Below is a link to a short video about Mango Languages’ unique methodology and pedagogy. This short 4 minute video will give you a great overview of the program. 

I have also included a guided demonstration of the French language.  This will help shed some light on how effective the program really is.

Mango Languages offers:

• Remote Access
• Unlimited simultaneous usage
• Detailed usage statistics
• 37 foreign languages 
• 15 specific ESL courses
• Free iPhone & Android Apps
• And much much more!

I highly recommend to watch the video and try the guided lesson to learn more about the program.

If you have any questions or would like to setup a time to briefly chat feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

How Mango Works – Our Intuitive Language Construction Methodology Explained:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCqy8lwYgMY

French Guided Demo Lesson:
http://www.mangolanguages.com/try-it.php?course_id=60

Grazie…Thank you,

Marco Cracchiolo

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30445 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 300
Farmington Hills, MI 48334

Wondering about koha/VOKAL/open source ILS?  This webinar is a great starting point to get you educated.

ByWater Solutions to Offer Free Open Source Webinars

ByWater Solutions, an open source community supporter and Koha support
company is happy to announce a new open source education initiative.
In an effort to educate library staff about the true nature of open
source ByWater Solutions will be offering a series of free webinars
entitled: Open Source in Libraries: Freedom and Community.

We at ByWater Solutions are dedicated to supporting open source
software in libraries and support starts with Education. It is with
that in mind that we would like to offer free training webinars to
teach you all about open source.

Taught by our Vice President of Education, Nicole C. Engard, these 1.5
hour webinars will walk attendees through the history and meaning of
open source software. Nicole comments on this series of webinars:
After years of training librarians how to use the Koha ILS I have
found that there is still a lack of knowledge of open source software
and I like to help combat that with these lessons.

Librarians have adopted a culture of helplessness and workarounds when
it comes to our software. Open source software is a way to get freed
from these chains. But open source is about more than just software,
it’s about community and a philosophy of freedom. This session will
give librarians the facts about open source software by introducing
them to what open source is and what it means for libraries.

Join us online for one of our first two lessons (space is limited so
register early).

February 16, 2012 at 10am-11:30am EST
Register Online: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/993578942

March 13, 2012 at 2pm-3:30pm EST
Register Online: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/636868638

 One thing the article doesn’t make clear is that libraries buy *licenses* to eBooks.  And as we all know, with licenses, come restrictions.  

 Both librarians and patrons need to continue to let publishers know that we are an important market and that we serve a vital role in a title’s success.

 Happy New Year!

MD

Please excuse any cross postings.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/business/for-libraries-and-publishers-an-e-book-tug-of-war.html?_r=1

Thank you to our ListenUp! Vermont selectors. The volunteer efforts of  Joan Lajoie, Karen O’Donnell-Leach, Kip Roberson & Nancy Tusinski have built and continue to build a wonderful downloadable collection that many, many Vermonters enjoy.  Working quietly behind the scenes they all cheerfully give many hours carefully selecting titles they know Vermonters will love.

Thank you to Virgil Fuller, our ListenUp! Vermont coordinator who fields hundreds of questions each year with ease and lightheartedness, keeps us up to date with downloadable industry news, and handles a multitude of other little things to keep things going smoothly.

Thank you to Chris Kirby who takes care of all our ListenUp! Vermont technical issues.  Whether it is getting a new library up and running or working through an emergency tech issue, Chris handles it all with professionalism and enthusiasm that is wonderful.

Thank you to MaryPat Larrabee, our Mango Online Languages coordinator who liaisons with Mango, works with participating libraries and is a passionate cheerleader for the program.

Thank you to the VOKAL Implementation Team:  Amy Boisvert, Wendy Hysko, Kim Peine, & Richard Pritsky. These folks are pioneers/tech gurus/rock stars.  Keeping on top of all things koha, helping Vermont libraries of all types switch over to VOKAL , maintaining an outstanding consortium catalog – they do all this (and much more) while having a good time and infecting the rest of us with their joyfulness.

Thank you to the GMLC Board:  Wendy Hysko, Chris Kirby, Deborah Tinkham and Lucinda Walker.  You continually give of your time to help GMLC strategize and grow.  You’re thoughtful, dedicated and make the work fun, too.

Thank you to the directors and fellow staff members of our GMLC volunteers.  You understand what they give to Vermont libraries and generously allow them time to do that. 

Thank you to all our libraries for being loyal members in the Green Mountain Library Consortium.   Because of your support, understanding, patience and good heartedness you make GMLC the vibrant organization it is.

Happy Holidays!

