February 26, 2009 issue

Prairie Views: Newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

Len Lindquist Spirit Award

In celebration of the 5th PALS Day on April 24th, some special things are being planned.  The “Len Lindquist Spirit Award” was created to honor Len (Manager, Technology Services) who passed away suddenly on February 28, 2008.  The award will be given to an employee of a PALS member library who possesses some of the special qualities that we admired in Len.  The award selection committee is comprised of a group of PALS librarians who will review the nominations and select the recipient.  The award winner will be announced at PALS Day.  Len’s wife and daughter are also planning to attend.  See the PALS website for the nomination form, information sheet, and flyer with more details.

PALS Phone Message

Several of you may remember the tragedy that PALS suffered on February 28, 2008 when Len Lindquist, the PALS Manager of Technology Services, left our world.  As we reach the anniversary of his untimely death, several of our staff and members will be remembering that fateful day in various different ways.  If you never met Len, it’s his voice that greets you whenever you call PALS.

Shortly after he passed, some of our members told us they felt uncomfortable hearing his voice while others told us it was a comfort to them.  We decided at that time to keep our message as it was until it needed to be updated.

And now, one year later, some of our members have told us they felt uncomfortable hearing his voice while others told us they still find it comforting, including Len's family.  The PALS staff considered all the comments and, after much discussion, decided to keep the PALS voice message as it currently is for now.  When something changes or we need to update the message, we will let you know.

Thank you for your comments.

Library System Standards Revision

The Library System Standards Committee held its fifth meeting recently at the Illinois State Library. One of the agenda items was review of the comments submitted to date about the first draft of new standards for Professional Development & Consulting. The committee will look at input from the library community at its March meeting also; it's not too late for you to submit your comments.

Member News

 Cordova PLD and Fountaindale PLD Noted as Stars in LJ’s New National Rating

 Congratulations to Fountaindale PL and Cordova PL on their recognition as Star Libraries in the new Library Journal national rating.  They were two of only ten Illinois libraries on the list.  To learn more go to http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6629180.html. 

15th Annual Bix Birthday Bash at Davenport Public Library

It’s time for Davenport Public Library’s 15th Annual “Bix Birthday Bash,” a festive time of live music celebrating local jazz sensation, Bix Beiderbecke. Join us on Tuesday, March 10, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Fairmount Street Library (3000 N. Fairmount Street) as the “Bix All Star Band” plays your favorite jazz hits. The Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society will also be selling hot dogs at bargain prices, as well as giving out free birthday cake and refreshments. Everyone is invited to this free event.  Put on your dancing shoes and come to the Library! For more information, visit www.davenportlibrary.com

Continuous Learning

Event Rescheduled

We recently had to cancel an OPAL workshop due to the instructor being ill.  We have now re-scheduled “Job Hunting – How Do I Find a New Job?” to March 25 from noon – 1:30.  Feel free to eat lunch while you listen to Jenna Weidenbenner talk about how and where to look for jobs.  She will discuss not only how to find a job but where patrons can go to find information they need in their job search.  This is an OPAL presentation so you won’t have to leave your office!

If you’ve not used OPAL for a while or have never used it, be sure to contact Glen Wiegert (glenw@palsnet.info) or Dawn DiVenti (dawnd@palsnet.info) for log-in assistance and to test your equipment. This will be the last of three programs designed to assist with job searching.  Resume Writing is March 6 at 1:00 and Interviewing is March 10 at 9:00.  Each program will be via OPAL.

To register for any or all of these programs, go to L2.

Dewey Decimal Workshops

The Prairie Area Library System hosting two workshops from the MARC of Quality for working with the Dewey Decimal Classification schedules:  Dewey Daze I and Dewey Daze II. Workshops will take place at the Mendota Civic Center, Mendota, Illinois.

Dewey Daze I is a two day workshop, April 20 - 21
Dewey Daze II is a one day workshop, being offered twice - your choice of date to attend, April 22 or April 23

Attendees will need to bring a copy of DDC22 (all 4 volumes) with them to either workshop. Your fee includes: handouts, light breakfast, lunch and light afternoon snacks.

Registration in L2 () is now open to *anyone* in the state!

A limited of seats remain in all 3 workshops, so please register as soon as you can!

NOTE: Because of the overwhelming response to TMQ classes in the past, the PALS cancellation deadline for these workshops is March 27, 2009. If you cancel after that date, your library will be charged the workshop fee.

 The Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is pleased to offer the following continuing education course.

