons/goodquestion.htm.

Website: http://www.askherepa.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/askherepa
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ask-Here-PA/148629061859944

In July 2012, EBSCO will be introducing global virtual servers. The purpose of adding these new EBSCOhost access points is to improve response times for EBSCOhost users. This means that all customers who use firewalls or proxy servers that require URLs to allow end user access will need to update their exception lists and/or configuration files with the details below.

The following IP addresses, URLs and domains MUST be added to your firewall exception list/configuration file to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. These changes will become effective in July 2012, however we urge you to add the IP addresses/URLs as soon as possible.

170.225.96.21

170.225.99.9  

129.35.213.31

129.35.248.48

170.225.184.106

170.225.184.107

Domain: global.ebsco-content.com

web.a.ebscohost.com

web.b.ebscohost.com

web.c.ebscohost.com

web.d.ebscohost.com

web.e.ebscohost.com

*.*.ebscohost.com

*.ebsco-content.com

Reminder: POWER Library Support

The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29 provides support for POWER Library. If you need assistance accessing POWER Library or any of its databases (except for the Access Pennsylvania Database), please use the Technical Problem Form (http://www.powerlibrary.net/Secure/TechForm/TechForm.asp). This will provide POWER Library support staff with the needed information to resolve your issues as soon as possible.

To access this form, you will need to enter your "Library Use Only" username "(your county)" and the POWER Library website password. If do not know the POWER Library website password, or you experience problems with the form, please call 570-544-9131 ext. 1274.

If your library is planning to close for a week vacation or for a small amount of time for renovations, or your library is closing for the summer, you may suspend or remove your library temporarily from the Rota. Note: While suspended from acting as a potential responder, your library may retain the ability to place ILL requests, if necessary. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the Location Search screen, click on the Edit Own button at the top of the screen.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the Location screen to the Local Holidays area Click the New Holiday button.
3. In the Description box enter Thanksgiving, Christmas, Renovations, Vacation, etc.
4. Enter the Start Date and End Date, using the pop-up calendar, or enter the dates manually in the format shown in the example to the right of the pop-up calendar.
5. Use the down-arrow to the right of the Closure Type box to select *Suspended - Requesting OK, then click the Save button or Save & Close button.

*Suspended - Requesting OK: When your library is suspended from appearing in Rota configurations, make sure Suspended - Requesting OK is selected. That way, even if you do not want to receive ILL requests, you are always able to place them.

These instructions, along with illustrations, are available at:  

http://www.accesspa.state.pa.us/vdx4.1.3_manual/location.htm#srlr.