issue#37
| volume
#3 issue#37 |
|
September 21, 2006 |
| |
Prairie Views:
the newsletter of the Prairie Area Library |
System News
Rides to ILA Exhibits Thursday, October 5th
Once again ILA is
offering free admission to the Exhibits including Talk Tables and Poster Sessions.
Attendees must register at the door. For more information see http://www.ila.org/events/conference.htm.
PALS is offering rides for a limited number of seats on Thursday, October 5th.
Please select the service center you would like to depart from and register
by September 26th. Register
in CLeO. Exact times and possible alternate pick up points will be
e-mailed to registrants after the 26th. The goal would be to leave each location
in time to reach Chicago by 10 AM and to leave Chicago on the return trip about
4PM. Questions? contact Nancy Smith, nancys@palsnet.info or x4466.
Lunch @ ILA
PALS will be offering a lunch of pizza, snacks and networking
from 12:30 to 2:30 PM on Thursday, October 5th during the Illinois Library
Association conference. The hospitality suite will be in the Chicago City
Center/Holiday Inn Hotel (room number will be provided at a later date.) ILA
busses will provide transportation to the hotel and back to Navy Pier. Kick
off your shoes, have a good lunch, sign up for doorprizes and talk with your
peers. PALS staff will be in attendance so it will be a great time to put names
and faces together. Register for lunch in CLeO at: http://www.palsnet.info/events/
PALSGroup Migration Update
Keep abreast of what's happening with the countdown to the PALSGroup merger
and the new PrairieCat library catalog by visiting the PALSGroup
merger area of the
PALS website.
Upcoming PALSGroup Meetings (and links to CLeO registration if available):
Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 10 am to 3 pm, PALSGroup
Circulation Users Group Meeting, Mendota Civic Center
Thursday, September 28, 2006, 10 am to 3 pm, PALSGroup
Administrative Council Meeting, LaSalle Public Library
Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 2 to 4 pm, PALSGroup OPAC Users Group Meeting,
via videoconference from three PALS Service Centers
Wednesday, October 25, 2006, 10 am to 3 pm, PALSGroup
Delegates Assembly, Mendota
Civic Center
Thursday, November 9, 2006, 9:30 am, PALSGroup Technical Services Users Group
Meeting, via videoconference from three PALS Service Centers
Tuesday, November 15, 2006, 10 am to 3 pm, PALSGroup OPAC Users Group Meeting,
location TBA
Tuesday, November 28, 2006, 10 am, PALSGroup Circulation Users Group Meeting,
via videoconference from three PALS Service Centers
Illinois Statewide Cataloging Standards – Barcode
Testing Begins
Cataloging standards
provide the foundation for achieving reliable online access to the vast information
resources contained within the collections of Illinois’ multitype libraries.
The Illinois Statewide Cataloging Standards are not intended to serve as a
manual of data entry procedures. Rather, the intent is to prescribe adherence
to nationally accepted cataloging standards and guidelines that are crucial
to the viability of shared bibliographic databases. Selecting the correct record
already in the local database, attaching and adding your holding only, with
no editing to the bibliographic record, will be tested for in the Barcoding
Level of the certification. The Barcoding test is the foundation to the next
two levels of certification, Copy Cataloging and Original Cataloging. Please
note: any staff who adds items to the HAL or Quad-LINC databases (fully participating
or Union List members) must pass the barcoding test and be certified at the
barcoding level by June 30, 2007. Any staff who adds items to NIC or NILSCatT
databases must pass the barcoding test and be certified at the barcoding level
by December 31, 2007. In our merged PALSGroup consortium, all staff who add
items to the database will have unique logins to the system based on their
certification level.
PALS has set one day each month beginning in September
for Barcode Testing. The testing day will be the same at all 3 service centers.
You may come anytime between 9 am and 4 pm, but need to register in CLEO for
which day you will be coming. It will be 1st come, 1st served. We anticipate
that the test will take approximately 1 ½ hours to complete, however
you may have as much time as you need to complete it. The scheduled testing
dates are Wednesday, September 27th; Thursday, October 12th; Tuesday, November
14th; Friday, December 1st; Wednesday, January 10th; Thursday, February 15th.
More dates will be added as needed after February.