Fundraising and Grantwriting for Your Library
Dates: March 2 - April 10, 2009
Format: Online asynchronous using the Moodle course management system
Cost: $300
Instructor: Jason Kovac, University of Texas, Austin

Intended audience: Open to all librarians and information professionals interested in fundraising and grantwriting; ALA-APA CPLA program candidates

Course description: This course will take students through an intensive introduction in the following:
-how to perform community needs analysis -how to develop and align strategies with identified needs -how to identify and build relationships with potential community partners and local/national granting agencies that can offer support to your vision -how to use fundraising as a way to engage your community with your organizational mission while building resources for continued success

For additional information and to register:
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/CPLA/fund.html
Marianne Steadley
217/244-2751
Fax: 217/244-3302

If you would like to discover what libraries are doing in virtual worlds, please consider registering for one of the following courses:

Virtual World Librarianship Course
What is it like to work as a librarian in the virtual world of Second Life (SL)? What skills and knowledge are needed? What resources are available? This is a hands-on course that will introduce you to providing reference services and building collections and exhibits in Second Life, to planning programs and events, and to the skills needed for the 21st century librarian in a virtual world.
Week One: Introduction to Course and Reference in SL
Week Two: Collections, Resources, and Exhibits in SL
Week Three: Management and Programs in SL
Week Four: Skills for 21st Century Librarians in Virtual Worlds
Instructors: S. Thompson (Hypatia Dejavu), Rhonda Trueman (Abbey Zenith), Bill Sowers (Rocky Vallejo), and JJ Jacobson (JJ Drinkwater)
Audience: Open to anyone interested in learning more about libraries and other information resources and services in Second Life. Students should feel comfortable in Second Life.
Dates and time: Sundays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm SL (U.S. Pacific) time
Cost: $125
For additional information and to register: http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/VW/vwl.html

Virtual Worlds and Libraries Seminar
In this seminar survey course we will explore a variety of virtual worlds and how libraries and library-related organizations are (or can be) active and effective in these worlds. We will examine virtual worlds designed for children, tween, teens, and adults.  Existing, emerging, and planned virtual worlds will be covered. Throughout the course we will discuss the types of information needs evident or possible in these worlds, how libraries and library-related organizations can design and deliver content, services, environments, and information experiences to meet these needs, and the overall possibilities and trends for libraries and other public-good institutions in virtual worlds.

Instructor: Tom Peters (Maxito Ricardo)
Audience: Open to anyone interested in discussing the intersection of libraries and virtual worlds. This course will be conducted in a seminar format.
Dates and times: March 4, 11, 18, 25 from 5:00-7:00 pm SL (US Pacific) time
Location: OPAL meeting room (OPAL - Online Programming for all Libraries)
Cost: $125
For additional information and to register:
http://www.lis.uiuc.edu/programs/cpd/VW/seminar.html

Freebies/Exchanges/For Sale

PALS members - please remember that you are asked to not request or release any items whether they are Free or For Sale until Monday following the publication of the announcement in Prairie Views. This gives library staff an equal chance to see the message and request the materials if they are interested. Thanks for your cooperation. 

Vehicles for Sale

The Prairie Area Library System is accepting bids to sell two used delivery vehicles. The available vehicles are:

• A 1998 Ford E-250 Econoline cargo van with 5.4L V8, AM/FM/cassette, cruise, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, cloth seats, cargo area floor mat. 230,000 miles.
• A 2004 Ford Windstar with 3.9L V6, AM/FM radio, power windows, steering and locks, cruise, air conditioning, cargo area floor mat. No rear seats. 230,000 miles.
  

Bids will be opened on Friday, March 13 at 12:00 p.m. at the Coal Valley Service Center. PALS reserves the right to reject bids that are inadequate and re-advertise the sale. Arrangements can be made for the vehicles to be brought to the successful bidder's nearest PALS service center to take possession. Questions and bids should be directed to:

Judy Hutchinson
Administrative Services Manager
Prairie Area Library System
220 W 23rd Ave
Coal Valley, IL 61240
(309)799-3155, ext 3150
judyh@palsnet.info
delivery code:  CVSG

Oswego Public Library District

The Annals of America, 25 vol., Encyclopedia Britannica, c1976-c1987.
Congress and the nation, 11 vol. (1945-2004), Congressional Quarterly Service.
Contemporary authors autobiography series, 30 vol., Gale Research Co., c1984-1998.
Who was who in America, 21 vol. (1607-2008), Marquis-Who's Who, Inc.
If interested contact:
Peggy Tegel
ptegel@oswego.lib.il.us (email preferred)
Phone: 630-554-3150

Genesis Medical Center- Illini campus has the following issues of JAMA available if anyone can use. 

