March 06, 2009 issue

Prairie Views: Newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

LAC Meeting

The PALS Librarian's Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, March 13, at 9:00 a.m. via conference call.

Help Us Wish Sandy Ringstrom a Happy Retirement!

Sandy Ringstrom will retire from PALS as of April 1, 2009. PALS is compiling an online "retirement reminiscences" that all are encouraged to contribute to. Please contribute to this online "retirement reminiscences" with remembrances of experiences you've shared with Sandy, best wishes for retirement or any other words of wisdom you'd like. Deadline for additions is March 26, 2009. PALS will present Sandy with a copy of the "reminiscences" at her retirement reception on Friday, March 27, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Shorewood Service Center.

Register Now for PALS Day – Friday, April 24, 2009!

Timber Creek Inn & Suites and Conference Center, Sandwich, IL, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
For more information and registration, please visit L2

We will have programs that touch upon thriving in tough times, online safety, children's and young adult literature, marketing, AquaBrowser, conversion to a Dewey-Free library, and discussing the best books for book groups. We are welcoming back Fred Schlipf to hold several sessions addressing issues on space planning and library construction.  Please contact Debbie Fowler (debbief@palsnet.info) or at 877-542-7257 ext. 2708 to schedule your appointment. The PALS Marketing Power Team will have a area set up in the hallway for Swap and Share items. Here are some snapshots of this year's programs:

Thriving in Tough Times (Keynote speech) - Libraries support sustainable communities and meet community needs. They connect people with information and are a vital tool for democracy. However, many libraries are under threat of closure or are facing reduced resources. Civic Entrepreneur Taylor Willingham will discuss new ways of thinking about how libraries contribute public value and the distinct competencies they contribute to their community. Willingham will share ideas about how current economic, social and political trends provide exciting new opportunities for libraries to strengthen community, create capacity, generate value, and develop relationships.

Tools for Thriving Through Tough Times (afternoon workshop)  - Learn about new and innovative as well as tried-and-true tools for engaging your community and demonstrating your library’s contribution to community. Despite the tough economic times, people are responding to the call for service. Learn how you can become a leader in this trend.

Mrs. Lincoln -  Through her experience in area theaters for over a decade, Laura Keyes will be delighting us with her presentation entitled "Mrs. Lincoln".  Miss Keyes was praised for her portrayal of Mary Lincoln in August 2008 at the Winneshiek Playhouse in Freeport, IL, in conjunction with the Sesquicentennial of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.  This presentation was meticulously researched by Miss Keyes, whose degree in Library Studies aided her approach.  The presentation focusing on the life and losses of Mary Lincoln will be set on April 14th 1865.

Freeing Dewey: Frankfort's Conversion to a Dewey-Free Library - In June 2008, the Frankfort Public Library District began transferring their Adult Nonfiction collection to a new classification system based on the "bookstore model".  The Dewey Free model allows for a complete redesign and relocation of collections, focusing on user-centered services.  Melissa Rice and Joanna Kolendo from the Frankfort PLD will discuss why library staff implemented a Dewey-Free System and they will chronicle the progression of the project.

Hot Off the Presses:  What's New and What's Coming in Children's and YA Literature - Hear about the newest titles and what is coming in children's literature, including picture books, informational books, poetry, beginning chapter books and novels.  Learn ways to help teachers connect the books to their K-12 curriculum, and the best new books for sharing in storytime.

Best Books for Book Groups -  Discover the best books for book groups, including new fiction and non-fiction, as well as a few book group favorites you might have missed!

Project Surf Safe: Navigating the Hidden Dangers of the Internet - The Internet and e-mail have become one of the most common ways for people to communicate with each other. Many people conduct business, shop, research and do a host of other activities online.   However, the anonymous environment of the Internet can be dangerous. The reality of the Internet is that we never really know if the people we are talking to are really who they say they are. To give parents and educators the tools needed to keep their kids safe on the Internet, Attorney General Madigan has created an innovative program regarding the realities of online safety. This program, Project Surf Safe: Navigating the Hidden Dangers of the Internet, is a useful tool in helping parents and educators stay informed about the dangers lurking on the Internet.

An Informal Hour with Andrew Carnegie - Andrew Bro and William Sparboe will provide an entertaining program on Andrew Carnegie.

How to Use Your Website to Effectively Market Your Library - Websites can be wonderful assets – or unused liabilities that no one wants to visit.  Marilyn will cover how to make sure that YOUR website earns its keep and works for you!  She’ll also review how to make sure that expectations for a website are in line with what is scoped to accomplish (and how to define scope), what websites do best and what challenges they represent (both inherent and thrust upon them by their owners/creators), and how to best utilize your website as a cost-effective tool – especially important in these challenging economic times.

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.

Member News

Smithsonian Between Fences Opens March 7 

Princeton Public Library announces the opening and upcoming events for the Between Fences exhibition, a cooperation between Princeton Public Library, the Smithsonian Institution and the Illinois Humanities Council. The exhibit is on display at Princeton Public Library from March 7 through April 18, 2009.  Between Fences is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. Financial support for local programs and publicity has been provided by Princeton Public Library, the Illinois Humanities Council and the Friends of the Princeton Public Library. For more information about the exhibit and to schedule group tours, please contact the library at 815-875-1331 or visit the Between Fences dedicated website at www.princetonpl.org/fences2009/index.html.