You will need to create
your holdings so as to be consistent with the policies your library uses. For
example, if your fiction books are categorized in Item Cat 1 as mystery rather
than fiction, that is how you should add them during testing. Add the items
as if you were at work at your own library. The tests will be graded within
a week of the testing date and results will be sent to you via delivery. A
practice test and supporting information is available on the PALS website at:
http://www.palsnet.info/services/ts/palsgroup/
If you have any questions please
contact Merideth Willett x3257 meridethw@palsnet.info or John Slanicky x2716
johns@palsnet.info
Events/Continuous Learning
CLeO: All continuous learning events
sponsored by PALS are open to all staff or representatives of member libraries.
Registration is required for all PALS continuous learning programs. To
register, visit the PALS CLeO at http://www.palsnet.info/events/
Information on registration, how to set up a CLeO account, and PALS procedures
for continuous learning can be found on the PALS website at: http://www.palsnet.info/services/cl/default.asp
PALS
Events by Month
The
Power of Word of Mouth Marketing
Join the New Lenox Library for this great workshop on Friday,
November 10, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. Check out the flyer for
this upcoming workshop.
Please join us for our next bi-monthly OPAL program
Wednesday, September
27 from 9-10:30 a.m. Attorney Phil Lenzini will address the topics of Impact
Fees, TIF's, Tax Abatement, and Public Act 94-0976. If you have never participated
in an OPAL session, we encourage you to contact Rita McGeary (x4463), Nancy
Smith (x4466), or Sandy Ringstrom (x2710) for assistance. This will be a
great way to gain a better understanding of these issues without leaving
your desk. To register, go to http://www.palsnet.info/events/?Action=Calendar&mode=Daily&date=9/27/2006
Member News
Meet
the author of Fast Track, John Dedakis, in Chadwick, IL
The
author, a script writer for CNN's Wolf Blitzer, will be speaking about writing
his fictional account based on a train/car wreck in Chadwick that he witnessed
as a boy. The talk is being sponsored by Chadwick Public Library and
is being held at the First Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Chadwick, 19
West 3rd Street. Phone the library at 815-684-5215 for further details.
Everyone is Invited!
Saturday, September 30, 2006 is the Moline Public
Library Official Dedication.
Open House is from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. As their Grand Opening exhibit the library
is excited to offer "Crafting Tradition: Oaxacan Wood Carvings".
It was chosed to be the first exhibit for the new library in celebration of
different cultures found in the Quad Cities. For more information please call
309-762-6883.
Telling the World About Donating Books
Sarah Tobias, Director of the Sycamore Public Library, shared an article she
wrote that was recently included in the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. She's had alot
of positive feedback from her users.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2006/09/13/neighbors/neighbors05.txt
Missing Books - we've added a new section
to Prairie Views where members are welcome to post information about materials
that are missing in transit. As with all Prairie Views submissions, please send
to prairieviews@palsnet.info.
No
Missing Books this week.
Freebies/Exchanges/For
Sale/Wanted
Prairie Area Library System offers a means for members to share
discarded items to needy libraries. Procedures are outlined in the Reference
Member Services Guide http://www.palsnet.info/services/reference/reference_guide.asp
They are also outlined below.
Libraries wanting to offer up materials are to notify Brenda Roman (brendar@palsnet.info or x3152) or Judy
Hutchinson (judyh@palsnet.info or
x3150), or you can email to Prairie Views (mailto:prairieviews@lists.palsnet.info),
providing the following information:
*Library's name and phone number
*Title(s) of the items
discarded
A list
will be compiled for inclusion in the weekly Prairie Views newsletter. Anyone
interested in freebies are to contact the library directly, (no earlier than
Monday following the listing). Members are responsible for making their
own arrangements. The PALS van delivery may be available for transporting items,
as space and time permits. Contact your
Service Center Delivery Manager to arrange for delivery of large shipments.
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 a chance to see the message and request the materials if
they are interested. Thanks for your cooperation - we have had several complaints
in recent weeks about items being released before Monday.
O'Keefe Library
*Ward’s Business
Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies (47th Ed) 2004 – 8 volumes
-must arrange pickup of this set.