JAMA 2007 v. 297, #6, 8-16
JAMA 2007 v. 298, #5-11,23-24
JAMA 2008 #300, #1-24
If interested contact:
Call Barb Tharp
Phone: 792-4360
Email: tharpb@genesishealth.com

DELL Laser Toner

Dixon PL has several laser toner cartridges for a DELL 5100 series color printer. 
If anyone has a printer that can use this toner, please contact:
 Lynn Roe
Email: roe@dixonpubliclibrary.org
Phone: 815-284-7261 ext.  5

Available for free

Complete run of West's Smith-Hurd Illinois Compiled Statutes, originally published 1993. Most volumes contain updates for up until 2003.
If interested contacct:
Martha Hansen
Woodstock Public Library
Email: marthah @ woodstockil.info

Public Library News

Connectivity  in Illinois Public Libraries

The latest (FY2005) National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) for Illinois show that in 67% of the communities served by libraries, the library is the only free access to computers and the Internet in those communities.  74% of the library staff identify the internet services as critical to providing education resources & databases for K-12 students and adult users & students, to providing services for job seekers, to providing computer & internet skills training, and in helping people use e-government services.   The computers are used for Homework resources, Digital/virtual reference, e-books and audio content.

Youth Services & School Library News

YALSA Offers Downloadable Teen Tech Week PSAs Featuring Tom Kenny

(ALA, CHICAGO) – Known as the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, Tom Kenny lends his support to teens, libraries and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) through downloadable public service announcements (PSAs) announcing Teen Tech Week, March 8 – 14. The PSAs are courtesy of Galaxy Press, a 2009 Teen Tech Week Promotional Partner.

Kenny has created six 30-second PSAs, in which he details the many free technological resources available at the library. Librarians can download the PSAs at www.ala.org/teentechweek and use them to raise awareness in their communities about Teen Tech Week. They can be played over school announcements or provided to a local radio station to use.

Around the State & Nation

President’s Budget Outline Stresses Importance of Libraries

(ALA, Washington) President Obama continues to show that he understands the value of libraries. Yesterday, President Obama sent Congress an outline of his $3.6 trillion FY 2010 budget. In the budget outline, the president states, “To give our children a fair shot to thrive in a global, information-age economy, we will equip thousand of schools, community colleges and universities with 21st Century classrooms, labs and libraries.”

The Administration is expected to release specific program allocations in April.

Woman’s Day Magazine Seeks Stories on Using the Library to Save Money

In its March issue, on stands now, Woman’s Day magazine announced a call for entries on a timely topic:  using the library to help save money.  From Feb. 17 through May 18, women ages 18 and up are invited to send in stories in 700 words or less to womansday@ala.org.  Up to four stories will be profiled in the March 2010 issue.

Librarians can download free tools to help collect local stories from the Campaign for America’s Libraries Web site (www.ala.org/@yourlibrary).  Click on “Woman’s Day.”  Tools include a sample press release, newsletter copy and a Web button.

More information, including the official rules, is posted on the Woman’s Day Web site (www.womansday.com/ala).

The MaintainIT Project from TechSoup

Don’t reinvent the wheel, the MaintainIT Project of TechSoup provides a wealth of information from hundreds of librarian interviews on how they maintain public computers. WebJunction Illinois is a repository for all of this information, and in this edition of “What’s New @ WJIL” we’ll surface a few of these including the MaintainIT Cookbooks, Spotlights and Webinars.

Librarian Bus Trip!

Lewis & Clark Library System is very pleased to announce the 2009 Librarian Bus Trip to Charlotte, North Carolina! Please join us for an exciting 8 day, 7 night tour of innovative libraries and other exciting sites as we make our way to the Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County! The trip is from August 8-August 15, 2009 and the price is $1500.00. Your price includes transportation(round trip from Edwardsville, IL--excludes any costs incurred for traveling to our launch site in Edwardsville, IL), hotel (7 nights), breakfast and lunch (8 days), and any admission fees for group tours. We have selected the Hilton family of hotels for this trip. Please see this form for further details.

Please complete the form  and send it along with your deposit check to: Lewis & Clark Library System, 6725 Goshen Road, Edwardsville, IL 62025. Don't delay! Seats will go very quickly for this trip!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Amanda McKay, Marketing Consultant, at 618-656-3216, ext. 143 or amandamckay@lcls.org.

Advocacy News

Grassroots Advocacy

 If you're still not sure whether Grassroots Advocacy will be important for the next four years...
... or possibly eight, then you haven't read this article from the Washington Post outlining how the Treasury is taking steps to restrict direct lobbying on the dispensation of economic recovery funds. In other words, if you're a professional lobbyist, you won't be able to talk to federal officials about the best ways to spend the funds.

But, if you're a citizen advocate you'll be able to talk to whomever you want. If this isn't a strong indication of the new way of doing things in DC, I don't know what is.

Clearly, if you want to get some of those funds directed toward your important cause, you'll need to have an active, prepared and, most important, nonprofessional advocacy network ready to go!

Think of it as the grassroots advocacy Olympics: if you haven't retained your amateur status, you may not be eligible for the Gold Medal.

From Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Guru.

The above is a reminder how important YOU are in advocating for your own, as well as all other libraries. We can’t leave it to others nor hire professionals to do it for us even if we had the resources to do so.

Letters to the Editor

As citizen advocates, you can be very effective, and NEED to be so in order to keep libraries in the forefront. ALA as well as many libraries have generated wonderful publicity in the media. They’ve done the ground work but we need to keep it up. We need to keep it up to stay in the minds of those looking at the stimulus package and those who will decide how those funds will be allocated. We need to keep it up for any referendum plans your library might have in the next few years.

You have a story to tell. This might be the increased checkout of entertainment as families are looking to stretch their dollars. It could be increased participation in story hours, adult programming, use of computers for job searches and job applications, researching a new career path, etc. You know your community, you know the patron’s interest and need and can communicate it best. Letters to the editor have proven to be one of the most popular sections of a paper. Another way to gain attention is to write an op-ed piece for the paper’s opinion page. It’s free marketing of your library either way. The letter should be considered a conversation with fellow readers as well as with the newspaper itself.

Some Do’s
·         Follow the word count rule. If the paper has a limit of 150-200 words, don’t expect a 275 word letter to be published.
·         Make your letter simple and to the point.
·         Email is the preferred method of communication. It makes it easier on the editors.
·         Make sure to include personal information: name, contact information, address, phone, etc. While this is generally not printed, editors ask for this information because they want to make sure you are who you say you are.
·         Make your letter unique and specific to your community/library.

Have you, your staff or board members written anything this, or last year? As has been said elsewhere, Just Do It!

New Barack Obama Illinois License Plate

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White and the Illinois Library Association (ILA) have announced the availability of an official President Barack Obama special event Illinois license plate.

The plates are available for purchase at www.ila.org/obama for $50 a pair. Proceeds will help support  ILA's activities, including iREAD, the summer reading program for Illinois youth.

The special event plates, which read "Illinois Salutes President Barack Obama," are unique commemorative plates to be displayed on Illinois vehicles for 60 days, until April 17, 2009. After this date, the Obama license plate will be available for purchase to everyone nationwide to add to his or her Obama collections.

Please print out and display the information in a frame on your counter or some other visible location as a means to help raise public awareness of the initiative.   1,000 Illinois drivers purchased the temporary plates during the ten days of the Chicago auto show recently!

Advocacy Webinar #6: Libraries and the U.S. Budget Process

ALA has posted the sixth in the series of Webinars from advocacy “guru” Stephanie Vance, this
session was recorded February 17th, 2009. Stephanie regularly has presented at ALA and ALA's National Legislative Day.

The questions: Don’t know your 602 allocation from your line item?  Your OMB from your GAO?  Your authorization from your appropriation?

You may view the latest post at http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=2046

Grant News

Ten Libraries, Literacy and Gaming Grants Announced

(ALA, CHICAGO) – The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Literacy and Outreach Services is seeking applications from public, school and academic libraries interested in developing and implementing innovative literacy gaming services for youth ages 10-18. This program is part of ALA’s Libraries, Literacy and Gaming initiative funded by Verizon.

Ten $5,000.00 grants will be awarded to libraries clearly demonstrating creativity, capacity, sustainability and a strong commitment to literacy-related gaming services. In addition, the winning libraries will receive ongoing support and technical assistance from a team of nationally recognized library gaming experts. Winners will be announced during National Library Week, April 12-18.  The grant application is available online at http://librarygamingtoolkit.org/rfp. All applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Friday, March 20. 

ALTAFF and Nordstrom to Award 20 Matching Books for Babies Grants in 2009

(ALTAFF, PHILADELPHIA) – In partnership with Nordstrom, the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), will award 20 grants for $500 each to match $1,000 raised by selected Friends of the Library groups, women’s groups, libraries and other non-profit organizations for purchasing Books for Babies kits from ALTAFF.

Books for Babies is a national literacy program that acquaints parents of newborns with the important role they play in the development of their children. Parents are presented with a Books for Babies kit containing a board book for baby, baby’s first library card and a variety of brochures with reading tips and early literacy information from nationally recognized educational organizations. Organizations such as Friends of the Library groups, Women’s Clubs and Junior Leagues purchase Books for Babies packets. Groups often supplement the packets with information about local resources, including library locations and contact information, as well as details about lapsit and preschool story hours.

Ten grants will be awarded in each of two cycles. The deadline for the first round of grants is April 1. An additional 10 matching grants will be awarded in October with an application deadline of Oct. 1. Additional information and the application form can be found online at www.folusa.org/outreach/bfbgrants.php. Any type of non-profit organization with a current program or interest in starting a Books for Babies program is encouraged to apply.

Prairie Views is the weekly newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System