Mary Danko

Green Mountain Library Consortium-Board President

Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m.

1. Membership Update

Twelve new libraries have joined ListenUp! Vermont, bringing our total membership to 148 libraries.

2. SCOOP Purchasing Cooperative

SCOOP, the Maine library purchasing cooperative approached GMLC this fall to see if there was interest in partnering. GMCL has agreed to be a partner.  Vendors are invited to submit bids (all SCOOP vendors must offer free shipping.). Partner libraries will meet in April to review the bids (Wendy Hysko will attend this meeting.)  Bids will be finalized by 5/1/12.  SCOOP sets up a website for member libraries to use.  SCOOP uses local vendors whenever possible and GMLC made some VT suggestions.  More information about this new benefit will be coming in the spring.

3. ByWater Server Hosting update – tabled until January meeting

4. Budget Update

We are in preliminary talks with OverDrive regarding our next contact. At this time OverDrive is not planning to raise our fees.  The Board discussed how to divide the content budget.  E-book circulation continues to climb while audio circulation is steady.  Member libraries have donated approximately $3500 for additional e-book content.  The Board decided to increase the e-book funding by $1,000.

5. 3M Cloud Update

3M is beta testing its new e-book

service.  They use a common ILS which currently makes working with GMLC more difficult. The service looks very interesting including the standalone kiosks which enable patrons to directly download content into their e-reader.  We are waiting to see what happens with their beta testing.

6. Name Change? – Tabled

7. Adding Privacy Statement to ListenUp! Vermont site.

When patrons download a Kindle title, they are taken away from the LUV site to the Amazon site.  There is some concern that our VT library patrons are not aware of the extent of Amazon’s  data mining.  Lucinda will craft a privacy statement that can be added to the LUV site to make users more aware.

8. 2012 Meeting schedule – the Board will continue to meet the third Friday every other month.

9. VOKAl Update

The VOKAL implementation team has decided to cap VOKAL membership to 40 libraries for the next ByWater contract period.  As of 1/1/12, VOKAL will have 30 libraries.  This cap will allow the implementation team to focus on issues concerning the catalog.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Lucinda Walker

Are your patrons coming up to you with questions as to what eReader they should buy their loved ones for Christmas? If they are, this article may be of some help as it breaks down which ones are ideal for what:

http://mashable.com/2011/12/13/ereader-guide/

Happy Holidays All!

VF

1.  Membership update

2.  SCOOP Purchasing Cooperative (Wendy)

3.  Bywater Server Hosting update (Chris)

4. Budget Update

5.  3M Cloud Update (Mary & Lucinda)

6.  New Name for ListenUp!Vermont since we have added eBooks?   VirtualLibraryVT.org? DownloadableVT.org?

Thanks,

Mary  HartlandDir{at}vermontel.net

‘Get for Kindle’ for all Penguin eBooks in your catalog has been restored as of this morning. Penguin titles are available for check out by Kindle users and the Kindle format will be available for patrons who are currently on a waiting list for a Penguin title. Upcoming releases remain unavailable.

We apologize for the inconvenience this caused for your library and patrons.

At this time, no further information is available. We hope to share more details in the near future.

Last week Penguin sent notice to OverDrive that it is reviewing terms for library lending of their eBooks. In the interim, OverDrive was instructed to suspend availability of new Penguin eBook titles from our library catalog and disable “Get for Kindle” functionality for all Penguin eBooks. We apologize for this abrupt change in terms from this supplier. We are actively working with Penguin on this issue and are hopeful Penguin will agree to restore access to their new titles and Kindle availability as soon as possible.

From Penguin Group USA:

Penguin has been a long-time supporter of libraries with both physical and digital editions of our books. We have always placed a high value on the role that libraries can play in connecting our authors with our readers. However, due to new concerns about the security of our digital editions, we find it necessary to delay the availability of our new titles in the digital format while we resolve these concerns with our business partners. Penguin’s aim is to always connect writers and readers, and with that goal in mind, we remain committed to working closely with our business partners and the library community to forge a distribution model that is secure and viable. In the meantime, we want to assure you that physical editions of our new titles will continue to be available in libraries everywhere.

With so many devices coming out on the eReader/tablet market recently, sometimes choosing the right one can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully there are charts out there that compare these devices side by side so that you can choose the right one for you.This link provides a nice comparison of the tablets out there, such as the iPad, Kindle Fire, and a couple different nook models. If you’re looking for something a bit more advanced than an eReader, this chart is for you. The best part? All of these devices are compatible with Listen Up! Vermont eBooks!

VF