*Rand McNally Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide
2005 (2 volumes)
*Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media 13th ed
(2003) – 5 volumes
Contact Eliza Gillies at GilliesElizaL@sau.edu
DeKalb Public Library
*Best’s Insurance Reports/Life and Health 2005- 2 volumes
Contact Pat at 815-756-9568 x35.
Wysox Township Public Library
(Milledgeville)
has a used microfilm reader to
give away. It is a DuKane model #27A25B-18 and it does work. It must be picked
up and it is very heavy.
If you have are interested or have any questions, please call:
Mary Barnhart
815-225-7572
New Lenox Public Library
*Consumer Sourcebook, 18th Edition, 2006
*Gale Directory of Publications and
Broadcast Media, 139th Edition, vol. 1 - 5 + update, 2004.
*Business Organizations,
Agencies, and Publications Directory, 17th Edition, 2004.
If interested, contact:
Linda McNicholas
New Lenox Public Library
(815) 485-2605
lmcnicholas@newlenoxlibrary.org
Job Openings
Jobs can be submitted on the PALS website at http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/ or by
sending them to prairieviews@palsnet.info. All jobs
submitted by either method will be included in Prairie Views for one
week and will be posted for 120 days on the PALS website unless the library
posting the job requests that it be removed before 120 days. Visit http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/
to views all the job ads that PALS currently has posted.
Web Services Coordinator
Prairie Area Library System
Are you looking for new,
exciting challenges in your career? Interested in working with a state of the
art integrated library system public interface? Are you ready to work with
and for positive, upbeat, hard-working professionals to help improve and enhance
library service to northern Illinois libraries? The Prairie Area Library System
(PALS) is looking for an innovative, technologically progressive, self-starter
willing to share their positive outlook and team player skills with colleagues
and member libraries. As part of the Technology Services department of PALS,
the ideal applicants will have: 3 years managing web based services with hardware & software
responsibilities; 2 years experience with MySQL & Microsoft Access; Strong
understanding of Internet-based services and protocols, especially MySQL, HTML,
ASP; Demonstrated ability to communicate technical ideas and plans to non-technical
clientele in a helpful and friendly manner; Self-motivation and ability to
work as a team member; and a strong customer service orientation.
The successful
applicant may work from any of the three PALS locations, Coal Valley, Rockford,
or Shorewood.
Bachelor Degree in computer or information science or appropriate
and demonstrated skill sets required.
Salary range $38,788 - 58,182. Excellent
benefits.
Visit http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/wsc.doc for complete job description
and http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/application.doc for the application. Review
of applications will continue until position is filled. Please submit application
and resume with three professional references to Shirley Grasty, 405 Earl Road,
Shorewood, IL 60404 or shirleyg@palsnet.info
PALS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Library Services Coordinator
Prairie Area Library System
Are you looking for
new, exciting challenges in your career? Do you enjoy traveling throughout
beautiful northern Illinois? Are you ready to work with and for positive, upbeat,
hard-working professionals to help improve and enhance library service to northern
Illinois libraries? The Prairie Area Library System (PALS) is looking for two
innovative, technologically progressive, self-starters willing to share their
positive outlooks and team player skills with colleagues and member libraries.
As part of the consulting and continuous learning department of PALS, the ideal
applicants will have: work experience in several types of libraries and at
different levels within those libraries; excellent written and oral communication
skills; demonstrated leadership; grant writing experience; at least five years
library experience; and supervisory or administrative library experience highly
desirable.
*Applicants must also be proficient with new technologies, possess
a positive outlook, work well with groups, be a team player, and be able to
travel within the System's 11,000 square mile area. The successful applicants
may work from any of the three PALS locations, Coal Valley, Rockford, or Shorewood.
ALA/MLS required.
*Salary range $45,000 - 67,500. Excellent benefits.
Visit
http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/lsc.doc for complete job description and http://www.palsnet.info/jobs/application.doc for the application. Review of applications will continue until position is
filled. Please submit resumes with three professional references to Shirley
Grasty, 405 Earl Road, Shorewood, IL 60404 or shirleyg@palsnet.info
PALS is
an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Assistant
Manager
Adult and Teen Services
Fountaindale Public Library District, which
proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois,
is seeking an experienced, public service-oriented librarian to assist the
department manager in development and delivery of reference, readers advisory,
interlibrary loan and computer services to library patrons.
