February 5, 2010 issue

Prairie Views: Newsletter of the Prairie Area Library System

SYSTEM NEWS

Take a Snapshot of Your Library Next Wednesday!

Libraries throughout the state are participating in "Snapshot of a Day in the Life of Your Library" next Wednesday, February 10th. Libraries will collect statistics, comments, and photographs from the day to show how busy libraries are and how libraries consistently provide invaluable services to our communities. Participants can use the collected information to promote their library to local elected officials, library boards, principals, State Representatives and Senators and members of the media. Find all the materials needed to participate here.

Holiday Closing

The three PALS Service Centers will be closed on Monday, February 15, in observance of the President's Day holiday. There will be no deliveries made that day.

Why Working Together is the Key to Survival

In her weekly podcast, NSLS Executive Director Sarah Long talks with Michael Piper, Executive Director for the Prairie Area Library System, which covers a service area of 10,000 square miles in northern Illinois.  Through years working in the arena of multi-type library cooperation in Kansas, Texas, Michigan, and Indiana, Michael is convinced that the sustainability of libraries and library systems is dependent on cooperation and consortia.  And as "bartenders of knowledge," cooperative efforts will support us in what we do best - help people transform and grow.
http://www.librarybeat.com/longshots/play/210

MEMBER LIBRARY NEWS

Supporting Students: Clarence Mitchell Library Focuses on Academics

Des Plaines Library Dist. Finally Gets Its Win

Selby Township Library Receives Grant

Selby Township Library ( DePue) was awarded a Libri Foundation Children's Book Grant. The library's sponsor is the DePue Men's Club. They donated the maximum amount of $350.00 according to one of the criteria of the grant. This first round it looks like our library is the only Illinois library to receive one.

Not sure if all libraries know about this grant. There are 3 application deadlines each year-January, April, and September. If awarded one then a library cannot apply until 3 years have passed. The information on their site is pretty complete but the contact person is very helpful if there are any questions.

The website is: www.librifoundation.org

Sheree Kozel-La Ha Nominated for ILA Vice President/President Elect

Congratulations to Homer Township Library Director Sheree Kozel-La Ha who has been nominated as a candidate for the position of Illinois Library Association Vice President/President Elect.   The winning candidate serves a 3 year term—Vice President, President, Past President. 

A former PALS library director, Cynthia Fuerst, is also on the ballot for a Member-at-Large position.   Cindy, who was a Kankakee Public Library, is presently director at Vernon Area Public Library District in Lincolnshire.

Woodstock

The Woodstock Public Library is joining libraries across the state in participating in “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries” on Wednesday to show how important academic, public, school and special libraries and library systems are in Illinois.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://nwherald.com/articles/2010/02/04/r_jx44mfzswmxn5z1a20wxq/index.xml

Happy Birthday, Margaret!!!

The PALS staff would like to extend birthday wishes to Margaret Knight from Eswood School District #269 who is celebrating her 90th birthday!  After retiring from a school librarian position in the Chicago suburbs, Margaret moved to Eswood and became the school librarian there.  Although she has since retired again from that position, Margaret still works in the library several hours each week.  Just imagine how many students she has helped connect with the right book during her career!  Best wishes, Margaret!

Six PALS Librarians Named to 2010 Synergy Group

Synergy is the Illinois Library Leadership Initiative 2010, the statewide library community's movement to recruit and nurture future Illinois library leaders.  Congratulations to these PALS librarians who have been named to be part of this group:   Sue Foster, Rock Island Public Library; Laura Lowe, Des Plaines Valley Public Library District; Susan Parsons, Plainfield Public Library District; Deborah Shippey, Moline Public Library; Andrea Vernola, Woodstock Public Library; and Frances Whaley, Illinois Valley Community College.

Libraries Together Announces the 3rd Annual YouTube Video Contest

Libraries Together, a collaborative team of librarians from Scott County (Scott County Library, Davenport Public Library, Bettendorf Public Library, LeClaire Community Library), and the Putnam Museum and IMAX Theatre are pleased to announce the third annual YouTube video contest for teens.  As in previous years, teens are invited to create a video on our theme and upload it to YouTube during Teen Tech Week, March 7th-13th.  Teens should begin their planning and filming now.  Themes for this year’s contest are- “Picture books come to life,” Live-action anime,” or “A day in the life of your favorite author.”  Participants are encouraged to use movie editing software at their local library’s computer lab.   

The videos will be shown at an exclusive Red Carpet Premiere Party to be held at the Putnam Museum and IMAX theatre in Davenport on March 25th at 6 p.m.  Contest rules and entry forms are available at all libraries in Scott County or on our website at www.librariestogether.org.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING

Moline Public Library Presents Black Belt Librarians Featuring Warren Graham

When: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where:
Moline Public Library
3210 41st Street
Moline, IL 61265

Flyer attached.

HR Program Archives Available on L2

For those of you who are interested in Human Resources programming, the archives of the Alliance Library System’s HR series are available through L2. Here is the complete list for this Spring’s offerings.   If you could not/cannot attend a session when it was/is offered then you can find the listing on L2 with the recording archive attached and listen to the program on your own.