Book Discussion of The God of Animals with the Author Aryn Kyle Followed by Pizza

Wednesday, March 25, discussion 4:00-5:00 p.m.; pizza & pop, 5:00-5:30 p.m., Junior League Program Room
Join the author Aryn Kyle (all the way from Missoula, Montana) at the Bettendorf Public Library for a discussion of her haunting debut coming-of-age novel The God of Animals.  This book was also one of ten recipients of the Young Adult Library Services Association’s 2008 Alex Awards for adult books with specific teen appeal, so it would be suitable for both adults and older teens.  Books were funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library and are available for loan on a first-come basis at the Information Desk starting Monday February 16.  Feel free to join us even if you haven’t read the book.  Registration required, so we know how much pizza to order.   Register online at www.bettendorflibrary.com/events  or call 344-4175.
Ms. Kyle’s visit to the Quad-Cities is in partnership with Augustana College where she will be speaking in The River Readings series, Thursday, March 26, 7:00 p.m., Wallenberg Hall.

Continuous Learning

Interviewing Workshop

The second program in the PALS series on job hunting will be held on Tuesday, March 10 from 9 – 10:30 in the PALS OPAL room.  Jenna Weidenbenner will discuss interviewing techniques including basic formats, proper attire, typical questions asked (and their answers), how to make the most of career fairs and other informal interview opportunities.

Please joins us in the OPAL room by registering in L2.

Don’t miss out on one of these great LITA educational workshops - held on Friday, July 10, 2009 in Chicago.

*Creating Library Web Services: Mashups and APIs* del.icio.us subject guides, Flickr library displays, YouTube library orientation; with mashups and APIs, it's easier to bring pieces of the web together with library data. Learn what an API is and what it does, the components of web services, how to build a mashup, how to work with PHP, and how to create web services for your library. Participants should be comfortable with HTML markup and have an interest in learning about web scripting and programming and are encouraged to bring a laptop for hands-on participation. Karen Coombs of the University of Houston is presenting.

*A Thousand Words: Taking Better Photos for Telling Stories in Your Library* Learn techniques for shooting and editing better photos, camera settings that make for the best photos, and basics of editing an image. Learn how to capture library events more effectively and artistically, take and select better photos for websites and promotional materials. Licensing work and finding others via Creative Commons will also be covered.  Participants should bring a digital camera and laptop; familiarity with moving photos from camera to computer is a must. Cindi Trainor, Michael Porter, and Helene Blowers are presenting

More information is available at the LITA Web site http://www.lita.org/

You do NOT need to attend Annual Conference to register for a LITA preconfernce. Visit the 2009 ALA Annual Conference registration page http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/2009/registration.cfm to register for these events.

The Illinois State Library Diversity Program Presents:

“Empowering Library Staff to Meet the Needs of the Spanish Speaking Community”

DATE:   March 19, 2009
TIME: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
PLACE:  Lincoln Trail Libraries System
1704 West Interstate Drive, Champaign, IL 61822
PRESENTERS:    
Vandella Brown, Manager, Illinois State Library Diversity Program
Cheryl Goza Smith, Library Specialist, Illinois State Library Diversity Program
REGISTRATION:  No Fee-Register at https://www.librarylearning.info/?LibSys=LTLS

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

 Recently discarded from the Davenport Public Library:

-      Patterson’s American Education 104 Ed. 2008
-      Patterson’s Elementary Education Vol. 20 2008
-      Who’s Who in the Midwest 34 Ed. 2008
-      The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2008
-      RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 65th Ed. 2007
-      NOLO The Criminal Law Handbook 9th Ed. 2007
-      Community Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics 20th Ed. 2006
-      CQ Press Federal-State Court Directory 2007
-      Iowa Practice Criminal Law V. 4 2007-2008
-      Requirements for Certification of Teachers, Counselors, Librarians Administration for Elementary and Secondary Schools 71st Ed. 2006-2007 and 72nd Ed. 2007-2008

 If interested contact:
Cristina Amador-Perez
Phone: (563) 326-7832
Email: Camador-perez@davenportlibrary.com

Deere has the following microfilm available free:

Barron's 1975-1994
Barron's National Business and Financial Weekly 1994-1999
Business Week 1964-1992
Forbes 1960-1991
Fortune 1960-1991
Journal of the American Society for Information Science 1950-1979
Management Solutions 1986-1988
New York Times 1976-1990
Office 1977-1993
Personnel 1960-1991
Personnel Journal  1960-1991
Special Libraries 1961-1996
Supervisory Management 1955-1986,1989-1991
Time 1973-1992
Wall Street Journal 1969-1999

Please Contact:
Nancy Swanson
SwansonNancyD@JohnDeere.com
309-765-4884

Youth Services & School Library News

Abe News!

The winner of the 2009 Abraham Lincoln IL High School Book Award is Crank by Ellen Hopkins.  In second place was Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess, and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan was third.  We had the most participants ever with 133 schools and libraries submitting ballots and a total of 1,889 votes were cast!

Advocacy News

 How Did Your Legislators Vote?

Go to the home page of Roll Call, enter your zip code. You can sign up for weekly e-letter notice for issues and score card showing how your senators and congressman voted. It makes for an easy way to keep up and send your email correspondence to DC. As newspapers are decreasing staff and coverage, this allows you to easily keep up.
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/officials/congress/?district=16&lvl=C&azip=61107&state=IL

State Stimulus Website

The state of Illinois has a new website up and running that will provide residents with information regarding the federal stimulus package.  The site, www.Recovery.Illinois.Gov, specifically tracks where Illinois’ stimulus money is being spent and provides additional transparency for your tax dollars.  You can even submit projects you think are worthy and should be considered with Illinois’ share of stimulus funds.  Go check it out when you get a chance.

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