*
Supervises interlibrary
loan and computer assistance staff. Assists patrons at the Adult and Teen Services
desk. This full-time position includes evening and weekend hours. Master’s
degree from an ALA-accredited library school , plus three year’s experience
required.
*
Starting salary: $37,947 per year
*
Closing date: September 22, 2006,
or until position is filled.
Send cover letter, resume and three references,
including contact information, to:
Helen Valantinas
Foutaindale Public Library
District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
hvalantinas@fountaindale.lib.il.us
Children’s Services Assistant
Fountaindale Public Library District, which
proudly serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook and Romeoville, Illinois,
is seeking two public service-oriented individuals to provide reference services
and programming in the Children’s Services departments at our Bolingbrook
and Romeoville libraries.
*
Duties includes helping patrons at the Children’s
Services desks, planning and conducting children’s programs, and preparing
materials for bibliographies and displays. These 25-hour per week, part-time
positions include evening and weekend hours.
*
LA/LTA certification or an Associate’s
degree in child development, plus one year related of experience required.
*
Starting salary: $12.16 per hour
*
Closing date: September 29, 2006, or until
position is filled.
Send cover letter, resume and three references, including contact information,
to:
Helen Valantinas
Foutaindale Public Library District
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
hvalantinas@fountaindale.lib.il.us
Information Center Adult Services Manager
*Where:
Bettendorf Public Library
*Title: Adult Services Manager
*
FSLA:
Exempt
*
Pay Grade: 212
*
Department: Public Library
*
Pay Range: $43,927 - $67,648
Annual
*
General Summary: Responsible for planning and supervising the activities
of an assigned program area (i.e. Circulation, Technical Services, Adult and
Information Services and Youth Services) in the Bettendorf Public Library.
Administers area policies and procedures and serves as the primary resource
for program development and evaluation within assigned area.
*
Knowledge, Skills,
and Abilities Required: Education: A professional level of knowledge normally
acquired through completion of a Master's degree in Library Science. Knowledge
of personal computers, Microsoft Office suite, standard databases and automated
library catalog. Experience: Two to three years work experience as a Librarian.
Three years’ supervisory
experience. Interpersonal Skills: The ability to interpret and enforce policies
and procedures as well as guide and motivate staff. The job requires contact
with a wide range of publics from Library patron to area educators and the
ability to positively represent the Library. Analytical Skills: The ability
to plan, organize and manage the work of assigned Library area as well as being
the technical resource individual for area involved in program development
and evaluation activities. Working Conditions: Work is generally performed
in a normal office environment.
Send
cover letter, resume, city application to:
Kathleen Eisbrener
Human Resources
Director
1609 State Street
Bettendorf,Iowa, 52722.
For more information please go to http://www.bettendorf.org/employment/joblibrary.html
Job application available at http://www.bettendorf.org
Position
close date on September 29th, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.
Reference and ILL News
Illinet ILL Statistics Are Due!
A friendly
reminder that all PALS Illinois member libraries are expected to submit Illinet
Interlibrary Loan Traffic Report forms each year, as requested by the Illinois
State Library. A good response to this survey by Illinois libraries is crucial
for tracking statewide resource-sharing. A letter with the URL and login information
was mailed to all libraries earlier this year, or visit http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/web/ILL2006/ to login to complete the survey. You will need your ELI login and password
to login to complete the survey. If you need your ELI login, contact Judy Hutchinson
(x 3150 or judyh@palsnet.info) or Nancy Smith (x 4466 or nancys@palsnet.info)
at PALS, or Gwen Harrison at the Illinois State Library (gharrison@ilsos.net).
Refwiki Introduction & Training
Refwiki is a new web resource for all PALS
libraries to use and contribute to. It will include information about each
library's collection strengths, online databases, and other resources. And
the goal is for it to include a lot more! Refwiki is a collaborative effort
built on the same platform as Wikipedia, which means that anyone in a PALS
library can add or change pages using simple formatting marks, without needing
special software. This hands-on class is taught by Dawne Tortorella of Bellcow,
Inc., and it will cover:
* Overview of Refwiki
* Editing a library's resource-survey
form
* Editing and adding pages in Refwiki
* Page reversion, "special" pages,
and other wiki features
To register for these programs, visit the PALS CLeO by clicking on the links
below.