CREATING AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK - January 5, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom
COMPLETING PAPERWORK FOR NEW EMPLOYEES - February 2, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom 
CONDUCTING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING & ORIENTATION - March 2, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom
CHOOSING GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND GOAL-SETTING - April 6, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom
IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED TRAINING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE  - May 4, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom
PLANNING AND COMPLETING FIRINGS AND LAYOFFS  - June 1, 2010 - ALS WIMBA Online Classroom 

FREEBIES, EXCHANGES & FOR SALE

Highland Community College has periodicals to give away. See attached list. Several titles have missing issues, but major gaps are noted. If interested, contact:
Pam Harrison, pam.harrison@highland.edu or 815/599-3657

YOUTH SERVICES & SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS

Family Reading Night Supplies Deadline

Next Friday, February 12th is the deadline to apply for free posters and bookmarks for Family Reading Night 2010. Materials ordered after the February 12 deadline cannot be guaranteed. Order here.

Monarch, Bluestem, & Caudill Lists Available

The Monarch (K-3),  Bluestem (3-5), and Caudill (4-8) award lists for 2011 have been announced.  Here are the links to the lists:
Monarch 
Bluestem (will be posted soon)
Caudill 

AROUND THE STATE & NATION

Alexander J. Skrzypek Award

Do you know anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of library services for the blind or physically disabled in Illinois? The ILA Awards Committee is seeking nominations for the Alexander J. Skrzypek Award which is sponsored by the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service.   Look around at your colleagues, library boards or consultants and nominate someone who has gone above and beyond to bring services to the blind and physically disabled.

Please send nomination letters and supporting documentation to ILA or nominate online at http://www.ila.org/membership/awards.htm
If you have any questions, please contact Sara McCambridge at sara@homerlibrary.org.

Give someone who has done an outstanding job get recognized by their peers!

ILA Identifies Bills that could Impact Libraries

The Illinois Library Association Public Policy Committee has identified about 20 bills currently introduced into the General Assembly that could impact libraries.   To look at these bills please visit CapWiz. Topics covered include PTELL, FOIA and personnel information, IMRF, energy conservation…

GRANT NEWS

Illinois Humanities Council New Community Grants Guidelines

Application deadlines are February 15 and April 15 for the newest round of IHC Community Grants.   The newly revised guidelines can be found at http://www.prairie.org/programs/eligibility/21391.  Grants are available in 4 categories--Project Grants, Media Grants, Technical Assistance Grants(for organizations whose income is $250,000 or less) and General Support Grants (limited to nonprofit organizations whose mission directly engages the humanities)-- and in amounts of $2,000. $4,000 and $5,000.

Refer to the Procedures Manual at http://www.prairie.org/files/ihc/ApplicationProcedures2010_Feb1-2010.pdf for detailed information.

Advocacy News

Senator Toi Hutchinson, District 40, at Legislative Reception at Olivet Nazarene University (Clockwise Senator Toi Hutchinson, Kathy Boyens, Olivet Nazarene University, Steve Bertrand, Kankakee Public Library, Jodie Depatis, Bradley Public Library, Steve LeBarre, Bradley Public Library, Nancy Smith PALS)

Last Friday more than 30 people representing at least nine Kankakee & Grundy County libraries heard State Senator Toi Hutchinson share her family's experiences with libraries.  The group attended a Legislative Reception hosted by Benner Library.  The purpose of Legislative Receptions is to provide a venue for library supporters to talk to their legislators about what libraries are doing for their constituents with State and local resources and to let the legislators know what future issues and needs will be.

Prairie Area Library System (PALS) Director Michael C. Piper opened the session, welcoming the participants and the Senator. Then several library directors made formal presentations. Bourbonnais Director Diana Dillinger provided a picture of the 200 items a day that are delivered to that library through the statewide and PALS delivery services helping adults with business and educational research, providing local elementary and secondary students with information for writing reports & papers, and all types of patrons with the books and a-v materials that they want but cannot find on the shelves of Bourbonnais Public Library. At Manteno Public Library there have been double digit rises in all kinds of use statistics. Director Jeanne Mueller reported that 52% more people used the library in 2009 than in 2008 and internet sessions rose 49%.

Kankakee Community College and Olivet Nazarene reported that the upswings in student enrollment have been accompanied by a 35% increase in the number of people through the doors of each of their libraries.   They explained to the group that the college libraries use state support provided through PALS and through the statewide academic consortium to purchase discounted software, co-sponsor programs, and get staff training as well as loan and borrow items across the state.  Those two libraries alone borrowed more than 16,000 items for their students in 2009.

Ten library trustees, 14 library workers, and three citizens from the Kankakee area each introduced themselves to Senator Hutchinson and told her a bit about how their library was serving their constituents.   Then Senator Hutchinson spoke to them about how libraries had impacted her life and her family, commenting that her son at that moment was at their home public library as part of a tutoring program.   The Senator then shared with the group information about the current State fiscal crisis and her concerns for the future.

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

All subscribers are encouraged to submit contributions and suggestions to prairieviews@palsnet.info. Submissions must be received by Tuesday to appear in the upcoming edition. To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this newsletter, please visit the following link: http://mailman.palsnet.info/mailman/listinfo/pviews