Doing Biz with the Gov

I'm swimming in alphabet soup registering my business for federal and State of Texas contracts. My head is about to explode so I thought I'd document the process and save others from blowing a gasket.

Federal CCR Registration

1. To do business with the federal government, you must be in the Central Contractor Registration database. Register here: https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/Default.aspx
   
   
2. But, getting a CCR requires that you have a D-U-N-S Number, a unique nine digit identification number, for each physical location of your business. Don't worry, it's free. Get that number here: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/index.jsp
   
   
3. But, before you can get a DUNS number, you have to get an EIN and the business name you enter in your DUNS application must be exactly the same as the business name on the EIN award letter you get from the IRS. To get an EIN, go here: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html

So actually, what you need to do is the last three steps in reverse!

State of Texas

Now to register as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) in Texas and get on the Comptroller’s Centralized Master Bidders List (CMBL), just download the appropriate pdf form from here complete, print and mail to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, P.O. Box 13186, Austin, TX 78711-3186. That's pretty easy if you can answer all of the questions, like what your NIGP code is and you have $70.

So I am now in CCR with a DUNS and CAGE, and an EIN. And I'll be a HUB on the CMBL as soon as I figure out my NIGP and drum up seventy bucks.

I think I need an aspirin!

Library advocacy and social media webinar

The American Library Association is hosting a webinar on how libraries are using social media tools (puhleeze, let's get away from the Web 2.0 talk - we're way beyond that!) for advocacy.

But what about using these tools for authentic community engagement? (i.e., the members of the social network actually contribute knowledge, are a part of the community, have equal status, and are engaged in working on something meaningful together)

I can't attend this seminar, but I'd love for someone to attend and report back on the possibilities. How can we use the ability to connect people to institutions and to each other online to foster relationships, interactions, group information-sharing, group problem-solving?

See details below. If you can participate, please add your insights to this blog.

Events<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?cat=7>,

Believe it or not, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In and other Web 2.0
applications are becoming more and more effective tools for library advocacy
efforts. Join Dr. Curtis Rogers (South Carolina State Library), Kristin
Murphy (ALA Washington Office) and Stephanie Vance (Advocacy Guru), for this session on how libraries can use social media techniques to capture the
attention of policymakers and the public they represent ? from townhall to
Washington, DC! If you?re wondering how to use Web 2.0 to get heard on
issues that matter to your library, this is the place to
be<https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/132869762>!

*When: *Tuesday, October 27, 2009 ? 4:00 PM ? 5:00 PM EDT

Register Now: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/132869762>

The Financial Credit Crisis

Lately I've become fascinated by the creative ways that people are able to present data in an easy to understand and compelling method and to explain complex issues using stories and images. (Probably because I'm jealous of those who have that ability!)

One of the best is Flowing Data and I'm sure I'll reference his postings in the future. If you're limited in time, but interested in data visualization, Flowing Data is probably your best bet because the author is a self-proclaimed "feed junkie" and a good portal into other data visualization blogs.

But the story I want to promote now is an explanation of the credit crisis by Jonathan Jarvis posted on facebook by my buddy Jill Gengler (the ace geek who keeps the technology at the University of Illinois (U-C) Library school on track) It's one of the best descriptions of a very complicated story that I've seen.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

As is often the case, I started out to write about one thing and then fell into the Internet Black Hole. I just wanted to plug the credit video, but had to find out more about the creator and now I'm hooked on his site and I'm following him on Twitter. Check him out. Great stuff and I'm sure I'll return often to write more about his creations. His Room Call project is on my short list of things I want to reflect upon.

Donkeys provide library services

[Link repaired]

I just discovered this 2002 press release about a report from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. It may be old, but I had to write about it. I ove this story because it is another example of innovative library services using pack animals (in an earlier blog post, I wrote about the Book Women of Eastern Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project) AND because of the multi-media aspect of it! These Donkey Drawn Libraries are providing library services in remote communities in Zimbabwe, but they are also delivering technology powered by a solar unit installed on the roof.

Each cart is provided with a solar unit installed on the roof; a battery charged by this solar energy supplies the electric power. Audio-visual apparatus is installed in a cabinet at the back of the cart and electronic data equipment and storage facilities for battery, inverter, distilled water (for the batteries), books, music disks and records, video cassettes, etc. are installed on cabinets at both sides of the cart. The unit can also be provided with an aerial or a satellite dish.

But I also love this story because it reminds us that everyone values and deserves access to libraries, books, knowledge and information. And, while we should continue to fight for more resources for libraries, we should also remind ourselves that we humans (especially librarians!) are a creative lot and will continue to find creative ways to continue providing quality library services.

Random Ideas to Explore Re: Libraries

On April 24, I will be delivering the keynote and a workshop for the Prairie Area Library Services day-long meeting outside of Chicago. A former student from my days of teaching Change Management invited me, but I seem to be struggling to put together a brief description of my talk. So I started jotting down notes and phrases as they came to me. I still don't have the topic nailed down, but I needed a place where I would remember these ideas:

• Libraries: Antidote to economic stress and personal distress
• Riding the Shark: Tools for Thriving in Tough Times
• But I Don't Even Know How to Spell "Entrepreneurship"
• Opportunities for Entrepreneurship
• Libraries on the Edge
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: value of public libraries in supporting sustainable communities.
• 2009: The Year of the Library
• Value
• Changing the Story
• Writing Our Own Story
• Pebbles in Teapots
• Boiling, but Blooming: Taking Advantage of Tough Times or "But I Don't Even Know How to Spell Entrepreneurship!"
• New Metaphors for Libraries and Communities
• When the Going Gets Tough,
• New Roles for Libraries
• Why Tough Times are Good News
• Tough Times:
• Taking Charge of Change: Thriving and ____ Through Tough Times
• What We can Learn From Tough Times
• Making Friends and Winning Over Enemies in Tough Times
• Tools for Tackling Tough Times
• Turn your thinking inside out
• Pardon me ma'am, your metaphor is showing
• Thinksters

Now back to figuring out what it is I REALLY want to say!