For further information, please contact Brian Smith at Homer Twp. PLD, 708-301-7908.
October
11, 2006, 10 am -12 pm, Shorewood Service Center
October
13, 2006, 1 pm - 3 pm,
Coal Valley Service Center
October
16, 2006, 10 am - 12 pm,
Rockford Service Center
Funding
for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division
of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute
of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and
Technology Act (LSTA).
Shorewood Area Reader's Advisory Meeting
There will be a reader's advisory meeting on Thursday, October 19 from 2-4
p.m. at the New Lenox Public Library District. The topic will be HORROR so
please read a horror book of your choosing and come prepared to discuss it
at the meeting. If you have questions or need directions to the library, please
contact Debbie Griggs at 818-485-2605.
PDR Electronic Library
The Illinois State Library staff is pleased to announce that
PDR-Electronic Library is available at no charge on a limited availability
basis. Some stipulations to this offer may apply. Questions about the PDR-Electronic
Library or the
application
form should
be directed to Gwen Harrison, gharrison@ilsos.net or
217-785-7334. Libraries currently subscribed do not need to re-apply. Libraries
wishing to subscribe to the PDR Electronic Library can sign up at any time.
NOTE: This PDR Electronic Library offer through the E-RICH service is a one-year
commitment only.
Youth Services and School Library News
No Youth Services and School Library News this week.
Public Library News
2004/05 IPLAR Statistics Now Available
The Illinois public library annual report (IPLAR) statistics
from fiscal year 2004/05 are now available via the Illinois State Library's web
site;
click on Reference; click on Statistical Information for Libraries; scroll
to public libraries; click on the link under Illinois Public Library Statistics.
An additional link to the statistical reports is available at http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/web/IPLS.html.
All of the data included is extremely useful. In particular, libraries should
review the Statewide Statistical Analysis, the Management Profiles, and the
Library Personnel: Hourly Wage Reports. Questions about the IPLAR statistics
should be directed to Ron Winner, rwinner@ilsos.net or 800-665-5576 x1.
Academic Library News
No Academic Library News this week.
Special Library News
No Special Library News this week.
Support Staff News
No
Support Staff News this week.
Technology Services News
“Heads Up!” Regarding E-Rate Technology
Plans
USAC, the administering
agency for the E-Rate telecommunications discount program, has been contacting
some applicants and asking for proof of their certification form for a current
technology plan. If you do not have the certification form and/or need help
with this, please contact Kacy Kelly at ext. 3251 or kacyk@palsnet.info
New Books at PALS
No New Books at PALS this week.
Library News Around the State & Nation
DOPA and the Participation Gap
In this article excerpted
for the ALA website from the recent ILA Reporter, Illinois Library Association
Executive Director Robert P. Doyle summarizes some practical alternatives for
teen online safety that are far less intrusive than the Deleting Online Predators
Act (H.R. 5319), passed by the House in July. The article also includes basic
rules of online safety for teens and talking points on DOPA for librarians
and educators.
News from Vendors
Perma-Bound's Website Is Getting Great Reviews!
Check out Perma-Bound's website for
new features and information on new discount pricing guidelines. A letter from
Sales Rep John Simpson is attached with more information. Contact John with
questions:
John N. Simpson, Sales Representative
1458 W. Flint Lane
Romeoville, IL 60446
800-224-4393
Phone
800-224-4418
Fax
Legislative/Advocacy News
Senator Burzynski Proud of Promoting Reading
Senator Burzynski features a
photo of his READ poster presentation on his web site. The site also features
a photo of him reading to children while at the Malta PL. This serves well
to illustrate how legislators appreciate being invited to participate at events
at the libraries in their districts. It's a two way street. They welcome a
chance to interact with their constituents and libraries have a chance to show
that they are not only constituents themselves but that they serve the public
in the community and are a valued addition to that community. http://www.senatorbrad.com/Photo%20Gallery%2004.html
Senator Dahl Makes Surprise Stop in Coal City PL
Senator Dahl first met Jolene
Franciskovich, director of Coal City PL, at last year's Legislative Program
at the LaSalle PL. Shortly following the program and having met some of the
librarians in his district for the first time, he made an unscheduled stop
at the Coal City library to say hello and see the library in action. Last week,
on September 12, he made a second surprise, incognito, appearance while in
Coal City for another event. The senator was so impressed by seeing citizens
using the library that he has used the library as an example of the way libraries
support the community. Although no formal programs were scheduled at the time
of the senator's visit and children were still in school, he saw citizens using
the library computers, in the aisles browsing books, looking for material and
reading newspapers while seated in the library.
When I met with the senator
in his Peru office, he cited the library to his staff as an example of how
libraries serve their community and how he has become a supporter of libraries.
You need not be caught by surprise by your legislators. Call, invite them and
offer to give a tour of your library. If our legislators see our libraries
in use, they're more likely to be our supporters and champions. They stay attuned
to the needs of their constituents. Let them see for themselves that their
constituents are library users and need their libraries. You never know. What
they might see for themselves is that your library needs help to expand and
is outgrowing the space available to serve the need even better. Seeing is
much more effective than hearing or reading about it.
Representative Ron Wait and Dave Winters to Be Guest Readers and Receive READ
Posters
State Representative Ron Wait will be a guest reader at a
preschool story hour at Genoa Public Library in Genoa on Wednesday, October
18. Following the story hour, Representative Wait will be presented with his
READ poster. Representative Dave Winters will similarly be the guest reader
and receive his READ poster on Wednesday, October 11 at the Talcott Free Public
Library in Rockton. Inviting legislators, whether at the state or local level,
is an easy way to have them see your library in action serving their constituents.
If you've not yet done so, it's not too late even with summer programs at an
end. Invite your state senator and representative. Invite your mayor and councilmen.
Take a photo of them reading to the children. Give them a tour of the library.
Create a READ poster and present it to them. Invite them to be guest readers.
The first and perhaps the most important step in advocacy is to get to know
the legislators well. What better and easier way than to have them come to
you at your library!
Just So You Know
No Just So You
Know this week.
Grant News
NEH,
ALA Public Programs Office Announce 2,000 New We
the People Bookshelf Grants on the "Pursuit of Happiness"
CHICAGO - The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO)
is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
for the fourth We the People Bookshelf project. Part of the NEH's We the People
initiative, the Bookshelf is a grant program created to encourage young people
to read and understand great literature while exploring themes in American
history.
This
year's theme is the "Pursuit of Happiness." In spring 2007, NEH and ALA
will select 2,000 libraries to receive the Bookshelf. Those selected
will be required to use the Bookshelf selections in programs for young readers
in their communities. School (K-12) and public libraries are eligible to apply
online September 19, 2006 through January 31, 2007. Successful applicants will
receive the Bookshelf - a collection of 15 classic hardcover books for young
readers, all related to the "Pursuit of Happiness" theme. In addition, libraries
will receive four of these books in Spanish translation, a bonus CD with traditional
music referenced in the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and supplementary
materials for programming, including bookplates, bookmarks, and posters.
The
2006-2007 Bookshelf on the "Pursuit of Happiness" will feature the following
books selected by the NEH, in consultation with members of the Association
for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services
Association (YALSA), divisions of ALA.
*Title donated by Scholastic Inc.
The application and guidelines will be available online from September 19,
2006 to January 31, 2007 at www.ala.org/wethepeople or www.wethepeople.gov.
This year, once again, school districts and library systems are invited to
apply for Bookshelves on behalf of the multiple schools or branches they comprise.
Changes in the application system will make it faster and simpler this year.
Individual branch or school libraries also are encouraged to apply. To review
a list of programming ideas while planning an application, visit www.ala.org/wethepeople.
The Bookshelf grants are part of the NEH's We the People initiative, which
aims to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of
American history and culture through libraries, schools, colleges, universities,
and cultural institutions. NEH plans to issue a Bookshelf each year on themes
related to American ideas and ideals. Since 2003, ALA and NEH have awarded
We the People Bookshelves to 4,000 public and school libraries.
Established
in 1992, the ALA Public Programs Office has a strong track record of developing
library programming initiatives, including the acclaimed reading and discussion
series "Let's Talk About It!," film discussion programs on humanities
themes, traveling exhibitions, LIVE! @ your library®, and other programs.
Recently, it has established the Cultural Communities Fund, an endowment fund
created to help all types of libraries across the country bring communities
together through cultural programming (www.ala.org/ccf). More
than 8,000 libraries and at least 10 million individuals have participated
in library programming initiatives supported by the Public Programs Office.
For more information, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for
the Humanities supports learning in history, literature, philosophy and other
areas of the humanities. NEH grants enrich classroom learning, create and preserve
knowledge and bring ideas to life through public television, radio, new technologies
exhibitions and programs in libraries, museums and other community places.
For more information, visit www.neh.gov.
Hamburger Helper Sponsors "My Hometown Helper"
Got a project? Get help up to $15,000 from Hamburger Helper. They would like
to help as many communities as they can between now and May 2007. Visit the Hamburger
Helper website for more information and application steps.
Apply for James Patterson PageTurner Awards
Thriller novelist James Patterson
is offering a $100,000 award this year to any school or university that
best instills the importance and joy of reading in its students. Two other $50,000
awards will be given to any group or individual who encourages the excitement
of books and reading, plus 40 $5,000 awards. Visit Patterson's award website for
more information. The deadline is October 16, 2006.
On the
Internet
Our website picks of
the week are supplied by Marylaine Block, Writer, Internet Trainer and
"Librarian Without Walls," http://marylaine.com/.
NEAT NEW STUFF September 15, 2006
Business Owners' Idea Cafe
A lot of what's available here - sample business plans, marketing advice, tax
info, business forms, etc. - is available in many places, but the Coffeee Talk
with Experts and the CyberSchmooz Small Business Chat Forum provide places to
ask for advice on topics like startups, e-commerce, genX businesses, business
names, working from home, etc. There's also small business news and the chance
to get funding through the site's "Biz Grant Center."
http://www.businessownersideacafe.com/
Charity
Navigator
A good place to either find a well-managed charity that matches your interests
or evaluate a known charity. For each organization, it includes a rating based
on organizational efficiency and capacity, a comparison with peer organizations,
an income statement and analysis, donor privacy policy, contact info, leadership,
and mission. It also includes information on its methodology, articles and
studies, tips, resources, and some top 10 lists worth noting.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/
ChristianityToday.com
Kids
In addition to some specifically Christian-themed quizzes, stories, activities
for kids, and international Christian sites for children, this site also includes
more general, vetted links to games and puzzles, and to good educational sites
in several subject areas.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/kids/
Church
of the Customer Blog
A blog about"word of mouth, customer evangelism and citizen marketers,"
from the authors of Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become
a Volunteer Sales Force." Full of both good examples from the business
world, and commentary on very bad ones.
http://customerevangelists.typepad.com/blog/
Department
of Defense Directive on Detainees
This is the document you've heard about in the news recently that defines both
standard procedures for treatment of prisoners and the interrogation methods
which are specifically outlawed.
http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/dod/d2310_01e.pdf
Dewey
Research Advisor
An interesting tool, still in beta, for business research, from MIT Libraries.
Choose a topic, like Economic Indicators, and it yields a list of commonly
asked questions, each one linked to resources (print, web-based, and licensed
databases) that will answer it.
http://faq-libraries.mit.edu/recordList?library=mit_business&institution=mit
J-Learning
Your How-To Site for
Community Journalism. Tutorials for the would-be community
journalism practitioner on things like HTML, visualizing data, cascading style
sheets, and building in interactivity, courtesy of J-Lab: The Institute for
Interactive Journalism.
Click on the link to J-Lab's New Voices Project for even more resources.
http://j-learning.org/
MedlinePlus
Childhood Immunization
There's a good deal of material here not only on vaccines and immunization,
but also on the controversy over the safety of vaccines.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childhoodimmunization.html
Mineralogy
Database
"contains 4,442 individual mineral species descriptions with links and
a
comprehensive image library," which should be a godsend for geology
students. Links to automated translations make the site content available
in multiple languages.
http://webmineral.com/
Photos
Pictures That Lie
Information literacy instructors should especially appreciate C-Net's
gallery of photos that have been manipulated, and its commentary on the
alterations.
http://news.com.com/2300-1026_3-6033210-1.html
Prairie
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